Now Reid can’t do anything for Nevada?

To the editor:

Your Wednesday story about Harry Reid ("Reid: Nevada is on its own") really struck me. Didn't Sen. Reid run on the notion that "no one can do more for Nevada"? Didn't everyone tell us that a new senator such as Sharron Angle would have no power?

Now Sen. Reid tells us that there is nothing he can do for us.

Thanks to all the boneheads who helped Sen. Reid get re-elected.

We're now stuck with him for another six years. The word "useless" comes to mind.

Mike Murphy

Pahrump

Movie guide

To the editor:

I, too, am disappointed that Regal Cinemas is no longer listing their movies and show times in the newspaper (Jan. 10 Jane Ann Morrison column). I am shocked that they are so cheap, especially in light of their prices.

Apparently, as Ms. Morrison pointed out, they do not care about senior citizens -- or anyone's convenience, for that matter. Although I do have a computer at home, it is merely for the convenience of my grandchildren when they visit and I never turn it on. Why would I even want to spend the time to turn it on, wait for it to boot, find the movie listings and scroll them when I could have completed the entire process looking at the newspaper in less time than it would take for the computer to even turn on?

And calling the theater is another ridiculous waste of time. I have to listen to enough stupid recordings when I call any "customer service" department of any business. Why would I want to do that when I am seeking entertainment? To raise my blood pressure?

Since Regal Cinemas has made it clear that my business is of no value to them, I will be happy to oblige and take my business to places that do value my time and convenience. Many times when I attend movies, I have noted that senior citizens comprise the majority of the audience, so if others feel as I do it would not surprise me to see them lose that market and perhaps more.

Carolyn Muscari

Las Vegas

Chew the fat

To the editor:

In response to the Jan. 14 editorial, "For the trial lawyers," as well as Ben Spillman's blog, "Bill would outlaw bullying, protect short, overweight people":

Mr. Spillman and attorney Gregory Kamer make assumptions that adding height and weight to the protected classes of our state would open the flood gates for lawsuits and drive business away from Nevada -- like I said, assumptions. Why not look at some facts?

The state of Michigan has had this law in place for 30 years during which time there have been four -- that's right, only four -- lawsuits.

The Rudd Center at Yale University has conducted studies which determine that weight/height discrimination is prevalent in American society and is relatively close to reported rates of racial discrimination, particularly among women. Their recommendation is to improve working conditions, health care and the overall quality of life for millions of Americans by including height and weight on the list of categories that are covered in anti-discrimination laws.

Some seem to feel that protecting these groups of people from discrimination puts too much of a financial burden on our system, employers and the rest of society. The latest reports show that better than 65 percent of our nation's citizens are considered overweight or obese.

What kind of burden will it put on society if fat people are not hired, routinely passed over for promotions and raises or fired because of their size? Who is going to foot the bill then? All the rest of you.

Protecting people's right to work only makes good sense, morally and fiscally.

Peggy Howell

Las Vegas

Teacher pay

To the editor:

In response to the Jan. 15 letter from a Clark County teacher about pay raises:

I am a recently retired Clark County elementary school teacher. I retired after 19 years. I received a generous retirement benefit, automatic step increases every year for 15 years (that is when the automatic step increases stop) and pay hikes that I earned by obtaining a master's degree and taking an additional 32 credits beyond my master's. I worked for, and received, my national board certification, the fee for which the state covered.

Further, I witnessed a teachers union that sent out political fliers during every election endorsing mainly candidates from the Democratic Party who promised better pay to teachers. But the Democratic candidates who were elected through the backing of the union rarely came through with pay raises for teachers during the "good" years, and the raises that the teachers received were far less than those raises received by other county and state employees during those years.

With educational spending taking up the largest percentage of the state budget, where do teachers think a pay raise will come from? Three of the tax avenues to fund the running of the city, county and state are property taxes, sales taxes, taxes on individual businesses and taxes on the state's industries. Two of those avenues come directly from the individual taxpayer's pocket and the others mean higher prices for everyone.

Teachers, do you really want to pay extra taxes to fund your own pay raise? What would your new bottom line look like? How would you like a personal state income tax so you and your neighbors can fund your pay raise while folks in the private sector are losing their jobs or taking pay cuts?

Think about it. It is like an employee asking their employer for a pay raise while the company is going bankrupt, knowing that if you get a raise someone else on the payroll will be fired.

TAMI HUGGINS

LAS VEGAS

Armed maniacs

To the editor:

Historically, the four pillars of the U.S. government have been listed as the executive, the legislative, the judicial and the Fourth Estate (the press). The armed maniac should have properly been called the Fifth Column.

FRANK PERNA

LAS VEGAS