LETTERS

Arkie’s immigration plan

With all the talk about immigration reform, it is evident to me that America needs an “American Party” compromise on illegal aliens.

A true compromise would provide no path to citizenship for the parents.

Instead, let them register and pay taxes for a “Red Card/Visa” that won’t provide a path to a Green Card. It would provide limited civil rights: pay taxes and fines or be deported. It would give them a deferment on being deported until their kids born in the U.S. are 21, with immediate deportation if they are convicted of any crime, don’t pay taxes or are unemployed for six months or longer.

Give the DREAM Act kids who graduate high school in the U.S. a “Yellow Card/Visa” that gives them 12 years to pay back taxes and fines before they can apply for a Green Card. Any DREAM Act visa holder would get an immediate Green Card if he joined the military, became a cop/INS officer/firefighter, or graduated college with a master’s degree in certain high need fields, or agrees to work so many years in a remote location.

The plan would provide U.S. citizenship to any military member wounded or killed in the line of duty, and move the others to the front of the line to apply for citizenship after six years. They too would face deportation for not paying taxes, criminal convictions or unemployment lasting longer than a year, with a few exceptions.

With this plan, the U.S. wouldn’t need any special guest workers. Instead, farmers would be provided the address and phone numbers of Red Card holders in their area that they could employ.

KEITH WEBER

Jacksonville

New branch appears

When I was a lad, I learned that we had three branches of the government: executive, legislative and judicial; a system of checks and balances.

Today we apparently have a fourth, the ACLU, which among other things, defends free speech (even of questionable taste) which, because it is so essential to the press, apparently means no opposition and no challenge when the ACLU attempts to, I believe, undermine religion, especially Christianity, in this country under the guise of defending the Constitution.

B.L. DOUDE

Jasper

A perilous precedent

There is a group of businesses, led by Hobby Lobby, hoping the U.S. Supreme Court will rule that they can deny contraception coverage because of the owners’ religious beliefs. If the court was to rule that businesses can deny contraception coverage on this basis, it would have far-reaching ramifications.

For example, what if a store owner claims that his religion states that all workers must provide proof of church membership or suffer a reduction in pay? Since this is a religious belief, would the government allow this? How about if someone believes that the color red is sinful and claims God told him to kill anyone wearing red? Would this defense be allowed to stand?

I fully support freedom of and freedom from religion, the latter of which the right erroneously claims does not exist in the Constitution. However, in order to have a civilized society, there must be limits in place. I think Hobby Lobby’s owners are entitled to practice whatever faith they choose, but they are not entitled to deprive their employees of their rights under the law. Hobby Lobby is a business, not a person, and as such, is not guaranteed the same rights as individuals. I believe that allowing businesses to use “religious freedom” to control the private lives of their employees will set a terrible precedent and will do irreparable damage to society.

JUDSON HANSON

Fayetteville

Seniors read comics

Like Joe Slinkard, I too am a longtime subscriber (over 50 years, not counting the years my parents’ and grandparents’ subscriptions).

First, I’d like to address the statement Mr. Slinkard made about senior citizens reading the comics. Most of us do.

And believe it or not, we get it. I have griped in this paper about the comics changing, but have accepted the fact that certain comics are here to stay. I never liked the fuzzy-headed Nancy with her simple boyfriend Sluggo. I also was not a fan of eyeless Little Orphan Annie but accepted the fact that they stayed in the paper a long time. I think Zack Hill is like other comics-great some days but only fair others, but I still read it. Judge Parker is not on the take and is enjoying retirement, and I count myself among the multitude that do read it (not 10).

By the way, I read Pearls Before Swine and don’t consider myself hip or intelligent.

DAVE STUFF

Little Rock

Choosing better path

As our Congress begins again to form a budget I am reminded of a Psalm: “… may he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy and crush the oppressor.”

I believe that trying to balance the budget on the backs of those who need Medicaid, food stamps and housing assistance is not the right course. Eliminating fraud and abuse from any program would be commendable. Our economy right now is coming back but still fragile. Immigration reform, rebuilding our infrastructure and avoiding more wars would be a good start.

ED PARKS

Rogers

Wumo is refreshing

After reading Wumo for a few days now, I find it a refreshing replacement for Get Fuzzy. Its subliminal messages are sublime.

Zack Hill should be the next to go. Just my humble opinion.

CHARLES NICHOLS

Maumelle

Keep Judge Parker

Every few years a controversy comes up about the comic section and someone will say that no one reads Judge Parker.

Okay, folks, I read Judge Parker and have for years. I love this strip. I have loved watching the characters grow. I have loved the drama and suspense in each storyline.

I love it … so leave it alone!

SALLY GOSS

Little Rock

Carry it all week long

Reading Voices, comics are a hot topic. Hence my question: Why is the Judge Parker strip not carried in the Sunday comics?

Being an avid fan, I had to go online to the Seattle newspaper to find out how a recent dilemma was resolved. If you are going to carry it at all, why not seven days?

DEANNA GAYLE ROGERS

Smackover

Made a poor choice

You’ve chosen poorly to ax Get Fuzzy.

Because of this strip I read four more; now I read only one.

LARRY ELFSTROM

Little Rock

Give strip some time

Re Wumo: Most of us don’t like change in whichever aspect of our lives change may occur. Please give it time. Wumo is intelligent, thought provoking and funny.

Keep it!

JULIA SIMS

Benton

Pantalones en fuego

University of Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long stated that moving a Razorback football game from Little Rock to Fayetteville could boost revenue to the university by $900,000 to $1 million. He then said that the decision to do so “really wasn’t financially motivated at all.”

Unreported was how long it took for his pants to burst into flames.

MIKE WATTS

Little Rock

Does not make sense

Most Voices letters to date have been pro-Fuzzy. I would not have believed that this strip was even in the marginal category.

I believe Darby Conley is borderline genius, in the same conversation with Gary Larson, Bill Watterson and Dave Barry. Get Fuzzy was the most original, insightful and best strip in the paper. Who made this decision?

Oh. I considered Frank Fellone to be alongside those I admire, like Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Sowell and George Will. But now it seems he’s gone senilific. Maybe he wants to be grouped with Moe and Curly.

I do realize it’s trivial to bicker about a newspaper comic strip considering the state of our country and the real-life cartoon that now occupies our nation’s White House.

Even though I’ve affronted Mr. Fellone, I hope he would please do millions of people a favor and consider re-running all of Dave Barry’s columns on a weekly basis.

God bless America. I support Coach Bielema; go Hogs!

The Cuttings are the best carriers I’ve ever had; thank you for them.

KEN HUGHES

Nashville

Put aside the politics

I believe nothing’s being done of any intrinsic value by the current Congress-House or Senate. Think about 43 votes in the House to abort the Affordable Care Act with absolutely no opportunity to effect a positive change. Think about the three vacancies in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is second only to the Supreme Court.

Republicans stopped fulfillment with three of the most qualified people on earth. Why? Politics! This potentially explains the 9 percent approval rating.

The above, among other factors, explains the reasons for the nuclear option. Let the good times roll.

Further, I’m pretty sure Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the U.S., is spinning in his grave thanks to this reality.

ROBERT E. HYMER

Little Rock

Feedback

Funeral for fashion

Those dark gray-colored uniforms of the University of Arkansas are an anthra-“site” to be-“hold”, fumble and let another team recover, like the University of Miami (?!). The anthracite reminds me of attending a funeral. Don’t want to go there.

I am a traditional cardinal red-and-white fan with no anthracite anywhere in sight on the uniforms-helmet, pants, jersey, bottom of shoes, etc.

Hopefully, this is the last season they will have been worn … or will the dirge continue?

Happier days will be had in the cardinal and white, only. Now that’s a wardrobe superstition Coach Bret Bielema should really acknowledge.

WILLIAM H. HOYT

Russellville

The art of imitation

In regard to the Razorbacks wearing those anthracite-colored uniforms, here’s a thought. If the Hogs don’t want to wear the school colors, there are lots of other colors they could choose. How about burnt orange? That’s a nice-looking color.

At least we would be imitating a major college team instead of Arkansas State.

BOB ANDERSON

Fayetteville