Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Hard to escape bad news

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002 | 8:30 a.m.

Several years back there was a common expression used by the disenchanted: "Stop the world, I want to get off."

What would happen if one were to turn off the radio and TV and stop reading newspapers and magazines for one month?

In other words, cut off communication with the outside world.

You can bet it would be a time of less stress and there would be no need for all the pills being advertised to avoid depression.

Of course, a return to normalcy would bring back all the news of wars, terrorism, political bickering, unemployment, the homeless, the yo-yoing stock market, crime, the damaged environment and the very real possibility that the present administration is gearing for war with Iraq.

If we were to believe news sources out of the nation's capital, President George W. Bush has no intention of accepting the Iraqi report on weapons of mass destruction.

The immediate future, indeed, looks bleak, not only for the United States, but for the entire world.

On that cheerful note we come to the problems facing our governor and state legislators as so well defined in a recent Sun story by political reporter Erin Neff.

Nevada is just one of the many states facing huge deficits and even greater demands for service.

It all comes down to the old truth, you get what you pay for. And now, it seems, is the time to pay.

Roone Arledge, who died last week of cancer at age 71, was once ABC's golden boy of sports news.

He was also a regular when the big fights began coming to Las Vegas.

I recall being introduced to him by Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder at a reception for the ABC fight crew. Snyder was later banned from TV for making some stupid, racial remarks. Friends who knew Snyder would swear he was no racist, but the die was cast and Jimmy was gone.

Now, too, is Roone Arledge.

Could the timely resignations of Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and economic advisor Larry Lindsey indicate that the president is finally turning his attention to the lagging economy?

Government officials gung-ho for battle should take a close look at the $2 trillion cost of war with Iraq as being projected by researchers.

That includes invasion and after-war involvement.

Money like that could do much to balance the budget and bring prosperity back to our nation.

At a recent gathering of friends I was introduced to a new kind of trivia game. It revolves around old advertising slogans.

Can you recall "The pause that refreshes," "Wonder where the yellow went" and those old car commercials, "in my merry Oldsmobile," "See the USA in your Chevrolet" or "Have you driven a Ford, lately?"

Who could forget driving along the highways reading a series of signs such as "Drive too long -- driver snoozing -- what happened next -- is not amusing -- Burma Shave."

A sentiment on a Hallmark greeting card is apropos to the season:

"May the time be close at hand where all may live in harmony, a peaceful world of kindred hearts united as a family. In your heart -- peace. In your home -- happiness. In the world -- love."