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Opinion
Oct. 03, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

LETTERS: Crushing freedom for the 'greater good'

To the editor:

Just an observation on the math in Traci Pearl's letter of Sept. 28, "Seat belt campaign aims to save lives, not scare."

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    • According to Ms. Pearl, 373 people died in Nevada in car crashes last year. One hundred twenty-three were not restrained by a seat belt. That means 250 people, or 67 percent, died while wearing a seat belt.

    Personally, I use my seat belt and I think it's foolish not to. But it would seem nowhere near as foolish as I have been led to believe.

    The worst part of Ms. Pearl's letter is the money nonsense, which has become the Holy Grail justifying the expansion of state control over every aspect of our lives. This "no man is an island" and we-are-all-connected-to-each-other-so-anything-we-do-imposes-a-cost-on-society philosophy allows those who hunger for power over others to make their case for all kinds of laws to ensure we all do the "right" thing.

    Bad choices are no longer just bad. They are evil, costly and criminal, and those who make them must be punished -- for the greater good, of course.

    We delude ourselves if we believe we are a free people when the only "right" we have is the right to obey, which is pretty much where we find ourselves these days. And that's not just about seat belts.

    KNIGHT ALLEN

    LAS VEGAS

    Just another RINO

    To the editor:

    In response to the excellent editorial in the Sept. 19 edition of the Review-Journal, "Let's drill for oil -- where there isn't any," I would like to thank the editors for pointing out that Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., actually voted for this terrible piece of legislation. Since Rep. Porter nearly lost to the inexperienced Democratic challenger Tessa Hafen in 2006, his voting record has been abysmal.

    In September 2007, Rep. Porter voted for the Expanding American Homeownership Act of 2007. In October 2007, he voted to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, then in January 2008 he voted to override the president's veto of this bad legislation, which would have expanded taxpayer-funded health care into the middle class.

    In December 2007, Rep. Porter voted for the bloated omnibus spending bill that included several pork projects of his. In May 2008, Rep. Porter voted for the bloated farm bill and the House measure to sue OPEC for high oil prices.

    I think you're getting my drift. Every one of these pieces of bad legislation grew the federal government ever larger at the taxpayers' expense. When I called Rep. Porter's Washington, D.C., office to express my displeasure, the staff member defended his "reaching across the aisle" so that he could represent all of his constituents.

    An article in the Jan. 28 Review-Journal, "Porter now against Bush as much as he is for him," said it all. He's actually proud of the fact that he's no longer a principled Republican. I guess he would rather vote for bad legislation and pander to the Democrats than represent those who put him in office.

    Jon Porter hasn't represented me and my family for a long time now, and he will not get my vote this November. If I want someone in office who votes like a Democrat, I'll vote for the Democrat. I won't vote for a RINO.

    DIANA ORROCK

    LAS VEGAS

    Temper, temper

    To the editor:

    I guess it is a case of "my dog is territorial, your dog is a vicious attack beast." For a long time now, Nevada Sen. Harry Reid and his fellow sociable Democrats have been telling us that Republican Sen. John McCain is unfit for the presidency because of his terrible temper and vicious personal attacks.

    Well, to be honest, I wouldn't mind seeing a little of that side of Sen. McCain for a change. This kindly, grandfatherly image of his gets a little boring, as does Sen. Barack Obama's "don't ask me any questions," lecturing college professor image.

    The problem with the Democrats is there hasn't been a much more opinionated or quick-tempered president than Harry Truman, and they found that man charming and insightful. Hence the "Give 'em Hell, Harry" cheer.

    So what's the deal about a Republican with a feisty personality? His politics, maybe?

    KENT RISCHLING

    LAS VEGAS

    Good news, bad news

    To the editor:

    How true it is, in these days, that to learn of man's failures, we read the front page of a newspaper. For man's accomplishments, we read the sports pages. In the words of Howard Cossel, that's "telling it like it is."

    LINDA KERZETSKI

    LAS VEGAS



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    DOROTHY starks wrote on October 03, 2008 11:28 PM: the judcial system in las vegas is out of control with corrupt police who set people up like o.j simpson and mr stewart and the jackie glass cant call her a judge .she do corrupt also and very unfair in all her decisions.she should be taken off the bench.and the police officer who stated o.j wasnt going to be like in calif that wed get him here.my gosh what a set up what a best case for intrapment
    and the jury who wasnt smart enough to see a set up intrapment case right in front of them
    maybe the polce threathed them somehow like they did others in this case.


    Huh? wrote on October 03, 2008 10:44 PM: "I'm tired of supporting socialist non-bucklers."

    You really don't understand what socialist means.


    Letter Writer "Knight Allen's Bloody Head is Sticking through the Shattered WIndshield wrote on October 03, 2008 07:44 PM: Why should we have to spend our hard earned tax dollars to take her to a trauma center.

    Not wearing a seatbelt?

    Feed Knight Allen and all of her non-buckling ilk into the wood chipper, breathing or not.

    I'm tired of supporting socialist non-bucklers.


    odog wrote on October 03, 2008 06:27 PM: Daniel

    Hitting the send button twice won't send your comment 18 times. Count them.
    I rest my case


    odog wrote on October 03, 2008 06:25 PM: I'm Sick of Big Brother Forcing Me to Obey Traffic Signals

    I can support the fact that I would not be alive today had I been wearing my seat belt when I was broadsided many years ago. I can also support the fact that i was unable to free 2 individuals from their seatbelts while trying to rescue them from burning vehicles involved in two separate accidents. That is enough proof for me.


    Daniel wrote on October 03, 2008 04:04 PM: odog, Your name calling was a form of ignorance. I hit the button twice this morning, and for my business it is just fine. Just as your answer to me about Business management should also be held to Wall Street. I have no problems, money in bank, bills being paid, yet how many stories have you heard from congress about what i had wrote. Many of them, and they want to help bail out these ???. I am of GED education and living like i want too live. A business, wife, children no problem here, I had no help from the government, just sweat and tears of hard working. odog you may debate what i have wrote, yet name calling is nothing more than your words IGNORANCE. odog may God Bless You.


    Tim wrote on October 03, 2008 03:09 PM: Jon Porter may be a RINO, but he does represent the republicans who have voted him into office three times. I'm sorry if he doesn't represent your thoughts and wishes, but he certainly doesn't represent democrats, either.

    Jon Porter has an (R) next to his name for a reason. He votes lock-step with Bush more often than not. While the other two representatives from Nevada voted last week against the $700,000,000,000 welfare check to wall street, Porter voted for it. He wants to give money to the incompetents on wall street - taking much needed money from other priorities. NOw that the senate has added $150,000,000,000 in "sweeteners" (love that word), I'm sure he voted for it again. Wonder how much he'll get out of it?

    I'm glad you finally see what many have said for years. Jon Porter does not represent the wishes of the people in Nevada's 3rd District. The sooner he leaves office, the better all of us will be.


    EARLY VOTER wrote on October 03, 2008 01:28 PM: AND I WILL NOT VOTE FOR JON PORTER....


    Seatbelt wearer wrote on October 03, 2008 12:46 PM: I think seatbelt use should be optional as long as everyone who choses not to wear one carries on their person at all times,a legally binding document which gives the state permission to pull the plug on you if you're are so seriously injured that your medical insurance reaches its maximun payout. Taxpayers should not be required to pay for other's stupid decisions.


    Randi wrote on October 03, 2008 09:59 AM: odog - I don't agree with seat belt laws either and I didn't say anything about them. But I do think you've got a better chance in an accident if you have one on and I wear mine every time I drive. I'd bet the statistics back me up that my odds of surviving an accident are better with that seatbelt on. It doesn't mean people w/o a seatbelt will never survive a crash or that people with a seatbelt on will always survive. The point is how much risk are you willing to take.


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