U.S. foreign aid money better spent here
To the editor:
Why is our federal government giving away so much money for economic and military foreign aid when we need the money here at home? We are running huge deficits, our infrastructure is in need of repair, we have high unemployment/underemployment, we have many homeless people and beggars, and we are passing out money like candy around the world. It’s foreign charity, and benefits to our citizens — if there are any — couldn’t compare with benefits that would be derived if we spent the money here.
According to a Wikipedia article on United States foreign aid, in 2011, we gave Kenya $1.03 billion, Egypt $1.47 billion, Nigeria $530 million and Somalia $279 million. Somalia? Isn’t that the “Black Hawk Down” country? Why are we giving Somalia money? In the fiscal year 2011, the U.S. government allocated $49.5 billion for foreign economic and military aid.
Furthermore, why do I have to look up this information in a Wikipedia article, and why is it difficult to get more recent information? The government should put out an annual report that includes a balance sheet and cash-flow statement, similar to a Form 10-K for a corporation, and the report should be available no later than six months after the end of the fiscal year.
ROGER WITCHER
LAS VEGAS
In Onion’s defense
To the editor:
It would be interesting to observe the reaction of Wayne P. Brotherton, who in his July 7 letter proclaims to be the authority on dogs, noting they cannot read nor comply with the Nevada Revised Statutes.
If Mr. Brotherton was sleeping, and suddenly somebody jumped on his back, what would his reaction be? Would he comply with the Nevada Revised Statutes?
Nobody is placing a dog above a human. When Onion the dog killed a 1-year-old boy, was just an accident. And as far as the court’s expenditure of tax dollars to hear the case, why not?
The truly absurd part of this letter was the author.
DONALD J. DAHLHEIMER
HENDERSON
Constitution’s demise
To the editor:
According to the Review-Journal (“Reid makes case for filibuster changes”), if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid doesn’t get his way, he’s going to make changes that will ensure his will is imposed upon the people, whether we want it or not.
President Barack Obama is once again skirting Congress by making changes to laws voted in by Congress, such as ObamaCare. What country do we live in again? Who do these elected jerks think they are? Never have I seen a government so out of control. Mr. Obama and his cronies have succeeded in dividing a once-united country, set back race relations 20 years, and it appears that the United States is crumbling before our eyes.
I’ve heard the Constitution is an outdated document and that the Bible is just a book. My freedoms are only those that the government seems fit to grant me. Most of our children are indoctrinated in government-influenced schools, instead of being home-schooled. I’m under the impression that the only religion I shouldn’t chastise is the Muslim faith.
There’s a feeling in the air that many of those who were misguided into voting for this tyranny are waking up to the fact that they have helped create it but now don’t know what to do about it. We can only hope it’s not too late to save something that we have all held dear to us for 237 years.
JIM ANDREAS
LAS VEGAS
Desai verdict just
To the editor:
In his July 8 letter, Scott Johnson states that Dipak Desai was found guilty because he was not liked. I disagree. Desai was found guilty of murder because he deliberately misused his knowledge.
Doctors are taught a sterile technique, in order to prevent infection and the spread of infection. Dr. Desai deliberately went against what he was taught, and someone died. Just as a boxer is considered to have a lethal weapon, his hands, so does a doctor have knowledge that, if knowingly ignored to save time and money, can enable criminal acts.
In addition to the patient who died, others have been given a death sentence because there is no cure for hepatitis C. Doctors take the Hippocratic oath, which says to do no harm. Desai broke that oath for personal profit.
NADIA ROMEO
LAS VEGAS
Hanging by a moment
To the editor:
In response to the article, “Flesh hanging lets practitioners test their limits” (July 7 Review-Journal), this ritual is nothing new. As a young lad in Denver, I spent time at a museum of Colorado history, and among the exhibits were several miniatures depicting Indian life. One of the exhibits showed a maypole-like structure with cords of some type leading from the peak of the maypole to the outside circle, and young braves — proving their manhood — attached to the cords with skewers that pierced the chest flesh. The braves danced around the structure, pulling back against the cord until the skewers pulled out, or I guess until the braves passed out.
Ms. Justine Baker might be right that this practice draws on her Indian heritage.
GEORGE HOLLINGSWORTH
HENDERSON
