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Friday, February 04, 2000
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
OUR READERS RESPOND
Pay now or later
To the editor:
Special education (developmentally delayed and disabled) children are already Nevada's most costly students.
The relatively modest reduction in special education class sizes and case loads recently passed by the state Board of Education are bound to be met with resistance by the bureaucratically top heavy Clark County School District.
But special eduction is a pay-now or pay-more-later proposition.
The vast majority of Nevada's several thousand special education students can become productive, contributing members of the community, working and living independently like any other citizen. In the quarter century since federally mandated special education programs began, the evidence clearly indicates that the sooner and more intensely remedial, rehabilitative and interactive services are provided, the better the likelihood a child with a disability will grow successfully into mainstream society.
The alternative to quality special education? Costly institutionalization, public assistance, and wasted human potential.
The short term costs of the Board of Education's decision will be far outweighed by our community's long term gain. Pay now or pay more later.
VINCE TRIGGS
Las Vegas
The writer is executive director of the Nevada Association for the Handicapped.
It's a right
To the editor:
During his State of the Union speech Bill Clinton proposed that law-abiding American citizens be required to obtain a license prior to being allowed to purchase a handgun, much like getting a driver's license.
I seem to recall when getting my driver's license that I was told driving was a privilege, not a right Also I seem to recall that owning a gun is a right and not a privilege.
If Mr. Clinton and his cronies have their way, I might need a license to write a letter like this one, exercising my rights under the First Amendment. For as we know "the pen is mightier than the sword" and we have all seen what can happen when a pen falls into the wrong hands.
A right is just that and must remain such. I firmly believe that history has shown time and again that allowing the weakening of one right will ensure the eventual loss of them all.
GLENN E. JOHNSON
Las Vegas
Spurn the big guns
To the editor:
Congratulations to John L. Smith's Jan. 30 commentary for his very accurate synopsis of the gambling industry's dilemma in using its casino earnings to mount a massive state advertising campaign to defeat state Sen. Joe Neal's petition drive to increase the gaming tax. This is a tax that should have been enacted a number of years ago if only elected representatives had the fortitude to buck the casino dynasty.
Now, it's the people's turn to decide whether to support one man's desire to truly improve the quality of life for individuals and their families in Nevada or the gambling industry, whose primary intent is locating more land -- in your neighborhood or out of state -- for another casino.
To stifle Sen. Neal's tax initiative, the industry is calling in its big guns. Bill Bible, president of the Nevada Resort Association, said Sen. Neal's initiative would force hotels to lay-off workers. Haven't lay-offs already occurred numerous times in the past without an increased tax to blame?
Gov. Kenny Guinn opposes any taxation, as he wants to complete his review of state government to see if any more money is needed. Is he in the same state I am, where 5,000 people are moving to Las Vegas each month, where schools are crying out for more teachers and facilities, where mental health services are neglected, where roadways are torn up, and where water and air quality is nonexistent?
Finally, Assembly Majority Leader Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, stated: "The petition by (Sen.) Neal is premature." If Perkins were a doctor you would have to be dead before he operated.
Interestingly, despite the "hard times" casinos forecast, The Bellagio now considers a $250 million expansion, Texas Station begins plans for a $55 million addition, and casinos continue to pour billions into states that are taxing them up to 25 percent. If dooms day does come, it will more than likely be due to the industry's own greed in its zealousness to build an overabundance of shiny megaresorts and neighborhood casinos.
Few people give Joe Neal appropriate credit for following his beliefs in representing all Nevadans. Whether you feel he's right or wrong, the gentleman has guts and heart in going against the powerful casino moguls so we may hang on to some semblance of life with quality.
EDWARD M. ATCHISON
Las Vegas
Lead the line
To the editor:
Where are our leaders? The U.S. armed forces are undergoing a minor revolt because troops are being forced to take an anthrax vaccine of questionable efficacy that may well be dangerous. To date, the U.S. Air Force has court martialed -- but not imprisoned -- two enlisted airmen and is now contemplating court martialing and imprisoning Maj. Sonnie Bates, a reservist C-5 pilot, for his refusal to take the anthrax vaccine. Other airlift pilots have resigned rather than take this vaccine, but Maj. Bates may well be denied this opportunity. The Navy and Marines are also discharging and punishing over the anthrax vaccine.
My father and I were both career military. Dad gave me two leadership instructions that have guaranteed military success over the ages: a) "Never eat until your men are fed," and b) "Never give an order you wouldn't carry out yourself." The latter instruction applies here. Knowing that there is a revolt brewing in the ranks over the anthrax vaccine, one would expect the commander in chief and the secretary of defense to be standing at the head of the vaccination line, and publicizing their presence.
LEE R. BISHOP
Las Vegas
No coincidence?
To the editor:
Once again the news is filled with reports about another airliner going down, this time off the coast of California. Sunday it was an airliner off the coast of Africa. And again, both fell into the ocean. The last seven planes that have gone down have all fallen into the ocean. What's going on? Has this raised a nagging question in the back of anyone else's mind? It certainly has in mine.
I don't want to be an alarmist, but if that is mere coincidence, I am afraid coincidence is working overtime. Is there something more to these crashes than has yet to be discovered? Or is it just that we are not being told everything? Interesting thought. A little worrisome, too.
BOB SCHULTZ
Las Vegas
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