Guest Commentary

Arkansas’ income-parity struggle

A long-standing economic goal of Arkansas officials is to achieve 100% income parity with the United States. The goal is ambitious – overly so in the short-term but possible long-term…

A hardware industry look-ahead

Sales of hardware related products look to be a sweet spot for retailers and suppliers in the months and years ahead. The recent announcement that U.S. regulators are backing off…

Battling with documentation

Growing up my mother often would warn me as an inducement to behave or face the consequences, “Be sure your sins will find you out.” I have found throughout my…

Arkansas voter polling insights

When conceiving this column a few months ago, we planned to make the space allotted us on this website a place where we explain the strategic motivations behind the actions…

The politics of judicial precedence

Time and again we read in the news or hear from media reports that a single federal judge or a judicial panel of three or at most five, have taken…

Sex, drugs, and the demise of our tax code

CPAs regularly field questions on why the United States income tax laws are so screwed up and unfair. Everybody has their own opinion, but I tend to accept the opinion…

Gov. Fallin: Remember the victims

Last week, the state of Oklahoma conducted the lawful execution of Clayton Lockett, a man who was convicted of first degree burglary, assault with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, robbery by…

Begin with the end in mind

I read Stephen Covey’s classic book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," the year it was first published, in 1989. It since has become a business classic for cause….

The role of wealth in elections

Two recent Supreme Court decisions have troubled a number of Americans who care about rule by the people. But before we discuss these cases, a brief history is in order….

Tourism industry treasures

Throughout my time as Governor, we have seen many twists and turns in the national economy that have made their impact known in Arkansas. Throughout both the tumultuous and brighter…

Pryor-Cotton and U.S. Senate control, part II

Because voter turnout is regularly low during midterm elections, and a president’s party has historically lost seats- with some rare exceptions- in Congress during midterm elections, the strategy that campaigns…

Pryor-Cotton and U.S. Senate control, part I

6 is the ‘magical’ number that will dominate the national political discourse throughout this electoral year. 6 is the ‘magical’ number of additional seats that national Republicans will have to…

Compounded economic development

How often do you hear a debate, among public officials or among residents, about the payback period or the return on investment of a multi-million dollar project before it is…

Dialogue on the Constitution

Hey, neighbor, how are you doing? Hi, neighbor, I’m doing fine. Well, as long as the warm weather holds. Yeah, it’s been an awful winter. Said that right, brother. What…

Praising Arkansas agriculture

Over the years, consumers have become increasingly health-conscious, as well as environmentally aware of farming practices. One of the results of this has been a monumental rise in demand for…

A vision mystery

Fort Smith is a great place to live, today, but as with any living thing, today’s actions affect tomorrow’s outcome. Individually we set goals to achieve a designed future for…

There is little the U.S. can do about Crimea

In those quarters where Obama-bashing is a sport, the situation in Ukraine has given conservative commentators on Fox News and elsewhere more ammunition to bash President Obama. The tone has…

City strengths and city governance

“After my kids are grown I might move to …” I often hear friends and clients with high school and college age kids make the above statement on a regular…

Pryor, Cotton message development

“Tom Cotton: Wrong for Arkansas” read a blaring headline of a blog on U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor’s campaign website on Aug. 6, 2013, as Pryor’s campaign anticipated U.S. Rep. Tom…

Planning notes from Superintendent Gooden

The concerns relative to the emerging plans for an additional high school are reasonable in view of the long-term impact such a project can have on the Fort Smith Public…