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Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Another view?
View more of the Las Vegas Sun's opinion section:
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In the next six weeks, you’ll hear plenty from campaigns that want to focus on criticizing their opponents. Don’t expect subtlety; hyperbole is king, and the facts be damned.
That’s something we have sadly come to expect in an election season. Talking points have taken the place of substantial plans, policy debates became personality duels and attack ads trump all.
This style of campaigning has filtered down to local races, and while all seems to be fair in politics, it has come at the expense of any substantial discussion of the issues.
Because Nevada is a swing state (President Barack Obama’s campaign manager, Jim Messina, told the Sun last week that it’s a “bellwether”), the presidential campaign will consume most of the attention, but voters should pay close attention to state and local candidates.
If the Great Recession has taught us anything, it’s that the state needs leaders who have vision not just to move Nevada out of its economic doldrums but also to build the future.
The litany of recession-spawned problems facing the state are well-known. Nevada has had the highest unemployment rate in the nation for more than two years; foreclosures are on the rise; and 6 in 10 homes are underwater, worth less than the value of their mortgages.
But there also are problems that have dogged the state for years, such as the antiquated tax system and a shortage of medical services.
The state’s public education system has been mired for years in a situation in which reaching mediocrity would be progress. The economy has long been reliant on a couple of industries, and without a broader base of business, Nevada’s economic recovery has been slow. The meager social safety net has suffered from neglect, benign and otherwise. And the list goes on.
Many of these issues could, and should, have been addressed years ago, but they were put off by politicians who either didn’t have the vision or couldn’t muster the support to make the needed changes. Even in the boom times, the major issues facing the state were pushed off until a time when things would be “better.”
But times apparently never have been good enough, and as a result, Nevada’s weaknesses were all too evident in the Great Recession.
Some of this can be attributed to misplaced or misguided priorities. (Why, exactly, did the state need to spend more than $500 million on a freeway between Carson City and Reno? Why doesn’t Southern Nevada receive a fair share of revenue?) But the larger problem is a lack of vision.
It has been too easy to push off these discussions by saying there’s no money, and what politician wants to talk about Nevada’s inequitable tax structure when doing so can equate to political death? The political debate has surrendered to a discussion about what’s possible. At this point, given Nevada’s failure to invest in education and a number of other services, not much is possible.
The state can’t have another session of the Legislature in which lawmakers focus on minor “reforms” or talk about “doing more with less” or move to dodge today’s problems for another day.
Those types of discussions are bankrupt. The state has been paced by people who had big dreams and took risks in the private sector; it needs more of those types of people in elected office.
Instead of looking one election cycle to the next, elected leaders need to consider what Nevada is going to look like in 10, 20 and 40 years.
This is our home, and we believe in Nevada, but we’re left with this question: What kind of place will it be for our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren?
That’s what this election is about, and Nevadans should be looking for candidates who are willing to paint a bright, positive vision and offer ideas to get us there.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be discussing an agenda for Nevada — some of our beliefs about where the state is headed and what it can become. We hope you’ll join us in the discussion because it will take all of us to set a course that will give future generations of Nevadans a place to call home.
We need a high speed rail from Reno to LV.
All Obama needs is Penn Ohio Michigan Colorado and Nevada when it come to swing states and he wins. He can lose FL NC VA NH WI IA, so he will be reelected with the help of Nevada.
Like in the Reid Angle race, it is a battle between hate and hope, inclusion against racism and caring verses greed.
This is the single most important local election for our state, families and business. And while taking part in the election Nov. 6 is critical, it is just as important to play a role in the legislative process. Engaging in the process of passing laws for our state is a responsibility we should all take seriously. While we can elect those we feel will properly represent us, they know we pay very little attention to what they actually vote into law. We need to change that and let them know during the session what we want to pass and what we do not!
The 2011 Barrick Mining annual report is out. If you read it, there are some very interesting facts that emerge.
Barrick Mining either owns outright, or is a partner in a joint venture in 7 gold mines in Nevada. To determine my estimate a profits for 2011, I assumed the price of gold at $1500 per ounce.
The Cortez Hills Mine produced 1.42 Million(44.375 tons) ounces of Gold at a cost of $245 per ounce. If you assume a conservative profit of $1000 per ounce, you get a profit for the Cortez Hill mine of $1,420,000,000. Barrick paid a total of $47,300,000 in local and state taxes last year.
Bald Mountain Mine produced 93,000 ounces (2.9 tons) at a cost of $558 per ounce. Assuming a profit of $900 per ounce for the Bald Mountain Mine, you get a profit of $83,700,000.
The Goldstrike mine produced 1.09 MILLION ounces (34.0625 Tons) at a cost of $511 per ounce. Again assuming a profit of $900 per ounce for the Goldstrike mine, you get a profit of $981,000,000.
Ruby Hill mine produced 127,000 ounces (3.96875 tons) at a cost of $334 per ounce. Assuming a profit of $1000 per ounce for Ruby Hill, you get a profit of $127,000,000.
Barrick Mining is involved in three joint ventures in Nevada.
Barrick owns 33% of the Marigold mine. Barrick's share of production was 51,000 ounces (1.59675 Tons) at a cost of $761 per ounce. For the Marigold mine, assume a profit of $700 per ounce. The total profit would be $35,700,000.
Barrick owns 50% of the Round Mountain mine. Barrick's share was 178,000 ounces (5.5625 Tons) at a cost of $612 per ounce. Assuming a profit of $800 per ounce for the Round Mountain mine, we get a total profit of $142,400,000.
Barrick owns 75% of the Turquoise Ridge mine which produced 135,000 ounces (4.21875 Tons) at a cost of $569 per ounce. Finally for the Turquoise Ridge mine, assume a profit of $700 per ounce. This would give a profit of $ 94,500,000.
Barrick is actively exploring in the Carlin Trace in Nevada. The Carlin Trace is one of the richest gold deposts in the world. Barrick's annual report shows that 44% of the companies income comes from North America. Don't forget that Barrick is also mining silver along with the gold in Nevada.
If you add all of the projected and conservative profits, the total is $2,884,300,000. This is a conservative estimate. According to the story, the mining industry paid approximately $253,300,000 in state taxes.
This is a link to the Barrick Annual Report for 2011.
http://www.barrick.com/theme/barrick/fil......
Improving education in Nevada
In order to improve education in Nevada, a great many things are necessary, but first and foremost is a culture shift in the state that places a premium on education. The citizens of the state must change the mindset and cultural values about education to recognize that it is important and vital to the economic growth and development of the state. We have to move past the belief from years ago that "I can quit school, go to work as (fill in the blank) on the strip and make bank. I don't need an education." This lack of emphasis on education has allowed our elected leaders to kick the can down the road and not reform the tax structure, and more importantly the funding structure for both K-12 and higher education to reflect that importance. We have been stuck for way too long with the rhetoric of "no new taxes" no matter what. The mantra of "low taxes and businesses will come" has proven to be an unacknowledged failure for years. The political, economic, and cultural leaders of this state have failed in their duties to serve the people of the Nevada and more importantly the children of our state. Astory appeared about 7 students in Nevada winning a National Merit Scholarship. The bad news, only one of the 7 was going to stay in state, and given the past history the others will probably never return. That is a brain drain that can never be made up.
The legislature, the governor, and the citizens of Nevada have been sold a bill of goods about education reform. The legislature bought the idea of changing teacher evaluations is "education reform". The citizens of Nevada bought the idea that the legislature was "reforming education" by changing seniority as the sole criteria for retaining teachers. The public was sold a bill of goods that everything that was wrong with education was the teacher's fault. If you get rid of the "bad teachers", the results will improve. The only flaw with that argument is that a means already exists in the contracts to get rid of "bad teachers". It required administrators to do their job, document properly and get rid of the "bad teacher." The only problem was that the "reformers" felt that a "bad teacher" was the older, more experienced, and the more expensive teacher. The argument was that a younger, more energetic teacher, with less experience, and much less expensive could replace the older teacher. In fact, you could get two teachers for the price of one. The only problem is nobody can precisely define what a "bad teacher" looks like.
The legislature passed a bill requiring that teacher and administrator evaluations be based on student progress. That was "education reform". The only problem is that only 30% of the teachers in Nevada have a tested subject. How do you evaluate a teacher in a subject that is not tested? How do you evaluate an administrator? That is what the Teacher Leader Council is struggling with now. The legislature changed the structure of the State Department of Education, allowing the Governor to appoint the State Superintendent of Instruction. There are two people running for the State School Board who have direct ties to Teach for America. The candidate in District 3 is the former executive director for Nevada. The candidate in District 1 is the wife of the current executive director for Nevada. What is their agenda for education in Nevada? The new appointee, Dr. James Guthrie, has made news with several recent articles that are "anti-teacher", and is not supportive of the work being done by the Teacher Leader Council. These changes may make true education reform in Nevada difficult.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/sandoval-report...
http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/a-dozen-empi...
The elected leaders of our school districts have also failed in their responsibilities. The CCSD Board of Trustees is the only elected board in Clark County that doesn't have its board meeting televised on the local government cable channel. Why not? If you look at the CCSD website, there are two phone books, the Administrative and School books. If you eliminate the duplicate names in both books, you get a total of 2072 people in the Administrative book, and 1096 names in the School book. Using Transparent Nevada, for the 2072 people you get a total salary and benefits amount of over $170 Million. The total salary and benefits for the School Book is over $110 Million. The totals are over $281 Million or over 16.6% of the current year personnel budget for only 8.5% of the employees in the district. If you look at the Administrative phone book, and you look at the people with the title Directors, Coordinators, and Academic Managers, you will be able to replace EVERY high school principal, high school assistant principal, and dean. You will have enough left over to replace EVERY middle school assistant principal and dean. There would be a few names left over to begin to replace the middle school principals.
The parents of the students in Nevada have also contributed to the crisis in education. Many parents, for whatever reason, aren't taking an active interest in their child's education. Students aren't told that education is important, or asked about school and what they learned that day. Parents use the TV as a baby-sitter during those crucial early childhood years that set the table for academic success later. Parents aren't checking the homework assigned to their children or requiring it be done before the computer, X-box, etc. is used, and send a horrible message about the importance of school when they call or text their students during school hours, and get upset when the student doesn't answer because the district policy says the use of electronic devices during school hours is not allowed.
Some of the responsibility for the state of education in Nevada rests with the students as well. They attend school, but don't apply themselves and think that just because they show up, they should pass and get a diploma. The idea of do working or solving a problem that requires more than two steps is "too much work". It is much easier to copy the answer and not understand why the answer is the way it is. There is no incentive to pass the High School Proficiency Exams. The district policy allows a student to walk across the stage at graduation, even if they have not passed those exams. Parents don't understand the difference between a diploma and a certificate of attendance. During one of the "Reclaim your future" drives to get kids back to school, one administrator went into a home and saw a certificate of attendance hanging in a place of honor. Many students, even the ones from economically disadvantaged homes have I-phones, designer shoes and clothes. They have an attitude that they should be given everything, and don't have to work to get ahead.
The last group that shares part of the blame is the professional educators in Nevada. We have not stood up for what we know is the best practice. We have allowed our voices to be gradually stilled and become content with the status quo. We have accepted the new and additional requirements that don't help students learn. We have continued to make do with less and less. We have become comfortable with the way things are and don't feel that one voice can make a difference. We have not insisted that we be treated and valued as any other professional member of the community. We have accepted the statements that "we work part time, and don't have a real job", and not insisted that those statements are not true. We have accepted the premise that we don't have an important role in society, and don't make a valuable contribution to the community.
There is more than enough blame to share, the real issue is how do we as residents of Nevada change the current situation, and move things forward, giving our children an education that will qualify them for the jobs of the 21st Century.
The tax structure and the funding of schools MUST be changed to give schools the resources they need to fully implement the changes in Common Core State Standards. Teachers need to be given the ability to teach what students need to know, and to insure that students are ready to learn the material in the next grade before they are promoted. Teachers need to be held accountable for the results their students achieve, but students need to be held accountable as well.
If you are going to institute true education reform, why do we have a school calendar that is the same as we had over a hundred years ago? No other industrialized country in the world gives their students three months off during the summer. Many countries have a longer school year, shorter breaks, and a longer school day. In many countries, students are tracked into several paths depending on their ability and skills. That may be something that Nevada needs to look at in order to develop a more diversified work force.
The bottom line is that all of the stake holders, parents, teachers, administrators, students, political and social leaders need to stop playing the blame game. Instead, we need to have intelligent, realistic conversations about the goals that we want to have for education in Nevada. We need to roll up our sleeves, put down the non-productive rhetoric, and begin to talk about what we see as the future of education in Nevada. The work is too important. Failure is NOT an option.
Leadership would require an unpopular stance: do something about ILLEGAL INVASIONS. Nevada has increased the numbers of illegals employed here--from almost 10% to in excess of 12% of all employees here are illegal. Ya think our regional economies are going to revive when we add to the drags? Yet, Nevada "leaders" such as Senator Harry keep saying Nevada doesn't have an illegal problem. ****, the illegals are moving here from the states that have sent them packing.
@Roslenda. As has been pointed out to you many times, immigration is a Federal issue. Court decisions have said that services must be provided to people, regardless of immigration status. You need to complain to the Federal government, not the state government. What are your sources for the 10-12% figures on illegal employment? If you are aware of employers violating the law, have you notified ICE?
You wanted specifics from me on education, did I provide enough information?
Tanker, you did a great job pointing out the significant realities in education. Thank you!
Additionally, the mining taxation injustice must be changed. We are talking about a non-renewable resource being stripped from NV land, by both US and foreign companies.
They won't be here forever, and NV loses when it's resources are gone.
Taxation must be reformed in mining, and what better way to use the money than to put it into education.
However, that is only one part of the issues.
Other countries seem to be able to place expectations on students, including appropriate comportment and discipline. This is a significant issue. It must be addressed and changes must be made.
This is a matter of honor, and it is a waste to allow disrupting education to be ongoing.
Maybe we need a locked down "losers" school, a place where the trouble makers must attend.
That was in place when I was in school and it was a disgrace to be sent there. The trouble makers were sent there so that the other students could continue their education without disruptions.
The students could be moved back to normal schools when they improved their behavior.
Parents play more of a role in that kind of dishonor. It also says something about the parents.
In relationship to that, we need some really good social workers to get involved to learn why there is a problem with students in school, and corrective action taken.
If parents need some parenting education, that is also a good investment.
All that said, it must be recognized that joblessness, poverty, health issues all contribute to the problems in the home and the schools. How much will change without growing the NV economy is up in the air.
We need businesses that will employ people with professional, technical, and trades skills. We need diverse businesses, industries, and manufacturing, with environmental safety concerns attached to them.
For all of this, we need truly committed and responsible Legislators who work for the citizens.
Now, another bit of reality. How do you provide all that is needed without driving people out of their comes due to high property taxes? So many are living on fixed or low incomes. They may be the ones who bought and possibly paid for their modest homes, they need to be protected from losing the only asset they have. It will not serve any purpose to make them homeless because of ever increasing property taxes.
All citizens must be considered in determining what is feasible and reasonable.
@Peacelily. Thank you for you kind words.
There is a way to provide funding without resorting to the property tax. The legislature has refused for years to address the issue of taxes on profits earned in Nevada. That is the purpose of the 2% initative tax petition.
NPRI and others claim that some Nevada businesses may be forced about of business because of the tax implications, and we shouldn't pass the initative.
What they fail to tell you is that if the initative is not passed, the national corporations will continue to make profits in Nevada without paying any taxes on those profits. That's right, NO NATIONAL CORPORATION PAYS ANY STATE TAXES ON PROFITS EARNED IN NEVADA!!!!!!
The list of corporatations includes, but is not limited to: Penny's, Sear's, Macy's, Dillard's, Wal-Mart, Costco, Sam's Club, R.C. Wiley, Walgren's, JVC Drugs, K-Mart, Border's, Smith's, Applebee's, Chili's, Ruby Tuesday, Friday's, Sweet Tomatoes, McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Von's, Albertson's, Bank of America, Well's Fargo, Chase, US Bank, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Ross, Denny's, IHOP, FootLocker, Home Depot, Lowe's, PetsMart, Office Depot, Staples, Office Max, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Avis, American Airlines, Southwest, Jet Blue, Delta, Holiday Inn, and many others. Just go through the phone book and check off any national corporation. NONE OF THOSE CORPORATIONS PAY NEVADA TAXES. Do you really think they will leave the state? Don't you agree that any revenue lost from the few Nevada companies that go out of business will be more than made up. The other question to consider is how sound were the Nevada businesses that went out of business due to this petition?
The State's big issue is whether Harry Reid will come clean on his income taxes. Harry harped continually about Romney. Now, Romney came clean; let us see what Harry has hidden for all these yeare.
We've dumped hundreds of millions into K-12 with no fix insight. The status quo keeps harping for more money, more money, more money. Why is the oversight, such as it is, ineffective? Why can't they teach our kids to read and write at grade level? We've ALWAYS had parents who won't or can't participate. So we degenerate further with each generation and they still harp that education will get us into a perfect world. Hasn't happened yet. We spend more on K-12 than many households spend on food, shelter, clothing, health care..... This is sooooo out of wack.
@Roslenda, so tell us how you would fix it besides "getting rid of illegals" because that is a non starter under current laws and Supreme Court decisions. Share your vast insight and expertise so that we call can benefit. If our kids "can't read and write at grade level, why do we still graduate many students who go on to be successful in college and in the work force? That doesn't sound like not being able to read or write at grade level does it? Admittedly, the graduation rates could be better, but that is an issue to work on.
Forget thinking big. Just thinking would be an improvement.
Online poker will be the state's salvation.
As simple as Leric' response is....he's right. But what they need to be thinking and "doing" something about is what would they do if we were to be hit with another GREAT RECESSION ? Would we be able to survive one? My answer is NO.We have many major issues to deal with and leaving this town as a one income town(gambling) will cause us to collapse the next time around.If anyone tells you it can't happen...you're listening to the wrong person. We need to dig in and have our feet and economy grounded solidly so dumps in the economic road don't cause state wide problems. We need to rely on something other then gambling as another source of income.Our "elected" officials have to begin thinking outside their own box and stop thinking what they can get out of this.Nevadans REALLY have to be more awake to whats going on in this state and around them.The louder WE ARE the more they listen...believe me.Everyone needs to do their part,everyone !! Our school system is not up there in the ratings nor is our health care here.Maybe the stupid money being ear marked for the train to Victorville can go towards our school system and healthcare system and jobs.
Oh let's just follow the Pied Piper aka (also known as) California. Illegals taken in and assisted endlessly. Illegals in K-12. Illegals in prisons. Illegals everywhere. Taxes, in California specifically, have reached UNSUSTAINABLE levels and people are revolting. Politicians say they have to cut--cut payrolls but not benefits??? A simple change to funding benefits ONLY for American citizens. So many "federal rules" allow and encourage funding if ONLY ONE in the household was born here. Nevada could (will soon) be as bankrupt as California. Just keep doing what we're doing. IGNORE the problem.
Todays politicians, especially local ones are more in it for personal gain.
Funny thing is that whenever President Obama comes to Nevada he's got his hand out. What has he and dirty harry done for Nevada in the last 4 years to improve the financial crisis in the state and on Nevadans? The answer is a big fat zero.
CarmineD