State has a problem filling vacancies

To the editor:

Clearly, the state has unfilled positions ("Lawmakers question state job vacancies," Wednesday Review-Journal). Clearly, the state would like to keep them vacant to save money despite problems with doing such - understaffed jails and prisons probably are not the best idea, and neither are welfare offices where people typically wait hours to talk to a real, live human being. And clearly the state has a plethora of qualified applicants - like me.

I have lived in Nevada for 10 months and have applied to the state for numerous vacant jobs in my field (corrections and social work). I am constantly told by the computer system that I'm not qualified for the position.

For example, one job I applied for required a bachelor's degree and three years of experience in that field. I applied via the state online computer system that "screens" applicants. It said I was not qualified, so I was rejected.

Funny. I possess a master's degree in the specified field and four years of work experience in that specified field.

So rather than using my degree in a field in which I am knowledgeable and experienced, the state would clearly prefer to have me work a job that barely pays the bills, leaving me no money left over to help bolster the state and city economy.

That's fine, state of Nevada. Take your losses. Clearly you favor that route.

Erin Cooper

Las Vegas

Diamond fan

To the editor:

As a fan of the Las Vegas 51s who attended eight of the team's first 12 home games, I'm happy to disagree with Ed Graney's Wednesday column ("51s fortunate fans don't judge them by record"). Las Vegas 51s fans are not complacent, and we do care if our 51s win or lose.

Promotions are a part of the baseball experience that fans get to enjoy in minor- or major-league cities everywhere. Las Vegas fans appreciate the outstanding job 51s executive director Don Logan does providing a great experience through his promotions. But don't confuse great promotions with fan apathy where wins and losses are concerned - we attend games for more than a promotion.

We enjoy the banter of the game with strangers we do not know, but for that game they feel like family. We wait to hear the sound of the organ pumping life into the drama of the moment. We feel the euphoria when we hear the shout "take a seat" as an opposing player strikes out for the final out of the inning, stranding our opponents.

But we are human and we want success.

Let us not lose focus on the fact that the Toronto Blue Jays, who are rated anywhere from No. 1 to No. 7 in player development in all of Major League Baseball, have consistently given Las Vegas the worst possible pitching staff three years running.

As we struggle with pitching futility, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats are winning AA championships for the Blue Jays. When the Blue Jays need a starting pitcher, they promote a pitcher from AA New Hampshire, not AAA Las Vegas.

Too bad we can't get a little love from Toronto down here in Las Vegas.

My rant over, I'm ready for a snack. So it's time to crack open some roasted peanuts shells left over from $1 value menu Monday night. Go 51s. Win!

Fred Taylor

Las Vegas

Headed for oblivion

To the editor:

Now that we seem to have our presumptive opponents in the presidential election this year, and the senatorial ones also, I would recommend that everyone visit the website www.usdebtclock.org and prepare to be scared.

There, in a big nutshell, is what this election year is all about.

We're being spent into oblivion if we don't change Washington.

George Pucine

Las Vegas

Bench warmer

To the editor:

Remarkably, Review-Journal columnist Steve Sebelius takes a third bite of the apple with again another column attempting to force Sen. Dean Heller to change his mind and support District Judge Elissa Cadish's nomination to the federal bench ("Only two ways to end Nevada's judicial standoff?" Tuesday Review-Journal).

Relentlessly, Mr. Sebelius insists that Judge Cadish's answer on a 2008 questionnaire that she did not believe the Second Amendment conferred an individual right to keep and bear arms was - as she stated in her explanatory letter to Sen. Harry Reid - simply her belief of the "state of federal law" at that time. As explained by Mr. Sebelius and the esteemed jurist, two Supreme Court decisions issued after that would lead her today to support an individual's right to bear arms under the Second Amendment.

News flash: The two Supreme Court decisions - one out of Washington, D.C., the other out of Chicago - simply struck down the unlawful laws of oppressive local governments that denied citizens their individual rights as enumerated in the Second Amendment. The fact that Judge Cadish was seemingly unaware of that right in 2008, despite her acclaimed stellar performance in District Court, indicates that she is not qualified for the federal bench.

The tactic used by Sen. Heller to prevent the nomination is nothing new. Sen. Reid in the past blocked several nominees, many of whom probably understood the individual rights of citizens. I don't believe I heard Mr. Sebelius declaring Sen. Reid was "obstructing the proper administration of government" then.

Let it go, Mr. Sebelius. Judge Cadish's basic misunderstanding of constitutional rights proves she is not qualified for a position on the federal bench. I now question her qualifications for the state bench as well, regardless of her support from the American Bar Association.

John Stites

Henderson