Guest Commentary

Notes on the grumpy season

It’s that time of year again. It arrives the same time each year. A sign this time is here is the number of usually smiling people you see with scowls….

Clinton’s ‘dare to compete’

“Dare to compete” is the title of one the chapters in Secretary Hillary Clinton’s best-selling autobiography, “Living History.” In that chapter of the book, then U.S. First Lady Clinton recalls…

A chance for no vetoes

Despite several versions of on-line petitions and even a harsh rebuke from the chairman of the Democratic Party of Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson will not issue a “veto” this session….

Congrats on addressing ‘re-homing’

One of the big issues in this year’s Legislative session had to do with “re-homing” of adopted children. It seems that plenty of Arkansas lawmakers decided that practice is a…

Arkansas budget facts v. budget opinions

John Burris, a political consultant and former Arkansas legislator, recently opined about how Arkansas’ budget has changed for the better. That heading caught my attention, as I am disappointed with…

Arkansas’ budget changes for the better

Change is hard to see while it’s happening. I don’t know how my hairline got so high and thin. I just know I looked up one day, and there it…

The language of ‘vision’

Much of our thought process is language-based. As a consequence, our vocabulary and understanding of language can determine the quality of our thinking and understanding about life. The risk of…

No amendments for the 2016 ballot?

Startling word leaked out of the state Capitol this past week. Arkansas voters in November 2016 may not face a referred Constitutional Amendment submitted by the Legislature of the 90th…

United States Senator Tom Cotton last week wrote a letter to the Iranian Ayatollah, stating that the President’s on-going nuclear negotiations with the terrorist state are ill conceived and non-binding….

The U.S. Constitution: A contested document

In a recent address for the U.S. Marshals Museums lecture series, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was quoted as saying “The Constitution means what it meant when our fathers…

A flowery anchor for Crystal Bridges

Back in November there were hints, niggling little bits of rumor, that the world’s most famous painting of jimson weed (Datura stramonium) might be coming to Bentonville. And sure enough…

An effort to ensure habitability

One of the things I learned in law school is Arkansas is unique in that it is unusual in that there is no express or implied warranty of habitability. A…

Cronyism and forms of government

One of the most common reasons I hear for opposition to Fort Smith changing its form of government to the mayor/council for is cronyism. I personally think this argument is…

Re-homing should be illegal

A loud public outcry has risen this past week over the revelation that Rep. Justin Harris, R-West Fork and his spouse, Marsha, after legally adopting two young girls, “gave” these…

Religious liberty bill is a disservice to us all

Religious liberty is at the heart of our constitutional freedoms. No government can force us to affirm or deny any religious belief, punish religious doctrines it believes to be false,…

Our frontier heritage and white privilege

An academic approach to heritage begins with the understanding that “heritage” is not equivalent to history or historical facts. Rather, heritage is an appropriation of the past that is used…

A death penalty alternative

This past week, retired Circuit Judge David Burnett, now state Senator David Burnett, D-Osceola, let his temper get the best of him. He openly castigated a remark made by one…

DWI checkpoints and ‘the flyer’

Before getting too far into this column, let me make it perfectly clear that I despise driving while intoxicated (DWI) checkpoints. Yes, they do weed out drunk drivers but they…

Prison reform problems and promises

One of the most pressing issues that Gov. Hutchinson must face during his first term in office is how to address our costly prison system. From overcrowding to crime reduction,…

Change yes, but not with personal agendas

Last week, I had appointments with two clients. With each client I started our meeting by asking the question, “How was your year?” Both answered that it was one of…