LETTERS: Politicians of all stripes deceive us

To the editor:

James Moldenhauer’s letter included many truths, but I question one of his statements, which implies that the Republican Party does not lie (“Democratic deception,” Nov. 18 Review-Journal). As a registered Republican, I was once in a spirited discussion with a dear friend and staunch Democrat. Suddenly, in the heat of the discussion, my friend blurted out to something to the effect of, “Dusty, they’re all liars, all of them, and we are all going to have our taxes raised because they have to in order to pay off this debt (now $17.9 trillion).”

The truthfulness of his statement caused our spirited debate to end. Truth does that to intelligent arguments. Many from both main political parties have been angry about what’s happening and about the lies we have been told, not only on Obamacare, but many other issues. However, Americans registered as Republicans should remember that every one of us has made mistakes, and rubbing it in the face of Democrats is not just cruel, it’s unproductive and divisive.

President Barack Obama is not our example in life. Jonathan Gruber’s participation in lying to the “stupid American voters” was directed at all American voters. That covers all political parties. This administration looks down on all of us and thinks that every one of us is beneath it and should just fall in line and accept whatever administration officials do.

The question we all should be pondering is: What are we going to do about it? We are first Americans, and we choose which political party to join. I’ll vote for whom I choose, not who my party tells me to vote for, and I will weigh out the merits of each issue. I don’t have a bull ring in my nose to be led about by my chosen party.

Get mad about the deceit, and then get even. As the adage says, revenge is a dish best served cold. Every time Washington starts to do something that is bad for this country, voters of both parties should pick up the phone and call all elected representatives and the White House to voice their objections. When they lie to us, don’t only vote them out, but recall them when it is more expeditious. When they deceive us, make sure the world knows they are deceivers and discharge them dishonorably from public service.

We must not allow them to prosper in the filth they exude. Make them accountable. Make them change laws that are damaging to the country as a whole, as well as laws and practices that allow D.C. politicians to financially prosper to the point of being millionaires. When they only represent special interests, outnumber them by our mutual participation against them.

Re-institute the demand for a true public servant. It is time that every American voter joins together in one accord to change the face of politics.

DUSTY MAC

LAS VEGAS

Sex education reform

To the editor:

I am a family nurse practitioner with decades of experience in caring for youth and families in our community. I support medically accurate sex education in Nevada public schools. It will vastly improve the health and lives of our children and offer help to their parents.

I see firsthand the consequences young people suffer when they lack vital skills needed to navigate peer pressure in our media-filled society. Teenagers come to our clinics with sexually transmittable infections and unplanned pregnancies as evidence of the current deficient curriculum. We owe our children and the future leaders of our state honest, medically based information about how to stay safe and healthy.

Nevada has the seventh-highest rate of teen pregnancy in the country, according to the Guttmacher Institute, as well as high rates of STIs. Forty percent of Clark County high school students report already having had sex, yet they are not taught the basics of pregnancy and disease prevention, nor are all high school students being taught in school about HIV or AIDS.

Honest, age-appropriate health and safety education is a public health issue, not a moral one. Proponents of the Clark County School District’s plan want to help Nevada’s parents raise a well-educated workforce. We owe Nevada taxpayers responsible spending, instead of the $84 million lost each year to unplanned teen parenting and its effects.

As for who needs to be involved with the school district’s decision to update its policy, we all do: parents, teachers, health professionals and the children themselves. Please consider supporting medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education, so we can all have a healthier, more stable community and so that young people have a fighting chance at success.

BROOKE WALKER

RENO

School district budget

To the editor:

I was flabbergasted to learn that the Clark County School District needs an administrative staff of 1,300 employees (“School board, administrators agree on contract with 2.79 percent raise,” Nov. 15 Review-Journal). I did some arithmetic, without the aid (or hindrance) of Common Core math, on the raise they just received.

To give 1,300 administrative staffers a 2.79 percent raise that equates to $5.29 million means that, on average, each one was already making more than $100,000 a year in total compensation (salary/benefits/pension) — some far more than that.

I think we have just found a place where we can cut from the budget.

DAVID CARTER

LAS VEGAS