Egocentric limited outlook
Guy Farmer’s Jan. 22 comment that many of Trump’s policies would be welcomed back (in hindsight of Biden’s woeful leadership), but “...without Trump himself in the White House,” is like saying: “Mr. Farmer’s commentaries are informative, factual, and helpful, but if he writes them they are meaningless to me.”
How foolish to say:
“Thank you President Trump for the trade deals that kept U.S. jobs at home; thank you for strengthening our military and our respect around the world, and shutting down ISIS; thank you for securing our border wall that dropped illegal crossings 73%; thank you for your economic record of creating more than 3 million new jobs dropping unemployment to a record low of just 2.6%; thank you for saving American businesses more than $18 billion a year by slashing federal regulations, etc., (partial list only)... But, I don’t like you, so your proven capabilities working on my behalf and benefiting my country are all insignificant and unwelcome if you run again in 2024.”
Everyone has a sense of egotism (the tongue of vanity). An “egocentric” limited outlook of Trump’s ego has unfortunately superseded commonsense for what was — and would be — good for America. Actions speak louder than words, people. Please.
Joy Uhart
Minden
Nevadans are an honest lot
A neighbor came by this afternoon bearing a small card sponsored by the Nevada Republican Party, titled, “2022 Election Integrity.” From the party’s investigations, it reports, “… the following counts of voter fraud” totaling 122,918 individual voters submitted with reference to the 2020 election.
This is an alarming number. Why has there so far been no hue and cry? Is it perhaps because the card’s reference should have been to “a potential for voter fraud”? After all of the 1,506 deceased voters on the list I’ve heard of only one – a Republican by the way – who tried to vote and was caught. As for the 3,987 non-citizens, the 2,468 changes of address to out of state, the 42,284 duplicate voters, the 15,164 non-Nevada mailing addresses, and other unqualified addressees, the worst I’ve heard is that some tens of them actually tried to vote, not some hundreds or some thousands.
At worst the Nevada Republican Party’s list of mis-mailed ballots points to the Secretary of State’s office being caught short by a sudden need to send out mail-in ballots. (By now I’m sure they’ve figured out what to do about these problems.) At best the party’s report of mis-mailed ballots, when thoughtfully examined, points to a lack of proven or attempted voter fraud even when good opportunities present themselves. This reflects the pleasing, honest character and integrity I've found among my fellow rank and file Nevadans.
Michael Goldeen
Carson City
Carbon Tax is right
In Jeff Miladin’s Jan. 12 letter, he asks many questions which I will address. But it probably should be clarified that while the Cambrian period is indeed pre-industrial, comparing CO2 levels (4,000 PPM) from a period 500 million years ago is nonsensical. Comparisons relative to the time when “modern man” was evolving are relevant. From ice core drillings representing the last 800,000 years, atmospheric CO2 has not exceeded 300 PPM until the 1950s. We’re more than 415 PPM now!
With Carbon Fee and Dividend, the government collects the annually increasing fees from the fossil fuel companies and redistributes them monthly to the American people. The collection and redistribution is paid for from the collected fees. No new taxes for the citizenry. Our government already has the mechanisms in place to not only collect fossil fuel fees but to redistribute them.
Remember the COVID stimulus checks? Carbon Fee and Dividend only taxes the fossil fuel companies. The market-based solution is a function of businesses that embrace a cleaner future, moving away from the polluting business model of the fossil fuel companies. Fossil fuel related costs will undoubtedly increase but the dividend will more than offset the increase in most households. Increased costs for businesses will incentivize them to move toward less costly, environmentally cleaner business models. I trust in scientists and economists who model the various scenarios of greenhouse gas reduction.
Regarding a cleaner environment, we are making “strides” but certainly not great or adequate to slow the CO2 pollution… it’s still rapidly rising.
Contact Sens. Cortez Masto and Rosen. Tell them to include Carbon Pricing a.k.a. Carbon Fee and Dividend in the budget reconciliation.
Rob Bastien
Carson City Chapter, Citizens' Climate Lobby
COVID response outstanding
It is interesting that in Jim Hartman's recent column, "Nevada COVID response ranked near bottom," he never provided information on Nevada's ranking for the actual rate of COVID-19 infections during the pandemic.
This, of course, is the real public-health measure of the success of Nevada's COVID response.
As of Jan. 2, of all 50 states, Nevada had the 6th LOWEST active COVID-19 cases per capita, 0.66%.
In the neighboring states, Utah had 0.82% active cases per capita, Arizona 1.05%, California 1.66%.
So with respect to limiting COVID infections to protect public health, Nevada's COVID response has been outstanding.
Nevada did not do so well in constraining deaths from COVID-19; it ranked 31st out of the 50 states. Far from the bottom, but an indication of the general status of health care in rural Nevada. Which is more a reflection of the state legislature's funding priorities rather than the actions of any individual Republican or Democratic governor.
Nevada also fell short in the Politico health rankings for the rate of vaccinations, which along with masking continues to be opposed by Republican disinformation.
Jon Nowlin
Carson City
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