Local police taking care of business
To the editor:
In the past few weeks some heinous crimes have occurred around the valley. I read the articles in the Review-Journal in disgust.
But in most cases, our police officers caught the bad guys just a few days later, even the very next day.
Our Police Department caught two women suspected of murdering an elderly lady; a man suspected of shooting and killing a beautiful 15-year-old girl, those suspected of beating and robbing a schoolteacher; the suspects in the killing of a member of our armed forces; and a criminal who destroyed a piece of our history in Red Rock Canyon -- all in the first part of December.
I could not have wished for better Christmas presents.
Merry Christmas and a big hunk of thanks for taking care of business this holiday season. God bless the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for making sure there is justice in our town.
Lonnie Gordon
Las Vegas
Matter of charity
To the editor:
It is my personal opinion that if all of the so-called "religious" organizations and people did their part as required by their "religion," the need for government services to assist the downtrodden would be minimal, if at all ("Valley's homeless deaths on rise," Wednesday Review-Journal).
I personally watched the pastor of a huge congregation call the police when a homeless person showed up looking for food, while the congregants were decorating for an upcoming party. How egregious and anti-biblical.
The coffers of churches, temples and synagogues are filled with gold spent on big-screen monitors, fancy buildings, sound systems, parties, and other self-indulgent activities, with large event centers and kitchens never used except for internal consumption. Are these necessary considering that Jesus taught 5,000 at a time without a microphone and fed 5,000 without a stainless steel, state-of-the-art kitchen?
If every "religious" person helped one other person in need, even once a week, no one would need to die cold and alone on the street. If every religious organization opened its doors and fed the homeless once a week, the financial strain on the few charities that do would be lessened and government money required would be minimal.
Excuse me, but organized religion and the "religious" of today do not exemplify what they profess to believe or there would be no hungry or homeless children.
In addition, think of the billions of dollars that pass through this city in the casinos each week. Every casino should be made to "skim" 5 percent for the rehabilitation and social services the people of this city need.
As for churches, temples and synagogues operating as tax-exempt, unless they spend a documented minimum of 10 percent each week on the poor and homeless, then they should be required to "skim" 30 percent of their "offerings" to the needy.
Imagine each and every congregation and congregant filling the streets each week, opening their doors and demonstrating what they profess to believe. Imagine the crowds. Imagine the goodness. Imagine the blessings this city would receive in return.
A.J. Amicucci
Henderson
In the trash
To the editor:
In response to your Thursday story on North Las Vegas approving once-weekly trash and recycling collections:
How does this benefit the customer? It does not. The plan bring this change to Las Vegas will add to the piles of rubbish planted on sidewalks.
A reduction in service only benefits Republic Services' profits. The "spin" being applied is that single-receptacle recycling collection is being used to reduce the current trash collection schedule. But recycling is voluntary and will remain "flat" in participation as we lose half our current service while still paying the same price.
Chuck McClain
Las Vegas
Lock 'em up
To the editor:
Andrew Jackson said, "One man with courage makes a majority." Apparently our elected officials in Washington have no idea what President Jackson was talking about -- and, furthermore, they have no idea what the last election was about, either.
So it looks like those members of the professional political class in both parties will have to be run out of office altogether in the next election.
Perhaps by then there will be at least some men and women willing to put a stop to out-of- control spending, earmarks and other assorted malfeasance committed by Congress. And maybe even a few will have the courage to put the current crop of thieves where they belong -- in jail.
Bruce Feher
Las Vegas
Casino heist
To the editor:
The Bellagio resort made a very wise and prudent decision Tuesday. They would rather let an armed robber escape with $1.5 million in chips than risk a shootout in which innocent people could get killed.
Money can be replaced, but not human lives.
Kenneth L. Zimmerman
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Health plan
To the editor:
What liberals refuse to realize in the health care debate is that I don't want health insurance. It's a waste of money. And there are many who feel as I do.
I do not fear death so much that I am willing to bankrupt my nation or family in a vain (empty) effort to stave off the inevitability for a few more days, weeks, years or even decades.
I will live until God says my time is up, and then my body will die and my soul will ascend to his heaven.
Why should I deny my kids advances in their lives so that I can live a few more years? I'd rather put them through college debt-free so they can begin their lives as productively as possible.
Health insurance is a fool's errand, and this country is, apparently, full of fools. I'd rather the government allow me a tax-free savings account to pay for emergency medical care (broken bones, etc.), but instead our liberals seek to destroy personal freedom and liberty in a vain (empty) attempt to bankrupt our nation to forestall the inevitable.
I'd rather they go throw pebbles into the ocean to stem the tide.
Theodore W. Sell
Las Vegas
