Letters to the editor 04/05/09

Repeal of helmet law

a possible economic boost "

I am writing in response to Chuck Muth's recent column. I believe the helmet law should be revised to allow adult riders the choice of wearing a helmet.

There are many statistics about the safety of helmets, but the fact is, that in the neighboring states that do not require helmets, motorcycle fatalities average 8 to10 percent. Nevada's motorcycle fatality rate is 13 percent. Helmets do not prevent accidents.

States that have repealed helmet laws have seen a dramatic increase in state revenue, due to increased sales tax revenue for motorcycle purchases and registrations. Nevada also has very good potential to increase tourism revenue as the majority of motorcyclists prefer to ride (and spend their money) in states without helmet laws. This change would be good for Nevada.

LESLI ANDRUS

Spring Creek

Stop sniveling and start

earning your salary "

I've been reading about the Republicans having "principles."

How do you get them? Is starting two money wars a way to get them? Destroying the world's economy? Being the Idiot in Command? Refusing stimulus money to show the president the state you represent doesn't need Democratic handouts? Having the feds checking your background? Being sued for sexual harassment? Throwing the lieutenant governor under the bus as a smoke screen so you can be elected for another position? Is this too many "principles?"

I read that the chancellor of the universities in Nevada told our administration in power what he thought of the whole deal. Now he has everybody on his case. I don't know the man but I think what he had to say showed me he has "principles."

I think it's time the Republications quit sniveling and start doing what they are getting paid for or take their "principles" and go home. Just a thought.

RICK CRAWFORD

Carson City

Bravo, Chuck Muth "

Bravo, Chuck Muth. Your commentary on motorcycle helmets was accurate and to the point. This summer will mark my 40th year of happy riding, except for having to wear that stupid, useless piece of plastic on my head.

Unfortunately, your comments will fall on deaf and lazy ears. The do-gooders don't get it " they never will " and our legislators won't repeal a law that should have never been passed. Why? Because it would take some effort to read the facts. Bills don't get passed on merit. They get passed by "If you sign mine, I'll sign yours."

Many states have repealed their helmet laws because of the facts you stated.

It is the right thing to do. Most states passed these mandatory helmet laws in 1966 under the unlawful pressure from the Department of Transportation.

Now, with the tragic death of another famous person skiing, without a helmet, they have an excuse not to read the facts.

KEVIN TIERNEY

Gardnerville

Keep an open mind on Yucca Mountain "

I am writing you about AB16. After spending a day in our state legislative session and learning about the bill, I ask readers to have an open mind about Yucca Mountain. I ask because like so many Nevada residents, my first impulse has been "not in my back yard."

Learning that the United States gave the French the technology to reprocess and reuse the nuclear waste, thereby eliminating 90 percent of it, I have taken a different stand on the project. I have to wonder why our Sen. Harry Reid, who has built his career on endorsing our fear of Yucca Mountain, has not looked at the other side of this coin.

Who among us believes that the federal government is going to abandon this project after investing millions of dollars? I know that President Obama announced the end of Yucca Mountain, but why are they still going after the permits? Could it be a political move for someone's upcoming campaign?

I was in a meeting a few weeks ago where Gov. Jim Gibbons suggested Nevada's next major industry was going to be energy. Why then are the assembly leaders stopping a bill like AB16 from even being heard, when all it is calling for is researching how Nevada could benefit from reprocessing the waste? Could it be the same old game of politics as usual? It's the other side's idea so we won't even let it be heard, or again to assist those in office maintain their position?

Isn't it time that our politicians start crossing the line between the two parties and stop worrying about who is going to get credit for something, and start working together for the good of our state and country?

The bigger question is when did one representative " regardless of his or her party or position " in the assembly have the right to shelve a bill that another elected representative submits without it even being put on the table? This is one of the practices in our legislative body that should be stopped.

CAROL HOWELL

Carson City

Our problems are coming

from within the ranks "

Recently I heard and read reports where, under Mr. Obama (the commander-in-chief), the United States has given $900 million to Hamas. Isn't this a terrorist group that is out to destroy Israel and the United States?

Now that, in itself, is bad enough but the commander-in-chief has suggested that our military should pay or help pay for their medical expenses they have incurred as a result of war injuries. Are you kidding me? I wonder how Vice President Joe Biden feels about that since his son was recently deployed overseas.

And, of course, we must have medical insurance for all. Who says? You won't find it in the Constitution. But then a lot of what is being done goes against the Constitution. One democratic pundit said it comes under the pursuit of happiness clause. Oh really? Doesn't pursuit, by definition, indicate some effort on the part of the pursuer? It does not say you are entitled to it.

Abraham Lincoln once said that "no foreign power would ever take a drink from the Mississippi by force. If the United States were destroyed it would come from within its own borders." Friends, I believe Lincoln was right. Our country is in trouble and it's coming from within by the very people we put in office. Time has come to throw them out.

ED DEUSENBERRY

Carson City

Pelosi, Dodd and Frank:

'We' are not them "

I'd like Nevadans to reconsider Harry Reid as he is up for re-election next year.

Reid is a typical political animal. He's savvy and understands the game quite well, which explains his long record of electoral success. In Nevada, for instance, he has done well to shore up a strong alliance in Las Vegas and in Reno where the majority of voters reside. Every few years, he ensures that this base receives funding via earmarks. This appeases those residents long enough to ensure enough of their votes to secure his next election. Once the election is over, Reid goes back to Washington and throws the rest of Nevada an occasional bone (i.e. guest editorials and speeches) to make sure we believe he's still there for us.

I find it difficult to believe that the Nevada I know would send a man so closely aligned with Nancy Pelosi, Chris Dodd and Barney Frank back to represent us. We are not them. Nevada is not California and needs to be represented by someone with Nevada's best interests at heart.

Reid has completely strayed from his Nevada roots and is now completely beholden to his party and those within that party's power base in Washington. We do ourselves a disservice by continuing to send this man back to Washington simply to help Nancy Pelosi and President Obama pursue their radical agendas. It's time for Nevada to send someone that will consider Nevada first and bring Reid home in 2010.

JONATHAN SHERWOOD

Fallon

Airwaves filled with

dumb commercials "

Re: The comments made by Carolyn and Maizie in their March 13 column.

I agree the commercial is dumb, but repulsive is a little strong. The air waves are filled with dumb commercials.

What concerns me, is the attempt to boycott a local business over something of which they have no control.

The local franchise or employees have no control over what corporate deems "appropriate" advertising.

I would suggest letters, e-mails or phone calls to corporate headquarters expressing your disgust.

Most of these local employees make minimum wage, and I think it is irresponsible to jeopardize their employment over a relatively minor disagreement.

Go to your room. No soup for you.

AL MCENTEE

Fallon

Democrats pushing us toward bankruptcy "

Democrat policies are a disaster in the making.

I am sick and tired of the Democrat objections to Republican criticisms of Obama, Reid and Pelosi - the Democrat triumvirate.

The Democrats jumped all over the Bush administration using many derogatory names and accusations.

Now the Democrat triumvirate has total control and Republicans are criticizing them " the Dems are hypocritically mad.

Wasn't it a Democrat who said: "If you cant stand the heat of the kitchen, then get out"?

The Democrat triumvirate is pushing this country into bankruptcy with their drunken wild spending. They are throwing money around so fast they can't even read the legislation to consider the ramifications " accounting, huge bonuses to failures and lavish parties, etc. Who will pay the interest on this gigantic debt? They're throwing away our future generations money. (Remember the Democrats created the subprime mortgages at the root of this economic mess.)

The next steps are to devalue the dollar and hike taxes through the roof. Hang onto your wallets, folks.

Democrats are expanding the national debt exponentially to the point of bankruptcy " and they want Republicans to help and be a part of that? No thanks.

STUART L. POSSELT

Minden

Everyone needs to

get on the same page "

"One learns manners from those who have none."

"Persian Proverb

After watching the school board meeting March 24 and observing the behavior of the representatives on behalf of Fremont Elementary School I have some suggestions.

Mr. Swirczek needs to learn that 3 minutes does not mean 15. Fremont should bring the cow back and raise enough money to send Mr. Davis to anger management classes; and he can take Mr. Swirczek, who has not been to a school board meeting in 23 years.

As for the teachers who voiced their opinions; all of you should be grateful that you have jobs regardless of the schedule.

Richard Stokes and the school board are doing everything possible to resolve this problem and they have been very open to suggestions and comments.

Sue Keema's presentation explained everything and it is time to peacefully put personal feelings aside, focus on the problem, be better examples, and get on the same page as a school district and as a community.

DALE A. MAUER

Carson City

American way better

than entrapment "

While I respect our sheriff's department's efforts to maintain law and order in our community, which isn't getting any easier, I do not support the department's entrapment method of employing minors to attempt to buy drinks over the bar in order to trap the bartender.

Bartenders get very busy, especially in casinos like the Nugget on weekends. They simply cannot always take the time to carefully scrutinize every person's credentials who appears to be marginally of age. No bartender, or business owner in his right mind, wants to purposely serve minors and suffer the consequences of being caught.

Let's face it, the lawbreaking culprits are the minors themselves. They're the ones who should be busted. On busy weekends, why not have a sheriff's plain clothes deputy cruising the casinos and bars and actually catching minors in the act? That would be the American way " not entrapment. Personally, I believe the legal drinking age should be 21 everywhere " except for active duty armed forces members who are in uniform.

BOB THOMAS

Carson City

2010 may be too

late for our salvation "

The economic crisis is expected to go from bad to worse thanks to the most fiscally irresponsible government in our nation's history.

Now the government's own Congressional Budget Office is predicting President Obama's budget will cause the deficit to grow close to a trillion dollars per year for the next decade, an amount that the White House budget director admits will "not be sustainable," meaning bankruptcy and economic collapse. And experience shows government estimates are usually on the low side.

What recourse do ordinary citizens have? None, really, except at the ballot box in 2010, and that may be too late. The lesson learned here is elections have consequences.

DAVE THOMAS

Gardnerville

Reader enjoys Appeals new format and look "

Bravo, you did a great job with the Nevada Appeal redesign. I enjoy the tabloid style, having read the N.Y. Daily News for years. Also, the way you've done the interesting little tidbits in larger print is refreshing. Just a couple of things though:

There are still many of us around that like to read the newspaper, do the puzzles, check the ads, etc. I for one, and several other people I know, have been after you for years to put the Word Jumble in the puzzle section. This way we wouldn't have to buy the Reno paper.

You seem to be well on your way to making the Appeal a successful paper, and we all want that, so the more you please us subscribers and listen to what we want, the bigger your circulation. Please, whatever you do, do not make us fumble through the paper looking for a continuation of a main article from the front page. They tried that several years back and everybody complained. It's nice just to turn the paper over.

ROBERT SATTER JR.

Carson City

Written will of the majority bypassed by Carson gang "

I see they are at it again. Our taxpayer-paid prostitutes in Carson City believe that the people of Nevada didn't mean it in November 2006 when they (the people) voted to ban smoking in establishments that serve food.

Enter the 2009 legislature. Now we have AB372 being introduced. It seems some of our legislators are in favor of amending "the law that was voted on by the people" to allow smoking in establishments that serve food, as long as no minors are allowed.

The minors didn't vote on this. The adults did. What about the adults who voted for this ban in the first place? It seems as if they are being totally ignored because their votes are completely unimportant. The written will of the majority is now being bypassed by the Carson City gang.

How can this possibly happen in today's atmosphere of such openly honest and ethical politics?

And the beat goes on.

BOB GOLD

Washoe Valley

No wait at DMV "

On March 23, I prepared to renew my license at Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles in Carson City. Much to my surprise there was absolutely no wait whatsoever. The nice young man who waited on me was courteous, helpful and patient. It is a pleasure to deal with the personnel in the Carson City DMV office.

FRANCES YOUNG

Carson City

Disgusting at best,

hypocritical at worst "

The U.S. government's daily budget deficit for the years 2000 and 2001 (the last year of Clinton and the first year of Bush) was $230 million per day. The daily budget deficit for the year 2008 (the last year of Bush) was $4.03 billion per day, an increase of approximately 16 times.

Tennessee Ernie Ford is the man who accurately predicted this financial catastrophe when he sang the song, "16 tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt. St. Peter don't you call because I can't go, I owe my soul to the company store." Change tons to times and company store to bankers and you have a perfect match today.

To all you politicians (particularly Republicans) who are currently crying about enslaving our children and grandchildren with debt, you need to understand that the time to stop destructive behavior is when it starts, not after it becomes a perpetual habit. You said nothing as the daily debt grew by 16 times and even supported the corrupt evil, take from the needy to give to the greedy, $750 billion bailout blank check to Hank Paulson (Secretary of Treasury under Bush) when the American people were against it 10 to 1.

I, too, am worried about my children and grandchildren being buried in debt, but your lack of leadership, trying to close the barn door after the horse is gone, is disgusting at best and hypocritical at worst. How repulsive.

You could have stopped this insanity last year or the year before if you had just taken a stand; that was a fight you could have won, then. I don't think you can win that fight today. All you can do is keep on crying.

RON PIERSANTI

Carson City