Like others, scientists vote with their wallets
To the editor:
In his Dec. 6 letter, Doug Nusbaum tries to equate the scientific mind to the way scientists vote. It is not really that complicated. Most scientists are either in academia or receiving government grants to do their research. They vote Democratic because the Democrats provide them with more grant money to do their projects.
Judging from frequently published stories, it is easy to see that a large number of these so-called research projects have little practical value to anyone. Frequently they are little more than excuses for some researcher to take a year-long vacation in an exotic part of the world and do nothing. Democrats have no concept of waste.
If you want to know why scientists vote the way they do, just follow the money.
JERRY BIGGS
BOULDER CITY
Biased coverage
To the editor:
In his Dec. 5 letter, former Review-Journal Editor Thomas Mitchell claims he’s been libeled, but unfortunately that can’t be the case. The truth is the best defense against libel, and the inconvenient truth is anyone with a scintilla of intelligence who read the Review-Journal during the 2010 Nevada senatorial race, who also didn’t live under a rock, could see the newspaper was in the bag for Republican Sharron Angle, or more precisely, anyone but Sen. Harry Reid.
Yes, the news coverage was pretty straight, but the play and positioning of stories, the emphasis and relative size of pictures, the wording of headlines and other display elements were clearly designed to play in Ms. Angle’s favor.
Mr. Mitchell might also try to remember what he learned in school so long ago about the difference between news and opinion. He ran a news operation, so opinions are not allowed. Jon Ralston was a columnist who shoveled out (like it or not) opinion, where he could write what he thought. Sorry to tell you, Mr. Mitchell, but you embarrassed the newspaper and the institution of journalism with your bias.
BRAD ZUCROFF
LAS VEGAS
Big boys
To the editor:
In his Friday letter, Joe Molinaro wrote that Bishop Gorman High School should play in a different sports league.
Kudos to Liberty High School for a fine football season, which ended with a loss in the state championship game to Bishop Gorman.
Bishop Gorman puts Las Vegas on the national map, and that’s what I want. Congratulations to Bishop Gorman High School for stepping up to the big boy plate.
KIPP ALTEMARA
LAS VEGAS
Broken system
To the editor:
Your Dec. 7 story “School suspected child abuse” should be a wake-up call to all citizens. Our system is broken, and the people charged with protecting our children aren’t doing it.
Oh, I am sure there are many well-meaning folks who work in these agencies, but too many kids are getting hurt or worse.
I can’t wait to hear all the standard excuses regarding 7-year-old Roderick Arrington’s killers: they were abused as children, drug addiction, poor education, etc., etc.
Roderick Arrington is dead. He must get justice and his poor misunderstood guardians must pay the full price – no discounts.
BRUCE FEHER
LAS VEGAS
Tax, tax, tax
To the editor:
I know the federal government is going off the so-called “fiscal cliff,” but is anyone paying attention to what’s going on in Nevada?
Your Dec. 5 article was headlined, “Possible tax hikes top topic.” It stated that Democratic leaders of the Nevada Legislature will launch a broad review of the state’s tax structure. Lawmakers will consider everything from a new business tax or a services tax to lifting a 5 percent constitutional cap on taxing the mining industry.
Could this get worse for Nevada unemployment? Oh, yeah.
I then turned to the Business section, same date, to find “Employers will face tax increase.”
This was more bad news for Nevada employers. The article stated that State Employment Security Division Administrator Renee Olson increased by 12.5 percent the unemployment tax rate that companies pay each year to provide unemployment benefits. Nevada companies will also be hit with a federal unemployment tax increase of $21 per employee in January.
It doesn’t stop there. Ms. Olson also wants the Legislature to approve two other new state taxes to pay back the $676 million federal loan for Nevada’s unemployment benefits.
Is there anybody out there who thinks government money is free? Somebody, somewhere will pay for this “free” government money. It’s usually the people who had a job or are looking for a job.
FORREST A. HENRY
NORTH LAS VEGAS
Tragic death
To the editor:
The news of the passing of former Channel 3 weatherman John Fredericks left me sad and a little angry. Here was one of our most popular local celebrities who, in a short time, went from a six-figure income to sleeping on the streets.
He died from cirrhosis of the liver – in short, he drank himself to death. But why? In a city where he was loved by thousands, wasn’t there anyone who could have stepped in and helped him? Couldn’t anyone tell, after listening to his harassing, drunken telephone rants on a sister station two years ago, that he was seriously sick and needed help?
In a town where excess is celebrated, maybe a little compassion and caring by somebody could have done something positive for him. Maybe he was too far gone and wouldn’t have accepted help. I guess we’ll never know. That is the tragedy.
Bruce Randolph
Thousand Oaks, Calif.
