It is a lazy Sunday afternoon and with a slight drizzle the afternoon golf game became a fleeting hope. Therefore, I thought I would cruise the Arkansas online papers and see what our folks are saying from all over the state. Below are some LTE’s (letter to the editor’s), do not let anybody ever tell you that we here in Arkansas are “ignert”, below is a testament to just how engaged we are. After all, aren’t we the state that brought to this country; Senator’s Dale Bumpers and David Pryor, Congressman John Paul Hammerschmit, Gen. Wesley Clark and President Bill Clinton….I know, I’ve left some off – enjoy “What’s Arkansas Saying” this week.

Will prices go up?
 
If you recall, when gasoline went to $3 a gallon, Republicans told us that it was “supply and demand,” not politics in Washington.
 
Now that the prices are going lower, Republicans want us to believe that they are the reason. Republicans cannot run from high prices, then try to take credit when prices go lower.
 
Vote Democratic and tell the Republicans that we don’t trust them with our children or our gas prices.
 
I challenge The Sun to research articles when gas prices skyrocketed and see if the Republicans didn’t claim there was nothing that could be done by Washington. We’ll see!
Jonesboro
 
Increase the minimum wage

 To keep the minimum wage where it is now simply means that you think that the corporations should have the benefit of the low wages just so that their bottom line is protected. I think that their bottom line is large enough, if not way too large. It is simply obscene — when you read about what the CEOs take home — to not increase the minimum wage.
Bella Vista
 
Tactics making enemies
 
In 2002, I wrote a letter to your paper regarding treatment of Taliban prisoners in Afghanistan and how this could affect the treatment of American forces if captured. At the time, I never dreamed that the United States would have the disgrace of Abu Ghraib, the lack of the right to habeas corpus at Guantanamo and secret prisons where physical abuse of prisoners is allowed. Have these tactics made us safer as a nation ? They certainly have made more enemies for the U. S. and caused world opinion to turn against us. If President Bush is going to make the decision as to who gets what treatment, will he be consulted about every detainee ? Now that Iraq is on the verge of civil war, we can hardly pull out, but why haven’t we spent more than $ 8 billion of the $ 300 billion spent on the war on rebuilding the infrastructure that we destroyed with our “shock and awe” ? We may win over more hearts and minds by improving living conditions, such as clean running water and electricity, than by military might. It is very presumptuous on our part to assume that the Arab world wants our type of democracy. A democracy that is being eroded in our own country, I might add. In the past America has stood as a shining light of freedom, justice and decency to the rest of the world. God help us if we sink to the level of those who would destroy us.
Hot Springs
 
On road to destruction
 
It is my opinion, for whatever that is worth, that the United States is going to destroy itself. Right now we are hated by most of the world. They tolerate us because of our purchasing power with the American dollar. When that is gone, so will we be gone. If I were president of the United States, I would pull out of Iraq, pull all military personnel out of foreign countries and apologize to the world for mistakes of the past and ask for forgiveness, quit giving billions of dollars away to foreign countries that hate us and concentrate on rebuilding the United States into a self-supporting country and keeping our noses out of other people’s business. These illegal aliens in our country are not here because they love the United States, they are here because of the power of our almighty dollar. If that were gone, they would cut our throats in a heartbeat. We are all blinded by our love for the U. S. dollar. May God have mercy on our miserable souls.
 Cherokee Village
 
Feedback: Analysis missed point
 
David Brooks’ analysis of social mores as related to the Mark Foley controversy was cockeyed to say the least. The New York Times columnist makes it sound as if Foley’s actions were wrong primarily because they ran counter to his “social role” and primarily because he harmed the relationship between “all adults and all children” with his actions. But the problem with Foley’s actions is much deeper and much simpler. He was wrong because he was misusing his power to coerce essentially powerless young people into accepting his sexual remarks and advances. We as a society have frowned upon such abuse, and this has not changed much since almost as long as all of us can remember.
 Fayetteville
 
Clarity sorely needed
 
We are fast approaching the midterm elections, and words are flowing from and in all directions in hopes of influencing voters. Under the circumstances, I am reminded of the following: “I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” So, candidates, clarify your ideas. And voters, listen, read, question.
 Bella Vista
 
Human Minds Unequal back to top
 
The president and our governor have set educational policy and programs in complete ignorance of basic facts on human development. Here are the facts:
 
Growth in mental ability is basically biological. Individuals follow their own inner design of maturation.
 
As children mature variability in mental ability increases so that, at roughly 12 to 14 years, there may be a spread of several years from the lowest to the highest.
 
There are well-established racial differences in general mental ability and school achievement. Blacks average about 85 in IQ versus 100 for whites.
 
Consequences for ignoring these facts:
 
Programs such as No Child Left Behind are utter nonsense. The lofty goals cannot be fulfilled.
 
Remedial instruction cannot close the gap. Gains tend not to last.
 
Standards set for school achievement are out of reach for substantial groups of children, white as well as minorities.
 
Judges, lawyers, lawmakers, etc., are badly informed on these facts and any environmental cause cannot be supported. Blacks cannot excuse their lack of achievement on environmental deprivation and discrimination.
 
I am well qualified to write the above, having spent 60 years following the research on mental growth. I hold a Ph.D. in education with specialty in measurement and evaluation from the University of Chicago, 1948
Springdale
 
Why you should vote
 
Your vote is your voice in government. Preference for a philosophy; big government, higher taxes or local and state’s rights. A worldview; God, life, marriage, family, school prayer vs. evolution, no creches at Christmas. Global government, overseas jobs vs. one nation under God, American jobs, gun rights and immigration-border security.
 
Which philosophy represents America? Which party? Which candidates excel? Arkansas Sen. Jim Holt for lieutenant governor. Democrats praise Holt because his honest and keeps his word.
Magnolia
 
Chipping Away At Our Rights  
 
The president and Congress is trying to take away our rights; but Americans should not let them.
 
If we stand by and allow them to break the laws of this land, we will be as guilty as they.
 
How does this happen? It is not overnight, but by a steadily creeping process of encroachment.
 
Little by little Americans have allowed themselves to be robbed of their God-given rights because they take them for granted.
 
Smugness and complacency and apathy is the road to bondage.
 
With the new illegal laws we will all be suspect. There will be no option to be proven innocent, not for any of us. Anyone within U.S. borders will be fair game for this unjust administration. No one will ever feel safe again.
 
Freedom of speech is our most precious right. To be able to say anything without fear of imprisonment. Alas, this is what people will now be afraid to do for fear of being associated with the wrong people. This is the method tyrants use to divide and conquer a people. This administration has rolled us back into the dark ages and even before the signing of the Magna Carta. Even Hitler was not this blatant before he began his regime against the German people.
 
If this doesn’t wake the American people nothing will.
 
All Americans should be outraged. Will we stand by and let the outspoken ones get picked off one at a time? We will be less safe then if we stand up and speak up now. If we have learned nothing else from history it should be this: That if we don’t stand together, we will fall apart.
 
Wake up, before America becomes Amerika.
Lincoln