Friday, June 28, 2002 | 4:36 a.m.
STICKS AND STONES can break my bones, but calling me names? They've got to do better than that.
Since I may be the only person in this state who actually reads the editorial page of the Review-Journal -- most Nevadans have better things to do than waste their time traveling back to the Neanderthal Age -- I will take a moment to describe an editorial that appeared there last Sunday.
The subject was taxes. Yours and mine. The object, of course, was me because I seem to be one of the publisher's -- that would be Sherm Frederick -- favorite whipping boys. Anything he can do to denigrate me or my family seems to be the order of the day down the street. It must really upset them to know that nobody up here gives a hoot about what they think.
Except this time. That's because the fiscal condition of the state of Nevada is far too important to everyone who lives here to be dismissed by any newspaper as a little sport with the competition. How we live and grow in this state during the coming decades is of vital import to some 2 million people, so for the R-J to make light of the challenges we face is to do a continued disservice to Nevadans.
The other paper has never acted in the best interests of the people of this state. It has, however, always acted in the best interests of its owners. Whether it was Donald W. Reynolds (hence, the name Donrey) or the current Arkansas owner, the Stephens Group, the rule of thumb for the editorial folks has been the same: If it looks like anything to do with government, kill it.
If it walks or talks like a teacher, make it go away. If there is even the hint of helping those in need of help as a matter of public policy, nip it in the bud. And if there is even a whiff in the air of moderation or liberal thought, snuff it.
If ever there were a poster child in our business for a libertarian viewpoint without regard for reality, it would be a picture of the Review-Journal. That's the good that I can say.
As for the bad: They never met a tax they liked and they never heard of a government program, including the public school system, that they could support. As the largest circulated newspaper in the state, the folks down the street have gone out of their way to deride every public official and government employee who even thinks about raising revenues to help government do the job the people of this state expect it to do.
That is why the editorial last week came as no surprise to me because it was consistent on both grounds. It allowed them to take a free shot at me and a much bigger broadside against what every thinking Nevadan knows must happen very soon: an increase in revenues to state and local governments so that they can do the job the voters demand of them.
I am one of eight members of the Governor's Task Force on Tax Policy, which was created by the Nevada State Legislature to report this year to the governor its findings about how to best create a tax structure in this state that will serve the needs of Nevadans for the next few decades.
The reason there is a task force is so that both the governor and our legislators can take the easy way out of raising taxes by blaming their much-needed actions next year on a panel of respected private citizens. Respected is my word for the people with whom I share this responsibility.
As part of our jobs, we are to look at the kind of taxes that would broaden the tax base and create a fair and progressive revenue system which is different from the tax base we currently have, which has been described as the narrowest and probably the most unstable in the country. As part of the discussion on possible taxes, I suggested we look at what is now a constitutionally prohibited income tax because I believe that meets most, if not all, of the criteria set forth in our mandate.
It was like handing Sherm Frederick a gun and pointing it at my head. He couldn't wait. Rather than join in the discussion about how to make Nevada a better and more tax-fair place to live for coming generations, the pea brains down the street made it personal and, by doing so, contributed nothing to this all too important discussion.
The question is: why? Why is it necessary for the politicians to duck behind a panel of private citizens when those we elect to high office already know what is needed?
And the answer is: because the Review-Journal made them do it.
Follow the logic because if I didn't believe it to be true it would make no sense to me either. The R-J is a bully. If it doesn't get its way with our elected officials it beats them into the ground with a constant barrage of news stories and editorials designed to make the electorate wary of the officials to the point that they will vote against them come the next election. That scares the elected folks into non-action, especially with regard to taxes, which is the main reason the state is in so much trouble.
Oh, by the way, have I told you just how much I think the state is under water? Depending upon whether we are content being at the bottom of the 50 states in almost every quality of life measurement or whether we'd like to climb all the way up to 40th worst, we could be as much as $1 billion to $2 billion short over the next 10 years.
We got ourselves in this position because those who run for office have been cowed into non-action by the Review-Journal. But, when the state doesn't even have the few dollars to provide eighth graders with algebra textbooks, the dirty little secret is out and the time for action is nigh.
So, why is the R-J like that? Why do they take such pleasure in driving this state to the brink of everything that is bad? You didn't hear it from me, but the Arkansans who have owned that newspaper during the last 50 years have taken billions of dollars out of Nevada in profits without putting as much as a dime back in the state where the money was made.
Why would they ever want to change such a good thing, even if it means depriving children of an education, adults of proper health care and businesses of an educated work force? The truth is they just don't care. To be fair, since Don Reynolds' death, his estate has been making up for lost time by investing millions of the dollars he never gave while he was alive back into this and other communities where he did business. As for Sherm's largesse with his new owner's money? We're still waiting.
Why should a company like the R-J, which is motivated by greed, ever be considerate of others' needs when it can so easily have its way with our elected officials? To do otherwise is un-American. Or so they think.
Fortunately, most Nevadans are motivated by something other than greed and recognize that they want to build a better place for their kids. And, if that means that we all must pitch in, then we will answer that call as long as we think the burden is fairly placed and the money is used appropriately.
The job of the task force is to recommend the most fair, broad-based and stable tax structure we can. If that means recommending an income tax, business tax, gaming tax, sales or property tax or any other revenue source that meets our obligation under the law, then that is what I hope we do.
We have problems with our schools; problems in health care, including our doctors; problems with our aging population; problems with social services; problems, problems, problems. We just don't have time any more to suffer the fools in this state who think we can provide the services our citizens expect by using smoke and mirrors.
And that goes double for the fools down the street who, try as they might, aren't fooling anyone anymore.
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