Publisher should stop trying to revise history

To the editor:

In his Sunday column, Review-Journal Publisher Sherman Frederick seems to exhibit the same problem that many of his Republican colleagues have with selective memory. Or maybe he just likes to revise history and thinks people will forget what really happened.

Mr. Frederick states, “But in the two cases of domestic terrorism since 9/11 — both on Obama’s watch — red flags flew aplenty.”

Does Mr. Frederick not consider the anthrax scare, the Washington sniper attacks or the murder of a Kansas City doctor examples of domestic terrorism? All of which happened on George W. Bush’s watch.

Jim Walsh

LAS VEGAS

Anyone but

To the editor:

Your Wednesday editorial on airport security (“Fire Napolitano”) was dead, solid perfect. That piece should be required reading for every adult in the United States.

Our failure to stop the attempted bombing of a jetliner is just a small example of how government works at nearly every level in this country today. We, the voters, have only ourselves to blame. For nearly a century, control of this country has been in the death grip of two political parties who are now so fundamentally corrupt and incompetent that they lack both the will and the capacity to govern effectively.

Our government is dominated by career politicians whose mission is to remain in office at all costs, to keep their party in power, to enrich themselves, reward their supporters, punish their opponents and bask in the attention, power and influence they have acquired. Most haven’t the management skills to run a convenience store.

If we truly want change, we must throw the bums out. In the next election, vote for anyone but the incumbent, even if it means voting for some unknown independent. They couldn’t possibly be worse than what we now have.

David Stevenson

HENDERSON

Just a little

To the editor:

The Sunday commentary “A regulatory iceberg” asserts that the latest version of Sen. Harry Reid’s health care bill will make it impossible for private insurers to remain in business. Although I am in substantial agreement, it does appear that a limited degree of regulation is warranted.

Briefly summarized, this would require “fair play” for already-covered policyholders. Absent proof of an intentional lie on the application, coverage could be terminated only for non-payment, or for contracturally-agreed-to reasons. Premium increases would be restricted to insurers’ average cost of providing service.

As to new policies, insurers would be free to reject applications, set premium levels and deny coverage for specifically listed services, pretty well as they saw fit. Clearly readable disclosures, including specific applicant acknowledgement of certain provisions, would be required.

Were the Republicans to propose such a measure, it might well attract the support of a few Democrats. At which point Sen. Reid might well see fit to pull the plug on the current bill.

STEVEN P. HAVER

LAS VEGAS

Viable alternative

To the editor:

I am writing to comment on Mike Blasky’s Nov. 29 article, “Ries Elementary: 7-year-olds get past shooting.”

Mr. Blasky discounts homeschooling as a viable option for parents of elementary school-aged children, writing that “parents may not be qualified to teach their children at home.” Mr. Blasky fails to define the term “qualified” within the article. Regardless, I am sure he would be hard-pressed to find a scientifically verified parent “qualification” which directly correlates to homeschooled children’s academic achievement. The only exception I can muster is the “qualification” of being a dedicated, loving parent, which is a choice open to any parent considering homeschool options.

The recent study, “Progress Report 2009: Homeschool Academic Achievement and Demographics,” clearly demonstrates that homeschoolers average more than 30 (yes, 30) percentile points higher than the nationwide average in three key standardized examinations (California Achievement Test, Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, and Stanford Achievement Test). Further, the study shows that “issues such as student gender, parents’ education level, and family income had little bearing on the results of homeschooled students.”

The lack of research behind Mr. Blasky’s statement regarding homeschooling only serves to further the misconception that specific professional “qualifications” are necessary for parents to successfully home-educate their children.

Karen K. Fullam

HENDERSON

Well, cazart!

To the editor:

Thank you for your most recent hire. For the past couple of years, the only reasons to read the Las Vegas Sun have been the brilliant comedy stylings of “Where I Stand” — though it’s recently been rumored that Brian Greenspun is not kidding — and sports columnist Ron Kantowski. It was disheartening when Mr. Kantowski was downsized out of the Insert Media Group, but I had hoped that he’d land somewhere. His writing is too good to go unpublished.

Well, cazart! There he was in Tuesday’s Review-Journal. You could hardly have done better had you signed an exclusive with Rick Reilly or Mitch Albom.

Well done — and thank you.

Bob Ashman

LAS VEGAS