With economists like these, who needs enemies?

To the editor:

Did all the economists inside and outside the government get their diplomas off the Internet or from the back of a comic book? Friday's newspapers were filled with stories about how surprised everyone was about the country's latest unemployment numbers.

Why? Nothing is being done to stimulate the economy, other than lots of talk.

The "stimulus" bill was mostly pork. The part allocated for stimulus mostly hasn't been spent. Business owners, especially the small business owners who create jobs, are afraid of higher taxes and more regulations. Consumers are worried about jobs and aren't spending.

And the smart economists didn't see this coming? Huge jumps in housing prices, no consumer saving, consumer debt constantly rising. But no one thought that was a problem.

If we continue to rely on the people who got us here, we better expect to simply get more of what we've already gotten: trouble.

Philip Cohen

LAS VEGAS

The god of socialism

To the editor:

In response to Jack Corrick's Friday letter to the editor, "Theocratic thugs":

Theocracy is not the only god one can worship. Socialism is another. We seem to be headed there.

Would the Founding Fathers approve of what they would see now? Two hundred-plus years of the theory of smaller government has been changed to let the government do it all.

Mr. Corrick asked: "How many of the (Iranian) protesters who recently felt the heavy hand of their government cheered when the Islamic rulers took power? How many cheered at the takeover of the U.S. embassy and the holding of Americans prisoner?"

Iran's protesters look too young to have been around then, but if they were, I'll give them an excuse: "I was only eight years old when that all happened."

If President Obama can use that excuse to defend his association with Bill Ayers, why can't Iranians use it to excuse the hostage taking?

Charles Ychon

LAS VEGAS

Dumb move

To the editor:

If Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is resigning to pursue a 2012 run for president, she is dumber than we first thought.

The governor may be able to see Russia from her home, but she definitely can't see the White House. Even Republicans can see her for what she is: a quitter who lacks intelligence and common sense.

Jim Frake

LAS VEGAS