Letter: Proposition 13 was needed in California

Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005 | 8:02 a.m.

After reading Mr. Hal Rothman's Nov. 13 column on why it's important to stay off the Tax and Spending Control initiative (TASC), I am sorry, but I have never read such unadulterated nonsense as regards our very sick taxation system as I found in his column. Although he is a history professor at UNLV, he quite obviously hasn't the vaguest knowledge of what he is talking about when it comes to California's Proposition 13 and the protection it gave California homeowners.

I was born and raised in California -- plus being a homeowner there as well -- and watched as the previous taxation system went absolutely insane. And the same potential situation now goes for Nevada residents if they are not careful.

Up to the time Proposition 13 was passed by the voters in California, people who could ill-afford the exorbitant taxes were losing their homes right and left. And finally, in self defense, Californians passed Proposition 13 and forced the hack-politicians, who fought it tooth and nail as they fed at what they considered to be their own personal and sacrosanct financial trough, to rein in their voracious appetite. Professor Rothman should either bone up on fairly recent political history, or limit his teaching to subjects that he does know something about.

Sorry, Mr. Rothman, but your argument has as many holes in it as Swiss cheese. If you don't believe me, ask any California taxpayer.

Graydon W. Jones

Las Vegas