Tax on trucks will devastate the industry

To the editor:

Another tax on trucks (Thursday Review-Journal)? To cross the state of Nevada on Interstate 80 would cost a truck $61.50. And any local trucks here in Las Vegas will be taxed just to be able to work.

We pay the third highest fuel prices in the United States and now Nevada wants another 15 cents per mile on top of that? As it is right now, truckers in Nevada can't make a living.

We began working in Nevada in 1995. We are a Nevada owner-operator. We earn our money here, we spend our money here, we've purchased homes here. And with a 15-cent tax per mile, we will be unemployed here.

We make less money now than we did five years ago. To fill our truck with fuel costs almost $900. The average miles we drive would require us to pay between $5,400 and $10,000 a year more in taxes.

Can anyone actually withstand that much of a pay cut when they are only making minimum wage as it is? It no longer pays to be an owner-operator in the state of Nevada.

Does anyone really not think that if this proposal passes, the costs to the public will remain the same? Hah.

Everything in this valley is trucked in. Say hello to higher grocery prices, higher clothing prices, higher prices on everything.

We local truckers can't absorb this type of tax. It will put most of us out of business. We will lose our homes; we will be forced to leave this city. So much for the "little guy." So much for the "friendly business environment."

Back East, truckers have found ways around the toll roads because they just can't afford the ever rising tolls. What will happen here when truckers find ways to not even enter our state? Because it will be less expensive to circumvent Nevada than to pay that tax.

And that, too, will mean increased prices on everything.

Sheryl Anctil

LAS VEGAS

THE WRITER IS AN OWNER OF KSC TRUCKING IN LAS VEGAS.

Media bias

To the editor:

In response to Wednesday's front-page article, "Gibbons' comments elicit incredulity":

Apparently, "Gibbons' willingness to put any stock in the idea that a respected national publication would take payoffs from a political party was widely perceived as bizarre." To think that any graduate of the Jayson Blair-Dan Rather Schools of Journalistic Integrity would accept bribes floods me with incredulity and a sense of the bizarre.

How stupid to think these people would take bribes to malign a Republican when they're just doing the job they're paid to do.

B. Butler

LAS VEGAS

Imus affair

To the editor:

I am not a fan of Don Imus, I do not listen to his show, and I don't really care to hear anything that he has to say. Mr. Imus has the right as an American to say anything he wants to say. I, however, have a right as a American citizen not to listen to what he says. That said, the hypocrisy of the reporting of the Imus fiasco by the U.S. media does not go unnoticed.

Rutgers women's basketball coach Vivian Stringer stated, "The color is green -- if we can tolerate as a society what's just taken place. I don't know how anyone could have heard this and not been offended. Let me put a human face to all of this. I want you to see 10 young women who accomplished so much. They are young ladies of class and distinction. They are articulate. They are gifted. They are brilliant. They are God's representatives in every sense of the word."

Rutgers sophomore center Kia Vaughn said that she would like Mr. Imus "to get to know us and see why (his joke) is so false. I'm someone's child. It hurt a lot."

Rutgers team captain Essence Carson summed up the impact of Imus' comments this way: "Mr. Imus has stolen a moment of pure grace from us."

Just what do the media and these offended young women think the constant barrage of "gutter filth" preached from black gangster rappers does to demean women of all colors across the world?

These "musicians" refer to women, in general, in much, much worse terms then Don Imus' did in his stupid quote. And the media are quick to give air time and glowing reviews to the creators of this filth.

I certainly don't hear any form of national or local media, or these fine student athletes from Rutgers University, calling for a halt to this offensive "music."

I feel sorry that these young people were offended by Mr. Imus' ignorant remarks. But my sorrow is tempered by my thoughts of the "music" they probably danced to at their victory party and the blaring "ghetto rap" we hear blared from vehicles on our city streets daily.

Bottom line: If a woman of any other color said she was offended by what black gangster rappers call -- and how they refer to -- all women, what news organization would be listening and providing these offended persons a forum to voice their outrage?

The news machine and the "race pimps" in this country will see that this tragic episode will cost Mr. Imus his career while they continue to promote the absolute filth spewing from millionaire "gutter rappers." What hypocrisy.

Kip Canfield

LAS VEGAS

Draft policy

To the editor:

Concerning the involuntary extension of our active duty forces currently serving in combat positions in Iraq -- as well as the reactivation of countless reserve forces:

It is time to seriously think about a military draft and/or a mandatory two-year public service/military obligation for all persons 18 years of age, period.

There, the ice is broken. Somebody had to say it. The politicians don't have the testicular fortitude to utter such words, of course, so let's get the voters to take the lead.

As long as a policy of active intervention overseas is going to be part of our future for some time, we cannot rely forever on the current volunteer forces. It is time to begin a lively debate leading to a draft or mandatory public service.

As good a job as the all volunteer forces have done to date, they cannot be expected to carry the load of the nation forever. A draft would mean everyone older than 18 -- not a half-baked effort as during Vietnam. Young women as well as all college kids should be eligible.

Deferments should be granted only in cases of provable physical incapacity and nothing else. No college deferments, conscientious objectors, religious pining, political "favors" not to serve, or "it'd be tough on the family" excuses should be allowed.

If you're healthy enough to enjoy the privileges and honor that go with being an American, then you should be willing to do your part and serve.

K.R. KOLLMAN

RENO

Red ink

To the editor:

We are regularly informed that the University Medical Center (UMC) is burdened with increasing debt due to an operating regimen of providing medical services to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

(I wonder if they even ask the "patients" if they can actually pay?)

Meanwhile, we are presented with UMC commercials on every major local TV station. Whose idiotic idea was that, particularly in view of the current level of unpaid debt?

Someone or some inept management personnel must be held responsible and must suffer proper consequences. If not, this red ink will continue to flow.

Lou Garner

LAS VEGAS