LETTERS: Immigration hinders Nevada ratings

To the editor:

Columnist John L. Smith states in Tuesday’s Review-Journal that Nevada ranks 48th in economic well-being, 47th in health and dead last in education (“Nevada’s silver lining is in hiding”). Could that somehow correlate to the fact we have a large illegal immigrant population? Politicians exacerbate the problem, blindly pandering to the interests of a Hispanic voting bloc.

What solutions does Mr. Smith offer? He suggests the tired old liberal cliches of education and children. Ironically, I agree with him, except this time we have to make it about America’s children and their education. We cannot support the world. Many Americans are just as poor as those we are trying to help. At some point, it is about America.

I suggest border control. Without it, we cannot be a sovereign nation. Close the borders permanently, and let the 11 million immigrants already here meld into American society through a natural attrition process before the border is reopened. That is the only solution. The border has been bleeding for 25 years. Now is the time to stitch it.

RON MOERS

HENDERSON

Learning languages

To the editor:

William V. Lofton’s letter (“Learn other languages,” June 22) was smart and visionary. I, too, applaud English programs for non-English speaking students. Penalizing them and their parents isn’t productive. I’m sure there were difficult circumstances affecting each family, and I’m grateful it was never my situation.

The sooner we start, the better, as a young child’s mind is wired to accept several languages with ease if they are introduced before the age of 7 or so. Later is more difficult, but not impossible.

With this in mind, I also believe that our English speaking students should have the opportunity to learn other languages, especially Spanish. Not only is Spanish the second-most-important language in America, but also in the world. Mandarin would probably be the third-best language to learn.

Several school districts in America already have Spanish immersion programs starting in kindergarten. There’s one in San Antonio that started about 10 years ago. Learning other languages will prepare our children to compete in a world that already has a global economy, as Mr. Lofton so well explained.

And for those who believe that students who speak a foreign language at home will never be able to learn English, there are many dual-language Americans (myself included) who prove this thinking is 100 percent wrong.

If you feel that $50 million is too much to invest in English Language Learner programs, remember that investing in our children is an investment in our country’s competitive future. Clark County is the nation’s fifth-largest school district, so $50 million doesn’t seem out of line.

GLORIA EDRICH

LAS VEGAS

Nuclear waste

To the editor:

Regarding Gov. Brian Sandoval opposing storage of nuclear waste in Nevada (“Sandoval opposes shipments,” June 21 Review-Journal), states other than Nevada built nuclear power plants, thus allowing their residents to have construction jobs and access to cheap power. The construction and operation of these generators was a real boost to their economies. Other states had nuclear research labs or nuclear weapon manufacturing plants. Those likewise were a boost to local economies.

Along with the economic windfalls, however, these operations created dangerous waste that will require long-term storage that is expensive.

To avoid the danger and expense of that waste storage, they now want to send it to Nevada. We get nothing in return for endangering our residents with this waste, which was created as it helped other states. Anyone with at least a room-temperature IQ should be able to see that this won’t help Nevada. If they want to send it here, we should make sure that it is a boost to our economy.

ROBERT RAIDER

HENDERSON