LETTERS

Can’t stand the truth

Sorry if some people can’t stand the truth of what this country’s lawmakers are doing to it. We, at least some of us, thought that change was when we voted in 2009. Well, it did change, but not for the better, like a snowball rolling downhill. Spend most of our tax money on overseas dictators and they live the life of kings while our people suffer with nature and the elements like Ward 9 in New Orleans still not rebuilt, half of Mississippi still not rebuilt, and now New Jersey and Oklahoma will follow suit.

It’s time for change and the man that promised it hasn’t delivered. Let us take the yoke and change Washington in the next trip to the polls. Get your ID card and vote.

JOHN P. BAUMAN JR.

Sherwood

Falling into a trap?

In response to Rick Burry’s last letter, I’m one of those supposedly educated persons who, together with millions of others, has fallen into the trap he speaks of, since over 2,000 years ago our Lord appeared on earth, taught, healed, performed miracles, was stoned, rejected, crucified and rose again so all who believe in him would have eternal life.

How many charitable organizations such as Salvation Army, food banks, homeless shelters, Christian organizations for humanitarian aid in Third World countries, hospitals, like Baptist and St. Vincent have atheists set up?

Why do Christians do this? Because Jesus taught us to “love thy neighbor as thyself” and to help the poor, lame, sick and elderly and also to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

As for evidence Christ was on earth, Burry obviously doesn’t have much knowledge of holy scripture. Jesus was seen by 50 followers for 40 days after his resurrection.

A portion of Genesis is mentioned in literature of various peoples of the ancient world but the scientific world refuses to accept it. It would debunk the evolution theory.

I related previously that I received an early morning message from the holy spirit or an angel telling me of an event that would happen in my life. This is not uncommon among believers.

My prayers are with you.

DIXIE ANN COLE

Fayetteville

Mourning its passing

I would like to say thank you to the writers of the article and the editorial about Palmer’s Folly that appeared recently. I would like Richard Butler to know, as you stated, that people mourn the burning of the beautiful home he was restoring.

We go by that house about every two weeks and have been watching its rebirth. When I went by on May 31st, I was just in total shock.

My house burned down. I was sick because I, too, felt connected with that old house.

I stopped recently and talked to the builder from Arkadelphia and he told me to stop by in about a month and he would let me look in. My dreams never came true but I was so happy to read about the house in Sunday’s newspaper when I arrived home.

Thank you for the wonderful editorial on Palmer’s Folly.

ANN LUCAS

Cabot

A new plan for Pryor

Whatever was Sen. Mark Pryor thinking when he voted against background checks for gun purchases? I believe that vote and his pathetically lame excuse that the bill would not have prevented Newtown, etc., has made him unelectable. Of course the bill wouldn’t prevent Newtown, but no bill in our current society will. He certainly doesn’t seem to have a plan that will solve the problem.

If you can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear, at least make a better sow’s ear. The background check is a start; it’s one step forward. It will help keep violent criminals and mental cases from easily securing assault-type weapons, and future bills might further aid our efforts. The bill did nothing that would affect hunters or current owners of weapons for defense or recreation.

I suggest the Democratic National Committee encourage Gov. Mike Beebe to announce his candidacy for Senate. He has name recognition, popularity and a very commendable record as governor, with good judgment and political skills. He can win, and we need to keep our Democrat in Congress.

Pryor should abandon his bid for re-election, use the interim to determine if he truly wants to serve the solid middle-class, compassionate Arkansan, and do a “Nathan Hale,” temporarily sacrificing political life for state and country. He should get his act together and run against John Boozman in his next bid. Since he has done nothing without instructions from the elite Republican hierarchy, he should be beatable.

Republicans want Pryor as the Democratic candidate this coming term.

SID SIMPSON

Springdale

Stop blaming Bush

I think people like Ruud DuVall and David Schrader should do a little research to know what they’re talking about before continuing their tired refrain that George W. Bush wrecked the economy.

By now, I believe knowledgeable people understand two factors caused the recession: the collapse of a ridiculously inflated housing market and a financial world drowning in worthless, subprime mortgages-neither of which was Bush’s doing. For three years after the 2003 Bush tax cuts, revenue increased and deficits decreased, until by the end of 2007-despite “two wars and an unfunded Medicare drug bill”-the deficit was only $163 billion and unemployment 5.0 percent.

Recently economist Paul Krugman wrote: “When the housing bubble … burst, the result was the greatest economic crisis since the 1930s-a crisis from which we have yet to emerge.”

Even President Barack Obama, in his 2012 convention address, stated that this mess “built up over decades.” And I think that’s true; it began in the 1970s with the “Community Reinvestment Act” under the premise that everyone should own a home.

As I remember, Bush didn’t deregulate the banks; that started with the housing initiative to enable the poor to buy a home they couldn’t afford. The final repeal of Glass-Steagall-which had protected against such a disaster since 1931-was in 1999 under Bill Clinton.

The Bush administration warned of a crisis and offered legislation to get Fannie and Freddie under control, but no one listened.

BARBARA FOREMAN

Siloam Springs