This Christmas, give your kid’s teacher cash

To the editor:

At this time of year I always read with interest the stories in newspapers that give advice on how to tip people who provide services for you throughout the year.

I am a teacher, and I always find it amusing how the people who write these articles seem to think teachers rank somewhere way below the manicurist, newspaper deliverer, hair stylist, dog groomer, doorman, housekeeper, etc. People are always advised to tip these individuals some percentage of what they usually pay on a weekly or monthly basis.

When it comes to your child's teacher, however, people are advised to give some simple token from the child, perhaps a handmade card or a scented candle.

Let me tell you this: Teachers don't need one more hand-made ornament or candle. They need cash.

Teachers work for substandard pay, in substandard conditions, and we spend more time with your child in a week than you do with your manicurist in six months. Why do people think teachers don't want some kind of monetary tip, just like the newspaper deliverer?

I must say, I am a lucky teacher. I work in a school where the parents are very generous and the conditions are wonderful. But I know of too many teachers who work with too little, for too little, with too many students in a classroom and are continuously asked to do more with less.

Don't you think your child's teacher deserves at least as much as you tip your housekeeper? Think about it.

M. Dykes

LAS VEGAS

Going delinquent

To the editor:

Based on what I've learned about the various mortgage assistance programs being touted by our electeds to prevent home foreclosures, if I fail to make my mortgage payment for three consecutive months and my lender threatens foreclosure, I might be eligible for a new federally guaranteed mortgage with a reduced interest rate in the 4 percent range.

If I continue to make my payments, as I have for the past 36 years on the five different homes I've lived in, I definitely will be eligible for exactly squat, zip, zero, zilch -- except that I and millions of others like me will be eligible to continue to subsidize these low-interest loans through our federal taxes.

Can you guess what my plan is?

G. Boyd

LAS VEGAS

Totally clueless

To the editor:

State government employees and their unions are fighting any loss of their "step" pay raises in this tough economy (Thursday Review-Journal).

In the mid- and late 1980s, my first two jobs were with aerospace companies. I had a good salary, guaranteed employment, nice working conditions, a 401(k) with a 25 percent match, a pension, paid medical, dental and vision benefits, paid holidays, two weeks of paid vacation and I received raises even if my workload did not increase.

I would have been indignant if anybody dared to fool with my benefits or raises for any reason. I was fat, happy and completely clueless about the lives of people who did not have a government job funded by taxes paid by Americans.

I now have my own business -- without any of those nice benefits -- and I am struggling to survive. I suppose I can understand the government workers fighting for what they have because most are probably as clueless as I was.

I would encourage each one of them to take an honest look at the people whose small businesses are failing, who not only have no raises but now have no jobs, who have been unemployed and cannot find a job because everyone is laying off staff and then ask themselves just how important that "step" raise really is.

Instead, I would ask them to thank their good fortune that they work for the government and forgo their "step" raises until economic conditions improve.

Michael K. Casler

LAS VEGAS

Salary savings

To the editor:

Every day we learn of more pleas from companies for financial lifelines using taxpayer dollars. It's not necessary to go into detail as the facts are well-documented and we're all aware of the issues.

More importantly, we know the very group required to provide the aid is the taxpayer. Our elected officials are quick to offer handouts like popcorn balls, while at the same time we overtaxed, middle-class working stiffs are watching our life savings disappear faster than a keg of beer at a fraternity picnic.

To help offset the drain on federal funds, I suggest every elected official (Democrats and Republicans alike, starting with President-elect Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Vice President-elect Joe Biden and, yes, even Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin) immediately take a 10 percent pay cut, forfeit 50 percent of their postage allowance, fly commercial when practical and car-pool to the office. The list of pork to cut is endless. The money saved then would be applied to the bailout of the auto industry, AIG and others who surely will be standing in line for the goodies.

Certainly, the elected officials can afford the donations -- Mr. Biden said it was time to "be patriotic." Besides, what better way is there for the wealthy politicians to show the way and actually lead the parade? Now that's change we're looking for.

John A. Pappas

LAS VEGAS

Disband Authority

To the editor:

In the 1950s the room tax was established to build a convention center and promote Las Vegas as a vacation destination. It was needed because casinos were small.

Over the past three decades the growth of Las Vegas and its businesses has made the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority redundant. Mergers have allowed the casinos and hotels access to capital through stock offerings and private funding. Public convention centers, which continue to lose money or break even at best, compete against the private convention centers. Each large casino has its own marketing and convention specialists.

A Monday letter to the editor by Keith Smith, the vice president of the convention authority board, stated that an internal audit caught some overcharges and contract violations. Really? The Nov. 30 Review-Journal article he referred to stated the audit was conducted by an investigative reporter working for a government watchdog group.

Mr. Smith also refers to annual external audits paid for by the convention authority. Might these be similar to the external audits conducted by independent accounting firms for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Enron? Does anyone else see a conflict of interest with Mr. Smith's title of board vice president and chairman of the authority's audit committee?

I do agree with Mr. Smith that the community should come together and do what's best for the community in these difficult times. The electorate should demand the disbandment of this bloated, inefficient quasi-governmental agency and allow the private sector to perform the same functions more cost effectively and efficiently.

This action would allow the room taxes to be allocated to more pressing needs, such as the state and city budget deficits, the Clark County School District and University Medical Center.

Michael A. Donnelly

LAS VEGAS

Public-sector privilege

To the editor:

I think our state government should wake up. In a state that ranks in the top five for public employee pay, it is nothing short of amazing that in these difficult economic times the state has laid off only 35 people (Tuesday Review-Journal).

How many employees have the companies of this state laid off? And now the politicians have the audacity to imply that in February they will be raising taxes?

I hope the people of Nevada are watching so we can vote any politician who raises one tax right out of office.

Maybe the same politicians who want tax increases can open their wallets and their checkbooks and contribute to the state program of their choice.

Judy Hendrickson

HENDERSON