LETTERS: Public pays for Hafen’s jobs pipeline

To the editor:

Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen is the poster child for why we need term limits and the elimination of off-year elections at all levels of government (“Six of Mayor Hafen’s relatives on Henderson’s payroll,” May 4 Review-Journal). Creeping cronyism is rampant in government hiring practices.

Instead of getting highly qualified professionals with experience, the taxpayers get someone’s relative or fellow church member or friend or whatever. This results in a high cost for government services because of mismanagement and outright incompetence. The public interest is not well-served. Government ends up not serving the taxpayers, but rather serves as an employment club for certain groups.

CURTIS WILLIAMS

HENDERSON

Minimum wage and waste

To the editor:

State Sen. Patricia Farley’s letter had some goods points (“Raising minimum wage a good move,” May 10 Review-Journal). However, Sen. Farley stated that it takes $1,500 in tax revenue to get $300 in assistance to a minimum wage worker.

What happens to the other $1,200? That is a loss of 80 percent, which by itself is an indication that we have far too much government impeding the economy. We would all be better off if Sen. Farley directed her efforts to eliminating that incredible waste of our hard-earned tax dollars.

ROBERT RAIDER

HENDERSON

Voter ID accessibility

To the editor:

President Barack Obama recently announced an innovative new reading initiative to make e-books available to all kids, especially the poor and disadvantaged who may not be able to afford actual books. For those who do not have a computer or Internet access, he is enlisting a commitment from all cities to guarantee universal access to library cards for all school kids.

The president seems confident that the “system” has the ability to make library cards available to all disadvantaged kids. So how about going a step further? The president should mandate that the parents or guardians of these kids go to the library with them and obtain photo identification for voting purposes. Liberals have steadfastly maintained that photo ID requirements were not fair because they disenfranchised the poor and minorities. Here’s a chance to help the kids, while putting the “unfair” voter ID excuse to bed once and for all.

J.J. SCHRADER

HENDERSON

Misfunding education

To the editor:

Gov. Brian Sandoval is looking to raise taxes to pump more money into a failed education system. The public school system in Washington, D.C., spends $29,349 per student per year; nearby Baltimore spends $15,483. Grades are pathetic, and from the riots, you can see how well education has worked in Baltimore.

How much money is Gov. Sandoval willing to spend to still have failing schools? There’s no accountability. Public education in America is for the unions, not the students, and that’s how it will be until something is done about the unions. Thank God there were no teacher unions when I went to school; if there had been, I probably would not have been educated enough to compose this letter.

CHARLES W. MITCHELL

NORTH LAS VEGAS

Cartoon complaint

To the editor:

The editorial cartoon by Michael Ramirez on April 25 reflected poorly on the Review-Journal. It depicted President Barack Obama embracing two Middle Eastern types who were wearing “I Hate America” shirts, while the president says, “We have more in common than you know.”

What was the opinion staff of the Review-Journal thinking? Does it honestly believe that the president hates America? That message resonates with the lowest common denominator of our population, those who believe our president is a Muslim who is actively trying to destroy our country. I appeal to the R-J to use some judgment when selecting cartoons since, as we know, the media is capable of encouraging zealots and mentally unstable individuals to violence.

RICHARD ZISKIND

LAS VEGAS