Mixed-up priorities and Strip vendors

To the editor:

In response to the Wednesday article, “Sidewalk vendor ban advances”:

So Clark County commissioners feel street vending is “an unregulated nuisance that should be banned on public sidewalks.” I guess I’m confused.

I can walk by a vendor selling bottled water and I don’t get the water bottle shoved in my face or have him impede my progress while trying to sell the water. On the other hand, people peddling pamphlets advertising escort services can virtually harass me, stand in my way or do whatever else they want to do.

Let’s not kid ourselves: These people are promoting prostitution, which – the last time I checked – is illegal in Clark County.

So the commissioners want to make selling cold bottled water illegal but allow solicitation for prostitutes, which is currently illegal. What am I missing here?

Michael R. Stilley

Mesquite

By fiat

To the editor:

Now is the time for parents from Asia, Africa, Antarctica, Australia and Europe who have been attempting to legally immigrate here and become U.S. citizens to quickly bring their children into the United States. This way, they can take advantage of President Obama’s magnanimous move by fiat designed for the children of illegal Latin American immigrants.

After all, these people have followed the rules and most likely already speak, read and write English.

It is interesting that President Obama and his wife, Michelle, conveniently overlook this legal segment of humanity.

Robert S. Tobias

Las Vegas

Out to pasture

To the editor:

I was blown away by the headline on the front page of Tuesday’s Review-Journal, “Senators want fight oversight.” Two of our U.S. senators think a federal body should oversee the sport of boxing. Are you kidding me?

No one in D.C. wants to or can do the job he is sworn to do – deal with national security, energy independence, the economy, unemployment, etc.

Members of Congress can’t or won’t agree on any of the real issues facing our country, so why not get into an “arena” where they might agree … sports? Time to retire 95 percent of them.

Donna Pacileo

Henderson

Clown question

To the editor:

Unbelievable. Now our esteemed Senate majority leader is calling for a federal commission to regulate the sport of boxing. I guess Sen. Harry Reid doesn’t have anything better to do, like maybe at least pretend to create jobs for his constituents in Nevada, the state he supposedly represents.

If Sen. Reid wants to waste his time (and our taxpayer dollars) investigating sports-related scandals instead of doing the job he was elected to do in Washington, why doesn’t he address the outrageous rules behind Major League Baseball’s television blackout policy?

I know, I know: That’s a clown question, bro.

Bob Hogg

Las Vegas

Special place

To the editor:

Thanks to the Review-Journal for Henry Brean’s Sunday article on Gold Butte (“Fight continues to preserve Gold Butte”). Ten years is a long time to be working in support of something that is a no-brainer.

Old timers and newbies know that this special place needs permanent land designation that will provide resource protection, ensure access and provide facilities for current and future users.

We are long past “It is Gold Butte’s time.” Gold Butte’s time is long overdue. Waiting only means the treasures there will continue to be in jeopardy.

Bill Potter

Las Vegas

All is well

To the editor:

Lately, I have heard a lot of young people say that there will not be any Social Security for them when they retire. I find this very interesting because I have been hearing this same story for more than 40 years.

Some people are trying to scare young people into thinking that there will be no money in the fund for them. They don’t realize that working people supply the fund and that if it needs to have an increase to survive, it will happen.

When I hear these stories, I am reminded of how many times the world has ended since I was born.

We need to talk more about facts and less about the myths that get started by people who are very negative about our country. Many of us rely on this system during our old age. We really need a reality check. Some truth about how government really works would be refreshing. A little less pessimism would also be really nice.

Carol Rose

Henderson

Higher education

To the editor:

Wednesday’s commentary, “End student loans,” was a refreshing point of view in sharp contrast to the liberal socialistic utopian perspective of “everyone needs a college education.”

Liberals such as President Obama would have us believe that higher education is the cure for all of our social ills and that everyone can be a rocket scientist if given a college education.

But there are many respectable, well-paying occupations that do not require a college education – plumbers, auto mechanics, firefighters and politicians to name a few. Students attending college without a good grasp of basic fundamentals – math, science, reading and writing – will not gain much from a college education, only a diploma.

This country needs to improve our K-through-12 educational programs and also learn from the Europeans by placing a greater emphasis on trade schools, where learning is focused on a specific application. Taxpayers should not have to subsidize college student loans – especially since many students are attending college only because it is expected of them and it keeps them from having to look for a job.

Natalie Adams

Las Vegas