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Obama got one thing right

Our new president has one thing right. He said "only government" can solve this economic crisis.

He is totally correct with one exception.

Only government can solve this crisis by getting out of business -- not by making government bigger.

This is not the change we voted for; bigger government and more and larger taxes.

We voted for change from the way the government has been run the last 40 years.

We voted for government to abide by the laws it created and to get rid of those that impede our freedoms.

Remember, it was government that created this crisis by meddling in business and then not following the legally-set regulations to make sure they were carried out for the benefit of the citizens.

Sen. Dodd and Rep. Frank benefited very well from those government agencies they oversaw.

It's called one hand washes the other.

JOHN ANDERSON

Hearing both sides

The Wednesday, Jan 14, Pahrump Valley Times newspaper had my picture on the front page, which was titled, "Louis DeCanio Arrested," and Sheriff Tony DeMeo made statements, which were totally false and misleading in the article.

Monday, Jan. 12, I went to the Nye County Sheriff's Office to speak with the sheriff but I was told he wasn't in the office. I left my name and phone number, but to this day I still have not received a call.

I am not looking for special treatment, but I do expect a public official to obtain both sides of a story before he makes a statement to the local media, which could be prejudicial to the case and could also tarnish the good name of my wife and me.

With newspaper in hand, I walked to the Pahrump Valley Times office on Wednesday, Jan. 14, and asked to speak with the editor, Mark Smith. I told Mr. Smith my picture looked fine, but the statements were false, and I wanted to know why I wasn't interviewed before anything was put on the front page. I explained to Mr. Smith that the next day I had a court date in Pahrump Justice Court and if they wanted to see my side of the story, I hoped they would send someone to report all of the facts.

Gina Good, a reporter for the Pahrump Valley Times, sat through court and interviewed me afterwards.

She even went the extra mile and wanted to see for herself the areas where I posted no trespassing signs and whether or not my statements were accurate concerning the off-roaders and other illegal activity, which takes place on the open land.

Good was very thorough in her reporting in the article she wrote in the Pahrump Valley Times Friday, Jan. 16, showing there are two sides to every story and that's all the public expects from a newspaper -- to be fair and honest.

I want to thank Mark Smith, Gina B. Good and the Pahrump Valley Times for giving me the opportunity to tell my side of the story.

I wonder if local Pahrump TV station KPVT Channel 30 knows what fair and honest news reporting means. Friday, Jan. 16, local TV news reporter Dan Keenan did a televised news story about how I said threatening remarks over a scanner and even showed my picture to insinuate the news story was proven fact.

The truth of the matter is, Mr. Keenan's entire news story is 100 percent false.

I am willing and available to speak with any news media to answer any questions so the facts are always correct and the people of Pahrump know.

I didn't hide from the media before and I won't hide from them now.

LOUIS J. DECANIO

Goedhart spins bill's purpose

Mr. Goedhart's response to Larry Weese tries to "spin" his proposed bill's purpose.

Mr. Goedhart ran as a Republican in the last election. His first paragraph compares a parent choosing their school just as they choose their doctor. Nice idea but he should know that during the last presidency, more people lost their health insurance than ever before.

Mr. Goedhart should tell us what a "mediocre" education means in his own words.

Many critics of American education compare our statistics to European or Asian educational systems. I have talked to teachers who have worked in Europe and Asia. They talk about exclusion and tracking. The will tell you that education is not universal in the immense slums of China. They will tell you of the very high suicide rates in Japanese school-age populations.

The vaunted English schools "track" rigorously to make sure only the brightest advance to college. The French segregate their non-French laborer populations so heavily there was widespread rioting and car-burning in the cities since the youth felt they had no chance at a future.

In America, education is open to all from grades K-12. Non-citizens, mentally handicapped, physically handicapped and economically deprived can go to school for free.

Post high school education is available to all who want to take a chance on bettering their lives.

Of course, the current governor of Nevada has announced proposed cuts to higher education in Nevada, which will mean some students will be unable to pursue their dreams of college. Cuts to your child's schools have not yet been determined.

Mr. Goedhart says government should not run schools. The reality is the role of government in public education has been necessary on several levels.

Local government, state government and national government play a part in the American educational system. Some would wish for a reduction in the level of government intervention in education.

Unfortunately, history has shown government at local level has not been equitable in providing education for all.

Segregated schools in the South, special rights, handicapped accessibility were all areas where it was necessary for the government to step in.

The rich have always been able to afford education for their children. That's why The Meadows and Bishop Gorman exist in Las Vegas.

But a reality check is needed. What the state gives the Nye County School District for each child is only a fraction of what private school tuition costs. The day is long past when parochial schools paid their religious teachers a hundred dollars a month plus room and board.

The Meadows in Las Vegas charges in excess of $10,000 per school year, per student. Bishop Gorman just finished a new high school that costs between $60 and $80 million to build. Their tuition is also expensive.

Now if you want you can still find less expensive private schools, but first check into what is provided as education. Do they provide special education for those who need it? Do they have shops for learning about trades? Do they have computer labs, science labs and higher math, such as calculus for the college bound?

What about a certified chemistry and physics teacher? Can they play athletics if they are so talented?

Remember, a certified teacher goes to college for at least four years to learn their subject. Many go even longer to learn specialized subjects and must go to college past that to keep their license to teach in Nevada.

Some teachers even have doctoral degrees. There is one at Pahrump Valley High School who is a specialist in the teaching of autistic children.

Remember, a videotape is not a certified teacher.

Mr. Goedhart's proposal is to give the parent a 75 percent rebate on what the state gives to public schools. Now that sounds OK, but who is going to make sure that money is spent on child education?

Who is going to check on whether the child is able to pass the standardized tests required by No Child Left Behind rules?

If the child is unable to pass the tests at various stages of their education, who is held accountable? Will the monitor who stops and starts the videotape machine? Will the parent who is home schooling a child get a rebate?

No Child Left Behind does have rules and penalties. Does Mr. Goedhart's proposal, or does it just give taxpayer money away? Remember, parents of students who want their children to stay in public schools, every dollar taken away from public schools weakens the education that your child gets by subtracting money from the public school budget.

Mr. Goedhart believes giving the parent 75 percent of what the state gives the school district will be adequate to educate a child and provide the same choices as a richer parent sending a child to private high-dollar schools.

He is also advocating taking money away from public schools to give to some folks and thus taking money away from the majority of children being educated in public schools.

Friends, that is the real "crock" as Mr. Goedhart puts it.

If Mr. Goedhart believes separation is the wave of the future, he is the one living in another era. Today's public schools are open to all. The trustees are voted on by the people. The meetings are open to the public. The agendas are posted. The schools are open to parents. We have nothing to hide.

If you want to see what is going on in your child's school, visit the school office and ask. Your child's school belongs to you. Your tax money built it.

Don't separate you child from the best universal education system the world has ever seen. Become a part of education. That's the American way.

JOHN KILEY

News about Comstock Park

Our board of directors need to abide by the Nevada Revised Statues (NRS) Nevada Administrative Code (NAC). So far they haven't.

NRS 116.3115b states, " ... reserve fund to be used for repairs, replacement and maintenance of the common elements." Not for a vinyl fence without homeowners' majority vote.

NRS 116.310315 states: " ... charges, liens, interest kept separate from homeowners' payments of association fees." Our board of directors was lumping them together and charging 10 percent interest.

Our board charges $3 extra if homeowners' pay monthly, quarterly or semiannually. There's nothing in the NRS that allows this.

Our president of the board of directors said to homeowners, "We will open all five positions for board of directors for Jan. 10. We're done, we won't run next year."

In the Dec. 9, 2008, meeting I reminded him of what he said. His reply was, "I never said that." It was recorded. Homeowners' yelled, "Yes, you did." He was caught on this lie.

NRS 116.31085 states the only contract allowed signed in executive session is between board of directors an attorney. They hired a management company at cost of over $62,000 in executive session.

On June 9, 2008, our secretary said we had $158,556 total in reserve and operating accounts. Supposedly in hands of new management. They won't tell us how much money is left and the location, (in the bank, etc.). NRS 116.400(F) states that files and records can't be over 60 miles away from here. Maybe the files and money are in Royal Bank of Canada. They have banks worldwide. Where's our money?

They are stalling our election. If our current board of directors can remain in power through April, they can use homeowners' assessments, over $130,000, to be written off as attorney fees.

The board claims they don't have to show homeowners any bills, receipts, etc., and don't have to answer to anyone.

The ombudsman slapped their hands for violations and said, "Don't do it again." Who will help us? Maybe the FBI or the attorney general can remove this board of directors.

We pray for help for all homeowners here.

Concerned citizen,

DELORES GOSS