Gaming tax proposal akin to ‘mob rule’

Sunday’s letter from Kermitt Waters, "Raising the gaming tax a matter of fairness," makes me respond: Fairness, indeed!

There is nothing fair about Mr. Waters’ proposal to steal more money from private businesses, whether they be mega-gambling corporations or not. Steal? Yes, steal. The forceful taking of someone else’s money or property without permission.

In this case, it is the force of law that Mr. Waters wants to use through his proposed initiative. It matters not that other cities, states, or even countries steal more from private companies and investors. To use that argument is pure nonsense. That’s like a common thief justifying his taking of your wallet because he knows of another thief who takes his victim’s watch.

It is a sad situation when we use pure democracy to enact "mob rule." Get enough other people on your side to vote for something and you too can steal from those who you think have made too much or have become too successful in life. Then you can give the stolen loot to whomever you think deserves it (like homeowners and schools). It matters not that they had no part whatsoever in earning the money in the first place. Just because people vote for it doesn’t make it right or fair.

But it is a clever scheme that Mr. Waters proposes. I mean, which average Mr. Taxpayer can resist the temptation of getting a free ride at someone else’s expense? How is this any different than big-time lawyers who go after those with the "deepest pockets" after an injury to their client, whether or not it makes any logical sense that the sued party is responsible?

Just because casinos have large revenues does not somehow obligate them to pay the way for everybody else. Who will it be next year, Wal-Mart? Home Depot? Perhaps they should have some more of their money confiscated so that the common folk don’t have to pay for their own electric bills?

Where will this nonsense end? Fairness, indeed!

Mac Frank

DEVIL’S TOWER, WYO.

 

THE WRITER IS A FORMER PAHRUMP RESIDENT.

 

Disaster response

To the editor:

"Runaway tanker wake-up call" should indeed be a wake-up call (Monday Review-Journal).

A preponderance of visitors to Clark County are stranded here pending their exit reservations. What arrangements are in place for their emergency movement if it is necessary to get them from potential harm’s way to a temporary safe haven? Mobilized fleets of school buses, taxis and parked rental cars, perhaps?

If our freeways were clogged on weekends, what confusion would a sudden exodus cause? Are our various communication technologies in tune to control the certain bewilderment? With our state’s National Guard away on foreign assignment, who is to augment our police and fire departments? The list goes on and on. Are we ready or at sea — as demonstrated nationally by other calamities?

Richard E. Law

LAS VEGAS

 

Golden State

To the editor:

Letter writer S.G. Hayes Sr. better take a look in his own back yard before telling us that Californians "have elected so many clueless politicians who have destroyed their own state" (Saturday Review-Journal).

I give you the following former commissioners who represented portions of Southern Nevada: Lance Malone (corruption and wire fraud), Erin Kenny (public corruption), Mary Kincaid-Chauncey (public corruption) and Dario Herrera (public corruption). There are more, but I think I have made my point.

Nevadans elected these people, all of whom were convicted. So while you may not like the influx of Californians to your state — and by the way, if you didn’t have the weekend traffic into Las Vegas from Southern California, you would be living in a dust bowl — you had better start following local politics before condemning others.

Bob Unbedacht

ST. GEORGE, UTAH

 

Free publicity

To the editor:

Attorney Neil Galatz wrote Saturday that he is a Nevada lawyer who does not advertise, yet he spelled out his entire professional life story, including credentials, services, awards and positive personal heartfelt opinions … all in six short paragraphs of a free letter to the editor.

Seems the Review-Journal should have posted his letter in the classifieds and charged him for it. The paper even appropriately headlined his letter "Attorney advertising." Very impressive work, Mr. Galatz. You are the "heavy-hitter," old-school style.

M. Tuman

LAS VEGAS