PUBLIC VIEWPOINT: Third Friday Was A Blast

— You missed it! Third Friday in Rogers. We wondered why you weren’t there. The sky clouded, cooled and even sprinkled, but spirits elevated and the fantastic old tunes from the ’60s by FOS Prospect Band had folks dancing in the street.

Sunset glowed orange to the north and made a great backdrop for the bungee jumpers. Local artisans showed their talents and supper was offered - free.

Where were you?

We only ask the city of Rogers, why can’t the park clock have a new battery? It’s been 9:22 for weeks, and how about turning off the loudspeaker music when there is other music, like on Saturday nights.

JUDY DUGUID / Rogers

REVELATION PAINFUL

While reading the book “The World Is Curved: Hidden Dangers to the Global Economy” by David M. Smick, I read, “In March of 2009, worried that the U.S. economy was not responding to the Obama administration’s first stimulus and bank bailout efforts, the Bernanke Federal Reserve announced a highly unusual decision - a plan for the Fedto purchase long-term U.S.

Treasury securities as a means of lowering U.S. interest rates and thawing credit market.” I wondered why I had not heard of this. It seems that some $300 billion of stimulus money was used for this purpose.

This statement seemed to me to say that the feds used stimulus money (which we borrow and pay interest on) to buy U.S. debt (to pay interest on).

Realizing the author might have misrepresented the truth, I did some further checking.

Googling “federal government purchasing of U.S. treasury securities,” I find this to be true. In a Washington Post article published March 19, 2009, I discovered this, saying $1.2 trillion was spent for this endeavor and this quote: “The decision by the Fed to buy government bonds and mortgage-related securities is designed to lower borrowing costs for home mortgages and other types of loans, thereby stimulating economic activity.

The central bank, effectively, will print more money to pay for the purchases.”

The more you learn about the federal government, the less you can trust them to be good keepers of our money, our freedom and our security.

ROY D. PICKENS / Bella Vista

PARADE NO THREAT

In her recent letter (“Parade attacked morality,” July 19), Carol Davis Sonnier characterized the gay pride parade in Fayetteville as “an assault on morality” and complained that participants were “forcing their … behavior upon others.” I admit that I wasn’t there myself (in Minnesota for a church conference), but I’m at a loss to understand how the parade could be considered an assault on morality, and I doubt that the marchers intended to force their behavior (a peaceful march) on anyone.

What, exactly, is her complaint against gays? I don’t see, for example, how a loving relationship between two people (regardless of gender) could be considered an assault on morality. I suggest that Ms. Sonnier visit a religious community that is welcoming to all (mine isn’t the only one) and get acquainted with gays and gayfriendly straights. My guess is that she would find that they are pretty much like anyone else - no better, no worse - and not a threat to the moral order.

Ms. Sonnier also proposed a “heterosexual pride parade” or a “Bible school parade.” Great ideas!

Go for it!

DAVE HUNTER / Fayetteville

THE WRITER IS CO-MINISTER OF THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF FAYETTEVILLE.

Opinion, Pages 5 on 07/28/2010

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