Letters to the editor, Sunday, July 27

Energy independence, market driven economy are needed

We’ve had continuing economic and social disaster since the 1960s, and Congress says it’s shocked at the cost of improving our veterans heath care system. Our cost of living increases over the decades were recently pegged at 190 percent without Congressional shock. Forty eight percent of the country is now classified as poor, no congressional shock. Our gross domestic product 10 year running average from 1963 to 1993 was just about 2.7 percent, down from 10 percent in 1960 says Federal Reserve Economic Data statistics. It hasn’t improved since. No shock comment until the 2007 recession. No resolve. Next came the $17 trillion national debt, and Congressional shock. Deficit hawks, and unemployment benefits were on the block. Spending reductions do, however, remove money from the economy. I’m very much surprised that there are those who still want to try and solve our country’s economic and social problems with an economy unable to support itself. Especially when there is a viable alternative. It’s called energy independence and a market driven economy. The cost of oil and all its by-products, determine our way of life. A way of life that has been controlled by the world oil market, via our government, for sometime. Why would a sane government choose four decades of social and economic failure, over economic stability, national security, and social success? And the answer is...?

Ron Wood

Dayton

Letter writers have a problem with free speech?

Recently there has been several letters to the editor complaining about the publishing of other contributor’s opinions or letters to the editor. Apparently they might have a problem with freedom of speech. They want the editor to publish only items which they desire. A free press is one where every contributor has the right to believe he can be published being within the limitations established by the editor. Readers have the right to send in a letter to the editor opposing the views of others but they do not have the right to try to censor other contributors. They also have the right to cancel their subscription to the paper.

A great thought regarding our freedom of speech... “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it,” by Voltaire.

From one of those “angry, old white men.”

Sanford E. Deyo

Minden

Senior wants freedom of choice for cable TV

I live in Carson City, I am 85 years old and live in low-income housing.

My husband was in the service during World War II, serving in the Pacific. He passed away almost 2 years ago. One of the freedoms he fought for was freedom of choice. I chose to have an indoor TV antenna as I can’t afford $75 a month for cable. I get 13 channels. Why are these companies trying to take away our freedom of choice? People with low income who have antennas can’t afford these companies’ high prices.

Ivanell Dirksen

Carson City

Same action doesn’t translate to changing beliefs

In ancient and Biblical time, ashes and sackcloths were used to express grief as well as sorrow for sins. Regardless of who the sinner is, and from which country or ethnicity they come, if one wants to atone for sins, by whatever means one chooses (unless it is a morally wrong action like harming someone else) that is their choice. The fact that they use the same action … covering themselves with sackcloth and ashes, does not translate to changing their moral beliefs. Like all of mankind’s other endeavors which have been shared world wide … when we become aware of them, if we can and want to, we use them. That does not make a pagan a Christian, nor a Christian, a pagan! As for Matthew, you should keep reading. Matthew 11:21 quotes Christ … “Woe to thee Corozain! Woe to thee Bethsaida! For if in Tyre and Sidon had been worked the miracles that have been worked in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloths and ashes.” So, do you, seriously, believe that Christ the Son of God, would have preached the use of sackcloths and ashes for repentors of sins against God if it were a pagan practice? Get a clue.

Mary Santomauro

Stagecoach