Letters

Tapped into fear, hate

"They will fire only because those armed with them want to kill their fear. All the dark instincts of the crowd, irritated by the disintegration of life and by the lies and filth of politics, will flare up and fume, poisoning us with anger, hate, and revenge. People will kill one another, unable to suppress their own animal stupidity." This dire warning was penned by the Russian author Maksim Gorkiy in 1917, scant months before his country erupted in a bloody civil war that lasted three years and ended only after more than one million people had been killed and a totalitarian regime was in control of the nation.

Although Gorkiy wrote this passage nearly a century ago, could his words apply equally to the political landscape in our country at this moment?

There has been far too much racial, ethnic, and religious bigotry spread around in the current election season. We should all take heed and be deeply concerned about any political movement that would unleash the darker angels of our nature. A candidate for public office who taps into fear and hate just to get votes is cynically using and taking advantage of people. Such a candidate is unworthy to be the leader of a great nation.

JOHN I. KAMINAR

Bryant

How it all comes out

As I reach closer to the 90 mark, I say, "Lord take me. I'm ready to go." And then Hillary or Trump comes out with a stunningly stupid remark or idea and I say, "Well, Lord, I would really like to see how that came out."

Those in the prediction business are going to have a hard time this year. I wonder if I'll be able to peek and see what happened next. But then I know as much about here as I do about there.

CLARA FISHER FIELDS

Bentonville

Substance over form

Like other letter writers, I have wondered about people who obsess over correct grammar as if it is an indication of superiority; education perhaps, boring probably, but not superiority or intelligence. No one gives a damn. Enough!

I was taught that to correct someone or make fun of their writing or speech is bad behavior. Some of my best wisdom has come from older and wiser people who wouldn't know an adverb from a dangling participle, much less how to spell one. The better guide is substance over form.

Try this one on the next intelli-gentsia type who is impressing everyone ad nauseam: "I've just heard there has been a shift in the paradigm that has modified the global template and we should prepare for the second coming. What should I do?"

Forgive me.

WALTER SKELTON

Little Rock

Hasn't really changed

Do not be tricked by Donald Trump's latest metamorphosis. I believe he is the same rude, ignorant con man he has always been. Some Republican observer stated that the Donald is evolving. No, he is not moving toward a higher level of being; he is only covering up his glaring inconsistencies and lack of intelligence, preparation and empathy.

His third campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, is apparently advising him to make an attempt to act like a qualified candidate. I notice that she travels with him to prevent him from veering wildly off the rails into his usual senseless rants. Just what we need, a president who requires a babysitter.

I will vote for the qualified candidate, the female one (and not Stein).

CATHERINE LAMB

Little Rock

Who's in control here

What if Donald Trump became president? The Republican Party would not be able to control him, but would he be able to control them? Maybe so, if they didn't want him to interfere in their agenda and he wanted them to help pass his agenda. Besides, it would give the Republicans full control of the government and the judiciary, and they would be able to further their dictatorial power.

What dictatorial power? The power to tell a sitting president with close to a year left in his administration that he can't nominate a judge for the Supreme Court, that they want the people to nominate him instead. People don't nominate Supreme Court judges, presidents do. But it seems the Republicans are insinuating that Barack Obama wasn't elected by the people; so who appointed him, Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy? We probably will never know, but if Hillary is elected president, who are the Republicans going to say appointed her? The Easter Bunny? Or do they think he is too timid and it was really Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin? Are they saying only Republican presidents can be elected by the people?

I believe that if Trump is elected and runs the country like his business, he will be the first president to leave office a trillionaire. The country will be broke and bankrupt.

Vote for the one that you think will help you the most, and good luck.

D.E. HUNTER

Benton

Choice of economy

I used to consider myself an independent voter. I am now a registered Republican. My choice to identify myself in this way was based on the party platform. The things that are considered the basic premises of this party are what I choose to determine my vote in spite of the person that may be at the top of the ticket. Knowing that either a Democrat or Republican will win the race, I want my vote to go toward the things that matter to me.

Although the issues I consider most important are social ones, another major one would be the economy. The choice then becomes between capitalism and socialism. With capitalism I get to work hard for what I want and am then rewarded with the "fruit of my labor." With socialism I get to work hard for what I want and then the government takes it and rewards others that don't labor.

You may sit home and choose not to vote because you don't like either candidate. I will go out and make sure I vote to do my part to ensure America ends up on the same principles it began.

JUDY WALLACE

Bald Knob

Editorial on 08/28/2016

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