Tune up the engine
After several seasons of fiddling with jersey colors and extending the multimillion-dollar contract of a non-winning coach, it was very encouraging for this old Razorback fan to hear our new coach talking about hammer down and speed in the left lane earlier this year.
We native Arkansans may need to enlighten our new coaches on the meaning of hammer down since we started the season creeping in the slow lane with a reluctance to hit the gas. Cases in point are punting on 4th and less than one yard to go when we have a steamboat quarterback, and in playing inexperienced freshman quarterbacks with our back against the wall and somehow thinking it's for fun.
With hammer down, I think back to our late teen years when Chrysler muscle cars Hemi Challenger, 440 Six Pack, Roadrunner and Charger were hitting the market. Hammer down meant gas to the floor, lunging forward into the left lane with 400 horsepower, passing everything in sight and occasionally racing each other on the straight stretch outside of town.
Razorback football is part of something bigger than ourselves that historically represents our state on the national stage. If we are going to talk about hammer down and show the fighting, scrappy spirit, we desperately need to tune our engine and stomp on the gas as we head into SEC play.
BOB HAYDEN
Little Rock
Wouldn't protect them
So U.S. Rep. French Hill always protected people with pre-existing conditions? Who knew?
The American Health Care Act (HR1628 of 2017) that he gleefully celebrated (with a small majority of the House) would have let health-care insurers require higher premiums of such "insured" people--do you know any families without at least one pre-existing condition?--and the fund to be provided in the AHCA for supporting higher-risk groups was generally thought too tiny.
As reported in this newspaper, AARP called it a "giveaway to insurance companies" that would not protect most people suffering pre-existing conditions. Several informed authorities and organizations likewise opposed the AHCA.
The American Public Health Association likewise opposed the AHCA bill, citing the Congressional Budget Office's estimate of a huge rise in uninsured people during the decade after it would have become law. The bill would have cut support of health plans' premiums for less-than-wealthy families and eventually ended states' Medicaid expansions. Under the AHCA, providing essential services like maternity care, treatment for addictions, and prescription medicines would have become optional.
Another feature would have crippled public health programs by eliminating the Prevention and Public Health Fund that supports 10 percent or more of the CDC's budget. That would have compromised prevention and control of infectious diseases, lead poisoning, and other threats. The fund also finances childhood immunizations and other critical measures.
Does this seem much like protecting people with pre-existing conditions--or any others, for that matter?
Fortunately, Sen. John McCain's deciding vote against the Senate's version of the AHCA, one of his last heroic actions, spared us from Representative Hill's bill.
JIM WOHLLEB
Little Rock
Support Razorbacks
As a Razorback fan from way back, I am deeply concerned with the direction that our Razorback Nation fan base has taken. Of course we want to win every game; who doesn't? But at what cost?
What happened at the most recent football game should never happen again. Those young men deserve our support and respect no matter what. They put in countless hours of hard work, both on and off the field. They are young college students who are held to a much higher standard than most students, not professional players who are paid millions. They are as tough as nails, but they have feelings, too. They see fans leave early, wear popcorn bags (among other things) on their heads, and they hear the jeers and boos as well as the cheers.
So come on, Razorback Nation, let's hold ourselves to higher standards and give positive energy to our football team, no matter what. Go Hogs!
JANELLE ROLLER
West Fork
A fine bit of weather
The new weather page in the newspaper is awesome! More colorful and easier to read.
PAT PRESLEY
Little Rock
Epidemic in society
Regardless of how you feel regarding Brett M. Kavanaugh's guilt or innocence regarding sexual abuse allegations, it is important to know the statistics for sexual assault in the United States.
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center "one in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives"; "one in three women and one in six men experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime"; "in eight out of 10 cases of rape, the victim knew the perpetrator."
Clearly, sexual assault is epidemic in our society. Victims of sexual abuse or exploitation often do not tell anyone because they are embarrassed, do not feel anyone will believe them, and fear retribution for their reporting.
Christine Blasey Ford has nothing to gain and everything to lose as a result of coming forward despite the hateful conspiracy theories being circulated online. She will be victimized twice as a result of her courage.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land with lifetime appointments. Its members should be squeaky clean.
This should not be a partisan issue. It is a human issue, and until we create an environment of safety and empathy for our citizens, we will continue to be diminished as a society.
I am one of the three. I know whereof I speak. Salient memories of this type of trauma do not fade over time.
JANET NEILL
Little Rock
Have that in common
So in less than two weeks, we can expect to have a Supreme Court with two members who have been accused of sexual misconduct and a president who has actually bragged about his own similar behavior.
"Coincidence," the man says.
"No," you say, "there's a common denominator (hint: starts with an R)."
"Not important," mutters the man.
"Really?" you exclaim. "Let's see in a few weeks if our women friends agree with you ..."
WILLIAM K. BRUTON
Little Rock
Desecration of river
After reading your article on the front page of the Arkansas section Tuesday, "State notice on hog farm issued," I am confused. More information is needed. We, the ones who need to comment, need the email address, phone number and address of the meeting!
I am very opposed to such a disgrace as this hog farm even within 100 miles of our beloved national river. Honestly, there is really not a place where the waste from 6,000 hogs will be safe.
Good people of Arkansas, please speak out against even a slight desecration of the Buffalo River.
BRENDA NORSWORTHY
Pine Bluff
Editorial on 09/21/2018