LETTERS

— The cliff is still inevitable

“If I control the metaphors, I don’t care who makes law or policy,” I think someone once said. The “fiscal cliff” is a good example, referring to a prearranged tax increase and spending reduction. Putting aside that there are probably more apt metaphors, e.g., the economy as an addict with politicians providing a new “fix” (stimulation, quantitative easing) as needed to keep the emaciated junkie going a little longer, let’s see if the fiscal-cliff framing makes sense.

The fiscal cliff is implied to be that pre-agreed “penalty” in the event that Republican and Democratic factionists fail to achieve a U.S. budget agreement by the deadline. This interpretation seems to miss the fact that, even if such an agreement is made, there still will be a fiscal cliff looming: the collapse of the current economic and monetary system, which would likely mean the devolution of the U.S.A. into independent entities.

Is the cliff something to be avoided, or embraced? We have seen that modern states, whether democratic socialist or democratic corporatist, are incapable of both monetary restraint and respecting individual liberty. A breakup into something like the original American Confederation but better—a free-trade zone with local sovereignty—would have its virtues.

The babble in the newspapers over whether the celebrity rulers can agree on something, and what happens if they don’t, is rather ridiculous. Whatever happens, the real fiscal cliff is still looming, and we’re probably going too fast to avoid it. The good news is that smaller, more efficient, peopleoriented entities may soar from that cliff, leaving the corporate state as a relic of the military-industrial age.

BILL ORTON

Fayetteville

Playing politics a peril

Once again, we need the cooperation of Congress. Another debt-ceiling raise is in the near future. Let’s hope a lesson was learned at the last one where we lost our top standing in the world.

The Republicans in Congress held the nation hostage by attaching stipulations to their approval of a debt-ceiling raise. These issues should have been voted on separately from the debt-ceiling debate.

The word extortion comes to mind.

The deadline expired and took with it our AAA credit rating for the first time since the rating’s use. We must now pay more on our nation’s loans. The politicians who let this happen do not care enough about our country to hold these powerful positions as the people’s representatives.

Republicans often refer to President Ronald Reagan in times like these. He raised the debt ceiling 18 times.

Please, contact your congressmen now and tell them to vote to save the U.S.A. At the last debt-ceiling deadline, it was like being on the Titanic, with congressmen as passengers arguing about whose fault it was that the ship was sinking.

I have one thing to say: Get in the damn lifeboat!

PAULA S. WOODMAN Hot Springs National Park

Revisiting a bad idea

Re replacing paper money with coins: Does anyone remember the Susan B. Anthony dollar coins we had in the 1970s?

They were easy to mistake for quarters and nickels and wouldn’t fit in the vending machines, jukeboxes or pool tables. Ten dollars’ worth was a big pain to carry in pockets or purses.

The government stopped making them in about two years.

At age 87, I still remember this stuff.

EVELYN ALTHIZER Siloam Springs

Crisis of our making

This is not the first time that the national debt has exceeded gross domestic product. Research reveals the national debt hit more than 120 percent of GDP during World War II. This paints a certain reality. There’s a difference between microeconomics and macroeconomics. WWII was absolutely necessary. Another example prevails, the Great Depression. President Franklin Roosevelt spent funds to prevent a virtual collapse of the United States.

How we solve this economic crisis may or may not be in the best interests of the American people or the world. The economic system constitutes the world, not what the average citizen believes to be a local matter.

The nation’s debt exceeds $16 trillion, which is in excess of 100 percent of the GDP. The president, in conjunction with Congress, is currently in dialogue regarding the subject. Of course, different ideas come into play. This is not new.

Why do they talk so much about Social Security and Medicare, two of the greatest achievements in history? Our tax code allows corporations making billions of dollars to pay no taxes. In the 1950s, corporations accounted for 27 percent of government revenue in conjunction with a tax rate much higher than today’s. Now corporations account for only 9 percent. The U.S. spends an obscene amount of money on military defense.

I believe we are in this financial crisis as a result of corporate greed run amok because of deregulation and stupid decisions of Congress. For example, there was no reason to pursue war with Iraq, no weapons of mass destruction or anything else that would justify it. Ex parte?

ROBERT HYMER

Little Rock

Good idea, mi amigo

Charles Krauthammer recently stated in a column that getting Hispanic voters in the GOP fold requires only “border fence plus amnesty.”

I think old Charles may be on to something there. I bet the boys at Nabholz Construction could probably get that fence slapped up in a couple of months, three tops. Heck, we could probably get some Oklahoma guntoters to patrol it on the cheap once it’s up.

As for the amnesty, I bet that all the older, white male Hispanics would flip to the GOP in heartbeat.

KEVIN KELLAMS

Fayetteville

Just build it, already!

The people of Arkansas listened to the pleas of the Highway Commission and passed another one-cent sales tax to fund highways and bridges. They have entrusted in the commission the power to decide how, when and where to spend the money.

For over a year, the commission has been involved in discussions with various central Arkansas officials regarding the replacement of the Broadway Bridge. I commend its members for their patience, tolerance and diplomacy. But this latest proposal for a gaudy, multicolored bridge should be the straw that broke the commissioners’ backs.

It’s past time to move on. It’s time to remember that the original mission was and still is to build a bridge to replace one that carries 24,000 cars daily, a bridge that by the commission’s assertions needs to be replaced.

It’s time to quit listening to politicians and special interests and build the damn bridge. Whatever design is chosen couldn’t be anything worse than empty yellow tourist trolleys consuming tax dollars designated for public transportation, or a glassenclosed double-wide library perched on the river banks.

DON SHELLABARGER

Little Rock

Case of tunnel vision

The Broadway Bridge is 89 years old and deteriorated, but I don’t think it needs to be demolished. Have we not learned to recycle and reuse, or is this only for individuals? I think the city, county and highway departments should lead by example—refurbish this bridge and show what can be done with less money. The state Highway Department has money allocated to build a new bridge, but if we refurbish the existing one correctly, it will be a new bridge. It’s cheaper than demolishing the existing bridge, disposing of the materials, building a new bridge, closing the bridge for up to two years, and the energy required to do all of this.

Maintenance would be no more costly than that required for a new bridge. There are products available designed specifically for this type of refurbishment, and not exploring this option is just tunnel vision. The way the existing bridge was constructed lends itself to reuse.

I am not a structural engineer, but I am an architect, and I say that we can refurbish this existing bridge to the required codes and standards, and add an iconic structure, if desired, for below the $58 million estimate. In doing so, we could keep an historic structure, not add to the landfill, utilize smart sustainable design, keep Broadway open longer, save the taxpayers’ money, and lead by good example.

Compare it to all the other bridges in Little Rock, and ask yourself, “If this were my bridge, what would I do with it?”

DENVER TODD BOROUGHS

Little Rock

Accentuate positivity

As a special present given in honor of the holiday season that is upon us for readers of all (and/or no) religious beliefs from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, might I suggest one?

Please refrain from publishing any negative commentaries or letters in your newspaper from commentary writers, the public, and, of course, yourselves between, say, December 16 and January 5. This would cover comments generalizing about politicians, deadbeat layabout citizens, political parties, etc.

I realize that this might cut into what you have to publish, but on the plus side, you’ve got more space for ads, and the change from the negative in honor of the season would be most welcome.

Have a pleasant three weeks and/or Merry Christmas, Chanukah, and the other holidays too numerous to list!

GERALD O’BRYAN

Springdale

Feedback

Judging right, wrong

Jim Blok, a self-described secular humanist, asserts that “secular standards of right and wrong . . . have provided a strong foundation for civil society for thousands of years before . . . religious leader[s] existed.”

I am curious of a few things. What are these “secular standards of right and wrong,” and how can one differentiate them and show their rightness and wrongness among the multitude of preferences held by individuals and tribes? Also, where and when did these nonreligious civil societies exist?

I am aware of fairly recent secular societies that are hallmarked by severe limitations of civil liberties, guillotines, gulags and killing fields.

DAVID ROGERS

Biscoe

Having it both ways

I’d lay even money that most pro-life people are for the death penalty. They say all life is sacred, but they seem to want it both ways.

For the record, I’m pro-choice and for the death penalty. This may keep me out of heaven, but it won’t be because I spoke out of both sides of my mouth.

PATRICK CAMPBELL

Little Rock

Editorial, Pages 17 on 12/12/2012

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