Letters for September 7, 2006

Drug hypocrisy
Re “Lies our drug warriors told us” (Feature story, Aug. 24):

Great job on the cover story about the “drug war.” Shame on my own party for encroaching upon civil liberties instead of opting for the limited government they claim to pursue.

Anyone who cares at all for individual rights should read Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do by Peter McWilliams. McWilliams’ argument is a simple but profound one raised more than 30 years ago by the Nobel laureate economist Milton Friedman in his book Free to Choose: that we waste time, money, and resources, ruin lives and create extraordinary social burdens by treating age-of-majority, fully-functioning persons as criminals just because we disagree with what they choose for recreation.

Some might argue that consensual “crimes” are not “victimless,” but only sometimes for good reason, such as when they affect children.

In order to have reasonable protection against prosecution for medical marijuana users, we must remove it from the jurisdiction of the DEA. You can have all the state laws you want, and the DEA can still come knockin’ because it’s their territory, and we gave it to ’em. Good luck getting it back.

I once “procured” pot for my father-in-law who was dying of cancer. He couldn’t keep marinol pills down because (duh!) of the nausea. I’d do it again, but it really pisses me off that I’m a criminal for doing it.

Tommy Sargent
Reno

Vote of confidence
Re “Did you vote in the primary?” (Streetalk, Aug. 24):

Interesting question about voting in the primary. I was not surprised that three of five are felons, considering where [the question was] asked and who could not vote, which really is another question for another time. I doubt Jerry Steen understood what he was saying.

Want a good education for your daughter? Then, buddy, get involved in the process. I’ll also bet he doesn’t visit his daughters’ school or get involved with “that stuff.” The sorry state of Nevada’s education ranking ought to be enough of an embarrassment to get the Mr. Steens of our state off their duffs. Maybe it’s just as well that folks like Mr. Steen don’t vote.

Charlie Webster
Reno

Gambling with neighborhoods
The name of the Lazy 8 casino is appropriate considering how those behind it must think. I had to laugh when I saw today’s headline on the front page of the RG-J, “Lazy 8 developers demand OK.” This is what lazy people do, they demand things.

In other words, they bully. This is no different than the playground bully demanding your lunch money, then threatening to beat you up. These people simply wear suits and hire lawyers and call it business.

What’s even worse about this is that these people already have more money than they know what to do with. This tells me that their prime motive must be greed. If they can’t get it out of the city of Sparks through its citizens in their casino, then they’ll get it out of the city of Sparks by threats, intimidation, and bullying. Either way, the people lose.

If Harvey Whittemore and Peppermill Casinos need money so bad, why don’t they try doing something honorable for a change? Why don’t they consider offering the city of Sparks some sort of beneficial service in return for money? It sounds like just the thing these people need to begin to learn what honor and giving is all about.

Jesse Price
Sun Valley

Hot August Aggravation
Re “Hot August Roadblocks” (Editorial, Aug. 17):

Thank you for your thoughtful editorial regarding Hot August Nights events which disrupt our city more than any other event throughout the year. I experienced their arrogance personally on the last Sunday of the event. After being insulted by the Hot August Nights pseudopolice, I was over half an hour late for my church services. When I attempted to get information on how to get around the road blocks, I was yelled at, and one pseudopoliceperson said, “Kiss my ass"—to which I replied, “Mark the spot because you are all ass” and drove off.

The event organizers truly are not environmentally friendly people. They must be very insecure in their own lives to be so arrogant, insulting and unhelpful to residents who merely want directions on how to avoid their domain. The event should pay for all road closures and not use our tax money. The Nevada Department of Transportation has the power and responsibility to the public to deny closure status to a city government that puts money and HAN events above the public and people who elected them to represent us the citizens instead of big business, moneyed interests and polluters.

The Hot August Nights gestapo would have been comic in their silly shirts and cheap lanyards had it not been that they really take themsleves seriously. Cut the number of so-called “classic” cars in half and send the other half to Incline Village at Lake Tahoe or somewhere else. We have too many of them congesting our streets. I resent the organizers of HAN thinking they can hold us, the electorate, hostage to their silly games.

Name withheld
Reno