PUBLIC VIEWPOINT Understand Oath Of Armed Forces

As Veterans Day approaches, we need to understand the purpose and oath of enlistment of all branches of our armed forces. It has been in its current form since 1962.

I, (name), do solemnly swear (or aftrm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.”

The state’s National Guard diff ers by adding the state:

I, (name), do solemnly swear (or aftrm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the UnitedStates and the State of (state name) against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.”

It is all about defending the Constitution.

Yes, the oath includes [a command to] obey the orders of the president and the Governor, but without a secure Constitution neither would exist.

All the oaths end with “So help me God.”

RON GOODWIN

Cave SpringsTAXES BURDEN START-UPSArkansas must not want any new smallbusinesses to start up and boost our economy.

My family was looking to start a small business and just a few days after beginning the process we received a note from the Benton County Assessor’s Oftce. As we have not yet even started the business, I called to ask what we would be being taxed for.

The lady explained to me that there would be a 20 percent tax on assets or every piece of furniture or machine associated with the business, even if the business didn’t make a single dollar in profi t.

She gave me the example of a homemade workbench. She said the cost of the wood and nails that wentinto building it would be estimated and that amount would be taxed 20 percent, in accordance with Arkansas Statute 26-1-101.

I wonder how many other small businesses have decided not to open because of such taxes.

Small businesses start out with the deck stacked against them and we wonder why our economy is having such a hard time recovering.

I hope these types of road blocks can be changed before it is to late for the small businesses and our economy.

BEN HUGHES

Rogers