Local theater has much to offer the community

I read Anthony Del Valle’s “Smith Center could hurt local theaters” (Friday Review-Journal) and must admit I’ve felt the same concern. Why would anyone spend money on a small local play when they could attend a world-class production at the beautiful Smith Center?

Why? Because local theater does indeed have much to offer our community. Groups such as the Rainbow Company and Signature Productions give not only the novice but also the professionally trained actors, director, writer and choreographers in Las Vegas the chance to study and practice their craft.

Las Vegas Little Theatre, Insurgo and Chaos present not only great dramatic works but alternative, challenging and, indeed, exhilarating lesser-known works. Even Tony Hsieh, Zappos founder and a big proponent of downtown, recognizes the value of our local theaters. He recently vowed to match dollar for dollar up to $15,000 any money donated to the Las Vegas Little Theatre by June 1.

Mr. Del Valle saw the city’s wealthy open their pocketbooks for the Smith Center. I hope those same individuals take a moment to remember and support our local playhouses, as well.

Teresa Fullerton

Las Vegas

Mandated insurance

To the editor:

What color is the sky in Dr. Jane Orient’s world (“The debate is not about contraceptives,” Sunday commentary)? Does she really think that sex is performed only for procreation? Any OB/Gyn will report that perhaps half of her/his patients are prescribed oral contraceptives for medical reasons (e.g. menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, acne, etc.).

In addition, only selfish physicians do not accept Medicare. If she objects so strongly to “mandated” insurance, perhaps she can start a campaign to get rid of mandatory auto insurance or homeowner insurance. People do not purchase insurance voluntarily — just ask insurers how many drivers voluntarily purchased auto coverage before it was required.

Join the real world, doctor.

Rosalie D. Marinelli

Henderson

Price schedules

To the editor:

I fully agree with the Sunday commentary, “The debate is not about contraceptives,” that mandated insurance should not cover relatively low-cost, predictable expenses.

There does appear to be a good case for mandated coverage of truly unpredictable, high-cost care, minimally including trauma — this is never contracted for in advance, and is frequently provided without obtaining the patient’s explicit consent.

Providers of such care would be required to develop and justify pricing schedules, based upon actual costs, quite possibly using per-minute compensation of physicians and other skilled personnel, with most other costs factored into an overhead rate.

Billings — to either “mandated” insurance or other financially responsible parties — would be based upon such price schedules. Costs for patients who are unable to pay would be recovered from tax revenues, most likely through Medicaid.

Steven P. Haver

Las Vegas

War games

To the editor:

Ray McCann’s Saturday letter in the Review-Journal, “War is hell,” was right to the point. His letter should be read out loud to every politician in Washington, D.C.

What we have had for years now is a mercenary army. We have it so we can eliminate a draft system. The money people — blue bloods or silver spoons — won’t have to send their darlings into no-win situations. They live in a different America than the rest of us live in.

Just think if we had a draft today, how many of their privileged children would make a trip to Canada to avoid holding a gun? Bring back the draft and show the world that the rich are willing to fight alongside the middle class and poor.

As far as I am concerned, Mr. McCann, the sand pit that is Afghanistan is a waste of lives and a waste of borrowed Chinese money.

John Tominsky

Las Vegas

Name calling

To the editor:

Actor Alec Baldwin called Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., an “oil whore” in response to the senator’s new book titled “The Greatest Hoax,” describing the far-left global warming conspiracy. Actor Matthew Modine called the senator a “climate denying fool.” They both agreed that we should retire Sen. Inhofe to “a solar-powered gay bar.”

Both actors are probably considered serious candidates for various Nobel Prizes — in science, of course, and also in name-calling.

Marc Jeric

Las Vegas

Underwater

To the editor:

In Friday’s Review-Journal, Rep. Joe Heck was highlighted as having sponsored a foreclosure relief bill. As if we don’t have enough of these already? A day late and a dollar short comes to mind here.

It’s good that Rep. Heck’s photo showed him in a praying position. Up until now, prayer is all that he has offered homeowners.

What hasn’t been recognized is that nearly 40 percent of all homes in the United States are owned outright. These homeowners aren’t just underwater, they’ve already drowned. Many of the underwater mortgage swimmers Rep. Heck tries to address have the option to head for the beach and let the banks drown in unpaid debt. Many have already done so.

So what the heck, Rep. Heck, why not sponsor another bill asking the federal government to send every homeowner who actually owns his home outright a substantial “thanks-for-not-having-a-mortgage” check as a consolation gift?

Richard Rychtarik

Las Vegas