Wally and the Hogs
Wally Hall's coverage of basketball tournaments never ceases to amaze me. After reading his take on the Kentucky game, I am firmly convinced the Razorbacks could conduct a human sacrifice at halftime and he would write a column the next day explaining that they did nothing wrong. He will be the first inductee into our Homer Hall of Fame. Go Hogs!
EDGAR WILLIAMS
Searcy
A disingenuous state
If the character of a people can be judged by its laws, then Arkansawyers, despite much loud protest against abortion, have little actual regard for life and a disheartening willingness to kill. The morbid eagerness with which the executions of eight men in April has been anticipated by the state is grotesque.
The governor has been quoted as saying his attendance at the events would be "inappropriate." Wrong. His approval was required for the killings; his presence should be required as well. Only a coward would shirk such a duty. If the executions are so morally justifiable, why shrink from watching? Mr. Hutchinson should be making sure everything is done right and humanely, especially considering the widespread objections to the method Arkansas still employs in the face of claims it is inhumane and "unusual" punishment.
Shootings in the metro area seem to be on the rise. The usual pastors voice their usual earnest concern but the official response is the same. Words that mostly sound right coupled with actions that mostly make things worse. Miserly landlord legislators assess depressingly low dollar amounts to the value of humans. Guns, far from being confiscated, are being forced on the unwilling.
The local news broadcasts have begun including in their coverage of local homicides a graphic depicting how well the city is doing compared to other years. So far, with 11, we are "on track" (actual words) to reach 51 by year's end. Do those people even hear what they are saying? If we are discussing predictable "rates" of homicide as if trying to achieve some contributions goal, then any talk of victory over violence is disingenuous.
STANLEY G. JOHNSON
Little Rock
That staggering debt
In a recent letter by John Kaminar, it was pointed out that our country could not afford the travel expenses of our president and his family. It appears that this observer has forgotten the $10 trillion of debt imposed on this nation by the previous president. The amount of this debt is staggering beyond belief and will impact this country for all future generations.
I encourage this critic to look for ways to help this president as he tries to bring order out of total chaos in this country's fiscal affairs.
RICHARD WILHELM
Little Rock
Does not have a right
Surely the Commandment "Thou shalt not kill" applies to the state the same as it applies to any individual. Even if one doesn't believe in this commandment, I can't believe the state has any more right to take a life than anyone has that right.
ED BRICKELL
Austin
Work together, or go
This past week I witnessed the collapse of the health-care initiative and the witch hunt perpetrated on the Supreme Court nominee. My takeaway from both events was a failure by the people we elect to properly serve us. Instead, they take pride in seeing how rude they can be to the other party and persons.
We still have Obamacare in place. Has anyone seriously considered Democrats and Republicans working together to fix it or just let it die? Why haven't the Democrats been involved with the Republican plan that failed? And it seems each party is now infiltrated with special-issue caucuses that do not stand with their own party. There is no winner on either side. If Obamacare fails as indicated and there is no replacement plan, everyone loses.
The president tweets that there is no need to worry. Really? The ugliness in confirming a new Supreme Court judge is unnecessary. Get it done so we can have a full Supreme Court without more animosity.
The way things presently work, we do need a special caucus group. I'll call it the "Slippery Eel Caucus." It can work to confound everything that comes along, good or bad, and stalemate all congressional action. That's what it looks like the goal is to me.
For those who have to run again in 2018, don't bother on either side. The stink is so bad we cannot tolerate it anymore. Learn to play together or go home and stay home.
ROBERT A. SPENCER
North Little Rock
Not political pawns
While Paul Ryan's Obamacare replacement plan was a bad bill that deserved to die, I am not celebrating. I believe the GOP will now undermine the ACA at every turn in an effort to turn the tables on the Democrats.
But the lives of the American people shouldn't be treated like we're pawns in a political game.
We need a lasting resolution to this decades-old impasse. If the UK had a national referendum on Brexit, maybe the time has come for us to do the same for health care. Let's have Republicans and Democrats put their plans on the table, and let us, the American public, go to the polls.
Why not stop all this swerving from left to right and make a binding decision we can all live with?
JOHN A. BALL
Little Rock
Hail student-athletes
We are in the midst of March Madness when any talk about the student-athlete is definitely on the back burner. Of the 64-plus teams in the men's NCAA tournament, 12 have a graduation rate of 100 percent. The list includes Butler, Notre Dame, Duke, Villanova, and Kansas.
Teams serious about student-athlete accomplishment should be extolled. Perhaps we need a tourney of teams ranked on graduation rates. Filling out the brackets would take less time and all would be winners. What's the betting line on the student-athlete?
BETTY IRENE McSWAIN
Fort Smith
Editorial on 03/28/2017