To heck with
what voters want
Writing letters to your senators and Congress doesn't do much good - as long as they don't listen to you anyway. What you think doesn't count for much, but wait until election time, and they will be wanting your vote.
They do what they want. To heck with what the voters think or want. They passed their reform, now it's up to the Senate. Next on the agenda is how much money you will be allowed, which doctor you can see or maybe none at all.
I read that one lady stood in line for her flu shot. When it was her turn, there was none left. Can you imagine what the future holds? You are old, you are going to die anyway.
It's time to do a little to stop all of these corruptions - a few out there don't know any different, as they think they are getting something for nothing. Wait and see.
I, too, struggled through the dirty '30s, but hard work took care of it all. We will all get a cut in Medicare and Social Security, then watch those liberals cry (for) help.
Thanks to the retired teacher for calling me saying he was pleased with my letter.
Alice Beck
Carson City
UNR president shouldn't dictate to Gibbons
Hey, fellow Nevadans! How 'bout we just move Nevada's state capital from Carson City to the UNR campus and turn the governorship of Nevada over to President Milton Glick?
I mean, who is this little man to dictate to Gov. Jim Gibbons about the governor's duty to be responsible for the budgetary needs of our state?
Orlis Trone
Fernley
Passage of bill marks beginning of the end
All hail the Brave New World! This morning the U.S. Senate all but completed the transformation of the country formerly known as America. The pundits who maintain that it isn't over yet, that there still is a chance it will be derailed, are either lying or naive. This legislation will pass at all costs, let nothing stand in the way.
The shameful spectacle of senators for sale was a necessary disgrace to ensure passage, but it worked. It doesn't matter what the final bill will look like that the president signs: It is simply a start. For however long this country remains, there will be a parade of bills to fix the problems with health care, or improve or expand health care. It will never, ever end.
When the Republicans regain power, as they eventually will, they will not overturn this legislation. They are, at heart, politicians, and as such, will be loathe to endanger their political careers regardless of personal convictions.
I predict that the first casualty of the new health care, doomed to a lingering and painful death, will be the Bill of Rights. It will not come overnight, but it will come, and few will understand or mark its passing.
The Triumvirate of President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Reid have done what no other group, no other country has been able to do since the founding of the United States: They have won the war against freedom.
Gary Collier
Gardnerville
Residents need safe, affordable water
I am writing to bring attention and concern to the Indian Hills water problem. In September, we were told not to drink our water due to twice the legal limits of arsenic levels and to buy bottled water until further notice.
They hope to hook us to the Douglas water system in a year or so. They say they have filed for a grant for this project yet as of December they have increased our base water price 400 percent ($6.39 to $24.16) for water we cannot drink - plus, buying drinking water from the store.
Being a homeowner on such a tight budget, this affects me and my neighbors greatly. I hope bringing this to the people's and hopefully our assemblymen's attention that this will be looked into.
P. Morgan
Carson City
What would media do if Gibbons were a Dem?
If Jim Gibbons was a Democrat, would his divorce be front page news? I don't think so.
Frank D. Millslagle
Carson City
Paslov doesn't understand social freedom
It's very disheartening that so many of Dr. Eugene T. Paslov's commentaries lament what he considers to be the ignorant racists that disagree with his viewpoint. Most of his columns have little understanding of the concepts of free enterprise and social freedom. Dr. Paslov seems to think he is the only educated person in Northern Nevada. His mindless attacks on his fellow citizens and the Bush administration and his arrogance are boring.
Most of the people he attacks believe in personal responsibility and are concerned about government control of their lives and runaway government spending. They recognize that ultimately we the citizens pay the bills. Most believe in helping the disadvantaged. They understand that, to accomplish this, the majority of citizens need to work productively. They know that a society that rewards effort and achievement generates the highest levels of productivity and over the long term, raises the standard of living of everyone, including the poorest citizen, to the highest level possible.
It is obvious that redistribution of wealth, as Dr. Paslov seems to prefer, will raise the standard of living of the poorest people in the near term. It is also clear that the long-term result will be a lower standard of living for all citizens from the most to the least advantaged.
Gary Ratekin
Gardnerville
Carson Valley Inn employees key to success
I am currently an employee of Carson Valley Inn and would like to correct some information.
First of all, I feel that it has been the employees of CVI who have made the establishment the friendly fun place it's been for so many years. The locals as well as tourists have always commented how warm a welcome we have always had for all who visit us.
I am surprised to see how the employees have been treated. Some will not have a job here any longer after giving so many years of excellent service. I feel bad for all who have not been rehired by the new owners and wish them all my best.
It's the staff members who make the business a success with the customer service they provide and are still doing. Great work guys.
Minda Villoria
Minden
When will government stop meddling in our lives?
Coming up before us is the most imperfect bill to pass the House and the Senate - I call it bribes for votes, i.e. Sen. Nelson of Nebraska. How many votes were bought this way, and to whose expense - ours? The add-ons in the health reform bill could probably be cut by in excess of $200 billion if we only knew. Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi are experts at add-ons to get what they want, again at the expense of the general public.
Why should a bill be passed that will fine an individual for not wanting government health insurance if (1) they don't want it, (2) they can't afford it, (3) they're tired of being told how and when to run their financial and family lives by people in politics that can't even run their own lives and personal beings without having everyone involved, i.e., Gov. Gibbons' divorce, Sen. Ensign's supposed marital misconduct - at least he didn't lie about it as former President Clinton did.
Stop these political problems, contact your political representatives before they start telling you where to buy your food and clothing, or how your child should wear their hair.
John Choat
Carson City
List of pundits counters liberal media claim
At the risk of receiving another threatening phone message from some tea-bagging, anti-government, anti-gay, anti-ethnic, anti-immigrant, anti-abortion, anti-universal health care, head-in-the-sand ostrich about climate change who actually believes Dick (five-time Vietnam deferment) Cheney on anything and looks upon Sarah Palin as the savior of conservatism, I'll add another ditty that will tighten up those liberal-hating nerves.
To those who incessantly drone on about the liberal media bias and regurgitate what is such a complete fallacy I offer the following list of conservative hacks from television, radio and the print media: Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Mike Savage, Laura Ingraham, Cal Thomas, Lou Dobbs, Mike Huckabee, ex-felon G. Gordon Liddy, Michael Medved, Mark Levin, Neil Bortz, Neil Cavuto, David Horowitz, William Krystol, Peggy Noonan, Jonah Goldberg, John Fund, Brent Bozell, Charles Krauthammer, George Will, Matt Drudge, Sarah Palin, the entire Fox noise network and hundreds more with too little space to mention.
Keep saying it over and over and people tend to believe it. Joseph Goebbels was good at that. Liberal media bias? C'mon man!
Rick Van Alfen
Carson City
Vote out incumbents
at every election
Well, there is a lot of complaining about our government problems going on today and Congress not listening to the people about the current health care reform. Especially bothersome is being fined if you don't get insurance. If you could pay the fine you would buy insurance if you wanted it. Why isn't Congress going to be under the same program they are voting on for us?
We are trillions of dollars in debt already. The tea parties are helping some, but liberals say they are unpatriotic. The conservatives say there is too much government. I remember two presidents - one saying, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," and another saying, "Government is not the solution to the problem, Government is the problem."
There is only one peaceful answer to all this, and that is to remember when you go to the polls in 2010 to vote out all incumbents - Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians. And in 2012, vote out all the incumbents again, and in 2014 again. Maybe by then the Congresspersons voted in at 2010, 2012, and 2014 will realize "we the people" means business, government run by the people - you work for us, not your greedy selves and lobbyists. Incumbents need to be replaced all the way down to local city government. I'm tired of new and increased taxes, and it's going to get worse if we don't start doing something now.
Brad McCleary
Carson City