Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new era in American presidential politics as Donald J. Trump becomes the nation's 45th chief executive. If one can make any judgments based on Election Day, that means about half of the nation's populace will give the transition a thumbs up and half will give it a thumbs down.
It's coming either way.
Give’em a thumb
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On this last day before we bear witness to at least four years of a Trump administration, here are a few recent developments worthy of some directional digits.
[THUMBS UP] The Walton Family Foundation earns another mention in the Thumbs editorial with its $9 million commitment to the construction of TheatreSquared's new performing arts facility in downtown Fayetteville. Money is a big motivator for a lot of folks, and the foundation has turned its money into a force for promoting more donations by setting it up as a 2-to-1 challenge grant. TheatreSquared will have to raise $18 million from other sources to get the full benefit of this grant, but it will give fundraisers the ability to tell others their money will go further -- 50 percent further -- because of the match it will generate from the foundation. We hope this organization succeeds wildly in its efforts, and also that its plan for sustaining its operations in the years ahead is strong.
[THUMBS UP] Did you see that CVS, the pharmacy company, is now selling a generic version of Mylan's EpiPen for $109.99, about a sixth of the now-inflated price of the name brand product? People at risk for severe allergic reactions are no doubt literally sighing in relief. The name brand manufacturer had spiked prices for the life-saving epinephrine injectors that some people with allergies must carry with them at all times in case of a severe reaction. The massive price increases made it difficult or impossible for some to afford the treatment. Now, with generic options, the price is a lesser hurdle for a medicine some simply cannot live without.
[THUMBS UP] Mayor Lioneld Jordan unsurprisingly suggested in his state of the city address that Fayetteville is doing just fine. "Stronger than it has ever been before" is the way he put it. When has anyone ever heard a mayor say the state of his city stinks? Yes, state of the city addresses tend to be a little self-serving, but they also create an opportunity for mayors to outline future plans. One mention from Jordan's speech indicated he paid attention to some of the concerns raised last year as he faced an opponent at the ballot box. Jordan said he asked departments involved in planning, development and building permits to streamline those processes by looking at policies from a customer's point of view. If city staff can truly look at things from the customer's perspective, it should help strengthen efficiency and responsiveness at City Hall. It's not easy, but it's important. We're glad Jordan recognizes government can become unwieldy unless intentional efforts are made to whittle away at its many entanglements.
[THUMBS DOWN] It's easy to snicker at the idea of cattle rustling these days, when a lot of people don't know one end of a cow from the other, but it's serious business to the people who have invested their time and money in raising livestock. It's satisfying to see a conviction recently in which a Valley Springs man acknowledged pulling his trailer up to someone else's farmland, loading up cattle and selling them at sale barns in the region. The reason? To get money for gambling and methamphetamine. As usual, both habits eventually turn into losers. Hopefully, prosecution of such cases can help reduce the number of times farmers/ranchers have to deal with the distractions of someone else's dishonesty.
[THUMBS UP] The governor's Beautiful Buffalo River Action Committee met for the first time Tuesday, launching what looks to be a year's worth of work toward developing a watershed management plan for one of the state's great recreational tourist resources. Yes, the state can have too many boards and commissions, but it makes sense state government should make a concerted effort to do what is necessary to preserve the integrity of this national river. That involves more than just the more recent controversies over hog farming. We appreciate Gov. Asa Hutchinson's effort to marshal the state's forces to make sure the river's future -- and its waters -- are clear and bright.
[THUMBS UP] It's may seem incongruous to give what seems a lighthearted editorial gesture to anything related to a serious subject like suicide, but a recent follow-up to a public suicide reflected a family's best efforts to bring something good out of something so heartbreaking. Jan Marrs said her daughter, Ashley Lane Marrs, struggled against depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. "We view it as a medical illness. It's like getting cancer. It's something you need to talk about and need to address," she said. The Kansas City, Mo., family has set about raising money for suicide prevention and hope to give about $20,000 to the University of Arkansas, where Lane was a student. They're also raising money for a group that brings speakers into schools to discuss the subject. "Seek out help. Don't hide it," Jan Marrs said. "Don't think you can just get over it and will it away." That is wise, life-saving counsel for those who will listen.
[THUMBS DOWN] Maybe it's just one of those situations in which government struggles to respond in a logical fashion, but it's dispiriting nonetheless. The state has put its process of evaluating schools in limbo as it works out a new method for undertaking such reviews. Springdale officials, however, recently noted how 150 schools statewide received financial rewards in recognition of their educational progress, but two Springdale schools didn't qualify because they're stuck with a "needs improvement focus" label until evaluations are restarted. The educators are celebrating the progress their students have made, but it would be nice if the state reward system could catch up.
Commentary on 01/19/2017