Monday, May 17, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
LETTERS: Goodman ethics issue was way overblown
To the editor:
We've now watched the ethics hearing regarding Mayor Oscar Goodman. If we're honest with ourselves, we'll concede that, as the Ethics Commission decided, only one of the allegations charged against Mr. Goodman -- the iPolitix cocktail party -- was even close to having any merit whatsoever as a legitimate ethical issue.
And, indeed, even that charge appeared to be less an ethical violation than an incidence of Oscar just being Oscar. Mr. Goodman has not personally benefited, in a pecuniary sense, from any of the incidents that were the subject of the charges. Mr. Goodman's appearance at the cocktail party can certainly not be considered an overt use of the mayoral office to directly financially benefit his son, Ross.
In light of some of the brazen shenanigans, chicanery, lying, cheating and stealing undertaken by many other Clark County politicians over the past several years, the mayor should be considered a relative saint. It is not the case, as it has been with others, that the mayor is caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Mayor Goodman's actions and policies are and have been manifestly good for our city. In comparison to most other Nevada politicians, Mr. Goodman is an ethical giant. He is also an effective mayor. Allow Mr. Goodman to continue helping the city of Las Vegas.
PAUL J. VAMES
LAS VEGAS
Taxes good
To the editor:
It is disheartening to see the letters from anti-tax forces against more moderate Republican leaders in our state. Gov. Kenny Guinn and Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, in stepping up to the plate to champion much-needed revenue increases for our state in the 2003 Legislature, demonstrated a sense of statesmanship that these ultra conservative forces sorely lack.
In 1967, two other Republican leaders, California Gov. Ronald Reagan and Nevada Gov. Paul Laxalt, championed tax increases for their states. "It's the responsible thing to do," Gov. Reagan remarked at the time. A bipartisan coalition of Nevada legislators increased the gaming tax by 20 percent and the sales tax by 50 percent.
Anti-tax crusaders are guided by a selfish, "me first" philosophy -- and not by what's best for the interests of our state. Taxes are the dues we pay for membership in our community. Every time we drive, turn on the tap for water, use the Internet or other public service, our tax dollars are at work.
I am grateful that we have enlightened Republican leadership in our state that saw the need for tax increases, and bucked the noisy far right opposition.
BOB FULKERSON
RENO
The writer heads the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada.
No standards
To the editor:
A May 5 editorial stated that, "American soldiers must be held to a higher standard." What unadulterated bull.
These soldiers were raised in a society where the meaning of the word fidelity is unknown. Divorce, riots and lying presidents are the norm. Politicians are a joke and the value of life is meaningless. Witness half the women in the country protesting when they are denied the right to kill an 8 1/2-month-old baby -- oops, fetus.
We are a country where half of the political leaders state it is OK for a president to lie under oath to a federal grand jury. These soldiers were raised in a society where the golden rule stands firm, "Do unto others before they do unto you."
The rights given American newspaper editors is near absolute. Pity said editors are not more circumspect in the writings they approve. Then again the writing in question was politically correct.
Whoopee.
LEON ABADIE
LAS VEGAS
What tariffs?
To the editor:
The May 5 editorial, "Steel costs," tried to imply that the reason steel prices are so high is because of the "tariffs" that the Bush administration put on in 2002 and later rescinded in late 2003. The "tariffs" have nothing to do with the increases in steel costs we have seen since the beginning of the year. They also have nothing to do with the shortage of steel that we are also seeing.
There are many factors that have affected the cost and availability of steel. These factors have all happened around the same time, resulting in what one could call "the perfect storm."
1. China has driven up the steel scrap to more than $300 a metric ton. Its steel consumption has risen from 120 million metric tons to approximately 240 million metric tons this year. Needless to say, China does not have the kid of capacity to produce that much steel, leaving the world market to try to supply the rest. (The United States consumes 90 million metric tons of steel a year.)
2. There was a large mine fire in Ohio that curtailed the shipment of iron ore to the U.S. steel market, causing a shortage of raw steel production.
3. The U.S. dollar has dropped in value skewing the costs of exports and imports.
4. Steel consumption worldwide has dramatically picked up since the fourth quarter of 2003.
5. The United States produces less steel because of the affects the years of dumping by rogue countries has lead to the bankrupting of the U.S. steel industry.
These are just a few of the reasons why steel prices have rapidly escalated. None of these issues has anything to do with the "steel tariffs." Only ignorance of the steel market could lead to the assertion that the "tariffs" played a part in what we are presently seeing.
KEN FLECK
LAS VEGAS
No vote
To the editor:
Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry has long criticized President Bush for not caring about extending unemployment benefits by six months. Yet in a vote taken Tuesday, the bill to extend benefits failed by one vote in the Senate. The man who has been criticizing the president, Sen. Kerry, did not vote because it was more important to him to campaign for the presidency.
Supposedly, Sen. Kerry is for the common man. This, once again, shows the true colors of John Kerry. He is a multi-millionaire who does not walk his talk and does not even warrant a slight consideration for the presidency of the United States.
Had he voted, he probably would have voted against the proposal, changing his mind once again.
CARL RIDENOUR
LAS VEGAS
