Protect our resources
Please stop Senate Bill 550.
We must protect all water quality in Arkansas. Protecting the Buffalo and its watershed is important on so many levels. But this bill will put all Arkansas watersheds, rivers, lakes and streams in jeopardy.
This bill, backed of course by the powerful shortsighted Farm Bureau of which we are members, is not in the best interests of Arkansas or the people who live here.
Look to the other states that have had their water quality decimated by ill-advised policies on this very issue. They are shutting down the operations after the water has been compromised.
Arkansas should lead the country in protecting natural resources, especially something as essential as water.
CALVIN and ELLANORAH WILSON
Bigelow
Threat of a dictator
The president of the United States is invested with executive power. In addition, he is the commander-in-chief of the military. All he needs in the way of total dictatorial power is the power of the purse. That critical power is in the hands of the House of Representatives, which most directly reflects the power of the people. Mr. Trump seeks to circumvent that power by spending the way he sees fit. It seems our Arkansas legislators agree with him.
If you think that what is going on here is an argument in semantics, listen to Mr. Trump in an interview with Breitbart on March 13: "You know, the left plays a tougher game, it's very funny. I actually think that the people on the right are tougher, but they don't play it tougher, OK? I can tell you I have the support of the police, the support of the military, the support of the Bikers for Trump. I have the tough people, but they don't play it tough--until they go to a certain point, and then it would be very, very bad. But the left pays it cuter and tougher. Like all the nonsense they do in Congress ... with all this invest[igations]--that's all they want to do is--you know they do things that are nasty. Republicans never played this."
In other words, at a certain point which apparently Mr. Trump will decide, the armed forces, the armed police, and the armed Bikers for Trump will be unleashed on Congress and do something which is "very, very bad." Would that point be the overriding of a potential veto of the recent congressional action limiting his spending power?
Mr. Trump's words are the threat of a dictator. Republicans and Democrats alike should take these words very, very, very seriously. Mr. Trump should be called before Congress to explain exactly what he meant, and if the explanation is not satisfactory, I believe he should be removed from office. On its face, Mr. Trump's apparent threat constitutes a high crime in this republic.
OTTO HENRY ZINKE
Fayetteville
Tournament selection
I am very disappointed in the selection committee for the SEC Women's NCAA Tournament.
First, the women's tournament is different than the men's, as the women do not have the pigtail games; 68 schools for the men and 64 for the women is not fair.
Second, why have conference tournaments? They don't seem to matter. The Lady Razorbacks had a great tournament with a 20-win season and finished runner-up to Mississippi State. Teams they beat in the tournament are seeded at 4 and 5. Hats off to Mississippi State, one of the top teams in the country, and the Lady Razorbacks would not have beaten them this year. We will get there under Coach Neighbors.
Third, they beat Tennessee in Knoxville, and Tennessee got into the tournament. This may have been political so Tennessee could keep their streak intact. Did they really deserve to be there?
Fourth, it is wrong for teams to play four games in four days as the Lady Razorbacks did in the SEC Tournament. This year they would have not beat Mississippi State. They are too good. If they would start the tournament on a Tuesday and finish on a Monday, then no team would have to play two days in a row.
These are some things to think about.
JIM SPOSATO
Lincoln
Corrupting influences
Re Sunday Perspective cover article: The moral authority of children? Perhaps children under the age of 10. Much later than that and it appears any moral authority that the youngsters may have possessed has been sorely corrupted by numerous and varied influences including but not limited to hormones, TV entertainment/news, friends, parents, etc.
Not mentioned, but I believe probably the most corrupting influence for the children(?) of high school and college age, is teachers. Today's predominantly leftward tilt of young people's political opinions must be squarely placed at the feet of their high school and college instructors whose progressive, socialistic notions are readily accepted by naïve students all too eager to readily espouse radical political judgments upsetting to parents and established society.
RICK JOHNSON
Ratcliff
Hybrid tax not unfair
A recent letter to the editor complained about the new tax on hybrid vehicles. The purpose of the tax is to make the ones who drive on the state roads pay for the upkeep and construction of them.
My gas car may weigh twice that of the hybrid, but my gas tax is a multiple several times the flat fee hybrid owners pay. Plus the electricity that powers his car is generated by a plant that puts pollutants in the air.
I don't think the tax is unfair at all.
DAVID PHILLIPS SR.
North Little Rock
Editorial on 03/21/2019