Who will be left to pay the taxes?
To the editor:
After more than 18 months and two denials, I had my hearing to collect the Social Security disability benefits to which I am entitled. I was denied again. Too bad. I'm just an almost-60-year-old white male who worked all his life and paid taxes and can no longer do so.
If I were a current or ex-inmate, junkie, alcoholic, illegal immigrant or other waste of space, the government would have hundreds of programs desperate to throw money and services my way. Too bad I worked all my life and never learned how to game the system.
This country at some point is going to have more people getting handouts than paying taxes, and even the mathematically challenged can see that can't work.
Harry Kirchoff
Las Vegas
Hard times
To the editor:
I found John L. Smith's Wednesday column, "Loss of child care subsidies will cost more in the long run," distressing. It is a sad fact of life today.
Times are hard in the Silver State. I work in the private sector, and my income has been reduced substantially. My family has been forced to cut to the bone.
Some citizens will say, "Raise taxes." I understand that there will be petition drives soon to demand just that. But I have nothing left to give. So, in my view, raising taxes will not help -- and, in fact, be counterproductive.
What will help?
Nevada needs leadership, and we certainly do not have that now. If our elected officials and the legions of bureaucrats knew what to do, they would have done something a long time ago.
Solutions never come easy. But here's a suggestion: manufacturing jobs. We need to make stuff the world will buy. While tourism and service businesses help, production creates prosperity.
Nevada must become the most business-friendly place on the planet. If we can make that happen, everything else will follow.
Bruce Feher
Las Vegas
Dog days
To the editor:
In response to the Tuesday story, "Video of trapped cat stirs angry reaction":
If County Commissioner Steve Sisolak wants to examine "mean" and "disturbing," he should examine the amount of dog predation carried out by coyotes in rural parts of the valley.
Trappers, on the other hand, routinely work areas where a 60-pound dog is considered a mean chicken and the neighborhood cats are feisty rabbits.
This video may save a few dogs.
Patrick Donnelly
Las Vegas
Plane truth
To the editor:
In regard to the recent story about Southwest Airlines' cabin redesign:
I find it overwhelmingly hard to believe any passenger can get excited about flying on a plane that is already cramped and stripped of every creature comfort possible, and on top of this, seeing more seats added to the plane.
The only way this is possible is to take away the minimal legroom that is there. They're not making the plane bigger, they are changing the design of the space.
I just do not see a home run here. I would say it's more like an error on corporate Southwest because their eye is really on milking as much money as they can out of each flight at our expense.
I do see some good points -- the changes in the contour of the seats and headrest installations.
The other statement in the article about Southwest having "the most comfortable seats in the industry" is also way off the mark. Face it, there are no comfortable seats in the industry unless you're in the cockpit at the controls.
Every person who flies on an airline sacrifices something. With some, it is price. With others, it is space and comfort. If Southwest really wants to make us all happy, the company should reduce fares that border on extortion and keep the space like it is. Sounds like it can save at least the $60 million in the projected retrofit costs.
Rob Shaw
Las Vegas
On the border
To the editor:
In the Jan. 14 Review-Journal, letter writer Marc Gonzalez sought to marginalize the impact Mexican illegal aliens are having on the United States by pointing to the bad behavior of other nationals who have also committed illegal entry. What he failed to take into account, however, is that none of the nationalities he mentioned -- Russians, Irish, Chinese -- represent countries that share a border with us. Subsequently, no other nationality is overwhelming us with anywhere near the millions of illegal immigrants who currently migrate here from all points south of the Mexican border.
Citizens of Third World countries should concentrate on throwing out the despots and dictators in their own lands instead of illegally migrating to the United States and trying to transform it into an image of what they just left.
The precious blood and treasure of the United States gave Americans the freedom we enjoy. Should not foreign countries do the same for themselves?
Ron Moers
Henderson
Role model
To the editor:
It's interesting that Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has become such a focus for those on both sides of the issue when it comes to exercising your religious freedoms in public.
He's got a great platform for modeling a positive message to kids about competition and Christianity. Not once have I seen or heard him take the credit for the Broncos' success, but he does have the inner strength to take the blame for failure.
The secular folks feel that his desire to pray and give credit to God for his success is troublesome. Some who are Christians feel that it should be done in private to demonstrate a humble spirit. But today's pressure on all religious activity is a direct result of the failure of Christians to practice their faith in public. We still can't recognize a good role model when we see one.
Most folks will feel better when things in the NFL return to normal with more stories of spousal abuse, drug use, dogfighting, profanity and guns. After all, that's what professional sports are really about.
For one brief moment in time, though, the Broncos were lifted out of themselves and into something much bigger than the game.
Let's be grateful that we all thought about "Tebowing" more often.
Jeff Dwyer
Las Vegas
