Democrats must take back the Constitution
To the editor:
Republicans have been saying we need to return to what is in the Constitution, and they keep telling us to "read the Constitution" -- as if saying it over and over makes them the authority on the document. In answer, I recommend we adopt a new motto and tell them to "understand the Constitution."
One of our country's most prominent legal scholars, Akhil Reed Amar of Yale Law School, describes our modern legal/political battle over the Constitution more accurately:
"In the tradition of Jefferson Davis, 20th-century states' rightists wax eloquent about the dangers of a national government run rampant, but regularly deploy the rhetoric of states' rights to defend states' wrongs. Sadly, states' rights and federalism have often served as code words for racial injustice and disregard for the rights of local minorities -- code words for a world view far closer to Jefferson Davis' than James Madison's."
Here we are in 2011, still arguing over states' rights. The reading of the Constitution by the GOP-controlled House should remind us that we do not want the Jefferson Davis reading of the Constitution. We want the James Madison reading that protects the rights of individuals against the tyranny much more often inflicted by state governments.
It has been liberals and progressives who have fought to defend those rights over the years. It is that Constitution we want read.
Democrats need to take the Constitution back from these ideologues who are trying to exploit it for their political advantage or to promote their outdated policies. Democrats need to remind the American people that they are the champions of the Constitution.
Justin McAffee
Las Vegas
Good read
To the editor:
In response to Barry Goold's Saturday letter, in which he claimed that the recent "shake-up of the Review-Journal's management was intended to restore credibility."
Really? Is this some insider information to which Mr. Goold is privy? That statement would imply that credibility needed to be restored.
It seems curious to me that Mr. Goold failed to critically mention any of the newspaper's more left-leaning contributors -- for instance, Geoff Schumacher, John Brummett, cartoonist Jim Day and John L. Smith -- not to mention the ever-present inclusion of the Las Vegas Sun's unfailingly liberal stance.
Admittedly, it is nearly unimaginable that a newspaper might actually reflect the conservative opinions of the majority of the public; for the media in general, it is rare, indeed.
The predictable patter of the progressive pundits in journalism is legendary -- and boring. I find the Review-Journal dissenting from the voice-in-the-crowd sameness to be reasonable and refreshing.
Beverly King
Las Vegas
Keeping us informed
To the editor:
I take exception to letter writer Barry Goold and his attack on the Review-Journal and columnists Thomas Mitchell, Vin Suprynowicz, Sherman Frederick and Glenn Cook.
I've been a satisfied Review-Journal subscriber for more than nine years. And, contrary to what Mr. Goold argues, the Review-Journal columnists and commentaries are not an "inferior product." The Review-Journal didn't become the top and largest newspaper in Nevada without being popular with the people.
Further, a large segment of Nevadans share and advocate the same views as the Review-Journal's opinion writers.
Were Mr. Goold to be honest with facts, he would have to admit that the Review-Journal has been doing we the people the greatest of service by keeping us informed on what's going on. In particular, what our elected and public officials are doing.
Mr. Goold would have to further admit the Review-Journal's fairness, given the fact the newspaper printed his letter. I postulate: Mr. Goold is just venting because the Review-Journal doesn't share his left-wing philosophy.
The Review-Journal is tops.
Clyde Dinkins
Las Vegas
Movie times
To the editor:
A hearty commendation to Jane Ann Morrison for her Saturday column on the loss of movie theater advertising in the Review-Journal. The impact on arthritic senior citizens and others who may not have computers could be sizable, as she so accurately points out given our market demographics.
My wife and I have three telephone lines in our home and a wireless high-speed Internet connection that is always on. Yet one of the first joys of our day is to sit at the breakfast table, devouring the Review-Journal and its entertainment section to learn what's playing at local movie theaters.
Because one of these theater chains no longer budgets for newspaper advertising, I'm sure that the bordering-on-obscene prices of popcorn, drinks and candies will no doubt plummet before our very eyes. I'd like to go see this for myself, but I'm having trouble finding out what flicks are playing locally.
Don Shook
Las Vegas
Horrible theft
To the editor:
It really upset me when I heard about the theft from the Salvation Army ("Gift to replace cash stolen from Salvation Army," Dec. 30 Review-Journal). What is wrong with people these days? They want to steal donations for the poor and hungry?
Not everybody in this world is a bad person, though. Station Casinos reimbursed the Salvation Army all of that money -- and the Golden Gate casino donated $14,000 on top of that.
It is a good thing we have warm-hearted casinos.
This crime should be investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. And I hope that people still donate to the Salvation Army with good hopes, because a greedy country is not a good country.
Conner Walter
Las Vegas
