How long can we party like it’s 1999?

To the editor:

There is a line in a song that goes something like this: "The road goes on forever, and the party never ends." I think that pretty well describes the Washington crowd.

The deficit rises to $1.42 trillion. That's not pocket change, ladies and gentlemen. The fools from both the Democrat and Republican parties are writing checks that our children and grandchildren will spend the rest of their lives trying to repay.

Millions upon millions of dollars will be "contributed" to politicians for their re-elections. Why do these people get so much money for doing such an awful job? Why have those in the political class made the rules so hard for the average person to run for office?

I believe the answer is simple: They never want the party to end.

But mark my words, it will -- and when it does, it won't be pretty.

BRUCE FEHER

LAS VEGAS

Real tragedy

To the editor:

While it is unfortunate that two Las Vegas police officers have died behind the wheel of their cruisers in the past six months, to call either unfortunate accident a "tragedy" is not correct.

The real tragedy is that the streets of our fine city are being made more dangerous by the very men and women charged with keeping them safe. While it is unfortunate that these two young men died, we should be celebrating the fact that the dangerous, negligent behavior exhibited by two of the city's police officers killed nobody but the offender.

Until we get a rein on members of our police force -- and there are obvious indications that they believe they are entitled to do whatever they like -- we cannot reasonably expect any differences in their actions. And if nothing changes, we will experience a real tragedy: the untimely death of an innocent bystander at the hands of a Metro officer in his cruiser.

If the police are here to protect and serve, who will protect us from them?

Will Gibson

HENDERSON

Not a hero

To the editor:

Many thanks to Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith for his courageous criticism of Las Vegas police, and his suggestions to correct, or at least improve, police driving habits ("Police should take their own advice: Speed kills, seat belts save lives," Wednesday).

If the current accident rate involving police cars continues, we too will begin to fear the sight of a patrol car -- as much of the world already does.

No one should be allowed to enforce laws that they do not obey. Mr. Smith is right: We need to stop making heroes of reckless drivers.

Lee Fulton

HENDERSON

'Socialism lite'

To the editor:

Ultra-rich casino chief Steve Wynn cries that Barack Obama's economic agenda is "socialism lite" (Tuesday Review-Journal).

Mr. Wynn practices the same policy by robbing the tips from the dealers to pay his supervisors instead of paying them himself. What a hypocrite.

Maria Gutierrez

LAS VEGAS

War time

To the editor:

After 9/11, the Bush administration acted rapidly to invade Afghanistan. The objectives were to drive the Taliban from control of the government and to dismantle and destroy al-Qaida. The Bush efforts were initially successful. Both the Taliban and al-Qaida were driven from Afghanistan and sought refuge in the remote tribal regions of Pakistan. From this location, the Taliban revived and al-Qaida continued to flourish.

Under the Bush administration, the emphasis was on military defeat of the enemy. An important corollary objective was the formation of a new democratically elected government in Afghanistan. But the military objective came first.

Now, eight years later, Afghanistan is again threatened by a highly resurgent Taliban force that is assuming control over major parts of Afghanistan.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has requested an additional 40,000 troops to bolster his forces, but a stalling and bogged down Obama administration has failed to act on this request. This failure threatens the Afghanistan war effort.

The administration suffers from a serious bureaucratic paralysis while it wrestles with its priorities. The Obama administration has taken its eye off the ball, stressing that the Karzai government address its corruption before more troops are sent. A runoff election is now scheduled for Nov. 7.

In the meantime, the Taliban gains more strength, American casualties increase, and there is a strong possibility that the Obama administration has chosen a road that will lead to defeat in Afghanistan.

Bob Jack

NORTH LAS VEGAS