Letter: Seniors unfairly portrayed in tax cap debate

Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004 | 8:55 a.m.

Sun columnist Jon Ralston continues to rail against the proposed cap on property taxes ("Ludicrous pandering on taxes," Aug. 1), primarily attacking the legislators with some special vitriol reserved for the "obstreperous seniors."

I like and respect Jon and disagreeing with him tends to be a pleasant intellectual exercise. I must say, however, that his constant bashing of seniors has worn very thin. His constant portrayal of them as selfish, greedy and unwilling to do what's best for the general welfare has gone way too far in my humble opinion.

The senior generation Jon despises so throughly is the one that grew up in the Depression, fought in World War II, came home, rebuilt the world and then handed it to the Jon Ralstons and Knight Allens on a silver platter. But according to Jon, this group doesn't understand sacrifice? Doesn't understand civic responsibility? Or what it means to provide for the general welfare? It's nonsense and insulting and it's long since past time to cut it out.

As for "finance and tax expert" Guy Hobbs, as Nevada's premier bean counter, Mr. Hobbs is fully aware of how regressive the property tax is. He knows how it strikes at the most vulnerable members of society way out of proportion to its benefits. He knows but he won't say. If every time he speaks, all he's going to do is act as a front man for the bureaucracy's constant chant of "Show us the money," then maybe elected officials should stop paying so much attention to him.

KNIGHT ALLEN