LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Aid to foreign nations | Our mindless society | Friends in high places

Aid to foreign nations

Global poverty and foreign aid carry many misconceptions in the United States. For instance, many Americans believe that roughly 25 percent of the federal budget is dedicated to foreign aid, when in reality, it averages less than 1 percent of the overall federal budget.

Many citizens are also unaware of the direct benefits providing foreign aid can create for the U.S. Addressing global poverty by using foreign aid creates U.S. jobs by opening new markets to American businesses as well as protects our national security by fighting terrorism and preventing conflicts.

The United States is one of the most powerful nations in the world, and there is no excuse as to why we are not doing more to provide foreign aid. With the current pandemic still at large, it is more important than ever that we continue to provide aid to developing nations to slow the spread of covid-19 on a global scale.

The International Affairs Budget, which is the main source of federal aid, is under attack from the current administration. I urge those of you who live in Arkansas to reach out to Sen. John Boozman, Sen. Tom Cotton and your respective representative to encourage them to protect the International Affairs Budget.

SARA HOLM

Fayetteville

Our mindless society

Our POTUS and allies attempt to discredit Dr. Fauci with rhetoric saying that the increase in covid cases is secondary to testing. If there is more testing, there will be more cases.

For one brief moment, let's use that same logic on something other than covid.

You have a fever only because we used a thermometer. You had a heart attack only because we did an angiogram. You have allergies only because we tested for them. You have cancer only because we tested for it.

No one in their right mind would accept any of those statements to be true or believable, yet many seemingly intelligent people accept the same illogical rhetoric to be true for covid-19.

Where and when did we devolve into a mindless society to believe such ridiculous rhetoric from our leaders?

CHRIS BAKER

Little Rock

Friends in high places

Judges and attorneys generally recuse themselves from cases where a conflict of interest might interfere with impartial justice. Not so with the executive prerogative of clemency.

How nice to have friends in unassailable positions of power.

MICHAEL THURMOND

Fayetteville

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