Drug dealer worked hard to support family?

To the editor:

Although it may be unfortunate that Luis Solano passed away while in custody at the county jail (“Answers scarce in inmate death,” March 15), consider what was said by members of Mr. Solano’s family. They mention that the father of his children will not be there to walk them down the aisle when they marry, or to see his first grandchild. They looked at him as a father figure.

Really? Why aren’t the family members concerned about the many people to whom Mr. Solano sold cocaine, supplying very addictive drugs that do nothing more than ruin people’s lives? The family says Mr. Solano was a hard worker supporting his family. You mean his selling illegal drugs and gambling are things to be proud of?

And how about all the taxes he never paid, doing his illegal profession for years? He hasn’t worked a legal job for years, according to the article. Some $55,000 was seized at his apartment, all of which were drug funds.

It appears that Luis Solano is not the only victim here — if in fact he is a victim.

KEN WINTERS

LAS VEGAS

Tax the rich

To the editor:

Salvatore Lamagra’s Sunday letter “The ‘10 Cannots’” is wrong on so many levels one doesn’t know where to begin.

His “10 Cannots” begin with “You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.” That is exactly what the banks and big business and Wall Street have done. Banks pay so little interest that you are better off putting your money into your mattress than into a savings account. Big business and Wall Street have conspired among themselves to force workers to put their money into 401(k)s and IRAs, because there are no more pension plans, which is really gambling with your money.

His next “Cannots” are worded three different ways, but they all say the same thing: small people, weak people and working people are trying to destroy the big, strong and rich people, which is ridiculous. The middle class just wants the millionaires to pay more taxes as long as there are children going to bed hungry in this country.

“You cannot spend more than your income.” People wouldn’t spend more than they make if health care and college for their children were more affordable, and if they were paid a living wage to begin with.

“You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.” But that is what Mitt Romney did by calling the 47 percent takers who consider themselves entitled.

“You cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence.” You don’t build character and courage by taking away people’s hope and not giving them a chance to get out of poverty.

“You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.” If the rich would use their money to create jobs instead of putting it into non-taxable, secret overseas accounts, people would do for themselves gladly.

The Rev. William J.H. Boetcker, who formulated these un-Christian “Cannots,” had not studied the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose entire credo was support of the poor and condemnation of the rich. Mr. Lamagra says his suggestions are “bombastic.” They are also idiotic. It is depressing that a man this intelligent and a teacher should be so shortsighted. He reminds me of a fifth-grade teacher I had in the South who tried to tell us the Civil War was not about slavery but about economics. She struck me as a shame-faced woman trying to whitewash the immorality of the South’s horrendous institution.

The only people who are trying to destroy this country are the tea party Republicans who are using voter suppression, gerrymandering and just plain lies to subvert the principles on which this country was founded, which was to provide opportunities for all and not just the privileged few.

Mr. Lamagra makes a big issue of his lifetime of struggle for small pay, which makes one wonder if he is making use of Social Security and Medicare like the rest of us. These are programs fought for and passed by Democrats, who he now calls destroyers of this country.

NADIA ROMEO

LAS VEGAS

ER appointments

To the editor:

I read the full-page advertisement in Sunday’s newspaper about making an appointment to go to the emergency room or checking for the “wait time.” If you can do these things, it’s not an emergency.

Does this mean if someone comes in with a heart attack they would have to wait for the person with an appointment? If you do not have an emergency, go to urgent care. I don’t understand what Valley Health System is thinking.

It also has a billboard on the freeway with the text message number to get wait time or make an appointment. Are they encouraging people to text and drive? While the ambulance is driving you after the accident you caused, you can text for your waiting time.

VIRGINIA McCALLISTER

HENDERSON

Effluent

To the editor:

Reading the articles on the Sloan Channel, I have a couple of observations, along with some serious questions. I have lived in several areas of this country, all with municipal water treatment plants. Nine out of 10 claimed the finished, treated product exceeded EPA and local standards and was fit for human consumption. During the few times I was near enough to view these waters, there were no swarms of insects, and no foul odor was present.

What is North Las Vegas, with its new multimillion-dollar plant, doing that it cannot meet these obligations? Will Mayor Shari Buck, while claiming the water is good, dip a glass in front of the press and drink it? I think not.

THOMAS CAMERON

LAS VEGAS

Trash media

To the editor:

I realize we’re free to read or not read the contents of the newspaper, but I must express my disappointment once again regarding the destruction of the Taste section and the addition of the Doug Elfman column on Page 3A.

I looked forward to the entertaining and informative columnists in the food section each Wednesday. Mr. Elfman’s column, on the other hand, has absolutely no redeeming value and is full of nothingness.

I’m one of the ones who prefers a hard copy of the newspaper, not the sex-crazed kids of today. Trash media is for those who are looking for trouble and should be limited to the handouts on the Strip, not sent to our homes.

MARY CARTER

LAS VEGAS

Measurement of energy

To the editor:

What’s this cutting-calories-from-food business? I want all the calories I can get. If I wanted less, I would buy less food and save the money.

Maybe we ought to control ourselves and stop worrying about other people.

DARREL FOWLER

LAS VEGAS