Bits that aren't true
On any given day, it seems there are letters/articles pertaining to some point in the two major parties' positions, but never is there something that gives us all the straight story on what those positions actually are. For example, an article in The Washington Post was about a woman who says she doesn't like Trump, but won't vote for Biden because the Democrats want to allow late-term abortions right up to the delivery date. That is not true, but The Post devoted one paragraph to saying it wasn't. I'm sure there are things like that on the Republican side also.
How about publishing a side-by-side listing of "Things You've Heard About Democrats That Aren't True" and "Things You've Heard About Republicans That Aren't True"? I like your weekly article debunking social media posts; how about setting us straight on this too?
By the way, I think one of the worst things to come out of the Trump presidency is the term "fake news." I'd like to see an op-ed on that too. (Sorry if you've already done it and I missed it.)
HOLLY EATON-BRADFIELD
Sherwood
Post office scheme
This is my first time to submit a letter to your paper although I have read many that appeared for a number of years. The letters published on Aug. 18 are among the greatest. They all bring to light one of the most damaging and un-American schemes this president in the White House has devised to sabotage the United States Postal Service. Those letters warrant repeating.
When will Arkansas' elected U.S. representatives and senators stand up to him and bring a halt to his dictatorial actions? Speak now; your constituents are listening.
FRANCES DOROUGH
Little Rock
Break out calculator
So, Gordon Swaim, instead of critiquing the Democratic candidates, let's do a little arithmetic for your hero.
In 2016, Mr. Trump got about 60 million votes. They came from basically three sources. One was his true fans who were with him from the beginning. Based on early 2016 nominating-process returns, that was somewhere around 10-15 percent of Republicans overall. Second was the group who vote Republican regardless. That was a very large fraction of his total 2016 vote count. This group included some folks who didn't think much of Trump but he was the Republican candidate so they held their collective noses and voted for him anyway. The third group was the I-Hate-Hillary folks who voted for Trump because they couldn't accept her being president.
For 2020 the calculus has changed. Many of the always-Republican group have become full-throated Trumpies, but that doesn't add to his vote total. It just recategorizes some folks. The nose-holder group are now thinking, "What have I done?" Many will be votes lost to Trump and going to Biden. This year Hillary is gone and with her nearly all the anti-Hillary votes that Trump got last time. And of course we mustn't forget that four years of epic incompetence and lies might influence some voters as well.
Trump's behavior has certainly stoked his believers, but it's doubtful he's made many converts to his side. When we add up all the pluses (almost zero) and the minuses (nose-holders and anti-Hillarys), the prognosis for Trump is significantly fewer than 60 million votes. It's hard to imagine a 10 million-plus popular-vote shortfall equating to an electoral college victory. I think, Gordon, that whatever shortcomings you see in Biden/Harris won't bring enough new votes to Trump to make the difference. Nor will accusations of voter fraud. Tata, DT.
DENNIS BARRY
Little Rock
Stand up, vote, pray
Thanks to the socialist teaching, un-American thinking, and leftist leaning of the cancel culture, the United States of America has been brought down to the level of France. I hope there isn't a slot below Venezuela.
Stand up, Americans; vote and pray.
SCOTT HOWARD
Benton
Not America's voice
I served in the American Peace Corps from 1963 to 1965. I taught secondary school in Nigeria, West Africa. I never saw a TV where I was, but I listened religiously to the VOA, the radio Voice of America. It was informative and nonpolitical. It truly was the voice of America.
Recently, Donald Trump removed the long-serving chiefs of the VOA, replacing them with his own political cronies. Apparently, Trump's intent is for the VOA to become the "VOT," the "Voice of Trump." Just this past Sunday, the Arkansas Democrat-
Gazette reported the purging of multiple journalists at the VOA.
This is a pattern. He has removed heads of almost all his government departments and replaced them with "acting heads" whom he appoints to avoid being vetted by Congress. He is replacing inspectors general who are responsible for governmental oversight. These appointees will answer only to him.
This is how autocrats and despots work. They control the state media and surround themselves with "yes men." This is what Vladimir Putin has done in Russia. I fear Trump is undermining our democracy in every way possible: voter suppression, dishonest propaganda, sowing hatred and division, replacing competent government employees with his own minions, demeaning the free press, and now, taking over the iconic Voice of America.
I was proud to represent our country overseas in 1963 and I was proud of our presidents. John F Kennedy was respected all over the world. So was his predecessor, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Both had fought for America in the wars and, as presidents, they represented all Americans. That respect and representation is now being lost.
Representative government matters. Good government matters. I plead with you to vote against Donald Trump before his tight grip on government becomes permanent and we lose any semblance of a functioning, competent democracy.
GEORGE H. BENJAMIN
Siloam Springs
Heartbreaking deaths
Two heartbreakers for our nation: 1. Vietnam Wall contains 58,000-plus casualties for a decade of war. 2. Covid pandemic death count for six months is 180,000-plus and rising.
KARIS ALDERSON
Hot Springs Village