LETTERS

— U.S. independence at risk

Once again the United States has been caught by events beyond its control that are pushing up the price of motor fuels that we all pay. This will have a negative effect upon our economic recovery as most of us will have less money to spend on things that are not motor fuels.

These events may, indeed, contribute to a second recession on top of theone from which we have not yet recovered.

If our dependency upon Middle East countries for fuels was treated in the same manner as threats from the old Soviet Union,Congress would slobber all over itself to legislate tax incentives to eliminate the problem.

The only measure that can be taken now to remove our dependence upon Middle East oil is for the automobile companies, as rapidly as possible, to provide true dual-fuel cars, trucks and vans to run on both compressed natural gas and gasoline. The existing fleet could be converted to dual fuel with no new technology. The only constraint is how much tax incentive would be offered. New 18-wheelers need to be built to run only on compressed natural gas.

Our independence as a country is at stake. I detest the thought that more American servicemen and women will lose their lives over another battle for oil that we would not have to have if we were to get serious about use of natural gas for transportation.

DALE GOSSIEN Little Rock

Have some sympathy

Re the letter from Polly Munkberg: Have some sympathy for the unborn child who is given a death sentence for the crime of the father.

Abortion does not remove the experience of the violent, criminal act of rape or incest but adds another violent act of abortion that the woman will have to live with forever. Statistics prove to me that women regret their abortions.

Have you ever read a description of a suction or chemical abortion? It is a horrible, painful procedure. Many people who were conceived by rape and incest are happy to be alive. The circumstance of our conception has no bearing on the people that we are.

The people of Arkansas spoke clearly that taxpayer dollars, public funds, would not to be used to pay for abortions except in life-of-the-mother cases when they adopted Amendment 68 to the state Constitution in 1988. Senate Bill 113 passed by the Arkansas Senate reaffirms Amendment 68 and is, I believe, constitutional.

Poor women on Medicaid in Arkansas who need abortions to save their life or who are pregnant as a result of rape or incest can get public-funded abortions because of the federal Hyde Amendment.

Abortion is not health care, but an unnatural act that ends the life of an innocent unborn child created in the image and likeness of God. God does not make mistakes.

MARY JO LEWNO Little Rock

Keep up good work

First I want to say thanks to the Democrat-Gazette for investigating the corruption of our elected officials and those they hire to work for them. Keep up the good work and be relentless in your work.

I seem to remember some letter writer asking why a newspaper was doing this. Well, when elected officials are corrupt, they sure aren’t going to police themselves, so somebody has to do it.

If it wasn’t for the Freedom of Information Act and the Democrat-Gazette, Queen Martha Shoffner would still be driving her state-owned luxury vehicle; the Game and Fish Commission would still have more vehicles than it has employees, and the three self-appointed kings of the G&FCwould be passing their own laws so that anything embarrassing to them couldn’t get to the newspapers.

Not to mention state Sen. Bruce Holland reportedly going more than 100 mph with a law enforcement officer trying to catch him, yet he didn’t know how fast he was going?

I would like to know who has been watching the chicken coop while these foxes have been raiding it. Who authorized a former elected official two vehicles to use, one to keep on his farm and one to drive back and forth to work in? Also, why can’t these officials who are entitled to a state-owned vehicle drive compact vehicles instead of these luxury cars and SUVs? This state needs more accountability.

DON DAVIS Horseshoe Bend

Current laws suffice

Letter writer Larry Harr of Stuttgart wondered why Arkansas refused to pass “castle doctrine” legislation. Here is the answer.

Arkansas Code Annotated 5-2-620 is very clear in its intent to allow one to protect his castle. In addition, as to “stand your ground” laws, Arkansas Code Annotated 5-2-607 very clearly comes down on the side of the armed citizen while away from your castle. Accordingly, it would appear that no additional legislation is needed.

In the same edition, Bob Sloan of Jonesboro proposed even more restrictive gun laws and obviously does not think people need them at all. There is overwhelming, indisputable evidence from all over the country that in places where people have more guns, there is far less violent crime than in other places. I might suggest that Sloan move to California or New York or Washington, D.C.. where almost no one except criminals and police have guns and maybe he’ll feel safer.

If he is really concerned about the number of people being killed, perhaps his efforts would better be spent trying to enhance the drunk-driving laws. Instead of having a limit of two clips per gun, why not put a limit of two six-packs per person, or a limit of no more than two people per car?

The Supreme Court has recently affirmed the inalienable right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment.

GUY HOWE Bella Vista

Serious ideas advised

Once more Arkansas has made the national media in an unfavorable way. One of the three Arkansas Republican representatives in Congress (they know who they are) proposed cutting the funding for President Obama’s use of TelePrompTers.

What a silly and insignificant proposal to cut spending and reduce the deficit.

Here are some serious suggestions to reduce the deficit: Do away with the $41 billion in tax breaks to the oil companies; do away with the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans; end funding completely to the fraudulent Iraq war out of respect to the families of the more than 4,000 soldiers and thousands of civilians who have died there as well as the thousands who were wounded; bring our soldiers home from Afghanistan and cut the funding for that war.

These would result in significant reductions in the deficit.

L.B. LANGFORD Little Rock

Stand up for beliefs

The unending game between Republicans and Democrats over budget, health care and job growth is at a point of inducing instant nausea upon reading the next article.

It truly appears that our members of Congress have the testicular mass of a gnat. While people’s lives are hanging in limbo about the future direction of our country, games are played at the presidential and congressional levels that may destroy our nation.

A few like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speak plain talk and, whether right or wrong, in the long run accomplish things. I suspect they are right much of the time.

For our president to pass the buck on the discussion of critical issues, e.g., Social Security and Medicare, reeks of arrogant gamesmanship to the detriment of all of us. I suggest a shot of hormonal courage to all of them for either their testicular atrophy or ovarian inadequacy to at least have the courage to declare themselves rather than hide in the flaccidity of party loyalty for re-election and continuity of their power.

At least stand for something, show it and bellow it out, ye cowards of the county, or allow your atrophy and inadequacy to shrink you to the size we think you really are.

JOHN PARK Fayetteville

Enough victims now

There are no mistakes or accidents when it comes to the existence of each and every human life.

As human beings, we are allowed to assist in God’s plan for creation, and sometimes the human being created is an example of how he creates good, even under the worst of circumstances.

All human life is good because every human life in or out of the womb has a unique dignity given to that individual by God alone and would not exist without being a planned member of God’s family.

In spite of evil choices and bad circumstances, human dignity cannot be denied. I am not here to denyor discount the heinous crime that is committed as related to rape or incest and the suffering that the victim endures. However, the suffering of one victim is not alleviated by and does not warrant the creation of a second victim.

Finally, whether my opinion is shared by others or not, I should not be required with my tax dollars to pay for anything, abortion or otherwise, that I feel is intrinsically evil.

There are no quick fixes here, but the most helpless and innocent human involved in this heartbreaking scenario should not become a victim in an attempt to “fix” the pain or difficult circumstances of anyone. We must begin somewhere to teach and espouse dignity and love for human life in all its stages as opposed to creating more victims.

LAURIE FLANAGIN Hot Springs

Comment seems apt

The ever unctuous Mike Masterson treats us to his version of evil inhis “Many switching parties” column: “Telling a lie, now politely called ‘misspeaking,’ is easy to do. Just utter words that you know not be valid, usually in hopes or gaining some advantage. Half-truths also count in destroying trust. . . . That sounds evil to me.”

Using Mike’s own scale and based on his past columns, I think it’s fair to say that he has hoist himself with his own petard.

L.S. BLOCK Little Rock

Feedback Problems solvable

The Social Security Trust Fund holds sufficient assets to pay all benefits due for the next 25 years or so. The funds are invested in U.S. Treasury instruments backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America, so please question the misleading rhetoric coming from those who have wanted to destroy Social Security since its inception about 75 years ago.

The Social Security System is not responsible for any of the deficit. No benefits have ever been paid from any source other than the trust fund, so it has had no effect on the deficit. The trust is funded by its own revenue stream.

The Social Security revenue stream has been somewhat weakened by several forces, including job losses and lower wages for workers, caused by the recession and by jobs being moved to other countries. The recession was largely caused by the same people who want to get rid of Social Security.

The problems posed for the future stability of the system can be overcome by reasonably simple fixes such as raising the cap on incomes that are subject to the Social Security taxes. I would like to see opponents stop their assault on Social Security and support the action that will make it available to all recipients far into the future.

EMMA BADGLEY Fayetteville

Editorial, Pages 11 on 02/28/2011

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