Where I Stand — Brian Greenspun: Paying for tomorrow

Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003 | 9:02 a.m.

NEVADANS have a dream. We had been living it for almost 50 years. It may soon be over.

It was not only required but also appropriate that Gov. Kenny Guinn give his State of the State address to the Nevada Legislature and the people of this state on the day set aside to celebrate the birth and life of Dr. Martin Luther King.

In fact, when the governor opened his remarks by paying tribute to the late Dr. King, he did so by proudly stating that Nevada's Legislature ranked at the top of the states for representation by African-Americans in the various legislative bodies. It was right after that moving introduction that Kenny told all of us listening in person and via our television sets that the state of this state is not very good. I think he used the word "fragile."

One billion dollars in new revenues later and well into his speech, it was quite clear that we have, indeed, one of two paths to follow. The first one will take us down a road in which children are denied basic health care needs, students won't have books, let alone competent teachers, seniors will die earlier for lack of affordable prescription medicines, roads won't get built, teen suicides will get worse -- if that is possible -- and police and fire protection will become spotty. It is not a pretty sight to behold. In fact, it is a nightmare to contemplate.

The other road ahead of us furthers the dream that Nevadans have always had for themselves and their children. It is one in which business prospers, students learn well and move on to the top of their classes, quality-of-life issues are resolved in favor of the people who call Nevada home, and we continue to be the envy of the Western world. An example of how to do it right.

That road, however, requires a further investment and demands of each of us a relatively small amount of money to make it happen. For some of us who have been financially more fortunate, the price will be higher. For those who are still struggling to make their dreams happen, the price will be negligible. But, for the vast majority of Nevadans the price will be more than bearable and worth every penny.

So, how do we get there?

If you listen to the politicians responding to the governor's gutsy call for more revenues, you would think most of them just moved to the state. The concept of Nevada becoming an undesirable place to live is an alien idea to them. They think there is nothing wrong with this state that some significant cuts in government services wouldn't solve. But, ask them which services to cut and you draw a blank stare.

I've got an idea. Some alien in the media suggested that we don't need a Department of Motor Vehicles because it was just a ruse for the police to keep track of us. That specious argument aside, perhaps we can save some money by reducing the number of people hired to provide whatever level of service we now get. Anyone ever stand in line at the DMV? Who wants to stay there twice as long?

If that doesn't move you, what about cutting the school budgets again? There is no reason why the school books that I used 40 years ago aren't good enough for the kids today. After all, if you listen to some of the reactionary ideas springing forth from radioland, nothing has changed in the past four decades -- so why update what we teach our kids? Just because the rest of the world has textbooks that resemble 21st century thinking is no reason why the United States of America should do the same. Yeah, that's the kind of attitude that will keep America first, right?

And if you don't care about education and motor vehicles, how about health care? Most of the people I know are in the Baby Boom generation, which means that we are approaching retirement in the next few years. That also means that the inevitability of poorer health will enter our lives, which means the cost, provision and quality of health care in this state and country will have to be in top form to handle the greatest need ever demanded of our system. Cutting back on health care now is not the answer.

And, more immediately, our most senior generation needs those health services now. Do you really want to make the kind of decisions that will prevent them from getting the affordable care they need? Actually, I got an e-mail from one person, Bruce Feher, who is ready to do just that. Fortunately, most Nevadans are not wired the same way.

There are numerous examples of current services provided by or through government that will be adversely affected if the Legislature makes some bad choices this session. And, beyond services, the mere fact that Nevada will become known as a state in which the quality of life ranks consistently at the bottom will not do anything to promote the kind of healthy growth that has spurred so much investment during the last half of the 20th century.

Yes, most of us have a dream. And it starts with a better tomorrow. But, like all dreams, it takes effort to achieve them and that must begin today. Are you up for the challenge?