Why don’t they use asbestos on space shuttle?

To the editor:

Finally a man of courage (Walter Williams, "Killing people part of the green agenda," Tuesday Review-Journal) has raised the issue of those eco-Nazi killers. They have been destroying this country for some 40 years.

To his examples of their "successes," one should add the destruction of the nuclear power industry (I should know about that, having been involved in the design of some 20-odd nuclear power plants in the United States, Spain, Taiwan and South Korea); their successful efforts to block oil drilling in Alaska and the offshore areas of California and Florida; and their successes in blocking construction of any kind of power plants, whether fired by coal, gas or oil.

One should not neglect their imposition of new names -- such as "wetlands" for "swamps" -- that remind me of how murderous dictatorships like to call themselves "People's Democratic Republics."

One other example comes to mind that might have escaped professor Williams' attention -- replacement of rock-hard asbestos insulation by plastic foam on our space shuttles, leading directly to the deaths of our astronauts on Challenger and endangering their lives in their present visit to the space station.

MARC JERIC

LAS VEGAS

Deeper problems

To the editor:

I just love headlines such as the one in the Business section of Wednesday's Review-Journal: "Trade deficit hits four-month low." It's like telling someone who is 104 years old that they are doing just fine.

Years ago we had a trade surplus. Other nations owed us money. Not anymore. Why is that? It's because we are falling behind in those elements of a society that are universally important. Our educational system is broken and now turns out nearly as many illiterates as those who are reasonably well-educated -- never a good thing, especially when we must then seek the talent we need from other countries.

Exacerbating these problems is the importation of unskilled, low-income labor, both legal and illegal, that only benefits a few while burdening many with the social costs.

The continuing decline of the dollar's value against other major currencies increases the financial competitiveness of our exports, but it also simultaneously increases the relative cost of our imports. Because we continue to import more than we export, the burden for this financial inequity is again placed upon the many for the benefit of the few.

We can start by replacing the majority of our government officials -- many of those now in Congress -- who cannot begin to comprehend some of these principles, with those who can.

RICHARD RICHTARiK

LAS VEGAS

They're the taxmen

To the editor:

The Democrats are at least forthcoming about one thing: They have every intention of raising taxes on the "rich."

Inheritance taxes? Let's raise 'em. Taxes on stock earnings? We'll raise those as well. Let's close up the offshore accounts and add penalties, too. Oh, by the way, we can raise the taxes on luxury items. Boats, yachts, custom cars, etc., can all be taxed because the rich are the only ones who can afford them.

Talk like that makes for good sound bites. But it also has a history. Those taxes were indeed raised. The anticipated revenue never showed up, as the business dried up and goods were bought elsewhere. Money was invested outside of the United States. A lot of good Democrats lost their jobs due to the tax-the-rich policy of the Democratic Party.

When Sen. Hillary Clinton was in town last week, she was asked a pointed question concerning her universal health care. She gave a very pointed answer, as well. Her reply? The question was prompted by a right-wing conspiracy. Secondly, for the truth, see my staff.

Come on, now. She's had more than 12 years to give a better answer than that. It was the same answer she gave as first lady. She should be an expert on how this system would work; it's her pet project.

The Republicans have not shown me much, either. They seem to be stumbling over their two left feet.

DARRELL WELCH

NORTH LAS VEGAS

Man from the Plains

To the editor:

The Monday letter from Larry Poteet defending Jimmy Carter's presidency compared with that of President Bush was so blatantly full of holes that if I were to attempt to respond, the Review-Journal would have to make room for me as a columnist. There is one thing I would like to respond to, however, and that is the charge that President Bush has bankrupted the country with his war on terror.

I don't know how old Mr. Poteet is, but if our country was ever on its way to bankruptcy, it was during Jimmy's reign. Unemployment was around 14 percent, interest rates around 18 percent and inflation around 15 percent. Not to mention the long gas lines.

In all fairness, if you compare those three items against today's economic picture, who would you say had us headed toward insolvency?

President Carter sat on his hands during the first vestiges of terrorism, when our embassy was seized in Iran and our citizens were held prisoners. These acts happened when the idea was prevalent that you could sit down with fanatics and ask, "Can't we all just get along?"

President Carter a better president than George W. Bush? Only in your dreams.

LOUIS FREDERICK

NORTH LAS VEGAS

Help from Mexico

To the editor:

I agree with your skepticism regarding a positive outcome for Gov. Jim Gibbons obtaining "compensation to Mexican nationals to pay for needed medical care," which we Nevadans so generously provide to illegals in our state.

The main points of your Wednesday editorial are well-supported by data supplied from various "think tanks." The Hudson Institute, for example, reveals that low-skilled illegals require $20,000 per year in public benefits -- health care, education, prison incarceration, etc.

Obviously the magnet drawing most illegals here is a job, because they can make eight to 10 times more in the United States than in Mexico. When job-seekers come here from Mexico, they also bring family members (and/or procreate more family), who also require taxpayer support in education, health care and prison incarceration.

The average cost of educating an elementary student is $7,000 to $9,000 per year. Multiply that figure by the number of illegal children and children of illegals in our Clark County schools alone. Unfortunately, these children also have a dismal high school graduation rate.

Prison inmate costs are estimated at $30,000 per year. National statistics indicate that illegals constitute one-third of our prison population.

Will we receive compensation from Mexico for the health care of their citizens who are here? The answer is as you printed: "Don't hold your breath."

MARY STONE

HENDERSON

Toxic trade

To the editor:

Just how many defective and poisonous goods are we going to tolerate from China?

First it was poisonous pet food, then millions of children's toys with defective parts and lead-based paint, then toothpaste with anti-freeze chemicals, then dangerously defective tires ... and on and on and on.

It's bad enough that all the greedy corporations have sent all their manufacturing over to China, costing American workers hundreds of thousands of jobs, leading to an incredible $250 billion in trade deficits and the additional millions of dollars being paid weekly in interest to China because we borrowed the money from them to pay for those deficits.

When are the American people going to say, "Enough is enough"?

Buy American-made things whenever you can.

VINCENT DeMATTIA

LAS VEGAS