In defense of airport traffic enforcement
To the editor:
I take exception to the Road Warrior's opinion on the attitude of the officers moving traffic at the passenger pickup at the airport (Sunday Review-Journal). I've had the opportunity to fly in and out of McCarran frequently over several years. Every time I arrived I was picked up at the passenger pickup area, so I had a good understanding of how the officers behaved and the car movement through the area.
I always made a point to have enough time between flight arrival and when I said I was ready to be at the pickup location.
What the pickup location needs to work is a moving car and a stationary passenger waiting to be picked up. What I saw predominantly was a stationary car waiting for a moving person lost somewhere in the bowels of the airport. Many times it was up to the officer working the area to get these cars moving so a waiting person (like me) could get picked up.
I cannot say how many times my ride could not even get close to the curb to allow me a safe pickup because of the many cars idling in the area waiting for a passenger. In fact, I thought the officers were many times too polite to these "considerate" locals who were too cheap to pay a couple of dollars to park, yet were willing to burn five bucks of gas to idle their cars and attempt to choke those who were patiently waiting.
We local residents also need to be good ambassadors to the city and exhibit considerate behavior when using a process that is a darn good idea. The officers have a tough enough job moving the polite drivers, yet still have to deal with the obnoxious, arrogant people I saw many times.
I would not have been so forgiving.
John Steve
Las Vegas
No more Vegas
To the editor:
I watched last year's Senate election with great dismay when Nevada and Las Vegas re-elected Harry Reid. My disappointment was so great that I have given up on Las Vegas. Instead of spending about $4,000 to $6,000 twice a year in Las Vegas, I now go to Biloxi.
True, Biloxi is not as exciting as Las Vegas, but they have great gaming, food and people -- and they will never vote for a Harry Reid look-alike.
I am not the only person who has given up Las Vegas in favor of Biloxi, as is evidenced by the droves of newcomers to Biloxi.
Now that unemployment is 14 percent, the Las Vegas unions should consider what they did to their union brothers and share their income with them.
Ronald Mancini
Bushnell, Fla.
Obama speech
To the editor:
President Obama has declared that he finally has a plan to fix the economy, and that he will announce this plan to the public in September. I have prepared the following speech for him:
"My fellow Americans, we all know that we face a serious financial problem. It has affected our relations with our allies abroad, as well as our job market here at home. It is imperative that we face this serious problem now and take immediate action to repair our financial standing and regain our status as a leading nation.
"I, along with my financial advisers, have spent long hours attempting to develop a plan that will work for all Americans. It is our hope that, with a minimum of sacrifice for all Americans, we can reach our goal and completely erase our debt and balance our budget.
"With this in mind, and with the knowledge that in times of need, Americans are willing to tighten their belts a bit, the following steps to achieve our goals will go into effect immediately.
"All Social Security benefits, as well as Medicare and Medicaid, will be reduced by 1 percent.
"Americans earning in excess of $1 million per year will no longer receive Social Security benefits.
"All patents for newly approved medications will not exceed five years in length.
"All companies outsourcing jobs will be assessed an additional income tax of 5 percent on corporate profits.
"We will continue to close tax loopholes and prosecute fraud.
"At such time as our public debt is eliminated, a review will be made and adjustments will be made as needed.
"I am confident that with these adjustments we can eliminate our debt and regain our financial status and our prestige in the world.
"Thank you and God bless America."
JOHN MAYNARD
LAS VEGAS
Turn the page
To the editor:
While reading your article on the end of the congressional page program (Aug. 15 Review-Journal), I noticed only two pages were interviewed.
I feel the reflection of Las Vegans wasn't adequately measured because there are more than just two pages in Las Vegas.
The program for me was the best experience of my life and what kicked in my desire to pursue politics in college and beyond. My session was the summer 2006 session, in which I realized things about the future leadership of the American government and how bright and involving politics can be.
The article printed didn't give that impression, but rather implied that ending the program was a good thing. But it's a historical tradition and a positive way to educate the younger generations.
Katie Bowen
Boulder City
