Letters for July 25, 2013

The truth works?

Re “Hospitals price power probed” (Upfront, June 27):

Recently, I reviewed the term “ethics” in relationship to corporations. Roughly translated, their prime directive is to increase shareholder return with no concern for collateral damage (conflict with their fiduciary duty). Reading into this, increase the costs because it does not matter. People still need medical care. Therefore, they will pay. This will result in increased premiums with insurance companies to coincide with their prime directive as medical compensation goes up. Do not forget about the attorneys who will defend, no matter what. A few years ago, I read about a county which went on a full disclosure idea. If a doctor pulled an “oops,” he disclosed it. Attorneys were in an uproar. Their litigation got cut to one-third, and premiums for insurance were cut in half. Actual litigation decreased by some 60 percent with settlements on damages filling the gap, at less than half the expected litigation amounts. Wish I kept a copy. All of us would like to earn a fair wage for the work we do. As of now, the gap is huge on the benefit vs. cost in medical care. When can we let go of the $20 aspirin?

Ted Beecher

Reno

Messed up priorities

Re “Stepping out” (News, July 18):

Western Nevada College president Carol Lucey is right about the misplaced priorities of the state’s budget decided by both the governor and a legislature restricted to 120 days every other year. The writer is correct about the lack of a protest culture in Nevada. It’s “go along to get along.” The short response to local input to higher education now comes through the significant tax deductible donations to college foundations. There is little to no oversight of this money now and would be even less with individual boards. The overarching structural problem is the lack of “checks and balances” stemming from the principle of three equal branches of government. Legitimate power in Nevada is centralized in the office of the governor—one election easy to control, and political party doesn’t matter. That’s the way the monied interests want it. My best wishes and interest go out to Carol Lucey for her future.

Also, regarding “Invest your privacy in drones,” by Chanelle Bessette. This is just an example of what was said above. In this case, it’s the weapons industry and virtually no citizen representation. However, I’ll be first in line to sign up for the class if possible. I like to know as much as I can when I protest something.

Nancy Price

Sparks

How many points for a mayor?

I watched on the news as our mayor proudly walk across the new crosswalk in front of Junkees and proclaimed, “I didn’t get hit!” I had to laugh out loud. You see, I own a business one block north with an existing crosswalk. Unfortunately, our pedestrians haven’t been as lucky. Since we have owned our business, there have been two people hit right in our crosswalk. My staff and I go out on a regular basis and literally put our hands up to stop traffic so that senior citizens can cross. Yes, I have called repeatedly to please have someone come down and monitor this crosswalk—to no avail. So you see, Mr. Mayor, your crosswalks are only as successful as your enforcement of them.

Cecelia Soper

Reno

A dubious connector

I would like to challenge Dennis Myers of the Reno News & Review to investigate the Regional Transportation Commission Southeast Connector. There is definitely something very fishy about the way in which the RTC is going about the construction of this poorly designed/unnecessary six-lane highway in the middle of the flood plain, a golf course, and a bucolic neighborhood.

They have received no permits from the National Environment and Planning Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, Army Corps of Engineers or any other governing entity that would allow them to construct “Phase II” of this throughway, but they have already committed millions of dollars to complete Phase I. Phase I leads nowhere—it stops in the middle of the University of Nevada, Reno farm. What is the thinking behind such a commitment of dollars to something that may or may not ever be completed? Is there money changing hands? Are there power or promises of economic rewards being exchanged? Why would the Truckee Meadows Flood Project not be daily and publicly complaining about the placement and design of this project? The statement by the RTC that the road is “floodable” makes one wonder about the sanity of the engineering department of the RTC. The floods of 1997 and 2005 completely filled Rosewood Golf Course, as the course was meant to do. However, with six lanes plus of fill, asphalt, and other accoutrements of highway build-out, the flood plain is basically filled up. Where will the next 50, 100, 117-year floods go? How will the residents of City Council-approved development survive such floods? How will the businesses in the southeast area protect them selves against the floodwaters?

I believe that the RTC has shotgunned this whole project through the City Council, the voters, the community. There needs to be a thorough investigation of what exactly is driving the construction of such a huge project through flood retention basins, threatening the survival of thousands of homeowners and business owners. I hope that the RN&R will be brave to go up against the political powers who are pushing this down our throats. Thanks for listening—and hopefully for doing something about this travesty.

Janet Pederson

Reno

Or how about an opt-out choice?

We can save the U.S. Postal Service, Saturday delivery, some of the world’s forests, much of our valuable time, and provide some alternative energy.

Daily, we receive large amounts of junk mail, most of which is rejected and goes to the city dump, but could be used as fuel in a wood-burning stove.

We suggest, as a deterrent, that postal rates for junk mail be doubled, tripled, or best of all, quadrupled. The added revenue would be an economic boost for our postal system.

Walden and Betty Joura

Reno

End the filibuster

Lighting fireworks on the Fourth didn’t restore freedom taken by the tyranny of the IRS. Reading the Declaration of Independence underscored this nation’s return to conditions founding fathers found intolerable: government use of fear to take property and control citizens.

The tax code threatens liberty. It cannot be understood by those who must comply with that code or live in fear of penalties imposed by the IRS. A law that cannot be understood is not a law derived from the consent of the governed. If audited, the basic principle of trial-by-jury is replaced by presumed guilt. The accused must prove his innocence. The 16th Amendment must be repealed. End the IRS.

Missouri’s Lt. Gov. Kinder recently said, “No law abiding American should ever have to fear a call from a government official.” The IRS, a tool of fear used by politicians to control citizens, businesses, reward friends and punish enemies, has no place in a free society.

Only the FairTax HR25/S122 ends the IRS and supports the repeal of the 16th Amendment. End direct taxation on jobs and income. Call Representative Camp, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee (202-225-3561). Demand FairTaxHR25 be brought out of committee. End the IRS.

Beverly Martin

Fulton, Mo.