Mortgage deal is a boon to deadbeats

To the editor:

There seems to be a never-ending story about all the homeowners who have walked away from overpriced mortgages or have filed for bankruptcy so they wouldn't have to meet their obligations. Now the current administration has supposedly convinced the large banks principally involved in the high-risk mortgages to agree to some $25 billion in restitution.

Obviously, the banks agreed to this settlement because they figured it was cheaper than going to court. The banks should have made the government make its case.

So now people who filed bankruptcy and walked away from mortgages may receive a $1,500 to $2,000 one-time payment. Or if you're still within the guidelines, the fund will somehow get the mortgage holder to reduce the principal on your loan.

Consequently, everyone who didn't feel like paying the mortgage because it wasn't "fair" and was foreclosed will get some money to offset their dilemma.

What about those people, like me, who actually have paid for their mortgages but are still under water? If I sold my home now I'd lose more than $150,000.

If I need to sell my home to move halfway across the country to take care of aging/sick parents, how could I afford to do so?

Where is the justice in any of the above ideas?

If the government can help out anyone who has a problem or had a problem with the value of his home investment, where is the equitable solution to those of us who suffer, as well? Who has stepped up and said all property owners should be treated the same?

No one, that's who.

Carl Munger

Las Vegas

Tricky issue

To the editor:

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., thinks the president "should be credited for his handling of the tricky issue" of mandating under ObamaCare birth control and abortion coverage for Catholic institutions.

If ObamaCare also mandated eating pork once a week for its unique nutritional benefits -- don't laugh, this administration is capable of anything -- perhaps Rep. Berkley, an observant Jew, would better understand what the president asked Catholics to do.

Richard Laird

Las Vegas

Crackdown

To the editor:

I applaud Las Vegas police for setting up stings to catch people who are talking on cellphones while driving, but such tactics must continue. I still see a lot of people on phones while behind the wheel.

Also, I have seen a lot of people punching addresses into their GPS systems while driving. This is just as bad as talking on a phone while driving.

Metro, please keep up the good work and continue to crack down. It will help save lives.

Henry W. Hertel

Las Vegas