Should be separated
If there have already been letters to the editor concerning this subject, then I apologize for being repetitive.
We, being the voters of Arkansas, are being asked to again vote on term limits for our representatives and senators. If you look at a ballot, term limits will not be obvious, but you will see something called Issue 3, which is more than an issue. It is an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution and should be called such.
The full title does mention term limits in the last line. The short title, which is much easier to read, is "Arkansas Elected Officials Ethics, Transparency, and Financial Reform." I believe the phrase "Term Limits for Such Elected Officials" should be added.
How ironic that an "issue" concerning ethics and transparency is neither.
Section 3 of House Joint Resolution (HJR) 1009, which is Issue 3 on the ballot, states that the terms of our representatives and senators will be extended to 16 years. The rest of the resolution sounds good, and who wouldn't want our legislators and lobbyists to be ethical and transparent? The hiding of something in this resolution for which the people of Arkansas have already overwhelmingly stated their preference is about as transparent as a mud hole.
Section 3 is unrelated to the rest of HJR 1009, and if the folks who introduced this resolution really want to be ethical and transparent, they will make Section 3 a separate item on the ballot.
J.L. MASON
Conway
Another fleeting fix
Invoking the biblical tragedy of Samson, a recent Democrat-Gazette lead editorial lamented the latest of the perpetual string of broken treaties between Israel and her avowed enemies. The lament was, "Will this be just a partial and temporary occupation of Gaza till Washington and the rest of the world again force Israel to withdraw short of a more permanent end to the rocket fire out of Gaza?"
The obvious answer to this rhetorical question is "of course."
As Samson found at the cost of his eyes, his integrity, his dignity, his life and his own usefulness to deliver his people, any capitulation to the enemy has dire consequences. Which is precisely why the Lord commanded Israel to vanquish her enemies in the first place rather than making treaties and alliances with them.
There were a few characters in the biblical era who actually believed Israel could win by trusting in and obeying the Lord. Not the least of these and perhaps the greatest was Samuel, who was sent to chastise King Saul for sparing Agag, the Amalekite king.
As the words of Agag illustrate, evil men are always ready to make peace when they are whipped. But evil men are always evil men and therefore invariably return to their evil ways just like a coiled spring. Which is why Samuel slaughtered this evil man before the Lord and put an end to the problem.
Israel today is not apt to follow such a course, if for no other reason than that she would incur the wrath of this whole evil world if she did. And so the cycle of broken "peace" and renewed hostilities will continue until Israel, as Christ foretold, says, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."
MARK OSGATHARP
Wynne
The responsible party
Having just read the Boozman Bull, piling the blame on President Barack Obama for the catastrophe at the border, I would like to respond.
I believe Americans in their right mind know who has consistently blocked action on immigration. Even Jeb Bush knows; that's why he's not popular in the Republican Party. All the Hispanics know; that's why the GOP is persona non grata. The Democrats in the U.S. Congress know; that's why they can still hide behind their own hypocrisy.
Tell it to Citizens United.
BILLY BERYL RHODES
Mountain Home
For state's sportsmen
Re the recent death of past Game and Fish Director Hugh Durham, who replaced retiring Steve Wilson and was forced to resign in 2003: I believe Hugh had a common-sportsman, non-bureaucratic management style that didn't sit with commissioners. His style of being quick to take up for Arkansas sportsmen was revealed in battling a Corps of Engineer "takings" scheme to purchase rights to flood 1,000 acres of the Petit Jean Wildlife Management Area. The Yell County Wildlife Federation and the Arkansas Wildlife Federation persuaded the state to sue the Corps to prove need for these flood easements.
Quoting a letter from Director Steve Wilson: "[Game and Fish] will use every possible resource at its disposal to insure that the interest of the WMA and its wildlife resources are protected." When the Corps failed to back off, Hugh took up the battle, stating that the Commission would use all legal means available to oppose condemnation. The Corps abandoned the condemn-and-take project.
Thanks to Hugh's "fight in the dog," Arkansas sportsmen ended up winners. Hugh's three-year tenure was good for sportsmen. A bit of irony though--Game and Fish terminated Hugh for his upfront style, and the Corps project manager who cost taxpayers millions later got promoted.
JIM WOOD
Dardanelle
Legitimate regulation
Our esteemed editors know that I am generally an opponent of vast and overarching government, and I do agree with them that it would be better for the economy and the city if small operators could more easily break into the livery market, that is transportation of people for hire.
However, the city's banning of Uber and Lyft ride services may well have been not only a legitimate use of regulating power, but beneficial to our citizens.
I know these phone app services supposedly screen their drivers, and supposedly they have insurance, but what kind? If you do not have a much more expensive commercial policy, if your vehicle you might use to offer rides is covered under a typical personal auto policy most of us have for our commuters and personal vehicles, turn to the section called "exclusions." Look for the word "livery" in about the first one. It means when Bubba picks up Mac to give him a ride for $1, Bubba's personal auto policy is void.
Surely the editorialists would not want dozens of amateur taxi drivers running around the city with no insurance coverage, which would probably come as a surprise to rider and driver both.
Let's loosen the taxi monopoly, but not pretend amateurs without proper insurance can be a solution. I have sold both kinds of policies for over 37 years.
KARL T. KIMBALL
Little Rock
Editorial on 07/22/2014