LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Take cue from Chile

Like millions of people around the world, I watched the dramatic rescue of the 33 Chilean miners. I was very impressed with the cooperation of experts from around the world who joined together to accomplish this difficult task.

I was also very impressed with the president of Chile and his wife, who spent hours at the mine and hugged each miner as he came forth. The smile on their faces and their actions showed that they truly cared.

I’m sure the president had other pressing duties and could have chosen to be elsewhere.

This makes me wonder: If a situation such as this happened in our country, would our president respond this way? I seriously doubt it.

When we had the BP oil spill, other countries offered to help in containing the spill, but our president refused, mainly because he didn’t want to use non-union labor. When Nashville, Tenn., was flooded recently, with thousands of people hurting, our president didn’t even make an appearance. When our troops returned from Iraq, he didn’t bother to greet them. Former President George W. and Laura Bush took time to welcome troops home.

They said the Chilean president is a billionaire, but at least he acted as a leader should in a national crisis. That’s one of the marks of a true leader. His poll numbers are increasing now while our president’s poll numbers continue to fall. There are lessons to be learned here.

JERRY McKELVY Camden

Ross’ service lauded

Unfortunately, we have seen a tremendous amount of negative energy in light of the upcoming elections. Elections should be about the future and how we’re going to make it better, not slandering your political opponent, so I wanted to submit a positive letter.

I’m supporting Mike Ross for Congress. He is a good, hard-working guywith strong morals and Christian values. He fights for us in Washington, not any party or party leader, and he comes home every weekend to listen. He voted against the health care overhaul, against cap-and-trade and against financial reform all because he listened to the people who elected him.

Mike has donated his congressional pay raises to fund scholarships for deserving students in his congressional district. He has been married to his wonderful wife, Holly, for 27 years and they now have two children attending collegein Arkansas. When he talks about fighting for common-sense, Arkansas values, Mike practices what he preaches.

We are facing some serious challenges in this country and Mike’s opponent has no substantive proposal to address any of them. Mike has a plan to create jobs and to balance the budget. He’s represented us very well and I know he will continue to make us proud. Please vote for Mike. He won’t let us down.

NIKKI YOUNG Hot Springs

Let someone else try

Mike Ross is a nice guy and he means well, but in over 90 percent of his actions in Congress he has followed the leader.

I recently reviewed his political flier boasting of his accomplishments as a member of Congress. Conspicuously, there was not mention of a single bill initiated by Ross. Nor was there one that he co-authored.

He has not accomplished a single thing that has directly benefited Arkansas or the people of Arkansas. He has had his chances with no results, so now we need to give someone else a chance to help his constituents.

JOHN G. MUNRO Hot Springs Village

Plans are farfetched

I’m very disappointed in your shallow endorsement of L.J. Bryant. His plans for technological overhauls strike me as another overly simplistic idea of something likely to be considerably more complicated and costly than he cared to let on, something Democrats excel in.

Yet you swallowed his line without blinking, and it seems to be the only reason for your endorsement.

I believe that John Thurston has proved to be more honest, mannerly and ethically aware during his lifetime and this campaign. L.J.’s a Democrat and as a Democrat he’ll fall in line with the corrupt party he’s aligned himself with. Your readers deserve a better judgment than this editorial provided.

CHRISTOPHER J. MAYLAND Little Rock

Dream now tenuous

If tax cuts for the rich create jobs, why, after George W. Bush and the Republican majority Congress passed the large tax cut for the wealthy, did that regime create less jobs than other presidencies?

The notion that giving money to the rich during a recession, or in this case, and for all practical purposes, a depression, would create jobs is ludicrous. For jobs to be created, there must be more demand for the goods and services provided by the employers than there are available products. There also must be ample money in the hands of consumers.

At present, there is very little demand for goods and services because there is very little money available to consumers. It is idiotic to think that a manufacturer would spend more money to build more products when he or she can’t sell the products now on the shelves.

Wake up, Arkansas. Vote Democratic. If the Republicans retake control of this country, you can kiss the possibility of the American dream for your grandkids goodbye.

AUSTIN STEWART Judsonia

Expect good service

Political pundits are predicting that the Republican Party will win the Arkansas congressional seats in November. Since the party stands for big business, no taxes, no regulation and an “anything goes” military, I fail to see how this is beneficial to the majority of Arkansans.

How have Countrywide, Exxon, Enron, Citicorp and Bank of America benefited you? Lax regulations gave us the BP and Exxon spills, the recent salmonella egg crisis as well as the financial meltdown and the West Virginia mine cave-in. Do you really want to live in a country that doesn’t regulate the meat packing industry, the airlines, automobile companies, the highways?

You know your blood pressure and heart medication is safe because of the Food and Drug Administration. The water you drink and the air you breathe are cleaner because of the regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency. Big banks can no longer charge horrendous fees for credit cards and bank accounts due to new regulations.

George W. Bush started two wars without paying for them while reducing taxes.

These tax cuts and wars combined with a meltdown economy created a deficit of astronomical proportions. Vic Snyder gave us honest, intelligent and compassionate consideration while in Congress, voting against the war in Iraq. Judging from Joyce Elliott’s service in the Arkansas Legislature, we can expect to see the same type of service from her.

STEPHANY BAILEY North Little Rock