LETTERS: Republicans incapable of helping Nevada - Opinion

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Jan. 02, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

LETTERS: Republicans incapable of helping Nevada

To the editor:

All Nevadans, regardless of party affiliation, need to read the Review-Journal's Dec. 26 story, "Republican urges party to put up fight."

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Reno Assemblyman Ty Cobb, like so many of his ilk, displays either little understanding or no concern about the problems facing Nevadans and, more importantly, real solutions to address these problems. While Mr. Cobb cries about party politics, news regarding the state's economy, health and social responsibility continues to sink to depths that should concern every citizen.

Unemployment is on pace to break an all-time high, Nevada's medical and social services systems are in complete tatters and the politicians who are supposed to serve the needs of the people don't have a plan or a realistic idea how to even begin to address these problems. Of course, at any point during the past two years, when obvious signs were everywhere, politicians such as U.S. Sen. John Ensign and Assemblyman Cobb were more concerned about advancing personal political agendas than working to fix the problems.

Why does Nevada rank close to last in per-pupil education expenditures? Why is health care in our state in such disarray? Why are the disadvantaged left on their own or tossed aside as if "out of sight, out of mind" solves the problem?

In the same article, Sen. Ensign is quoted as saying one of his priorities is to address education and health care solutions that rely on the private market. Perhaps Sen. Ensign and Assemblyman Cobb should talk to teachers, parents and students about the deplorable lack of political will power to support education. In progressive states and societies, education is viewed as an economic primer, providing and encouraging the brainpower society needs to solve our problems. Perhaps they might also speak to the thousands of working people who can't afford basic health care for their families or the aged, who must choose between their medications or eating.

Is it any wonder Nevada ranks near the bottom in nearly every health-related category, from morbidity rates from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and mental illness to the appalling number of children whose parents can't get them basic immunizations.

Assemblyman Cobb, Sen. Ensign and their political cronies can rant all they want about cutting aid to education, social services and health care, as if that's a real solution. However, the truth of the matter is that Nevada needs a new formula, a new vision and a new breed of leadership that actually puts the needs of the people first.

Perhaps that's the message Assemblyman Cobb needs to make sure resonates loud and clear through the Nevada Legislature.

MARK NEIL LEVINE

LAS VEGAS

A futile war

To the editor:

The insane war on drugs has escalated to the point where police are breaking into people's homes at 9:30 on a Sunday night ("Officers get praise for poise," Tuesday Review-Journal). Three Las Vegas police SWAT members were shot while serving a narcotics search warrant. Interestingly, no drugs were found.

Fortunately, none of the three officers shot was seriously wounded. It could have been much worse.

When will people come to their senses and acknowledge that drug abuse is a public health problem, not a police problem? This ridiculous war on drugs needs to end -- now.

Al Rogers

LAS VEGAS

Irresponsible speech

To the editor:

Many of our brave young men and women have served and died for all the freedoms we now enjoy, including a free press and free speech. However, responsibility accompanies these freedoms.

The Tuesday letter to the editor from Michael John, headlined "Boot-licking," had any intelligent and patriotic American of any political or social persuasion cringing at the lack of substance and lack of critical thinking skills. Mr. John's limited vocabulary failed to impress even his intellectual contemporaries.

"Appeasement," "apologists," "Neville Chamberlain" and "Jane Fonda." What do these words and personalities have to do with the 21st century, torture and people who support the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention center?

Publishing these types of letters, even in the spirit of the First Amendment of the Constitution, is irresponsible for a major metropolitan newspaper. To Mr. John, I entreat: Why can't we disagree without being disagreeable?

Joe Beltran

NORTH LAS VEGAS

Free Margaret!

To the editor:

In response to your Dec. 20 report, "Retrial ordered in '94 LV killing":

Prosecutors should refuse to re-try Margaret Rudin on charges she killed her husband and set her free.

Not only would we the taxpayers of Clark County save the $200,000 it would cost to re-try her, but we would be dumping the expense of housing and feeding her for another 20 years. She has served nine years in prison -- plenty of time -- and should be free.

District Judge Sally Loehrer, who ordered the new trial, and Rudin's next husband will be counting on her to be a good citizen.

Randall White

LAS VEGAS

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Jon H. wrote on January 03, 2009 10:20 AM: Steve, Are you then in agreement with Mike K. that the subject photo shows that a 12 gauge shotgun M-1030 breeching round was in fact not used to make the bullet holes around the lock of the subject security door? http://media.lvrj.com/images/3232342.jpg http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-180314079.html repugs suck wrote on January 02, 2009 07:37 PM: Gee Steve, You're such a wise man says the party that had Palin as a potential VP... LOL - idiot Steve wrote on January 02, 2009 07:17 PM: Actually, breaching rounds are NOT just for hinges. In FACT, “The M-1030 is an anti-material cartridge designed to be used for defeating wooden doors (deadbolts, knobs and hinges) and padlock hasps." Get it? DEADBOLTS - KNOBS - where were the shots placed on this door? So many posters; so little intelligence. Jon H. wrote on January 02, 2009 03:34 PM: Mike K. wrote: "Breaching rounds are used on the hinges of a door and not the handle portion which is shown in the photo." Mike K. are you saying that the rounds used were not breeching rounds. If so, it is Metro that needs to explain why they claim they used breaching rounds, when in fact they used either pistol or rifle rounds to shoot off the lock. If that is in fact the case Gas Passer does not owe Metro an apology, Metro owes the Citizens an explanation as to why they lied about the type of round used while attempting to gain entry to the home. Recall, Metro said that used safe breeching rounds because they knew that children were in the house, and they didn't want anyone hurt. Mike K. wrote on January 02, 2009 02:34 PM: Gas Passer: Breaching rounds are used on the hinges of a door and not the handle portion which is shown in the photo. You owe an apology to LVMPD, and the injured SWAT Officers. Patrick wrote on January 02, 2009 01:06 PM: Nevada ranks 31st in education spending per pupil Nevada's real education spending rank Gas Passer wrote on January 02, 2009 11:06 AM: Those who have claimed that the police used a 12 gauge breeching round should look at the photos of the door carefully. The shape, size and number of rounds fired suggest a pistol or rifle round, not a shotgun round. What do you think, .40 S&W, 308 or 223? http://media.lvrj.com/images/3232342.jpg -------------------------------- Nope, that sure doesn't look like a 12 gauge breeching round that the police claim they used to bust open the door. How do the police think they can get away with these lie? Steve wrote on January 02, 2009 10:22 AM: jlb, You're wasting your time. Liberals have absolutely no common sense and zero logic. They are so ignorant, they can only regurgitate what the DNC tells them is their belief. Just look at the moron who incorrectly claims that "progressive" (read extreme left-wing liberal) states are better off than Nevada. Obviously, this idiotic brain-dead clown hasn't looked at either California nor New York. Also, the complete fool below claiming that the Republican party is made up of "welfare queens" when the Dems are the one's who use welfare checks/programs to pay for votes. It's impossible to explain the real world to liberals...they aren't mentally capable of understanding. Steve wrote on January 02, 2009 10:22 AM: jlb, You're wasting your time. Liberals have absolutely no common sense and zero logic. They are so ignorant, they can only regurgitate what the DNC tells them is their belief. Just look at the moron who incorrectly claims that "progressive" (read extreme left-wing liberal) states are better off than Nevada. Obviously, this idiotic brain-dead clown hasn't looked at either California nor New York. Also, the complete fool below claiming that the Republican party is made up of "welfare queens" when the Dems are the one's who use welfare checks/programs to pay for votes. It's impossible to explain the real world to liberals...they aren't mentally capable of understanding. Bob Wong wrote on January 02, 2009 09:55 AM: I find it amusing that everytime democrats dominate any legislative body, liberals seek cooperation. However, when the shoe is on the other foot (rarely), democrats vigorously oppose any conservative agenda. Mr. Levine's recent letter to the editor objecting the the Review Journal's article supporting Ty Cobb's opposition to majority leader Buckley is so full of flaws that it is laughable. Going along to get along has only made government worse, i.e. Dina Titus' supposed cap on real estate taxes. Congresswoman Titus' built in 3% increase while values decrase is a classic example. What a sham! Further, the idea that class size reduction works has proven false in real studies, not the phoney results posted by the teacher's union. Uninsured in Nevada is mostly illegal aliens that are burdening our ER rooms. Nevada should not be responsible for health care for illegal aliens. In closing, the only idea the liberal have is more taxes and more spending. More taxes won't get parents involved in their children's education. More taxes will not get the homeless off the streets. More taxes will not get students to study. More taxes do nothing more than grow government. More taxes does not provide solutions, only more government programs and you know what President Reagan said. The only thing that has eternal life is a government program, enough said! Read All Comments