Legislation is no threat to innovation
To the editor:
Gary Shapiro’s characterizations and accusations in his Wednesday commentary (“A threat to Internet innovation and job growth”) about the Protect IP Act are misleading and insulting. This legislation will protect American jobs, innovation and consumers.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, in his efforts to advance this legislation, stands with hundreds of U.S. businesses of all kinds, millions of American workers and untold numbers of American consumers who are threatened each year by offshore websites trafficking in unlicensed, unregulated and unsafe counterfeit and pirated versions of U.S. products.
Far from undermining innovation, these bills are narrowly targeted to cut off foreign-based websites with the primary purpose of distributing these products for commercial gain to the detriment of U.S. workers, companies and consumers. Leaders in the House and Senate are working very hard with all stakeholders to address legitimate concerns, ensuring the definitions are targeted, speech is protected and no technical mandates are imposed.
It therefore seems almost cynical to suggest this legislation would be detrimental to U.S. innovation and technology. The American tech sector is dynamic and creative and has a lot more to offer investors and consumers than websites peddling pirated and counterfeit goods.
These bills should pass, and we applaud Sen. Reid’s efforts.
Sandra Aistars
Washington, D.C.
The writer is executive director of the Copyright Alliance, a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization dedicated to the value of copyright as an agent for creativity, jobs and growth.
Ignored candidate
To the editor:
I was surprised that the Review-Journal ran two full columns on the New Hampshire primary results but managed to include just eight words out of thousands on Rep. Ron Paul’s second-place finish.
I guess the columnists missed his full-length speech on Fox News, in which Rep. Paul called for the end of the privately held Federal Reserve, the return of all our overseas troops, cutting $1 trillion from the federal budget immediately and returning to a constitutional government leading to vastly increased personal freedoms (and responsibilities) and a more limited federal government.
I honestly did not think I would ever hear these political positions voiced on such a prominent platform by a major political contender, but it was a revelation when compared to the usual pabulum coming from the other Republican candidates and, of course, our current president. I am not sure Rep. Paul is the right man for the job, but at least he is providing an alternative to the insanity that is currently passing for government in this country right now.
Rep. Paul deserves coverage in all news forums commensurate with his increasing popularity. He may not win, but it will become more difficult to ignore his policy positions.
Brian Covey
Las Vegas
Scare tactics
To the editor:
In her Sunday commentary, Carla Sloan, AARP Nevada state director, continued to pass along misinformation regarding the Social Security issue. Ms. Sloan stated that the Social Security payments we have made over the years are safe and secure in Treasury Bonds. This is the mantra put forth by most of our Washington, D.C., politicians and AARP. But it is not true.
The Treasury Department does not consider this so-called money in a “lock box” as an asset to our country. Why? Because there is no money in the lock box. It is full of papers called IOUs. Contact the Treasury Department and ask an official to show you in writing where the trillions of dollars are. They won’t, because there is none.
Look at the history of where the money from payees goes. It goes into the general fund and is spent on Social Security payments, and any excess money is spent on whatever the politicians direct it to. This has been going on for decades.
There needs to be a change in how the Social Security system works. AARP has its members convinced that any changes proposed to the Social Security system will seriously harm current recipients. But the changes proposed by Republican Rep. Paul Ryan did not take a dime away from anyone over 50 — and he made it clear that anyone currently on Social Security would not be affected. AARP needs to stop lying about how seniors will lose their benefits.
It is unfortunate that a person such as Ms. Sloan acting on behalf of AARP would misinform its members and the general public. We need to stop scaring people and have an honest debate on how to fix the Social Security system.
Michael O. Kreps
Las Vegas
Real estate
To the editor:
In response to Hubble Smith’s Tuesday story, “Home sales set record”:
While your information is accurate, informative and up-to-date, this article was again peppered with comments about how appraisers are almost single-handedly responsible for the paralytic pace of the housing recovery here.
Over the past year or so, I have read many real estate articles in the Review-Journal with the same sort of comments. Included in these articles are interviews with Realtors and “analysts,” none of whom are appraisers. I understand that the letters section is no venue for teaching appraisal methodology or the purpose of the appraisal industry in the context of the lending industry, but I do wonder why Mr. Smith cannot take it upon himself to do an in-depth article devoted to the appraisal industry and where it fits in to the whole process of the real estate industry.
This may give readers a more rounded and fully informed sense of what drives a particular segment of the economy, rather than relying on the interviews of those who apparently have less effect on the housing market (by their own admission). I truly believe readers would appreciate it.
Teresa Krolak-Owens
Las Vegas
The writer has been an appraiser in Nevada for 20 years.
