LETTERS

A courteous carrier

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has one of the nicest persons delivering the daily paper in Holiday Island.

For the past few years, he has been driving up my steep driveway and thrown the paper close to my back deck. During the week of the awful snowstorm, he could not drive up the drive and walked all the way up and deposited the paper on my back deck right in front of the door.

To me, this was a special courtesy since I have a little trouble walking.

The paper should be recommended for having such thoughtful employees. I have contacted him in person and have thanked him for his courtesy.

Thank you.

MARY McCUMPSEY Holiday Island

Challenge accepted

Sharon Williams, in her most recent letter, stated she is waiting for “the factual source concerning … Mark Pryor’s past support of usurious payday lenders.”

A 2005 article in Arkansas Business (arkansasbusiness.com/article/49538/ payday-lenders-political-contributions-top-20000) provides the answer. This article states that more than $20,000 went to the Democratic Party of Arkansas.

Also, states the article, “more than $14,000 from payday lenders found its way into Pryor’s campaign coffers back then [in 1998]. Payday lenders considered Pryor a friend, although he said the contributions had no impact on his decision to take a neutral position on the Check Cashers Act of 1999.” GWEN SHAFFER Crossett

Playing a part in price

Re Mr. Gerald O’Bryan’s letter: The one thing many, if not most, people seem to forget is that much of government’s spending is borrowed money. Every dollar spent in borrowed money makes every dollar you have, or will have, worth less.

Remember candy bars for a nickel? Gas for 32 cents a gallon? I do. Where did that go?

I know a number of things contribute to prices rising, but I think our government should not be playing a part.

DAVID ROBINSON Tuckerman

Thanks for coverage

I would like to thank the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for including the Arkansas Razorbacks gymnastics results in your sports section following the Florida Meet.

The world of gymnastics doesn’t always get the respect it deserves, with the exception being the Summer Olympics. These young ladies work extremely hard, compete with injuries and yet still find the time to be role models for young children all over the state and region.

Some of us do travel many miles to follow these competitions, and for that we are extremely grateful.

And I am submitting a check for my yearly subscription. Go Hogs!

THOMAS DeNOMIE Hot Springs Village

Pay for the privilege

I think Otus the cat has the right answer to our Arkansas lieutenant governor vacancy. In fact, it’s brilliant. If they can’t abolish this ridiculous position, then we could help students out by having a lottery-much as the Republicans do with their “straw poll vote” in Iowa around August of an election year.

I remember when Michele Bachmann “bought” that election, only to go down, down, down when real votes came in later on. Now she goes around preaching that America isn’t ready for a woman president yet. Ha. I guess we know where that pronouncement is coming from and who is paying her to say it.

Pointing out that the appointees who work for the lieutenant governor make more than he does is another eye-opener. Who would have thought such a useless position would attract so many sycophants?

This, in turn, reminds me of the many ladies-in-waiting to the once-queen at Versailles. Each had a duty-to put on the queen’s shoes or hold her nightie, or touch her royal person when she needed a bath. And we all know how that kind of worship/waste turned out.

Arkansas needn’t lose its head. The good choices are to abolish the position or to let the governor pick someone from his own party, or to hold a lottery and let either party buy the title and thus benefit those in need with the excess lottery income after salaries are paid.

There are lordships that can be bought in the United Kingdom. They come with the castle but are not passed down. It’s a great financial boon to the crown and country. We could learn from that. Additional pounds are raised by passing out other titles.

I love it! Who says there is no fun in politics?

EILEEN MERICLE Bentonville

Can’t police the world

This from George Washington’s Farewell Address bears repeating: “The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connections as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. … There can be no greater error that to expect or calculate upon real favors from nation to nation.”

With this quote in mind, I believe that we as a nation need to be more aware that we cannot be the world’s policeman, not to mention the financial costs to our economy.

Humanitarian aid should be our strong hand. All other entanglements only lead to loss for our good nation. STAN McPIKE Jonesboro

Better pick for foxhole

In Bernard Frazer’s letter, he asked who would you want to share a foxhole with in battle. He preferred Tom Cotton over John Brummett.

Personally, I would pick John Brummett.

Cotton would be too distracted from the firefight assessing how his potential actions would affect his poll numbers.

JOHN HOGAN Little Rock