Letters to the editor March 6

GOP trying to destroy middle class

I would love to know how Republicans can sleep at night. Someone please tell me. Is there no one else to turn your unreasonable hatred toward except working Americans? Will you not relent until you've destroyed the middle class, and we're all living under a freeway in a cardboard box?

Your buddies, American businesses and corporations are sitting on $2 trillion, sky-high profits and shareholder values, and they refuse to hire. They don't need to because they still have you blaming government and government workers for all of our troubles. They're laughing all the way to their bailed-out banks while their Kool-Aid-drinking, easily duped constituents are hell-bent on blaming their own countrymen for making too much money and not paying their fair share.

Never mind for-profit health care CEO's pulling in salaries of hundreds of millions - it's the Nevadan who tries to get by on $50,000 that is destroying our country. And the minimum wage? The (less), the better is your motto. Never mind the state and federal workers who perform all the essential services that a civilized society needs for quality-of-life issues. The greedy American worker must be vilified and stripped of his dignity. Who's next? The mentally ill? The infirm and helpless?

I don't know how you people (settled on) demonizing honest American workers, but if you can sleep at night, well, the rest of us will be under the freeway. Dibs on that box!

Rick Van Alfen

Carson City

Obama has never seen an emergency he didn't like

Having worked as a member of three unions, I can say two were real and one was iffy. No real union would ever demand pay that would kill the company.

The Service Employees International Union is not a union. I would say the organization recruits folks to get out and register voters and influence that vote. And I also think they are directed by the likes of Bill Ayres.

Consider the presidential mandate to delay the cleanup in the gulf and mandate no new drilling. I think our leader won't ever pass up a good emergency, even if he has to help it along.

Virgil Ball

Minden

No reason to close Nevada State Prison

I am currently employed by the state of Nevada Department of Corrections. As we all know, the Nevada State Prison is once again on the chopping block, which it has been for many years.

This legislative session seems to be the most serious threat to the prison's future. There is no reason for the closure. Yes the state is in dire straits. If the prisons down south were so wonderfully designed and safer to work in, there wouldn't be such a high turnover rate and the staff assaults would not be so high. An inmate was recently murdered this winter in the DOC's crown jewel High Desert. It has been many years since an inmate has been murdered at the aging, unsafe, inefficient NSP. Not only that, I can't recall the last time an officer was assaulted at NSP.

The main reason I decided to speak is that this last tour by legislators, the group toured unit 12 which houses death row inmates and the most unruly inmates the department has to offer.

We had pictures of an officer who was assaulted in the 1980s, and of an inmate who was stabbed to death. It reminds us officers daily, no matter how safe we think our surroundings are, that an inmate can strike at any moment.

During the tour, a legislator found the pictures offensive, and they were instantly removed. Umm, you are touring a maximum security unit. That shows me how far removed these people are from the truth.

Juan Pablo

Carson City

Government robbing citizens of Social Security

One of the hot button issues today is the abuse of senior citizens. What may not be known is that one of the biggest abusers is the Social Security department.

My husband died on Feb. 7. On Feb. 14, the Social Security office advised me that I would receive $206 per month of his $1,278 per month survivor's benefit. They will not pay the Social Security amount I had already been receiving for several years plus his survivor's benefit, only one benefit, whichever one, his or mine, is higher.

This decision, that they say was done by Congress, has robbed me of $1,000 per month in income. There is also a cap on the amount a family can claim, which would roughly be the same amount we had been drawing separately. However, for some reason, this total amount cannot be claimed by the surviving spouse. Our benefits were not money Social Security was paying us. This is money we earned. I'm surprised the American Association of Retired Persons or American Civil Liberties Union hasn't done something about this as it has been going on for years.

This practice needs to be stopped. Couples who have worked for their Social Security benefits should not be robbed of a large part of that income at the same time they are trying to deal with having lost someone dear to them.

Betty Ann Estes

Mound House

Carson man wants peace while reading newspaper

Whose brilliant idea was it to move the newspaper and periodical section of the Carson Library next to the Spanish reading/speaking section? It makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to concentrate with all the loud foreign language gibberish and constant noise and wailing kids.

Accommodate them, fine. Just don't subject me to it while trying to catch up on the news and local events. It's still a library, not a foreign culture center, or a Latino meeting place. Yes, it's not a silent library, but most of those folks are just downright rude. I can hear them clear across the room right now.

Can I at least still enjoy a little peace while reading the newspaper?

Jim Charlton

Carson City

Wisconsin situation could turn into Middle East

With Wisconsin residents camped at the Wisconsin capitol shouting anti-government slogans against the proposed union dis-establishment by the Wisconsin Congress, in the name of economy, brace for an attack of storm troopers loyal to the governor.

The Obama administration should also offer any type of assistance to Wisconsin citizens in the name of liberty as it has to Libyan citizens. Do we really need a bloodbath in Wisconsin when citizens resist? Or will the Wisconsin governor follow in the footsteps of a Libyan madman dictator?

The Wisconsin police and National Guard should stand down by themselves in the name of liberty and justice against proposed ruthfulness in business transactions. Let Wisconsin citizens make the decision and not a anti-union Wisconsin governor.

Robert W. Curtis

Carson City

Canada radio law bans misleading news

I would like to draw attention to a recent news article I ran across about the country of Canada. They have a law up there titled Canada's Radio Act which requires that a licenser may not broadcast ... any false or misleading news.

Today, March 1, Canadian regulators rejected the Canadian prime ministers efforts to allow Fox News to broadcast in Canada. I call that public decision a gift from heaven above. An entire country acknowledges that Fox News lies.

Thank you, Canada, for your good sense and rejection of cognitive dissonance.

Christopher Lunn

Genoa

Stimulus was a large waste of funds

When government programs provide things to the public, these programs actually breed dependence on the programs, they destroy personal initiative and they in turn empower individuals in government; i.e. the driving force for monetary efficiency comes from the wrong source and gets misdirected.

Government programs typically dangle a bundle of money in front of individuals/organizations and indicate that if you do this or that, you can lay your hands on some of it. The availability of this money is the enticement for people/organizations to obtain it.

People are also crafty enough to figure out how best to obtain it.

On the other hand, when individuals or companies provide a product or service, the marketplace determines the success or failure of the product or service. If the new mousetrap does not meet the consumer's expectations or needs, the product soon disappears and a newer and, more likely, a better and cheaper product will find its way into the market.

When the incentive is a product and/or a service it results in the most efficient way to convert ideas to wealth and provide for collective progress. But when the availability of money is the driving force, greed takes over and this results in inefficiency and waste.

After doling out billions in stimulus money, we are still at over 9 percent unemployment. Let's get the horse in front of the cart more often, not the other way around.

Herb Jesse

Carson City

Keep legal brothels open, operating

I was appalled when I heard Harry Reid say we should do away with legalized prostitution in Nevada. I have owned nine homes in six states in 35 years. I grew up in the military and went to nine schools in 12 years. Three years ago, I moved to the area and bought a home right by the Moonlite Bunny Ranch. This is the safest neighborhood I have ever lived in and the crime reports prove it. You never see reports of rape or sexual assault.

Right now, legalized prostitution is a very large revenue maker and it would severely encumber these counties with more debt and loss of jobs if it was abolished. Anti-prostitution laws will just force prostitution underground, like in every other state, costing the taxpayer more for law enforcement, judicial costs and filling our jails with women who are not criminals.

Legalized prostitution controls the spread of sexually transmitted diseases through monthly screenings and it provides a safe work environment.

Prostitution is one of the oldest professions, and being such, it should be legal. It is a large tourist attraction even for those not in the market for sex. Most places have a nice bar and some even have gift shops. You are not pressured to buy services you do not want and the girls are clothed. So go have a drink. Then, instead of the story about the fish that got away, you could brag about your trip to a Nevada brothel.

Pamela Castner

Mound House

Why are non-essential employees needed?

Non-essential - dispensable, needless, unnecessary, unwarranted - the governor says all non-essential state employees stay home when it snows a bit.

If they are non-essential, why are they there in the first place? Oops!

Larry Dobson

Carson City

Is Harry Reid ashamed

of his birthplace?

Poor Harry. Bet he didn't refuse political contributions from brothel owners during the campaign, but now that he's the leader of the Senate, he's too much of a big shot to acknowledge that poor little Nevada has houses of ill repute.

Or, is Harry just ashamed of his birthplace?

Charlie M. Case

Carson City

Reid needs to work on more important legislation for Nevada

I'm not wild about Harry. Are you for or against Nevada? Surely there are other issues of concern besides legal prostitution. You would only be removing more dollars from an already suffering state. I know you realize it would not stop prostitution.

Nevada is a very unique state with so much history, and we honor that history. We are proud that we are a small western state preserving traditions. In our state, prostitution is a part of our history and it is legal. The state benefits from the revenues, and could benefit more, if allowed.

A meeting last year reported the girls volunteered to pay their share of tax to help the economy. They were turned down, as some considered their money dirty. They are a legal business, and the same rules as any other business should apply. They often use some of that dirty money to help the less fortunate.

This would not be my career choice, but as it is theirs, I am glad they are protected by regulations.

In California, for example, there are many locations with street sex. It is not pretty. In one area at a truck stop, which was two blocks from the high school, the kids were offered sex as well as drugs. Street sex creates more crime and abuse. That would be a deterrent for me if I were considering a business location.

As for the kids, what they see on TV commercials doesn't compare to driving by a brothel.

Please, Harry, work on something of greater importance for our state.

Laurie Patrick

Carson City

Drink the water that comes out of your tap

The article, "Water: Drink in the facts," must have been written by the Nestle Corporation. While the bottles may have less plastic than before, many bottles become litter and are not recycled. Moreover, the article does not address the issue of monetary drain by the consumer. It's amazing what a bottle of water sells for, and the profit from filtered tap water must be staggering.

I don't know why people fall for this when simple planning for traveling simply requires bringing water from home. Here in the U.S. we are generally provided a safe water supply at our kitchen faucets. An investment in a water filter will also outweigh the long-term cost of buying bottled water.

Be smart, plan ahead, and bring your own water from home in a reusable container. Keep your money in your own wallet instead of lining the wallets of the beverage industries. And regardless of what Nestle says about less plastic used in the bottle, it it's not recycled, it becomes litter or ends up in a landfill.

One question for the industry: Do the plastic bottles contain BPA (Bisphenol A)? The life-sustaining qualities of water should not contain contaminants from the plastic shell.

Mike Miller

Carson City

We the people are getting fed up with government

It is now we the people against they the government.

I hope the government has been watching TV. We also are being backed into the corner like other countries, and we will take control of our nation again.

The debt was caused by the government, not we the people. Let them pay if off. Take one quarter of their salaries, expense accounts, cars, limos and their special slush funds. Ground Air Force One. Why fly a president to play golf?

We the people are going under. Programs for the poor and seniors are being cut. Please don't cut programs that help us heat our homes, pay property taxes. Don't put us on the street.

I got my Social Security statement - no raise because they said the cost of living has not gone up since 2008. Wait a minute. Why do my groceries cost $100 more? My meds have gone up $65 a month.

Who controls the cost of living index? They don't shop, get medical care or buy meds. Fire them. We the people are done. Be very careful, they the government, we are so fed up that things have got to change. We are getting stronger.

Megan Sorensen

Silver Springs

Keep Nevada's legal brothels open, operating

I was appalled when I heard Harry Reid say we should do away with legalized prostitution in Nevada. I have owned nine homes in six states in 35 years. I grew up in the military and went to nine schools in 12 years. Three years ago, I moved to the area and bought a home right by the Moonlite Bunny Ranch. This is the safest neighborhood I have ever lived in and the crime reports prove it. You never see reports of rape or sexual assault.

Right now, legalized prostitution is a very large revenue maker and it would severely encumber these counties with more debt and loss of jobs if it was abolished. Anti-prostitution laws will just force prostitution underground, like in every other state, costing the taxpayer more for law enforcement, judicial costs and filling our jails with women who are not criminals.

Legalized prostitution controls the spread of sexually transmitted diseases through monthly screenings and it provides a safe work environment.

Prostitution is one of the oldest professions, and being such, it should be legal. It is a large tourist attraction even for those not in the market for sex. Most places have a nice bar and some even have gift shops. You are not pressured to buy services you do not want and the girls are clothed. So go have a drink. Then, instead of the story about the fish that got away, you could brag about your trip to a Nevada brothel.

Pamela Castner

Mound House