Yes on Question 3
I believe that inappropriate and unreliable funding of public schools is like a social cancer. Cultures that don’t value the importance of education are most at risk. The signs and symptoms first appear in grossly overcrowded classrooms that lack basic materials and receive minimal support. The effects are so devastating, it must begin to spread. Soon the entire school staff is debilitated by its attempts to bandage the wounds. The principal is forced into emergency and reactive management. With no time for proactive planning or improved systems, the school’s condition continues to deteriorate. The cancer starts to metastasize beyond the schools.
The symptoms are felt by upper-management. The signs are outdated textbooks, students sitting on floors, classrooms with broken heating and air conditioning units, computers that don’t work and growing complaints from angry parents. Eventually, even the best school superintendents get the blame. Even the most well-meaning school boards feel compelled to micro-manage and become hypercritical, to the point that shocking legal mistakes are made. These mistakes distract from the cause at hand and deplete already minor funds.
The chaos that started in the classrooms is now systemic. At this point, the state’s school performance statistics rank at the bottom in all categories. Its leaders who long ago refused to act are now totally incapable. If the state’s future workforce and its ability to attract new business are to survive, voters must take matters into our own hands, with an initiative.
Fortunately, a new and ingenious cure has been found. It’s a small 2 percent tax on Nevada’s largest business’s imposed on their taxable margin. It includes enough deductions to protect the state’s truly struggling enterprises, while at the same time preventing its wealthiest corporations from evading any and all taxes, including those who allow themselves to be bought by foreign companies to hide profits. This cure was first tried in Texas. The results have been spectacular! With a culture that values the education of its children and the political courage to force fair taxes, this politically conservative state’s ability to attract new business is the envy of a nation.
Of course, like most treatments, there are side effects. The symptoms are inflicted by the forces that initially helped to cause and now perpetuate the disease. The signs are the misinformation and boldface lies that spring from deep pockets and reach out to a culture easily manipulated by frightening tales of doom and those who can’t afford to report or politically represent the facts or the truth. This November, Nevada’s citizens will be fortunate enough to order such a cure. By voting Yes on Question 3, its voters will prescribe a measure that provides the appropriate and reliable funding an ailing school system and a desperate state needs. All we must do now is choose between big corporation profits and the education of our children and future. Vote Yes on Question 3, The Education Initiative for the future of our state and our schools.
Doug Smithson
Reno
No problem
Re “Happy birthday, Chief Mieras” (Editorial, Aug. 7):
Good editorial. It was a media rush to judgment, and the board was unfairly crucified as incompetent. The recent court filings by both indicate there was more to the story.
Thanks for keeping us honest.
George Myers
Sparks
Bulls-eye
Re “The EPA gets it right, for once” (Let Freedom Ring, Aug. 14):
Excellent! Finally someone, namely Brendan Trainor, nails down exactly what the EPA is doing!
James Jerard Raleigh
North Las Vegas
Hand over the heart
Re “Corporations are people, just like us” (Left Foot Forward, July 10):
I have no problem whatsoever with granting a corporation all of the rights granted to any other person, including the right to its own religious views. I ask only one thing—that the corporation show up in court, raise its hand, and orally accept the standard oath/affirmation—just like any other person. After doing so it must then be given the opportunity to orally present a statement and to orally respond to questions from the lawyers representing both sides of the issue. It may not send in its place a lawyer, an employee, an officer, a stockholder, a bondholder, or any other “representative.” If a corporation fails to appear and testify in person, it will forfeit the case at issue—just like any other person.
Robert Leavitt
Sun Valley
Education Initiative is bad
Real impacts from the proposed Education Initiative. Would you feel a tax which forced you to borrow money to pay the taxes was fair, because you did not have enough take home pay? In many businesses, “gross income” and “cash flow” are vastly different, and borrowing would be necessary. There is no current federal or state tax which is so egregious. Would you think it fair if you were taxed, even if you had little or no take home pay? The Education Initiative does! If your take home pay was $2,000 per month, would you think that a tax of $1,000 per month was unjust? Would this have a negative impact on your ability to care for your family? The Education Initiative asks this of some businesses. Businesses will cut expenses, raise prices, reduce jobs, and reduce future pay increases because of this tax. Businesses looking to relocate to Nevada will look elsewhere. Every Nevada citizen will pay more for all goods and services. There is no guarantee the tax revenue will increase school budgets! The Education Initiative is a poorly thought out, damaging tax! Vote NO on the Education Initiative!
Lex Adams
Stateline
Destroying theater
Re “Pawn stars” (Art of the State, Aug. 21):
Whenever I sit to read one of these theater “reviews,” I ask myself, “How does someone who clearly has no interest in theater review it?” Jessica Santina often seems to have made up her mind to hate the production before she even steps foot into the building. Also, recounting the events of the play and giving away plot points is not reviewing. It shows lack of research, it’s sloppy and damaging to the entire theater community.
Ashley James
Reno
Sly-ed into retirement?
Re “Act your age” (Film, Aug. 21):
Thanks for yet another timely warning Bob, although anyone who goes to a Stallone movies gets what they deserve. Decades ago, when Boris Karloff was in the twilight of his career, he appeared in a number of execrable “horror” flicks and Time Magazine opined, “Sometimes it’s sad to see an aging actor attempting to ’eek’ out a living when he should be hanging up his spurs”… or words to that effect. The eek part cracked me up. If I was smart enough, I’d come up with a similar crack for Mr. Stallone. But I’m not. Work on it.
Steve Waclo
Carson City