Congress considering killing economy
To the editor:
Congress is currently looking at legislation to try to control global warming. Whether or not you believe mankind is heavily contributing to global warming (I do not believe so), you should know the tremendous cost of trying to mitigate it.
Sens. Joe Lieberman and John Warner have proposed a "cap-and-trade" scheme that is really an enormous tax plan in disguise. It is sugar-coated so U.S. voters will accept it, because the cap-and-trade cost would be paid by corporations. But the tax would be passed on to consumers.
The cap-and-trade idea would give quota allowances to producers of carbon dioxide covering just about all economic activity. If the CO? producers emit less gas than their allowances, they could sell their remaining quota to other companies. The federal and state governments would issue the CO2 quotas, and some would be auctioned by the government. This could be a huge revenue grab by government.
The jury is still out as to whether the activities of mankind are contributing to global warming. But what is sure is that a cap-and-trade system will increase all costs of economic activity. Most of Europe has failed to meet the cap-and-trade goals they established because of the costs involved.
The EPA has estimated that cap-and-trade system in the United States would cut our GDP by up to 3.8 percent by the year 2030. In the meantime, China and India will not be involved in any CO2 reductions, so we will be at great competitive disadvantage.
A cap-and-trade plan is a bad idea for the United States, and we should so advise our congressional representatives.
Richard N. Fulton
HENDERSON
Stalling for dollars
To the editor:
I read Wednesday that attorneys for suspended District Judge Elizabeth Halverson have filed to withdraw from her case, thereby leaving her unrepresented for her scheduled June disciplinary hearing. She's now requesting a five-month delay in the hearing.
What hogwash. She's going to represent herself, but she needs five months to prepare? How convenient that would bring us to November -- and Election Day.
This woman needs to go before the Nevada Judicial Discipline Commission and get it over with. The people of this state continue to pay Judge Halverson's wages and benefit, and she can't afford to pay her attorneys? Poppycock. Judge Halverson knows exactly what she's going to use as a defense. Five more months (or five more minutes) isn't going to make a bit of difference.
Janet Alexander
PIOCHE
No pride, no excuse
To the editor:
Regarding your Wednesday article, "Halverson's lawyers ask to withdraw from case": Suspended District Judge Elizabeth Halverson says it's because she can't pay their fees. This is disgusting. We the public are still paying this judge while she is under suspension. Has she no pride? Obviously not.
There seems to be a pattern here. What was the excuse she used in the California real estate lawsuit against her? What was her excuse for waiting until action against her forced her to clean up her valley property?
Why is she still on the payroll? This is a disgrace to the judiciary, and it puts a black eye on Las Vegas.
She has the nerve to ask for a five-month delay in her disciplinary hearing. Why? So she can keep collecting her salary? Or so she can run again for office?
Where is the public outrage? She is bleeding us dry. Let's just hope justice is served quickly and decisively.
David Meyer
HENDERSON
The party of victimhood
To the editor:
In response to Wednesday's Review-Journal article, "Obama hears woes":
Over the past several elections, it has become the norm for the Democratic Party to seek out the "victims" in every locale its candidates visit and preach their message of hope -- and litany of solutions to groups of "victims" of the American system of injustice and unfairness.
Here is something to consider: This country was not built by "victims" or by government programs for victims. It was built by ordinary people who took advantage of opportunities when offered, used their God-given abilities and ambition to reach their goals and didn't wait for a politician to offer a list of promises they could never keep.
Just once I would like to hear about this great party of the ordinary people organizing a rally where "winners" are invited to share how they escaped being a "victim" and overcame difficulties that may actually inspire another person. In other words, the old and apparently forgotten American Dream. If they did that, they would be accused of being, heaven forbid, "conservative."
There are far more success stories in this country than failures, but the Democratic Party has built its entire platform on attracting victimhood and a failure-driven mentality. They could appeal to a broader electorate by appealing to the positive among us, rather than relying solely on the continuous strain and whine of victimhood.
Robert Brunner
HENDERSON
