Letters to the editor 10-26

Step back from slippery slope of scapegoating

After WWI, Germany was poverty-stricken and drained from a costly and destructive war. When Hitler came to power in the 1920s, he offered the technique of transferring inner frustration to an outward target to get general support. Focusing all the hatred of the times onto a scapegoat allowed people to feel it was acceptable, even patriotic, to become hate-filled.

Fast forward to present day. Some campaign ads have gone too far. Some state outright that all our troubles and problems can be traced only to this administration. We have chosen to forget they all began under the previous administration. Foreclosures, companies closing, unemployment, people worried about how to afford retirement - these all began under the last administration. But some campaign ads make it appear that one person is responsible for our current situation. And putting scapegoats out for voters to hate has become far too prevalent. It's an ugly trait to see and a treacherous slippery slope from which to pull back.

So, we need to stop being led around by our baser emotions, and turn once again to our own intelligence - remember the facts, whether we want to or not. Don't fall for the scapegoat technique which keeps us from seeing the real truth. Or someday using scapegoats in the media will become "allowable" in the physical world. Full-strength bullying. Values going downhill begin with just one step at a time to become acceptable.

Diana Durnell

Carson City

Maizie, Carolyn throw support behind Reid, Heller

There are times when you have to put yourself out there and support certain candidates. As you might have noticed in our Nobody Asked Us, But ... columns, we lean a little to the left, and will continue to do so.

Sen. Harry Reid has our vote, not only for the times he has helped us in the past, but also because Nevada has never had as much clout as he gives us. Sharron Angle, from the Party of No, has indicated mostly what she will not do, and we feel that's not conducive to our state's well being.

Dean Heller has served admirably in his first two terms, and deserves a third. We also support Ross Miller, Kate Marshall, Kim Wallin and Catherine Cortez Masto. Locally, we like Dave Dawley, Karen Abowd and Kenny Furlong. We have heard that Bob Guimont is a "cop's cop," which is good; however, in the past eight years, we do not understand why he has not pursued a criminal justice degree, or taken classes in administration, since the office of sheriff is an administrative one.

Sheriff Furlong has performed admirably and is at every gathering in town, unlike a former sheriff who conducted the office from a fishing boat. There are other offices up for grabs, and since we disagree on some of the other races, you need to be inquisitive. We also believe all the ballot questions should be a "yes." Regardless of what you decide, vote.

Maizie Harris Jesse and Carolyn Tate

Carson City

Looking for the extremist? Look at Harry Reid

Let me see if I have this right. Harry Reid made a $700,000 profit on the sale of land he hadn't even owned for over three years, according to the property deed. He paid his Ritz Carlton staff Christmas bonuses out of campaign funds instead of personal funds. He collected over $68,000 in campaign contributions from Jack Abramoff's lobbying firm. Even though the Senate voted 83-7 to block ACORN from bidding on federal grant money, Reid refused to hold a hearing to investigate their activities.

He is on tape adamantly insisting paying income taxes to the IRS is voluntary and refused to acknowledge the penalty if you don't. He told the world "the war is lost" undermining our brave soldiers. He called then-Sen. Obama a "light skinned African-American with no Negro dialect, unless he wants to use one." He said he could smell the tourists in the Capitol Building. He kicked out the C-SPAN cameras to craft the health care bill in secret.

His political career is riddled with corrupt, unethical and ignorant actions and statements. And I'm supposed to believe Sharron Angle is the out-of-touch extremist? Yeah, right.

Dan Cerda

Dayton

A list of reasons to vote for Sharron Angle

If you are a pregnant woman or have a chronically ill child and would like to have your health insurance canceled, you should vote for Sharron Angle. If you are a veteran and would like to see the Veterans Administration dismantled, you should vote for Sharron Angle. If you are a senior citizen and would like to see the Social Security Administration eliminated along with your benefits, you should vote for Sharron Angle.

If you are a senior and like the "doughnut hole" in Medicare and enjoy spending more for medication, you should vote for Sharron Angle. If you are an Asian or Mexican and like being told you all look the same, you should vote for Sharron Angle. If you fear that Islamic sharia law is taking over the country, you should vote for Sharron Angle. If you like a candidate whose positions change with every news release, you should vote for Sharron Angle.

If you would like your senator to sit on the back bench in Congress wearing a dunce cap while bringing more derision to Nevada, you should vote for Sharron Angle.

If you are a thoughtful, concerned Nevadan and would like to keep the most powerful man in Congress protecting the interests of our state and citizens, then you should vote for Harry Reid.

Phil Stotts

Carson City

Joiner will be responsible with your tax dollars

For those out there that want a cautious approach to spending our tax dollars, join me in voting for Rob Joiner.

I have known Rob for years and he is the type of person who listens to our concerns and is a fiscal conservative. What Betty Sarnowski recently cited in a letter as the negative candidates is actually concern for your tax dollars. How can Mrs. Abowd support and defend the Nugget project from day one when no one really knows what the project is or what the ultimate cost will be? Do we need this project and can we afford it?

These are my questions and I appreciate Rob Joiner and others who raise awareness of the issues. It is always easy to spend other people's money for personal benefit but Rob is unbiased and wants to truly work for the rest of us.

He has a lifetime of practical experience in the very issues that now confront us and I trust he has the ethical standards to do the best job.

In previous debates, of the six candidates who were originally running, Mrs. Abowd had a handful of cards. When asked a question, she had to find the card with the question so she could answer it. One wonders who wrote all the possible questions and answers for her.

The rest of the original, Paul Saucedo, Norm Scoggin, Sean Lehmann and Gary Schulz, have all endorsed Rob Joiner. That is why I support Rob Joiner for Carson City supervisor.

Martha Kappler

Carson City

Debate performance turned off this voter

During the debate on Oct. 14, Sharron Angle hit Harry Reid a blow, but Reid's professional manner never allowed him to reciprocate a blow back to her. She will not create jobs, nor OK preventive medical care. Her Botox cheeks and phony smile didn't earn my vote!

Ann Burke

Carson City