Have compassion for ‘pre-existing’ conditions

To the editor:

In response to the Wednesday letter, "No incentive": The writer cites examples of someone trying to get car insurance after an accident or get homeowners insurance after a fire as akin to a sick person with a pre-existing condition trying to get health insurance. I would like to say there is a big difference.

If a person such as my husband is born with a form of spina bifida and then grows up and gets a job when he is 18, should no health insurance company offer him coverage because he has a pre-existing condition?

How about if I have diabetes and my company goes out of business? Should my new employer not offer me health insurance because I too have a pre-existing illness?

Should all the children born with juvenile arthritis, diabetes, etc., not be able to obtain health insurance once they reach the age to work and support themselves?

Is a certain population in our fine country becoming this inhumane?

Marlene Dallatore

LAS VEGAS

Safety issue

To the editor:

I am a former Chicago police officer who is newly retired and recently moved to the Las Vegas area.

I read Vin Suprynowicz's Sunday column and was highly offended -- as I'm sure were many other police officers.

I am pretty sure that neither Charlie Mitchener nor Mr. Suprynowicz has any idea the peril police officers face when responding to any calls involving an "in progress" or "just occurred" incident. In the case of the event regarding Mr. Mitchener's office being burglarized, the responding officer did not know what she was rolling in on or who the victim and/or offenders were at that point. The officer had every right to secure Mr. Mitchener's weapon -- and Mr. Mitchener for that matter -- until she was able to assess the situation and figure out who the participants were on the scene.

It was a matter of safety for the public and for the officer, especially after the unfortunate and violent deaths law enforcement officers have suffered in recent weeks in the area.

Both of the gentlemen also seem to overlook one very important factor -- the law enforcement officer has been trained to handle these incidents and is expected to take control of the situation upon arrival, not be bullied by citizens whose egos get in the way of common sense and police protocol.

Then Mr. Suprynowicz refers to police officers as "arrogant, uniformed employees of ours" who will discover our "back-up is never quite close enough"? It sounds as if Mr. Suprynowicz is treating the police as the enemy himself and making a not-so-veiled threat to police officers.

It has always been my belief and training that citizens and police officers should work together to help each other and the community, not for the police to be degraded like whipping boys because Mr. Suprynowicz and Mr. Mitchener feel they have been embarrassed by a police officer who, male or female, just wants to go home safely after her shift is over.

KAREN LEADER

HENDERSON

Good guy

To the editor:

I have known Harry Reid for nearly 40 years, dating back to his service as lieutenant governor.

Since then, I have followed his career in Nevada and Washington. He is a man of impeccable integrity, sincere compassion, generous instinct and remarkable effectiveness.

While I now live in Ohio, I think the whole United States needs his talents, and I hope Nevadans will return him to the Senate.

Jim HAVEL

WORTHINGTON, OHIO

Say what?

To the editor:

For my edification, I would appreciate Harry Reid going on local television to give a demonstration of what he meant by "Negro dialect." Better yet, do it in a classroom in front of high school students. This would be very educational.

James Cooper

LAS VEGAS

Cynical comments

To the editor:

Even more offensive than Sen. Harry Reid's recent racial "anachronisms" is the complete cynicism lurking just behind them. The typical left-wing belief, considered axiomatic, that the electorate is not able to think for itself and therefore must be ruled from above, is behind Sen. Reid's remarks. This hidden contempt for the voters is why style and skin color and "dialect" and dancing were so important to Democrats in the last election while substance was mostly irrelevant.

I would bet that Sen. Reid and other leftists were ecstatic that Sen. John McCain's war injury was always on display. Shamefully, Democratic operatives loudly ridiculed that very injury as well as the advanced age of Sen. McCain as if he were unfit for the presidency as a consequence.

Harry Reid shames us all.

JIM PAPPAS

LAS VEGAS