Different year, same old energy woes

To the editor:

I remember price controls, gas lines and oil at a record high followed by a scolding from the media and politicians to the price-gouging oil companies and foreign interests controlling the oil. Thirty-five years have come and gone, and it again it seems as if the stage is set for another congressional act, similar to the ones from 1973, 1976 and 1983, with about the same long-term benefit: nothing!

The market is solving our oil dependence problem independent of our politicians and media. General Motors announced it would shutter four SUV and truck plants while adding a third shift to the compact and mid-size car plants in Ohio. GM also plans to produce an electric car in 2010, the Volt. Mass transit ridership is at a 50-year high.

You want energy independence? Raise the price of gasoline. Announce a gasoline tax increase of $2 per gallon in 50-cent increments, every six months, to be used to complete road construction and build mass transit systems in every city. Provide a refund of mass transit costs at the end of the year to those who use the system. Should oil prices decrease, keep the tax and use the proceeds to build the alternative transit systems that will allow us to become energy independent.

Our current system creates more of the same, just a different year. Do not count on the "New Energy Program" of 2008.

Harry H. Ray

NORTH LAS VEGAS

Use of force

To the editor:

When police officers kill a person who is threatening them with a weapon, the size of the officer is never allowed to be an issue. Instead, the officer is permitted to use whatever force is necessary, including deadly force, to prevent injury to anybody being attacked. I agree with that policy.

When a private citizen, who is not paid or trained to handle violent situations, is attacked, he should be given the same consideration. If Walter Laak was prosecuted because the district attorney's office thought he was big enough to defend himself from a knife-wielding assailant without shooting, then the same standard should be used with law enforcement personnel when a coroner's inquest is conducted ("War vet acquitted in slaying," Saturday Review-Journal).

I hope this case wasn't prosecuted because the district attorney's office thought that Mr. Laak should have put himself in jeopardy of being stabbed instead of shooting his assailant. If that was the case, then each police department's use-of-force rules need to be re-examined.

Ron Gearhart

LAS VEGAS

No notice

To the editor:

Your Sunday editorial, "Term limited? Hold on a minute," was critical of the delay in getting the state constitution's term limit amendment to the Nevada Supreme Court and the uncertainty which has resulted.

The blame for this mess is with the attorney general and secretary of state for remaining silent until the last days of candidate filing. This despite knowing that Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury and the other incumbents were already campaigning based on long-standing legal opinions that no one had ever questioned. Many additional candidates might have filed for office if these incumbents had been properly informed they could not seek re-election this year.

The only fair solution is for the court to rule that term limits will not apply until the next election, when all will have full advance notice.

Melodee Wilcox

HENDERSON

Act of desperation

To the editor:

I can only hope that Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury wins his bid to seek re-election so that he can serve the people of Clark County for an additional four years ("Term limits challenge filed," Saturday Review-Journal).

The public should be proud that they have a county commissioner who has not been implicated in any wrongdoing and is not in prison. He has been a beacon of positive light for Clark County and has served the taxpayers well.

In addition, it is sad when a challenger realizes that he is so weak that he must use to the courts to defeat an incumbent. Regent Steve Sisolak would be no match for Mr. Woodbury. Mr. Sisolak is so desperate that he has filed his own personal challenge with the Nevada Supreme Court, in addition to the challenge filed by Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto.

The voters will keep Mr. Woodbury in office because of his outstanding service, honesty and ability to make Clark County government the best it can be.

The taxpayers of Clark County look forward to the Supreme Court backing Mr. Woodbury. If not, Clark County will suffer the loss of an outstanding commissioner.

Thomas B. Krasky

LAS VEGAS