Letters to the editor 8-8

Cost of V&T tickets

compared to other lines

Our wooden railway is cool, but we're thinking of going for a ride on a real steam train. We have to pay, but let's compare prices and value.

V&T Railway: 17 miles one way including stunning views of Mound House's Red Light District.

Durango-Silverton Railway: 52 miles one way along the San Juan Scenic Byway.

V&T Adult Ticket: 48 clams. $36 for kids, all of 'em younger than 12.

D&S Adult Ticket: 79 bucks. More expensive you say? That's 76 cents per mile round trip. The V&T adult ticket sets you back $1.41 per mile, almost twice the cost of the D&S.

Got kids? The V&T commissioners apparently forgot about their own grandkids. My youngster, who is a train fanatic due to the commercial wizardry of Thomas, Gordon, Percy and Sir Topham Hat, will cost me $36 to ride past the Bunny Ranch. My son can ride the D&S for free along the Animas River, over Coal Bank Hill Pass (at 10,640 feet) and on to Silverton, Colo. This is one of the most spectacular regions of the Rocky Mountains. Not to mention that the towns of Durango and Silverton are very desirable places to chill out and have a nice meal. I know, I've been there. I've heard Marv has been there. He must have forgotten what he saw.

For my family to ride 34 miles past the local Pick 'N' Pull, I'll be asked to pay $132. Are you kidding me? Does that include a stop at the Bunny Ranch, too?

Jon Paul Kiel

Carson City

Clunker program exposes

government ineptitude

The cash for clunkers program has many teachable lessons for both the taxpayers and the bungling political clowns running our government.

It was interesting to watch the naive reactions of the likes of Pelosi, Reid and Obama to the unexpected "success" of the program. What they are not saying is that putting cash rebates directly into the hands of consumers instead of ridiculous pork-laden projects will always succeed.

I am sure that this fact is either lost or ignored by the ruling elite. What this program better demonstrates is that if substantial tax relief, in the form of a suspension of federal payroll taxes for a period of time (say six months) was implemented, the jolt to the economy would be tremendous. Pent-up consumer demand would explode, small business would begin to hire again, unemployment would fall and Gross Domestic Product would rise accordingly.

The teachable lesson for taxpayers is once again the total incompetence of the government. Clearly, cash for clunkers was under-funded and created a bureaucratic nightmare for car dealers who had to navigate through a 160-page book of government regulations. Add this to the recently bungled TV converter box coupon program or government mandates requiring the use of ethanol.

Both were ill-conceived, mismanaged and costly to taxpayers. Are we the taxpayers expected to trust these same government bureaucrats with our health care when they cannot manage a program as small and simple as "cash for clunkers"? Send in the clowns.

Bill Johnston

Carson City

Challenger to Reid

throws hat in ring

This is for all the people who have written letters stating that Sen. Harry Reid must go. I could not agree more.

So, take heart, there is a new, fresh articulate woman, from Wellington, Nev., that has thrown her hat in the ring to unseat Reid. That person is Robin Titus, M.D. She was born, raised and schooled in Nevada. She has practiced here in Northern Nevada for many years. She is having a rally in Wellington Aug. 22 at 3 p.m. Find out what she is all about. Check out her Web site. Thank you.

Lori Condon

Yerington

Get the facts and

think for yourself

This is in reference to Sue Hale's recent letter in the Appeal, "Provisions of health bill alarming to seniors."

I would suggest anyone who is interested in the facts on the health bill to check with factcheck.org; this is a nonpartisan Web site, no pundits telling you what to think, or how the bill will work for seniors, of which I am one. There you can read what page 425 really says. Start thinking for yourself, get all the facts and stop listening to people who have their own agenda.

Joanne Kennedy

Carson City