No need to disparage
Such a nice, complimentary editorial on the wonderful work of Archie Ryan from Jonesboro. A real gift to the wild animals that live around us. To my dismay, you describe his hometown of Houston, Texas, and I quote, "as smack in the middle of Texas' poisonous petroleum belt."
Excuse me, sir/madam, but when you go to fill up your car at the gas station, where do you think the gasoline comes from? Would you prefer to ride a bicycle? The city of Houston and surrounding areas are committed to keeping this country moving. To describe it as poisonous is condescending and ungrateful.
Why you need to disparage a city and surrounding areas while writing such an uplifting editorial is beyond me.
SANDRA ODEN
Hot Springs Village
Don't want to hear it
Dear Hollywood, Broadway, and maybe areas in between: Some of us are very tired of your preaching to us about how horrible the election turned out. For those of us Americans who get up every day and care for the sick, protect the cities, serve our country, and our retirees who are struggling to make ends meet, we do not want to hear any more. Believe it or not, you work for us and maybe we should boycott you and the theaters that have your movies or plays.
Who gave you the right to make your unkind remarks every time you get near a microphone? Some of us are very happy to have a breath of fresh air in the country when all these crazy things are happening every day and innocent people are being killed. From now on, accept your award, say thank you and get off the stage. In a year from now, no one will remember your words or care. And in 50 years, no one will remember you either, if we are lucky!
God bless the good citizens of America and our democracy.
NANCY PROVOST
Heber Springs
Photo contest, really?
Because I have emailed our mediocre congressman in the past, I must be on his email list. Recently I received an email from Mr. French Hill announcing a "Winter Photo Contest." I, of course, enjoy the beauty of our state in all four seasons, but is this the best idea our congressman can come up with?
I wish he and his fellow congressmen and women would be more concerned with saving Social Security, Medicare, and fixing Obamacare. Fixing doesn't mean repealing, spending $3.5 billion and replacing it with Trumpcare, which will be the same thing as Obamacare.
With all the looney tunes about to hit Washington, I would hope he could do better. Sadly, my hopes have fallen on the rocks of despair.
BOB HARRISON
Little Rock
Would be less painful
The news of no Arkansas Inauguration Gala because of lack of interest is no surprise to me. With confidence in our elected officials at an all-time low, I think most people would rather go to the dentist.
RUSSELL LEMOND
Little Rock
Replacing Obamacare
It seems that the latest predictions for Obamacare is that it will survive (partly) for one more year until a suitable replacement is put in. Problem is, none has been offered; so with the permission of the peanut gallery, may I offer one? Ahem. A national 5-cent sales tax is issued on all items except food and medicine, and split five ways for Medicare, Social Security, creation of health savings accounts, military wartime expenditures, and Homeland Security.
For now, we'll concern ourselves with health. All health cards will be issued through Medicare, making it mostly a single-payer system. Insurance companies will have an option to gain entrance into the program, thereby privatizing part of it. Americans will be able to choose between private and public plans. Insurers are paid through tax revenue and only allowed to charge more for additional services they may provide beyond those offered through public plans. Public plans are only good until the age of retirement after which Americans must move over to private insurers.
Enter health savings accounts, the medical version of IRAs, created and funded via part of the national sales tax, and apportioned via the available number of applicants in the pool. The accounts are provided to Americans as the eligibility for public care ends at retirement. The poor will be allowed to maintain public coverage 15 years beyond termination, but no more. Luxury plans can still be offered by insurers, but will come with zero contributions from revenue derived via the national sales tax. Heavy taxes on marijuana would also be used to supplement the system.
Now granted, there's much more to my plan, but never let it be said nobody offered an alternative to Obamacare. Right now, I believe the ACA is on the verge of collapse and something has to be done quickly.
ROBERT RAYMOND BEMIS
Little Rock
Student data in peril
There is an unsettling amount of data being collected on children. Student privacy concerns have risen due to the growing collection of personal information on students. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which protected personal student information from being sold to third parties, was gutted in 2012 through regulation allowing "personally identifiable information" to be shared with "authorized representatives."
The federal government mandates the collection on students' personal information in the form of longitudinal databases. These Student Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) track children from pre-K into adulthood. The SLDS collect mental health records, criminal history, family religious views, and other private information which could potentially damage a child's ability to succeed.
Help stop this collection of student data by joining U.S. Parents Involved in Education (USPIE) as I have. Their goal is to end federal involvement in education and restore local control. Please go to uspie.org and join the movement to Stop Fed Ed. We have a local Arkansas chapter. Please visit our ARPIE Facebook page to get connected.
MARY ADKISSON
Greenbrier
Editorial on 01/12/2017