Bitter? Try the sweetness of hope

To the editor:

After reading your editorial page Wednesday morning, I have to ask: "Not bitter, are you?"

I would ask you to remember your pleas to readers to get behind President Bush after the 2000 election and your almost rabid insistence that we follow President Bush after 9/11. We now find ourselves fighting two wars and in the midst of financial crises. Instead of being honorable and conscientious, you instead used your first opportunity after Election Day to attack President-elect Barack Obama. That's childish.

I understand the pain of the Republican Party, but I sympathize with the pain of conservatives. From my readings of your newspaper, I would think that you are more Republicans than conservatives. Conservatives lost control of the party several years ago, when the Christians took it over to share power with the Republicants and the Republihates. True conservatives were pushed out of the party for only caring about small government and people's freedoms.

I would hope that the conservatives rebuild their party and cast out the ignorant and the spreaders of hate. Of course, if this is to happen, I fear that the members of the editorial board will be without a home. I actually don't fear, but rather hope for it.

Or you could take the high road. You could help to recreate your party. Reintroduce the original ideas of the Republicans and remove the rhetoric of hate and intolerance. Stand up and proudly say that you want to work together to create a more perfect union. Remember, it was the founder of your party who wisely said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." Keep those words near to comfort your heart when the fear and the hatred begin to take over.

I'm not asking you to support the new president (as you begged us to do with George W. Bush), but merely to give him a chance. There is absolutely no way he can do worse then the past eight years. We will need to pull together like we have not since World War II. Stop being bitter and enjoy the sweetness of hope.

Doc Bradley

LAS VEGAS

Why copy Europe?

To the editor:

The most important issue following this year's election is what direction we want this country to go. Simply put: toward equality or liberty. The "spread the wealth" philosophy proposed by President-elect Barack Obama will necessarily result in reduced liberty for all citizens. Sen. Obama is not presently suggesting a socialistic form of government, but rather an European style of social capitalism.

However, by all measures, this form of government in Europe has resulted in much lower economic growth and opportunity for its citizens than that achieved here in the United States. Growth in gross domestic product is less than that of the United States. Unemployment (except for Denmark) has been consistently higher, national debt as a percentage of GDP (except for Russia) is higher there, growth in yearly productivity is less, and the recent declines in their stock markets are greater. America has led the world with technological innovations that have far exceeded those achieved in Europe.

We need to decide if having half of the taxpayers not paying taxes and receiving universal health insurance is what we want at the expense of greatly reduced economic opportunities for all citizens. With the government providing our every social need, what is the motivation for a child to get an education and be a productive member of society?

Admittedly, these are difficult times, but do we really want to throw out the baby with the bath water and end up with a stifled European-style economy? We need to realize that we will be giving up the American dream if we vote to change to social capitalism.

Henry Schmid

LAS VEGAS

Radical plans

To the editor:

Well, the people have spoken, the poor naive dupes. They have elected a man who is riding into the White House on a wave of inspirational hot air, with no legislative accomplishments to his credit during his term in the Senate.

The next sound you hear will be the howls of shock and buyer's remorse from the very glassy-eyed Barack Obama faithful who voted our new "rock star" president into office. That's when they'll discover, too late, the disturbing plans that he and his activist wife have for our country.

It is clear by now that our next first lady, Michelle Obama, is no silent, smiling wallflower like Pat Nixon. You're going to get an earful of radical notions and proposals from this gal during the next four years.

You wanted change, folks? You're going to get it.

BRUCE BROWN

LAS VEGAS