LETTERS: Nevada taxpayers get played by Tesla
To the editor:
Our Nevada Legislature is ready to give $1.3 billion in tax incentives to Tesla to build a big battery plant near Reno (“Breaks for Tesla may top $1 billion,” Friday Review-Journal). Gov. Brian Sandoval is claiming this new factory will create 6,500 jobs. That works out to about $216,000 per job.
In the 1960 movie “Ocean’s Eleven,” Dean Martin told his buddies that robbing Las Vegas casinos is a real sucker’s bet, since the odds are always with the house. In this case, Tesla is the house, and we the residents of Nevada are the sucker players. The odds are against us, and our state government is making a losing bet with our money. The governor has a lot of nerve. What makes him think this is any different than Solyndra? Solyndra and Tesla are both start-up companies, both new technologies, and most importantly, both need government help to start their business. Solyndra filed for bankruptcy and lost almost a half-billion dollars in federal handouts. Solyndra said the problem was that other manufacturers built solar cells cheaper.
The federal government is a whale; it can afford big losses. Compared with the feds, our Nevada government is a nickel player, and we are now doubling down on battery technology that can be duplicated anywhere in the world, and cheaper. As Mr. Martin said, this is a real sucker’s bet.
CARY DE GROSA
LAS VEGAS
State rolling in money?
To the editor:
The margins tax needs to be voted down, but our kids need not fear poor schools, since we now have more than $1 billion in tax breaks for Tesla (“Breaks for Tesla may top $1 billion,” Friday Review-Journal. That means we must have plenty of money to fund all the needs of our state and local communities.
We no longer need year-round schools, as we have plenty of money for building new ones. Now we can have the UNLV medical school and a great big stadium. I look forward to all the new roads and clean air the extra tax dollars will buy. Why have state leaders kept this slush fund so secret, while schools begged for funds and the university stopped the stadium project?
Sarcasm aside, I will be on the front lines to help defeat any tax increase proposed while Tesla wallows in our tax dollars.
STANLEY K. SCHONE
LAS VEGAS
Mount Charleston flood
To the editor:
Regarding letter writer David Klamann’s rant (“Flooding proves it’s nice to be rich,” Sept. 3 Review-Journal), I ask: Just what is your definition of rich? Just the fact that you are a U.S. citizen makes you a millionaire in the eyes of many individuals unfortunate enough to be born in an impoverished country.
Without someone of means, there would not have been a newspaper to publish your letter. Take a moment to observe the plaques in museums and other institutions and take notice of the contributions by those you consider rich.
Your rant about the dam on Mount Charleston is without merit. Those people, whether rich or poor, are entitled to the same public services you are. They pay taxes. A one-time fix will be cheaper than the numerous times the road has been repaired in the past.
I’m not rich, but I’m comfortable, thanks to an individual who started a business in a garage and was eventually able to expand to a larger facility and hire several hundred people. Many people were not born rich; they worked hard to achieve that status. Quit being envious of those you classify as rich, and give thanks that you have shelter, food and a computer you can write your letters with.
BURL J. ZIMMERMAN
LAS VEGAS
Obama and golf
To the editor:
The Review-Journal continues to represent itself as an extreme right-wing rag. The “Drawing Board” in the Aug. 31 Viewpoints section published some extremely unkind and prejudicial political cartoons about President Barack Obama. The Republican right-wing nuts seem to think the president has no business playing golf and imply that’s all he ever does.
Clay Jones seems to be one of only a few cartoonists who believe we’ve had enough of the golf jokes to last a lifetime. While I don’t always agree with what the president does or says, I do believe he’s been a good president, despite his critics.
Some of our elected officials in Washington, D.C., as well as some of the news media, should remember the cliche: “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”
ROBERT COLLINS
LAS VEGAS
Horse sense
To the editor:
I just wanted to thank the Review-Journal for publishing Richard Eng’s horse racing columns. Not only can he write a column for the readers, but the R-J allows him enough space to make it a satisfying read for horse racing fans.
It’s very difficult to find articles on horse racing, due to the lack of fans. The fact that I can have Mr. Eng’s column delivered to my doorstep is quite satisfying. Please continue to let him write his insightful and informational column, as I always look forward to it.
And while I’m at it, let me thank the Review-Journal for the overall diversity of information that it brings to us, from “Taste of the Town” to local high school sports, from entertainment to politics. Although I do have to say that I really miss Jane Ann Morrison’s column — what a treat that was. Perhaps you could find space for her again.
JUANITA DEMCHAK
LAS VEGAS
