Carter better president than Bush

I’ve read several recent comments on your editorial pages comparing the worst president in U.S. history with Jimmy Carter. I have to wonder why this is.

Jimmy Carter grew up on a farm, where he learned the value of hard work and integrity — unlike George W. Bush.

Jimmy Carter earned a commission as an officer from the U.S. Naval Academy and served our country honorably — unlike George W. Bush.

Jimmy Carter won his election fair and square– unlike George W. Bush.

Jimmy Carter didn’t invade a sovereign country with deceit and lies to exploit their resources — unlike George W. Bush.

Jimmy Carter did not bring this country to near bankruptcy to finance a war that never should have been fought — unlike George W. Bush.

Jimmy Carter was not directly responsible for the deaths of more than 3,000 U.S. soldiers — unlike you know who.

In fact, upon leaving office, Jimmy Carter has done more to help his fellow man than any former president I know of. How can anyone compare a rotten apple to a robust, healthy orange?

LARRY POTEET

LAS VEGAS

Health plan

To the editor:

I felt compelled to respond to Dr. William N. Evans’ July 23 letter to the editor, in which he chastised the Review-Journal being anti-government — which he said is a stand against “us.”

I believe Dr. Evans has misconstrued some of the passages in Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Also, he says the Constitution starts with “We the people.” That’s true — and for good reason it didn’t start, “We the government.”

It appears the liberal left is trying to increase the tentacles of government using the rationale that the average citizen is not capable of making decisions for himself. Take, for instance, their efforts to establish a universal health program in the United States. Being a physician, Dr. Evans should realize that further expanding government by requiring all of us, except for the wealthy, to belong to a national health program would be disastrous.

Freedom of choice, on which this country was founded, would become extinct. How many of the supposed 43 million people who are not covered by medical insurance can well afford it but opt not to pay for it? Let’s leave what’s now in place alone and make improvements, as required.

Look at the financial dilemma the federal government is in with the operation of the Medicare program. Two years ago, Medicare lost $20 billion in one year through inefficient operation and fraud. The head administrator was not optimistic in making much improvement year to year. Do we want to drive our federal government into further debt by installing a national health program that would provide poorer service and eliminate freedom of choice for medical care for the average person?

If Dr. Evans hasn’t read the commentary “Michael and me” by John Stossel in the July 22 Review-Journal, I strongly recommend he do so.

CLARENCE LANZRATH

LAS VEGAS

Pay hike

To the editor:

I feel like Diogenes. I looked into a mirror and saw an honest face: Las Vegas City Manager Doug Selby (“LV city manager gets raise he didn’t want,” Aug. 2 Review-Journal). Would that we had more officials like him in Nevada and Washington, D.C.

Now that Las Vegas has so much extra money to pump up the salaries of public officials, how about a property and sales tax reduction for the general population?

Thank you, Mr. Selby: May this be a beginning of a new trend.

GINNY TRACKER

LAS VEGAS

Foreign language voters

To the editor:

Nevada taxpayers are being overcharged by the state. If a voter has to be a citizen in order to cast a vote, and if to become a citizen in the United States a person must write and speak English, there is no reason for the taxpayers to be charged extra to print half of any voter information — much less the sample ballot — in Spanish.

This must stop today.

The taxpayers are tired of having to fork out their hard-earned dollars just to support, treat and educate illegals as well as citizens.

The taxpayers should rise up and protest this.

JOHN KEATTS

LAS VEGAS

Marching orders

To the editor:

I am wondering what all the fuss is about concerning redistricting Clark County (Review-Journal, Wednesday)? It really doesn’t matter who your commissioner is. They all get their marching orders from the casino and construction industries. We the people don’t matter to them.

STEVEN WATKINS

LAS VEGAS