Time to put an end to 'sport of kings'
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has come and gone, and "sporting fans"are witness once again to yet another high-profile horse going down in yet another highprofile race, just as did Barbaro in the Preakness two years ago. For all those apologists for "the sport of kings"who would suggest that those things just happen and that, after all, these are race horses that just want to run, I would suggest that pit bulls just want to fight, but fortunately our country has come to its senses on that one. But for every Barbaro or Eight Belles there are hundreds of other lesser and more easily expendable horses in cheap races on cheap tracks all over the country that suffer the same fate each and every year. Horse racing is a dying "sport,"track attendance declining yearly and public interest low. It's time for legislation to go ahead and put the entire enterprise out of its misery.
STEVE A. JONES / El Doradao
State's history in danger
Two significant Civil War battles took place in Northwest Arkansas just nine months apart: The Battle of Pea Ridge took place March 7-8, 1862, in northern Benton County, between Union and Confederate troops allegedly to keep Missouri from seceding and also to open up Arkansas for Union occupation. Pea Ridge proved a bloody engagement for both sides, since 3, 000 troops were dead or wounded at the end of March 8, 1862. This battle is credited as the most significant in the Trans-Mississippi District-West for the Confederacy. Just nine months later, on Dec. 7, 1862, the two armies met at Prairie Grove Battlefield in a second engagement to hopefully rid Northwest Arkansas of Union troops. This engagement cost a total of about 2, 700 dead or wounded. One key destination was the city of Fayetteville in Washington County. Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park originally consisted of 3, 000 acres 145 years ago. Howsoever, as time erodes, several commercial developers have placed suburban housing units nearby. Most Civil War battlefield sites are facing encroachment and are being down-sized. Prairie Grove is today endangered.
RICHARD B. DIXON / Benton
Tax a risk to gas industry
The editorial pillorying Chesapeake Energy's comment and complaining that the one bright spot in the Arkansas economy isn't paying its fair share has to be a low spot in the sordid diatribes this paper has launched against the petroleum business.
While Arkansas gives taxpayers' money to companies that bring jobs, the gas industry asked for none and all they get is taxes.
We are blessed with such mindless piffle as the editorialist suggests that a tax of a third of a cent per 1, 000 per cubic feet, or Mcf, in 1957 was "abysmally low"then. Really ? What was the price of natural gas in 1957 ? It ranged from 4 to 17 cents per MCF. Crunch the percent.
Arkansas is getting far more than "5 percent of the take."We charge a severance. We charge a property tax (which Oklahoma doesn't have ) that is a production tax, not a tax on the market value. We charge income tax. (Texas doesn't have that. ) We even charge the consumer a sales tax, which almost no state does. We make money off the workers, moving the drill rigs, and the counties even shake down the companies for road money whether they damage the road or not. You hate the gas industry ? Gas costs too much. Fine. Adding taxes is supposed to help ? And you argue that this is easy pickings. You didn't mention the fate of Maverick, which drilled dry holes and folded up. No risk ? Your editorial is a joke.
TERREL SHIELDS / Siloam Springs
Prison should be prison
I saw in a recent Sunday paper where prisoners are now requesting religious diets. Why do we as taxpayers have to provide it to them ? Prisons are supposed to be prisons. If they want special food, tell them to stay straight and get out and buy their own.
We also as taxpayers pay for them to have libraries, TV, game rooms and God only knows what else. Our laws are too lenient. Prisoners should be prisoners, not treated like guests at the Holiday Inn.
JOHNNY SIMPSON / Jacksonville
Both warnings welcome
I just want to tell you how much I appreciate the weathermen on the TV and radio. How hard they work when we are having tornadoes and stormy weather. They have gotten so good at it until they can almost tell what street the tornado might hit. Because of the good forecasting, many lives are being saved, and for this we thank them. They know who they are. There is other work being done that is very important, too, because it is fulfilling a Bible prophecy, and heeding it is just as important as heeding the weathermen's prediction. This prophecy shows that the good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the world and then the end will come. It has been told all over the world for over 100 years, and many have heeded and joined in giving the warning, but the time is getting shorter. Times are getting worse, and that in itself is a sign that the time is short. Let's be just as prompt to heed this warning as we are the weathermen's warning.
GLADYS CATES / Lonoke
What is oil's real price?
The price of oil: Is this in lives, dollars, broken homes ? What is the real price of oil, freedom of speech ? Freedom of the press ? Who really knows, then who cares ? When a company has a monopoly or there is an oligopoly that has abused its power like the gas companies have done, the government should step in and control the price. Dick Cheney received [millions in retiring ] from Halliburton, which has gotten billions in [wartime contracts ]. There allegedly have been millions in [undocumented ] claims. The shale oil reserves in the U. S. are astronomical. It would blow the public's mind to know that the reserves are more than the world's total known oil reserves. I've wasted enough time on this because no one who will do anything. It's ironic that the Clinton administration left the economy in such good shape for the middle class and in a few years the Bush administration has bankrupted our children and grandchildren and theirs. God bless America. He's the only one who can help because he cares.
BRUCE CASH, North Little Rock
Two sentiments similiar
Michelle Obama's comment," For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud to of my country,"while lacking the shock value of Jeremiah Wright's profane "God damn America"comment, expresses a sentiment similar to his toward the country that has afforded them both privilege enjoyed by a very few and by even fewer in Africa. Of all the people who should be saying "God bless America,"these two are at the top of the list. I find the comments of both of them offensive and appalling.
YVONNE DRIVER / Russellville
Feedback : Tap funds to help economy
Sen. Hillary Clinton had a good idea recently when she suggested that people with retirement funds ought to be able to tap into them prior to retirement for some things like purchasing a home.
Expanding that idea: Trillions of dollars are tied up in these funds set aside for retirement. They are taxprotected until funds are withdrawn. However, if funds could be withdrawn to pay off a mortgage or to buy a first or a second home, this could set off a vast expansion in the real estate and mortgage markets, which have suffered so recently. This would be particularly so if the tax penalty for withdrawal was dramatically reduced. That way the government would have to borrow less money and pay less interest to get us out of the sub-prime mess caused by some greedy (and let's add stupid ) investment bankers who are supposed be handling everybody's money.
If there were some cautious guidelines here to prevent excess, the middle and upper middle classes as well as the wealthy could get a deal and help re-prime the economy. Not fair, some would say, but as the saying goes, a rising tide floats all boats.
CHARLES VERMONT / Prescott
Students add to game
Being unaware the Travelers' game on April 30 was Students Day, we were dismayed on arrival to see the awesome stream of students pouring into the stadium. One had to wonder if the stadium could seat them all. Each school had its own vibrant-colored T-shirts, creating an ever-pulsing, ever-changing crowd movement. What a lively crowd, which surely added to the whole ball game atmosphere. The parents and teachers can be so proud of their students' "performance"on this outing. It evoked memories of the 1930 s "Knot Hole"summer students' tickets.
JEANANN STUDER / Hot Springs Village
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