An incredible imbalance in salaries

To the editor:

After reading Ed Vogel's June 23 article "Studies examine salaries," I was thunderstruck at the 28 percent salary gap between government employees and private industry. Since profit-seeking businesses and corporations are the bones and muscle of our economy, and their revenues make everything possible, including public service jobs, why are the bones and muscles making less than the sector that creates and produces nothing?

I can't answer that question, but I hope one of our retired or active elected officials will step forward and provide a believable explanation for this incredible imbalance.

One thing is certain, government leaders negotiating wages and benefits with government employees using taxpayer money does not work. These entrenched incumbents have become so socialized in the culture of government they have voluntarily removed themselves from those whom they are duty bound to represent. These are the people who want to stay in office forever.

My recommendations for a solution would be to ask the Legislature to repeal the law that allows negotiations for wages and benefits by public sector unions. Keep the union in place to represent workers regarding grievances and inappropriate terminations, and establish a committee of private-sector individuals experienced in labor relations to represent all citizens.

EDWARD R. DUFFY

LAS VEGAS

Our rights

To the editor:

Bravo to the Review Journal for having the courage to print "The Declaration of Independence" (July 4).

I realize this document is a glaring indictment of the secular leftists who are attempting to hijack our government.

The Secular Humanists among us, in effect censured this document in our schools and court houses, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights."

When we have federal judges, politicians and powerful organizations (the NEA, ACLU, etc.) telling us these words are unconstitutional, we are in trouble. May God help us take back what we have lost.

ROBERT SLABY SR.

LAS VEGAS

Same manner

To the editor:

The Nevada Supreme Court should use common sense and a dictionary to solve the question about the constitutionality of the state's term limits amendment.

Here is what the constitution says: "If a majority of such voters votes approval of such amendment, the Secretary of State shall publish and resubmit the question of approval or disapproval to a vote of the voters at the next succeeding general election in the same manner as such question was originally submitted."

The phrase "same manner" means according to the same procedure, not in the same form. The 1996 question was submitted according to the same procedure as in 1996. The form was slightly altered to give the people more choices and explanations, but the constitutional requirement does not refer to "the same form," it uses the word "manner," which refers to "the same procedure." If there is any doubt, or the word is vague and ambiguous, then doubt must be decided in favor of the interpretation that favors procedural compliance.

Black's Law Dictionary (5th edition) defines the term: Manner. A way, mode, method of doing anything; or mode of proceeding in any case or situation. Custom and Usage.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary (3rd edition) also defined the term: Manner. Way of performing or executing; method; custom; habitual practice. People ex rel Ahrens v English 139 Ill 622, 629 (1892).

People ex rel Ahrens v. English 139 Ill 622, 629 says, "The word 'manner' is usually defined as meaning way of performing or exercising; method; custom; habitual practice, etc.", and the court applied it to the case at hand as meaning, "the usual, ordinary, or necessary details required for the holding of the election."

The term does not mean the same exact "form," and no common sense construction of the term would reach a different conclusion. It refers to custom and usage, the ordinary procedure common to two different instances. If the constitution meant "in the same form" it would have said "in the same form" or the common phrase "in the same manner and form." The phrase "same manner" is much vaguer and refers to a method or process, unlike the phrase "same form," and it is no wonder the court in 1996 ruled exactly the way it did.

Greg Schmid

SAGINAW, MICH.

All about warming

To the editor:

Al Gore and his minions have been telling us for years that global warming is melting our glaciers and polar ice caps. Then, on page 5B of the July 10 Review-Journal, you feature the article headlined "Glaciers growing on Mount Shasta." Wow, good news, eh, Al? But, whoa! You then follow up the headline with a subheader stating "Global warming brings snow to mountain."

Hey, all you Gorepersons, you can't have it both ways. Seems you feel you have the right to take any story and bend it to fit your preconceived notions. Talk about spin-doctoring; this one is hard to top.

David Paul Goldsmith

LAS VEGAS