Letters to the editor

Fairview is unsafe for pedestrians on their way to the bus stop

Many seniors live near the intersection of Saliman Road and Fairview Drive and do not drive. To get to the nearest fixed bus stop requires walking up Fairview Drive in the street for most of a mile to get to the nearest bus stop! This is like playing Russian Roulette with our lives. The JAC assist a ride does not pick up passengers early in the morning, 9:30 a.m. being the earliest they will schedule a pick up and no pickup to get home much after 2 p.m. This means any normal business is confined to bad hours for a lot of doctor, dentist and legal appointments. Thus our lives are placed in danger quite often.

ROBERT E. SPITZER

Carson City

Willing to sacrifice for future generations

I find it rather sad when someone like Merritt Yochum (Your Opinion, 2/12/2008) uses the media to flaunt his ignorance. He does not explain just how the environmentalists are "responsible for most of our energy problems" nor does he give any hint as to what their "sinister agenda" is. I don't understand what he finds distasteful about windmills and solar panels, but no one will need to "hike to hell" if we keep burning coal, along with all the other ways we are putting carbon dioxide into the air, because global warming will bring hell to us right here on our home planet if we don't change our ways.

Anger is not the proper sentiment to feel toward a misguided person such as Mr. Yochum. I just try to stay hopeful that there are more people in the world willing to work and sacrifice a little to protect our own health and lifestyle and that of future generations than there are selfish and ignorant people who feel it is their right to spoil everything for everyone.

NANCY MCPHERSON

Stagecoach

Doesn't feel secure about accounts

I've been a customer of a credit union for some 15 years. I've never required much of a bank or credit union other than they keep my money safe. I had a checking account and a savings account there, and then I set up a savings account for each of my two daughters. They live with their mother, but I am still trying to take care of them on my side of things. I don't have a lot, and with the way wages are here, jobs (layoffs), and all it took quite a bit to put the money in those accounts for my girls and leave it there. I'm not sure how it was allowed to happen, as there was supposed to be no way that anyone could access those accounts without me, but the credit union allowed someone to use my then-14 year old daughter to close that account, then open an account in the same branch. It took awhile before I found out; I attributed the lack of statements to a mailing error and went in to check it out.

The credit union was very apologetic, they didn't know how this happened, but they closed the new account, and returned the money to the original. The official at the bank apologized, put security measures on the account and assured me it would never happen again. Guess what, it did. Now, the people at the branch were again very apologetic and seemed to understand the severity of the situation. It was when it was kicked up to upper management that I was really disturbed by the attitude of the whole thing. The whole attitude was kind of "no big deal" frame of mind. In all fairness, they did, once again return the money, but didn't seem to understand my concern of the situation.

I was told that there really was no guarantees that my money was safe. I was told that I really should have put security measures on the account, and they couldn't see that I had done that. Needless to say I've closed my accounts with this institution. But shouldn't I have been able to know that money was secure? I realize that $118 is not a lot of money by any stretch of the imagination, but shouldn't my money matter as much as someone who has a million?

DEAN HAYLEY

Dayton

It's supposed to be 'for the people,' not 'for the special interest'

The American grandfather created the three principles (of the people, by the people, for the people) for American people to follow. The goal is to make America a great country, and better life for all people from generation to generation.

Unfortunately, there are so many special interest groups that through their campaign fund contributions, and their lobbyists' influence, the elected lawmakers and the officers work for their special interests. For their special interest, they lead the government in the wrong direction.

People want change because the American principles are abused and people's interest ignored and sacrificed. Whenever people want government to do something that will benefit all people, such as a Universal Health Care Program to benefit all people, the special interest groups and conservatives use "no socialist" or "no big government" for the reason they are against it. They even intend to destroy the Social Security system through the so-called private Social Security.

People believe that their votes are more important than the campaign fund contributions. People elected lawmakers and officers to run the government. The government should base the principles to work for all people's interests, not just for the special interest groups. The American people want this to change. Don't paint these people as socialist or liberal.

BILL HUI

Carson City

More funding needed for Alzheimer's research

Surveys increasingly show that many Americans fear Alzheimer's more than any other disease. Yet the president's new budget proposal continues a dangerous trend of underfunding medical and scientific research, including for Alzheimer's. It is critical to maintain funding that would ensure scientists have the resources to find treatments to delay, halt or reverse the progression of Alzheimer's and other life-threatening diseases. Unfortunately, funding to pursue research into these areas remains seriously lacking. Only 20 percent of eligible National Institute of Health Alzheimer's research projects received funding in 2007.

Five million Americans, including 27,000 Nevadans, now live with Alzheimer's. Without effective treatments, these numbers will likely triple by mid-century. Our health and long-term care systems - including Medicare and Medicaid - will be unable to provide sufficient support for boomers as they age into the period of greatest risk for Alzheimer's.

There's real potential for a better future, one where Alzheimer's is no longer a death sentence, but a manageable, treatable disease affecting far fewer people " people who will continue leading productive lives. But only if Alzheimer's is addressed AND funded as a national priority today. Investing in research to end Alzheimer's is one of the most prudent decisions our government can make.

ANGIE PRATT

Alzheimer's Association of

Northern Nevada, Reno