LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Cost complaints come late

After listening to lots of inaccurate charges being shouted at legislators during health care debates, I'd like to ask the following questions of the questioners.

If the falsehoods they've spread about health care cause good legislation to fail, can I still hire them and their bullhorn to scream at my insurance company when it refuses to pay claims?

When they eat U.S. Department of Agriculture inspected foods,take Food and Drug Administration approved drugs and drive on federally funded highways in a Department of Transportation-certified vehicle, do they feel hypocritical for publicly hating what they privately enjoy?

Because they oppose government run programs, will they refund their Social Security check, refuse Medicare and avoid going to the Department of Veterans Affairs?

If they're really worried about the cost of federal programs, why didn't they complain when the Bush administration's policies added $5.3 trillion to the national debt in only eight years?

Since there's nothing in the House bill that pays for abortion, provides health care for illegal aliens or includes so-called death panels, has it ever occurred to them that conservative commentators have riled them up just to raise their ratings?

Last, because I fear that their anger might cause a heart attack, have they already met their deductible or will they be using a credit card to pay for their emergency room visit?

MIKE COLLINS Bryant

Vision has been lost

In 1785, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "My God! How little my countrymen know what precious blessing they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy." That's even more applicable today.

Airheads are still with us. Proof is in what we have been willing to surrender for a life of governmentally dispensed, unearned benefits. Jefferson, James Madison, John Jay, John Adams, James Monroe, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry were men of great intellect and integrity, men whose vision saw a citizenry with maximum liberty for the individual, humble men whose wisdom restricted the actions of government rather than its citizens.

Today we have Barack Obama, Barney Frank, Christopher Dodd, Charles Schumer, John Murtha, Henry Waxman, Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters and Harry Reid. Further, we have Rahm Emanuel and the more than 30 czars who were appointed by and answer only to Obama. These people have some measure of intellect save Murtha, Waxman, Reid and Pelosi, who seem to be totally obtuse.

The current politicos are arrogant people whose vision for each citizen's life is governmental supervision and control from cradle to grave, vision diametrically opposed to that of our Founding Fathers. Which vision do people prefer for themselves, their family and grandchildren yet unborn? Which brand of intellectualism do they prefer?

GIFF JORDON Springdale

Nation badly in debt

In the late 1950s or early '60s, America was a non-debtor nation. Now we are the world's largest debtor. The Democrats held majority in Congress about 40 years and the Republicans held it for 12 years. Both parties have used the U.S. Treasury to buy votes. Shame on them.

Now the federal government is broke. The states are broke funding congressional mandates. Our cities and counties are broke. Our jails are full and running over.

We are the fattest and most over medicated people on the face of the Earth. Social Security is broke. Medicare is broke. Medicaid is broke. Veterans' health care is marginal at best. The U.S. Postal Service is broke. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are broke.Entitlements are broke. Auto makers, insurance companies and more are broke.

These are just a few of the programs that could not survive without borrowing more money. I'm afraid that China and the Middle East own us.

Now they say health care is broke, so they want to take it over and fix it. With the government's record of fixing things, what makes anyone think they can fix health care?

With politicians' record of managing the people's business, maybe all the tax-and-spenders should be replaced and salaries and benefits cut in about half.

MARVIN BERRY North Little Rock

Complaints ludicrous

All the complaints about health insurance are pure bull. Taxes by any other name are still taxes, and the current plans for the next few years are going to be killing grannies whose Social Security payments won't be going up, but whose Medicare and supplemental plan payments will be. That amounts to raising taxes on those who can least afford it. They also can't afford to buy TV commercials pleading their case as the wealthy are doing.

Social Security payments are based on the last few years of one's income, and that's hurting people in my generation. Ronald Reagan's voodoo economics took the economy down when we were in our 40s. Many of us lost jobs, insurance and retirement plans. Getting back into the work force was complicated by technological advances for which our minds were not trained. Learning DOS required learning a new logic. And as soon as we mastered it, everything went to analog, another logic to learn as age was slowing our learning abilities.

And now everything is digital. The result for many of us is that in our last working years, our incomes are way down from what they were when we were younger and paying large sums into the Social Security System as security for our "golden years." But now the system is bankrupt because presidents used it as a private piggy bank for expenses that Congress would not pass.

And that's no bull.

NANCY MILLER SAUNDERS Durham

Show us the money

I am totally confused. On the one hand, conservatives, as I am, are complaining about the so-called accumulating national debt. On the other hand, liberals are complaining that a significant change in public policies deserves our immediate attention. The current administration is saying that both objectives are imperative.

I suggest that President Obama solicit economic analysis and projections from credible economists of both practical and academic persuasion. Make an exhaustive list of all current expenses and realistic estimates of all expenses that will occur if the policies are merged into this list and all available resources.

These experts should generate a simple cash-flow projection exhibit. Every effort should be made to ensure the reliability of the information presented therein. Further, such information should be based on assumptions even though the accuracy of the data would not be vouched. A cash-flow narrative should be included as an integral part of this exhibit.

Finally, this exhibit should cover the entire period of negative cash flow until the trend goes positive. Let's run our government as sound businesses are run.

JAMES MITCHELL Little Rock

Different type of tax

After many years of avidly reading the numerous amusing letters to the editor, I am compelled to write to you about a brilliant idea that has occurred to me, or at least what I thought to be a brilliant idea. Therein lies the simple solution to most of these complex issues. Why not eliminate all taxes with the exception of one-only tax stupidity?

Every time someone would say, write or do something stupid, the Stupidity Police could be there to write a ticket or arrest him. The courts would then assess the stupidity tax based on the degree of the offender's stupidity when measured against the Stupidity Index for that person's education and income.

The treasury coffers would be overflowing with an abundance of cash in only a few short days. The federal budget could easily be balanced, the deficit would disappear, there would be ample money for the military, and there most likely would be enough money to fund scholarships as well as an educational program designed to eradicate ignorance and bigotry.

But taking light of lottery director Ernie Passailaigue's recent comment about the average person not being smart enough to understand the lottery and assuming that I may never get the opportunity to discuss taxes and people "acting stupidly" over a cold beer with the president, I reconciled myself to the fear that maybe I was being really stupid again.

CHARLES V. SIMMONS Grady

Behavior impressive

One evening my brother Gayle, my sister-in-law Annetta, my wife Bette and I were sitting at a table in our home surrounded by several windows facing outside. The exterior lights of the house were on when a group of about 20 young teens ran onto the porch, tapping on the window, yelling and screaming something about a horse. Our thoughts immediately were "Is there a horse in our yard? Surely not here in the LaMarche community."

We went to the door and found the youth looking for a horse, a horse of any kind, as an object in their scavenger hunt. They were having a grand time celebrating one of the young ladies' birthday. I had a T-shirt with a polo pony on it and they said that would do. We did help them with some of the other items on their list.

We were very much impressed with the behavior of these young people while they were having an extremely fun time. They were absolutely precious. We enjoyed their surprise visit immensely. After their departure, we discussed the fact that these are the stories we usually do not hear about-young people having a grand time notmisbehaving, not being destructive, not causing trouble, just having fun.

It is unfortunate that the news media find little time and space to report such pleasant occurrences like ours on that Saturday night. Thanks, kids, for bringing a little light into our lives.

FREDDIE HOLMES Little Rock

Who's smiling now?

Hillary Clinton has to be smiling within as she watches Barack Obama's health care strategy come under fire from every quarter. Obama, or whoever is doing his thinking, had let it be known that the flaw in Hillarycare was the messenger and the style in which it was presented. Way too much detail. Enough information so that the masses can take aim and shoot holes in it. It was the style, not substance, that was rejected by America.

It logically followed that vague goals, earnest desires and shared concerns would be Obama's tactic. Pass the hot potato to Congress. Let them start working in numerous committees on various forms of a health care bill with a minimum of detail disclosed. Then continue the "crisis" mantra that worked for the stimulus package and 2009 spending bill with its 9,000 earmarks. Then rush it through both houses before the opposition gets organized. Leave the serious crafting to the reconciliation process-behind closed doors.

As it turns out, it's the content, not the style, that Americans of every stripe object to. After listening for months to pundits recite the party line of how she blew it in 1993, Hillary looks on as Obama gets his comeuppance. Should he continue to show his inability to lead, she may feel the need to resign her position and ponder how best to use her $3 million campaign fund to serve a nation "in crisis."

WALLY LOVELESS Little Rock

Feedback Big star grows dim

For several years, I've been dropping you a line when something new or different shows up in astronomy. I know everyone has been hearing about black holes for some time, but here is a new variety.

There is a long-sided pentagon in the sky by the name of Auriga. It has a bright star designated as Epsilon Auriga. It seems like this star has its own black hole. Every 27 years, the black hole begins dimming Epsilon.

It takes six months to reach nadir. From this time, the dimmer star remains in its lower brilliance for two years. By the end of two years, it begins to brighten. This takes six months.

After this, the bright star remains bright for 27 years. This isn't dramatic. The star doesn't dim very much. But this is something more and very different. Who is going to pursue a star that takes six months to dim one small amount? Most of us won't. But it is new to us. The black hole, dead star or whatever you call it is something new to us. Remember, it takes two years to stop blocking light from Epsilon Auriga. It must be enormously big.

It won't be much fun to look at, but gee whiz, what is it?

RAYMOND CRATTY Little Rock