Letters to the Editor

Tired of politics

I can hardly wait for November 5th to get here. If we are all lucky, the elections will be over and there won't be any run-off elections. I am tired of all the smear compaigns that are running on the television ads.

The reason that the candidates don't tell us any specifics about how they plan to vote on anything is so that they don't have to lie to us. There is one ad on television of the former military members griping about one of the candidates dropping the ball when it comes to the Veterans Administration. I don't understand why they are griping now. They were lied to by the government the entire time they were in the military, so what makes them think that things would be any better after they got out.

Many of the politicians come from families with money. Many of the politicians have gone to some of the major Ivy League colleges. These people have had it ingrained in their minds that they are better than the average citizen who needs them to reign over them. And, if the truth is to be known, this is somewhat correct.

Politics is a game of give and take. It is a game of compromise. Many times if you want something, you have to be willing to give up something that you don't want to give up. This is why the Congress and Senate sometimes don't get anything accomplished. Everyone wants something but no one wants to give up anything.

One of the candidates recently stated that politicians will add bad costly amendments to very good bills. Then, when the politicians vote against that bill, everyone is mad at them. That is politics.

While many of the politicians are good people who are trying to make the government better, what most of the average citizens do not realize is that there are some politicians who have been paid off or who are being blackmailed into voting a particular way so that nothing actually gets accomplished.

One of the worst political ads that is running on television is one where they are complaining about one of the candidates voting to give Social Security benefits to the illegal immigrants who have worked here illegally. They don't even try to point out that it is the legal citizens here in the USA who are illegally hiring these illegal immigrants. If the illegal people were not hired in the first place, they would not be eligible to receive Social Security benefits in the second place.

One more thing, any time you see a political ad where the candidate is wearing a brand new shiny hard hat with others who have brand new shiny hard hats, you have to realize and recognize that these are just paid actors.

This is just my personal opinion on the subject. I personally do not endorse any of the candidates who are running for office this year.

Boyd B. McNielPea Ridge, Ark.

Seeking office

Dear friends and neighbors,

My name is Gary Eckel and I am a candidate in the upcoming election for the office of mayor in Garfield.

My family has been in agriculture for five generations in America. I went to school in Rogers, Ark., (Go Mounties!) and to college at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Okla.

I own and operate a successful welding business here in Garfield and have a small place here in town. I come from hardworking people. Most folks around here know my family and their work ethic. I will bring my family values and work ethic to the office of mayor with a no-nonsense attitude towards foolish spending. I will see that we get the most out of our tax dollars and that each and every person has their voice heard. I will make sure the public has knowledge of what is happening in our town.

My views on today's issues are growth and management of growth in business within an agricultural community. We have a large seasonal draw to our area and that will increase with the new highway.

My belief is, "Grow as we need it, keeping our small town a comfortable place to live."

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Gary R. EckelGarfield, Ark.

Editorial on 10/22/2014