LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Shouldn’t pay for the lazy

I find Ruud DuVall’s latest letter ridiculous. What rock is he living under?

You cannot spend your way out of debt. Only a moron would believe that. How long has the U.S. government been spending, and what has it gotten us but more taxes and debt? How high should the taxes be?

DuVall states that if the Republicans take over, some people may have to pay taxes for the first time. What does that tell you? There are those out there who say the rich do not pay their fair share. If some do not pay taxes, then how can this be true? I am not rich. I pay taxes. I also feel that if you work hard, you are entitled to have what you earn.

I get ticked off to see the welfare state growing and I have to pay for their irresponsibility, breeding like rats and not being held accountable for their actions. That is why the taxes have to go up.

Time to cut off the lazy who do not want to get ahead by hard work. Too easy to let somebody else pay for their medical needs, utilities, food, cell phones and diapers. It is wrong for the government to keep spending and thinking it can just keep raising taxes. Don’t spend what you don’t have. Borrowing and printing more money will cause undue burden on future generations. How can they have a better life if in the future all they can see is a growing debt? Everyone needs to stop and realize this.

If we all did what our government is doing, wouldn’t this be a fine world we live in?

LORRAINE LAMB Lonsdale Sure, that plan’ll work

Military and federal retirees all receive “socialized,” taxpayer-funded health care and retirement benefits.I have never personally known one who wouldn’t fight tooth and nail to keep the rest of his fellow Americans from having the samecare at the same price that they pay. They have lived in a socialized world all of their working lives and are now in retirement.

Perhaps we could do away with all socialized medicine and try the Republican plan of taking a couple of chickens to the doctor’s office to trade for health care and see how our care improves. While we are at it, let’s stop all socialized retirements, such as Social Security, military pensions fully funded by the taxpayer and federal pensions funded by matching taxpayer funds.

Then we can try the Republican plan of letting our children support us in our old age. Should work out great. JOHN H. NELSON Horatio Statements supported

We want to thank Mike Masterson for his excellent column about the home my wife and I designed and built that pushes the boundary on residential energy efficiency. A letter to the editor accused Masterson of not having any facts to support his statements.Obviously, the writer did not understand the strict requirements of thirdparty verification to achieve an official score through the national Home Energy Rating System (HERS).

After a certified HERS consultant documents orientation, construction, materials, lighting and appliance efficiency, blower-door tests, etc., the results are submitted to the national office where a score is calculated. Masterson saw this extensive documentation before writing his column. We appreciate his effort to let folks know that it is easy and affordable to build a home that will be totally comfortable while reducing our impact on both our environment and our pocketbooks every month from now on.

DAN COODY Fayetteville Bike helmets essential

I’m the survivor of a cognitive challenge or brain injury-I was hit while riding a three-wheeler at age 12. My lifetime expense (34 years) to the taxpayer has been between $3 million and $5 million.

I beg all of you to save our nation health-care costs by promoting the advantages of a helmet. You don’t want to have to deal with being referred to as disabled, retarded, handicapped, etc. These terms are all negatively defined. They create isolation and fear, and hurt the drive to succeed, attitude, self-esteem, etc.

Please work with me to get children wearing helmets. Our nation is becoming a legal nightmare. We can change this.

SHAUN BEST Smackover Many sleepless nights

I keep hearing about all the reasons there are not to support or vote for Mitt Romney and I have this comment for those nonsupporters to think about. Any reasonable person who does not have a thrill run up his leg every time “the anointed one” opens his mouth can look at all the things that Barack Obama has stuffed down our throats-Obamacare, stimulus package, etc.-when he knew he was going to run for re-election. Just think of what he will lay onto the back of the American working man when he doesn’t have to worry about his approval ratings anymore.

That thought alone keeps me awake at night.

KIPP WOODBURY Mountain HomeBrook no deceptions

John Edwards walked out of that courtroom a free man and said, “I don’t think God’s through with me.” He should have said, “The devil made me do it,” for I don’t believe God could have ever been a part of that sordid mess. Maybe Edwards has been on his knees before God confessing and begging forgiveness, as he has certainly sinned against God, his wife and family and the entire nation. After all, he was running for a high office in this land at the time, wasn’t he?

Edwards has been judged by man’s law, which nowadays has thumbed its nose at God, leaving us to live under the rule of man. Time will tell which path Edwards chooses to take. Joshua of old asked the question, “Who is on God’s side? As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” I have chosen. How about you?

Family is the glue that holds this country together. The time is late. The end may not come on Dec. 21, 2012, but there will be a day we all will stand before a merciful but loving God. Let no man deceive you.

MARY P. MAIER Little Rock Purpose and meaning

Kudos to Mike Jenkins for his letter on passing judgment. Contrary to popular opinion, I believe homosexuality is neither a disease nor a problem of heredity. According to the scriptures, it is sinful, learned behavior and that’s good news because there is a remedy. God can forgive the sinner, and by his grace, new patterns of behavior can replace the old, sinful ones.

The Bible teaches us that sexual intimacy is to be reserved for marriage between one man and one woman. Within this climate of commitment and trust, sexual expression finds its true purpose and deepest meaning. Sex outside of marriage (adultery, homosexuality, premarital sex) is contrary to God’s plan. In Christ we have victory over sin and the devil. God can and will help homosexuals if they will confess it to God as sin and seek his forgiveness and cleansing. Then they should give it up completely and develop a biblical view of human sexuality.

God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but when you are tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

I, too, am a sinner saved by grace. As Mike stated, I do not judge anybody, but I will inform them of the consequences laid out in the Bible.

SUE SIMMONS-PITTMAN AlexanderGo sing with the birds

Judge Tom Digby presided in Third Division Circuit Court in Little Rock for 24 years and left a high bar for all judges for fairness and wisdom. Two weeks before I took his place on the bench, he called and asked if he could come by my office; he had a matter to discuss with me.

When he came in, he asked me to sit down and was more solemn than I had ever seen him. He said, “In two weeks, you will take my place. It can be a hard job or an easy one. Get on your knees every morning and ask God for wisdom, and then go out in the backyard and sing the Doxology. If you do that, the job will be easy. If you don’t, you’ll mess it up.”

I knew by the look on his face that he wouldn’t like it if I messed it up. Out of fear and respect, I heeded the great man’s advice. I loved every minute in Third Division for the next 14 years.

Now, in retirement, I have stayed in that habit and notice that the birds seem to join me in chorus as I stand in the backyard and sing. It makes allthe bad news that abounds seem so small and tolerable.

As I occasionally read a letter in the paper, some folks seem so full of hatred and contempt. Wouldn’t it be a pleasant world if those people would get on their knees each morning and ask for wisdom, then go in the backyard and sing the Doxology with the birds?

Judge Digby would be happy if they did, but of course, he is already happy, as he enjoys the very presence of the God he sang to each morning.

JOHN C. WARD North Little Rock Make safety a priority

How many more Arkansans, nay, Americans on the whole, must die because they refuse to abide with common sense and take advantage of the most available of all safety devices, seat belts and helmets? Maybe if the public was better informed of the toll of not using said devices, the number would fall. We are constantly reminded of the “click it or ticket” law, but how many of us know the actual number of fatalities caused by the failure to use seat belts?I believe that the fear of dying would far outweigh the fear of a ticket.

Why in so many reports about a traffic fatality do we find out at the very end that the deceased wasn’t wearing a seat belt or a helmet? Maybe public awareness would be increased and the toll would decrease if the headline for newspaper and Internet articles read “Man not wearing seat belt dies in crash” or “Motorcycle rider with no helmet dies in accident.” Maybe in these cases, the rudimentary journalism rule of who, what, when, where, why and sometimes how should be reversed.

JERRY ALLEN BentonvilleFeedback Watch it; it’s the fizz!

Just a couple of quick questions for those in favor of soda regulation:

1. Will diabetics be allowed seconds if they feel they need the extra sugar to get their blood sugar under control?

2. Will soda become like certain cold medications sold behind the counter to prevent improper usage?

3. Will there be soda police? Will they cite offending restaurants or the offender? Will they be allowed to search our homes without a warrant?

4. Do you think that we will have a rise in the number of soda speakeasies?

Just some thoughts for all you folks who think that we need more government; never forget with every government gift comes a boatload of government strings.

THOM LAKSO Russellville Nothing to see here

The following is a brief summary of JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon’s recent testimony before the Senate Banking Committee.

“Oops-Don’t regulate us-Trust us-We have money to burn-Oops!” ROBERT G. HALL Jacksonville