PUBLIC VIEWPOINT Vote For More Safety In Bella Vista

GOVERNMENT IS CLUELESS

Posted: November 22, 2009 at 2:54 a.m.

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Although no one likes the idea of another tax, a 1 percent sales tax in Bella Vista would help provide personal and property safety for the more than 25,000 residents of the city.

We need more police and fire department personnel to provide this safety. What will it cost? A 1 percent sales tax adds one cent to every dollar spent in Bella Vista. Compare this with a raise in our property tax, which is paid only by property owners.

A sales tax is paid by everyone who spends money within the city.

The question of putting volunteers to work was asked.

Although Bella Vista is truly a volunteer community, volunteers can do only what the state laws allow. This is a tax that is to the benefit of the residents of Bella Vista. Looking at it in a selfish way, my 1-percent tax will help keep ME safe! Not many other taxes are able to say that.

Come out on Dec. 8. Earlyvoting starts Dec. 1. I urge you to vote a resounding yes for the 1 percent sales tax.

SHIRLEY BORHAUER

Bella Vista

If you are one of the many who

insist on health care reform in the form of ”Government Run Healthcare”, you need to view something, read something or hear something that will shock you back to reality. I recently made a trip to Hope, Arkansas, and drove past the Hope Airport north of town on Highway 278.

As I began to see the acres and acres of decaying trailers (10,000-plus as far as the eye can see) that FEMA had purchased with our tax dollars for the Katrina disaster, I realized just how incompetent our government has become. The waste is absolutely sickening!

Every time I hear of a homeless veteran or family in Louisiana or Mississippi without a place to live, I will relive that day I drove by all those trailers going to rack and ruin at the Hope Airport. And for those elderly people who fear the governments potential for establishing “death panels”, do not fear, our illustrious government will cause your demise along with the rest of this great nation in a much more subtle way. Our United States Government by its sheer incompetence, mismanagement and special interests will cause your demise with their socialist agenda long before “death panels” will ever come into existence. Wake up America, before it is too late! Anyone who votes for an incumbent in the upcoming elections, will get exactly what they deserve.

LONNIE BILLINGTON

Springdale

Iam sickened by Rep.

John Boozman’s refusal to support a bill that is an opening move toward providing needed health care for all Americans.

I remember the terror I used to live in when I did not have a full-time job and, therefore, did not have health insurance benefits. At one point, I was sure I would die of a horrible disease because I could not afford to see a doctor.

Today, I have a full-time job and health insurance.

However, I still have to live in fear because that insurance agency could stop my benefits at any point if I were to become ill, or if the agency were to decide I had a pre-existing condition.

People in the greatest, freest country on Earth should not have be afraid of their next illness. We should know that medical help is available.

What Boozman did in voting against health care was to vote against the needs of his own constitutents. I, for one, donot intend to vote for him again.

BARBARA J. RADEMACHER

Rogers REFEREES DESERVE PRAISE As our local scholastic and recreation center football teams conclude their seasons, I wanted to take time to thank the officials and referees for all of their hard work during the 2009 season. Referees spend amajority of their summer and weekends both preparing for and then facilitating the games.

Like most parents with their children, I share both the joy and disappointment that stems from winning and losing. Sports can be a powerful tool in teaching life lessons such as teamwork, perseverance and dedication to our young boys and girls. It can also be frustrating to watch a game and witness a questionable call, particularly againstyour child’s team. Refs are human and occasionally miss a call here and there, but usually do an outstanding job - a job that is easy to criticize, but like most jobs, is much harder to perform.

Ask any ref and most would agree that a penalty could be called on almost every play in the youngerlevel games, so thank goodness they let some of the petty calls go and don’t drag out a game for hours.

Most of these referees live here in this region and are our neighbors,friends or co-workers, working for the love of the game instead of a hefty paycheck.

I also would like to thank our coaches, Ryan Hale and Tim Olke, for all of their hard work, but especially for stressing the importance of handling both winning and losing with dignity and respect to not only the players, but also the parents and fans. We appreciate their efforts.

KELLEY CRADDUCK

Rogers

Opinion, Pages 9 on 11/22/2009

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