LETTERS

Road delays cost all of us

I doubt the Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats in the Legislature really want to support what Highway and Transportation Department Director Scott Bennett had to say about the state’s response to the icy conditions that led to thousands of motorists being stuck for hours.

It seems they just want to cut taxes for their big business pals, forgetting that small cuts may look good but don’t really affect people or businesses much. However, when combined, that money adds up to a lot of cash for much-needed state improvements.

But in the short term, let’s just solve some of that limited exit problem by putting state prisoners to work building gravel and dirt emergency off-ramps connecting the interstates and major highways with nearby county and state roads.

If I had been stuck for hours, I would have gladly driven a couple miles down a gravel road if it would have gotten me rolling on the way to pavement and a store, restaurant or motel.

If the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps could have built dams, roads and other public projects without modern tools, then the state ought to be able to train prisoners to operate road construction equipment.

If the highway department needs more money, then the Legislature just needs to dedicate sales taxes on vehicles and repair parts to a special fund to pay for improvements based on population. This means appropriating the funds back to the areas where the taxes were collected.

Lastly, legislators need to remember that transportation delays cost businesses more than the savings they get from tax cuts wrangled by crooked lobbyists.

KEITH WEBER

Jacksonville

Ridicule is easy path

What your editorial staff doesn’t know about California Gov. Jerry Brown would probably fill the Smithsonian Institution. They laughingly refer to him as Governor Moonbeam? They ridicule him for opposing nuclear energy?

Just what is a moonbeam but a light in the darkness?

Interestingly, they seem to have forgotten Chernobyl and Fukushima. And of course they take the obligatory poke at California as being “as left as it gets,” while conveniently forgetting Ronald “Raygun,” Richard Nixon and Pete Wilson.

In my opinion, anybody who supported Mike Huckabee for governor of their state should probably think twice about criticizing another state’s choice. Why not a mention of Linda Ronstadt, who I will take any day over Ted Nugent, Duck Dynasty or Tom Cotton?

Y’all can do better than this. I hope.

By the way, of course Jerry is wary of marijuana. He is a Jesuit. He is also likely wary of alcohol, which seems to bother no one on your editorial staff.

A completely drunk populace does not bode well for our democracy either. Nor a populace addicted to prescription drugs. Or one who believes Fox News.

GEORGE LYNE

Holiday Island

That’s not a problem

For those who just don’t get it, a few examples of First World non-problems: 1. newspaper edges curling, 2. newspaper delivery late during bad weather, 3. gasoline prices, 4. price of bottled water, etc.

Now a few examples of Second and Third World actual problems: 1. having no food to eat, 2. having no water, especially clean water, to drink, 3. having no transportation to the few schools that do exist, 4. not being allowed to attend school due to gender or ethnicity, etc.

Newspaper pages curling is a problem?

SHEILA CORDELLIA HICKS

North Little Rock

Should be adults-only

This past weekend we ventured over to Oaklawn Park for a day of fun at the races, and though we had a great time, I strongly believe the facility should be renamed to include Oaklawn Park Racing and Day-Care Center.

We have never seen so many children under the age of 8 running around screaming, playing tag and making a mockery of what once was considered “adult entertainment.” If you will not allow your child or children into a bar, why then allow them into a gambling facility that allows smoking, drinking and cursing? There is no excuse for children under 16 being allowed into Oaklawn, none.

It is a shame that grown adults must be subjected to yet another “family friendly” facility that once was something to look forward to. Nowyou have to sidestep strollers, crying babies and the constant screaming of children.

Not my idea of a fun-filled adult venue.

If you think it is fun to let your children see the horses, take them to a farm. Oaklawn is for adults, or at least it used to be … shame!

It seems there is nothing left for adults any more; everything is about family, and this venue should re-look at how it operates.

GARRY LEMONS

Benton

It simply makes sense

Why wouldn’t we want more people in our state to get access to health care through Medicaid? Access to health care keeps families strong and secure, making for a healthier and more productive work force.

MABLE ANTHONY

Marianna

How world came to be

How did our world come to be? Was it created, or did it evolve? Our education commissioners and U.S. Supreme Court or federal court judges can’t seem to agree.

In my opinion, what difference does it make? But it seems these wise men of the schools and courts are trying to use the First Amendment of the Constitution to reinforce their position.

Part of the amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Just what does establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof mean to you or them?

The First Amendment was written that way to keep our government from establishing one religion (church) and only one that the citizens of this country could attend, as it was in England at that time.

There is nothing in the First Amendment that mentions separation of church and state or how the world came to be.

NELSON GATEWOOD

Highland

Lukewarm cynicism

When we lived in Napa, Calif., during the 1970s, California was going through a three-year drought. The mayor of Napa asked everyone to cut down on water usage by not watering lawns, flushing toilets only once a day, using dishwater to water plants, etc. This was so successful that then the mayor said that since the income from water sales had dropped so low, the city had to raise the water rates.

In 1978, we moved back to Northwest Arkansas and during the next few years, Arkansas had some of the coldest winters we experienced in years.

The scientists said that we were going to have another Ice Age, that everything would freeze and we’ll all starve to death.

Then the weather turned extremely hot, pastures dried up, Beaver Lake dropped to near-record levels, and the scientists told us we were beginning global warming, that everything would burn up and we’ll all starve to death.

Now, lately we’ve had near-record levels of snow and very cold winters and they are now calling it climate change. They’re finally making sense as the weather in Arkansas can change from one day to the next.

One does get a little cynical, though, at some of these pronouncements.

DAVE WEAKLEY

Garfield

Difference unnoticed

In Saturday’s editorial, there was a difference between Sen. Mark Pryor and Congressman Tom Cotton that I believe the writer failed to explain fully, that being that Senator Pryor was being interviewed on national television and was responding to a question. His response was brief, to the point and, I believe, 100 percent accurate.

On the other hand, Congressman Cotton released a statement that was supported by nine other congressmen. The first two sentences praised now-Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on his service in the military during the Vietnam War. From that point on it became a political statement citing concerns regarding Hagel’s statements and votes on various defense matters.

Congressman Cotton has been in the public eye for almost two years and in all his appearances on news shows and quotes in the newspapers, I believe he has never been so eloquent, nor “measured, nuanced and thoughtful.” In fact, I think his public-speaking ability is rather poor. One has to wonder if this was Congressman Cotton’s writing or a staff member, or maybe a group of staff members, who wrote this statement.

In your critique of Senator Pryor’s response, you said he was smiling and chuckling. Good gracious, wouldn’t the world be a whole lot better off if people smiled and chuckled like Senator Pryor instead of looking so glum and depressed as Congressman Cotton?

JAMES B. DAVIS

Hot Springs

Consider Cotton votes

Re the recent editorial faulting Sen. Mark Pryor for his comment that military service is not a qualification to become a senator: Of course it’s not, nor should it be.

As Senator Pryor pointed out, there are many sitting senators who have not served in the military. It should take more, much more, to be considered for high office. For example, when Rep. Tom Cotton opposed Chuck Hagel’s appointment to be secretary of defense, Cotton acknowledged Hagel’s military service but rejected him for the positions he took on critical issues in the past.

We, as the voting public, should be just as critical of Tom Cotton come this November. We too can thank Tom Cotton for his service, but since he has taken positions against the farm bill to aid Arkansas farmers, equal pay for women and voted against the Violence Against Women Act, I believe Tom Cotton should be rejected because of those positions.

BILL FARRELL

Bella Vista

Commanders qualified

I think a platoon leader having commanded and led an infantry platoon in combat has qualifications to represent the citizens of Arkansas far greater than any college and law school education alone. Any old combat squad leader can attest.

WILLIAM HARRIS

Little Rock

Feedback

Could’ve bought …

So, the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville paid a $170,000 speaker’s fee to Condoleezza Rice.

Wow. That’s enough money for Condi to pay her annual dues at the Augusta National Golf Club. Imagine what Aristotle, Plato or Socrates could have pulled down were they here today to speak at the good ol’ U of A.

The university could have used Rice’s fee to fund a couple of four year scholarships for deserving students. Instead, a washed-up political blowhard got the dough, paid for out of student fees.

Oh well, don’t worry. Be happy.

SCOTT VAUGHN

North Little Rock

Double standards

I am amused, but certainly no longer amazed, that members of the United States Congress, who seem to think it is fine that the government spies on its citizens, find it unacceptable now that they are subject to the same treatment.

LAUREN RUPERT

Maumelle