Letters to the editor Jan. 29

Congress: Renewable energy should be priority

I have a few words for our new Congress. You have two years in which to point our economy in the right direction. Please don't show your arrogance by placing the importance of our country's future behind the repeal of our most recent health care plan or the national debt. As important as these issues are, neither will solve our current and ongoing economic crisis with the speed and finality that's needed.

However, removing economic impediments such as our dependence on foreign oil and natural gas and unfair trade policies and business practices should get the job done.

I know environmental issues are touchy, but remember, you can legislate the use of alternative and renewable energies, something that's been ignored for almost 40 years.

Also, take control of our economy away from the Environmental Protection Agency. Allowing them to decimate the strength of our economy, the middle class, is absolutely mind-boggling.

Over the last four decades, there have probably been 30 million families displaced and otherwise forgotten as our economy continued to deteriorate.

How can you put this ongoing economic crisis in its proper and urgent perspective?

Ronald L. Wood

Dayton

State workers help drive our economy

In Gov. Sandoval's State of the State address, he stated the need to focus on job creation. As Nevada's largest employer, the state has that opportunity at its fingertips. The economy is consumer-driven. If state workers' pay is not decreased, step increases returned, longevity pay reinstated and benefits restored, the economy would be jump-started. State workers are Nevadans, taxpayers, voters and consumers.

My husband and I are both state workers. If our pay and benefits were restored, we would buy a car, make home improvements, go to our doctors, have dinner out and gamble. As it is now, we have had to sell our car, put off doctor appointments, eliminate dinners out and any kind of gambling. So instead of helping the economy by being good consumers, we sit and wait for more cuts. Eventually, we will become a burden on the state because we will no longer be able to afford our home, and we'll be on unemployment and need food stamps. How does this help the economy?

As these conditions worsen, more people will leave state employment causing a brain drain and loss of institutional knowledge. It will be difficult to find workers with the education and experience to fill those vacant positions because who wants to work for a state which provides poor pay and little or no benefits? The state has already lost approximately 60,000 people. The whole state, and especially Carson City, will become a ghost town.

Carol Sweeney

Carson City

Thank you, friends of CJ, for love and support

To the artists of C Hill, from CJ's family, we thank all of you very much for your work. Unfortunately, we never got the chance to see it; it had been taken down too soon.

Please do not be upset with those responsible. I know it must hurt you not being able to honor CJ's name in the way you did, but those who removed it were only doing their job, I am sure. As long as you have the memory of CJ in your hearts, no one will ever be able to take that from you.

What you kids did will forever prove to everyone there are true friends in this world, a fact that you have shown to all his family members beyond any reasonable doubt. Everyone, I do not care who it is, could only hope to have friends like you.

And to John Smith, thank you ever so much for writing that letter in the paper. You seem to be a man who cares and understands the meaning of the words, respect for a friend.

He was here for a moment, and now he is gone, but not from everyone's heart. He had many friends and family members who loved him very much. I am sure he is smiling and watching over all of us.

Plans for his celebration of life service are being made. The date, time and place it will happen will be posted.

Mindy Paetz and family

Carson City