LETTERS

All about perspective

Oh, my God, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a crucial part of affirmative-action requirements used by universities. Another example of an ultraconservative court; we need more liberals.

Oh, my God, the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act. Another example of an ultra-liberal court; we need more conservatives.

Oh, my God, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a crucial part of the Voting Rights Act. Another example of an ultraconservative court; we need more liberals.

Is the court liberal or conservative, or is the court trying to do its constitutional duty to the best of its ability? Seems to depend on one’s perspective, doesn’t it?

Perhaps the late Justice O.W. Holmes Jr., in his Path of the Law, put it best when he said that judges come to a decision and then find the facts and precedents to support that opinion. Always has been, always will be.

That doesn’t mean their opinions are “unprincipled” or are not founded in law.

JOHN M. SHIPMAN Jonesboro

Must stop epidemic

Alzheimer’s/dementia is the most expensive disease to treat today, and its prevalence is only growing.

In 2010, my mother, Jan Baldwin, died at the age of 66 after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s, and my hope is that we can eradicate this disease completely. Today there are more than five million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and 15.4 million Alzheimer caregivers.

We are at a critical moment in the Alzheimer’s epidemic, and I believe it is incumbent upon the nation’s leaders to ensure the promise of the country’s first-ever National Alzheimer’s Plan.

I appreciate Sen. John Boozman’s previous support and I urge him to support a strong National Alzheimer’s Plan with the needed resources, including $100 million in fiscal year 2014, for Alzheimer’s research, education, outreach and caregiver-support activities.

Alzheimer’s disease is devastating physically, emotionally and financially.

The number of people affected by Alzheimer’s will only continue to escalate if resources aren’t allocated now, and the cost of the disease-estimated to be $203 billion in 2013 alone-will cripple our health-care system.

I would rather invest a small amount now in order to see huge returns later.

Please call Sen. Boozman now and urge him to include $100 million for Alzheimer’s research and support in future appropriations. Tell him Alzheimer’s can’t wait.

CHRISTIAN BALDWIN Fayetteville

Reaction is overblown

A comment on the Paula Deen debacle: For heaven’s sake, people, she is a Southerner!

She hasn’t murdered anyone-she just admitted to using a word that people find offensive.

If every white Southerner who has ever uttered the “n-word” were treated with the ridiculous, overblown reaction Paula has received, the country’s business probably would come to a standstill.

LAYNE FLEMING Sherwood

Get out there and sell

The “sensible alternative” to the bipartisan gun-control reform bill opposed by Sens. Mark Pryor and John Boozman was supported by the NRA, according to The Hill website devoted to federal government news.

The Hill reported that the failed bill, which was sponsored by Republicans Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Ted Cruz of Texas, would not have expanded background checks, but rather focused “on making the backgrounds system work better … by encouraging states to report mental health records,” according to Cruz.

The gun industry supported the bill, in my opinion, because it would help sell more product.

No shame in that: It’s their job. They should not be expected to care how guns are used or who uses them. That’s the job of our senators, congressmen and other government leaders at all levels, and law enforcement, of course, which really does seem to care.

According to The Hill, the Grassley-Cruz bill would have made iteasier to purchase and transport firearms across state lines. It allowed for the interstate sale and transportation of firearms, providing certain conditions are met.

If there were actual beneficial reforms in the Grassley-Cruz bill (Did I mention that the NRA supported it?), what would be wrong with voting for it and the bipartisan bill that included expanded background checks, except that the gun industry opposed that one?

Remember: Guns don’t kill people. People with guns kill people.

HOWELL MEDDERS Fayetteville

Try solving problems

Re Tom Cotton’s response on his position that the farm bill was a bad deal for Arkansas: First of all, I live on a small farm and maintain a cattle operation. I have done so all of my life with no government support until last year, when Gov. Mike Beebe authorized me to receive $106 to compensate me for the additional $3,000 expense I incurred due to drought.

These proceeds were state funds.

I understand the farm bill supports the food-stamp program, and Mr. Cotton has recognized the waste proposed, as there is in any government program.

However, he failed to address that the farm bill also involves the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development home-loan program, as well as the USDA Guaranteed Farm Ownership loan program, which allows commercial lenders to provide funds for the purchase of homes and farms.

These finance programs are currently at a standstill until a farm bill passes. These programs enable farm families to continue to live on the farms Mr. Cotton seems to treasure growing up on.

Is this really in the best interest for all Arkansans?

It is my understanding that without this bill, the policies established by the farm bill in the 1940s go back into effect. If that happens and drives farmers out of business, won’t that also increase the price of food, if we can get it?

How about a little less bashing and more problem-solving?

RHONDA M. COMPTON Sheridan