LETTERS

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

That light? It’s a train

Shaky fingers, a spilled glass, tiny rivulets spreading here and yon seeking its lowest level. No big deal; just physics, or common sense. But a pretty good analogy for how capital works in the financial world. I mean, who in their right mind would build or invest at home when they can get a better deal by moving their plants offshore (to Mexico, Brazil, China, India)?

To the average citizen, financial reports are much too complicated, we being more attuned to simpler indicators like jobs created or lost. But it is the same thing, you know. Where capital goes, jobs are sure to follow. Otherwise intelligent writers in this forum clamor to know why corporations aren’t taxed more or say soak the rich, “make them pay their fair share.”

In Washington, Democrats want to keep taxes high, killing business. And as to all the avid supporters of the Oval Office out there, surely by now you have come to realize that our supreme leader is just an empty suit that loves to travel and make speeches. He seems like a nice enough fellow, but to our peril, he has no business experience, surrounding himself with like-minded cronies.

Buckle up, folks. Contrary to surges in the stock market in recent weeks, the Fed is still printing money like mad while you sleep, thereby devaluing your hard-earned savings. Things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better.

BOB STROUD

Jacksonville

Un-American action

I think we should, without a doubt, make the corporations and wealthy pay their fair share in taxes. It is un-American for these corporations to export jobs overseas to avoid paying taxes.

One culprit, Apple, should pay taxes on all of its profits. That is the American thing to do.

MARION ELLIOTT

Little Rock

Right to be paranoid

Apparently, judging from its editorial, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is okay with the government recording all electronic transmissions of all American citizens.

While no government employee may be listening in today, or any particular day, just remember they’ll be stored and maintained in the new billion-dollar facility being built in Utah.

So, if you’ve ever electronically made numerous contacts with someone else’s husband or wife; made comments, either in support of, or in disagreement with, any religious, racial or political beliefs; ever looked at pornographic websites; commented on your or other’s medical conditions, or any of hundreds of other beliefs or thoughts, it will be stored in this data bank.

If you decide to run for public office, apply for a job, or anything relative to you or your family or anyone else’s and you have ever made any comment of any sort on email, Facebook, Twitter, etc., relative to that, it can be retrieved.

There will be hundreds, if not thousands, of federal employees with access to these records. All it will take will be to type in a name, press enter, and your life, thoughts, beliefs, etc., in your words, will pop up on the computer screen. There will be those who will furnish this information to others for a price.

If you don’t believe this can and will happen, I’ve some oceanfront property down in Calhoun County I’d be willing to sell you.

BOB BUZBEE

Maumelle

Ignorant of his word

“Old people’s issue” is how Sandy Wylie speaks of God’s word on sexual orientation. Actually, God’s word is the same yesterday, today and forever. Sandy seems very superficial and unconcerned about this.

It’s not a lack of understanding. Christ followers know well what God meant. That man has chosen to cede to progressive humanism, I believe, saddens him greatly. It’s not homophobic; it is belief in God’s word. Man is God’s creation and he left the Bible with commandments man must follow to be chosen by him for eternal life in heaven.

Contrary to common belief, God chooses us, we do not choose him. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and these things shall be added unto you. Man-made beliefs are not of God. They have nothing to do with God’s word. Same-sex unions are not a disease, but sin. To nonbelievers it is a lack of understanding.

I believe that Christian churches and other religions that accede to same-sex marriage not only mock but are ignorant of God’s word and his institution of marriage between a man and a woman.

HIRAM B. COOPER JR.

Bella Vista

Can’t ignore problems

Most of us will suffer an inevitable serious illness or injury. Insurance, wealth, Medicare, Medicaid and charity are of little value if hospitals are closed and care is limited. Obamacare basically gave the Legislature two options: We could put people on Medicaid, or buy health insurance. Private hospitals do well. Many provide only specialized service, and may legally limit care to those who can pay. It is our local public and charitable hospitals that provide comprehensive care to any in need. Such hospitals provide hundreds of millions of dollars in charity, and incur millions in bad debt.

Obamacare has imposed higher taxes and insurance premiums, and cuts to hospitals. Hundreds of thousands of Arkansans without insurance continue to go to hospital emergency rooms for care. With Obamacare’s cuts, hospitals can’t continue to absorb the costs of this care. Doing nothing won’t repeal Obamacare and won’t change the facts.

Adding people to Medicaid is money down a hole. By buying health insurance with our own federal money, we can get people off Medicaid and cut bureaucracy. People can go to doctors instead of expensive and humiliating emergency rooms. Hospitals can get paid. This is a three-year pilot program with a sunset clause. The federal government pays 100 percent of the costs and the Legislature retains oversight. If it does not work, then the program ends.

Ignoring the problems Obamacare has created will not make it or the problems go away. I voted for what I believe to be right.

DOUG HOUSE

North Little Rock

State Rep. Doug House represents District 40.

Protectors not there

Well, well, just saw the news that Dustin McDaniel, his shining armor, and trusty steed are going to ride roughshod over Exxon Mobil for the Mayflower oil spill.

Where was he when Teresa Marks’ agency put through the permit to allow Cargill and its partners to pollute the beautiful Buffalo River by allowing thousands of hogs to defecate on porous soil and flow into Big Creek, a tributary of the Buffalo. No public hearings, a very quiet process without enough research, and the permit was issued. I quote from the Department of Environmental Quality’s mission statement on its website: “ADEQ protects the air, water and land from the threat of pollution. We strive for environmental quality through programs of regulation, education and assistance.”

I don’t think so.

What I can’t understand is absolutely no outcry from any of our “protectors” at the Capitol. Sounds like another Martha Shoffner deal to me. C’mon people, contact everyone you vote for, and find out why we can’t get this thing stopped.

DEAN HALEY

Benton

Editorial, Pages 17 on 06/19/2013