Monday, March 10, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
LETTERS: Read between lines on Rio waitress change
To the editor:
Wow, gone are the days of being weighed on the meat scale in the loading dock ("Rio to replace cocktail servers," Feb. 20). Gone are the days of endless questions about why I needed a new, larger uniform. (I had gone from a size two to four.) Now the "powers that be" tell these hard-working, taxpaying women to sing and dance for their supper. What a concept.
As a former Ipanema Girl (cocktail waitress, goodwill ambassador) at the Rio, I can only wonder if this is a quest to improve the festive atmosphere of the "New Rio" or a way to clean house. Let's see, the Rio opened about 10 years ago. The majority of the women hired 10 years ago are now more than 30 years of age, have had a couple of children, and are no longer viewed as having the youthful look that this industry promotes.
These fine, talented women have survived a great deal: IRS tax audits, the change of ownership, managers of the week, endless construction, freezing air conditioning and sore feet. Not to mention the numerous redesigns of the casino, which led to a redesign of work stations that resulted in a change of income.
We can all read through the lines on this one. Even me, a blonde, former waitress over 40. I hope these women are as lucky as I have been and are able to take all they learned from being a waitress and use it to better their lives and careers by working for a company that appreciates hard-working, independent women, mothers or not. No matter what their size, age or dancing and singing abilities.
Remember, Ginger Rogers had to do everything Fred Astaire did, only backwards and in heels. The best of luck to each of you.
JENNIFER MILLER
HENDERSON
Campus thugs
To the editor:
Completing the school district's educational budget survey helped me to understand the issues and challenges facing our school system. The survey brought up one alarming statistic: We are spending over $20 million on behavior programs, campus hall monitors, school police and court continuation programs for our youth.
In comparison, important educational programs such as the high school music program receive only $400,000.
We need to spend some money to control campus thugs, bullies, drug dealers and delinquents, but the priority should be on spending money on students who want to learn, not disrupt. Give educators more power to discipline and there will be more money to educate.
BOB PETERS
LAS VEGAS
Medical costs
To the editor:
Last week, the doctor said, "You need an MRI." So I called the MRI people and they said, "Come in Tuesday, and what is your insurance carrier?" I told them, and they became very friendly and said that was excellent.
It seemed logical at that point to ask what an MRI cost. A lot of double-talk ensued, but eventually it boiled down to a base price of $1,300. But mine would be less. The insurance company, it seemed, had negotiated a lower price for its clients. They'd look it up before I came in.
The negotiated price turned out to be $500.
Now I may be a bit naive here, but I always thought that the price for a service was based on measurable factors -- the salaries of the people who provided it, the machinery, the costs for the facility, the money set aside for upgrades, and a reasonable profit for the provider. In other words, an MRI ought to cost an appropriate amount, something resembling the actual cost of providing the service.
Considering the professional salaries and the cost of radiology equipment, I doubt $500 is a realistic price. But if some people pay $500 and some pay $1,300, what does the service really cost? Suppose it costs $900, but some people get it for $500; are the others being over-charged $1,300 to make up the difference? It sounds like some strange kind of price-fixing to me. Who permitted the insurance companies to have this kind of power?
This is a single, simple example. Every person I talk to has horrendous stories to tell about medical treatment controlled by their insurance companies or managed-care corporations. Now, it seems, the manipulation has spread to influence costs for everybody, whether insured or not.
We can gloat that "our" insurance company got us a "really great price" for our services. But at what cost to others have we achieved those bargains?
MARGARET SCHWORM
LAS VEGAS
Spend more
To the editor:
After reading the March 5 story, "School district expects worst from tax plan," I see that the district is expecting the same treatment it has been given in the past. If less and less money is continually put into our school district, I don't know how anyone can expect our children in Nevada to compete with the rest of the country and be ready for the future.
As the Legislature decides what funding to give Nevada schools, just remember this: You get what you pay for.
SHEILA SHAVER
LAS VEGAS
Troop support
To the editor:
Seventy-thousand Marines landed on Iwo Jima on Feb. 19, 1945. By the end of March, some 23,000 were either buried there or had been carried off on stretchers. The fighting was grueling, but the total support in the air, on the water, and from home, made the daily grind possible.
Committed troops must have that support. If we become involved in a war with Iraq, the thousands of our men and women in uniform will have what they need to do battle, but they also must know that their fellow countrymen are with them every step of the way. Anything less would be unthinkable.
DAN SMITH
LAS VEGAS
Real victim
To the editor:
I was so disturbed watching the trial of Timmy Weber. Watching an older man take such advantage of a young girl, victimizing her over and over again.
No, I'm not talking about Timmy Weber, I'm talking about his defense attorney, Joseph Abood.
It was painful to watch Mr. Abood go after the 14-year-old victim in such a demeaning, condescending and -- may I add -- arrogant way.
The victim couldn't even look at her rapist as she testified during her direct examination. But when Mr. Abood began his cross examination, he sat at the defense table so she would be forced to look at both of the men who were victimizing her.
JACKI WEIL
LAS VEGAS
