Las Vegas Sun

November 21, 2009

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Letter to the Editor:

Smart solutions require political courage

Peter McMurran, Las Vegas

Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 | 2:04 a.m.

Mark Muro’s thoughtful commentary in Sunday’s Las Vegas Sun, “Las Vegas’ dilemma: America’s, only more so,” was a welcome relief from the tired, negative rants generally found in the other local journal. The Brookings Institution, with its new Brookings Mountain West Initiative, is providing local analysis on real issues while proposing sustainable alternatives.

Transportation, energy, infrastructure and education were all mentioned in the insightful discussion by Mr. Muro, a fellow at the Brookings Institution and the policy director of its Metropolitan Policy Program. I would add two important aspects of change and growth to the dilemma: leadership and political will.

History has clearly shown that positive leadership can overcome most any obstacle. (We don’t have that with Gov. Jim Gibbons.) We need the rallying of the populace to attack local and state issues. We, as a citizenry, must not lose hope.

At this low point in our community, we have a great opportunity to set a path toward enlightened change. This starts with bipartisan, altruistic legislators and the will of the people to get involved. Las Vegas has the opportunity over the next five years to become the jewel of the Mountain West region. Let’s get it right!

Discussion: 10 comments so far…

  1. By Future
    10/26/09 at 2:22 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    "Las Vegas has the opportunity over the next five years to become the jewel of the Mountain West region. Let's get it right!"

    LOL have you seen what the local city and county leaders are doing.

  2. By drtomecon
    10/26/09 at 4:04 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    This LTE sure looks like a plant from The Sun. Look at the dig at the RJ, and who would use "thoughtful" as well as "insightful" to discuss what admittedly the author himself would describe as at best a precursory commentary. It sure reads like some kind of municipal clap-trap " for, as the sole commenter indicates, once you acknowledge the absence of intelligence at the political level in Las Vegas and Clark County -- where an elected official is as likely to spend time in prison as a grifter than earn any exemplary accolade --, you could only conceive of writing something vanilla like this in the event you too are either some job-preserving politico or someone who is used to coasting in his own official capacity. Let's see who this Pete McMurran of Las Vegas might be. I see. Mr. McMurran is a retired military officer, so, someone who knows a lot about living off the dole. Dishonesty abounds in discussions of our economy, and isn't helped by those promoting same old-same old, for the same old-same old is what got us here in the first place. "Let's get it right" and "bipartisan, altruistic legislators" in the same letter should have sent a red flag to the editorial staff at The Sun that this gentleman may not be sailing with full sails.

  3. By judgesmales
    10/26/09 at 5:02 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Even the New York Times refers to the Brookings Institution as a left-wing think tank. That's apparently OK with the Sun, but it's not OK with the rest of us. Let them keep their liberal "solutions" to themselves.

  4. By Houstonjac
    10/26/09 at 7:02 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Actually Gibbons has done a credible job as Governor. He has fought hard to uphold his pledge to the people of not increasing taxes.
    It's only the kool aid drinking liberals that want to squeeze blood out a turnip who are unhappy.

  5. By SgtRock
    10/26/09 at 7:05 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    I think Peter left out the 3rd and 4th leg of the equation.

    Tax
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    Tax
    Borrow
    Tax
    Borrow
    Tax
    Borrow
    Tax
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    Tax
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    Tax
    Borrow

  6. By getalife
    10/26/09 at 8:55 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    political courage, from a democrat????

    Repubs are guilty too. We need politicians who have a spine...... of course that normally means one term.

    Which is exactly why Harry Reid is a career pidgeon.

  7. By ghostcommander
    10/26/09 at 11:05 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Does this apply to the right wing bloggers that post their same opinion over and over, and not based on facts?

  8. By Patrick_R_Gibbons
    10/26/09 at 11:50 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    The Brookings Institution isn't proposing anything sustainable...ironically. They are proposing more subsidies for the very things that contribute to our environmental and growth problems.

  9. By Phargo
    10/27/09 at 12:12 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Who pays them fellers at the Brookings Institute? How do I get a job there?

  10. By Phargo
    10/27/09 at 12:13 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    SgtRock...you left out a tax

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