LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Revise food-stamp policy

Not only does the food-stamp program need to go on a diet, I would suggest that our federal government implement a 21st Century version of the commodities distribution program that existed during the 1970s.

As I recall, recipients were given foods such as canned fruits and vegetables, powdered eggs, instant potatoes, canned beef, peanut butter and blocks of cheese.

Although some of these foods were not ideal, families learned how to be creative when it came to preparing meals-grilled cheese sandwiches, peanut butter cookies, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and beef over rice were just a few of the hearty, healthy foods our family enjoyed as beneficiaries of the commodities program during my childhood.

Our government should strongly consider replacing food stamps with a food distribution program that includes fruits, vegetables, grains and other nutrient-friendly choices. Such a nutrition program would minimize the waste, fraud, obesity and malnutrition that have all been unintended consequences associated with food stamps.

Distributing commodities would be a good step in a national effort to reduce the growing scourges of obesity, health risks and malnutrition nationwide. The streamlining of food options via a commodities distribution-type program is, I believe, the right policy response to a ready-to-eat culture that values packaged, fast and processed foods over fresh and wholesome food choices.

WANA L. DUHART

Little Rock

Kindness is returned

In the movie It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey was in a jam and needed help. His help came through friends and family, people he had helped his entire life.

Just like the movie, Mitzi and Breezy Osborne were in a jam and needed help and it came. There was the lady who bought one of their houses, saying she didn’t know what she was going to do with it but that they had been good neighbors; the gentleman who bought Breezy Meadows, saying he would continue the Osborne legacy; the landlord who is giving Mitzi free rent for a while, and hundreds more.

The Bible says give and it shall be given unto you, pressed down, shaken up and running over shall men give unto you.

The Osbornes always said they would give until God stopped giving to them. He hasn’t stopped, it’s just coming from others right now. It’s a wonderful life for Mitzi and Breezy because they have friends and are loved.

CHERYL BRANNAN

Little Rock

Buy some insurance

If a child (or an adult) is riding an ATV without a helmet, why should the taxpayers have to pay for that person’s health care for the rest of his life? Isn’t that what insurance is for? How about personal responsibility? How about parental responsibility?

We know these accidents will happen. If you choose not to take simple precautions, then you should have to pay the price. When I started driving, my father told me in no uncertain terms that if I didn’t wear my seat belt at all times, I would not be driving on his insurance.

One of the biggest problems this country faces is the expectation that the government should pay for everything. When did this happen? If you farmed in the 1800s and you had a crop failure, you didn’t expect the government to pay you for your loss. If a hurricane destroyed your city, you didn’t complain about how the government didn’t come to your aid quickly enough.

If you expect to be paid for preventable accidents or natural disasters, go buy some insurance. It’s your problem, not the taxpayers.

BERT LEWIS

Vilonia

Mean, hateful words

Ron Miller of Jonesboro seems to want a good ol’ Southern pat on his back for saying President Barack Obama ate dog meat around the campfire in Indonesia. I can tell that Ron likely has not traveled outside Arkansas or served in the military. My husband served two tours in South Korea and my brother served two tours in Vietnam. Both saw people in those countries eating dog meat.

Before coming to Arkansas, I did not know people ate raccoons. I would swear raccoons are cousins of the dog. There are a lot of animals I do not eat, such as raccoon, possum, deer, alligator, rabbit, goat, squirrel or the rest of the animals walking in the woods. Sea creatures like lobster, crab, shrimp and please, no catfish or fried foods. There are many things I refuse to touch, like coffee, alcohol of any kind, and I hate cigarettes.

When you say nasty things about people, God hears you. You will get yours before you leave this sinful place.

Both President Obama and I were raised by our mothers and grandmothers. It is the best teaching a person could want. President Obama would never say anything bad about Ron. He was not raised in a mean, hateful household.

Being raised in a Christian home is like having a million dollars.

The Bible says there is a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

JULIA RANDLE

Jacksonville

Idea shot full of holes

Mike Masterson recently wrote about Benton County Sheriff-elect Kelley Cradduck. I agree with most of what he wrote, but I disagree with his last suggestion: “Scrap those tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars earmarked annually for reported practice ammunition by the department.”

If the department doesn’t provide ammunition for the deputies to practice with, does Masterson expect the deputies to furnish their own? Or does he believe that the deputies don’t need to practice?

Every person who carries a gun for protection (law enforcement or concealed-carry permit) must practice regularly to maintain accuracy when needed. The sheriff’s office should continue to supply that ammunition. Not being accurate with a firearm may cost a deputy’s life.

Preventing that would be well worth the price of practice ammunition.

ROBERT HARMON

BentonvilleIt

Trumps everything

Donald Trump has promulgated the idea that he should be a member of Mitt Romney’s cabinet, especially as it relates to other countries. Could that mean secretary of state?

Public sources say this United States citizen is raising money for the presumptive Republican candidate, not necessarily his own. So, is a quid pro quo in order?

Getting rich has nothing to do with intelligence. To prove the point, I have met seven rich men in my 85-year lifetime. Three never finished high school. None of them could write a decent sentence. End of story?

Trump’s insatiable pursuit of the president’s birth certificate confounds an abnormal number of citizens, but there it is.

Romney, when asked about his association with Trump said, “You know, I don’t agree with all the people who support me and my guess is they don’t all agree with everything I believe in.”

One final reality-nothing’s more important than Donald Trump. If you do not believe it, ask Donald Trump.

Peace?

ROBERT E. HYMER

Little Rock

Please, pay attention

I was getting gas at a convenience store Friday and saw an older fellow also getting gas in his brand-new extended cab pickup. I politely said hello and said, “It looks like the Supreme Court has done it to us.” He had this blank look and shrugged his shoulders and said he didn’t know what I meant.

I asked if he listened to the news at all and he shrugged again and said no. I almost laughed but instead turned my back and smiled. I couldn’t help it. He was totally ignorant about all the turmoil that has been going on in our country for the past 3 1/2 years. He finished before me and was done paying when I entered the store. I was still smiling and the clerk asked me why. I mentioned the Supreme Court and the “tax” from the health-care bill. Yep, you guessed it. She had no idea what I was talking about. As I left the store, I realized it wasn’t funny anymore.

All this makes you wonder about the fate of our country. Has the population been dumbed down so far as to give it to socialists or Communists? I can remember being 20 and not old enough to vote but totally aware of the Johnson/Goldwater differences in 1964.

These ignorant people still vote and one wonders what they are voting for. Maybe just to impress their friends. Who’s telling them how to vote?

The really sad part is I can see no way to correct the situation. You can’t make people pay attention to what affects all our lives.

JOE JAKONCZUK

Beebe

For peace in our time

Columnist Frida Ghitis asks a thoughtful question: Why would anyone want to be president of the United States?

How can you reconcile these two aphorisms: “Fools’ names and fools’ faces love to be seen in public places,” pertaining to the general media and, “He is a fool that cannot conceal his wisdom,” as pertaining to presidential aspirants?

For some in the media, it is strictly a job. Others try to convey information and cheer into our homes. Then there are the bone-picking fools.

Why now a Mormon? (The wrong one, in my opinion. He follows the same foreign policy as President Barack Obama.)

We were much too late in electing a Catholic. We have yet to elect a Lutheran or a member of an Eastern Orthodox church. Explain that to German Chancellor Angela Merkel or Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Globally, humanly and naturally, we certainly are all in this together.

Obviously, Obama has about 10.2 times the global appeal of Mitt Romney. (And obviously, some fool journalist could spell that out in a thousand page book.)

First and utmost, Romney and Obama should consider the love that stands beside them. Romney’s smartness seems to exceed his wisdom. Obama, having much more global appeal, is, I believe, the man for the times. Four more years to secure peace in our time.

DON RICHARDSON

Ash Flat

Feedback

Some observations

How can two individuals, two politicians and tons of talking heads view the same experience and come up with absolutely polar opposite points of view? We are dividing more and more into two diverse camps. The gray area is slowly disappearing. White hats and black hats reign supreme. The problem is each camp believes the other wears the black hat.

Where did the good times go? There’s more knowledge, more gadgets and more entertainment than ever before. Oh sure, there are good times now, but where did the pleasant, satisfying, inexpensive good times go? Don’t you wish they could return?

Be hopeful!

GORDON SWAIM

North Little Rock

Not the right words

So now the Razorbacks are wearing Nike Pro Combat uniforms.

That’s all well and good . . . except for the “pro” part and the “combat” part.

DONALD R. SHORT

Farmington