'Outrageous' relief
Dear editor:
Like most of my acquaintances, I am appalled at the outrageous Covid Relief Package (aka full of pork) sent to President Trump's desk by the Congress. About the only pork spending missing is money for researchers to observe shrimp on a treadmill. I would, however, gladly be happy for taxpayer money to be spent on neutral and transparent psychological testing of the leadership of both parties, especially Speaker Pelosi and Leader McConnell. Sarcasm intended. What an egregious insult this package is to the small business owners who are the engines of our economy as well as to all of the working Americans who struggle to help make this country productive.
Along with many others, I believe that Congress should enact federal law governing national elections and that all states, in national elections, be required to use the same machines that are carefully scrutinized for reliability and accuracy. On second thought, since we appear to be determined to become a banana republic, perhaps we should invest in a massive amount of indelible purple dye for dipping one's index finger in after voting in person. A voter lacking an index finger could have a mark placed on a forehead. I have no confidence that ballots counted in the early hours of the morning without observers of both parties in the November election were counted accurately.
The incoming administration is full of retreads who have been among those in our government who, over the past three or so decades, have made an unholy mess in the Middle East and the world in general. Our Congressional leadership has signaled that we are going back to the same old corrupt status quo with the new administration with pork barrel spending. John Kerry, who has a habit of going rogue and representing the U.S. without authorization, has discussed publicly the "great reset." That should terrify the living daylights out of all of us. May God help us all. D.C., in my opinion, is now officially the District of Corruption. Our citizens deserve better than billionaires influencing elections, a propaganda machine censoring our news, and Congressional representatives who are offended by President Trump's and citizens' poor manners in demanding accountability in public officials' actions regarding national elections. We also deserve better than a representative involved in any way with a Chinese spy continuing on the House Intelligence Committee.
I appreciate the opportunity you provide for the expression of a variety of viewpoints.
Janet Riccio
Hot Springs
Opposed to bonuses
Dear editor:
Comments on the Dec. 27 letter from Mr. Bob Sowell and the needs of "so many" who are out of work. I join him in praising Garland County and all others who have responded so remarkably to those in need.
I have never spoken up to the vile decisions by our city directors who have approved the flagrant and despicable salary increases and bonuses to our city manager and city attorney, as well as raises, plus bonuses to all employees. In my opinion, it is malfeasance to the max. And "no," Mr. Sowell, we haven't heard about the compassionate rejection of funds from them. Incidentally, let's also consider the city's advertising and promotion CEO, Mr. Steve Arrison, who is not refusing a large percentage of his salary. He has reduced the majority of personnel because there is no business in our convention center. I may be mistaken, but believe he is the highest-paid official in our city.
I cry out to those who have so much, to do for those who are or will soon be, out on the streets.
I also must add an "attaboy" for Mr. Dennis Bosch for his "opinions" on this page today.
Karen L. Gibbons
Hot Springs
Funding 'misused'
Dear editor:
In my opinion, the $8 billion allocated by Congress to be used between March and December 2020 known as the "CARES Act" for quote "COVID" related expense by city and county governments has been the most wasteful, misused and abused act by Congress in 2020.
Lawmakers, dissatisfied with the way cities and county governments used the money, did not include funding again to cities and local governments in the recent package. I trust the Biden administration would call for an audit, and investigation as to how state officials processed the applications from cities and county governments and determined what was really covid related expenses, "pet projects," bonuses or perhaps just the "padding of the pockets," or to organizations totally unrelated to the city or local government. Just as the church is not respected today but just tolerated; so is the government today.
When we all stand before God some day, His judgment will be based on two things: 1. Have we been faithful to our "calling"? and 2. What was the motive for doing what we did? May God have mercy on our nation.
William Fleming
Hot Springs
Don't listen to 'Left'
Dear editor:
Rebuttal to the Jan. 3 letter by Doc Crawford, "Party chores."
Doc reminds me of the former "for the first time in my adult life I'm proud of my country" first lady, wife of the first Black American President Barack Hussein Obama. She insulted the entire Black race!
Today's liberal socialist Democrats wouldn't know the truth if it bit them. And eventually, it will! Ouch!
Have you noticed they never mention the anarchy in our blue run cities, (where you wouldn't find a single Republican), burning cities, looting and attacking law enforcement? Because -- they're all D-E-M-O-C-R-A-T-S.
Thank God, millions and millions of Black Americans don't listen to the left, as Mr. Biden saying "they want to put you back in chains." While Democrats try to convince them they are slaves, they don't have a chance, so just vote for us and we'll help you "survive," Republicans don't see them as slaves, but as fellow Americans, equal opportunity for all.
I love it when I hear former addicts telling their story of how they overcame addiction and are free, living a beautiful life, instead of listening to drug dealers telling them they can't get off drugs! Ironically similar to Dems trying to convince the Black race they'll always be "slaves."
Barack Hussein Obama steered clear of the communities where mothers, raising their children without the help of delinquent fathers, fearing for their lives, and now lives in a multimillion-dollar mansion, safely, far from those he and his egotistical wife claim to worry about, the perfect example of today's Democratic Party's "do as I say, not as I do."
They will pay for constantly reminding today's American young Black population of the wrongs done in the past, rather than encouraging and promoting them in a country where the poorest, the hopeless and those at the bottom, with our, and almighty God's help, can do, and be, whatever is their heart's desire! Amen!
Color has nothing to do with success or failure, not today! It's a Dem tool for power! I will never forget reading the story about our police chief, Chris Chapmond, and his determination to go from a troubling story of his childhood, to a great example of what we can be. He listened to his own voice, not the "enemy" -- Thank God! While Chris is white, I thank God for the thousands of Black Republican conservatives we see in law enforcement. They didn't listen to Libs telling them to be on the other side of law and order! Thanks be to God!
Pray for our blessed U.S.A.! Thank You!
P.S. God bless President Donald J. Trump!
Mary Robinson
Hot Springs