LETTERS: State Republicans guilty of fraud
To the editor:
I was shocked to see Republican leaders in Carson City gloating over the record-setting taxes they just passed. Some Republicans were even seemingly gloating over having passed a tax increase (“Senate seals deal on taxes,” June 2 Review-Journal). The Republican leaders of this state are delusional. They’ve also committed fraud.
It’s not a crime to support higher taxes. There is a fair and honest debate. If you support raising taxes, you have every right to your opinion. But then what makes you different than a Democrat? Who needs Republicans to pass the biggest tax increase in Nevada history? We could have easily elected Democrats to do that. But instead, Republicans won in a massive landslide last November — specifically because voters across America were sick and tired of big taxes, reckless spending and massive government expansion.
The Nevada GOP’s response to a historic landslide was to do exactly what Democrats would have done. And you’re bragging about it? You are clearly either confused, delusional or in the wrong party. But worst of all, these GOP leaders are bragging about committing fraud. If they wanted to pass the largest tax increase in history, why didn’t they campaign on that idea? Why didn’t they say “I am proud to be running as a Republican to raise your taxes. I promise to pass the biggest tax increase in Nevada history”?
Instead, they lied and misrepresented their agenda. This is the very definition of fraud. They lied to their customers about their product and what it does. They misrepresented themselves, committed fraud and back-stabbed their best customers. And for that, they will all pay a big price.
WAYNE ALLYN ROOT
HENDERSON
Tax-and-spend GOP
To the editor:
Regarding the move to approve Gov. Brian Sandoval’s tax plan (“Assembly OKs big tax plan,” June 1 Review-Journal), I may have missed something here, but when did we elect tax-and-spend Republicans?
MARK STRUSSENBERG
HENDERSON
Tourist-friendly Strip
To the editor:
Having lived here since 2000, I have a suggestion: Shut down Las Vegas Boulevard to all vehicular traffic and install four miles of moving sidewalks right down the center. Start at the “Welcome” sign and build northward to the Stratosphere.
I sense people visiting the Strip would move faster, see and hear the sights much better, and the walkway would perhaps increase the stamina of all visitors to walk through even more casinos and shops. Install the ground-level moving walkways at lengths of 500 feet and place sufficient entry/exits for people at multiple points along the four-mile stretch. Close all intersections to cross traffic. A major east/west route on the south end could serve much as Desert Inn Road does on the north end, thus allowing traffic to easily get across town. Of course, provide sufficient space and access points for police, fire and medical vehicles.
Not being a transportation planner, there are surely obstacles I cannot envision at this point. I’m just an observer of current situations who wonders if there isn’t a better way. The taxicab industry will surely balk, but they could use Koval Lane and Frank Sinatra Drive or Industrial Road to access the hotels, with routing to drop-off/pickup areas currently in use.
A final benefit: car passengers coming to walk the Strip would likely park in the vast lots at the major hotels and casinos. They would then stroll by the interior stores and casino attractions. We might even see an increase in people who heretofore might have only driven in front of those establishments and not even ventured inside. Just imagine the media coverage generated worldwide by such a unique, tourist-friendly option for our millions of visitors.
Maybe we’ve just given any Strip holdouts a good reason to come here for their first-ever trek as we further roll out the welcome mat.
DON SHOOK
LAS VEGAS
Supporting soccer
To the editor:
In response to Beneth B. Morrow’s letter (“FIFA scandal shows Las Vegas citizens knew better than mayor,” June 6 Review-Journal), it is grossly unfair to those who love the game to call soccer “the world’s most corrupt sport.” And it’s definitely incorrect to refer to it as a “disreputable sport.”
America calls it soccer, but the rest of the world calls it football. There is no denying that football (or “soccer”) is the most popular sport in the world. It is the national sport of most countries. In the U.S., soccer’s popularity is slowly growing, and I think Americans will eventually embrace this game as a favorite team sport.
The recent FIFA bribery scandal should not be a hindrance to the promotion and development of the sport in the U.S. The U.S. Soccer Federation (a member of FIFA) was one of the associations that actively pursued the bribery case against top FIFA officials.
The scandal is also not connected to the failed attempt by Mayor Carolyn Goodman to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Las Vegas. I think the plan to bring MLS to Las Vegas was a well-intentioned effort by the mayor. However, while I support the idea of constructing a soccer stadium to promote the sport in Las Vegas, I have reservations about using taxpayer money as part of the funding.
JAIME VIERNES
LAS VEGAS
