Conservative values
Ms. Brenda Tirrell's letter in your Nov. 8 Voices caught my eye. Her letter seems to imply that if only people were more educated they would vote Democrat. Seems a bit odd coming from a Hot Springs Village resident where folks are mostly highly educated and overwhelmingly conservative.
Perhaps Ms. Tirrell should consider that her elitist attitude is one big reason the current Democratic Party is on the decline. I believe most folks, educated or not, want smaller, more efficient government, lower taxes, secure borders, strong military, law and order, judges that interpret the Constitution, economic prosperity, and believe in the sanctity of life, and other conservative values.
A couple of years of parading Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters, Chuck Schumer and others to the voters can only benefit the majority of our citizens who identify with conservative values. Yes, indeed, education is certainly the key!
CHARLIE WILLIAMS
Hot Springs Village
Lifeline for veterans
When Arkansans enlist in the military, they're choosing a life of duty and sacrifice. But that shouldn't mean they have to struggle to support their families when they return home.
Many veterans--including an estimated 15,000 in Arkansas--use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, to help make ends meet.
By ensuring those in need can afford groceries, SNAP is one of the most effective tools we have to reduce poverty. And for veterans looking to get back into the work force, or who are struggling with injuries or disabilities, it represents a lifeline.
That's why I'm glad the U.S. Senate passed a bill that would protect this crucial program. Unlike the U.S. House of Representatives' bill, which makes harmful cuts and changes to SNAP, the U.S. Senate actually strengthened the program.
That's the vision we need. Our soldiers have sacrificed enough. We cannot jeopardize their health and well-being by taking away their food assistance through cuts to SNAP.
DENNIS WIGHTMAN
Little Rock
Bright spot in my day
It is hard to find a pastime as enjoyable as a cup of coffee and my Democrat-Gazette early in the morning.
When headline news makes my head spin and my heart ache, while I grieve for the lack of civility and respect in our discourse, I often notice a photograph by one of the photojournalists. So many of them lift my spirit, make me smile and depict acts of kindness, courage and patriotism. Some are literally beautiful and truly inspiring and awesome in scope.
Thank you to these artists who are out there every day reminding us of the goodness we share.
LEE MOORE
Little Rock
Be an informed voter
Mr. Gitz has once again shown his radical misunderstanding of the mind of the typical voter and the aim of Get Out the Vote efforts. In his column on Monday, M. Gitz tries to get his readers to believe that the Get Out the Vote people want quantity rather quality. I mean M. Gitz believes liberals would prefer as many uninformed voters as possible so they win, rather than informed voters.
Most Democrat and independent voters are informed and base their decisions on knowing the candidates, their stand on issues, and the voters' own stand on the issues. Democrats believe in education, science, civics, and public service. The survivors of the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., became political activists for gun laws and voter registration because they were taking American government classes in high school.
M. Gitz must realize that the Republicans take their marching voting orders from Herr President, his political agents and Fox News about the vote, based on their own fake news. I won't discuss how M. Gitz complains that Democrats are trying the steal votes in midterm elections--voter fraud--when it seems Republicans are the ones committing gerrymandering, withholding voter registration, etc.
M. Gitz finishes his column by putting 16- and 17-year-olds down by saying they won't care to take time to get the proper credentials to vote. In Arkansas, all you need to vote is a photo ID such as a driver's license. Most 16- and 17-year-olds have one.
Get informed, M. Gitz. Be an informed voter!
NORM MOYER
Conway
Not without a fight
I believe the unprecedented attacks against African American women and women of color by the president of the United States are calculated racist misogyny.
This president has a history of inflicting tirades of hostility and insults as a result of his biases against people of color. However, in this matter he is acutely aware that 91 percent of African American women did not vote for him. Therefore, he exhibits immature behavior by retaliating against those he perceives as unsupportive of him. He now attacks minority women in the journalism profession. It has become obvious that transparency and truth are not at the forefront of the administration.
This president has proven to be vengeful, untruthful, deceitful, racist, xenophobic, and misogynist. Watch him in action. Although he represents the entire country, he has chosen to invoke isolationism to divide us and endanger our democracy.
African American women call "bull crap." We will not go down without fighting. We will not be sidelined by a group that feels it is superior or entitled to everything. All races died to build this country, not just one. We won't sell out our children's future. We are rising.
DEBORAH SUTTLAR
Little Rock
Editorial on 11/15/2018