Letters to the Editor June 3

Paul stands up against Reid, Patriot Act

Harry Reid has yet again proved himself to be no friend of the American people or U.S. Constitution. This week, Reid rushed a four-year Patriot Act extension through the floor of the U.S. Senate, attempting to block any debate before the Senate voted on the legislation.

One brave senator, Rand Paul, stood up and held a filibuster for three days against Reid's attempt to rush the Patriot Act through the U.S. Senate, bringing what Reid saw as unwanted attention to the issue. Although Paul tried his hardest to bring about debate on this unconstitutional measure, Reid did everything within his power to override the filibuster.

The Patriot Act has been a very controversial law since first implemented in 2001, and the U.S. Congress has never had a serious debate regarding the issue. The majority of Americans agree the time is long overdue for a serious discussion regarding the Patriot Act, but Reid used his power to override public opinion and block any form of real debate.

It is unfortunate that Reid claims to represent our state, but in the end, turns his back on the people by rushing the reauthorization of a bill that violates our civil liberties. Shame on you Sen. Reid.

Mike Hanson

Sparks

Weed out the irrational and fix Nevada

On May 27, Lynn Muzzy wrote a letter to the editor criticizing Ty Cobb's editorial calling on our legislators to raise taxes. In this letter, he affirms that Ty Cobb is departing from his Ronald Reagan conservative routes and venturing into statism over freedom. There are a number of problems with this argument.

The first problem is that Reagan raised taxes. He did so in 1982, 1983 and again in 1986. The federal deficit also grew under Reagan. In the last few years, there has been a radical right-wing movement that has swept through the United States. Part of the narrative of this group is that fiscal austerity should be connected to a politician's worth. They hold up icons like Ronald Reagan as their enigmatic symbols of what America should be.

However, this is a highly flawed narrative. If fiscal austerity was the true concern of this crowd, then where were they when the last three Republican presidents ran up the federal deficit?

This state and this nation are both facing very difficult times right now, and to fix our problems we need to work together. People like Ty Cobb are trying to open a rational, reasonable dialogue in which we can all come together. Democrats need to agree to cut, and Republicans need to agree to tax.

It's time for Nevadans to reject the voices of irrationality like Chuck Muth and work together to fix our state.

Will Houk

Carson City

Don't change name of road

To Matt Forrest, Carson City GIS supervisor,

This is in response to your letter (to us) of May 20, regarding the name change of LaRue to Parini Drive. We're opposed. Your letter gives no reason for the change. This sounds like a political repayment by someone to someone else with the request being forwarded through you to comply with established procedures. Why is it being requested?

In this present time of income uncertainty, all government expenditures, as well as personal, need to be closely examined. And there are costs here, even if there are no homes facing LaRue. There will be sign changes, and maps will have to be adjusted in time, and then there are directional changes given to those not familiar with the area.

To use your word, "adversely," are these changes and costs significant enough to qualify? We believe so, even if they are small.

As the saying goes, "If it ain't broken, don't fix it."

John and LaVonne Cauley

Carson City

Good work Nugget on certification

As a retiree from the manufacturing world where ISO compliance was part and parcel, I congratulate the Nugget on their certification. It is really unusual in that industry.

Bob Peppermuller

North Hollywood, Calif.

Governor doesn't value retired state workers

My mother retired from the state of Nevada with more than 30 years of dedicated service to this fine state. Gov. Brian Sandoval has rewarded state retirees by denying them state-covered health insurance at a time when they especially need it.

The governor has ruled state retirees must obtain their own medical insurance at private insurance prices. Medicare is not free, it is expensive and covers very little in medical costs. Paying for Medicare and private insurance is impossible for most retirees.

The governor does not value older people who have dedicated their working lives to the state of Nevada. He pretends to be religious, but if this were true, his conscience wouldn't allow this treatment of our elders. He has kicked them to the curb with no medical insurance so they can wither and die because they cannot afford private health insurance.

Is this how we honor our elders - forcing them to choose whether to have food to eat or health insurance is a disgrace and the governor should be ashamed of himself.

Sheila Gordon

Carson City