Letter: Worst lobbying may be occurring in public sector

Sunday, June 4, 2000 | 8:58 a.m.

For example, if Nevada's system is so corrupt how come we're only in the middle of the pack in the Center for Public Integrity's study? How many of the states ranked worse than us have exactly what Jon wants for Nevada, namely a full-time, well-paid "professional" Legislature that meets annually?

As for the corrupting power of lobbyists, you'd have to be living on Mars not to be aware of gaming's influence in Nevada. But how does that differ from agribusiness in the farm states? Or the oil and gas industry in the energy states?

Far more insidious than "big business" lobbying is the government-to-government lobbying. Last time I looked there were more people lobbying for the public sector (public employee unions, government agencies, cities, counties, etc.) than for the private sector.

With public employees making up 20 percent of our Legislature how corrosive do you think this colleague-to-colleague lobbying is?

Are you really tired of being governed by a rich, powerful, arrogant monied elite? Then stop voting for the monied candidates! We have that choice in every election. The fact that we don't exercise it only reinforces Harry Truman's great quote: "In the long run, people get the government they deserve."

KNIGHT ALLEN