Minor parties get little respect

To the editor:

When reading your Aug. 23 editorial, "Debating the presidential debates," I had to check three times to make sure that I was reading the Review-Journal. It was the most objective editorial that I have ever read in your newspaper, and I read all of them.

However, are you ready to put your money where your mouth is? I am on the ballot for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District, and I see many front-page articles and opinions of the two major-party candidates, and I am never asked my opinions.

Several weeks ago, both candidates caved to public opinion on the issue of offshore drilling without a discussion of the true reasons for the increase in oil prices. If the public were informed as to these reasons, public opinion might change, and those reasons could be attended to. But I guess it is easier to cave, and it will get them more votes by not having a discussion. Sound bites win.

Third-party candidates, stymied by the media, are shunned by other organizations. Many private organizations that sponsor debates do not invite the minor parties, which may have different views than the two-party dictatorship's candidates. I have been to many interviews with organizations, and although I may be 100 percent in agreement with that organization's positions, I know that their endorsement is going to a major-party candidate. It makes sense for these organizations -- they will have more influence on a candidate who has a better chance of winning, even if that person is not as true to the organization's goals as I am.

Let's have a debate on the most important issues at this time: militarism, the environment, the loss of American liberty and the entitlements of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. People might not like the solutions to these problems, but these issues cannot be ignored without the possibility of a total and drastic change to the way we live.

I'm sure that this debate will not happen, and that these issues will be swept under the carpet, but that's politics. Our dysfunctional government will probably continue.

Thank you for addressing the constraints on third-party candidates.

Bob Giaquinta

LAS VEGAS

THE WRITER IS THE GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE FOR THE 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEVADA.

Make parents pay

To the editor:

In response to the Sunday letter from Dr. Beverly Neyland about a shortage of state funding for child immunizations: Why should payers such as Medicaid pay all the costs of immunization? Whatever happened to parental responsibility?

Don't say the people on Medicaid can't afford to pay, because I've seen many "poor" Medicaid recipients with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. If they can afford that stuff, they can afford to pay for their own children's immunizations and give up the unhealthy stuff.

Why should those of us who have no children or children who have grown and left the nest pay for the shots? If people want children, they need to realize they have to be responsible for them. Maybe M.D. offices charge too much when these vaccinations can be obtained at the Southern Nevada Health District on sliding-scale charges.

Warren Pawliuk

PAHRUMP

Green from green

To the editor:

I have two green questions:

First, will all the hot air generated by Nevada Sen. Harry Reid and his "greenies" at the Democratic National Convention affect global warming"?

Second, how much green will fall into the pockets of Sen. Reid and his oil-man buddy T. Boone Pickens from their big wind project?

Herb Nixon

HENDERSON

Not winning allies

To the editor:

Let's see if I have this right: The teachers ask for more money from the homeowners, who say enough is enough and want to limit property tax increases, legally.

But the teachers union won't accept this and, in effect, stick their thumbs in the homeowners' eyes by challenging the signatures on circulated petitions -- to what affect? Do teachers think this will persuade homeowners to give in to the union's demands for more of their money (Saturday Review-Journal)?

I suggest these educators look into controlling their costs, just like any other business has to do.

B. Wilderman

LAS VEGAS

Blame it on business

To the editor:

I would like to comment on T. Thomas Dreyer's letter in the Sunday Review-Journal about an immigration fix.

I don't think it's the legislators sitting on their thumbs. The valley's businesses are influencing the legislators to lay off the immigration issue so they can continue hiring illegal immigrants without fear of any involvement from the law, state or federal. The business owners enjoy paying substandard wages.

L. Klein

LAS VEGAS