Overcame adversities
Upon reading that Melvin Pickens, "The Broom Man," had passed away, I couldn't help but think about all the able-bodied panhandlers that occupy virtually every busy intersection soliciting money. Unlike Mr. Pickens, it seems they choose not to work and overcome adverse times. Instead, they play the sympathy card of homeless, helpless, traveling and broke.
If anyone could justify asking for help, it would have been Melvin Pickens. He chose, however, to overcome his adversity with great determination, and maintain his dignity by being productive and being a positive influence on countless lives over a 60-year period.
Rest in peace, "Broom Man"--job well-done!
DAN BRADFORD
North Little Rock
Remove blight, please
To Gov. Asa Hutchinson regarding the Buffalo River: As you know, your predecessor said it was one of the blackest marks on his term that the permit was issued to allow the hog farm in the Buffalo River watershed. It is in your power to remove this blight from our state.
The hog farm is a hazard to the economy of North-central Arkansas and is a health hazard to all the citizens around it, polluting the wells and springs and the river itself. It is not just the groundwater that is affected, but also the atmosphere-- the poisonous dust that has spread throughout the area and the horrendous stench given off by the pig poop of these thousands of captive hogs, a smell you will remember all your life.
So please, Governor, shut this CAFO down and remove this hazardous waste site from our state.
JAY FULBRIGHT III
Malvern
Jobs, insurance risked
According to data I've seen from the CBO and other sources, Arkansas stands to lose thousands of health-care industry jobs immediately if Ryancare goes forward. More than 360,000 Arkansans could lose health insurance, mostly because of cuts to federal Medicaid spending, which will cost our state about $1 billion.
If he still works for the people of Arkansas (and not just his donors) then Sen. Tom Cotton was in those closed-door meetings advocating for a less punishing plan. But when you call our senators, nobody can tell you what either of them is advocating. Please call them and tell him what you want: (202) 224-2353 for Cotton, and (202) 224-4843 for John Boozman.
CHERYL WOODARD
Little Rock
Don't focus on history
Admittedly, I am a Hog fan. Hog history, however, does not particularly interest me. It seems that, rather than featuring news items concerning future coaching or recruiting direction, this off-season will be reruns of yesteryear's accomplishments, which do serve to remind us that our Hogs have found acorns.
Yes, good memories, but this isn't why I put my tooth under my pillow. Yup, like the song says, past inspirations don't pay the bills.
JEREMY D. THORNTON
Mena
Trumpcare is wrong
A new health-care bill (nicknamed Trumpcare) has passed the House and is now under consideration in the Senate. This is what it has been reported it will do.
(1) 23 million Americans will lose health care (not at once but eventually). (2) Deductibles will rise $1,500 on average. (3) Federal protection for pre-existing conditions will end (130 million Americans). (4) Insurance companies can charge older Americans much more. Example: 64-year-old making $26,500 can be charged $13,600 to $16,100. (5) Cut $834 billion from Medicaid. (6) Allow lifetime and annual caps (premature baby with problems could go through this in a month). (7) Women, who make less than men in general, will pay more. (8) Defund Planned Parenthood. (9) Cut special-education funds for schools. This bill will provide $600 billion in tax breaks, much of it to our most wealthy citizens.
I don't think any of this is right or just. It most certainly does not follow the Golden Rule! It seems members of Congress have exempted themselves, of course. I do think it will work terrible hardship on the people of Arkansas. Think about it. We must let the Arkansas delegation to Congress (all six of them) know how we feel. Phone calls to their Washington offices work best.
My figures are from the Congressional Budget Office. It is nonpartisan. Not a partisan issue--this will impact all of us.
ALICE DAVIS-RAINS
Oden
Health plan bad deal
Sen. John Boozman just sent me a message gushing over the American Health Care Act (Trumpcare) that was rammed through the House of Representatives a couple of weeks ago. A couple busloads of Republicans went to the White House to congratulate themselves on passing a law that would scrap the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and is believed would lead to thousands of deaths because millions would lose health coverage.
The loyal Republicans hope to ram a Senate version of the act through but until just now have refused to let even Republicans know what is in it. They are being told to trust them and vote the party line.
President Trump has quietly told some members of Congress that the House version is "mean" and hopes the Senate version will be better. Even while he tries to play both sides of the issue his workers are refusing to send out Obamacare money that helps pay for medical insurance. He then has the gall to screech that Obamacare is failing when insurance companies drop coverage because of the deliberate Republican sabotage.
Sen. Tom Cotton has been very quiet about Trumpcare, I'm assuming because he knows the anger he faced at a town-hall meeting over attempts to scrap Obamacare.
An observation from the New York Times about Trump said his thoughts are like "six fireflies beeping randomly in a jar." Call our U.S. senators and tell them to vote no on Trumpcare.
FRANK NEWMAN
Huntington
Editorial on 06/23/2017