Letters

Forgotten directive

It was indeed a pleasant surprise to see Arkansas as having the biggest percentage drop in the uninsured rate of its citizens in the nation. That's right, it seems Arkansas is the most successful state when it comes to the core reason for the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, that being to reduce the number of uninsured in the nation.

Good job to all concerned.

The state Department of Human Services reports that more than 190,000 have signed up for the state's version of Medicaid expansion, which contributed greatly to the peace of mind and well-being now being enjoyed by many previously uninsured Arkansans. I never thought I'd see the day.

In nearby Texas, which had and still has the highest uninsured rate in the nation, its governor refused Medicaid expansion for purely political reasons. I think that, obviously, folks like Rick Perry and those who follow them have forgotten Jesus' admonition: "If you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me."

RICHARD MOORE

Camden

Clear out death row

I personally love it when they execute a convicted killer and they squirm and suffer like the animal they are. I think if they would kill them all on death row, it would free up more space and get the scum off the taxpayers' backs. More money to spend on better things.

Rights, some gutless liberals would argue, they don't have rights then. Lethal injection is too kind.

ELLIS WILLIAMS

England

Demand to keep plan

Asa Hutchinson's nephew is Jim Hendren from Gravette. Mr. Hendren has just been made speaker-elect of the state House, to replace Dav​y Carter.

Mr. H. is an outspoken critic of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and has ambitions of abolishing it in Arkansas. Asa Hutchinson has not made himself clear on it, as he has desires to cut taxes and likely knows this act brings in big money to the state. If Mr. H is successful in abolishing the Affordable Care Act here, about 225,000 Arkansans will lose health care in the next year. About 190,000 are enrolled in the expanded Medicaid care program. Hospitals and clinics are seeing at least 12 percent​ fewer emergency patients that did not pay before the ACA and they are very happy with what we are doing for needy people with health care.

In the long run, I believe the rest of us will see reduced health-care costs and more timely service under the private option.

This is why this is the most important election in my lifetime. I wish the Republicans would tell the people the truth about something that is good for all of us. ​Remember, they vowed to abolish Medicare in the 1960s. Here's hoping the people of Arkansas will demand we keep these benefit​s​.

CHARLOTTE MOORE

Fayetteville

No reprise necessary

Thank you, Bob Carnation, for your letter regarding the "same old songs" being played on the "oldies" rock stations (and a refreshing change from all the Christian, biblical and political letters).

There are so many great artists and songs out there that a repeat play should not be necessary! Does anyone know a good station that has variety? One that doesn't play Bob Seger, Steve Miller and their ilk? Anyone heard of Chris Rea?

SUSAN TURTON-WEEKS

Sherwood

Pose some questions

Mr. Ralph Barger's suggestions for the president on how to tackle ISIL leads to a few questions.

Shouldn't our do-nothing Congress have some input? How much will it cost? Remember, we still owe trillions for two unfunded wars. Should we raise taxes? Should we commit to a never-ending conflict against an enemy du jour? They seem to pop up like poison mushrooms over there.

Would it ever end?

CATHERINE HARP

Sherwood

Don't believe all of it

Just a note in regards to Gerald Holland's letter about the wire services and news outlets: Let me take you back to the big fuss all the broadcast and cable news and newspapers made about Illinois raising its income-tax rate by 66 percent.

I heard it on all the news outlets--liberal, conservative, didn't matter. Remember Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin telling businesses to leave Illinois and come to Wisconsin? Wisconsin's top individual tax rate is 7.65 percent, by the way.

Having a son in Illinois, I asked him how much this was going to hurt him. He laughed as he told me that, while true, it was raised from 3 percent to 5 percent. Top rate in Arkansas is 7 percent. So it seems a 2 percentage-point increase doesn't sell news like a 66 percent increase does.

As my mother use to say, don't believe everything you hear, and half of what you read or see.

EDITH SEAMAN

Lakeview

Moderate standards

As a retired Army master sergeant with 25 years of service, I strongly believe that the EPA's proposal to moderate the renewable fuel standards is in the best interests of our active-duty military.

All Americans should favor helping keep our troops out of harm's way by reducing our nation's dependence on oil from unstable and unfriendly foreign sources. An all-of-the-above approach is the best way to achieve energy independence. We should develop every natural resource we can.

Corn-based ethanol can be part of the mix, but let's be honest. The fact is, the goals that the standards set--reduced oil imports, lower greenhouse-gas emissions, etc.--have already been met, no thanks to the standards. New drilling technologies allowed us to reach these goals, plus increased use of natural gas and reduced consumption of gasoline.

In addition to being ineffectual, the standards have had several unintended consequences, including higher prices for gasoline, livestock feed, and corn-based products.

Moderation of the standards would not only help bring those prices down, but also avert the risk of widespread engine damage from higher ethanol-content blends and remove the perverse incentive for converting ecologically sensitive land into farm acreage.

With the U.S. poised to become the world leader in oil production--taking advantage of new drilling techniques, previously inaccessible offshore reserves, long-overdue construction of the Keystone pipeline--we can make this country energy secure at last. Our servicemen and women will be freed from the danger of defending access to foreign markets and our citizens will enjoy prosperity again.

MAURICE TAYLOR

North Little Rock

He can't catch break

Seems like a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't.

After being splattered with rotten tomatoes for not attending the tomato festival, Tom Cotton and his wife went to the watermelon festival in Hope, but it seems only to have their personalities degraded by John Brummett. We learned that Cotton is a cold fish and his wife is a Chatty Cathy.

Seems to me that Cotton should not have attended. At least Brummett would not have had the opportunity to tear him to shreds.

By the way, Mr. Brummett, what did we learn about Sen. Mark Pryor at the watermelon festival--other than someone held an umbrella over his head while he ate watermelon?

RUSS BAILEY

Little Rock

See a contradiction?

The TV commercial for congressional candidate French Hill shows him with a clunker car that barely runs and is named "Old Blue." He claims, too, that if elected he will not spend money he doesn't have, just like the people of Arkansas don't.

About the same time this commercial started running, there were news reports that this same French Hill saw the company for which he is CEO and chairman, Delta Trust, sold to Simmons Bank for $67 million. His part was several millions, plus severance of another million if he wins his race.

Does anyone else but me see a contradiction where French Hill makes millions but tries to run for Congress on a message of a clunker car and not spending more money than he has?

JIM LANCASTER

Sheridan

Editorial on 08/14/2014

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