NEVADANS WILL PONY UP FOR GREEN POWER

To the editor:

Why doesn't the Review-Journal stop supporting coal-fired power plants and start telling the whole truth to their readers about just how bad these plants will be once they are up and running (editorial, Wednesday)?

I would like to see these energy-producing companies spend those same billions on clean energy that would benefit all of us. Instead they are pursuing an energy source that pollutes the environment we all live in.

The truth is these plants will use billions -- yes, billions -- of gallons of water, a scarce resource in the West. They will also pollute the soil around them as well as the groundwater thanks to the byproducts of producing electricity.

Finally, you wondered whether members of the public will be willing to spend an additional $5 per month for alternative clean energy. I believe if they are given the true cost of using coal as an energy source, the answer will be yes.

Five dollars per month equals 17 cents per day or .007 cents per hour. This seems a small price to pay if their health and the health of their children and grandchildren all improve.

Ken hamm

LAS VEGAS

Reading list

To the editor:

Parents scared about the lead in the recalled toys are looking for advice on what toys to buy for Christmas. I have a novel idea. How about buying them books?

I can't remember the last time there was a recall on books.

Nancy Kinder

LAS VEGAS

Low taxes

To the editor:

Kudos to Sen. John Ensign for speaking out on a critically important issue that threatens our economy: higher taxes ("Ensign says raising taxes would hurt U.S. in trade," Sept. 7). In his speech before the Senate last week, Sen. Ensign correctly challenged his colleagues to hold the line on taxes. "Rather than looking for ways to raise taxes, I believe this Congress should be looking for ways to make us more competitive by lowering taxes," he said.

As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Ensign is intimately familiar with proposals designed to increase corporate taxes, especially the one targeting private equity partnerships. At a time when Wall Street is stammering and the mortgage market is unstable, private equity is a steady influence guiding new growth and economic expansion. Proposals to increase the taxes real estate and other investment partnerships pay run counter to the direction our economy needs to move -- especially in this age of global expansion.

Sen. Ensign aptly noted, "Countries around the world, including in Europe, are racing to cut their taxes." If we increase the taxes on investors they are likely to take their investments elsewhere, thus denying the United States additional tax revenue.

Higher taxes are never the answer for economic expansion. As Sen. Ensign said, our economy boomed under Ronald Reagan thanks to lower taxes. More lawmakers need to hear that message now.

Van V. Heffner

LAS VEGAS

On the road

To the editor:

In response to Steve Brittingham's Wednesday letter, "Trust bureaucrats with land-use decisions," in which he rails against off-road vehicles:

The Review-Journal editorial Mr. Brittingham references was about the closure of a long-existing road, the Henderson Pipeline road. Mr. Brittingham's illogical -- and perhaps intentional -- leap from the law-abiding activity of driving down a road to "off-roaders creating new roads that cross archeological sites, sensitive habitats and highly erosive slopes" is inexcusable. He owes the multitude of responsible off-roaders an apology. Do not throw all motorized recreationalists into one category and state that we scar the land, that we race across the landscape and tear up hills -- statements like that are nothing short of libel.

Law-abiding, knowledgeable, responsible off-roaders know that since the early 1990s it has been illegal to travel cross-country in Clark County, with the exception of a few acres at Nellis dunes. Motorized travel is permitted on existing roads, and eventually all public land will have "Travel Management Plans" that restrict motorized travel to designated routes.

Responsible and knowledgeable off-roaders attend meetings and work with federal land mangers -- many of us just returned from a four-day workshop wherein we worked side-by-side with land managers on off-road vehicle issues, on understanding the travel management plans, and on developing responsible and resource-protecting designated route systems.

Mr. Brittingham should get his head out of the sand and join us. He can meet us. We are not evil people; let's talk. When both sides stop throwing emotionally charged verbiage at each other and get down to specifics, we can actually work our way through some issues so that ultimately something positive can be accomplished. And it is a rewarding accomplishment to work with others who think differently, to find common ground, and to resolve conflicts.

But Mr. Brittingham will get nowhere with the mind-set he displayed in his letter. Motorized recreation is growing; the days of calling off-roaders names and hoping we will go away -- well, those days are long gone.

Elise mcallister

MOAPA

THE WRITER IS ADMINISTRATOR OF PARTNERS IN CONSERVATION, A RURAL NONPROFIT FOCUSING ON PUBLIC LAND ISSUES

Gaming tax

To the editor:

Everyone is aware that casinos ship billions of dollars out of state -- or out of the country -- for new casinos. It makes sense to leave the tax rate alone on casinos that keep their money in Nevada. The ones that spend billions outside Nevada, though, should be taxed at the higher rate they are willing to pay out of state.

Maybe more money would be invested locally, which in turn would generate more taxes for Nevada.

Richard McCarty

LAS VEGAS

Apartment dweller

To the editor:

Ever since the pilot recycling plan was announced, we have seen numerous responses, both pro and con. Most of these responses concerned the potential impact on the residential customer. But I have yet to see any mention of any plan currently under consideration that would include residents in apartments, condominiums or townhome complexes.

It doesn't take superhuman vision to note that the Las Vegas Valley is covered with these types of properties. Many residents of these types of dwellings would like to contribute to the recycling effort.

It is unfortunate that such a large segment of the local population seems to have been overlooked. Perhaps our leaders could give some consideration to the development of a plan (other than one requiring residents to haul their own recyclables somewhere) that might address this issue.

Barbara Nelson

LAS VEGAS