Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Depressed by economic reports

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, Feb. 8, 2001 | 9:13 a.m.

Ruthe Deskin is assistant to the publisher. Reach her at deskin@ lasvegassun.com

"AOL Time Warner slashes 2,000 jobs."

"Automaker to cut 26,000 jobs."

"J.C. Penney announces 5,300 layoffs."

Sara Lee -- 7,000. Textron -- 3,000. And the beat goes on.

One entire page of a recent newspaper business section reported layoffs in major industries.

To some of us who can recall vividly the Great Depression, such news is disturbing in spite of assurances that it can't happen again.

History records economic highs and lows. After several years of unprecedented highs we can expect some leveling off of the economy. We hope our government, business and financial leaders will get a handle on a catastrophe on its way to happen before it does.

Recession is one thing. A true depression would be disastrous. America in the 2000s is not the same country as it was in the 1930s. I doubt today's citizens would stand meekly in line for handouts. Reaction would be much more aggressive and militant.

That is why it is so important that, as the old saying goes, we close the barn door before the horses get out.

Once upon a a time universities were institutions where privileged students could learn the basics necessary for success in a chosen career with a bit of culture and pure academia included.

It wasn't a case of something for everyone, as displayed in the spring edition of UNLV's continuing education catalog.

Some of the intriguing classes' titles in the modern university schedule are: gourd decorating, field trips, beers of the world, wine appreciation, golf club marketing, fly-fishing and women's kick boxing.

Seniors are offered a course in how to play the second half of their lives.

Our canine friends are not forgotten: There's a class in how dogs can become better citizens.

If you can't find instruction to suit your special needs in the catalog, I am tempted to believe such a thing is not in existence.

The cost of government is an increasing burden to taxpayers. The Governor's Salary Compensation Task Force recently recommended salary increases for Nevada judges, legislators and county officials.

Perhaps all these poor souls are worthy of hefty salary increases, but one has to wonder on whose backs the burden will fall.

Workers in the private industry earning $30,000 or less a year -- and there are many -- must wince when, for example, county commissioners earning $54,000 annually want $75,000, and will probably get $68,000-plus for their part-time jobs.

Somewhere, sometime, something has gotta give.

To those who believe the nuclear waste dump in Nevada is a sure thing, remember: No one ever won by rolling over and playing dead.