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USDA cuts: Gentlemen, start your salmonella?
Maybe the news left you yawning over your nutritious breakfast, but it shouldn’t. Every American has a stake in the fact that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the closing of nearly 260 offices, labs and other facilities.
The coming months will see a testing of our uneasy love-hate relationship with the USDA. We hate bureaucracies, waste and overregulation, but we love our benefits and food safety programs. -
Christian Health Center seeks volunteers
Dear editor:
Maybe one of your New Year’s resolutions was to be more altruistic, give back to the community in which you live, or just find a way to “pay it forward.” Well, have I got a deal for you! -
Suicide by Tea?
You’ve heard of “suicide by cop”? America is now seemingly witnessing political suicide by tea.
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Marching behind Europe toward the cliff’s edge
Freedom is a two-edged sword in that it grants us the opportunity to destroy our own destiny should we make wrong choices. But it doesn’t have to be that way, should we choose to learn from others’ mistakes.
The voice of reason beckons those who are willing to listen: Czech Republic president Vaclav Klaus sounded the warning bell regarding our economy last summer while in Berlin. “With the way your American government has been going,” Klaus said, “you might be able to catch up with us — in terms of our problems — very soon.” -
Confusion vs. my nest egg
After a volatile 2011, the stock market is off to a relatively good start in 2012 — at least as I’m writing this — though I’m still plenty confused about my retirement savings.
My confusion kicked into high gear in 1987 when the market plunged 508 points in one day, losing 22 percent of its value and killing my IRA.
The experts had lots of explanations after the collapse, but most failed to see it coming.
I vaguely remember the Asian financial crisis of 1997, too. It caused another Wall Street collapse that the experts didn’t see coming. -
How to make people like you
Do you want to know the one thing that will make every single one of your relationships significantly better?
It’s easy. If you think a kind thought, say it. Out loud.
How many times have you thought, “Wow, my co-worker is really great with customers” or “Gee, I love to hear my kids laugh,” yet kept the thought to yourself?
Here’s the big secret. We’re all constantly trying to figure out what other people think about us.
In the absence of someone telling us directly, we draw our clues from their facial expressions and body language. -
About the Personhood Movement
At first glance, Personhood USA seems like the perfect vehicle to boost Republican turnout, just like banning gay marriage did in 2004. But Sarah Flowers, the lead consultant to the campaign that stopped Personhood USA in Mississippi last November, thinks she’s found the silver bullet to stop them: having honest conversations with voters.
I know. At first I thought she was crazy, too. -
Against recreation tax
Editor’s note: All letters to the editor on the city’s upcoming sales tax election are welcome, but they must be received by Feb. 21, or they will not be printed.
The Guard reserves the right to not publish any letters it deems repetitive, and to cut the debate off sooner than Feb. 21. As always, letters must be limited to 500 words or less, and include a daytime phone number for verification purposes.
Letters may be mailed to: Editor, Batesville Daily Guard, P.O. Box 2036, Batesville, AR 72503 or faxed to (870) 793-9268. -
New year rings in with freedom of assembly
Assembly is a First Amendment freedom that typically doesnt get much attention from the public, or from most constitutional experts, for that matter.
Just 14 percent of Americans in the latest State of the First Amendment survey by the First Amendment Center could name assembly as one of the five basic freedoms. But 2012 is picking up just where 2011 left off: Assembly is often at the top of the news, if not our collective mindset. -
A more rounded way to gauge Congress
I suspect that most members of Congress will want to forget the year that just ended.
The institution that symbolizes our democracy finished 2011 plumbing depths of unpopularity it has never experienced before. Its low approval ratings set records — suggesting, as Gallup put it, “that 2011 will be remembered as the year in which the American public lost much of any remaining faith in the men and women they elect and send off to Washington to represent them.” -
Officials: No ‘invasion’ by Union forces Local militia ready for defense
After members of the Batesville Area Civil War Round Table recently received startling reports of a possible Union invasion here, the Batesville Daily Guard contacted Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, and he wants to assure the citizens of Batesville that there is absolutely no chance of an “invasion of Batesville” by Union forces in the spring.
Elumbaugh has received word from state officials, local militia and military leaders that Batesville will be entirely safe. Union advances will be along the Mississippi and fighting will be east of the Mississippi.
