LETTERS: To keep us safe, ban white immigrants

I write to congratulate Gov. Brian Sandoval on his decisive action to prevent Syrian refugees from settling in Nevada. However, I call on him to extend this ban to all white people as well. This may seem extreme, but in light of last week's domestic terrorism in Minneapolis and Colorado Springs, I believe it is justified.

Some might argue that we cannot blame an entire group of people for the actions of a few extremists, or that white people are the largest group of victims of domestic terrorism. It also might be argued that the threat of domestic terrorism is greatly exaggerated, or that the governor lacks any legal authority to ban anyone from settling in Nevada. These arguments are naive. We live in a dangerous world and we must be ever vigilant against threats to our safety.

I know that many will accuse me of racism for this letter. But I myself am white. And while most white people are good, peaceful and deeply committed to American ideals, there is a violent and dangerous trend within white culture. All white Americans must stand together to condemn these extremists. And Mr. Sandoval must stand up and implement a temporary ban on white immigration so that no one else is put in danger.

Jim Hoffman

Las Vegas

Net metering

I am writing in response to your Nov. 22 editorial, "Solar must pay its way." The author must not have read your newspaper. There was a recent article on the contract NV Energy signed with the new solar plant near Tonopah to buy its output for 13.5 cents per kWh. The current 11.6 cents per kWh paid to net metering customers is still cheaper and does not require more investment in power lines.

Conventionally generated power costs 5.5 cents per kWh. Comparing the two is comparing apples and oranges. I do agree that the tax rebate is unfair.

Dwight Braunberger

Las Vegas

Wasteful packaging

Mary Beth Horiai's recent article on recycling was appreciated. The new process and recycling bins can improve residential recycling. However, as Ms. Horiai pointed out, the root problem is overconsumption. A subset of that problem is over-packaging.

I order many things online because it is convenient. The packaging is amazingly wasteful. I recently received three separate packages delivered at the same time containing items ordered at the same time from a major online retailer. Two were boxes measuring 10 inches wide, 10 inches tall and 10 inches deep. The third was a large envelope. The volume of the item shipped in one of the 1,000-cubic-inch boxes was 3 cubic inches. The other 1,000-cubic-inch box held a 5-cubic-inch item.

The extra space in the boxes was filled with air "pillows." The large envelope with the third small item would have held the entire order. None of the items were fragile. Some orders from this same online retailer have brown paper as filler — yard upon yard of brown paper. We recycle, but it seems such a waste that it was shipped in the first place. Online retailing continues to grow.

These businesses need to improve their packaging to reduce the quantity of wasted material that requires disposal.

Patricia Wunder

Las Vegas

Kalas column

I second Lois Peters' motion to bring back Steven Kalas' weekly "Human Matters" column ("Bring back Kalas," Nov. 23 Review-Journal letters). It was always my first read on Monday mornings, and I saved many of his articles because I learned things and wanted to review them at a later date. I hope the new features editor will reconsider.

Jeralyn Elsasser

Las Vegas