LETTERS

— Expand drug testing

For the benefit of Sen. Bill Pritchard, Rep. Denny Altes and the 48 other legislators who co-sponsored Senate Bill 157, an act to require that applicants for and recipients of unemployment benefits test negative for illegal drug use: I take issue with the bill because it requires the drug test to be paid for by the applicant.

But if they can support requiring applicants for unemployment benefits to pass a drug test, why not support a bill requiring those purchasing a firearm, hunting license or concealed carry permit to pass a drug test? Or is it too much to ask that those carrying firearms should be required to maintain sobriety?

DIANE DOVE Hot Springs

Many just getting by

The years of George W. Bush make it so that Democrats have to cut cost-of-living allowances for Social Security.

Even with COLAs, the actual cost of living rises beyond any increases provided. Retirees’ growing medical needs while aging are one contributor to resulting disparity. Lawmakers should come up with a more equitable solution for Social Security, ensuring that it does not put retirees at peril.

The only way politicians and Congress will understand how people are hurting is to roll back the congressional pay hike and put our lawmakers in Washington on the same benefits program that they legislate for the public. I can’t believe members of Congress gave themselves a pay hike as the financial system collapsed. In that aspect, Democrats and Republicans both get raises whenever they want.

I think the masses on Social Security who get a monthly check should see it doubled from what they are getting now. I believe foreclosures would be a thing of the past. The masses would have a better life instead of just getting by.

BUDDY WILSON SR. Hot Springs

Irony is inescapable

Something immediately struck me as sadly ironic as I read the newspaper sub-headline, “Live babies killed, prosecutors say,” above the story announcing that abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell had been charged with eight counts of murder in Pennsylvania.

Ironic because isn’t that what abortion is, killing live babies? Of course, my inference was that he [was charged with killing] babies born alive. Ironic, too, that had the babies not been delivered and were still in the mother’s womb, it would have been legal to kill them. The tragedy is not only in what reportedly was discovered in his shop of horrors but of the callous inaction of state regulators after years of numerous complaints and lawsuits.

I can’t help but wonder if the abortion facility in Little Rock has been inspected to check its compliance with state health laws, especially in light of the ambulances seen leaving there. How unfortunate that choice has become the accepted and more palatable word for abortion.

The truth is that abortion kills children and hurts women, setting in motion a lifetime of pain and regret. There are dozens of organizations in our state that offer women in crisis compassionate choices. If only they knew of and at least considered exploring those first.

PATRICIA HILLIS Little Rock

Screams trump noise

I watched the Grammy Awards, and I’ll admit that I had been under the impression that today’s music was all about noise. Not so. It’s about who can scream the loudest, which unfortunately is not that much different.

I long for the days when songs had melodies and words you could understand and a story to tell that would make you happy or sad or nostalgic or all of the above.

I enjoy revisiting the old songs. They still sound good. If I get tired of them, I’ll buy a noise machine. Maybe, maybe not.

C.R. BRIGGS Arkadelphia

Tolerant, sometimes

As Christians have an aversion to giving up anything that we have once conquered, the rest of the world has to put up with our arrogance.

Jerusalem was conquered by Greeks and then Romans, then Christians ruled it for several centuries until Muslims took it in 638. Christians took it again for a while, then Muslims again until 1967. Now Jews control Jerusalem, as they did for a few centuries in the middle of occupation by Babylon, Persia, Egypt, Greece and Rome.

Many Muslim countries have been attacked, invaded and occupied by Christian nations with populations in the hundreds of millions. Many Muslims say that the whole Christian world is arrayed against Islam and has been for more than 1,000 years. Many-most?-Christians are united in their faith against non-Christians.

America is a land settled by immigrants, so we sometimes have a history of accepting and melding newcomers in our midst. Although we Americans invaded, conquered and occupied a vast continent that already had native peoples living here, we have seldom been unkind to Native Americans or the Africans we brought in chains to serve us in slavery. We have been good Christians. This is a wonderful aspect of our cultural and political traditions. Join us in being Americans who want to be free and not be put upon by any religious or political minority.

R.E. JOHNSTON Little Rock

Suspension favored

In the editorial, “The state’s next landmark,” the author invites the readers to suggest what kind of structure the old Broadway Bridge should give way to. This is my suggestion.

Make a suspension bridge using buckyball-type carbon fibers. The bridge would be lighter, stronger, with less maintenance than with steel. If the design can beat the Gallopin’ Gertie aerodynamic problem, it would just seem to float without support.

Google has many citations.

GEORGE VAN O’BRIEN McRae

Don’t use tax dollars

In Polly Munkberg’s letter concerning state Sen. Cecile Bledsoe, she called Bledsoe cruel. I don’t know Bledsoe, but I do know that chemical or partial-birth abortions are truly cruel.

The baby conceived out of rape or incest is the most vulnerable of mankind. That baby is not responsible, yet Munkberg’s solution to conception resulting from rape is to kill the baby. I appreciate Munkberg’s heart and passion for the victims of rape, but killing the baby doesn’t help the mother.

As far as the victims of rape not being able to pay for their abortions, I understand that Medicaid will pay for abortion in such circumstances. My heart goes out to victims of rape and incest, but my heart also goes out to the babies in the womb. I do not want my tax dollars going to kill these innocent ones who have no options and no control.

GRACE PALCULICT El Dorado

Why did taxes rise?

Re the letter sent by James McNerlin of Austin: I’m perplexed as well. The taxes withheld from my pension check went up in January. Was I dreaming? Was it wishful thinking when I heard the news anchor report that the “Bush era” tax cuts would remain in effect?

I don’t have alarge pension, so why am I paying more in taxes? There’s no room in my monthly budget to absorb this increase, so I’ll have to cut back somewhere else. Food, meds, heat? Hard to decide.

SUSAN DANIEL Bentonville

Editorial, Pages 11 on 02/21/2011

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