Letters to the Editor 8/13

Questions raised about V&T's Engine No. 18

In a recent Wooden Nickel and Silver Dollar Award column, the editor saw fit to give kudos to the V&T and the presence of Engine No. 18.

Had the Appeal seen fit to have someone present at the V&T Commission meeting (but, I won't divulge the contents of any private conversation), it would be known that Engine No. 18 may not be the gift back to the V&T of its own property that it should be.

When one considers the cost, the give-away terms of allowing public property to be used by a private operation in another state and more disturbingly, the apparent condition in which the engine was returned to the V&T by the private train operator in another state, a series of issues come to mind.

Of greatest concern is the series of comments by speakers that it may cost $100,000 to repair the problems, but no matter the cost, it will not be a quick and easy process. Who was the screwball who wrote the lease agreement with that private operator in another state for our public property?

There is not enough space to detail the concerns, but it seems to me that the more appropriate award should be the Plug Nickel Award. But it is refreshing to see Dwight Millard and Bob Crowell asking those tough questions about serious matters, but where were they when they were on the board?

Dennis Johnson

Carson City

Health care proposal sounds like socialism

I am writing concerning the health care bill, which is due to come up for a vote soon in the House and Senate. My husband and I are both seniors. We are really concerned with what will become of our health care if this bill is passed, not to mention all the other seniors in this country.

My husband worked very hard for the benefits we have, and now they want to take them away so that people who have come here illegally and drain our government's funds can have health care?

Children are already covered under the new plans that have been placed into effect, so that is not a problem, the only thing I can think of are the illegals. I have nothing against people who come here legally, just those who circumvent our laws to get here. But they want to punish law-abiding citizens by having us pay for them being here.

This bill states that the government will tell seniors what kind of care they will receive and that government will reduce physician services for Medicaid seniors, and low-income people.

This sounds like socialism to me. We need a vote by all the people on something like this. It affects so many lives in an adverse way.

Virginia Scott

Stagecoach