Letters to the editor Feb. 14

Carson City generates harmonious energy

What's right about Carson City? Each compassionate and thoughtful act of kindness creates harmony in our community that eventually ripples throughout the world. We are all members of a universal family sharing sympathy with other people world over. Just as we care about our immediate family, we offer people of all countries, nationalities and beliefs an element of empathy.

We saw this recently in Carson City's outreach effort to the victims of Haiti, and then again from our community's touching response to help a young mother lay her child to rest.

My thoughts center on the harmonious energy this community has generated and exchanged with one another during these events. And for me, it has been an uplifting and renewing experience in unity, and oneness of the caring spirit in this community.

I have redirected myself to step back, and take a better look at Carson City, to focus beyond what's wrong, and to re-evaluate, and begin to appreciate, what's right, what's good, and what's beautiful about Carson City? It's the people.

Carole Thompson

Carson City

Make gaming carry fair share of tax load

I watched Gov. Gibbons' speech about the tax problem. I did not hear any mention about gaming taxes. Nevada gaming taxes are 6.75 percent maximum. Michigan is 18 percent, Illinois is 50 percent, Colorado is 20 percent, Missouri is 21 percent, Indiana is 40 percent, Louisiana is 21.5 percent, New Mexico is 46 percent, Pennsylvania is 53 percent. Look at www.american

gaming.org for the tax rates in each state.

Does anyone think for a minute that Nevada gaming taxes could be 10 percent or 15 percent? Would that kill the industry? I doubt it.

Last week the paper reported that we had the worst schools of any state in the country. Will they get better when the governor cuts their funding? Do we deserve better? I think so.

Peter J. Smith

Carson City

'No new taxes' is driving us to ruin

Gov. Gibbons says he will not raise taxes on people struggling through these times - but he'll just lay off hundreds of state workers and marginalize our education system. It seems a disastrous stance just so he can have a political ad that says, "I never raised taxes" - with a subtext: and let our state fall apart at the seams.

His predecessor, Gov. Kenny Guinn, saw the need to impose taxes when we had tough times. It was a difficult decision that had some in his own party seeking to recall him. Yet, he was recognized by Time Magazine as one of the top five governors in the country because he made a tough call that benefited the state. They said his efforts were a "testament to Guinn's savvy and leadership." They also said "Guinn managed to put Nevada's long-term fiscal health above his own or his party's political considerations."

The last legislative session made serious cuts throughout the state. Why is there now no serious talk of maybe a small 1 percent tax based on income? Those who make little, help a little, those who have a lot, help a lot. Why not have all of us chip in to keep our state strong, and, at the same time, work to eliminate wasteful spending? When we have nothing but skin and bones, we shouldn't throw the bones away. We need to start the healing. Politicians need to do what is best for the state, not the next election.

Brian Reedy

Carson City

If health care doesn't pass, insurers win

So the health care bill before Congress isn't perfect. Show me one that is. I can say that a defeat of health care reform is a big win for the insurance companies and their plunder of family finances.

Unlike most Americans, I have lived in a country with a national health care program. My wife and I lived in Spain for six years in the 1990s as private citizens. That is, we paid our own way and did not have corporate or military benefits. We chose to pay for private health insurance on top of the national system benefits. These premiums were very reasonable and the coverage excellent.

When we came back to the U.S., we then had to purchase private health care coverage with this system. Our premiums started out at over double what we were paying in Spain with inferior benefits. Within five years, these premiums tripled with even higher deductibles ($2,000).

Some say it isn't government's job to look out after things like general health care. It is government's job to dictate policies that will provide a predictable framework for business - I run two different small businesses including one primary health care business - and also regulate business to protect the basic health and welfare of the average citizen. Good examples are automobile safety standards and food labeling laws.

It is time to begin working on making our health care system just that, a health care system, not the disease management system that we have now.

Daniel Schlenger

Carson City

Too many Nevadans have no health care

Out here in Nevada, I don't know many people these days who have health coverage at all. And for the most part, they have not for the last five to 10 years. I am talking 50 to 70 percent of our population, not the much smaller numbers you normally see in the media. It is our perspective that the public option is the only option. We the people need the ability to shape our health care.

Canyon Cassidy

Silver City