Letters to the editor Jan. 19

Columnist demonizes those she disagrees with

About commentary Jan. 11 by Sue Morrow: "It's past time to take violence out of political rhetoric." Just one question for the author, does this apply to you also? I know you are not an elected official or politician, but do you have an unbalanced loyal follower who might be spurred on by your commentary to do harm to the two individuals you reference?

You were doing pretty well in the first one-third of your commentary and then you went on a witch hunt demonizing two political figures that one would assume you disagree with. Hate and vitriol are so imbedded in your journalistic world that you have an enormous amount of housekeeping to do. Do not point to another's bad behavior to justify your bad behavior.

Chuck McGuire

Minden

Oceguera, quit wasting taxpayer money

It is so easy to spend other people's money. The decision by Assembly Speaker John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas, to spend $30,000 of the taxpayers' money on exercise equipment is irresponsible. Have those who will be using the equipment pay for it, or sell it and return the funds to the taxpayers.

I'd like to go join a gym, too, but I can't afford it. Please be fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars.

Jeff Hagedorn

Dayton

State worker salaries outpace private sector

Not fair? Our new governor wants to reduce state salaries by

5 percent. I think this is a great idea.

I am at a loss, however, as to how the state employee associations can stand up and say these cuts are not fair.

A "Comparative Analysis of Public and Private Employee Compen-sation Levels" produced by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce shows a huge wage disparity between the public and private sectors.

As an example, state and local employees in installation, maintenance and repair occupations reported a median wage 119 percent of that reported for employees in the same occupations but employed by the private sector. Bill and account collectors are at 150.3 percent. File clerks are at 170.7 percent. Construction trades workers are at 116.5 percent.

The average of all occupations reported is 28.1 percent more paid to public sector employees. These salary disparities do not take into account the differences in higher level benefit packages.

I guess the state employee associations are right, it is not fair.

Robert Coop

Carson City