Letters to the Editor 5/29

Wrong-headed policies dominate government

Seems everyone from pundits to politicians denounce Detroit's Big-Three automakers these days.

"Why can't we be more like the Japanese?" Sens. Reid and Ensign and President Obama ask. They condemn paying a living wage and retirement benefits as a sin, rather than a virtue. Senators applaud Japan's U.S. plants for not providing for worker retirement and ignore that in Japan their government does that.

Most folks ignore that long before autos Japan started manufacturing American refrigerators, tires, TVs, stereos and electronics of all kinds.

High-paying industrial jobs have been spiraling downward for three decades. Politicians today curse the blue-collar workers who raised post-World War II middle-class living standards and incomes so they could buy a wide range of retail goods made at home.

Starting in the 1970s Congress began changing laws to make imports cheap and U.S. goods expensive.

Today government's wrong-headed policies favoring cheap imports, encouraging investments abroad instead of at home, and ignoring foreign slave labor conditions while increasing government compliance costs at home have destroyed U.S. industrial jobs and the middle-class prosperity they once produced. That's left us dangerously dependent on imports. When it takes more dollars to buy yen or euros to buy imports, consumers might finally lash out at Congress.

When selecting political candidates, whether Democrat or Republican, ask them two questions: What have you done to keep industrial jobs in the United States, and to raise middle-class incomes? If you don't like their answers, fire them.

JACK VAN DIEN

Minden

Carson City Olympians preparing for games

Did you know that the Summer Olympics comes every year to Nevada? You might be surprised to learn that some of Carson City's very own athletes compete in the summer games.

I'm talking, of course, about the Special Olympics, which, for the second straight year, will conduct its annual state summer games at Reno High School on June 6.

Among us are several very special athletes who will be competing not for endorsements, money, media coverage or scholarships, but rather for something you and I take for granted every day: A little self-respect.

For Carson's special athletes, this is their chance to achieve personal goals above and beyond simple daily living, which is an accomplishment in and of itself for the developmentally disabled in our community.

In my two years coaching Special Olympians, I have been impressed by many qualities they all share; not the least of these are their hearts. No egos, no attitudes and no nonsense. Just pure heart.

I have seen more effort put forth by our Special Olympians than I may ever see among the healthy and able. When they are asked to give 100 percent they do it, because they know of no other way to do things other than giving all that they have.

I am privileged to stand by these athletes in their quest to achieve personal success. Won't you join me in supporting the local Carson City congregation of Special Olympians and show them how much they are appreciated?

BRETT FISHER

Carson City

Mr. Muth should be the one donning head gear

Chuck Muth has determined that Nevadans should wear paper bags over their heads in shame because our Legislature has ignored his taxaphobic bleating and raised taxes to pay for important government services.

Increasing taxes is always a tough thing for a politician to do, and it takes a courageous legislator to take this step.

However, Chuck Muth seems to be shameless about providing our children an educational experience which vies with Mississippi for the worst in the nation for achievement. He is shameless about our pathetic funding of Medicaid, and shameless about our lack of support for seniors, and other services for the poor and mentally ill.

That said, his paper bag proposal does have some merit. The people of Nevada would indeed be well served if he were to don his bag to minimize his frivolous rants.

PHIL STOTTS

Carson City