LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — No reason for shame

I have been a taxpayer most of my life with two exceptions-when I was in my late teens attending college and when I was in my late 30s in graduate school. Those years I only worked part-time, barely earned enough to have to pay any taxes, and saw most of my deductions returned to me at the end of each tax year, which helped me make it through the next school year.

Of course, after receiving my bachelor of arts degree, I was able to find a better-paying job than if I’d only had a high school diploma, which meant I was able to pay more in taxes the very next year than I’d ever paid in my life. After getting my master’s degree, I was able to accelerate my earning power and pay even more taxes than ever before.

All the while I was in school, I never had a clue that I was nothing but a lazy freeloader, someone who was just looking for a handout, someone a presidential candidate would consider not even worthy of his concern.

If I’d known that, I would have felt ashamed of myself except for one thing: In the 23 years since I last graduated, I have been paying a higher percentage in taxes than it appears my accuser has ever paid in his lifetime and ever will.

I may no longer be “the 47 percent,” but I am a member of that percentage who will not be voting for him.

JOHN MATLOCK

Little Rock

Elves are out to get us

Just when we’re told the facts about organic foods’ nutritional value, here comes an expose about arsenic in our state’s beloved crop, rice.

This confirms my suspicions about pitchmen Snap, Crackle and Pop (Rice Krispies) as being alien agents out to do us in. What’s next? The truth about the vertically challenged Keebler elves?

The tabloids will really have a field day with this.

DAVE STUFF

Little Rock

Someone not truthful

It is amazing to me that so many Americans haven’t figured out they are already paying for the uninsured. This knowledge is critical to understanding how Medicare savings happen with Obamacare.

Obamacare takes the nonpaying needy out of hospitals’ emergency rooms. The expense of low-quality emergency room treatments has for years been passed on to those with health insurance. Obamacare removes this expense from the hospitals.

Obama was able to negotiate a $716-billion reduction in cost (over 10 years) for Medicare, predicated on the continuation of Obamacare. The Obama administration was able to reduce by $716 billion the cost to Medicare, thus significantly extending the life of the Medicare trust fund.

So Romney and Ryan have gotten it backwards. Are they really that dumb or are they misleading us? It amazes me that Romney and Ryan complain about the Democrats being untruthful, when it’s really the other way around.

Romney and Ryan promise to kill Obamacare. If they did so, the deal with hospitals would be off. Still the Ryan budget proposal takes $716 billion from Medicare. How can they possibly do that without killing Medicare as we know it?

W.J. BRAITHWAITE

Little Rock

Long chose character

Although some want Jeff Long’s head, I support him and here’s why: Penn State. Yes, that was different and much more scandalous. But it proves what tragedies happen when officials lie, cover up and place winning over integrity.

In a day when cheating, steroids and sanctions are common, our athletic director had the courage to confront wrong. Winning on the field is not the most important victory. Character matters. Winning without integrity is shallow and eventually catches up to you. Long made a courageous decision to win where it matters most.

For those who want Bobby Petrino back, I only have one question: What type of coach would you want your child to play for? What example would you want the coach to set for him or her? Do integrity and honesty matter? Do marriage vows matter?

John L. Smith is not the best coach. But what better choice did Long have in April? Petrino put us in this position, no one else. Yes, we should forgive him. But forgiveness doesn’t mean making the same mistake twice. Forgiveness and trust are two different things. Petrino had his chance and now we’re seeing the result.

We’ll come back from this as we have before, but not because we sold our soul for money or a trophy. A clean image will only help our program in the long run, in fundraising, recruiting and on the field. Don’t think character matters most?

Visit Jerry Sandusky’s jail cell and ask him.

BRENT ATKINSON

Bryant

The name of the lame

Well, now we know what the “L” in John L. Smith’s name is for: “Loser.” Go ASU.

GEORGE BARTLETT

Morrilton

Coverage range wide

Following a recent trip to Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, I was appalled at the skimpy newspapers in major cities like Milwaukee and Indianapolis.

Thank you, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Rogers Morning News, for your continuing, informative coverage of wide-ranging news. This paper is my morning coffee companion.

VIOLA WILLE

Rogers

Expel such discipline

There has been a lot of pro and con debate when it comes to corporal punishment.

To be honest, I am opposed to it. There should be laws against it. All it does is promote violence in the homes and schools. What do you accomplish hitting a child? Absolutely nothing.

I hated to go to school when I was in first grade. My teacher slapped my hands because I got the math problems wrong. I hated her long, thick, white ruler. During reading time, if you answered her incorrectly, whack.

If you don’t want violence in the schools, remove corporal punishment. It’s like the father who whips a child with a belt. There are other means of discipline-timeout, detention, alternative classroom or Saturday school. There needs to be a happy medium in our schools.

DONALD L. PUTMAN

El Dorado