‘Boobs’ rally against career politicians

It seems to me that political and media observers have misunderstood the reasons we “boobs” (those who take politics seriously, according to columnist John L. Smith) are desiring to unseat incumbents, both nationally and locally. For me, “boob” that I am, this is not revenge, it is not a joke, is not an experiment, is not a position taken lightly. And here’s why:

It is the career office holders who engage in corrupt behaviors selling the country, the states, counties and cities to the highest bidders. It is the career office holders who blithely pass legislation that brings homeowners and job creators to ruin and increases the debts. It is the career office holders who take bribes from the industries that keep prices for goods and services outrageously high. It is the career office holders who enriched themselves with insider deals and hide their profits nefariously. The longer they are in office, the worse, more clever and glib they become.

Both parties are guilty. We “boobs” will not keep on replacing one party with another, but will simply not vote for any incumbent.

The warning that new electees won’t be able to function is ridiculous. New people running for public office have the seeds of corruption or they would not be seeking parasitical government jobs. Newbies will catch on to corruption fast. They already have the process down with fundraising techniques.

Nevertheless, we “boobs” might be willing to give them one term — and then continue electing new ones until the power brokers get it.

We are appalled at dynasties and career politicians and their families living in grand style on our tax money. In fact, the politician who spends the most money on his or her election or re-election can be assured that he or she will be targeted and not be elected or re-elected.

Oh, for a politician who will dare to dismantle entrenched bureaucracies and eliminate a few government jobs. We “boobs” know that any government with more employees than the private sector is too bloated to be sustained. Honest and courageous politicians just might serve two terms.

The national and local media could do much to improve the ways of politicians, but they seem afraid, threatened by career politicians and power brokers who might cut off “access” to their illustrious selves. What a cop out.

That’s what it seems to me. That’s my opinion.

MARGIE McAVOY

HENDERSON

Warming disaster

To the editor:

Jim Day’s cartoon on Feb. 12 shows an igloo in a snow storm. A car goes by and the driver says, “It’s the Al Gore White House.”

The idea is lifted from a real incident in Washington, D.C., when the family of Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe built such an igloo to mock Al Gore. The reasoning seems to be that Al Gore is an elitist buffoon who lost an election to George W. Bush because us common folks know better. Now Mr. Gore is pushing global warming, but just look at all the snow!

But snow is precipitation. The sun heats water sources that create clouds, which precipitate on places such as the East Coast. If the temperature of the warming is higher, more dense clouds are created, and a larger precipitation results.

Still, no one weather event proves or disproves global warming. Scientists have studied long-term trends, and the data have shown global warming with human involvement. The majority of these “elitists” (meaning they have graduated from college with degrees in their scientific field) project a 2 degree average warming within the next 30 years. That would have disastrous results.

In response to this, the common folks look for dissent from people with vested interests and bachelor of science degrees in hotel management. Then they squint their eyes shut, press their hands to their ears, and yell, “Can’t hear ya. Can’t hear ya. La la-la la-la!”

Jerry Bitts

Las Vegas

Wise use

To the editor:

I endorse Suzanne Dinicola’s comments (Saturday letter) on the proposed water pipeline and the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s mismanagement of the ranches purchased for what appears to be the sole purpose of obtaining water rights.

The idea of siphoning water from Nevada’s rural counties has been ludicrous from the start. Those aquifers took millennia to build; the water authority will drain them in a few years at the proposed rate, destroying the lifestyles of the remaining ranchers and the natural habitat.

If we in Southern Nevada have reduced water usage with all the water authority’s incentives, why doesn’t the water authority follow its own lead, climb out of the pockets of the developers and manage our resources wisely?

Someone needs to remind the water authority that we live in a desert and should manage growth accordingly.

Lynette Sorensen

Las Vegas

Coffee break

To the editor:

In response to your Monday story, “Budgets going bottoms up”:

Senior citizen Ralph Rennert complains that because of cuts at the Henderson senior center, he won’t be able to get free coffee anymore. Well, it is the function of government to maintain a stable society. It is not the function of government to hold art shows or maintain senior centers or give away coffee.

The coffee and all those other things aren’t really “free.” I and all other taxpayers are paying for his coffee and goodies. So rather than complain that he can’t get free coffee anymore, Mr. Rennert might ask himself why I and many others have been paying for his coffee all these years.

I am a senior citizen, too, and I pay for my own coffee.

Well done to Henderson for looking at even the smallest areas to eliminate waste.

Richard Pulsifer

Henderson