'Loving life' letter correction

An error in 'Loving life' letter submitted by Dave Brotherton, printed March 13 says, " ... Dodge dealer probably doesn't have any cars for $520 a month ..." should have said $52 a month.

Change the Constitution?

I 've been reading the letters to the editor of the past few weeks. I am surprised to see in our small community so many people against the U.S. Constitution and trying to change world history.

One person said the Constitution was laughable and was meant for the times it was written.

We don't need guns, we have law enforcement and don't need to hunt for food.

The Second Amendment was so people can protect their families and property from criminals and tyranny.

Back to law enforcement. The national average today is two officers per one thousand citizens and they are not a deterrent. (You are -- with your gun.) When the Constitution was written very few towns had a population of a thousand and they all had more than two officers. They were better protected than we are today.

George Washington in his second speech to the people said a free man without a gun in not a free man.

Now for world history. In 1939, the Nazis and Hitler were in power in Germany. He was a good politician and speaker.

Germany was going through economic hardship, a depression. Hitler's speeches were on change and how he would save the country and the middle class workforce. Everyone was awed by him. Doesn't that sound familiar?

After Hitler was in power is when he passed gun control laws in 1939. He went on his rampage to kill everyone he didn't like, his popularity dropped way down. It was too late, the people gave up their rights to defend themselves.

WILLIAM GARLOUGH

(The Weimer Republic introduced gun control in 1928. The allegation that Hitler introduced gun control is a standard myth. There is also a huge difference between dropping popularity and efforts to challenge Hitler in any meaningful way. As the BBC put it, "... many ordinary people learned ... to get on with their lives. Only a few, however, were brave and committed enough to take their resistance beyond 'grumbling' and become active opponents of the Nazis." There is no evidence whatsoever that gun control played any role. -Ed.)

Pen is mightier than the sword

On some level, most people recognize that far more wealth has been stolen from society through law and regulation than through criminal enterprise. As a general engineering contractor of many years in the public works sector, I have come to understand that the underlying reason for the economic decline of America is our inability to compete.

Free market competition and lack of government oppression was the foundation to America's rise to superpower status.

Today I find my ability to offer a better service at a lower price through the public bidding process of public works to be nearly nonexistent. The use of no-bid contracts, exclusive franchises, block contracts, preferred bidder lists and other sweetheart deals have assured that all of us will pay more and receive less, while only a handful will benefit.

The authority by which the board is entering into this exclusive franchise is derived from NRS. 269.128. The title of that statue is: "Displacement or limitation of competition." Having been given this avenue from the state, it does not make it wise, just or moral.

In a nutshell, the board is trying to take a service that is freely available to anybody in the valley and force it upon everyone, many of which do not need nor want it.

This revised ordinance, as written, is to guarantee that Mr. Shea's very lucrative contract is protected and unchallenged. In turn, Mr. Shea will pay a handsome monthly profit to the town for this protection. The town also has tapped into a huge revenue stream of fines and fees. By the clever definition of unused vehicles, parts and used construction materials as solid waste, the transfer of wealth from the citizens to the town and Mr. Shea will be endless.

I am single and live alone. I compost my garbage and recycle my cans. As I spend a lot of time away from home, the sealed trashcans in my garage take two to three months to fill. I will be billed automatically and can apply for a refund upon proving that I self-hauled my trash at least once every 21 days.

Requesting a validation, storing it and filing for a refund every time I deliver my trash to the landfill is a waste of my time. This service is worse than useless to me.

The ongoing lawsuit against the town concerning this franchise could easily be mitigated with careful wording in that area alone. Overreaching into the pockets of the people you represent will have its own consequences, requiring more regulation, more enforcement, more money and more hard feelings.

I respectfully suggest that this proposed revision to Pahrump Town Ordinance No. 43 be sent back for further revision, eliminating the mandates and not adopted at this time.

KENNY BENT

Thanks for the help

Monday, March 9, my car window was smashed and my daughter's softball gear was taken from the car. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Nye County Sheriff's Office for the professionalism and compassion displayed by Dep. Fowles in his response to my situational crisis.

I would also like to thank Shanda and Joe Roderick and the Pahrump Girls Fastpitch league for their time and attention in helping my daughter get the gear she needs to continue to play a sport that she loves.

To whoever took my daughter's gear, I sincerely hope that you needed it more than she did.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped.

KAREN LEE

Ask the mailman

In the March 6 issue of the PVT publisher Marie Wujek complained about manipulation of truth. She then proceeded to do just that.

One of the first things Ronald Reagan did when he became emperor was to destroy the federal civil service retirement system. In its place he created FERS.

Known to it's participants as the "F" the employees retirement system, it has two parts.

First, a stock market-based investment scheme, second, Social Security.

That millions of federal employees have been paying into Social Security for more than a quarter of a century is the reason the mostly right-wing administrations have been able to ignore reform. But now that the government is laying off or retiring thousands of employees, Social Security will have many more recipients.

Don't believe that? Ask the person who delivers your mail.

KEVIN DOYLE

Nye needs to face some facts

I was at the board of equalization hearing Monday, Feb. 23, because I had filed an appeal pertaining to the large increase the county wanted to make to my taxable valuation. As it turns out, they admitted they made a mistake, thereby reducing my taxable valuation, and I did not have to make a presentation.

However, since I was there I decided to see what happened at these hearings and I came away amazed.

When "general public comment" is scheduled before specific action items, there is a problem. Since, at this time, the only two items presented were the pledge and the board's approval of the agenda, what is the public to comment on? How well the flag was held during the pledge?

One cannot comment on an action item that has not been presented. (Yes, I, too, have used Robert's Rules of Order.)

Further, when a gentleman from the "general public" tried to comment on the action items after they had been presented and voted for approval by the BOE, this person was told that the public comment time was passed and he should use his 15-minute presentation time to do so.

Of course, he could always wait several days as that is how long it was going to take for the 73 petitions to be presented, and then make his public comment at Agenda Item No. 7.

What a neat little trick when you don't want to explain the action items, as normal parliamentary procedure is to present the item, ask for public comment and then vote.

The two action items in question were to give Mayfield Ranch Estates and Mountain Falls residents a 15 percent reduction for improvement value, and this was, according to comment, in addition to the 25 percent reduction they had received on their land value.

I was listening to comments being made around me that the board decided to do this to save time because these subdivision residents went down, en masse, to file their appeals. If the talk was true, this is another neat trick to keep in mind for next year if the rest of us need it.

Perhaps by then they will have re-written their agenda.

As is true with most governing bodies, whether federal, state or local, budgets are based on tax money received; whether from property taxes, room taxes, gas taxes, and in our case PETT.

By denying the majority of appeals the projected budget for this year is once again safe. Eventually Nye County is going to have to face the fact that the county budget is going to have to decrease -- whether through layoffs, attrition or bankruptcy remains to be seen.

DON RUST AND KATHY STONE

Congratulations to Obama

You have made your place in history again. Less than two months in office and well over a trillion dollars in giveaway spending.

That's a new record, and we and our children and our grandchildren will remember you well every time we pay our taxes for the next 50 years.

I am positive that those who voted for you are proud beyond belief.

WAYNE FRITSEN

Don't move to Pahrump

We have lived in Pahrump for almost six years. For the last five I have tried to get the sheriff's office to send someone to our street to ticket speeders.

Every time I call I get exactly the same response: "We only have a limited number of deputies and they can't be everywhere at once."

In five years(43,800 hours) the sheriff has been unable to dedicate one hour of time to the people that live on our street. Time management classes are available on line.

There are 20-plus families that live on our street (posted 35 mph, average speed 55-60 mph). My wife and I pay over $2,000 a year in property taxes. Times that by 20 and you get over $40,000 a year times five years is $200,000.

It is hard to imagine that $200,000 will not buy one hour of protection from our sheriff's office. This is a safety issue, and I do not understand why the county commissioners do not require the sheriff to perform the duties he swore to uphold (i.e., the real killers in this town -- traffic violators).

My advice is "do not move to Pahrump if you expect any police protection," because you will not get it.

Why? Because they only have a limited number of deputies, and they can't be everywhere at once. No matter how much you and your neighbors pay in taxes.

BRIAN PHILLIPS

Citizens against virtually everything

I would like to address the mass hysteria created by a town board member's cult-like followers that were present at the last few board meetings.

First off, mob mentality from the micro-minority is no way to get anything done. It is not hard to abide by Robert's rules of order, open meeting law and common courtesy while conducting business at town board meetings.

As for PTO No. 43, all it lays out is that you must pick up your garbage.

We are lucky that we are able to go to the dump for free and dispose of our refuse. Also, as citizens of Pahrump we have a right not to have our neighbors collect garbage on their property, thereby causing a loss in our property values, health-related issues and an attractant for pests.

It is very simple: Either pay for garbage pick-up like a majority of Pahrump or take your garbage to the dump and get a receipt. It's as simple as rolling down your window and collecting the receipt just like your Big Mac or a prescription.

A little common courtesy for your neighbors is all that is asked. This is not something new or extreme just for Pahrump. It is this way all across the country, from Las Vegas to the Midwest to even back East.

And for the group that calls themselves CCSA, where were you two years ago when there were all of the public hearings? You just want to show up now when it's too late so you can get some attention to pad your egos. You obviously are unaware of how things work and who has jurisdiction on matters. In the past meetings, business of the town has been stymied by nonsense created by a bunch of "adults" acting like children.

It is no wonder that nothing ever gets accomplished here. We pay more taxes than Vegas and what do we have to show for it?

There is a very small section of the population that feel that it's their way of thinking or no way at all, thereby wasting the time of our elected officials on both the county and the town.

The town board is elected to represent the majority of the town, not just bend to the whim of anyone. They must do what is best for the town as a whole. And last time I looked, the 25 or so CAVE members in a community of 40,000 is nowhere close to a majority.

We could have Disney want to move Disneyland here and you still would complain.

JIMMY JOHNSON

Goodbye to a friend

It is with a heavy heart I say I have lost a great friend.

Bob Swadell has been a cornerstone in the Pahrump community for more than 10 years. Many people liked him and some didn't, but still, everything he did was to make Pahrump a better place to live. Many admired his talent, knowledge and tall stories, all of them true, but no one more than I.

Bob helped me through many hard times in my short political career by saying, "Keep your head held high." He told me, "do what you think is right no matter what others say."

Bob Swadell was a true friend and never asked for favors. He only asked me to keep an open mind. He was a true believer of good government and improving the quality of life in Pahrump.

One time he actually said to Al Collins, the developer of Mountain Falls, "You've worked the dirt there so many times it should be worn out."

Bob was always a strong supporter of the Pahrump Hospital before and after it was built. He was very good at bringing people together and was proud of the armed forces, in which he served for so many years.

He has a justice center in Henderson named after him because of his involvement in saving them millions of dollars in construction costs through his own innovative architectural designs.

Bob was always respectful of the local officials and tried to encourage them to do the right thing.

I last spoke with him Friday, and he said, "I've been through a lot and I am having a hard time hanging on."

My response was, "Please quit smoking and be strong."

Bob had worked on trying to acquire BLM land for a higher education community college for over eight years, and it's a shame he won't be around to see it come to pass.

He will be truly missed by many and it will be hard to find another friend like him.

BUTCH BORASKY

Just the facts, Ma'am

Boy oh boy, Ms. Hendrickson, you really haven't got a clue, do you?

Well, let me help you understand. First, put down the Kool-Aid and listen up. Let's use that logic you're so proud of.

A department of justice survey found as many as 2.5 million firearms are used each year in self-defense or the protection of others. The survey also found 40 percent of felons chose not to commit some crimes for fear their intended victims were armed and 34 percent admitted having been scared off or shot at by armed would-be-victims.

According to the survey, 85 percent of Americans believe people have the right to use firearms to defend themselves in the home and 64 percent favor allowing law-abiding citizens to carry firearms outside the home.

Also, 72 percent prefer stiffer sentences for criminals rather than more gun laws.

States with right-to-carry laws have lower violent crime rates -- 28 percent lower murder, 38 percent lower armed robbery and 17 percent lower aggravated assault.

Sportsmen provide nearly 75 percent of the annual revenue for all 50 states' conservation agencies through fees, excise taxes on firearms and gear. Sportsmen also contribute $440 million per year for wildlife conservation.

So come out of your locked bathroom of fear. It's okay to be afraid, but don't let fear paralyze your mind.

To answer your question, yes, I have been in a few riots. I spent 10 years, 18 hours a day dodging bullets, knives, baseball bats, crowbars, hammers and pipe wrenches. You name the gun and I've had it stuck in my face more than once. And I have the scars to remind me. I am not complaining, it's the profession I chose.

Now I don't wear a giant "S" on my back, but I do train in split-second decision-making daily. I am also consciously aware of my surroundings so I'm not "distracted and hurrying" as you put it.

I can tell you from real-life experience, one man on top of his building with a rifle did disperse over 200 rioters in about two seconds. I saw it with my own two eyes.

Now if he had locked himself in a bathroom out of fear like you did, he might not be alive today and his shop would have been looted.

Like it or not, there are a lot of men and women around you who are armed. They don't wear a giant "S" on their backs, either.

So if you really don't want them around, you just click your heals together and repeat after me, "There's no place like Ohio, there's no place like Ohio."

MARK COSTANZO

What a dreamer thought

Today's column (March 13) on what might have been at Yucca Mountain is just another dreamer's idea of what should have been.

If he had taken the time to just pull up the number of train wrecks across the country in the last two years, he would have seen how stupid the idea is to ship this nuclear poison from all around the country to be stuck in tunnels in Nevada.

As far as Yucca Mountain being able to create thousands of jobs, I can't envision thousands of people working in what amounts to a warehouse. If they were recycling the waste, possibly. Between the earthquake faults and washes that surround the dump, George W. Bush's idea of "science" was a joke.

What I can envision is the thousands of jobs that will be created by the coming wind and solar collecting plants around Nevada.

We have in the past and should continue to ship our nuclear waste to France for reprocessing until we are able to do it ourselves. Nuclear waste burial is just a disaster waiting to happen. Our government has lied to us before and the DOE is no exception. They will tell you what they want you to hear so it will be profitable for them.

I fail to understand the policy of your paper of ignoring the fact that the housing market is going down the tubes and nothing is being done about reducing the appraisals. Who is being protected? Not the Realtors or developers, The state tax collectors? Do they need protection? When the Carson City Gang decides they need more money because of the house foreclosures, that's when the 3 percent cap will disappear. The average home owner that can still make his or her payments will be saddled with enough debt to make their stimulus payment turn into hot air.

RICHARD A. BROWN

(The PVT has no "policy" aside from reporting the ups and downs of the housing market and the efforts to reduce or maintain appraisals.-Ed.)

Is it all about money?

In what can only be considered a travesty of free market principles, the town board, despite an hour of compelling argument against it by concerned citizens, passes Town Ordinance No. 43, four to one, with Mike Darby voting no.

There was no discussion amongst them about any of the arguments presented, as though the decision had been made before the meeting even started.

I got the impression they think the 200 concerned citizens that show up to fight these things are a micro-minority in the town and that the rest of the populace doesn't care what they do. That when they drive around their neighborhoods up by the Winery, or Artesia, where they believe what Pahrump is, and the double wide on the 2-1/2 acres is outdated and offensive.

Are they correct? Has Pahrump become the town they have decided to change it into? Are people willing to give up their rights to do what they want on their own properties in order to demand that their neighbors conform?

We don't know. Those of us who are out fighting these battles for our freedoms don't know if we are only representing ourselves or if there are more of us there who are just not paying attention.

Well the time has come to pay attention. The federal government is out of control, and we feel helpless to do anything about that, but on a local level we can make a difference. We can get our local officials to recognize our rights, if we demand it.

So what can we do? Let's start by contacting the town office and demanding that they repeal PTO 43 and open garbage removal to other contractors or citizens besides PVD, who can make a business out of cleaning up problem areas for the owners. Let this be a wake-up call, either for the town board or for us, who show up to demand our rights.

Either let them know we are more than just a small minority, or let us know that the right to choose who we do business with is not as important as forcing compliance to some bureaucrat's standards.

This ordinance was supposedly re-written to address the problem of people not cleaning up their properties, and because the town was in a lawsuit over another contractor who wanted to do cleanup work. I certainly don't see how it addresses either of those problems. I do, however, see how it will bring a lot more money to the town from the PVD franchise fees.

Could it be that is what this whole thing is about?

PAT KERBY