Letters to the editor for Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015

Apply knowledge in the real world

Typically, an advanced formal education goes a long way in opening doors for individuals during their lifetime. It promotes for the advancements in the workplace, enhances personal achievements and satisfaction, and in general is an enabler for individuals everywhere.

In the recent past, presidents Carter and Obama were/are recent examples of the most highly educated individuals in government. On the other hand, presidents Truman and Reagan received a meager formal education.

Furthermore, individuals such as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs never finished their formal higher education altogether. Scott Walker is another person who has achieved success without “formal” credentials.

It is not a far reach to conclude from the above examples that “educated people are not necessarily smart.” Washington, D.C., is littered with highly credentialed individuals who have made fools of themselves on the world stage. Learning facts, passing educational tests and being consumed with hypothetical theories but not applying the acquired knowledge in real life applications and experiences is mostly a wasted effort.

Herb Jesse

Carson City

Make it easier, not harder to vote

In the Feb. 1 Nevada Appeal, it states Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske supports requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls. Since the Supreme Court decision to strike down some voter requirements, Republicans in many states and now in Nevada aggressively decided to make voting a difficult chore affecting minorities, seniors and younger voters.

The number of voting dates has been decreased in many red states. During the last presidential election, Florida had its voters stand in long lines for hours. Republicans in these districts decided that in the next election they would close bathroom facilities.

In red sates of North Carolina and Georgia, Republican districts decided college students would have to vote in their own hometowns. Some counties decided to move voting polls miles from college environs.

In other states, Republican majorities decided everyone had to show a birth certificate or driver’s license. Some seniors had no birth certificate or stopped driving years before.

Why does Cegavske wish for increased voter requirements, and are there more to come? Is it that she believes there is voter fraud within Nevada? If so, it should be easy for her to tell just how much fraud exists. If there are other reasons, I hope to hear what they are.

This Republican push to disenfranchise certain voter groups is destined to fail. In the last presidential election, you saw tremendous commitment to vote in Florida, despite the long wait.

Cegavske should be aware that imposing greater voting requirements would lead to shorter terms for Republicans.

Harold Zaroff

Minden

Gridlock has been in Congress for years now

This is in response to Jerry Sullivan’s letter to the editor on Feb. 12, “Can Republicans work with Democrats on anything?”

Mr. Sullivan, do you recall that for basically the past six years the Democrats were in control of the Senate, and courtesy of Harry Reid, no legislation of any import that the Republicans sent their way even saw the light of day in most instances? How’s that for working together?

Well, now the Democrats in Congress are seeing what it was like for the Republicans in Congress. In fact, for the next two years (almost), the president will probably use his veto power to block anything that comes his way, which he has already stated (is that childish or what?). If you recall, the last two years of George W. Bush’s presidency, Congress was Democrat-controlled, and I believe together they managed to do some good things.

And in the Feb. 13 letters to the editor, Orlis Trone hit the nail on the head about Obama at the national prayer breakfast. Obama does not stand up for his country, his faith (well, maybe he does stand up for his faith, if you get my meaning). Such atrocities that have been committed by ISIS should be punished swiftly and finally, but the United States isn’t going to do it! What happened 1,000 year ago (crusades) has nothing to do with today’s society.

Brad McCleary

Carson City

City, state can’t survive long term

Twenty some years ago I drove across the country from North Carolina to Nevada in search of a better life, and for a long time, it was. In 1999 I moved off the hill to Carson City, and again for a short time life was good. Unfortunately, in my opinion, that trend hasn’t continued for me and many others in Nevada, and specifically in Carson City.

Over the past 10 years, I have really come to regret moving to Carson City, and to a lesser extent, Nevada. The corruption in this town and the unwillingness of our elected officials to remedy said corruption is second to none — even California. For those of us old enough to remember the TV show “The Dukes of Hazzard,” Carson City is starting to show a whole lot of similarities. Between the city and state politicians and masses of government workers who keep them in power, fiscally this state and Carson City do not have a chance in the long term. It’s unsustainable.

For those of us who own businesses or work in the private sector, the future is bleak. Most of us can’t even afford the healthcare and retirement programs that our taxes fund for government workers, and I think most would agree that that’s wholly against the principles of our founding fathers and is akin to Maoist China.

I will be on my way to St. George, Utah, in a couple of years, and happiness will be Carson City in the rearview mirror.

Adam Hulme

Carson City

Attack on Schwartz uncalled for

Open letter to Sen. Michael Roberson,

In reading the account of your Feb. 12 Finance Committee meeting, I was stunned at the arrogant and abusive way you treated an elected member of this state administration. Your personal attack on Treasurer Dan Schwartz was outrageous — exactly the sort of attack one resorts to when unable to compete intellectually.

I suggest you take three corrective actions:

First I suggest you review the results of last November’s election. You’ll find that Dan Schwartz won convincingly in a statewide election. You’ll also find that many of your own State Senate District 20 constituents cast their votes for Dan Schwartz.

Next, I suggest you review the invitation Gov. Sandoval issued to those who disagree with his proposed budget. The governor asked them to submit their own suggestions. Treasurer Dan Schwartz simply accepted the governor’s invitation.

Finally, I suggest you owe Treasurer Dan Schwartz a public apology.

There certainly was a person in your hearing whose behavior was embarrassing, as well as being a thumb in the eye of Nevada’s voters. That person was not Dan Schwartz.

Robert R. Kessler

Las Vegas