Letters

Tax relief for seniors

With all the talk about lowering taxes, why can't Arkansas be like some other states as far as real estate taxes?

Some states have a tax exemption like we do, but also have a tax exemption at age 65. Think about how this would help seniors. As it is now, if you have your home paid for, it's not because you have to pay taxes, and they will take it away if you don't. If we had tax-exempt at age 65, this would help a lot of seniors financially.

I contacted the governor's office and they said they would pass this suggestion on to whatever office. Thank you.

RALPH NEAL

Lowell

It's just a money grab

I recently received a billing insert from AT&T telling me that beginning Jan. 14, 2019, anyone canceling a recurring service billed in advance on a date other than the end of the billing period will be charged for the entire month. So, in the worst case, canceling your service on the first day of your billing period will result in the subscriber paying for an entire month for service not provided.

This unilateral change to the terms and conditions of service is grossly unfair to subscribers, and difficult for them to manage. (Do you know when your billing period ends? Do you think you should have to arrange your life's events around it to avoid this devious and unwarranted charge?) I worked for the Bell System (AT&T) at the local operating company level for 27 years, and we never did this to our customers in the past.

This is nothing but a money grab and should not be allowed to stand. To avoid it, I for one would be forced to change my TV service, my phone services, my Internet service, and my email address--a significant barrier. I would bet most AT&T customers don't even know about the change, as it was announced in a bill insert.

It appears the only protection against it is legislation or public shame. If you agree, let your state and federal legislators know your feelings and use your social media accounts to put a spotlight on this unilateral modification.

JOHN BRAYMAN

Little Rock

Cranky old man alert

This getting old thing is really getting old. If it's not prostrate problems, it's aches and pains in places you didn't even know existed when you were younger. The only thing I have to look forward to sometimes is Mama's cracker chicken and being cranky.

But it does give me a good excuse to let loose on those NRA guys when they try to get me to sign back up. Sorry, but I prefer organizations that support us, not gun manufacturers. They're protecting their bottom line, not the Second Amendment. Don't mess with a cranky old man, by God!

MITCH DEAN

Dayton

Who's doing the lying

Unwittingly, the headline "Cohen admits Congress lies" reveals the truth many thinking Americans real-ize. That is, Congress consistently conceals information and lies to the citizens it purports to represent.

It does not matter to which political party the member belongs. The reality is that Congress first represents its members' interests, both individually and collectively. Every statement, speech, and email to voters is carefully crafted to generate the best chance for re-election.

It is not possible to change that process without requiring term limits as a first step.

ROGER DOBBINS

Conway

Re-evaluate subsidies

Since the Great Depression, the U.S. government has provided farmers with agricultural subsidies. The subsidies were originally intended to protect farmers from inflation or a decreased harvest while keeping the cost of agri-products low and providing stability to the agricultural economy. However, these subsidies often benefit commercial agricultural producers while harming smaller farms, because they are offered based on a crop-yield standard, which means the more a farmer produces, the more subsidies that farmer receives.

Providing subsidies in this manner encourages farmers to overproduce and grow monoculture crops such as rice and corn, which can create inefficiencies in the market. These crops can be grown at a faster rate than seasonal crops and can be grown year-round. This system helps commercial farms flourish, but discourages family farms and diverse crop production, since they are smaller and cannot grow enough crops to receive comparable subsidies.

Commercial farms can produce more crops than family farms because they'll receive the benefits of excess production through subsidies. This effectively allows them to undercut family farms. Of the 2.1 million farms in America, only 39 percent receive subsidies from the government. In 2016, commercial farms accounted for 10 percent of all farms, but were given 73 percent of crop subsidy payments and 83 percent of crop insurance payments. This means small farms--the majority--only received 27 percent of commodity payments and 17 percent of insurance payments from the $20 billion a year the government provides. This means the average taxpayer dollar covers a farm that produces $500,000 worth of goods, which can handle temporary price fluctuations.

Agricultural subsidies hurt the farming industry, benefiting commercial farms while cutting family farms short. The subsidies should be re-evaluated and redistributed to ensure the efficiency of government spending.

CALEB JOHNSON

Vilonia

Must bear burden too

The opinion "aired" in last Sunday's op-ed section by Kay Motsinger is spot-on. Where is legislation requiring men to bear at least half the burden for raising children of questionable viability?

CHARLIE BISHOP

Mabelvale

Editorial on 12/10/2018

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