So the conservatives are supposed to be attacking the middle class. Well then, I guess that means the middle class is mostly made up of government employees, government unions and government-supported unions.
That means the rest of the working folks are having to work harder and longer to support the bloated government and higher costs created by unions. Then it stands to reason that the liberals are responsible for creating the working poor. I would rather be one trying to reduce waste, taxes and unnecessary expense than be the one who feeds off the labor of the others.
It's not that I'm against raising taxes or helping those who are less fortunate, I'm just against the manner in which it's being done.
Sometimes good old common sense seems to be a thing of the past. I could come up with better solutions than Congress or the president has so far. If only I were king.
Walter Owens
Carson City
It is quite clear that if enough Tea Party vote-chasing Republicans keep saying crazy things often enough, long enough, there will be even crazier statements made about how our economy should recover.
We have a big reality check to go through. Crazy is crazy. You can't be fair or balanced about crazy. If you try, it's just more crazy talk.
What the country needs is for the government to step in and begin fixing roads, improving freeways, installing green energy projects, and all the rest, to begin injecting money into the economy.
Yes, it will worsen the deficit, but unless and until we jump-start the economy, it may be years before the economy recovers. Imagine what the federal debt will look like then!
A robust economy will tip the scales back toward black ink. It's what works, it's not crazy and the sooner we get back to common sense and away from bumper-sticker politics, the sooner we'll get back to work and once again be proud of being citizens of the United States of America.
David Morgan
Newport, Ore
I have a dream - term limits. And since our representatives will not listen to us on this, we the people must control the terms. Easier said than done, as while I believe the majority of voters agree with this, when it comes down to it, they would rather keep the incumbent lifer rather than vote in someone from the other party.
If you agree that we need term limits - say two terms - then if your party of choice nominates someone for a third term and you truly believe in term limits, you will not vote for your party candidate.
Furthermore, members of Congress and the presidents of the United States need to have their benefits cut, pay cut, and be afforded the same benefits - not more - that any other federal employee has, including retirement requirement benefits.
Lastly, all terms should be four-year terms. Six years is too long, two years is not enough. Heck, they get elected and they turn around and start running again.
What about good officials? If the elected official is that good, then I am sure that they could become a paid adviser to the newly elected official.
Yes, this is just a dream - special interests will not allow it to happen - and there are too many lemmings who will vote party line, even when their party candidate is a fellow lemming to the party and not to what is best for the citizens. But I can dream.
Hal Hansen
Carson City
I am writing to express my deep concern about House Republicans' vote to end Medicare and cut benefits that hard-working seniors have earned.
This reckless privatization scheme is an insult to every hard-working American who has paid into Medicare; especially in these challenging times when retired Americans rely on their Medicare benefits. Congress must do whatever it takes to protect this critical safety net.
Medicare belongs to the people who worked their whole lives to pay into the system. It's not the government's piggy bank to balance the budget on the backs of seniors.
Why should we ask our seniors to choose between paying the heating bill and seeing a doctor while big oil companies are free to keep their huge taxpayer funding?
Seniors, our children and grandchildren deserve better than an extreme plan that will take away seniors' basic benefits. As voters, we must urge Congress to find a common-sense solution to ensure that Medicare is viable in the months, years and decades to come.
Kirk Yeager
Yerington
