Letters to the editor

The ‘religious right’ Dear editor:

R.L. Hudson of Cabot wrote a letter appearing in the sister newspaper, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Nov. 22 that points out puzzling contradictions in the “religious right,” as he terms them.

Exactly which groups would fall under this label is itself debatable; yet, I have pondered the subject since childhood.

My religious training as a child was in a country church, which met in the public school building where both Baptist and Methodist ministers alternated Sundays, and adults of both persuasions attended the same Sunday school class (with some children tagging along). I remember no arguments about mode of baptism and other matters.

As I grew older, I was an attendee of both religious bodies. Some of those churches were much more conservative than others. But I became suspicious of another group I was attending with a couple who came by for me. I had been visiting happily until one Sunday the ones at the altar were so filled with the “spirit” that they physically threw hymn books. I was frightened and never returned.

Later in life, making extra money playing for revivals, one ultra conservative group became involved the third evening in a screaming argument with the pastor over one lady wearing short, rather than long, sleeves on her dress. I did not return.

So, I do find Mr. Huston’s argument persuasive that strong contradictions often appear in many religious groups that carry the “ultra right” label. The majority of those appear to be strong pro-life proponents, yet are very supportive of the death penalty.

The majority of those do seem to call for peace in all things, but appear to desire unrestricted access to guns of all kinds. They strongly call for following Jesus’ teaching of love for everyone, but support efforts designed to limit some groups. And so many condemned the infidelity of President Clinton, but overwhelming supported the election of President Trump, who during the campaign was shown to have in his past openly acclaimed the “privilege” of harassing females, and during the campaign itself insulted a female reporter with strong negative rhetoric. Their defense even today has been, “better that man than that woman.”

I still remain puzzled by these seemingly apparent contradictions, but I believe that a strong faith will keep me in mind of the teaching that is found is most religions, which we call “The Golden Rule.” John W. “Doc” Crawford Hot Springs

The Greenbriar angel Dear editor:

In the past year, I have witnessed something amazing happening at Greenbriar Apartments. Here the loyalty of the tenants does not lie with a group defined by race or religion as the world around us seems so intent on making it. Here, the loyalty lies with a single woman, who despite her past pain, despite her trials, has made these humble apartments, homes.

She has children a place to play that is safe from the dangers of the street. Given housing to those without, even given food from her own cabinets. She has opened her heart to these people and in return they have opened theirs. I have seen her fight and struggle so that the people here may sleep under there roofs with no worries, I have seen her struggle against odds that seemed impossible with a team that is ready and willing at any moment to take on any problem. Then late at night, when all is dark and families sleep, I have seen her go against men and women alike so that they may stay that way.

Turning a crumbling castle into a proud palace is a stressful job. It is hard and calls for an iron fist at time, but it is her talent to turn that same fist into an open palm that willingly offers a warmth that is severely lacking in this world today.

The people here have called her by many names, but never has it been unfair. She has listened to the problems of both young and old, solved the issues, both petty and dangerous. It is because of her that the 60-plus households that make up our little community know that all is well. They know they never have to go cold in the winter or worry of the danger of the summer heat.

When the idea of a playground for the children as a way to try to keep little ones from the constant coming and goings of the drive came up, she sought the help of Walmart for safe equipment so that mothers and fathers wouldn’t have to fear there sons and daughters meeting there end by a too-fast car. Then when even that was not enough, she did not give an inch. She asked her tenants and they responded. They scraped the money together and soon their goal was met. The park stands. It is proof that we are ever moving forward.

I write this as someone who has seen a new hope for people in this world threw a single woman. There are still people out there that fight for others and one such person is here, her name is Angela Courteaux.

Thank you for listening, an old soul with new hope. Heather Najera Greenbriar Apartments

Trickle-down on steroids Dear editor:

The current corporate/mega-rich tax cut bills being rushed through Congress are perhaps the largest transfer of wealth in American history. The purpose of these bills is to pay off the mega donor class. For rich donors sending a contribution to a politician is a transactional enterprise. They are making an investment in that politician and they expect a return on that investment. As GOP Rep. Chris Collins of New York put it, “My donors are basically saying get it (the tax bill) done or don’t call me again.”

Two-thirds of the multi-trillions in tax cut in these bills go to multinational corporations and billionaires. In order to conform to Senate rules, the bill cannot add more than $1.5 trillion to the national debt. For months, the corporate/mega-rich tax cut bills have been in search for a way to cap the debt increase to $1.5 trillion. The bills begin with a tax cut for all, but all of the offsets (that which will add to your taxes) are designed to be taken by the working class and college students. As a result, millions of middle-class Americans and college students will actually pay higher taxes.

This is a trickle-down economics bill on steroids. History has shown that these types of tax cuts have not trickled down to the middle class and have never raised wages.

Corporate CEOs recently gathered at The Wall Street Journal for a conference.

They were asked if their company was planning capital investments or increasing their payroll as a result of the lowing of the corporate tax rate. Only five out of 100 said they would make one of those investments. This is the reality of supply-side economics in action.

A major selling point for these bills is the massive investment in America by these corporations. These CEOs said they had no plans to do so. Companies can spend their money as they wish. Just don’t believe the lie that giving trillions of dollars in tax cut to corporations and the mega-rich will stimulate the economy to record growth and higher wages. It has never happened and will not happen now.

Retired persons should keep in mind that $25 billion will be taken from Medicare. If a final tax plan passes Medicare, premiums will spike and don’t count on any cost-of-living increases in Social Security. It is predicted that all health insurance (public and private) will increase 10 percent as an offset for this tax cut bill.

I see this corporate/mega-rich tax cut bill as a crisis for the working folk in America. Not to pick on one family, but a study on how this tax bill would affect President Trump and his family concluded that the president and his family would get over $1 billion tax savings. The point is that this one famous family will receive a larger tax break than every working-class family in Arkansas combined.

Get involved in stopping this scam before it is too late. Sam Albright Hot Springs

Tax ‘reform’ scam Dear editor:

Wealthy campaign donors do not spend hundreds of millions of dollars funding any politician in order to benefit the average working class American. Anyone who believes that, or ignores it, does so at their own peril.

As for this latest Trump/GOP tax “reform” being marketed to us as beneficial for the median income person, it’s a scam. More and more Republicans are coming out and admitting that they’ve been told by their donors to either “get it done” or don’t call them for money, with a few even admitting it’s a scam. Apparently they are more worried about getting re-elected (got to have rich donors to do that now) and less about serving the people they say they represent, but don’t.

No one can ever convince me that these donors want it “done” for our benefit and not theirs alone. The votes for this tax scam are purely along party lines with perhaps a few on either side reaching across the aisle, but nearly 100 percent of Republicans are voting for the wealthy and not our benefit, while majority of Democrats are voting against this scam and for the people.

This “scam” will escalate our tax burdens over time, as some of the “goodies” being proposed disappear since they are not permanent. The change in tax brackets also means that more people will fall into higher brackets, owing more, not less, in the future.

We all need to call or email our House and Senate members and urge them to vote no. Corporations have more money than ever in history in the U.S., as well as billionaires that were unheard of until past few decades, yet they want us to believe that these poor rich people need more and more of our money and if only we’d give them more money, they would raise our pay or create jobs out of thin air. Judith Zitko Hot Springs Village

10-4 on Gassaway Dear editor:

Regarding M. Gassaway’s Page 5 statements, The Sentinel-Record, Nov. 11: 10-4. John Clark Hot Springs