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LETTERS: President should get one six-year term

To the editor:

Regarding Bill Wilderman’s letter (“It’s time for term limits in Congress,” Aug. 10 Review-Journal), I have long been a fan of term limits for our elected representatives. Our Founding Fathers did not include this measure in our Constitution because they had no concept of the idea of career politicians. They believed in the citizen-politician who spent as much time at home as serving in office.

In addition to term limits on Congress, I suggest a change in the presidential term, as well. The president should serve one six-year term, with no re-election. Typically, the sitting president spends the last year-plus of his first term running for re-election, neglecting many duties as the leader of our country. Historically, a second-term president hits lame-duck status the final one to two years, getting very little accomplished. By some accounts, President Barack Obama is already there.

One six-year term would avoid that, and the president can continue to push his agenda for the entire term. No more making political decisions based on maintaining electability.

Also, upon being elected, the president should no longer consider himself a Democrat or a Republican. He is the elected representative of all Americans and should conduct himself as such. Hopefully this could help gain bipartisan support, and we would see less bashing of the other party, which is really beneath the dignity of the office. This should be especially true during election season. No more extended fundraising trips for your party on the taxpayer’s tab.

None of this is a bash specifically on President Obama. He’s not the only president to treat the position and its privileges as a right that he deserves; he is just the current one. George Washington was known as the American Cincinnatus — the ancient Roman citizen called on to be dictator during a national crisis, only to voluntarily step down when the crisis passed. And just like Cincinnatus, President Washington did it twice. If only our current politicians, at all levels, would follow their examples. Sadly it can only happen by direct intervention from the citizens.

DUANE MATTOX

LAS VEGAS

English only?

To the editor:

Donald Schmiedel has a problem with misuse of Spanish on signs, etc. (“Spoiling Spanish,” Aug. 12 Review-Journal). The only reason we have Spanish signs and advertising is because people who wish to reside here are not willing to learn the language this country was founded on.

Perhaps the solution is to eliminate all signs, documents and ballots that are not in English.

ROBERT RAIDER

HENDERSON

Obamacare’s fine print

To the editor:

Even the seemingly good benefits of Obamacare are a fraud. My daughter graduated from college at the age of 21. She got sick at 23. Upon applying for benefits under my health care plan as a Verizon Communications retiree, I was told I could cover my children up to the age of 25, provided they are full-time students. How many 25-year-old, full-time students do you know? What a fraud.

DONALD E. SEXTON

LAS VEGAS

Lake Mead’s real takers

To the editor:

Las Vegas consumes about 400,000 acre-feet of water per year, and nearly 360,000 acre-feet per year comes from Lake Mead. Officials hound us to conserve while ignoring the 900,000 acre-feet per year consumed by Tamarisk plants and the 2.46 million acre-feet of water lost in the Colorado River Basin due to evaporation. When will water officials address the most effective ways to save this squandered resource?

THEODORE WILLIAMS

HENDERSON

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