Letters

Fiscal reboot

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

You’d be surprised how many conversations I’ve had on the topic of the fiscal cliff.

I’ve talked to some people who are pretty smart about this sort of stuff. Almost to a person, they say that the Republicans and Democrats will get right to the edge, and then negotiate a way to avoid it.

I don’t think so. I think they appear to want to go over the edge. I believe the “fiscal cliff” provides cover for these cowardly legislators who can’t risk angering their bases but recognize this country must increase revenues and cut spending.

In a way, it’s the opposite of what happened when the Reno City Council decided to rethink the popular blackmail payout on the Aces Stadium.

To me, the fiscal cliff is more like a fiscal reboot, and like a reboot on a computer, it will either solve a processor issue or, if the computer happens to be updating the operating system, can brick the whole thing. Hate to say it, but our tepid economic recovery is easily comparable to an update of the OS.

I think those Democrats are planning to take up filibuster reform after the first of the year—right after the fiscal cliff is either avoided or embraced—because then they can immediately reinstate the middle class tax cuts, increase tax rates on the top 2 percent of Americans, add more stimulus money, close tax loopholes— there’s a whole laundry list of spending and cutting favorites in the Democratic playbook—all anyone has to look at is the “deal” Obama offered to Boehner on Nov. 29.

Think those House Republicans will stand with their Senate cohorts and continue to block legislation when their constituents are suddenly paying more in taxes, losing their jobs, seeing businesses close? Fat chance.

But we’ll see. This is all conjecture. Nobody really knows what unholy deals are being made behind closed doors on Capitol Hill. —D. Brian Burghart brianb@newsreview.com

Support medical services

Acommon misconception is Planned Parenthood just deals with abortions. They also offer birth control, women’s health services like breast and cervical cancer screenings, pregnancy education, and serve men who usually go for STD testing and treatment. Planned Parenthood is the largest U.S. provider of these services, and of their average 11 million services a year, abortions only account for 3 percent. Nationally, less than 7 percent of Planned Parenthood’s funding goes to abortion services, and most clinics only counsel and provide referrals, like many doctors. Many men and women go to Planned Parenthood because it’s less expensive and they can be seen without insurance. Getting rid of Planned Parenthood would mean more abortions due to unwanted pregnancies from not having affordable preventative methods. Without affordable and proper available services, many women could take it upon themselves to execute the abortion, damaging their bodies permanently, if not killing themselves. Bryann Whitley Sparks

Cold comfort

On Nov. 17, the Nevada Republican State Central Committee (SCC) met in Pahrump. The meeting was a victory for Ron Paul supporters and lovers of liberty everywhere. In a nutshell, resolutions were passed stating that the binding of Nevada’s national delegates was in violation of party rules and federal election laws, and therefore the delegates were never truly bound. Because of this, the subsequent censuring by the state party of delegation chair Dr. Wayne Terhune, and the Nevada delegates who [voted for Paul] was totally improper.

The RSCC also resolved that the “rules” passed at the national convention were never truly passed. If you watched the convention on TV, then you witnessed the chaos that ensued when a new set of draconian rules were swept into place, even though it seemed like a majority of the voice vote was “No!” In spite of the dissension, Convention Chair John Boehner continued to read the teleprompter, which scrolled up that the rules were unanimously adopted, when in actuality, they never were. These new rules, enacted ex post facto, required a plurality of eight states for a candidate’s presidential nomination. Therefore, since the 2012 rules were not accepted by the body, they were not in effect, and the 2008 rules were.

Ron Paul was nominated as he did have the original required plurality of five states (actually six), and was never allowed the opportunity to give a nomination speech. These nefarious rules changes were the work of national party chair Rance Priebus. Since the Nevada RSCC meeting, 30 other states’Central Committees have passed the “Resolution to Reestablish Republican Unity and Principles,” or a “Resolution to Restore the Power of the Grassroots.” This resolution throws out the rules that were forced upon the 2012 National Convention, and reinstates the rules of 2008. Next January’s RNC winter meeting in Charlotte, N.C., should be the final chapter for party chair Priebus. His take-over of the convention and abysmal direction of the Romney campaign left the party in ruins. Meanwhile, Ron Paul has taken over the leadership of the Campaign for Liberty, where his message of peace, sound money, and freedom continues to ring true for many. Cynthia Kennedy Virginia City

Expect the worst

Re “That’s Capitalism, folks” (Feature story, Nov. 15):

Over the years, I have come not to expect much from the feature articles in the RN&R, so when I saw the clever title for the feature article on capitalism, I assumed it would be the usual RN&R diatribe, this time about capitalism: something along the lines of Michael Moore. Imagine my surprise, and delight, when I finally had a chance to read this article and, instead of the usual sniggering adolescent sarcasm, I discover a serious, intelligent, mature, well-thought-out and even impassioned argument about (of all things) socialism.

But, how is it possible that Jake Highton has missed the last hundred years of human history? The rise and fall of the Soviet Union and the conversion of Communist China into Capitalist China. Everywhere communism and socialism are in retreat: shucks, even Fidel and Raul have seen the light and are courting the tourist dollar nowadays (or perhaps more correctly, the tourist Euro).

Where has he been? Was he locked in an ivory tower? Could it be that he still is? Because he doesn’t even keep up with current events. The European Union and the Euro zone economy are collapsing under their own weight, much of that weight acquired as the result of the Greeks and French taking too many holidays. Ever since the end of World War II, the socialist governments of southern Europe have been encouraging their citizens to enjoy the good times. Now, the piper must be paid, and it’s not a pretty sight.

I cannot think of two more unlikely heroes of the working class than Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Karl Marx never worked a day in his life, unless you consider editing an academic journal to be work. He married the daughter of a rich man, and spent the rest of his life living on his wife’s money. As for Engels, he was the quintessence of the exploitive capitalist bourgeoisie. He became rich off the backs of the workers in his family’s textile mills.

I do agree with Highton that the best possible form of human society, the one that is definitely worth striving for, is the society where each person gives according to their ability and takes according to their need. Capitalism is absolutely the worst possible form of human society, and yet it prospers everywhere, like a weed. It succeeds because, unlike communism or socialism, it appeals to the lowest common denominator of the human character.

Marx was right, class struggle is one of the fundamental elements of human existence and human history: workers fight for their rights and capitalists fight for their profits. Do coal miners need a union? Absolutely! Do farm workers need a union? Without a doubt. Do college professors need a union? The answer to that is not immediately obvious.

As Voltaire said, “History is the pattern of silken slippers, descending the staircase to the rumble of hobnail boots coming up from below.” This has been the course of human history from the very beginning, and I think it must always be this way. It is not Utopia, and it’s certainly not the best possible model of human society, but I think it’s the only one we can expect, human beings being what they are. Bill Nickerson Reno

Not necessarily

Here in Nevada, alone among the 50 states, voters can cast a ballot for “none of the above.” This fall, Republicans tried to eliminate this option, thinking it might help Romney. Had they succeeded, the joke would have been on them.

It wouldn’t have changed the presidential results. Obama won a clear majority of over 52 percent, nearly 68,000 votes ahead, with only 5,770 voters choosing “none of the above.”

But eliminating the option might have given us a second Democratic Senator. Berkley lost to Heller by just 11,576 votes. Over 45,277 voted for “none of the above” in that race. Michael O. Campbell Reno

Corrections

In the story, “Power brokers” (Feature story, Dec. 6), we misspelled Deirdre Mazzetto’s name.

In the story, “General fund dollars” (News, Dec. 6), we incorrectly stated that Monarch Casino Resort Inc. owns both the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino and the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa. This is not true.

We regret these errors and apologize for any confusion caused by them.

Our Mission To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages people to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live. Editor/Publisher D. Brian Burghart News Editor Dennis Myers Arts Editor Brad Bynum Special Projects Editor Ashley Hennefer Calendar Editor Kelley Lang Editorial Intern Bethany Deines Contributors Amy Alkon, Megan Berner, Matthew Craggs, Mark Dunagan, Marvin Gonzalez, Bob Grimm, Michael Grimm, Nora Heston, Dave Preston, Jessica Santina, K.J. Sullivan, Kris Vagner, Bruce Van Dyke, Allison Young Design Manager Kate Murphy Art Director Priscilla Garcia Associate Art Director Hayley Doshay Design Brian Breneman, Marianne Mancina, Skyler Smith, Melissa Arendt Advertising Consultants Meg Brown, Gina Odegard, Matt Odegard, Bev Savage Senior Classified Advertising Consultant Olla Ubay Office/Distribution Manager/ Ad Coordinator Karen Brooke Business Manager Grant Ronsenquist Executive Assistant/Operations Coordinator Nanette Harker Assistant Distribution Manager Ron Neill Distribution Drivers Sandra Chhina, Gil Egeland, Neil Lemerise, John Miller, Russell Moore, Jesse Pike, David Richards, Martin Troye, Warren Tucker, Matthew Veach General Manager/Publisher John D. Murphy President/CEO Jeff vonKaenel Chief Operations Officer Deborah Redmond Human Resource Manager Tanja Poley Business Shannon McKenna Systems Manager Jonathan Schultz Systems Support Specialist Joe Kakacek Web Developer/Support Specialist John Bisignano 708 North Center Street Reno, NV 89501 Phone (775) 324-4440 Fax (775) 324-4572 Classified Fax (916) 498-7940 Mail Classifieds & Talking Personals to N&R Classifieds, Reno Edition, 1015 20th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 or e-mail classifieds@newsreview.com Web site www.newsreview.com Printed by Paradise Post The RN&R is printed using recycled newsprint whenever available. Editorial Policies Opinions expressed in the RN&Rare those of the authors and not of Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact the editor for permission to reprint articles, cartoons or other portions of the paper. The RN&R is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. All letters received become the property of the publisher. We reserve the right to print letters in condensed form.

THIS MODERN WORLD BY TOM TOMORROW

Asked at U.S. Post Office, 1674 N. Virginia St.

Mike Vuver

Homebuilder It’s heating up, obviously, because the ice cap’s melting. I don’t think there’s anything you can do at this point. It’s the emissions from the cars, it’s the carbon footprint. It’s there. It’s going to increase.

Markus Kemmelmeier

Professor It’s a considerable concern. It goes slowly … and most people don’t feel the impact of it. It is a serious problem even though it’s stretched out over decades. Whatever actions we take now [won’t be felt until] decades from now.

Send me back in, coach How bad is climate change?

We try to limit our commentary on national issues except when they directly affect us locally—for example, health-care reform. But this murder of Kasandra Perkins by Jovan Belcher seems worthy of note. Let’s hit it from a couple of points of view.

First, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in this country every day. How many make national headlines? The only reason this story made the headlines was because Belcher was a professional football player. In fact, according to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, “On average, three women are killed by their intimate partners every day in the United States.” If there were two others killed on Dec. 1, we haven’t read about them.

Second, about 6,000 people are killed every year with guns. In fact, Belcher reportedly bragged in a text about having eight guns “from hand Gunz to assault rifles” in his home.

Add into this mix new science from the Boston University Center for Traumatic Encephalopathy that shows that even mild repeated head injuries among athletes and soldiers can trigger the development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. “CTE is clinically associated with symptoms of irritability, impulsivity, aggression, depression, short-term memory loss and heightened suicidality.”

Thought we were going after your guns, didn’t you?

According to many sources, including the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, “a strong predictor of domestic violence in adulthood is domestic violence in the household in which the person was reared.” People had the view that that result was purely social, in other words, kids saw that their caregivers got results with violence, so as they grew up, they acted with violence. (Johnny saw Mom placate Dad when he acted violently. Dad smacked Johnny around when he didn’t mow the lawn.)

But doesn’t this new science make a lot of sense in the context of American society? Why is our society so violent in comparison to most societies? Why are societies that are more violent in the home than ours more violent in their relationships with their neighbors?

To borrow from the movie Lincoln, which borrowed from Euclid: “Things which are equal to the same thing are also equal to one another.”

If repeated blows to the head from sports or soldiering cause aggression, why don’t repeated blows to the head from dad’s fist or from a “shock and awe” carpet bombing campaigns cause aggression?

Many sports—boxing, soccer and football among them—feature repeated blows to the head. Is there a culture where violent sports are more a thread in the social fabric?

It appears possible there may be a biological and evolutionary imperative to develop violent behavior in reaction to violence. In other words, by making changes in our physiology, nature enables us to protect ourselves from head trauma because head trauma can kill us, which would tend to take us out of the gene pool. The problem is, for the most part, we are not in a violent environment so those tendencies are not used defensively.

Though probably not intended for this use, this new study offers a whole new way of looking at the root causes of violence in our culture. If we can identify and ameliorate the root causes of mild head injuries, issues regarding domestic violence and gun control may be made moot. Ω Jill Adrian

Photographer I read things about it, and I think I can be persuaded one way or the other. … I have to say when I was younger—I’m from Montana—we would have feet and feet of snow every year, and now that’s not the case.

Jennifer Hagen

Physician I’m not sure. It seems like things have gotten warmer. The polar ice caps are melting, and that’s a problem. But when you look at [it] historically—that there were ice ages that covered a huge part of the planet, and they melted and came back and melted and came back, I’m not sure if this is a long-term thing or just part of that cycle.

Patricia Routhier

College student I think it’s very serious because the scientists who are investigating this, and have investigated it for some period of time, are not stupid. And I think they are using very sound techniques to decide if this is true.