Letters to the editor Dec. 11

How many city employees does it take?

Several weeks ago, I went with a friend to a Carson City office to pay a bill. After being informed that the computers were down that day, my friend explained the urgency to finish this business.

It took three employees to do the work manually, while the other six or seven employees sat at their desks doing nothing. When it came time to pay the $67 bill, cash was given.

The clerk, whose computer also was down, announced that she didn't know how to count cash. It took awhile, but a receipt was finally written. The city got its money's worth that day.

Mary Harig

Carson City

Less fortunate have no where else to go

Regarding "Eyesores starting to take over Carson," I agree with you on one point, the Judgment Day sign on Highway 50 East must come down. But as for your other complaints, do watch your tongue.

Our country was founded on the belief of God. The displaying of a sign with "Jesus" written on it is a matter of free speech, my friend. We need more people like this. We need a better sense of right and wrong. And you are wrong by saying that these people are shoving religion down your throat. They just need some hope.

As for the elderly person downtown playing his guitar. He is trying to express himself. He does what he can to make a buck to fill his belly. I know that there are people who want money for booze or snort, but this person may be different.

And so, you tell these people to get a job and get a life? I ask you to get a heart. Most of them have no place to live because of people like you. Why don't you go sleep in a vacant lot with a dirty second-hand sleeping bag on a cold winter night. Bet you would be running back to your car before 10 o'clock to warm up.

Merry Christmas to you, and those less fortunate. Just hope they fare better.

J. Patrick William

Carson City

So far, Amodei is the face of partisanship

In the Saturday, November 26th Appeal, Geoff Dornan reported that Mark Amodei "is frustrated by the polarization and partisanship preventing progress toward fixing the nation's ills." I share Rep. Amodei's frustration, but would like to suggest he give a bit more thought to his own voting record, especially in light of his Dec. 1 op-ed, in which he took Janice Ayres to task for saying he "voted straight party line."

The votes database at washingtonpost.com shows that the 157 votes Amodei has cast so far have been straight party line 97 percent of the time. Out of 435 members of the House of Representatives, only two, Republicans John Boehner of Ohio and Christopher Lee of New York, have a more partisan voting record. Even Majority Leader Eric Cantor only votes the party line 94 percent of the time.

If 2nd District voters are as frustrated by partisanship in Washington as Mr. Amodei, they might want to look for a candidate more willing to build consensus across party lines.

Rich Dunn

Carson City

Neighbors of Washoe wind turbine are suffering

Another night of no sleep in Washoe Valley near Brenda Way and Chukar due to the noise from the wind turbine. Repeated calls to Noise Abatement in Washoe County over the last year have not helped. They have not been out here with their meters when the wind turbine is making the horrific "helicopter-landing-in-your-backyard" noise, so it has not exceeded required limits.

The installers of this turbine lied to agencies when asked about how much noise this turbine would make in windy conditions. They said it made a little wuff, wuff noise. In fact, it is equal to the loudness and vibration of a helicopter landing a few hundred feet from your home. It vibrates the walls, the windows and your body.

But our neighbor is getting free power and selling it back to Nevada Power so that is the only thing that is important. His rights are being protected while we are all made to suffer.

People move to Washoe Valley for the peacefulness and quiet, not to be kept awake on every windy night and disturbed all day during windy days by a wind turbine that has no business in a residential area.

Terri Jay

Washoe Valley

Can Justice Kagan fairly hear Obamacare case?

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the constitutional challenges to Obamacare, but that raises the issue of Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan's impartiality.

A little background: A U.S. statute (28 USC 455) specifies when justices, judges or magistrates should be disqualified. Those circumstances include "Where he has served in governmental employment and in such capacity participated as counsel, adviser or material witness concerning the proceeding or expressed an opinion concerning the merits of the particular case in controversy."

Back to Elena Kagan: When Obamacare was passed, Elena Kagan served as solicitor general, the administration's counsel before the Supreme Court. Because Solicitor General Elena Kagan took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, if she thought an act unconstitutional, she had a duty to say something. Precedents were set by former Solicitor General Robert Bork, who filed an opinion with the Supreme Court arguing that part of the Federal Elections Campaign Act was unconstitutional.

And former Deputy Solicitor General John Roberts filed an opinion with the Supreme Court arguing against the FCC considering an applicant's minority status when issuing a communication license.

But Solicitor General Kagan was silent. In fact, she informally expressed joy that Obamacare would pass. Should we conclude that Kagan believed Obamacare to be constitutional? If so, why would we expect Justice Kagan to be objective when listening to arguments against her own position?

Robert R. Kessler

Las Vegas