FLASHPOINT:

As the governor and the meek opposition …

Mon, Jun 23, 2008 (2:01 a.m.)

As the governor and the meek opposition consider more budget cuts in a state at the top of all the bad lists and the bottom of all the good lists, here’s a new list to consider: The Milken Institute recently ranked states on a technology and science index. The index used a variety of measurements to evaluate states in “terms of their technology and science assets, and their ability to leverage those resources to achieve economic growth.” And where does Nevada rank? In its usual environs of the cellar: 45th place. But don’t fret: Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, West Virginia and Arkansas are all ranked lower. How comforting. I wonder why, with that great low tax system so many tout, we don’t rank higher. What could it be?

Discussion: 1 comment so far…

By vegasboomer

6/23/08 at 10:35 a.m.

Suggest removal

The irony of this issue is that is serves as a corollary to the old joke "How can you tell when a politician is lying?" Anyone who proposes what amounts to a 'trickle down policy' like low taxes to bring in business should be covered by the same rubric.

If you want more business in Nevada, you have make Nevada attractive to both business and PEOPLE and that doesn't happen when taxes are so low that meaningful governmental services are so underfunded that are virtually non-existent. Among other things, we need to have an education system with funding levels that won't scare business owners and decision makers. In attempting to set policies that will draw business to Nevada, you need to apply analysis more in the line of Newton Minnow's line, "the medium is the message" and look at who's making a statement or arguing for a proposition in order to judge who is really likely to benefit from the position being advocated. So when business leaders tell you that low taxes will bring in business, it is foolish to analyze such a position without considering how much those business leaders will benefit from a low tax environmentand from a low competition environment when other business don't flock to Nevada, especially in the context of their stock options being a huge piece of their compensation.

As a footnote, my apologies to Terry Lanni and Jim Rogers who shouldn't be lumped in with the Gibbon [sic] crowd as they are advocating positions that aren't 'trickle down' and should be viewed as the exceptions that prove the rule.