Letters to the editor Oct. 15

Prescription drug roundup was highly successful

If there was a study ranking communities for taking initiative, Carson City would most certainly be at the top.

This past Saturday, our community came out strong for Partnership Carson City's Prescription Drug Round Up hosted in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Agency to turn in unused medications for proper disposal.

More than 129 pounds of drugs and 31 pounds of used syringes were collected. Protecting our environment and preventing these drugs from falling into the hands of youth is the mission of the roundup event. Seven out of the top 11 drugs abused by 12th-graders across the nation are prescription and over-the-counter medications, and death from drug overdoses have now surpassed traffic fatalities.

Partnership Carson City's Community Awareness Task Force members, and Youth Influencing Everyday Life Decisions (YIELD) Team, along with the Carson City Mounted Patrol, volunteered to work the roundup, and our Save Mart stores provided the drop-off locations. To all our volunteers, and especially those of you who took the time to turn in unused medications, thank you for taking the initiative.

We encourage everyone to visit our website, www.partnershipcarsoncity

.org, to access information and resources to prevent substance abuse and promote a healthy and safe Carson City.

Kathlyn Bartosz,

executive director

Partnership Carson City

USDA shouldn't be in charge of food pyramid

I continue to read with dismay diet recommendations by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Over the years, I have asked many people who created the food pyramid. Nobody ever guessed the USDA.

The USDA has too much interest in promoting the dairy and wheat industries, which it subsidizes to the tune of several billions each year, and shouldn't be telling us what to eat.

People with chronic illnesses, especially autoimmune problems, are usually grain- and often dairy-intolerant. The grain intolerance in order of severity is wheat, rye, barley, corn oats, and sorghum, with rice - especially brown rice - being the most tolerated. The primary offender in grains is gluten, but current research indicates that other components of the grain also can contribute to disease, including lectins in the wheat germ, for example.

Dairy intolerance can aggravate autoimmune conditions as well, and extends from lactose to casein - the primary milk protein - to butyrophilins. Butyrophilins are proteins associated with the milk fat.

I am happy to see more fruits and vegetables listed. I haven't seen any disorders related to kale or broccoli consumption.

Are these guidelines better than nothing? I would say no. Any person would be wise to take the time to learn the requirements of their own body, and not take the advice of any committee.

Daniel Schlenger, Chiropractor

Carson City

Throwing money at the problem won't fix economy

With some 500 elected officials in Washington, D.C., trying to run this country, you would think that that at least half would know how to kickstart our economy and put people back to work.

But no, they feel that throwing our money at the problem, they will solve the problem. Why don't they just admit the cause and fix it.

All manufacturing has gone overseas to have their products manufactured. Why? It's simple. The government regulations are so tough here in the U.S., and the cost of labor so high, they have to go outside to have a product they can sell.

Along with the Fair Trade Agreements, labor and regulation have caused high unemployment, an economy to dwindle, and a whole lot of unhappy people.

Until regulations are eased and labor costs go down, along with enforcing a dollar out for every dollar that comes in, our economy will remain where it is today.

But elected officals do not want to offend the countries that ship material into this country because this is a source of re-election money. They will not warn manufacturers and labor unions for the same reason.

So, folks, get used to being unemployed and becoming a Third World country.

Bill Beil

Carson City