LETTERS

To further their cause

The Koch brothers, with billions in holdings in energy, transportation and manufacturing, have a vested interest in smaller government. They are fine-tuning their message through their PAC organizations such as Americans for Prosperity.

Their message is that government is bad and government needs to be limited. They have succeeded in demonizing government in the South, and have made Democrats and liberals synonymous with socialism.

I believe they are not patriots trying to save our nation. They are businessmen interested in deregulation and lower taxes, which puts money in their pocket. Beware: Their apparent goal is to destroy faith in your elected government for personal gain. How sinister!

If their side of history had prevailed, there probably would not be a national banking system, a United States (as we know it), national parks, women’s right to vote, labor laws (to protect women and children), Social Security, interstate highway system, civil rights laws, or Medicare. All were progressive issues.

For over 20 years they have been winning their battle through deregulation and lower taxes for themselves while we have continued to bear our share. I believe they are wolves in sheep’s clothing and are destroying our country for their own personal ambition.

ED HUDNALL Bryant

Let people really rule

The motto of Arkansas is “the people rule.” Maybe our whole nation should take up that wisdom. Perhaps it is time to seriously consider term limits for all political offices; campaign contribution limits; and the length of campaigns prior to an election.

I am convinced that neither Mark Pryor or Tom Cotton would make a good local constable.

THOMAS LAKSO Russellville

Military service counts

We have all endured the nonstop onslaught on Tom Cotton by John Brummett. As the leading liberal in Walter Hussman’s stable of columnists, he apparently sees the existential threat Tom Cotton represents to his party, to say nothing of Cotton’s incumbent opponent, their last party member in Congress.

I believe what Brummett and those he represents recognize is that Arkansas, a basically conservative state, respects military service of the type performed by Mr. Cotton, the kind where you pass up the soft jobs and put your personal self at great physical risk in order to help your country, and who also votes his principles. Next to someone like him, his opponent is just overmatched. As for the assault on Cotton’s military record, I thought Brummett would know better. I’m sure it’s the desperation of the Democrats that motivates it. It is also unworthy.

I believe every veteran who has ever served would vote for Cotton. He represents them and what we stand for and admire. To them, and most Arkansans, I think this kind of military service does count. A lot!

WALTER SKELTON Little Rock Race against the clock

Finally, all my clocks and watches have been reset (including the important internal one). I’m all set and fixed now … until the fall when we have to “fall back,” doing it all over again.

To tell you the truth, I am not the least bit sure just how much we saveby constantly changing back and forth. If there is really such a need to save daylight, it seems to me we should strive harder to save it during winter when there is less of it.

I have a suggestion. Instead of moving the hands of all those zillions of timepieces over and over, let’s just split the difference this fall by moving the hands back only 30 minutes instead of a whole hour and make that permanent. Forever.

BOB STROUD Jacksonville

Can make own choices

Thanks to Jerry A. Jones of Hot Springs Village for a refreshingly sensible observation. Wasting millions of dollars on worthless advertising that only the most gullible would gobble up is an insult to the intelligence of an electorate that can make decisions based on the records of the candidates and not the childish assassination of someone’s character.

WADE GREEN Camden

Roles of government

I think the recent tirade of Voices letters that pit conservatives, liberals and Christians against one another on the subject of charity all miss the real issue. My experience is that most people, regardless of their political or religious stripes, are compassionate to those in need, and contribute personal time, resources or money accordingly.

There are Christian liberals and Christian conservatives-religion is not the discriminator when it comes to compassion for the needy. I believe the discriminator is the chosen role of government in helping people.

Conservatives favor a limited role with an emphasis on private charity and enabling people to help themselves. Liberals apparently favor a coercive government role-taking one group’s money by force and giving it to other groups they have defined to be deserving of government largess.

I believe advocating for government confiscation of other people’s money to support your favorite cause is neither charitable nor Christian; it’s sanctimonious rhetoric. And, as Margaret Thatcher remarked, the problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.

RON BURNS Hot Springs Village

Plus, but not necessity

I’m tired of the comments about military service being a qualification to hold an elected office or not.

I think that is like being asked if you have stopped beating your wife. If you say yes, you were a wife-beater, and if you say no, you are a wife beater. The classic lose-lose situation!

Get over it and move on.

Personally, I think honorable military is a plus for elected office. However, I do not think the lack of it in any way diminishes a person’s qualification for elected office.

DAVE VOLSEN Little Rock