American dream a joke

Well, it has been a while, but I just had to get this off my chest.

What in God's name is going on in our country? First we have a president that gives tax breaks to big business to move jobs to Third World countries, which really helps us all out with more unemployment, higher taxes, loss of family homes, loss of the value of the dollar and higher costs for just trying to live the American dream.

What a joke that has become.

"The American dream?" The only thing most families are dreaming of now is the hope of just being able to feed, clothe and keep a roof over the family's heads.

Then those same big businesses import these Third World products and sell them to the American public at union workers' costs.

Yes, to the same people now unemployed, who were making those products here in the United States of America.

We the American voters have allowed these things to continue through the way we vote. We have allowed our great country, which at one time was known as a giant in manufacturing to become a service country. Which is now the giant manufacturing country in our world? China. Just look at where a product was manufactured before you put it in your shopping cart the next time you're in a store.

I say tax the crap out of these products coming into our country, and make these same big businesses pay for their actions.

They helped to create some of these problems. Then use those tax dollars to help lift the burden off the middle-class worker.

Elect people in office, both local and state, that will start putting our country back on the right track for all of us, and not just the few.

Now our president and our elected officials have borrowed money from China to help bring our economy back. (Like our country doesn't owe enough now.)

With the hopes that this borrowed money will be spent on goods to help out these same big businesses and China.

Is it just me or does that seem like a Catch 22 for the American public?

RICHARD GREGERSEN

Support for Pahrump site

I am writing in regard to the proposed detention facility. I understand that you have declared the site at 2250 E. Mesquite Avenue as your preferred alternative. I support this decision.

My decision to give support was not arbitrary but was done after careful analysis and consideration. Here is an outline of some of the due diligence I performed in order to arrive at my decision.

1. I have communicated with Brad Wiggins, senior director of site acquisition for Corrections Corporation of America. He provided much information regarding aesthetics, landscaping and lighting that will be used for the new detention center. We discussed the economic benefits to the community and how infrastructure will be improved.

2. I spoke with Robert Nardi (environmental consultant) and Cristy L. Boyd, (principal environmental scientist) of the Louis Berger Group. They created the final environmental impact statement. Nardi and Boyd understood and clarified many issues that I raised.

3. I have spoken with numerous officials in Pahrump, who have told me of the benefits the detention center will bring to the community.

One is the detention center will spend quite a bit of money on goods and services in the community.

The detention center will create much needed quality jobs. As the detention center is a private organization, they will be taxpayers in the community.

When completed, it will provide infrastructure to the area and make other properties able to annex into the Utilities Inc. Water and Sewer District, since water and sewer pipes will be in closer proximity to other properties in the area.

Since many of the properties in the area near the proposed detention center are commercial or industrial zoned, it will enable those properties to be developed, thus creating more jobs and opportunities for members of the community.

4. I have spoken with other communities in the United States, including but not limited to the Leavenworth, Kan. Chamber of Commerce.

In Leavenworth, I was informed that there is a K-Mart, Ford dealership and Hallmark card factory in the immediate vicinity of the detention center.

The chamber spoke glowingly about how lucky Pahrump was to have Corrections Corporation of America as a member of our community.

5. I reviewed the final environmental impact statement. In it I found numerous letters from other communities and huge companies (Peccole Nevada and Great American Capital) expressing support for this project in Moapa.

We should perhaps be thankful to have the preferred site in Pahrump.

6. Corrections Corporation of America was recently named 66th on a list of 100 best corporation citizens by Corporate Responsibility Magazine.

I received all corporate citizens on this list. Included are Intel, Nike, Deere and Co., Bank of America, Cisco, Dow, IBM, Raytheon, Starbucks, Coca Cola, Kraft, Weyerhaeuser, Guess?, Gap, General Motors and Goodyear.

On this list under industry sub group, Corrections Corporation of America is listed as a real estate company. It was only one of two real estate companies on the list.

7. I am an adjacent property owner to the 2250 E. Mesquite site and share a common boundary at Blosser Ranch Road of 2,734 linear feet. I have been a property owner in Pahrump going on my 13th year.

As a property owner, taxpayer and concerned citizen, I had an extraordinary interest in my potential new neighbor and who they were.

As such, it was incumbent on me to participate in this process, which I believe I have in and exemplary manner. I had no choice.

This took a lot of my personal time and energy, but I am glad I did this in order to examine the facts, in order to make a decision to endorse Corrections Corporation of America.

In conclusion please use this letter as evidence of my support for the 2250 E. Mesquite site for the new detention center to be built by Corrections Corporation of America.

BERNARD HOFFMAN

Correction

Those interested in commenting upon the possibilities raised by Roger Brooks ("'Branding' Pahrump," April 23) are advised to contact the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce at 727-5800.

One may also contact Brooks by e-mail at rbrooks@destinationdevelopment.com.

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Despite what appeared in a letter published this past Friday, "Desert Tortoise plan," County Commissioner Gary Hollis and realtor Hollis Harris -- his correct name -- are in no way related.