LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Legalize and regulate

I’m reminded of the Taliban every time I read an article about the so called evils of a natural herb any of us could grow in our own garden.

However, if we did, the Feds or local law enforcement could come and take our property and our freedom from us even if it was only being used medicinally instead of the more common recreational use.

I’m from the class of 1965, and I’ve read and studied the pros and cons for almost 50 years; the pros outweigh the cons a hundred times. The “War on Drugs” (all of them) has been a farce. I believe it’s been far worse than Prohibition was, and has been going on far too long. The coming vote on making it less of a crime to use marijuana medicinally will just drag this so-called war on a bit longer.

For the love of God and your fellow man, let’s fully legalize it. Then we could at least have the benefits of the taxes it would bring in and we could truly regulate it.

Sure, keep it out of the reach of our children, just like we do our alcohol, tobacco and firearms. The taxes collected could be wasted on something else instead of us being taxed billions of dollars to incarcerate individuals for harming no one but themselves.

So this November 6th, vote no to the Taliban and yes for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

JEFFREY MUCKLEROY

Fayetteville

Danger to education

The Romney-Ryan ticket is the truest corporate and Wall Street ticket ever; I believe their corporate buddies do not have our welfare anywhere in their corporate equation.

Mitt Romney is rich (and even richer now with profits from the bailout of Delphi, part of the GM bailout). Ryan, a child born into wealth-along with friends, the Koch brothers-is no friend of the middle class either.

Romney and Ryan are backing the breaking up, not the building, of our educational system. The new-age corporate school rush started years ago, promoted by Jeb Bush and other investors like Rupert Murdoch for profits of an estimated $25 billion in 10 years. The aim apparently is to close down most public schools and put in their places corporate-owned schools like Digital Learning Now, K12 Online and the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, to name a few, plus promote virtual schools, all in order to get rid of unionized teachers with their union wages and benefits, so states can eliminate school boards and reduce their education budgets.

Yet another scheme, if passed, is the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. In low-income neighborhoods, the Republicans want, in essence, to close their schools, get them out of the education system and turn them into corporate charter schools. Privatizing public schools is, in essence, anti-labor and anti-public education, which means low wages, no benefits and no rights.

We must stop this madness.

DIANE VASICA

Hot Springs Village

A meaningful change

Part of Gov. Mitt Romney’s proposed tax overhaul will eliminate tax on capital gains, dividends and interest for those earning less than $200,000 (couples) and $100,000 (individuals).

This would be a significant change and be very meaningful to millions of taxpayers.

ORIN GULSETH

Texarkana

Not the way to fund it

Voters will be asked to approve a half-percent sales tax for roads that will expire in 10 years. This tax will be imposed by amending the Arkansas Constitution. Concerns have been raised that our taxes are too high and that a sales tax unfairly burdens the poor. These may be legitimate concerns, but this proposal should also be viewed from a governmental operations viewpoint.

The purpose of a constitution is to set forth general principles and the framework of the law and government. Statutory law, as enacted by our Legislature, provides the details of the government, such as specific taxes. If you amend the constitution to impose a tax, the only way to get rid of the tax is to amend the constitution again, an onerous task. This has great potential for reducing accountability of government.

This approach to raising taxes for a specific state commission is not unprecedented. In November of 1996, the voters of Arkansas narrowly approved an amendment to impose a 1/8 percent sales tax to go to certain agencies, including the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Within a few short years, the commission had more vehicles than employees. It also famously, and erroneously, declared itself not subject to the Arkansas Freedom of Information law. Do we want to go down this road again?

The highway proposal is not as harsh as the 1996 amendment, as it will expire in 10 years. I simply point out that this is not a good way to fund government operations. Does the end justify the means?

DAVID L. EDDY

Russellville

Who deserves trust?

Is it any wonder that Americans have lost confidence in our elected officials? Stories of vote-buying schemes, sweetheart deals and lobbyist favors have driven the public’s regard for politicians to new lows.

But pointing fingers at those in office does not absolve our culpability as voters if we turn a blind eye when one of our own legislators demonstrates low character.

State Sen. Steve Harrelson of Texarkana was recently forced to admit to an apparent ethics violation, using campaign funds rather than his per diem reimbursements to pay his legislative apartment rent in Little Rock.

This betrayal, not only of contributors who trusted him with their hard earned money, but also of us taxpayers who pay him to write the laws that govern our lives, brings to mind the words of Robert E. Lee: “I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself.”

CODY BOHN

Fouke

Need a new president

I read again about unemployment rates falling. The jobs data is so misleading.

Wake up, people! This is October and all the stores across the country are hiring Christmas help. The unemployment rate falls, and guess what happens after Christmas. You got it-unemployment soars once again.

Voters, don’t be deceived here at election time. We need a change. We need a new president who understands the economy and how to change it.

CAROL KUBIAK

Crossett