Policies could cause energy famine
To the editor:
Dr. Leonard Kreisler’s cogent letter to the editor (“State should claim Yucca Mountain cash,” Aug. 6 Review-Journal) about resuscitating the nuclear waste repository has since raised several replies on the editorial page. What’s seen happening in concert with the obliteration of the Yucca Mountain repository is the steadily advancing shutdown of nuclear power stations and fossil fuel-burning power stations.
Meanwhile, a plethora of solar power plants and wind power plants are being built in many places, supposedly to replace those power stations. These intermittent, unreliable and sparse megawatt power sources are supposed to replace the currently running gigawatt power plants that run 24/7. This is supposed to reduce carbon dioxide in the air — a gas that causes plants to flourish and to increase our food supply — and eliminate the danger of radiation.
What is the underlying motive? If we put two and two together, we get the idea that there is a drive on to expose mankind to an energy famine. Why an energy famine?
Does mankind need to be reduced to abject slavery and suffering because of this upcoming energy famine? Would this seemingly make those who want this to happen feel safer both from the supposed danger of carbon dioxide, the danger of radiation and the danger of mankind?
FRANK PELTESON
LAS VEGAS
Sales tax increase
To the editor:
It’s time for a plain and simple “no” to the sales tax increase for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. No amount of increased taxes will ever satisfy the insatiable appetite of the Police Department, where unions seek more and more lucrative benefits, including pay raises. When is enough enough?
Those most impacted by any increase are the poor, unemployed, underemployed and those on fixed incomes, and don’t forget the thousands of residents with underwater mortgages. Try belt-tightening and make do, like the rest of us have to do to survive.
WILLIAM BANE
HENDERSON
Obama cancels summit
To the editor:
In response to the article on the U.S.-Russia summit (“Russian frost: Obama cancels summit,” Thursday Review-Journal), I think President Barack Obama’s decision to cancel the one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was wrong and immature. It only serves to further alienate Russia at a time when we critically need Russia as an ally in the war on terror.
Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, our leaders have shamefully behaved as if we are still in the Cold War, insincere relations reset rhetoric aside. Despite NATO outliving its usefulness, the alliance, led by the United States, has continued to operate illegally outside of the territory mandated in its own charter (Western Europe). The alliance viciously bombed Serbia in 1999, set up missile defenses against Russia and armed, trained and encouraged the Georgians to act against Russia (repeating the Yugoslav scenario), so much so that it provoked a brief war between the neighboring countries in 2008.
It should come as no surprise that Russian leaders decided to grant asylum to Eric Snowden, who is viewed as a hero by many Americans for daring to challenge and expose the illegal snooping efforts by the National Security Agency on its unsuspecting, law-abiding citizens, violating the U.S. Constitution. Now, U.S. citizens can even become legitimate assassination targets of the U.S. government without any trial.
American leaders need to rethink and modernize their Cold War-era relations with Russia. Russia has the most natural resources of any nation and still has enough nuclear weapons to destroy this planet. Better a friend than an enemy.
MICHAEL PRAVICA
HENDERSON
Water crisis top-10 list
To the editor:
Southern Nevada Water Authority officials keep telling us that we’re approaching a water crisis due to less water flowing along the Colorado River. Well, I just don’t believe it, because there are signs that we are flush with water, with no end in sight.
Therefore, I’ve come up with the “Top 10 Reasons Why I Don’t Believe Southern Nevada Has a Water Crisis”:
10: We can still plant water-thirsty sod lawns.
9: Water waste from overwatering still abounds, with no real enforcement or penalties. (I regularly see water streaming down curbs in Seven Hills.)
8: No new requirements for eliminating large expanses of lawns.
7: We can always get emergency money from the federal government. (But we can’t drink money.)
6: Large water users still aren’t paying super high rates for water, so they continue using large amounts of water. (Is a water guzzler tax needed?)
5: SNWA hasn’t declared any emergency or rationing of landscape water use.
4: Large waterfalls, large fountains and water parks are still allowed to operate.
3: There is plenty of water in other parts of the state that we can steal.
2: We can still water lawns every day for as long as we want.
1: No SNWA management of water use, so use all the water you want!
SPENCER HAWKINS
HENDERSON
