LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — An impressive vision

I recently had the opportunity to hear Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines present the facts about the need to replace the Broadway Bridge, and his future vision for the bridge.

I suppose that most people, like me, are unaware of the true facts about this project. Forming opinions without the facts is an all-too common problem in our society. Far too many people just make irrational decisions based on false information from unreliable sources.

I would encourage everyone to find out why this bridge must be replaced, like the fact that is in bad shape and will only get worse with time. The vision held by Villines for “America’s Bridge” is not only impressive, but I believe it would create a unique landmark attraction that could bring thousands of visitors to Central Arkansas and create a remarkable memorial to all branches of the military and our veterans. The concept of the red, white and blue LED lighting is impressive and something all the residents of Pulaski County should be proud of.

I encourage all citizens to learn the facts and the potential of this wonderful project. The investment we make now will pay dividends for decades to come.

I congratulate Villines on his vision and hard work. He deserves our support, not criticism and misinformed rhetoric from a seventh-grader worried about killing the fish. I believe the fish and Central Arkansas citizens would be much safer with the new bridge.

PAUL MINTON

Little Rock

Down a perilous path

Has the entire world gone totally mad? We observed with horror the once-venerable, God-fearing Democratic Party embracing the sordid picture of socialism (and didn’t even notice).

Now, one of the last bastions of morality training for the nation’s youth appears to have succumbed to coercion by agreeing to admit homosexuals into a fertile and highly susceptible recruiting ground. Remember the youth from Lonoke who killed his parents after being seduced by his scoutmaster? God help us.

Now comes the hate mail. Sorry about that, but wrong is still wrong even if everybody does it, and right is still right even if nobody does it.

BOB STROUD

Jacksonville

Find in-state solution

I am opposed to Clark Fincher’s resounding endorsement to spend more of Arkansas’ money to expand Medicaid entitlement. I agree we must provide health care to those who cannot obtain care on their own. I am not convinced to join the lemming-like states who think opting in is the way to do that. Some of the states that have already opted out are doing so because they feel they can expand these services using their own bright legislators to solve the problems in their states. Fincher apparently feels our legislators are too injudicious to find solutions.

Therein is the problem. I don’t believe our federal government is in any way capable of fixing Arkansas’ problems. And once we jump in with both feet before examining it carefully, and should the Feds be unable to fund this program as they promise, footing this bill will fall back to Arkansans.

By the way, where is the federal government getting this money to fund the Medicaid expansion program? Oh yes, I remember, our pockets.

We are taxed for everything the federal government is so generously spending money on. I say let Sen. Jason Rapert and the Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee find an in-state solution for Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion.

TERRIE WILKEY

Garfield

Smart, but dimwitted

I am a 72-year-old native Arkansan, who is a Navy veteran and love my country, constantly amazed at the lack of common sense among educated people. As the people who are supposed to run our country, they are failing miserably, seem to think throwing money at a problem will cure it or they appoint a committee of their fellow water heads and drag out the process.

To be short and sweet, make it an automatic death sentence to commit an assault-type crime with a gun and take these clowns out of the gene pool. Then stop the media from providing them so much publicity instead of burdening honest citizens with more useless regulations; it worked for rustling and kidnapping back when representatives had guts to stand up.

As far as the economy is concerned, lock the doors until the pompous idiots can pass a budget, cut off their perks, then ax foreign aid (which only helps petty dictators that despise us), reduce our huge contribution to the United Nations, then close the Energy Department, which has a $20 billion-plus yearly budget and, I believe, has not done anything since Jimmy Carter established it except raise the price of everything from cereal to dog food because of ethanol, which gets less mileage and does more harm to engines and equipment.

I don’t think we’ve had a real president since Harry Truman, though Ronald Reagan came close. Our present one doesn’t have sense enough to run a stick horse.

JACK A. STEPHENS

Houston

Dogged by disdainful

I live in Lonoke County in the country. Unfortunately, there seems to be a problem with people dropping dogs off.

Why would you put your problems off on someone else? Why would you make the homeowners in the country, who have nothing to do with your animals, have to take care of your issues? What kind of person pushes their problems off on others?

Anyone who has a dog that they want to get rid of needs to take care of the issue themselves and stop making it someone else’s problem. Check out craigslist and see how many dogs are on there because of inconsiderate people who have dropped their dog off and now someone else has to take responsibility for it.

Please take care of your own mess and stop making problems for others.

DRU GASSIOTT

Scott

Health-care act awful

Re the editorial about the medical device industry tax in Obummer-Scare: We read the horror stories of companies such as Cook Medical canceling plans for five new factories in the U.S. because of this tax, and remember that it was our very own Sen. Mark Pryor and then-Sen. Blanche Lincoln who made this fiasco possible.

It seems there is a report every week of companies such as Hobby Lobby having to go to court to protect their religious faith from this act. I can only hope that Arkansas voters keep this in mind when we vote in the next election.

JOHN EATON

Benton