Obama playing a compassionate captain

To the editor:

In response to Walter E. Williams' Thursday commentary, headlined "The president's economic nonsense," I rather doubt that when President Obama says "you're on your own," he is referring to either our agrarian history or the survival of the slide rule. I believe Mr. Obama is talking about what to do for our neighbors who are impacted by the changes "innovation" brings.

In a complicated economic society, what happens to our neighbors and our cities impacts all of us. Mr. Obama's comments suggest that a more esprit de corps is in order than a survival of the fittest, however we understand "survival of the fittest."

Having watched many neighbors sell off all their goods to keep their houses and lose their houses anyway, right after their jobs were lost through no fault of their own, I see that the perpetrators of those losses have not at all been held accountable. Too many people have had to pay for the mistakes of others over whom they have no control.

A compassionate society does not stand by waiting for victims to be punished more and call it "accountability." Nor does it call responding to that unfairness as "nonsense." A compassionate society, starting with the captain, tries to right the ship and/or save everyone he can on board.

Beverly Lenny

Las Vegas

Dog beater?

To the editor:

In response to Dan Olivier's Thursday letter, "No GOP fan":

I've been reading Mr. Olivier's letters to editor for many years. I've finally gotten to the point where I have to say something.

Mr. Olivier, please insert an occasional fact to support your position instead of relying solely upon adjectives. Your habit of name-calling and making sweeping generalizations when making a point causes me and probably others to dismiss you as someone who is angry about something/everything but completely lacks the supporting substance to make a valid, intelligent point.

As a courtesy, I'll start your rebuttal to my letter.

To the editor:

That mean-spirited, cold-hearted, senior-hating, dog beater Richard Wassmuth ...

Richard Wassmuth

Las Vegas