Be careful what you wish for, protesters

To the editor:

As I observe the Occupy Wall Street movement throughout the United States, I am left with the feeling that the protesters do not know what side their bread is buttered on.

They wish to destroy the system that has added more to the general quality of life of mankind than any other in history. Our life spans have increased, health care is available to all, housing is plentiful, there are no food shortages and peace and tranquility abound throughout the nation.

All these protesters want is chaos. I support their right to demonstrate but reject their hatred of our system. The grass is not greener on the other side.

Bob Wong

Las Vegas

Let them fail

To the editor:

I do not agree with everything that the Occupy Wall Street protesters stand for. I concur, though, that we must purge the corporate crooks and dishonest politicians who steal from the taxpayers to support bad companies and their CEOs.

The concept of the government bailing out failing corporations makes no sense to me. Proponents of the bailouts contend that if they hadn't been done, it would have triggered a global financial meltdown. But after the bankruptcy of Lehman Bros., the world is still standing. Bad companies should be allowed to fail and perish.

The recent events concerning Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are disconcerting. The government might provide another bailout after already giving billions of dollars to these institutions in 2008. The cost of the bailouts could reach $220 billion by 2014.

On top of the additional bailout that they are seeking, their executives received tens of millions of dollars in salary and bonuses in 2009 and 2010. The people who run failing companies should not be rewarded with taxpayer money.

Alfonso Tiu

Henderson