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Opinion
May. 26, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

LETTERS: Legislators suckered into wasteful warranty

To the editor:

Although minor in the larger picture, Assemblywoman Francis Allen, the self-proclaimed "warranty gal," was misguided, as were the members of the Legislature's Information Technology Subcommittee, when voting to extend their laptop warranties for $16,000 (Thursday Review-Journal).

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    • Warranties are notoriously known to be cash cows, accounting for nearly 50 percent of operating income for companies such as Circuit City and Best Buy. Actuaries simply figure out the projected costs for defective items and wear and use over time, then the company and actual corporate insurer add excessive profit margins.

    The legislative laptops are generally used for e-mail, Excel spreadsheets and the like. The only differences in the needs of legislators in regard to laptops is memory, which can be taken care of with an inexpensive external flash and wireless capability. Otherwise, there is no general need for lawmakers to purchase new laptops until they fail.

    The warranty cost of $16,000 for 63 computers -- unless a catastrophic event is forecast over the next two years -- can be better spent by replacing failing laptops (software or hardware) with lower-cost models at around $750 each. In all, 21 new laptops could be purchased versus a highly questionable warranty.

    And unless there is some required, emergency-related aspect involved, purchasing 10 spare laptops at approximately $1,500 each, which remain unused -- that, too, is similarly wasteful.

    Martin Dean Dupalo

    LAS VEGAS

    Prehistoric education

    To the editor:

    There is a lot of talk now about state and local government funding cuts, more across-the-board accountability and paying teachers for performance. Personally, I am opposed to embedding any targeted taxes into a constitutional amendment.

    What I am for is an emphasis on turning out high school students who can both walk and chew gum at the same time. If this means cutting back on superfluous subjects and Friday night football, so be it.

    I would also like to stop the finger-pointing by teachers. You know the ones who say, "They didn't do well in my class because they were not properly prepared in prior years." Start testing students every year for advancement and if some are held back, then so be it. Peer pressure can do wonders for the previously unmotivated student and/or teacher.

    When faced with tough economic decisions, what does a school district do? When I attended parochial elementary school and then a poor rural high school, here is what they did. It was called the three R's. We didn't have the opportunity to participate in the study of the psychological impact on frogs clustered in small ponds or examine esoteric issues like how high is the sky. What students did get was an in-depth grounding in what would support them throughout their entire lives.

    During this prehistoric era of education, our high school requirements included three credits of science, four of mathematics, four in English, one credit in a foreign language, one credit in government, one credit in home economics and two credits (four years) of physical education. Eighteen credits were required to graduate, so that left two credits for electives such as typing or music appreciation. Students purchased their own books new and/or used.

    Surprisingly, most of us actually graduated and left high school equipped for survival in the real world. At this level of education, the world as I knew it then has not changed as much as some try to perceive it to be now.

    Richard Rychtarik

    LAS VEGAS

    What shortage?

    To the editor:

    Where and when were you last turned away from buying gasoline for your guzzler, or diesel for your truck? Do you know of anyone who has actually experienced any fuel shortage?

    There must be a hole in the GOP thesis of supply vs. demand setting prices, as proved by the present abnormal price increases without any true lack of crude oil and shortage of motor fuel.

    In the face of projected downturns of automotive use by the public because of high gasoline prices, doesn't it seem strange that Wall Street insiders are bidding such outlandish prices for oil futures? Where is all this money coming from? Is it real cash or more "virtual investments" from stock market manipulations -- as in Bear Stearns buying "futures" income from blocks of overvalued mortgages purchased with borrowed "real money," such as our retirement deposits in 401(k) plans?

    Only massive public demands for congressional investigations can unravel these probable market shenanigans and then sensibly deflate any unruly bubble. Can we readers count on publicity and help from the media in our quest for the truth?

    Richard E. Law

    LAS VEGAS

    Flawed evaluations

    To the editor:

    Having attorneys rate judges makes about as much sense as having prisoners rate wardens or students rate teachers ("Judging the judges," Review-Journal series). Businesses have to be audited by independent auditors, as do hospitals and other groups. Judges should have independent people making a determination as to their fitness for their job.

    Lynn Ratcliffe

    LAS VEGAS

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    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    CAS127 wrote on May 27, 2008 10:48 AM: "Otherwise, there is no general need for lawmakers to purchase new laptops until they fail."

    But then where would the kickbacks come from?


    aksmith wrote on May 26, 2008 11:15 PM: Congress investigate? Newsflash! Foxes inspect henhouse, find nothing out of order, and have a tasty meal!

    The rise in gasoline prices has almost exactly paralleled the fall of the dollar on the world market. Not 100 percent, but very close. So, your problem is called the Federal Reserve system.

    Will congress investigate that? Not bloody likely.


    Wayne wrote on May 26, 2008 06:58 PM: Travis,

    Perhaps I should clarify. If a teacher wants to spend 12 or more hours on work on a holiday weekend then good for them. But if they are so bogged down with work that they have to spend 12 hours a weekend playing catch up there is something wrong.

    I don't see the ignorance in my statement at all. It is ignorant to believe that an excellent teacher must fill their weekend with school work. Again, if you want to spend your holiday weekend doing school work, great! I'd rather manage my time properly and get the work done before heading home on Friday.


    edward kelly wrote on May 26, 2008 06:37 PM: The political summit of Legislature
    leaders at the Sun was too long and
    could have been summed up thus:
    Nevada faces a tourist disaster and
    the state is broke.


    moe wrote on May 26, 2008 01:54 PM: wasn't it the usa who built up china and india?so now were all paying obscene oil prices.follow the money.


    Travis wrote on May 26, 2008 12:43 PM: TimeRanger. You have been misled. If there was more international demand, Saudi Arabia would increase production. This is why they told Bush "no" to increasing production. The increase in the price of oil is almost entirely due to increased investment into oil futures. The reason for this is greed amongst investors seeking profit. The stock market is unstable right now, making it much less profitable. Granted, it is the investors job to make money, but the rest of us pay the price.


    TimeRanger wrote on May 26, 2008 12:27 PM: Richard E Law - The "problem" with the oil prices is that crude is traded on the world market as a commodity. The USA is not the only country demanding oil. Worldwide demand is at an all time high, with developing countries such as India and China buying every drop of crude oil that they can.


    Travis wrote on May 26, 2008 11:43 AM: Wayne... Do you not want teachers, beyond their first year, to invest any time into the education of their students? Which do you want; an excellent teacher or a baby-sitter? The ignorance of your statement is immense. I just hope you can see it as well.


    Travis wrote on May 26, 2008 11:40 AM: May I add, must be nice to not have to work on your job once you clock out.

    An excellent teacher doesn't just work between the bells. An excellent teacher assesses lessons and activities and addresses any possible improvements or enhancements. An excellent teacher researches methods for other improvements to their instruction. An excellent teacher does a thorough assessment of their students work. An excellent teacher attends the extra-curricular activities their current and former students are involved in.

    Being an excellent teacher, which we are all expected to be, requires much much more than we are ever given credit for. Admittedly, not every teacher in this district is an excellent teacher. Honestly, I would put it around 30% maybe lower.

    It is so low is due to a few reasons. The district does little to retain teachers, evident by the 50% retention after 5 years. Another reason is the low starting salary, but that is an entirely different debate. Social promotion is another reason, resulting in unprepared students in nearly every classroom. The public plays a roll as well. Those who are more than willing to lob insults at a teachers contracted hours, ignorant of the hours necessary to be an excellent teacher. An excellent teacher will be much less likely to give up on teaching, but will be more likely to pursue it in a community that supports them.

    The public has been throwing insults at teachers long enough. I have a novel idea, let's try supporting teachers to see if that method works. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different outcome. If we ALL have a part in this, success is much more likely.


    Wayne wrote on May 26, 2008 11:15 AM: 12 hours on a holiday weekend? I can possibly see that for a first year teacher. Otherwise you need to find a better way to manage your time.


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