A new mayor selected, kudos to Bob McCaslin
Now that Bentonville has chosen its next mayor, it should be recognized the great job that Mayor Bob McCaslin and his first lady, Mrs. Lana, have done for the community during the past 12 years. There have been many decisions the mayor has coordinated with his staff, the chamber of commerce, the school district and the city of Bentonville that have contributed to the phenomenal growth and development of our city. Bob was a great choice in 2006 after proving himself as a supplier VP and alderman in Bentonville for several years.
Thank you, Bob and Lana and best wishes as you close on 50 years of marriage.
Our next mayor will be challenged to continue Bob’s work, however, with full support from everyone, she will do well and our growth and quality of life will continue.
JOHN HILL
Bentonville
A whole-hearted defense of the liberal persuasion
I just read Dale Lange’s [Dec. 5] anti-liberal screed and respectfully respond.
I am Mr. Lange’s worst enemy. I am an elderly east coast, atheist liberal who reads. And we “EC” liberals are the most dangerous of all. We’re sarcastic, we know how pizza should taste, we can curse in a host of foreign languages — with matching hand gestures — and we know all about the real Donald Trump. We celebrate social justice, compassion, generosity, respect and service. We have no intention of taking anyone’s job, rights or guns. (And speaking of guns, conservatives know we have a Second Amendment; liberals know why.)
We think the Constitution is just fine, especially the parts about freedom to speak, worship, assemble, petition for grievances and avail ourselves of a free press. We don’t choose our leaders by their TV ratings but by their temperament, intelligence, maturity and actual qualifications – especially honor, decency and empathy. ‘
We think lying continuously is the exact opposite of “telling it like it is.” We consider locking up innocent children, using dangerous dictators as role models, supporting foreign leaders who slaughter journalists, and using public office for profit and brand recognition should be reprehensible by anyone’s standards. And we’re tired of being accused of not supporting our troops because we champion free speech. Balderdash!
Yes, there are a number of us liberals hiding around the corners of your life, Mr. Lange, just waiting to destroy your country. Sleep well, my friend.
LINDA A. FARRELL
Bella Vista
Democrats’ border stance doesn’t qualify as smart
“We Democrats know so much, that is true and we have, kind of, have to tell everyone how smart we are.”
This was Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono explaining what she learned at a recent Democrat retreat. Really? First of all, if you are really smart, you do not have to tell everyone how smart you are. Secondly, with between 3,000 to 6,000 migrants camped out around Tijuana, many already trying to storm our border (600-plus identified convicted criminals or MS 13 gang members among them), reportedly 680 illegals per day being arrested in the Rio Grande area with more coming, according to Border Patrol and congressional Democrats refusing to fund the border wall, I don’t see any of them as very smart.
And they are not alone. Sadly a few Republicans also aren’t keen to protect our southern border. FAIR has estimated the cost of illegal immigration at $135 billion a year and that estimate was assuming only 12.5 million illegal aliens residing in the U.S. Clear back in 1995 the GAO estimated the annual cost at somewhere between $2 billion and $19 billion. In September 2018, The Hill estimated the annual cost to be $116 billion annually. Most of these studies were calculated with estimates of only 11 million to 12 million illegals in our country. In September 2018, a study by Yale University professors estimated the real number in this country could be as high as 22 million, but at least somewhere around 15-17 million. The projected cost of the border wall was somewhere around $20-25 billion.
President Trump has only asked for $5 billion this year and the Democrats say no. It doesn’t take too much “smart” to see a border wall as a good return on investment. I hate to think what illegal immigration is going to cost our kids and grandkids in a few years. Email Congress today and demand they build the wall.
RALPH PATTERSON
Bella Vista