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LETTERS: Newspapers are supposed to be watchdogs

To the editor:

Apparently, Richard Strickland is totally unaware of the purpose of the media (“R-J has duty to support Obamacare,” Monday letters). The framers of the U.S. Constitution made freedom of speech and the press part of the First Amendment so the media could be the watchdog over local, state and federal agencies. In this regard, the Review-Journal should be applauded for bringing out the fact that the Affordable Care Act is a bad law, and one that the majority of people did not want to begin with. At least the Republicans listened to their constituents and voted against its passage.

If it weren’t for newspapers like the Review-Journal exposing Obamacare, we the people would continue to be in the dark as to what a total piece of garbage this law is. Further, it is not the job of the federal government to take over health insurance. This was a product developed and provided by private industry. Before the advent of Blue Cross/Blue Shield and other companies such as Prudential offering health insurance, people requiring a doctor’s care and hospitalization who were unable to afford it could avail themselves to numerous hospitals, normally run by religious orders of women, uninterested in profits, or local county hospitals. Consequently, they gave people care no matter their ability or inability to pay.

Where is Mr. Strickland’s outrage against the incredible boondoggle with the computer system, which was supposed to be specifically designed to accommodate people looking for health insurance? How many millions of taxpayer dollars went down the drain over that little mishap? Once again, it was our local newspaper that brought it to our attention. The Review-Journal did its job, and did it admirably.

BARBARA MAZUR

LAS VEGAS

Keystone: Pipe dream?

To the editor:

Your Feb. 7 editorial, “Pipeline dream: President has no good reason to reject Keystone,” is its own pipe dream and nightmare. The “climate change and environmental alarmists” you cite are simply trying to conserve what remains of a livable nation and planet.

We are in the midst of major climate and weather anomalies — the new “normal” — and you advocate making it easier to extract, transport and deliver some of the dirtiest fuels on the planet.

What happened to right and wrong, to good and bad, to values and even morals? Why accelerate the destruction of the planet?

Approving the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada would be another action — another symbol — saying we can continue to trash the place. This planet is finite: There’s no way to take out the garbage, no way to scrub the greenhouse gases. Help us take care of it by advocating a sustainable economy.

JOE ANDRADE

SALT LAKE CITY

Elderly deserve welcome

To the editor:

How dare Daniel Boucher aim to establish a peaceful, tranquil, residential environment for a few elderly people suffering from Alzheimer’s? How dare anyone invade the community of a few snobs who are more worried about declining property values (are you kidding about additional traffic and light pollution?) than sharing their tranquility with the likes of the aging.

Rather, Scott Ramer (“Alzheimer’s facility needs proper location,” Tuesday letters) should welcome this beautiful facility that will blend in quite well with the rest of the community. Maybe one day he could qualify to reside there while in close proximity to his caretaker and future neighbors.

Mr. Boucher’s Alzheimer’s home is hardly a facility that should qualify as a commercial downtown residence. More appropriately, it should be another home in the community. Shame on the Henderson City Council if its members insist on rejecting a peaceful home environment for the elderly.

GEORGE SEMINARA

LAS VEGAS

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