Friday, June 18, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
LETTERS: Proposed merger all about rich getting richer
To the editor:
In all of the talk about the MGM-Mirage-Mandalay Resort merger, what is being said about the advantages to locals, employees or tourists? Nothing. Because it is all about "shareholder value" and rich executives getting richer.
Employees will not participate in all this talk of profitability and tourists will be locked into higher room rates by a company that eliminated its biggest competition and will control 50 percent of the inventory on the Strip.
This just reeks of MGM becoming the Microsoft of the gaming industry.
JIM WRIGHT
LAS VEGAS
Deport them
To the editor:
Finally, with its rejection of removing the words "under God" from our Pledge of Allegiance, the U.S. Supreme Court has said, in essence, what the vast majority of Americans know to be true: We are a Christian nation. Man's laws mean nothing when compared to God's Laws.
Shouldn't we just admit now that the United States should be a theocracy? If there are people who don't wish to be Christian, we could train them to be Christian. If they still don't want to know the truth, we simply deport them.
JON TILLEY
HENDERSON
Sissy punks
To the editor:
Has it ever occurred to anyone in the newspaper business that referring to people as gang members is akin to pinning a badge on the individuals?
First, they are not gangsters. Second, they do not work together with a common cause. And third, they do not belong to any cordial social group. Therefore, they are not gang members. What they are is "sissy punks."
They are sissies because they need a group to fight their battles. They can't stand on their own two feet when they are engaged in a disagreement. And they are punks because of the trouble that they cause.
No responsible person attacks someone in a violent rage merely because the individual happens to drive or walk through a neighborhood, or because of their national origin.
Call them what they are and see if they still feel the same pride in what they are doing to society. Frankly, most of the youngsters who I've seen would be too ashamed to be called a sissy punk. But they think that it is great to be called a gangster or gang member.
HOWARD ALLEN FLETCHINGER SR.
LAS VEGAS
No show
To the editor:
Last year, John Kerry, U.S. senator from Massachusetts and Democrat presidential candidate, cast votes in only 36 percent of all roll call votes. Thus far for 2004, he has voted in only 13 percent of all roll call votes.
Recently he missed two critically important votes, one for banning Internet child pornography and the other for extending unemployment insurance benefits -- the latter was defeated by only one vote. Now, because of his dereliction of duty, Sen. Kerry has been asked by officials of the Massachusetts's governor's office to resign so that someone else can be appointed to finish the job he previously swore to perform to the best of his abilities.
If John Kerry won't keep his promise to do his job for his own home state, what makes the rest of us believe he will work for us?
S.G. HAYES
LAS VEGAS
Poor fools
To the editor:
John L. Smith's reference to the "Axe the Tax" petitioners as "laughable amateurs" is right on line (June 16 column). How dare ordinary citizens think they can organize in their own homes and spend their own money to take on the state's power elites? Poor fools; they actually think America is still a democracy.
GEORGE MOSS
COLUMBUS, OHIO
Rich lawyers
To the editor:
If gay marriages become nationwide, divorce lawyers will be able to move from their mansion to castles.
RALPH SUTTER
PAHRUMP
All prisoners
To the editor:
Why is it that people always care about the other guy? Over the past few weeks, people have been outraged by the supposed abuse of wartime prisoners. Yet these same people do not care about the treatment of prisoners and pre-trial detainees of our own legal system.
I am a pre-trial detainee. My only crime, not being able to raise bail. Does anyone care? No. Why is that?
I say to all people, if the treatment of wartime prisoners upsets you, then you should investigate the treatment of prisoners of our legal system as well. Remember, we as a people will be judged by future generations. This judgement will include the treatment of all prisoners.
NICHOLAS L. SHAULEY
LAS VEGAS
Wage gap
To the editor:
On behalf of the tens of thousands of minimum wage earners, I'd like to thank the Review-Journal for its recent editorial that rails against raising the minimum wage in Nevada from $5.15 to 6.15 because "it is akin to endorsing inflation, perhaps the most onerous tax on the poor."
Thank God we have not raised the minimum wage in seven years. Otherwise prices for electricity, gasoline, prescription drugs, milk and housing would be spiraling out of control.
PAUL R. BROWN
LAS VEGAS
The writer is Southern Nevada director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, which was involved in the petition drive to place the minimum wage hike proposal on the November ballot.
Raise prices
To the editor:
Does anyone else find it odd that the group that is trying to raise the minimum wage is called the "Coalition to Give Nevada a Raise." Have any of these people thought for a half a second about who will pay for the increase?
The proper name for this group should be the "Coalition to Raise the Prices for Nevada." The very people they claim to want to help will be the ones who have to pay the most for this bill. This will be yet another case of feel-good legislation without any thought given to the real, long-term consequences.
ROB LoBUE
MISSION VIEJO, CALIF.
