People want Reid ousted because of his leadership

Dave Newton, Las Vegas

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010 | 2:02 a.m.

Las Vegas Sun Publisher and Editor Brian Greenspun (and many others who have written letters to the editor) can’t understand why some Nevadans want Sen. Harry Reid ousted.

I can’t speak for others, but it’s simple for me: He’s part of the leadership team that is taking the country in the wrong direction. Mr. Greenspun’s column points to the interstate highway system as proof that government involvement is good, but I find that completely disingenuous.

Most people, except the most extreme libertarians, agree that government plays an important and necessary role. We disagree on how great that involvement should be. Supporting Reid in hopes that we’ll get more government aid seems like a short-term strategy.

Will the Republicans be a better choice? I have my doubts, but voting for Reid would send a message that I approve of what he’s doing. I don’t agree that voting Republican will automatically return us to the mess that was the Bush administration (electing Barack Obama didn’t get us Bill Clinton).

If Mr. Greenspun doesn’t understand why people want Reid ousted, I would refer him to two columns in his own Sunday paper: David Brooks on the Republican austerity club and Thomas Friedman on the rising of a third party. Those two columns gave me more hope for our country’s future than anything I’ve seen in a long time.