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Arkansas Times

February 06, 2013 News » Letters

Impact of guns in church real

Page 2 of 3

Scott Walters

Little Rock

Promote policies that make life richer

We recently celebrated or mourned the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The annual protest vigil in our nation's capital has taken place. And, not surprisingly, Arkansas's new Republican majority in our state's Senate has wasted no time trying to limit women's rights with an ALEC-inspired anti-abortion bill. Sadly, those who are obsessed over embryos and fetuses before birth seem ambivalent and often hostile toward the quality of life after birth. Rather than take away a woman's right to control her own body, why not promote policies that would provide incentives for her to bring new life into this world?

Rather than decreasing cost-of- living increases to those on Social Security, as has foolishly been suggested, either leave them as they are now or raise them to something closer to reality. Set the early retirement age to 60 instead of 62. Set full retirement at 62 instead of 66. Most will have worked 40 to 44 years by age 62. Many have worked at subsistence or poverty wages for much of that time. The sooner seniors leave the workforce the more full-time jobs will be available to younger workers.

Instead of irresponsibly increasing the age of eligibility for Medicare, lower it to 62. Allow Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs. The Veterans Administration can do it; why not Medicare? This country is not broke, and it's shameful for the richest nation in the world to claim it can't afford to do this.

If Medicare for everyone is not acceptable, then at least quit fighting the Affordable Care Act. We should have been doing something like that ever since WWII. Being the only developed nation in the world that hasn't done it before now has been embarrassing!

Quit pretending that climate change is not caused from our proliferation of greenhouse gases and do something about it. Stop opposing regulations that will improve air and water quality and thereby improve our own health and keep down health costs. Those born today will soon be asking why we waited so long when we knew the overwhelming evidence existed.

Support increasing the minimum wage to a living wage. No one receiving the minimum wage or less can get out of poverty or provide for his or her family without assistance, like food stamps.

What if your child turns out to be gay or lesbian? Oppose state and federal laws and constitutional amendments that discriminate against your son or daughter. Fight for equal rights under the law for everyone.

Demand government action today to promote full employment and get to work on current essential needs: roads, bridges, dams, Interstate 69, public schools, national parks, energy grids, et al., need to be built or upgraded. This will get the economy moving now and keep it growing into the foreseeable future. With full employment we can eventually deal with the long-term national debt but not before. Our children need to be confident about their employability and their nation's infrastructure.

If I were cynical, I would suspect that the primary reason for opposing Roe v. Wade is to promote overpopulation and high unemployment to keep wages at the lowest possible levels. I would also suppose that another reason was to prevent white, Protestant women from having abortions to slow down the changes in ethnic demographics. However, I would prefer to think that most anti-choice advocates sincerely care for the unborn. But wouldn't they have a much better case against abortions if they also cared for babies, children, young adults, middle-agers, seniors, and the environment as well? The future of the planet and the future of those yet born depend on it.

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