LETTERS: Trump terribly wrong about immigrants

Never in the annals of American politics has one man — Donald Trump — been so wrong for so long about so much. Mr. Trump's bombastic opinions about immigration, foreign policy and the fight against ISIS make one wonder about the depths of extremism to which the Republican Party I belong to has sunk.

Mr. Trump's xenophobic bigotry is not new. He callously derided and questioned the authenticity of President Barack Obama's birth certificate. His race-baiting rants about Mexicans (and by inference Americans of Mexican heritage) is promoting a new wave of stereotypical bias and prejudice. Undocumented immigrants have historically contributed to the U.S. economy, as shown in a 2006 study by the state of Texas comptroller's office. The summary reads: "The absence of the estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants in Texas in fiscal 2005 would have been a loss to our gross state product of $17.7 billion. Undocumented immigrants produced $1.58 billion in state revenues, which exceeded the $1.16 billion in state services they received."

The impact of undocumented workers on the Las Vegas economy during the housing construction boom was likely no less significant. Thousands of undocumented workers labored under harsh weather, helping construct new neighborhoods throughout the region.

The Texas study busted the myth that undocumented immigrants consume more tax revenue and services than they pay in taxes. They pay the same sales tax, gas tax, excise taxes, auto license fees/taxes, etc. If they are renters, property taxes are factored into the rent they pay. If they are paid by check from an employer, then Social Security, Medicare and other taxes are deducted. Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps and other programs are not available to undocumented immigrants.

Finally, I would like to introduce Mr. Trump to Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, a U.S. Marine. Cpl. Gutierrez was one of the first killed-in-action casualties of the Iraq War. He was an undocumented immigrant, as were other casualties who fought under the U.S. flag.

William Morales-Chazaro

Henderson

Support teachers

The article on transgender state employees has me furious ("Transgender health coverage set," June 18 Review-Journal). Transgenders are being treated better than our teachers, who devote their lives to making students good, law-abiding citizens, with the ability to further their education and make positive contributions to society.

I live with my daughter, who is a teacher. She leaves the house between 7 and 7:30 a.m. and doesn't get home until after 4 p.m. Each teacher is in the classroom before students arrive, planning the day's lessons or meeting with students who need help. Teachers also stay after classes end, completing necessary tasks before leaving the campus.

Gov. Brian Sandoval, state legislators and local elected officials — including School Board members — need to do something to improve teachers' salaries and health insurance. Building new schools (which I realize we need) has been put ahead of teacher salaries and insurance. We want and need quality teachers, but we aren't willing to pay for appropriate salaries or decent health insurance.

Let's all rally around our teachers, who really deserve all of our support.

Arletta Barto

Henderson

Monument to Reid

Perhaps President Barack Obama should consider adding another national monument to Nevada. There is a five-hole outhouse on Main Street in Eureka, currently called the Bartine Outhouse. A fitting monument to Sen. Harry Reid would be renaming the outhouse in his honor. What a great way to remember what he has left the nation and Nevada as he retires.

Jim Olson

Bunkerville

Sparse attendance

The National Community Band concert was held July 12 at UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall. The concert was free, but unfortunately, the audience filled only 15 percent of the hall. The Review-Journal noted the event in the July 10 Neon, and the concert was excellent. But if locals wish to have this type of quality entertainment in the future, attendance must drastically improve.

Paul V. Colman

Las Vegas