Post Office

Thanks for clearing the air on Airola
   I had never heard of Liberty Watch: The Magazine until I Googled the name Jerry Airola. I figured since so many people are bad-mouthing him, I wanted to find out more.
   I agree that there is a good ol' boy system in this city and that this establishment is out to do all they can to make Jerry go down in defeat. At first, I was swayed by them, but now have decided to give Jerry a chance when I vote next week. A fresh perspective on Metro could do wonders.
Paul Riesenbeck
Las Vegas

Thanks for endorsing me, Mr. Harris
   I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for endorsing my re-election campaign for the Board of Regents. Your help will allow me to continue my commitment to improving higher education in Nevada. I look forward to working with you in the future, and again, thank you for your support.
Stavros S. Anthony
Las Vegas

Liberty Watch's online writings continue to impress
   Great articles you are writing, Mike [Zigler]! Keep up the good work.
Beth Duensing
Nevada

I didn't have access to the free market when purchasing concert tickets
Mr. Doug French,
   I am reading Liberty Watch for the first time, and I had to respond to your article about ticket scalping ["He calls himself conservative," July]. I found your reasoning and understanding of the issue extremely uninformed.
   Characterizing it only as a free-market question suggests you either do not attend concerts, or you have so much money that price is not an issue. I used to attend many concerts, but stopped after living in California where there were no controls on scalpers. Time standing in line was not an issue as there were multiple ticket locations.
   I once purchased tickets 20 minutes after they went on sale, and I was still in the very back. Scalpers could not have purchased the entire venue without special arrangements. For those of us who liked to attend concerts, the choice was taken from us. We could not buy good tickets at face value whether we waited in line or not. I left California convinced that politicians had been paid handsomely by scalpers for the privilege they enjoyed.
   Perhaps that is why Rep. Jim Gibbons changed his position on the issue. It sure isn't to protect the free market because the rest of us never had access to that market. Scalpers do not provide a public service. I would be willing to buy my own tickets, if they were made available.
Mike Sullivan
Las Vegas

Mr. Zigler, I enjoy the work you distribute
   I enjoy your journalism, Mike. Keep up the good work.
Bill Tomany
Las Vegas

Gibbons and Beers were both unworthy of my vote, however, your cruciverbalist is ...
   First, I want to thank you very much for sending me your magazine. It helped me to eliminate both Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Beers from my consideration in the primary election. 
   I'm really writing to take your cruciverbalist, Stanley Whitten, to task over a couple of his clues. First, for 11-Down, "Alice" wasn't really a resident of Wonderland, but a visitor. Then again, if it was all just a dream, it could be said that Wonderland was a resident of Alice. So I was willing to let that one slide.
   But when I read the clue for 53-Across - "Formally known as" - I had to write. Although the term may be used mainly in "formal" society, the clue should be "Formerly known as." 
   Thank you again for sending me your magazine. It has obviously provided me with no end of entertainment, and a good degree of education.
Glen Oliver
Nevada

Your online material, especially on the final Republican debate, was dead on
Mike Zigler,
   I really enjoyed meeting you Friday night at the Sienna. I liked our conversation, too! 
   Just had to tell you that I thought your analysis of the debate ["Gibbons takes beating in debate; Beers clear winner," Aug. 12] was excellent. 
Jill Dickman
Northern Nevada

Could taxi owners stay in business without government barriers or competition?
Dear Mr. Harris,
   I have recently become acquainted with your magazine, Liberty Watch. Of course, I was drawn to the August 2005 issue, featuring Bob Beers. 
   I noticed in this issue an appearance by George Balaban, owner of Desert Cab Company. The fact is that the Las Vegas taxi industry has very little to do with Libertarian philosophy.
   How many privately owned taxis are there in Las Vegas? Zero to be exact. The most recent new owner approved by the Taxicab Authority was a previous Taxicab Authority investigator. In cities such as Boston and New York, taxi medallions cost over $200,000 on the open market. In Nevada, the state rents the medallions to the owners (only approved owners) at a rate of $100 per year. Most Las Vegas taxi companies are poorly managed. Could the taxi owners stay in business without government barriers on competition?
   Owners constantly push for more medallions (more taxis on the street) because even when the drivers aren't making money, the owners are making advertising revenue. The Taxicab Authority (a government regulatory agency standing in the way of free-market enterprise) discourages driver comment at meetings through last minute agenda changes and simply not allowing drivers equal time. 
   The current T.A. Administrator - a career bureaucrat - has allowed extra medallions to be issued before and after most conventions, without a formal allocation vote, and with a detrimental effect on driver income. His recent decisions have shown a complete lack of basic free-market concepts. To our knowledge there has never been a current or former taxicab driver on the Taxicab Authority Board.
   Taxicab companies have installed video and audio recording devices that infringe on driver and customer privacy rights. These cameras often are not engaged in protecting driver safety, but instead are being used for surveillance.
   Many taxi companies encourage "creative driving" to boost their incomes. Drivers with higher books get the best shifts and cars. If a driver gets caught ripping off the public, the driver pays, not the company. 
The T.A. often solicits taxi companies for advice. Unfortunately, owners and management don't drive. Most never have. What do they know about the dynamics of hustling for a buck on the street? 
   If the T.A. and other government agencies were willing to listen to the concerns of the drivers, I feel many traffic and safety concerns could be alleviated. With support from the hotels, and communication with the drivers, the public would be better served and the drivers could still enjoy a great income. Unfortunately, the rich taxi fat cats might lose a few thousand bucks.
Dirk Tejan
Las Vegas

Apparently, this reader was intent on earning a free subscription
   Enclosed, please find "Return to Sender" of your current mailing. My mailbox is sacred and only I control what goes in it. We do not wish to receive anymore of your mail. Cease and desist of this action. We do not have the time nor do we want any future solicitation of this kind. 
   Let's save each other time and expense. Remove our name and address in an expeditious manner. Your attention to this matter is appreciated and I hope your mailings cease to continue.
The Zarski Family
Las Vegas

Cancel my subscription since I'm related to Assemblywoman Francis Allen
   Please cancel my subscription. I support conservative Republican and moderate Libertarian viewpoints, however your magazine's extreme biases in this election are as bad as those found in The [Las Vegas] Sun.
Harry Allen
Nevada

Your endorsements seemed to be based upon advertising deals
   I read with interest your endorsements in the July 2006 issue of Liberty Watch. I was extremely unhappy to learn that you gave no methodology for your selections. Did you interview all of the candidates? What questions were asked? Who was on the panel? There is nothing listed on this endorsement sheet that provides a reason for the conservative voter to follow your recommendations. 
   As far as I could tell, it appears that the endorsements are of those with advertising purchased in this edition. If you do not intend to interview or quiz the candidates, please refrain from endorsing candidates. Instead, just tell us that these are your own personal choices based on your own personal agenda. I will be following Nevada Concerned Citizens endorsements as they explain their methodology and questions in detail.
Dianda Seaton
Nevada

Submit letters to Liberty Watch: The Magazine Editor Mike Zigler at mikezigler@cox.net