Letters for February 11, 2010

See exotic places

Re “Stranger in a strange land” (Feature story, Jan. 28):

I just finished Ben Garrido’s article about his year in Korea and am glad to see that he painted a beautiful picture of The Land of the Morning Calm. I also had the opportunity to teach children in Korea and found the experience very fulfilling. I enjoyed the culture, food and people so much that I decided to stay another year and am now teaching in a university. I suggest that those college graduates who are struggling to find a job or those who simply want to travel and get paid look into teaching in Korea. My other suggestion is that if you do decide to visit the country, please don’t treat it as an after-college-year-long party, which I, and apparently Garrido, sometimes did. Meet the people and travel throughout the country. You’ll be glad you did.

Scott Henderson
Reno and Gangneung, South Korea

The point exactly

Re “Burst your bubble” (Feature story, Feb. 4):

You missed the big point. If you got one of those loans you think were so bad, and the lender “used you” etc., you aren’t out anything because you didn’t put anything down other than your fees, which were probably under $5,000 in those days. Those who weren’t “stupid enough” to go for the no-down loans, are the stupid ones now because we are the ones who are out $100,000, $200,000. Quit blaming the “lenders” for your own stupidity. You got the good end of the stick!

Elizabeth Wilson
Reno

Yoga doctor

Re “Peaceful, easy feeling” (Filet of Soul, Jan. 28):

Great article about the Yoga Pearl. It is an absolutely heavenly escape where you can get physical, emotional or even spiritual exercise. Kate Midcalf has her doctoral degree, as well, and is more knowledgeable on the subject of yoga and nutrition than most of the people in her field. Delve a bit deeper into her “menu” and you will find self-help workshops, inspiring book groups, silent group meditations, and one-on-one sessions that are amazing. This gal has the whole package. If you are looking to get healthier in your mind and body, I suggest you give the Yoga Pearl a try.

Cheryl Hensley
Sparks

Employees locked up

Re “Nevada prison blues” (Feature area, Jan. 21):

Ely State Prison has been a nightmare for me as an employee. And I am not the only one. There are a group of people there that call themselves “Haters,” and it is a hate-based place to work. The emotional and spiritual damage I have suffered has been significant, and I anticipate a hostile work environment case. The retaliation from coworkers will be so destructive to me that I probably will not survive. The haters take pride in running out those that are not as they are. And I am not able to hate enough to belong. Between the way inmates are to staff, the way the socially dysfunctional staff abuse coworkers, the isolation, limited shopping, recreation, education, and lacking the needed supervision of the prison by the state, every day in White Pine County is a day of life lost. How can the state humanely maintain that place? Impossible! A rural prison is a sorry excuse for community welfare. Ely will find its natural place without that prison. A large prison complex, maybe 10 square miles near Carson that could utilize economy of scale, share resources, and have access to employees who are not Knuckle-Dragging Neanderthals, would reduce lawsuits by inmates and staff. This would allow the state of Nevada to properly supervise its responsibilities. Close Ely State Prison, Lovelock Correctional, Wells Camp, and Ely Camp, and then call it a learning experience. Private prison contracted management is not the answer; responsible governance is the answer. How do we, Nevada, benefit by cutting out a chunk of limited revenues to pay profits to a private prison corporation? Privatization is ridiculous and not a problem solver.

Name withheld
Ely

Good advice

Re “Better to be silent” (Letters to the Editor, Jan. 14):

Obviously Mr. Michaelson only has half of a clue as to what he is talking about in his retort article. I think he should follow the headline writer’s advice, “Better to be silent,” and actually read a map. I-80 runs from west to east all the way across Nevada! Maybe he thought that Reno was in Oregon or Idaho.

Brad Hippert
Sparks

Prepare for the worst

When Franklin Roosevelt became president in 1933, he inherited a monumental mess, thanks to the disaster that was the Herbert Hoover administration. In the first year of his leadership, in a 100-day special session, Congress passed the “New Deal,” including measures to regulate banks, distribute money to the jobless, create jobs, raise agricultural prices and set wage and production standards for industry. Roosevelt made changes to correct the mismanagement of the Republicans.

When Barack Obama became president, he inherited a monumental mess, thanks to the disaster that was the Bush-Cheney administration. Obama had a great opportunity to be another Franklin Roosevelt. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had Democratic majorities and the people of this country were behind him. But, so far, he has failed. If Obama continues to follow the advice of the Wall Street crooks that got us into this recession, things will get no better, and they could get very much worse.

Brad MacKenzie
Reno

Sheriff: stop foreclosing

Re “Burst your bubble” (Feature, Feb. 4):

The issues in foreclosure must start with the Washoe sheriff, as it is the sheriff that issues the Sheriff’s Deed, which is the title given to a buyer at a mortgage foreclosure sale. … I think the Washoe County Sheriff has zero clue about his and his office’s role and fiduciary duties in all this foreclosure. That lack of understanding by our sheriff and his and the Washoe County Sheriff’s participation in foreclosure to me violates the WCSO Vision Statement: “The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office will exist to preserve liberty, enhance the safety of the community and defend human dignity.” The constitutional issue of due process has affected the ability of lenders to foreclose property. In Ohio, the federal District Court has dismissed numerous foreclosure actions by lenders because of the inability of the alleged lender to prove that they are the real party in interest. In Colorado, on June 19, 2008, a District Court Judge dismissed a foreclosure action because of failure of the alleged lender to prove they were the real party in interest. Because the right of redemption is an equitable right, foreclosure is an action in equity. In order to keep the right of redemption the debtor can ask an equity court for an injunction. If repossession is imminent, the debtor would need to seek a temporary restraining order. A debtor may also challenge the validity of the debt in a claim against the bank in order to stop the foreclosure and sue for damages. In a foreclosure proceeding, the lender bears the burden of proving that there was a valid debt. There is case law to support the debtor’s case. … The Washoe County Sheriff should just stop enforcing these foreclosures here.

Bonnie Wilson
Reno