Letters

Safer public schools

When you hear about one school shooting, you hear about another one. Things are never the same after they're over. They leave emotional scars that never heal.

Many students in Parkland, Fla., are saying enough is enough. It's time to stop the violence. These students have a right to want to learn without a deranged shooter coming in and interrupting their place of study. We are not back in the wild, wild West when things were uncivilized.

President Trump wants to arm teachers. They are hired to teach. They're not lawmen like Wyatt Earp. Hiring security guards is more the solution to the problem.

Let's make our public schools safer and make learning fun.

DONALD L. PUTMAN

El Dorado

Make change happen

Isn't it time for a change? Think about it! Today our federal government is in virtual gridlock in Washington, D.C. Together we can unlock the gridlock and make government work the way it was supposed to. With our collective voices in the format of the vote, we have the opportunity to make positive, constructive change in Washington.

I believe term limits are the only way to restore government for and by the people of this great nation. Term limits to bring new people with fresh ideas to governance. Term limits will never ever be enacted by incumbents in Congress. We must make the changes at the state and local level. Let's limit all U.S. representatives and U.S. senators to 12 years maximum. Reasonable people would agree we need change. There are so many opportunities for our citizens to bring real change to the national government; together we can make it happen.

If a congressman or congresswoman or senator has already been in Congress for 12 or more years, then they should be thanked for their public service and go home. Each state can hold a special election to elect a new representative or senator. End the practice of the state governor appointing the new congressperson or senator. End the practice of appointing the spouse of any representative or senator who is already term-limited.

End the Senate rule of requiring 60 votes to end cloture in the Senate. End the ridiculous filibuster procedure. All these procedures do is allow the minority to obstruct Senate action. Lifetime appointment to federal courts should end after 12 years. Why on earth should we have Supreme Court justices given lifetime appointments while several of the nine justices are in their 70s and 80s? Term limits for all federal judges. Time is now for a change. Together we can make it happen.

LOUIS R. BURNETT

Little Rock

The matter of address

Color me curious. Is there some reason why Melania Trump is never referred to as the "first lady"? As far as I know, that is the way that presidents' wives are normally addressed by the media. Does she not like that expression or is this just another slight against Trump?

JOE WHALEN

North Little Rock

Teenagers and suicide

Teen suicide is becoming an even bigger problem as years pass. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates for girls ages 15-19 doubled from 2007 to 2015, and suicide rates for boys ages 15-19 increased by 30 percent in that same time.

Researchers have acknowledged that suicide may be related to social media usage. Teens will scroll through social media and constantly compare their lives with their peers. They don't understand that not everything is what it seems, and that no one has a perfect life. Seeing photos day to day of different people hanging out can make teens feel left out or forgotten. These circumstances may seem insignificant, but they can dramatically impact a teen's self-esteem, which ties into depression.

People often overlook teen depression by grouping them together and believing that their problems are simply typical. This is the worst thing you could possibly do when dealing with someone who might be thinking of suicide. Instead, we need to understand that teens actually do become depressed, and that depression can and has led to suicide.

We all need to be aware of the warning signs so that we can prevent tragedies like this in the future. if you notice that someone is talking about suicide, making statements about feeling hopeless, acting out in their behavior, and suddenly having loss of interest, reach out immediately. Don't ignore teens. Don't second-guess yourself. Don't be afraid to get help. You have the opportunity to save someone's life.

MADISON BASCO

Alexander

The elderly need aid

I have Parkinson's, arthritis, and I'm having a hard time writing. I am 83 years old; my husband is 85. We've been trying to get Medicaid, but because we are not bed-fast--we can walk around a little, fix a little bit to eat, bathe ourselves (I have to have help), go to the bathroom--we cannot get Medicaid. My husband is totally blind as well.

We applied for Medicaid three times; they lost our application every time. The Legislature apparently came up with the rule that if you cannot feed yourself, go to the bathroom by yourself, bathe yourself, then you need help; otherwise, you do not need the help. I have fallen a lot and so has my husband.

I hope when the election comes up you vote out all those legislators and governor and lieutenant governor. In other words, clean house. Put someone in office that is sympathetic to old people. We have qualified for Medicaid every other way but being bed-fast. Now I hear the Legislature wants to do away with Meals on Wheels. Please don't let that happen. I need the help badly. I cannot go to the eye doctor or the dentist because I cannot get Medicaid. If it wasn't for Meals on Wheels we would have to eat sandwiches all the time.

BARBARA BERRYHILL

Little Rock

Editorial on 03/23/2018

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