Letters to the editor 1-18

Another option to save money in the state budget:

Let's look at another way to save money and still pay the state employees for their hours worked.

The state can go to 38 hour work week, Monday through Thursday, 9 and a half hour days and closed on Fridays. Salary employees would go to the four-day work week and they could do the 6 percent cut in salary. There would be an additional savings of about 20 percent due to state buildings being closed on Friday and utilities turned down. This savings from utilities could save further layoffs, which would only raise the unemployment and hurt the economy more. When the economy picks up the state could stay on the 38-hour, 4-day per week so the savings would be ongoing.

The employees would be cut four hours of pay per payday, which equals about five percent, but this is better than 6 percent and still have to work 40 hours.

GAIL HAMLIN

State Retiree

Carson City

Correctional officer already on the edge:

Constantly on edge, I am a state employee and a correctional officer for the state. I am constantly on edge. The edge of insanity because listening to the governor (who has never had to do my job ).

I am told I can do that job for 6 percent less, that I can provide for my family for 6 percent less. While judges get a pay raise for sending more criminals to prison, I can do with less. Interesting. While Nevada Department of Transportation supports a 10-seat airplane for state directors and executives to fly around the state, I get a pay cut - "hey, governor fly commercial and help out the economy" - while the state taxes casinos less than I pay for a happy meal; other states tax casinos more than 20 percent. But I can take a pay cut.

I am on the edge listening to Goccochiea and Cobb tell how state employees need to get paid less and pay more in health benefit premiums, and the Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) commission says that I should work an extra five years to earn the same size retirement package, you come do my job!

Stop me from throwing up. I believe that it is insanity for someone who quivers when my job is mentioned says I need to get paid less. Hey, governor, since we have to make up that 6 percent you're going to talk how about we can get second jobs at Home Depot mixing paint for the people who can't afford to repaint their homes? So you want to take 6 percent less, too?

Sounds pretty good from a guy who is worth more than the house I live in (and the one next door). How about we sell the Governor's Mansion and you do all your official business out of your Reno home? The Governor's Mansion could make money as a bed and breakfast. And still you want me to pay the bill? You wonder why I am on edge?

KEN CORZINE

Reno

Wondering what else $12 billion would buy:

So I was Googling the costs of the Iraq War the other day - roughly $300 million per day or $12 billion a month.

Memo to Ensign and his Confederate anti-American senators who don't believe in "Country First" ... two months of this garbage could help the auto, glass, steel, electronics and any industry associated with American automobiles. And let us stop calling it a war. The Iraqi Army quit in two weeks. This was nothing but an American invasion and occupation of a defenseless nation. It was pure imperialism and war-profiteering.

And the reasons changed weekly via the big Bush/Cheney/Rice spinning wheel of lies and deceit. The gullibility and acceptability of the American public for the biggest blunder in foreign policy history is nothing short of appalling.

How could we allow this man, who called himself "The Decider," to push this great nation into this debacle? How could virtually everyone in his party defend his actions? How could we sit through eight years of lies and unprecedented incompetence by Bush and his minions without any type of impeachment hearings? How could we sit by and watch the irresponsible crony appointments that would prove so disastrous to millions of Americans? How could we allow him to shred the Constitution and spy on any American, regardless of cause?

The insane babbling of "Bring 'em on" and "Mission Accomplished" seems almost surreal upon the realization that this guy was our president. An absolute historical rating of James Buchanan status awaits Bush's final polls. I'd venture to guess that Leroy's Sportsbook has it even money that Dubya's popularity is on par with the crazy drunk uncle we all wish would just disappear. And as he disappears, he cannot stop the lies and deception as he engages in blatant revisionism of these last eight years. He actually thought he was good.

Look, when the guy says one of his greatest accomplishments was that he "almost" succeeded in privatizing Social Security and turning over all that loot to Wall Street, what more is there to say than "Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish!"

The King is dead. Long live the King!

RICK VAN ALFEN

Carson City

Prison management placed above safety:

Your safety is in the hands of an obscure committee. Three recommendations have been forwarded to the governor:

- Move the Division of Parole and Probation under the Department of Corrections.

- Move all probation functions under the office of the Supreme Court Administrator. Parole functions are shifted to the NDOC.

- Break up probation and court services by district court area and place it under each district court. All pre-sentence writers and probation supervision would be under the district courts

Let's examine each idea:

First, P&P currently makes recommendations about using public safety as its first criteria. If NDOC operates both the probation and parole system, it may use probation and or parole revocations as a population management tool. What is more important, your safety or prison management?

Currently P&P supervises both probationers and parolees as a single population.

If broken up, each probation and parole unit will need its own office space, furniture, computers and a separate computer tracking system, two Interstate compact offices, two fugitive apprehension units, two restitution collection systems, two management teams and two sets of support staff. Clearly the counties or the state cannot afford this. This does nothing to increase offender supervision and make the public safer.

Separate parole and probation supervision is the California model.

Los Angeles County probation officers stay in the office. In Los Angeles, most offenders report to kiosks, insert a card, and have a time-stamped photo taken. That is their sole contact with the offender. It is paper probation. Offenders usually are not revoked until they have committed a new crime.

P&P Chief Bernie Curtis recognizes the potential threat to the public's safety and is vigorously opposing the change.

Currently, prison population is declining, parole and probation populations are stable or declining and new cases appear to be declining.

This does not save money, improve government efficiency, or protect the public. In fact it grows government, incurs needless duplicate costs and places prison management above public safety.

EDGAR MCDONALD

North Las Vegas

Return of lost keys proves good in people:

There are still good folks around. On Monday, Jan. 12, I needed both sets of keys to my car when I went downtown. I visited several stores in Douglas County and Carson City.

On Tuesday, Jan. 13, I couldn't find the second set of keys. In my mind I retraced my steps on the 12th. I didn't think I lost them at the first store I revisited, which proved true. The second store was Smith's in Carson City and there they were at the customer desk. Someone had turned them in.

I don't know who turned them in, but I thank them and want to let them know I really appreciate it.

JOHN CROSSLEY

Carson City

Obama not the one for all, no way, no how:

Alas, as I walked through the valley in the shadow of books, I feared no evil for the farther I ventured into this valley, into this place where one can go to find a book, CD or magazine, I felt safe because I saw a bright light ahead of me.

This light was guiding me, helping me in my time of loneliness in a country that has been taken over by the liberals, the left-wing wackos and, with my belief in the Lord, I knew I was getting closer to the one true light.

I felt safe, I felt like I could walk on water if the Lord asked me to.

As I walked farther down the aisle toward the light I felt my heart speed up with the joy at the pure thought of seeing our Lord.

I could hardly take a step forward because the light grew brighter and brighter with each step.

As I turned the corner I slipped my sunglasses on because at that point the light was blinding me, I walked forward into light. What the heck? Was this a joke? Some sort of prank being played on my senses?

For there, sitting on a table in the middle of the book store was the source of the bright light. I stood there in front of this so-called table, more like an alter of sorts piled high with information on the "one."

I felt like crying, I felt my skin start to shrivel up, I wanted to run away but the light drew me closer and closer.

At this stage I was about to get sick.

The "one" has been chosen and we should honor him.

We should pay homage to the great "he is" in buying all the crap that he has for sale.

Guess what Obama, you ain't all that and you aren't my savior, no way, no how.

People walking by talked in soft tones as if they were afraid of offending the "one."

Obama ain't no god and you people that think he is, wake up.

LEE ELLIOTT

Carson City

When is the governor's salary reduction coming?:

In the Wednesday, Jan. 14, paper a story said salary cuts are slated for teachers and state workers. When are we going to be informed the governor and others on his staff are also taking a cut?

MARJORIE HOFFECKER

Wellington