Why do they want to scan our IDs?

To the editor:

Recently I stopped at a Terrible Herbst gas station. The clerk informed me she could not sell me tobacco or alcohol unless I allowed her to scan my driver's license. I stated I would show her my license (I am 53 years old) but that I was not going to allow her to scan my license. She stated it's company policy.

I spoke to a district manager, who reiterated the policy. Their explanation is that some clerks have trouble reading dates of birth.

But the scanner is capable of reading more than a date of birth. It is capable of storing the information in a database which the company can then use to promote their business or sell the addresses to junk mail companies.

Even if age verification is the only current use of the scanner (as stated by the manager), what is to stop this company from using the scanner as outlined above in the future? What stops other businesses from utilizing this type of practice?

I have no problems with displaying my ID. That's the law. I have serious issues with any business scanning my personal information.

DALE KING

RENO

Precious gift

To the editor:

The heartwarming story on Thanksgiving Day regarding the kidney transplant from Giovanni Saavedra to Amy Allen was wonderful. It's nice to see two caring families facing difficulty united through love and the gift of life. Giovanni will live on in many people through his organ donations of his kidney, heart and lungs.

Many families get to see their loved ones continue on in their journey, and Giovanni will live forever in everyone's hearts. That young man died tragically, but was courageous and brave enough to know that he could help others even after he passed. We should all be as kind as Giovanni was: today, and always. Life is too precious not to be. I give thanks today for my family and friends, and for people such as Giovanni Saavedra.

SHERI CARR

HENDERSON

It's the spending

To the editor:

Often, when someone from the government shows up and says, "I'm from the government and I am here to help you," I get scared. Review-Journal columnist Erin Neff, on the other hand, must welcome the person from the government with open arms.

I'm sure Ms. Neff disagrees, but we "need" to drain money from the Treasury and place it back in the people's hands. Reaganomics did not work, but that was because you cannot provide a tax reduction without looking seriously at -- and taking action against -- much of the idiotic spending engaged in by Congress.

The Bush tax cuts suffer from the same problem -- cut taxes but let the outrageous spending continue.

Rather than making Romney out to be a bad guy because he calls for tax reductions, Ms. Neff should point out the truth: Rudy Giuliani and the other Republican candidates (including Romney) will try to cut taxes and not address idiotic spending; Hillary Clinton and the rest of the Democrats will raise taxes and not address idiotic spending.

There is nobody out there who will do what I and many Americans would love to see: less federal government, more states rights, lower taxes and rational spending at the federal, state and local levels.

MICHAEL K. CASLER

LAS VEGAS

Too many programs

To the editor:

The op-ed column by Mark Winne on programs to feed the hungry ("Handouts won't end Hunger," Nov. 22) makes some interesting points. He observed that when you offer something for free, your clientele grows. One of the major benefits of food banks is to make the volunteers feel good about themselves. They also offer a mechanism for food distributors to get rid of products going out of date. I agree that the various food programs do not offer a satisfactory solution to poverty and hunger.

However, his proposed solution -- to get the federal government to do more -- has not worked. The War on Poverty, part of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society, squandered about $3 trillion over the past 40-plus years. The Office of Economic Opportunity, the Job Corps, Head Start, etc., were supposed to end poverty. Obviously, that has not happened.

The reality is that "the poor" are not a static group of people: Individuals and families move up the economic ladder continuously. Many of the programs instituted were counterproductive, leading to fatherless boys and young men -- the very demographic group that has trouble making it.

Rather than more government programs, a strong dose of personal responsibility, two-parent families, avoiding substance abuse and an appreciation of the need for education would go a long way toward solving the problems of hunger and poverty.

STAN AMES

HENDERSON

End handouts

To the editor:

Reading Mark Winne's Nov. 22 op-ed made me think of two things on this Thanksgiving holiday. One is that we live in the greatest country in the world, and I am very grateful for that. My second reason to be thankful is that Ronald Reagan was elected president of the United States in 1980 -- not Mark Winne or Jimmy Carter.

My parents taught me that, if you keep giving away the ranch, sooner or later you have no more ranch. People have lost sight of their values and what made them successful. Having just moved to this great state from the western part of Connecticut, I wonder what these people think. Have they forgotten all the principles of hard work, using their brain or brawn?

Mr. Winne would reward people for not working. He cries hunger and poverty as excuses to eliminate the commitment and ability of every person in this country to work and play and earn what is due to him relative to the effort of each individual. Habitat for Humanity rewards effort and gives the person back his dignity.

Opportunity and freedom, that's what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. My son is a police officer in Connecticut. He relates his experience on the streets to me and how he feels about the giveaway programs in his area. My son can't believe how many benefits and free programs are still alive and well in this country: free welfare, free food, free clothing, low cost housing, free health insurance -- it's all there for the taking. The reason Ronald Reagan is considered such a great president and leader is that he taught all of us that there is so much opportunity and it only takes hard work, not a handout, to gain prosperity.

Let's stop giveaway programs and give incentives to people to build their own dreams and stop relying on the government to pay their way.

ROBERT B. SULLIMAN JR.

HENDERSON

Tax them, not me

To the editor:

I think the gap between the rich and middle class needs to be addressed by the politicians. The middle class faces rising energy prices, a high rate of foreclosures on homes, and an unfair tax system as well as other costs.

We need to come up with a better tax system so that the wealthy pay more and the middle class pay less. We also need to have better education for the middle class so that they can get better paying careers and jobs.

The middle class is the backbone of the economy and needs to treated better as well as respected.

BILL MILLER

LAS VEGAS