Teachers need to sit back and bear the pain

The economy is sliding into recession, gasoline and energy costs are at record levels and the housing market is in the dumpster.

So what does the teachers union and the education establishment want to do? They want to raise taxes for their exclusive benefit.

The whining, weeping and wailing from the pampered prima donnas of the education establishment because they will have to endure a slightly smaller increase in their budgets makes me sick.

These people should put their greed aside until the economy regains strength and accept the necessary cuts, keep their mouths shut and bear the pain like everyone else.

Gov. Jim Gibbons should be applauded for holding the line on taxes against the onslaught of the tax-and-spend, doomsday-predicting education establishment.

Larry Whyte

LAS VEGAS

Surging forth

To the editor:

Rep. Shelley Berkley states that she was not anticipating the success our “surge” has had in Iraq, which she discovered on her recent visit to the region (Review-Journal, Tuesday). Once again, a perfect example of why our representative government is failing us.

If I knew the surge was working, through the numerous news reports and publicized military briefings, why did our congresswoman not know?

Could it be that our Rep. Berkley is just another party hack, a bureaucrat who toes the party line as she is told by the party leaders? If so, this is just what the voting public needs during the 2008 campaign season — a local representative who spreads the party line rather than the truth.

If her blustery comments of the past concerning the Bush administration’s handling of the war in Iraq are therefore not to be believed, what can we then believe when it comes to her “impression” concerning other issues, such as Yucca Mountain, federal taxes, education, immigration and foreign relations?

We elect our congressional representatives and our senators to represent “We The People,” and not “the party” with whom they are affiliated. We elect them to tell us the truth about what is going on in Washington and in the rest of the world.

It now appears that Rep. Berkley did not even know what was going on in Iraq when her constituents were well aware of the facts. Now that is comforting.

Jack L. Kane

LAS VEGAS

Burglary story

To the editor:

My neighbors’ home was recently burglarized and, like most victims of these crimes, they lost a lot of sentimental items of moderate value as well as valuable property. They reported the crime, and after eight hours a unit responded.

After the scene was processed they were basically told they would not recover their property. Not being folks to sit back and wait, they utilized assets available to all citizens and managed to track down the perps. With this information in hand, they placed a call to Metro to let the officers know the hard part of their job had been done for them.

Imagine my neighbor’s surprise when someone in Metro property crimes advised them to call another section.

Somewhat confused, my neighbor did as instructed only to be told that, yes, Metro knew about these people, but nothing could be done. Hmm. What’s wrong with this picture? Did I mention that while all this was transpiring, another neighbor was burglarized?

Metro must cease protecting the bad guys and start doing what it is paid to do. When Sheriff Doug Gillespie was campaigning for his job, he promised changes. The only change I can see is the name on the sheriff’s paycheck.

Michael J. Palmer

LAS VEGAS

All cloistered

To the editor:

Your Monday editorial about police making raids at wrong addresses has some merit. But I was wondering if you consulted with the American Criminal Liberties Union for help in penning it?

Seems like folks such as you and they — safe and sound in secure surroundings — have all the answers. To me, the cops have an almost impossible task since they have to fight folks such as yourselves, the ACLU plus the bad guys.

And believe me, those bad guys are bad.

If you don’t think so, why don’t you go out and handle them? Maybe you and they could sweet talk them into surrendering without resorting to violence. Oh, yeah, I forgot: All of you live and work in cloistered, protected environments.

You at the Review-Journal are safe and secure behind gated fences, protected by security guards so you can take hours figuring out ways to Monday-morning quarterback the guys who courageously face danger day in and day out. They must make instantaneous decisions to protect their own lives while simultaneously protecting all of us from scum who would do us harm if they only could.

I have the highest respect for what those guys and gals face every day.

Jerry Fink

LAS VEGAS