Do we care only about the casinos?

To the editor:

Regarding Howard Stutz’s Sunday column about Dotty’s (“Too much success catches up to Dotty’s”), there is a hypocritical statement made by a Nevada Resort Association official about Dotty’s not paying its fair share of gaming taxes.

Because the NRA enjoys the lowest gaming tax rate in the United States at 6.75 percent — and the whole world, for that matter — how about they help out the state of Nevada by raising that rate to 8 percent, which will then tie us with Mississippi, South Dakota and New Jersey?

Let’s talk about what’s fair for the residents of Nevada, not just the large casinos in the state.

Gov. Brian Sandoval, are you listening?

Val Sharp

Las Vegas

Real world

To the editor:

In response to Todd Wheelan’s “angry” opinion in Wednesday’s Review-Journal:

While Mr. Wheelan, a public employee, is going to retire at age 53, I am 61 years old, have worked for the same company for 38 years and still have another six to seven years before I’ll finally be able to retire — maybe.

That’s if my self/employer-funded 401(k) does not tank any further.

At that time, I will have to figure out how to manage my health care and my own welfare on my own funds. The company I work for is a private corporation without any pension or after-retirement health benefits.

And I’m not even close to that “six-figure paycheck” he touts is common in the private sector.

Mr. Wheelan is telling tales when he says his income has flatlined since reaching his “top pay rate.” What about those step raises? What about those COLAs? What sort of pension and health benefits is he going to be sucking out of the public teat in years to come?

Those of us in the private sector do not enjoy many — if any — of those perks. And, yes, they are perks, despite what Mr. Wheelan thinks.

I hope Mr. Wheelan lives a good long life, especially after retiring at such an early age. Maybe he could go back to work in another public entity and after 10 or so years qualify for yet another taxpayer-funded public pension.

Dave Dobbins

Henderson

Sordid affair

To the editor:

I find myself shedding big crocodile tears every time I read about Doug Hampton complaining about his wife’s affair with Sen. John Ensign (“Former aide criticizes Ensign,” Thursday Review-Journal).

While no one denies that the senator committed a fantastic error by entering into the affair, it was Mr. Hampton who took hush money from the senator’s family and then decided to run all of his dirty laundry up the tallest flagpole he could find.

While most of the men I have known would have gladly let the whole sordid story fade into obscurity, Mr. Hampton has wasted no opportunity to whine and otherwise tell his tale of woe. In the end, he comes across as a pathetic, scorned husband, and frankly, other than Sen. Ensign, it is he who emerges as a villain.

Who can blame Mrs. Hampton?

Andrew Windes

Las Vegas

Mean green

To the editor:

Your editorials Thursday (“Soaking up green” and “Wasted resources”) put the economics of alternative energy in easily understood terms. With the possible exception of thermal energy and a few windy locations where wind power can work, there are essentially no economically viable sources of green energy.

The Review-Journal should send copies of the editorials to the 535 members of Congress and one each to President Barack Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

We need a realistic evaluation of alternative energy before our politicians push us into poverty with their costly plans.

Tom Keller

Henderson

Carson City priorities

To the editor:

Thank goodness our elected politicians in Carson City aren’t worrying about the little things. Like the budget.

It’s very important to increase the cost of car insurance. Who know’s when a politician will get rear-ended? And how about the transgender hate crime problem? That’s very important.

Here’s a great idea. Why don’t we create an ombudsman for criminals. I mean, we really need to worry about their welfare. Hey, don’t worry about the victims.

The little things, like the budget, can wait.

Anybody want to guess when the budget will get done? I’m betting it’s overtime — at time and a half.

Forrest A. Henry

NOrth Las Vegas