Arkansas can do better than Rep. Womack
How many times have I heard Steve Womack say, "We are a nation of laws." When the issue of immigration comes up, addressing the many working immigrants in the congressman's Third District, his reply to his constituents is a lecture about our nations' laws. I won't go into detail about the congressman's condescending tone. If you have listened to him at any town hall, you know the tone of his insulting and patronizing superiority.
So now I would like to ask Steve Womack a question: For a man so devoted to the laws of the land and our Constitution, how does he explain his lack of attention to laws that the president of the United States is breaking? We have an Emoluments Clause in our United States Constitution that states members of the government cannot profit from business holdings while in office, yet Donald Trump is making millions from his Washington, D.C., hotel and a landfall profit from his ownership and frequent visits to the Florida "White House," Mar-a-Lago. Not to mention his privately owned golf courses, where he visits often and our U.S. Government security department has to pay for every golf cart, every room, every meal, every expense incurred to protect this president -- money going directly into the president's pocket. The membership fee at Mar-a-Lago jumped from $100,000 to $200,000 at Trump's election. The D.C. hotel has become a place where international meetings are held -- putting more dollars in the Donald's pocket. Why is Congressman Womack not concerned with these violations?
And look at the recent headlines! Congressman Womack stated that, yes, perhaps Donald Trump's language could improve, but his point was correct -- our country wants immigrants who are educated, ready to work at skilled jobs, and yes, from "European" countries. Does Mr. Womack know how many immigrants are employed in his district providing labor to staff processing plants, to stock the shelves of Walmart, to work as caregivers in facilities caring for the elderly and disabled? The need to staff these jobs cannot possibly be met only with our Arkansas-born population. And, reports on the young people in Arkansas who are Deferred Action on Children Arrivals (DACA) show that many are college educated or skilled, employed tax-paying Arkansans. These young people never received one dime of state or federal money for their college educations or community services since they are not legal. They have broken no law. They are the most desirable, the most law abiding Arkansans -- people we want to stay and live in Arkansas.
Congressman Womack, Arkansas can do much better than to have a condescending and arrogant representative in the House of Representatives. You do not represent our family, as you have openly stated. We are more than happy to work very hard to take that role from you.
Sara Cain-Bartlett
Fayetteville
Editorial not reflecting winner of Arkansas votes
Your Jan. 17 editorial concluded "Just as the words that emerge from a president's mouth don't necessarily reflect the viewpoints of all Americans."
Jjust as the words that emerge from an extremely liberal editorial page don't necessarily reflect the sentiments of Arkansas' voters. Perhaps you should fact-check the vote count for president in November 2016. His margin will be bigger in 2020.
As Warren Buffett might say, "I'll bet money on it."
Darrell Fortune
Fort Smith
Where's compassion in 'Dreamer' status?
There is much being said about the "Dreamers" and my heart goes out to them, but why weren't our leaders helping them to be Dreamers of becoming American citizens, Dreamers of becoming legal so this would not be hanging over their heads all of their lives.
When these children started school, they should have been told what they have to do to become citizens and encouraged to do so. The ones who really want to would have worked to that end, the rest would be sent back to the country they were brought from.
Is it too hard? Too expensive? Well, change the law, but don't sentence them to forever being illegal. Where's the compassion in that?
Phyllis Farish
Bella Vista
Commentary on 01/24/2018