Elected officials simply aren’t responsive

To the editor:

How often have we been told that as citizens of the great nation, we need to contact our elected official and voice our opinions? In fact, because so few of us take the time to do just that, the impact of such communication will be multiplied many times over. Our one letter will represent a thousand voices. Well this missive will debunk that theory.

In the past six months, I have written four such letters to my elected federal legislators. The topics of my letters have included the auto takeover, the carbon tax issue, and most recently the health care make-over. Their non-response has been deafening

Rep. Dina Titus has the dubious distinction of winning first place with her one response to four outreaches. Sen. John Ensign fared only slightly better to land in a close second place finish with two responses and Sen. Harry Reid has the best record of responsiveness with three replies.

In case more evidence is needed, while our state legislators were struggling with ways to raise our taxes so as to enable the state to spend more money, I wrote a letter to all Assembly and Senate members. That is 63 letters. I received only one reply, from Ellen Koivisto, a Democrat Assembly member from Clark County. Although my suggestions fell on deaf ears, she deserves kudos for taking her time late in the busy 75th session to reply.

In my mind, there is but one conclusion to be drawn from the examples enumerated above. Fresh faces need to be elected -- without regard for party affiliation, favored committee positions or the perceived ability to use power and status for Nevada's benefit. Such arrogance and concentration should not be allowed or rewarded.

These people are so isolated by the power and money they hold, that we the electorate are but necessary evils to them. Their party's leadership, and the prestige of their position are primary to them. They really do need to be thrown out of office. All of them.

Ron Ecklund

HENDERSON

All sides

To the editor:

Teresa Merz in a recent letter to the editor asks that the Review-Journal cease printing columns by Ann Coulter. She adds that Ms. Coulter is what is wrong with our country.

Ms. Merz is entitled to have and express her opinion, and I am entitled to have and express mine. It is my opinion that one of the things that is wrong with our country today is people such as Teresa Merz who, apparently, wants the Review-Journal to print only columns written by those with whom she agrees.

I applaud the Review-Journal for printing columns that express divergent points of view, and that includes Ann Coulter.

Steve Steckel

LAS VEGAS

Secret vote

To the editor:

Thank you for your tenacity in getting the city of Henderson to complete what it should have been done with the appointment of Debra March to the City Council: reveal who voted for whom ("Council to release details of voting," Saturday).

I have no argument with Ms. March filling the seat left vacant by Andy Hafen's election to mayor. I do have a major problem with a process that featured "secret nominating and voting."

It's my belief that constituents have the right to know who and when the council votes, who voted for whom, and who voted which way on what issue. Since it is normal procedure to see the votes of each routine action, this should have been no different.

There may be a time in the near (or distant) future that one of those council men or women will want to run for another public office. Voters, (especially many retired people, who statistics show vote more frequently) have long memories.

The seat held by Ms. March represents my ward and I have no doubt she will do an outstanding job. I have been most interested in who has kept their word and who said what sounded good at the moment depending on who they were speaking to.

Rana Goodman

HENDERSON

Smoking mad

To the editor:

My wife and I went out Friday night to meet some friends for drinks and food. But we had only drinks because employees at the sports bar where we all met turned their heads and looked the other way as customers smoked.

I called the cocktail waitress over and asked her if she knew that people were smoking in the building. She said yes, but that they just look the other way and do not enforce the laws.

As many people as there are who are unemployed in Las Vegas, there should be jobs or positions open for a smoking patrol or smoking cops to write up tickets or fines to the places and people who just do not care about the laws that we voted in place.

Sign me up for the first job with the new police group. Damn, I hate smoke, smoking and smokers.

Terry Alsup

LAS VEGAS