Harry Reid is the one who stinks
To the editor:
On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said, "My staff has always said, 'Don't say this,' but I'm going to say it again because it's so descriptive, because it's true ... In the summertime, because of the high humidity and how hot it gets here, you could literally smell the tourists coming into the Capitol. And that may be descriptive, but it's true."
Sen. Reid, as a visitor to the Senate and a history buff, I am insulted by your remarks. They clearly show you are not worthy of your position. Under your leadership, the Senate has been a farce, and when I am lucky enough to take my children on a tour of the Capitol someday, I will tell them the story of the ignorant Democratic leader who was happy that American taxpayers touring the Capitol finally could be walled off from senators by a new Visitor Center.
So much for government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Maybe if Sen. Reid was capable of doing any real work he might smell a little. It would be good for him.
You, Sen. Reid, are the one who stinks.
David Fredrick
LITTLETON, COLO.
The smell of freedom
To the editor:
I am sickened that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid views the American tourist, who proudly brings his family to Washington, D.C., and makes the effort to stand in countless lines and security checkpoints just to get a glimpse of freedom, should be so offensive to the very individuals who are in the position to maintain our liberty (Wednesday Review-Journal).
I also wonder if this is how he feels about the tourists who make Las Vegas their destination?
Arlen Walters
LAS VEGAS
Lying hypocrites
To the editor:
The old saying of "the fox guarding the hen house" is so true with our Congress. How can House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Barney Frank, Sen. Chris Dodd and the rest of these lying lawmakers look the American people in the face and chastise the CEOs of the Big Three automakers?
If you want to place blame for the failure of these companies, look no further than the union contracts. United Auto Workers members have priced themselves right out of the industry. Add to that the tax rate that the government puts on these corporations, which is among the highest in the world; then the question is answered.
I agree that these companies do not need one corporate jet, much less nine. But how can Ms. Pelosi tell these executives to fly commercial when she has a 757 to travel back and forth to California at taxpayers' expense?
How can Rep. Frank, Sen. Dodd and Sen. Chuck Schumer tell them how to handle their financial responsibilities when they are on record telling lies about how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were not in need of oversight back in 2002, 2003 and 2005?
Here's my suggestion: Let the Big Three go through what the airline industry did: bankruptcy. That way they can realign their debts, drop their pension fund responsibilities and get their labor costs back in line. Then they could drop their cost to be competitive with the foreign car dealers. Along these lines, the CEOs have to drop their salaries and platinum parachutes. If they want to get a bonus at the end of the year, it had better be because the company made money.
If the government wants to help, let lawmakers drop the tax rate it imposes. That just might keep a few jobs here in the good old USA.
Travis Whitley
LAS VEGAS
Union first, jobs second
To the editor:
The average blue-collar worker for the Big Three automakers makes more than $70 an hour in wages and benefits, which costs the companies more than $145,000 per year, per employee.
What is the UAW doing to help its members? Rather than give to all of these politicians, the union should take some of its money and reinvest in the Big Three and save the jobs of the people it is paid to protect.
Once the Big Three go under, what good is the union?
Jim Fitzpatrick
LAS VEGAS
Invisible trickle
To the editor:
Martin Elge was partly correct in his Tuesday letter, "Trickle-down economics is dead." He stated that businesses create jobs, but he forgot one very important point: How do businesses get started in the first place?
It is like this: Some entrepreneur borrowed money from some "wealthy" guy and a business was created.
So listen up: the trickle-down effect has always been in existence, but take money from the "wealthy" and the trickle becomes almost invisible.
Wanda J. Tirimacco
LAS VEGAS
