Who will guard the guardians?
To the editor:
If an ideology was about to be impressed upon the country by any group dedicated to the confiscation of labor and its redistribution by elitist academics to chosen classes currently in their favor, the press should howl like banshees.
If any political hack called for a "fairness doctrine" that would strip the media of its First Amendment rights, there should be 4-inch headlines across the country every day. If any political party would send American boys into war and then declare their war as "lost" as soon as they were in harm's way, the media should be expected to label such behavior as traitorous. With the country's national security ultimately dependent upon access to its own energy resources, then any powerful group openly denying the country that aspect of national defense should have the media crucifying their motivations.
If anyone aspiring to national leadership were to support all of the above, as well as to support massive new excesses in spending and taxation, and then favor accommodation and appeasement of our enemies; support laws designed to prohibit the secret ballot from its unions, and hide their life-long and continuous associations with Marxists, communists, terrorists and religious leaders preaching anti-American hatred, the media should be screaming bloody murder.
So why does a majority of America's so called "free press" remain largely silent and, in many cases, applaud and support exactly such conditions, today?
Is the free press America's guardian? If so, then quis custodiet ipsos custodies? Who will guard the guardians?
K.D. Adams
LAS VEGAS
Doer, not talker
To the editor:
Sen. John McCain's surprising selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate has caused great fervor in our mass media and the Democratic propaganda machine.
The talking points of the attack machine now recite hourly that she would be "one heartbeat from the presidency" but is unqualified because she lacks sufficient experience, has no big-city exposure and was the mayor of only a "small town" before she became a reforming governor.
A reformer? Apparently an actual doer rather than the usual talker-type reformer, she went after the powerful oil industry in Alaska, as well as several corrupt top members of her own party and cut government waste.
It appears to me that this lady has effected more reform in her several years in office than the very corrupt beltway Washington politicians have been able to do in at least the past 20 years. She has only "small town" governing experience? That's her biggest asset.
"Small town" America has made this nation great. It is the big-city political machines who are the corrupting influence on our society, not the values of the "small town" governments.
JOHN TOBIN
LAS VEGAS
Appropriate restraint
To the editor:
Regarding Benjamin Spillman's Aug. 27 article, "Authority votes to freeze executives' pay":
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's compensation committee voted 3-0 to freeze the base pay of two executives. Their rationale was: "We typically don't go rewarding people in the middle of a storm." This decision may have been a history-making event.
Four short years ago, the same committee recommended a $66,000 benefits contribution so the outgoing CEO would receive a bigger pension in retirement. The Board of Directors approved the recommendation. There was plenty of tourist money available then, so why not take care of their own?
Are we now seeing a financial attitude adjustment at the LVCVA? If we are, it's welcome news.
Is it possible that the LVCVA members are starting to recognize that past increases in tourism are strongly related to the marketplace -- and not their expertise?
EDWARD R. DUFFY
LAS VEGAS
Abusing taxpayers
To the editor:
I am curious: Why do our city, county and state employees have the use of vehicles that we pay for, and pay the gas and maintenance on? I see them parked in neighborhoods overnight and driving around on weekends. I am not talking about service vehicles, but people who work in our government buildings.
It is tough enough to manage my own car and gas. On Labor Day, no government offices were open, yet I saw two vehicles with state license plates driving through residential areas.
Isn't anyone else tired of being taxed to pay for our government excesses? You fat cats should be driving your own cars on your off time. Quit taking advantage of the rest of us.
P.J. Matthews
HENDERSON
