Letters to the editor 1-14

Corrections group urges opposition to private prison

The citizens of Storey County should immediately protest and reject this private prison idea. Their voices should be heard loud and clear. Private prisons are a danger to society.

Inmates will be managed by $8- or $9-an-hour security guards with generic training. The risk of escapes and serious incidents will be extremely high. Hidden costs will accumulate as local law enforcement and other emergency services will need to respond. Then there's the added court costs of prosecuting inmates for crimes while in prison. It's all bad news.

Corrections Corporation of America is playing on the tough economic times and promising jobs. Is a private prison worth the cost to public safety? CCA, as well as all other private prison companies, is just a branch of the corporate veil. To them, keeping prisons full means continuous cash flow. Prisons are not corporations. Private prison guards will never compare to trained correctional peace officers. The citizens of Storey County should not be lured into thinking a private prison will save the economy. Instead, their community will be at serious risk.

GENE COLUMBUS,

President Nevada Corrections

Association

Washoe Valley

Increasing speed limits not a very bright idea

Regarding Sen. Maurice Washington's bill to increase speed limits in school zones, what a great idea. Why not also encourage drinking and driving in school zones as well as driving blindfolded?

LEE MASON

Dayton

No good deed ever goes unpunished

An ex-boss told me "no good deed ever goes unpunished" and he appears to be right.

Our government compelled the carmakers to produce autos that increase mileage in order to conserve gas. Some of our citizens bought those cars, a good deed. Other people decided to car pool, a good deed. Some ride the bus or use a bicycle, a good deed. Another way people conserved gas was to combine trips, a good deed. All of these also helped the environment, another good deed.

Now comes the punishment. Some of our elected officials and unelected bureaucrats have noticed that the gas tax revenue has decreased. They got the bright idea to have a tax on the mileage that people travel. Collecting this tax could be fun. How much tax is imposed on motorcycles, trucks and scooters without odometers?

Washoe County is pushing for a mileage tax. How do they impose this tax upon non-residents? Do we now have the mileage police to enforce payment?

Notice that this idea was suggested after the last election. The elected officials will hope that the people forget who voted for this by the next election cycle.

No good deed ever goes unpunished, so punish the guilty at the ballot box.

JOHN WAGNER,

President The Burke

Consortium of CarsonCity

Carson City

Some thoughts on upgrading the USA

Mr. Obama and hired hands: To redevelop and upgrade the United States, cancel "NAFTA."

Bring the jobs back home and send the illegals back.

Teach our kids how to work in high schools. Have them work with contractors and business people for grades and experience.

Stop building homes on our best (soil) farmland.

Quit trying to make other countries like the United States.

E. LOUISE KERR

Virginia City

Americans asked to join others in community service

Have you heard? What a great idea! As a tribute to the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the very real needs of our nation, President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden call upon all Americans to join others in local community volunteer events Jan. 17-18 and the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Jan. 19, the day before the Inauguration.

While government has an important role to play in helping address the problems of our nation, there is a place for us to do what we can in our community. It's easy to find a volunteer event that suits your time availability by clicking on "find event" at www.usaservice.org. and entering your zip code. Take a look at the variety right here in Carson City. Many volunteer events are family friendly.

Please join me in this non-partisan opportunity for all of us to do what we can in our community. Sign up today at www.usaservice.org for as many events as you can. Be sure to sign up on the Web site to stay in the loop. Pass this on to all your friends, including those out of the area. It's a national initiative. This is just the beginning. Never has it been more important for communities to come together in shared purpose to tackle the common challenges we face. I hope you agree with me, this is a great idea!

MELANIE MEEHAN-CROSSLEY

Genoa