Letters to the Editor April 3

Columnist offered insight into critical thinking

Congratulations to Grant Clowers for his commentary on being opened-minded. I love the Nevada Appeal Opinion section. However some of the columnists might take note of these observations on "certainty."

I have attended classes at Western Nevada College where the instructor taught critical thinking, Eugene Paslov style. What a joke. Having those little initials behind your name may not lead to common sense.

An atta-boy to this psychotherapist for his March 25 thoughtful insight on being curious rather than being right. We can learn to explore how it might feel to walk in the other person's moccasins.

Jim Kingsbury

Washoe Valley

Compare sheriff candidates' plans for action

I have had the opportunity to read the platforms of the two candidates challenging Sheriff Furlong for sheriff of Carson City, and only one candidate actually spells out how he is going to meet his platform's objectives: Captain Bob White. If you go to his Web page, www.electbobwhitesheriff.com, you can read exactly how he plans to accomplish his goals for the Sheriff's Department and the community.

In contrast, Deputy Bob Guimont's Web page states only that electing him will give a new approach to solving the multitude of issues that he considers major problems within the Sheriff's Department and the community as a whole. However, nowhere does he state details of his new approach or how he is going to accomplish his goals.

I heard Deputy Guimont state in his announcement address that he can reduce the Sheriff's Department budget by 30 to 40 percent. That represents a $4.8 million to $6.4 million reduction from the existing $16 million budget. And, he stated he can do it without laying off deputies or reducing services. Sheriff Furlong has to reduce the budget by just 10 percent, and that means about 21 employees. Deputy Guimont is long on buzz words and short on a plan of action.

Captain Bob White has identified some of the major issues surrounding this campaign, and he states how he is going to address those issues. Please take the time to compare the candidates.

Bill Schroeder

Carson City

Immigrants' financial is burden breaking our society

I was in law enforcement for almost five years. I have seen the social burden illegals have placed on our courts.

I was in the emergency room about three months ago and waited about

30 minutes to be seen. A nurse told me there is such an epidemic of illegals who don't have medical coverage that the hospital gives them fake names and Social Security numbers, because they know they are not going to get paid. Yet I have to show my coverage and pay my deductible.

Did you know that every illegal baby with no coverage costs the state of Nevada $54,000 in taxpayers' money? They fill our schools and overcrowd our teachers who have complained because they don't speak English. They spend

35-45 percent of their time (on these students) and can't get to our children. Half of all illegals use welfare, food stamps, free lunches, Medicaid. So yes, they do cost us.

They fish with no fishing license, commit crimes, and I know first hand, they take our jobs. I was hit in my truck by an illegal - she had no drivers license, no insurance and fled the accident, so guess whose insurance had to pay? There are things we can make law enforcement do if they wanted to.

Clint McLelland

Carson City