LETTERS

Disappointed in paper

Did anyone at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette actually read The Meat Racket? Shame on you for publishing such nonsense as the recent review on it. It’s offensive to me that a New York Times writer presumes to know what my life as a chicken grower in Arkansas is like, and the statewide newspaper just ran it as gospel truth.

I read the book after I’d heard it was about Tyson Foods. I’ve made a comfortable living for 24 years as a contract poultry grower for Tyson in Waldron. I know many people portrayed in the book-I also know their management practices. I believe this book is inaccurate-it only describes those growers who are disgruntled, not those 150 growers in my community that, for the most part, enjoy growing broiler chickens.

We’ve changed our management practices over the years in order to grow a very efficient meat product. The farms mentioned in the book didn’t upgrade their practices, for their own reasons, while other farms upgraded-thus, leaving them behind. These are good people-not stupid, as the book seems to imply.

We don’t own the chickens because we don’t want to. That protects us from market risks and price swings. We are independent businessmen and women who do what we do best: take good care of animals that feed families-including my own.

It’s truly disappointing the Democrat-Gazette printed such a review that condemns rural Arkansas, a major employer in the state, and the hardworking poultry growers that feed this great nation.

DAN WRIGHT Waldron

Accepted, yet denied

A senior in high school dreams about the year, flying fast, and being able to grab the future with her own two hands. College is a place where one can discover her true identity. It’s the place where she can start it all … or at least that’s what I thought.

As an early graduate, I had to go above and beyond to get my work done, stay on task, and balance my social life with my school life. Maybe it was a bad idea to be dead-set on one college, but when I got the acceptance letter to Arkansas Tech University, I was ecstatic. I had the perfect roommate picked out for me. I had my classes planned out for the next four years. I knew exactly what I wanted to be.

“Timeout for Tech” was held in February. Over 3,000 students and their parents showed up for tours of the school, the joining of sororities, and the delicious food that was served. In the assembly, traditions were shared with the ATU class of 2018. The feeling of just being there was something that I could never describe. It made me feel like that was the place where I belonged.

However, there was one little problem that ruined my whole chances of going there. I am only 17, and according to the rules of ATU, minors are not allowed to live on campus.

BAILEY CLAIRE COUCH Sherwood

Move on from subject

Be thankful that you can complain about curling page corners. Be thankful that we have freedom of speech and thought! Leave space for other letter-writers.

JACK L. WRANISCHAR Magnolia

Trends in complaints

I just realized that this dreaded Curl-gate saga became the trendy topic right about the time Wumo versus Get Fuzzy was dying off.

And just for my 2 cents, I never even noticed until the rants started, nor do I really care now. Same goes for all my co-workers that share the paper when I bring it in. Does it really affect anyone’s reading skills? We sure haven’t noticed any problems with it, that’s for certain.

BRYAN BEDGOOD Sherwood

Paying for everybody

You know you don’t want to think about it, but let’s do-just to realize how well “others” are being taken care of. I had a dear friend who was brutally murdered last year. They caught all the suspected perpetrators. Three had to be flown back here from the East Coast (did they pay for it or did we?). They are staying in our local jail, receiving “three hots and a cot.” They are also receiving medical care, if needed.

Now they (the murderers, the rapists, the meth heads, the violent abusers, sex offenders, etc.-well, you know, the “people” you read about in the paper who have violated someone) are being cared for at our expense. Furthermore, so are the ones on welfare, who were born into welfare, who become unwed pregnant teenagers, who choose to have more babies to get more free stuff.

What motivation does one need to have? Why bother? They are being taken care of, at our expense.

Who am I? Your local taxpayer who was once a young woman living in an efficiency apartment, forging my way into the world, who once asked my parents to borrow some money when I was in between jobs and they refused-and it was OK. I made it-many lessons I learned about being frugal, living by my wits, striving to thrive. I remember making around $12,500 that particular year, and I had to pay self-employment tax.

Is it our (the taxpayers) job to keep poorly performing people and companies going forever-including the federal confiscation of bondholder investments (GM) given to the unions? I’m tired of paying for everyone-I’m sure we all are. The system does not make sense.

JACCI PERRY RYAN Springdale

On individual liberty

In his smug, condescending letter, Thomas C. Kennedy of Fayetteville criticizes Bradley Gitz’s characterization of the political spectrum of beliefs. Although it seems he is too busy being cute to be clear, he apparently thinks that Gitz’s contention that communists and fascists are similar is ridiculous. However, the old Soviet Union was officially named the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Nazi stood for National Socialist German Workers’ Party. Both of these governments were authoritarian.

However Mr. Kennedy chooses to characterize these two governments, neither advocated individual liberty.

It appears to me that Mr. Kennedy’s views tend toward the authoritarian collectivist form of government rather than those based on individual liberty. For those like him who fancy themselves smarter than the rest of us, this makes perfect sense. If we had individual liberty, people would do what they wanted rather than what people like Mr. Kennedy seem to think they should do. Can’t have that!

RICHARD STRICKLAND Little Rock

Didn’t leave a mark

I like to watch college basketball, especially the Razorbacks and other SEC teams. Sometimes, however, I watch other teams and recently happened upon the Virginia versus Duke conference championship game.

There was one thing that stood out for me. Unless I missed one, I didn’t see a single tattoo on any of those players.

DIANE D. PLUMMER Heber Springs