Less government could’ve saved Detroit

To the editor:

It’s very difficult to read of Detroit’s economic demise, leaving the people of that city with little to cheer about, other than a fine baseball team. And it’s been less than a year since Barack Obama’s reelection campaign proclaimed the president as savior of the automotive industry. Wouldn’t it stand to reason that if the bailouts were as successful as advertised, things would be rosier in Motown?

Detroit and the surrounding areas are largely dependent on the auto industry, but shortly after the government takeover of General Motors, CEO Daniel Akerson made it known that the greatest expansion of his company would be in China, a course he appears to be steering. Since the bailout was mostly in the form of stock purchase, the only hope for taxpayers to retrieve the investment is if GM common shares increase dramatically in value. Those shares now appear as shareholders equity on the balance sheet, but still have provided no return on the taxpayers’ involuntary investment.

Related industries are also affected. For example, a Korean company, LG Chem, was given a new plant and $150 million in subsidy funding to operate a lithium ion operation in Holland, Mich., to produce batteries for electric cars, but the company has yet to move production from the Far East. After more than three years, LG finally agreed to open the Holland plant by the end of summer, hiring thousands. But don’t hold your breath.

The unemployment situation remains high, despite the monthly figures released by the Department of Labor. This “advertised” unemployment rate is not an accurate measure of the job market; it simply drops off those out of work for extended periods, reducing the size of the work force pool, while adding any new jobs, regardless of whether those positions are part-time and/or temporary, low-paying jobs with limited income. A more realistic measure of the employment situation is the labor participation rate, which takes into account employment as a percentage of all Americans of working age and good health who desire work. It’s currently at its lowest point since 1979.

Is it not time for the Obama administration to try to create a healthier business environment within our borders, by reducing demands on those who sign the paychecks? During his second term, President Clinton proved that lowering the corporate tax rate resulted in increased revenue for the government, not only through increased production, but more employees with more income. We need less government in business to provide more support for government

ROBERT LATCHFORD

HENDERSON

Rotten Onion letters

To the editor:

If I’m foaming at the mouth, it’s not due to rabies. It’s just my reaction to the barrage of letters from people who, without citing any credentials or first-hand knowledge of Onion the dog, feel qualified and compelled to make grand pronouncements on Onion’s temperament and by extension his fate. It’s as if they don’t want to know what they’re talking about.

But here’s what I believe. First, the adults in charge, who were obligated to provide a safe environment for the child and the dog, failed and deserve most of the blame either way. If the dog were docile and submissive, it would speak more to his innocence than theirs, and if not, it speaks more to their guilt than his.

Secondly, an overreaching and officious bureaucrat or policy in Henderson forced the family members to make the decision to give up Onion at the worst possible time, when they were least capable of making one they could be at peace with. That level of ineptness, arrogance and insensitivity is almost unimaginable, but I predict the next time a tragedy such as this occurs, there will be no sign of a lesson learned.

If a qualified, responsible organization such as the Lexus Group wants to take the dog and provide a better outcome for him, nobody should stand in the way. I would agree that it’s all been a big waste of time and money, but serving to prolong the agony of the dog makes it worse.

LONNY ZAROWITZ

LAS VEGAS

Zimmerman no stalker

To the editor:

Let’s set the record straight: George Zimmerman was not stalking Trayvon Martin. He was checking out a stranger in the neighborhood, which was Mr. Zimmerman’s job as security watch. Several witnesses testified, and even an FBI probe showed, that Mr. Zimmerman is no racist.

The protestors, however, have their minds made up. Mr. Zimmerman is white and therefore a racist who was stalking a black man. They repeat it ad nauseam. Talk about stereotypes.

They have profiled Mr. Zimmerman and are now stalking him, with their demands that he be charged with civil rights violations.

So who is being racist now?

GLEN B. DUNNING

LAS VEGAS