Letters to the editor, July 22

Nugget workers take exception to 'dilapidated casino' epithet

As employees of the Carson Nugget, we want to set the record straight regarding Guy Farmer's recent commentary that falsely characterizes the Carson Nugget as a "dilapidated casino."

With a group of several hundred employees who are also Carson City residents, the Carson Nugget is the place where we earn our livelihood. We are proud of our jobs and proud to be a part of a long-established business and civic partner in the community.

We invite the community to see the many recent improvements made to the Carson Nugget: The Steak House has been remodeled and the Nugget's City Center Hotel has been reborn as a beautiful boutique hotel that was nominated by local businesses for the Miracle Worker Award, and in January of this year, to our great pleasure, it won that award.

Plans are in the works to finish a remodeling of the Garden Cafe, with many elements already completed; this spring, the entire banquet room complex was given a major facelift, including new carpeting, window treatments, and design elements that have been warmly received by guests; the entire casino has been re-carpeted with a high-grade wool carpet; our slot floor is very modern and we have modern technology behind the scenes, as well.

Also, the main floor restroom complex was completely remodeled and is now among the most comfortable in our area; our guest service center has been re-built with stone countertops and cherry paneling; the north wall has been paneled and decorated with custom display boards; and this month, we added barrels of beautiful flowers to the area adjoining Laxalt Plaza on our south side.

For more than 50 years, Carson Nugget employees have been part of the community and we take exception to anyone who degrades our workplace and livelihood because of politics. The voters will have the opportunity to choose the proper course for our community- and that is as it should be. The community has long supported us and we hope it will continue to support us long after election day.

TONYA LANEY

Director of Human Resources,

Carson Nugget

• This letter was co-signed by more than three dozen Nugget employees.

Manipulating the masses is a citizen thing

This letter is in response to "We've got to face the music as adults" by Bob Thomas. Much wisdom this man has shared with us, with the exception of one thing: blaming Obama. Most of us have an opinion one way or the other about our elected officials and that is how it should be. Although I can only speak truly for myself, I suspect I speak for many more.

Mr. Thomas is right on the money about taxes and coveting others' material things and money. But I call foolishness on anyone who is narrow minded enough to think Obama is the only one manipulating the masses. Really? It's not just an Obama thing, a Bush thing, or any other politician or media thing - it is a citizen thing.

Is it not our duty as citizens of this country to get involved? To be aware? To take a stand? It sure was the duty of our ancestors and they did just as Mr. Thomas wrote, with honor and integrity. If we are to save this great democracy before it fails (that is, if we are not too late already) then we, the masses, must get a clue, get involved, and stand together rather than divided by the great manipulators.

When those brave enough to speak out stop placing the blame on puppets and one-sided politics their words will carry even more value and be embraced by even more citizens.

Nita Smith

Carson City

Economic blame falls to Dems in Congress

Some folks aren't aware of this.

January 3, 2007, was the day the Democrats took over the Senate and the Congress. At that time, the Dow Jones closed at 12,621.77, the gross domestic product for the previous quarter was 3.5 percent and the unemployment rate was 4.6 percent.

George Bush's economic policies set a record of 52 straight months of job growth.

January 3, 2007, was the day Barney Frank took over the House Financial Services Committee and Chris Dodd took over the Senate Banking Committee.

The economic meltdown that happened 15 months later was in what part of the economy? Banking and financial services.

So put the blame where it belongs, at the Democrats in Congress.

Bill Beil

Carson City

Remain calm and let's discuss country's future

It is vital that we understand something about the limbic response. The limbic center is in a primitive part of our brain and is very much tied to our emotional centers. It is very powerful and when activated has the ability to drastically dampen the higher cortical centers where we access logic and reason. It sees the world in black and white and does not recognize shades of gray.

One recent letter compared Obama to Hitler. It is easy to recognize the limbic response. The needle is pegged all the way to one extreme on the opinion gauge. Can the comparison of Obama or any U.S. president to a Hitler-like standard pass the logic and reason test?

It is good to have people around us able to recognize and point out the limbic response. These trained observers can advise us when we "go limbic" because it is difficult see in ourselves. A person in a limbic mode will have considerable difficulty accessing the logic and reason centers, so do not expect them to. If you can, calm them down and ease the firing of the limbic brain, only then can you discuss subtleties and solutions.

My hope for the country is that we will learn to calm down the limbic brain so it is possible to have productive discussions about the future. Which do you think gives a better chance at solving problems: the "all or none" limbic response or logic and reason? We do have a choice.

Daniel schlenger

Carson City

Let's hatch healthy business in CarsonCity

As a grandmother, I simply cannot understand how Mr. Corkill concluded that the idea of "business incubation" for existing and new businesses through the Knowledge + Discovery Center project is a bad idea. Afterall, it is how we raise our children ... keeping them warm and nurturing and protecting them. He needs to better understand the nature of the business nurture.

Business incubation begins with providing help in writing a business plan and registering a business under the right legal structure. Raising money to start a business can be a difficult process so help in navigating good finance and bank sources is key. A business also needs support in market research to help identify customer wants or trends. Media literacy is essential, particularly online. Finally, coaching, regarding taxes, bookkeeping, staffing, health and safety, exporting, importing, franchising, buying, social media marketing, messaging all help "incubate" a business.

Make no mistake about it ... to keep streets safe, buildings protected, open pace programs active, parks clean and green, services up to and beyond current standards we need to do everything we can to support business.

Carson City can rise to the challenge of working harder, smarter, and better. Public libraries and librarian services nurture, protect, and help keep alive the work of a business person. Information professionals meet people where they are with what they need to know, when they need to know it. Wouldn't it be nice if we hatched an orchard of healthy businesses to keep our apple baskets full and growing in all the right ways?

Phyllis Patton

Carson City

Time to move on from health care debate

The vote in the U.S. House was the 33rd vote Congress undertook to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a law that in the past two years has been approved by both houses of Congress, signed by the president, and upheld by the Supreme Court. It is time to move on. Political gamesmanship is not helping a single retiree, worker, or student live a better, healthier life.

I am grateful that one of Nevada's representatives voted to help seniors like me keep new Medicare benefits and improve our health care situation. That would be Shelley Berkley.

It takes courage to stand up to powerful insurance companies and business interests and support a law that is helping workers and retirees across our state. Thanks, Shelley Berkley.

Scott Watts

Minden

Metal deer don't add beauty to Carson City

Jeers to NDOT for its trashy looking huge metal deer now gracing the once pretty slope of Lakeview hill.

Never mind the rampant hypocrisy on the new interchange at Winters Drive cutting off the last chances for the Washoe Valley deer herd on that end of the valley without so much as a pass under or over. Never mind that area was a wintering ground for them. Never mind this was all brought up by myself in the public meetings in Carson City about the proposed freeway route; while I was working for you on that road, picking up the hundreds of dead deer from Lakeview Road to Winters Drive.

Why put up huge silhouettes that make Carson City look like some cheap theme park? I live here for the gorgeous mountains that surround us in every direction. One would think that would be plenty without the visual blight of tacky statues made of rusty iron and wire. Thumbs down on that.

Ron Anderson

Carson City