Readers on politics, the Senate race and more

My friends send me cute animal videos where said cat or bird is smarter than we humans think. I have a feeling these pets may actually be smarter than us. For instance, if they want you for their next meal, they announce their intentions without falsehoods.

I have been horrified by the lack of credibility of the leaders of one party in this coming election. Newt Gingrich really stepped into the forefront last week along with Forbes magazine when they accused Barack Obama of being the “ghost of his Kenyan father.” What?

Newt used to only care about personal scandals even while conducting his own. Now he is off the wall. Here in Nevada, Sharron Angle equaled Newt’s ability of erroneous opinions and then lied that she actually said them.

I have not lived all these years with Harry Reid. But I know he kept the unions, casinos and state functional longer than I would have ever expected.

We can’t afford rogue politicians. Until the Republicans get “real” — if that is possible — I will strongly support Harry Reid to bring our state economy into a new future. He can do it. The other side only talks “smack.”

Linda Wilcox

Las vegas

Old ways

To the editor:

The tension between 21st century thinking vs. 18th century thinking is the issue. Progressives believe a great nation is an ongoing process that evolves (changes) as it grows and matures. It seems the conservative right and tea party sees a great nation as a snapshot of 1776 America.

The fear of social programs, immigrants and of unfamiliar religions in time of depression is not new. When times get tough many people turn to the past in the fear. Forging ahead is what made America great; forging new ideas is what made America great and creating new and better forms of government with new and better institutions is what sustained the greatness of America.

This is a quote from Edith Hamilton, author/historian, from her 1932 book “The Roman Way.” The last chapter in her book entitled “The End of Antiquity” closes with these lines.

“History repeats itself. The fact is a testimony to human stupidity. The saying has become a truism; nevertheless, the study of the past is relegated to the scholar and the schoolboy. And yet it is really a chart for our guidance no less than that. We are now going astray and losing ourselves, other men once did the same, and they left a record of blind alleys they went down. We are like youth that can never learn from age but youth is young, and wisdom is for the mature. We that are grown should not find it impossible to learn from the ages old recorded experience of the past.

“Our mechanical and industrial age is the only material achievement that can be compared to Roma’s during the 2000 years between. It is worth our while to perceive that the final reason for Roma’s defeat was the failure of mind and spirit to rise to a new and great opportunity, to meet the challenge of new and great events. Material development outstripped human development; the dark ages took possession of Europe and classical antiquity and did.”

So it is with America today. Many fearful people seek the past under the label of small government, state’s rights, less taxation, a longing to return to the past. The past is gone. We will fail if we rely on reaching backward instead of forging ahead.

We are not a nation of 3 million people, we are a nation of 300 million people. The institutions and structures of the past are neither proper nor affective, given the size, population, technology and infrastructure of a modern nation in a modern world. We are striving to maintain greatness, in a world of nations looking beyond our greatness. If we cannot imagine the future and create the future, but only cling to the past, it will be our claims to past greatness that remain.

Robert T. Steffan

Las Vegas

Money wasted

To the editor:

Again last week I have received a mailer from the Nevada Democratic Party trashing Sharron Angle. They come at regular intervals. Obviously, these missives are sent out by the party in support of Harry Reid’s campaign — although Sen. Reid is not always referenced.

What puzzles me is that while Harry Reid’s campaign coffers were supposed to have in excess of $20 million at the start of the campaign he is using the Nevada party’s funds to further support his own election. Surely these funds could be used by other Democrat candidates whose coffers are not so well filled.

But Harry is all about Harry and now we see he cannot even act in the best interests of his own party. Is this the candidate we need looking after Nevada’s interests?

James Magnuson

Las Vegas

High taxes

To the editor:

Have you heard about the “tax cuts” that Congress has been talking about? Tax cuts for the middle class, tax cuts for the rich?

Well, there are no “tax cuts” being proposed. That is what Barack Obama and the media want you to think. What is being proposed is “no tax increase.” When the “Bush tax cuts” were enacted they had a sunset date of Dec. 31, 2010. Efforts to make these cuts permanent have failed.

Once again the media is using language to frame the debate. Not keeping the Bush tax cuts is a tax increase, not a tax cut.

What Mr. Obama and Congress want you to believe is that they are giving you a tax cut if they extend any part of the Bush tax cuts. No, no, no. If they don’t extend the tax cuts you will not receive a tax cut. Your taxes will go up. They don’t want to call it a tax increase, but it sure is.

Same when your hear “tax cuts for the rich.” There will be no tax cuts for anyone if the Bush tax cuts are not extended. People’s taxes will remain the same. There will be tax increases if Mr. Obama and Congress let them expire.

Dean Meek

Henderson

Bad board

To the editor:

In response to the Friday story about the Clark County School Board narrowing the search for a new superintendent:

I have lived in Vegas since 1962 and have four kids and nine grandkids who have attended Clark County schools. This has to be the worst school board group to ever oversee the district in all the years I have lived here. Is there nobody to consider as finalists except men who have been gotten rid of by other districts or have bad records?

The board should ask for our money back from the company who recommended these men because they sure didn’t do what they were hired to do, which was find someone qualified for the position.

LaJan Wortham

Las Vegas