Letters for February 6, 2003

Don’t fear tax cuts
When it comes to the economy, President Bush is demonstrating genuine leadership. The economic growth package he recently proposed takes us in the right direction by accelerating the successful tax cuts of 2001, providing marriage penalty relief and providing incentives for individuals and small businesses to save and invest.

Contrary to the rhetoric attacking the president’s plan, the proposal helps everyone who pays taxes, especially the middle class.

This year alone, 92 million taxpayers will receive an immediate tax cut averaging $1,083, and 46 million married couples will get back an average of $1,714. That’s not pocket change for a family struggling through uncertain economic times. Combined with the president’s new initiatives to help the unemployed, this plan gets people back to work and helps every sector of our economy.

Michael Jensen
via e-mail

News you can’t use
Re “Good news, all the time” [RN&R, Letters, Jan. 23]:

In a previous letter, a person whose name was withheld, wrote in defense of Channel 2 news. She said she thought it was great that they covered light news. I agree.

I enjoy light news once in a while, but I often wonder how much the station has been paid to promote these “light” news stories. For example, I didn’t see anything on Channel 2 news’ financial report that mentioned the new Golden Phoenix Hotel Casino. However, I did see a documentary on a new restaurant that would reportedly save Reno’s downtown economy. Good news—the trench won’t save the economy and neither will a new casino, but we have a restaurant that will. Am I the only one who finds this odd?

Michael Gawthrop
Via e-mail

Media manipulation
Re “Where were television media?” [RN&R, Guest comment, Jan. 23]:

Jill Ransom decried the consolidation of our media, saying that local news coverage suffers when television stations are owned by large conglomerates. Likewise, national coverage can be skewed when large corporations promote their own interests.

Media consolidation may soon get much worse. The Federal Communications Commission is in the midst of reviewing its remaining ownership limits. Chairman Michael Powell seems bent on deregulation. As we saw in the case of radio in 1996, deregulation does not mean more competition. Instead, mergers lead to corporate giants who squeeze out the little guys. It may soon be possible for one corporation to own several television stations and a newspaper in one town.

Our very democracy is at stake. An effective democracy depends upon an informed public. Otherwise, we citizens are open to manipulation. Can we trust information that is coming through only a few corporate filters? Even as the number of channels increases, they are being owned by fewer entities.

Nathan Gove
Reno

Retribution for Ruby Valley
Re “Showdown in Crescent Valley” [RN&R, Cover, Jan. 16]:

Thank you, Deidre Pike, for writing the “Showdown in Crescent Valley” as a thorough, objective and honest piece of journalism.

The harassment the Dann sisters have withstood over the last 40-plus years is appalling. Yet, these remarkable ladies continue to be stewards, not only of their land and culture, but also of non-violent ideals.

As an attendee at the annual Western Shoshone Defense Project Gathering for the past two years, I have heard firsthand the Danns’ steadfast call for an adherence to the Treaty of Ruby Valley, which was made in 1863 between the U.S. government and the Western Shoshone in the spirit of “peace and friendship.”

The government’s handling of Western Shoshone relations since the 1863 treaty is shameful. It was the Shoshone’s compliance with the original terms of this treaty that forced them to become ranchers and herdsman. Since then, the U.S. government has twisted the Shoshone’s compliance with the treaty into a reason to continually harm and harass them.

Fortunately, it is not too late for citizens to encourage our government to correct these egregious wrongdoings and honor the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley. I, for one, believe it is time to restore a portion of the Western Shoshone homelands to the tribe. It is time for justice to be restored.

Julie Dudley
Reno