Taking away the doctor’s ability to treat
To the editor:
Regarding Vin Suprynowicz’s Sunday column, “Making life worse for those in pain,” one can only hope that trial lawyer and state Sen. Tick Segerblom contracts a condition requiring the very pain medication he is attempting to eliminate.
It’s no wonder doctors are leaving Nevada, as legislation like this takes away their ability to treat. I am outraged, as are my family members, some of whom have and are experiencing debilitating conditions such as cancer and painful diabetic neuropathy. Only opioids are effective in the treatment of these conditions.
DAVID OLSON
LAS VEGAS
Has TSA lost its marbles?
To the editor:
That’s quite probably the question my sister in the United Kingdom would ask if she were reading Saturday’s report, “New TSA policy on small knives sparks backlash.”
This new policy has to be about the most ridiculous change in safety and security yet. Who needs a knife, no matter how small, on an airliner thousands of feet above the earth? A sharp “small” knife in the hands of a determined person can do a lot of damage.
The Transportation Security Administration states, “The presence of gun-carrying pilots traveling as passengers, federal marshals and crew members trained in self-defense provide additional layers of security.” I often think the words “outrage” and “hero” are used very freely in the press, but in this situation I think the policy is outrageous for the potential danger it puts passengers in, and any crew members who have to take down someone with a “small” knife would certainly be heroes in my book.
I sincerely hope this ludicrous policy, which puts airline cabin crews in the forefront of any such situation which would not presently exist, is reversed. Should there be any petitions to be signed on behalf of these crew members, I am ready with pen raised.
And by the way, is anyone thinking about a possible pay increase for crew members for hazardous duty?
BILL PARKINSON
LAS VEGAS
Drones no different
To the editor:
The Review-Journal, along with virtually every other media outlet in the country, continues to report on the subject of drone strikes and where, when and if they can be employed against what and whom.
The terminology makes it seem that there is something unusual and special about “drones.” That’s a completely false and misleading picture. The discussion and debate should revolve around the term “airstrikes.”
For legal and ethical determinations it doesn’t make an iota of difference if the pilot sits in the cockpit or in a trailer thousands of miles away. The question of where bombs may be dropped and missiles launched is the same under either set of circumstances.
Maybe, just maybe, a more astute choice of words will clear the air.
DAVE HANLEY
LAS VEGAS
Casinos should pay
To the editor:
Having lived in Nevada for several years and worked for the gaming industry for 31 years, I’m at a loss to understand the problem with the schools. Every four to six months, casinos issue a statement on the amount of money they garner from our visitors, while our schools decay, our teachers get laid off and our standing against schools in other states worsens.
Sheldon Adelson spent several million dollars in the last election, and Steve Wynn spent several million dollars for a painting he alone can appreciate. Not one thought was invested on how to help the most precious industry we have: our children. There is one casino which has adopted a school, and the school is doing better for it.
There’s no excuse for the way we treat our teachers. Every year they beg for help just for the supplies they need. Why? Now the School Board says it needs an additional 1,700 to 2,000 teachers, while the teachers we have are without raises. This is not equitable. How does the School Board expect to hire anybody under these adverse conditions?
The answer to this problem is very easy. If each and every casino would give a fair share for the schools, I’m sure we would have newer schools, better teachers and better scores, making it easier for us to compete. This would also be a tax write-off.
As to finding a new school superintendent, why spend several thousand dollars on a search? Why not look in our own backyard? We do have talent right here.
FRANCES A. WHEELER
OVERTON
New bubble
To the editor:
Steve Hawks’ excellent commentary on the state of Las Vegas’ housing market (Sunday, “Anyone else hear housing bubble inflating?”) should be required reading for anyone who cares about the truth. So much of our economic “recovery” is artificial fluff built on homeowners not paying their mortgages while living in or renting out their properties, or both.
I disagree with only one of Mr. Hawks’ contentions: He says the vacant and delinquent properties will be converted to available inventory by the second half of 2014. More likely, the new bubble will begin at the end of 2014 — after the mid-term elections.
BEVERLY KING
LAS VEGAS
Wants refund
To the editor:
Every couple of years we pay an incompetent headhunter a fortune to find a school superintendent. The new superintendent signs a four-year contract and quits after two years. Then we do it all over again.
I would like to see the Clark County School Board insert a clause in either the headhunter’s contract or the superintendent’s contract that if the superintendent doesn’t complete the contract, one of them must refund the headhunter fee to pay another headhunter to find the next replacement.
I also guess that we do this because no one in the current system is capable of moving up the ladder.
ROBERT RAIDER
HENDERSON
Capitalism
To the editor:
President Obama’s haters blame him for everything, and this time it is for the “smart meters” installed by NV Energy. In her March 6 letter, Sharon Hanshew calls the meters one of Mr. Obama’s ploys and says we are becoming more and more socialist.
The “smart meters” are capitalism at its finest. NV Energy has investors — Nevadans making money off other Nevadans because they bought NV Energy stock. President Obama had nothing to do with “smart meters.”
NADIA ROMEO
LAS VEGAS
