In the News

Letters

1/5/2020
Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Things just get worse

I write fewer opinion letters now, and mostly throw them away. Things just seem to get worse in Washington. Troubles are always here and elsewhere.

Like a previous writer said, Trump lives in a bubble; he is lost. I've been lost too, and finally gave in and grew up.
Should have never gone to college at 18.

Trump was asked why he believes certain things, and he replied that he had for 30 years. He talks of Christianity, then attacks Nancy Pelosi for being constitutional. A bad joke, Trump is.

You see what's wrong with the system. Ken Starr and Congress got Clinton for lying about sex, yet it seems Trump keeps getting away with breaking the law and terrible ethics. And Starr defended Jeffrey Epstein, probably for millions of dollars.

In The American President, I recall that Michael Douglas said that if people get fed up enough, they will vote for a goat or skunk. We have.

STEVE WHEELER
North Little Rock


Inappropriate appeal
Senator Cotton, I received your most recent fundraising and campaign appeal Tuesday afternoon asking for donations to be split between you and Sen. Joni Ernst. In light of the horrific attacks in New York on a group of our Jewish friends celebrating Hanukkah just hours earlier, I found it stunning that a U.S. senator would think it appropriate to send out a fundraising appeal like that. Nobody with any insight into this does not understand it contained an obvious anti-Semitic trope. If you're going to talk about "liberal dark money," you should try to mention someone besides two of the most prominent Jewish activists.

Seriously, Senator Cotton, do you really think that what you sent out does not appeal directly to the worst among us? "Soros, Bloomberg, and liberal dark money groups are already pouring millions of dollars into Iowa to try to beat Joni." Sincere conservatives with no racial or anti-Semitic bent surely do have issues with both men, but you and your staff have to know that the people who are most motivated by this include people I hope no one actively chooses to attempt to motivate.

Arkansas suffered tremendously because Orval Faubus read the political winds and decided to inflame the racial tensions of the time. I would implore you to read Rex Nelson's recent column where he spoke of how we have come back since that time. While he speaks of the governors we have had, I will also say that we had incredible statesman for senators.

Arkansas voters need to pay attention to all of our elected representatives. Senator Cotton, when you send out anti-Semitic tropes for fundraisers, I don't believe you are living up to what those pragmatic governors and outstanding senators of the recent past have embodied. Do you have nothing positive to motivate donors? Do you really have to appeal to the darkest sides of the issues? Please stop taking us back in the wrong direction!

GREG ROUNTREE

Future of our planet
Thanks for publishing Mr. William Melchior's letter, "Our gift to the world." His statement about climate change and losing "landscapes that we've grown up loving" sparked personal memories of family backpacking in Colorado's San Juan Mountains: the glorious sunshine and stunning night skies, blue columbine, blisters, mediocre instant soup, and contemplative silence. I remember watching my dad and older brother flyfish, hearing their lines' distinctive zips and rhythmic whooshing through the air. Fishing is just one American treasure impacted by climate change.

Trout Unlimited is urging action on climate and has made favorable comments about the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (HR763) mentioned by Mr. Melchior. "Just as we learned in the 1990s that we had to move from the stream to the watershed scale to recover trout and salmon, we must reduce carbon emissions to slow climate change. ... The time for Band-Aids has passed. Nothing less than the future of trout and salmon; the future of fishing--the future for our children is at stake."

A recent Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy analysis concludes that the Energy Innovation Act will cut net greenhouse gas emissions 36 to 38 percent by 2030 (from 2005 levels) and improve Americans' health by reducing sulfur and mercury emissions by 95 percent and smog-forming NOx emissions by 75 percent.

As 2020 begins my biggest question is: When will Congress act on climate boldly enough to conserve cherished landscapes and climate viability? I hope readers will share their climate testimonials with Senators Boozman and Cotton and Representatives Crawford, Hill, Womack and Westerman, and insist on passage of effective bipartisan legislation such as HR763 this year.

JAN SCHAPER
Russellville

Unintended effects

The piece on killer bugs resistant to antibiotics was interesting but I think lacked one element worthy of present consideration. The prophylactic use of the most high-powered retroviral drugs in the fight against the AIDS virus and in the IV-drug-addicted communities is of concern.

What are the unintended consequences on the general population of these "preventative" applications as they relate to overall immunity within our communities? Are the viral mutations becoming so complex or so strong that normal immunity will no longer exist for those populations that are not being treated prophylactically?

I believe this is worthy of serious discussion as well. We all should be concerned for the next generation and their future well-being.

GAYLE BURNS