Public-sector pensions aren’t the problem

To the editor:

As a state worker, I don’t feel picked on by the budget. I accept that we must share the sacrifice. But I do feel picked on by the Review-Journal.

I didn’t start this economic crisis. It started during the tenure of former president G.W, Bush, who in the fall of 2008 told us we were on the verge of a crisis worse than the Great Depression — and that was after months of claiming the economy was sound. It was under the GOP-controlled executive, legislative and judicial branches that this crisis originated. When did the Review-Journal warn us about the dangers of the bubble in real estate values driven by speculation, which hurt Las Vegas especially?

The public is angry, and should be, but public-sector pensions didn’t cause this. It appears to me that you are as responsible for this crisis as me. You can take some responsibility for cheering on the Bush team when you should have been objective. The public should be angry with you, the lending institutions and the SEC rather than those who get to retire.

It appears to me that state workers are not raising a big fuss, and if you are getting angry letters from them you don’t print them.

It appears to me that you are trying to shift blame onto others for what you have a share in creating.

To be fair neither party has weighed the impact of these prolonged wars. Adam Smith, author of “The Wealth of Nations,” observed that war, “accelerates” debt. Sun Tzu, author of “The Art of War,” said that no nation benefits from prolonged war. My opinion, maybe mine alone, is that this nation took a wrong turn when Bush said major combat operations “have ended” on May 2, 2003. That was the greatest blunder by a commander in chief in our lifetimes.

Decisiveness in war hastens the outcome, it isn’t simply making decisions hastily. It appears to me that the unwillingness to take responsibility is what is driving the divisive stances taken by both parties.

More effort has been put forth to attain victory over political competitors than to defeat our enemies overseas.

Ted K. Carr

Las Vegas

Cutting cops

To the editor:

First, I do not approve of the public relations scare tactics by the North Las Vegas police union in regard to a reduction in force by the city, nor do I approve of the corruption in the Clark County Fire Department with regard to sick leave and overtime.

However, the primary function of municipal, county, state and federal government is to provide for peace and public safety. The most irresponsible response to low revenues and necessary cost cutting by local government is to reduce funding for police and fire departments.

And one very important economic consequence includes insurance rates in the community.

Besides, the police and firefighters have duties that may not allow them to return from a day at work alive.

Dennis Rich

Las Vegas