A shameful defense of capitalism
To the editor:
Disgust was my first reaction to professor Walter E. Williams' column in Wednesday's Review-Journal ("If you're poor, where would you like to live?"). Dismay was my second reaction.
How can an economics professor say that "the typical 'poor' American has cable or satellite TV, two color TVs and a DVD player or VCR. He has air-conditioning, a car, a microwave, a stove and a clothes washer and dryer, and whether he has health insurance or not, he is able to obtain medical care when needed."
I wish that Mr. Williams had been more specific than "government surveys" when citing his source for this information. If what the professor says is true, then why am I consistently reading about children going to school without breakfast?
The column is a shameful defense of capitalism. I question the Review-Journal's concern (or lack of) for the accuracy and/or veracity of the articles that are selected for publication.
David L. Sullivan
LAS VEGAS
No knowledge?
To the editor:
President Barack Obama claimed on David Letterman's show this week to have little knowledge of ACORN's funding. That proves Rep. Joe Wilson was correct. Mr. Obama should apologize to all of us. Good luck with that.
HANS BOHN
LAS VEGAS
Fighting blight
To the editor:
Your Sept. 16 editorial "Neighborhood services?" casts an unfair shadow over the city department in the way it portrays that extremely important part of government. It is the folks in Neighborhood Services who work every day to improve unsightly conditions in our neighborhoods and try to prevent blighted conditions that bring down property values.
If an owner does not safely secure his property and leaves it dangerously accessible to vagrants and vandalism, the city has no recourse but to clean and secure it and lien the property to recover the costs. That process requires the use of taxpayer dollars that need to be returned to the city coffers. It would be against state statute to ignore those costs and fail to recover them through the lien process.
If a person is used to taking over properties for renovation, he is certainly aware of the liens that have been placed. The city would be derelict in its duty if it did not recover labor costs in securing a safe neighborhood environment. The additional fees that are added for a property owner's failure to comply could be subject to argument and can be waived, unless ordered by the court. But cleanup fees cannot be ignored.
The current methods of cleanup recovery have been in existence at least 25 years. They are not new and they have been effective. There have been hundreds of properties slapped with cleanup liens, and those who have purchased them have recognized the need for "eyesore" preventive expenses -- and paid them.
And as for comment on carport and porch inspections, one might check on the number of people who have been killed and injured because of poor construction and a lack of permits on such structures.
Sam Bowler
LAS VEGAS
THE WRITER IS THE FORMER MANAGER OF WHAT IS NOW THE CITY DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.
Do something
To the editor:
In reference to Trudy Rubin's Wednesday column, "Obama can't delay decision on Afghanistan":
While President Barack Obama plays politics on the war, trying to earn political points and wringing his hands on whether to be a "hawk" or a "dove," our brave fighting forces are becoming sitting ducks.
Make up your mind, Mr. President. Are you going to stand up and fight like a man, or are you going to tuck your tail between your legs and tell members of our military that their efforts were all in vain?
DAVID STOKLEY
LAS VEGAS
Name game
To the editor:
I have been noticing for a long time now that certain Republicans -- the bombastic types such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Rep. John Boehner, Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Review-Journal editorial page, etc. -- are always referring to the Democratic Party as the Democrat Party. I believe there are two main reasons for this.
First, a lack of respect for the other major political party in this country and, second, a fear of using the correct name of the party because it makes us appear ... well, democratic.
You can't change the name of my party because you don't like us.
Look it up in that big book called the dictionary.
The Review-Journal did this in the Sept. 16 editorial headlined "Working man." As usual, this group of fools thinks that if you say something over and over again, it will become fact.
We are the Democratic Party, whether you like it or not. Republicans had better watch out or their party might be renamed the Republic Party.
SANDRA BAKER
LAS VEGAS
