Test time-Eight tries at graduation exam?

This article in the RJ about our education system is sad. How can we call it an education system when it doesn't educate.

The article states,

Cutting through the politically correct code talk, some of those failing the tests don't speak enough English to read the instructions, and an actual majority may have learning or behavioral disorders. With these populations now taking the test for the sixth or seventh time, "You're going to see a low pass rate," explains Mr. King.

School Board President Terri Janison recently attended a pep talk for May test-takers who were given incentives such as free movie tickets and restaurant coupons to encourage them to do well on the test. She encouraged the kids, but told them, "At some point, you have to do it for yourself."

Ms. Janison believes the district already offers students an "inordinate amount of help."

That's an understatement. Kids who meet even modest attendance requirements should be able to ace these tests. A second try may make sense, in case a test session caught a kid who'd missed a night's sleep or for some reason failed to take the exercise seriously.

But six tries? Seven or eight? Over a two-year period?

I don't know what you call this, but it isn't teaching. We have to fail children who don't pass. We have to hold them accountable.

More on Business

In a letter to the editor in the RJ, the writer asks,

Well, friend, trust me. It is not time, but policy that is prohibiting economic growth. If you own or run a business, you understand. If you don't, pretend you did and ask yourself this: Is this the time to hire? Will my profits expand in the near future? Won't it cost me more money in taxes and insurance due to the new health bill?

An expanding government has a direct link to a shrinking economy. Only our great private capitalist system with limited regulation can get us on the road to recovery.

Small business is already having problems just surviving. They are having sales and trying to promote their business, but it is too expensive to advertise so the public doesn't know about their sales and promotions.

That is why I initiated the Businesses and Neighborhoods Unite program. Candidates can help small businesses as they campaign, businesses can advertise for free on the ecouponfile.com coupon site, and the neighborhood people can save money by using the coupons. In this way, we can help to stimulate the economy.

Small Businesses need help.

Today, I went to a well known Las Vegas mall. It has been about 2 months since I visited this mall. I noticed 5 more stores closed and at least one of the independent stands was missing.

Several of the stores in the mall advertise on my ecouponfile.com coupon site. One of the stores that was out of business was the store that I wanted to visit because they had not been using my site for coupons.

I went to one store that advertises on my site and talked to the owner. He said that he "was just hanging on. He felt that he may have to close.

Then I visited 3 stores that had indicated an interest in advertising the last time I visited the mall. They all indicated that they were going out of business within a few months if things didn't improve.

That is why I am trying to help small businesses as I campaign. The main issue in this election is the economy. If the current legislature is not replaced with people who will fight to prevent tax increases and who will fight to reduce government spending, we will have a big tax increase in 2011. I am afraid that we will have a payroll tax on business which would cause small businesses, like those mentioned above, to close.

Things will only get worse.

My May report on my campaign.

This month, I started the "Businesses and Neighborhoods Unite" program. It is a program to promote local businesses to the neighborhoods as candidates campaign. . Leonard Foster, candidate for Assembly in District 13, Warren Markowitz, candidate for State Controller, and Mark Andrews, candidate for Assembly in District 4, have joined me with this program.

On May 29th at Mark Rich’s New York Pizza and Pasta at 11710 W. Charleston Ave., Leonard and I held the first Businesses and Neighborhoods Unite event. The businesses in the Vista Commons Center participated by putting signs in their windows announcing the event. With local entertainment, drawings, free CDs, free coffee or soft drinks and free pizza, the event was a success and everyone had a great time. Leonard and I contacted over 3000 people by phone and over 1000 people as they canvassed the neighborhood. Mark Rich’s Menu was distributed as they canvassed. I also promoted the event on my radio interviews and on my web site at www.electtomjones.com.

Earlier on May 3rd, I had an interview with the "Nevada Concerned Citizens" group. Steve Ziser was the Chairman. They were very well informed and it was an interesting interview. I do not have a tape of the interview because it was not taped. I wish to thank the NCC for this opportunity.

On May 20th, Steve Wark of "The Q" radio, 670 am, interviewed me. Along with my platform, we discussed my "Businesses and Neighborhoods Unite" program (BANU). I appreciate Steve and "The Q" for the opportunity to announce my BANU event on the radio. As soon as I receive the tape, I will put it on this site.

On May 25th, Raye and I attended the Nevada Credit Union League's "Meet and Greet". They did a great job of decorating and planning this event. I meet many nice people including Governor Gibbons.

Barry Klor recorded our version of "What's New Pussycat?" which we call "What's New Democrat, What's New Republican". You heard it on our site and we have put is on our new CD. This CD contains the new song, a 6 minute speech by me, and the song "The Government Can". We are giving it away free.

During the month, we also produced our brochure, bought new signs, and prepared for our Mark Rich's event.

Americans Unite, We MUST Save Our Country!!!

Your Government at work.

Bold thinkers in the USA Today editorial room picked apart similar data this week and concluded “paychecks from private business shrank to their smallest share of personal income in U.S. history during the first quarter of this year.”

At the same time, government benefits – Social Security, unemployment, food stamps, you name the program – set a record high during the first quarter.

Unfortunately, “the feds don’t really have any money,” Bill Bonner mused in The Daily Reckoning. “They don’t make anything. They don’t create any wealth. So they can only send us checks by taking the money from us – one way or another.

Soon the private sector will not have enough money to keep this ponzi scheme going. We have to stop it now before it is too late.

Campaign Events

Tomorrow, I will be interviewed on the Steve Wark radio show on 670 am at 8am. Please listen in.

On Saturday, May 29th, I will at Mark Rich's New York Pizza at 11am til 12:30pm. It is located at 11710 West Charleston Blvd. at Desert Foothills in the Vista Commons Center. Please stop by to discuss your opinions and suggestion.

We plan to schedule a meeting every Saturday except the Fourth of July weekend. Check my web site regularly for details.

Clark County teachers get a special deal

This NPRI article by Karen Gray states,

In January 2009 the Nevada Retirement Board notified all public employers of a rate increase for Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) contributions. For CCSD, that increase translated into a 1 percent rate hike for teachers, administrators and support staff, and a 3.5 percent increase for school police.

The June 25 informational material given trustees says that,

"Salary schedules have been adjusted for administrative, school police and support staff personnel to reflect a division of the required increase in contribution rates to be shared equally between the district and the employee under provision stipulated in NRS 286.421,"

The article points out that,

Close inspection of the trustees' backup material, however, reveals no mention of any comparable cuts to teacher incomes. And the website of the Clark County Education Association — also known as the teacher union — indicates that there were none. Instead, reported the CCEA on its website, a "Contract Deal [had been] Reached" with "No Cuts in Salary & Benefits."

The budget has to be cut, but they are still spending.

Common sense for state’s future

In this LV Sun article, Mr Greenspan says,

What I hope the Nevada Vision Stakeholder Group will envision is a Nevada that will diversify its economy, upgrade its educational product and make this state an enviable place to live in the future, and not a place that “used to be” a good place to live.

I ask what is wrong with what Las Vegas 'used to be'. What is wrong with being a good place to live? Nevada has had the several big tax increases in recent years. How is that working out for you?

He says near the end of the article,

We have seen all too dramatically what doesn’t work. No taxes, no diversification and no investment in education have put us at the bottom of the list of states that will recover from this depressing recession.

I disagree. What we have seen is that wasteful and reckless spending doesn't work. We have seen that raising taxes don't work. What we need is to return to the Nevada that 'used to be'.

Politicians need to listen to their constituents.

After making that last post, I just was impressed with how many ideas worth considering came from letters to the editor. I am sure that many more people, who have not written a letter to the editor, also have worthwhile ideas.

That is why I have promised to listen and consider the concerns and ideas of my constituents if I am elected State Senator. In fact, I believe that, if the Republicans and Democrats had listened to their constituents instead of their lobbyist friends over past several decades, we would not be where we are today.

Streamlining government would save us big money

This letter to the editor in the Sun, makes a very valid suggestion. The writer points out that.

We’re informed that the Rural Electrification Administration was created this month 75 years ago. It is a fact that all of rural America has been electrified for many decades.

Similarly, the U.S. Geological Survey was created early in the 20th century to map the United States. That mapping was also completed many decades ago.

One would think that a federal agency created for specific work would be disbanded once its work was done.

He closes with this statement.

On top of those and many other responsible cost-cutting measures, we must elect representatives with the courage to attack wildly inflating entitlement programs, especially the unsupportable Obamacare.

We need to do this at both the national level and state level.

Arizona law is spreading?

In the Las Vegas Sun, there were 2 articles about immigration. I could not find any links to these articles. One was about an American citizen who served his country in Iraq. His wife is an illegal immigrant. While I support the law in Arizona, I believe that we have to do something about situations like the above.

The other article was about how Nevada or any state shouldn't pass a law similar to the SB 1070 law in Arizona. Of course, I do not agree with this article because I support Nevada passing a similar law to SB 1070.

However, what can we do about the situation mentioned above? I believe that if a illegal immigrant, who is married to an American citizen or has children who are American citizen, would go back to their country and apply for legal entry into the United States that they should be given immediate consideration.

However, they must apply within three months of the passage of the law. Otherwise, they will not be given this special consideration.

The Federal Government has created this problem because they have not protected our borders. The government is spending 100 billion dollars a year on Iraq and only 6 billion dollars a year on protecting the United States. Both the Republicans and Democrats are to blame.

The stakeholder two-step

In a post in this blog on April 15th, I commented on the Nevada Vision Stakeholder Group's report. In this commentary by Geoffrey Lawrence of NPRI, the article states that,

"The vast majority of the members of the Nevada Vision Stakeholder Group are government officials, union members and others who profit from government largesse," said Geoffrey Lawrence, the NPRI analyst. "It's unfortunate, though not surprising, that this group of tax consumers and its facilitators have determined that the road to a better Nevada is paved with yet more government growth, financed by hard-working, taxpaying Silver State citizens."

"It's abundantly clear that the sole reason behind the creation of the Nevada Vision Stakeholder Group was to push for more government," Lawrence said. "It exists to provide big-government legislators, led by Sen. Steven Horsford, political cover when they call for massive tax increases during the 2011 Nevada Legislative Session.

As I said in my April 15th post, this was just an excuse to raise taxes. It is time to say that we have had enough. Join the IAP $100,000 Challenge. Fight back now.

Politically correct society protects illegals

Here is a letter to the editor in the Review Journal also about political correctness. It states,

Apparently Barcelona is inundated with illegal immigrants, and unlike other ports, officials there make showing one's passport on demand a requirement.

Not one passenger complained or refused to disembark because of this requirement, nor has any cruise line boycotted Barcelona as a port of call.

Only in our politically correct society has illegal become "undocumented," which in turn becomes "victimized" and lastly becomes "scapegoated," deserving of entitlements.

We have to protect our borders and punish those who enter our country illegally.

Wearing the flag

This Review Journal article is about "political correctness run amok." It states,

"The five students were told by Assistant Principal Miguel Rodriguez of Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, Calif., that they must turn their T-shirts inside-out or be sent home.

One of the boys' mothers told NBC Bay Area, "They said we could wear it on any other day, but today is sensitive to Mexican-Americans because it's supposed to be their holiday so we were not allowed to wear it."

Mind you, the kids could have worn red T-shirts with a gold hammer and sickle, or shirts displaying the countenance of a mass murderer such as Mao, Lenin or Che Guevara -- that would have been fine."

Later in the article, it states,

Do Irish Americans take offense at the display of the American flag on St. Patrick's Day, or Italian-Americans at the display of the Stars and Stripes on Columbus Day? Of course not.

Americans are the most generous people. We try to consider others, but this shows that we are going too far with political correctness. That is why we have Mexicans protesting a law that is about catching people who have already broken an existing law.

Resort fees catch guests by surprise

This article in the LV Sun tells about how hotel guests are complaining about the resort fees adding to their hotel bills. The article states,

“I just didn’t think it was right,” Murtaugh says.

Neither do many others who have been surprised by resort fees charged for their stays in Las Vegas. The tide of complaints about the fees is rising in online forums, travel blogs and just about everywhere else that frequent travelers swap stories and post reviews.

Murtaugh had previously stayed at Las Vegas hotels that didn’t charge resort fees, so the added charge caught him off-guard. Resorts say the fees cover amenities such as high-speed Internet, gym and pool access and newspaper delivery.

The casinos and hotels complain that tourism is declining, but they are adding these fees to the hotel charge.

The casinos have added these fees for things that were included in the hotel price, but they want to advertise lower prices so they add these fees. Show prices are up, food prices are up, and the take on the machines is higher. Why should tourists come to Las Vegas when they can get the same gaming elsewhere.

Forced Abortions?

This article in the Philadelphia Daily News is about a teenager who was forced to get an abortion despite her mother's refusal to allow it. What is happening to our liberty and freedom? How can the state order abortions?

The article states that,

* DHS got a Family Court judge's order allowing it to take the girl for an abortion, after the girl's birth mother refused to approve the procedure.

* By the time DHS arranged for the abortion - in March - the girl was 24 weeks pregnant. She had to undergo the procedure in New Jersey because abortions in Pennsylvania are illegal at 24 weeks.

According to the article,

* Rivera, the girl's social worker, said that she was fired by Concilio, which subcontracted with DHS to provide care, after she initially refused to accompany the teen for the abortion.

"They hired me to work in child protection, not to kill children," Rivera told the Daily News.

This is not an isolated incident. The article states that,

Donald F. Schwarz, the city's deputy mayor for Health and Opportunity, who oversees DHS, said that the agency "is supposed to take a neutral position and not supposed to be involved in the decision making" regarding an abortion.

Between September 2006 and March 31, Schwarz said, 335 minors under DHS care became pregnant. Of those, 119 resulted in abortions. Of those abortions, 54 were done by judge's order.

Eight of the abortions were performed out of state, Schwarz said.

This is only one state. How many other states are doing the same thing?

"Apartheid-style" comment offensive, wrong

In this letter to the editor in the Review Journal, the author says

"Apartheid wasn't about people who did anything illegal. It was purely about enforcement of a racial separation system. The Arizona law explicitly prohibits racial or ethnic profiling and goes to great lengths to prevent it. Since when did being an illegal immigrant become about a race?"

I agree with him. This Arizona law doesn't discriminate against any race. It just concerns criminals who are breaking the law.

In 2 articles in the LV Sun, the government is said to be a democracy.

First, I want to point out that I could not find links to the articles mentioned here.

David Broder in his article Two-party system showing weakness, refers to the "English-speaking democratic world" when referring to the United States and England. Then, in another article, E.J. Dionne says that

"The central tasks of democratic government, after all, typically involve standing up for the many against the few, the less powerful against the more powerful."

However, our country was founded as a Republic and not a democracy. The founding fathers wanted to avoid a democracy because they felt that in a democracy the majority would always trample the rights of the minority.

That is the reason that our Constitution has the checks and balances to limit government. Our Constitution is a great document. It is a actually a crime that our legislators take an oath to uphold the Constitution and then trample it later.

We need to get back to our Republic and our Constitution to save our Country.

Front-page editorial: Senators failed on illegal immigration

This article in the Arizona Republic is highly critical of our government and our United States Senators in particular.

"The federal government is abdicating its duty on the border. Arizona politicians are pandering to public fear," The Arizona Republic said in a full-page editorial."

At the end of the article, it quotes Napolitano as saying,

"more resources were being poured into securing the border than ever before."

The annual budget of the ICE is 6 billion dollars. We spend more than 15 times that amount protecting Iraq than we spend on protecting our own borders and citizens. Our legislators has failed us. It is mandated in our Constitution (Article I, Section 8) that the Federal Government

"provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;".

We are being invaded by the drug cartels and illegal aliens.

Immigration letters to the editor.

Since the passage of SB 1070 in Arizona, it has been the hot topic in the media.

In the Review Journal, a letter to the editor on May 4th entitled "It's the law" said that "I find it distressing that anybody would have the audacity to invoke the Fourth Amendment in this illegal immigration debate.

The Fourth Amendment has already been destroyed by the use of DUI checkpoints, airport baggage searches, TSA strip searches and countless other violations. All because we've been brainwashed into believing it's all about the 'common good' or 'protecting the children.'

Now some of the very same people who have advocated the shredding of the Constitution for the 'common good' are trying to invoke its sanctity to protect individuals who are not even citizens of this country.

The same group of people who are trying to limit our ability to choose what kinds of foods we eat, what kind of cars we drive and even what kind of light bulbs we use in our own homes are now wrapping themselves in the Constitution in defense of noncitizen criminals who are destroying our country.

The hypocrisy of these people is beyond belief."

In a letter to the editor of the Las Vegas Sun, the writer said that "years ago, before I became a citizen, I had a green card that I had to have with me at all times. This showed that I was legally in this country. It had to be updated yearly and upon a change of address.

I did not in anyway resent having to show this card, so what's the big deal now?"

The writer makes a good point. We have to carry our drivers license and have proof of insurance to drive a car. When we are stopped, we have to show these documents to the officer who stopped us. What's the big deal about showing a green card?

I have been stopped at night for avoiding a bump in the road and had to prove that I was not intoxicated. No crime was committed, but I had to prove that I had a driver's license, proof of insurance, and was not intoxicated. What's the big deal?

My April report on my campaign.

My campaign for State Senator has started off with a bang. I have taped a video on Cox Cable. You can see it by following the instructions on my web site at www.electtomjones.com.

Then I had a photo shoot for the Review Journal so that they would have picture for their files to use when Press Releases or News Articles are published. Thank you RJ for your pro active efforts.

On April 10th, I had a booth at the Las Vegas Gun Show, it was very interesting. My wife, Raye, and I met a lot of other candidates from other parties. We were surprised how many attendees were from California! They cheered us on while we spoke out on our plans to save our State and National freedoms, fight to lower taxes and protect our state borders from illegal immigrants. Many felt it was too late for California to fight back, their battle was lost years ago. Now they are slaves to the system. How sad!

On April 13th, I did a 15 minute radio interview on Fox News Radio (1280am). Jeremy Wayne was an excellent interviewer and he made me feel very comfortable.

I appreciate Fox News Radio (1280am) for giving me the opportunity to express what I would do when elected. I promise to fight for lower taxes, smaller government and get more education for our children NOT more MONEY for education. Once again I applauded Fox News Radio (1280am) for their efforts to educate the Las Vegas Voter on what the candidates stand for and who they are. You can hear the interview on my web site or at www.electtomjones.com/Foxinterview.wav .


On April 15th, tax day or, as Jeremy Wayne calls it, punishment day, a Tea Party Event was held at Sunset Park which I attended. There were about 400 to 500 people there. There were several IAP candidates and supporters in attendance. I love it that Las Vegas is showing up in large numbers and getting involved in their local, State and US candidates and what they stand for.

On April 17th, I had two interviews. One was with the Veterans in Politics and the other was with Asian Americans group. WOW!!! What nice folks and I really appreciate how much effort was they put into getting acquainted with the candidates that were willing to take the time and energy to show up and share their views with them. That’s all they asked. The Asian Americans group had a wonderful buffet of the tastiest Asian food that would give the strip buffets a run for their money!!! I enjoyed their hospitality and spoke to their organization on my views and what I am going to do when I get elected.
I hope to have DVD’s of both of these interviews soon.

On April 21st, I attended a meet and greet for the Nurses Association of Nevada. I met many fine people. The nurse practitioners were very concerned about the new Obamacare bill. They said that they would not be able to take care of all the patients and that many would just have to wait much longer.

On April 22nd, I attended the Clark County Independent American Party candidates meeting. We discussed the next meeting of the Clark County Committee meeting and many of the current issues.

On April 24th, several IAP candidates had a booth at the Boys Scouts Expo at Sunset Park. My wife, Raye and I were very impressed with the event, community support and the hundreds of fine of young men that some day will be the leaders of our country. We had the opportunity to talk to many families about the pressing issues concerning education and our children’s and grandchildren’s future. My greatest concern is our future generations. I must protect their freedoms and rights which we will someday left to them as our legacy and their hope. Several voters registered with the IAP and gave their support for the 100k voter register challenge!!!

On April 30th, finally, on the last day of the month, I attended a Republican candidate debate hosted by Heidi Harris of KDWN-AM 720. It was informative and very lively.
This election in November will prove to a first!!! With the Republicans fighting to look like the conservative concerned right and the Democrats trying to blend in the background and not draw too much attention to the fact their party is taking the country down! Both parties are learning new ways to stay in power and maintain their same o same o. Doing the same thing, but promising different results is the definition of insanity!!!!

Basically, after my first month campaigning, I have found that people are very upset with the State and Local Government. I also found that I have a lot to do to get my campaign jump started.

Although I do not have a primary election, my goal is to campaign hard now to get a head start on my opponents. I need lots of help, campaign funding and prayers.

Americans Unite, We MUST Save Our Country!!!

Arizona State Senator Sylvia Allen explains SB 1070

I'm Arizona State Senator Sylvia Allen.

I want to explain SB 1070 which I voted for and was just signed by Governor Jan Brewer.


Rancher Rob Krantz was murdered by the drug cartel on his ranch a month ago. I participated in a senate hearing two weeks ago on the border violence, here is just some of the highlights from those who testified.

The people who live within 60 to 80 miles of the Arizona/Mexico Border have for years been terrorized and have pleaded for help to stop the daily invasion of humans who cross their property . One Rancher testified that 300 to 1200 people a DAY come across his ranch vandalizing his property, stealing his vehicles and property, cutting down his fences, and leaving trash. In the last two years he has found 17 dead bodies and two Koran bibles.

Another rancher testified that daily drugs are brought across his ranch in a military operation. A point man with a machine gun goes in front, 1/2 mile behind are the guards fully armed, 1/2 mile behind them are the drugs, behind the drugs 1/2 mile are more guards. These people are violent and they will kill anyone who gets in the way. This was not the only rancher we heard that day that talked about the drug trains.

One man told of two illegal's who came upon his property one shot in the back and the other in the arm by the drug runners who had forced them to carry the drugs and then shot them. Daily they listen to gun fire during the night it is not safe to leave his family alone on the ranch and they can't leave the ranch for fear of nothing being left when they come back.

The border patrol is not on the border. They have set up 60 miles away with check points that do nothing to stop the invasion. They are not allowed to use force in stopping anyone who is entering. They run around chasing them, if they get their hands on them then they can take them back across the border.

Federal prisons have over 35% illegal's and 20% of Arizona prisons are filled with illegal's. In the last few years 80% of our law enforcement that have been killed or wounded have been by an illegal.

The majority of people coming now are people we need to be worried about. The ranchers told us that they have seen a change in the people coming they are not just those who are looking for work and a better life.

The Federal Government has refused for years to do anything to help the border states . We have been over run and once they are here we have the burden of funding state services that they use. Education cost have been over a billion dollars. The healthcare cost billions of dollars. Our State is broke, $3.5 billion deficit and we have many serious decisions to make. One is that we do not have the money to care for any who are not here legally. It has to stop.
The border can be secured. We have the technology we have the ability to stop this invasion. We must know who is coming and they must come in an organized manner legally so that we can assimilate them into our population and protect the sovereignty of our country. We are a nation of laws. We have a responsibility to protect our citizens and to protect the integrity of our country and the government which we live under.

I would give amnesty today to many, but here is the problem, we dare not do this until the Border is secure. It will do no good to forgive them because thousands will come behind them and we will be over run to the point that there will no longer be the United States of America but a North American Union of open borders. I ask you what form of government will we live under? How long will it be before we will be just like Mexico , Canada or any of the other Central American or South American countries? We have already lost our language, everything must be printed in Spanish also. We have already lost our history it is no longer taught in our schools. And we have lost our borders.

The leftist media has distorted what SB 1070 will do. It is not going to set up a Nazi Germany . Are you kidding. The ACLU and the leftist courts will do everything to protect those who are here illegally, but it was an effort to try and stop illegal's from setting up businesses, and employment, and receiving state services and give the ability to local law enforcement when there is probable cause like a traffic stop to determine if they are here legally. Federal law is very clear if you are here on a visa you must have your papers on you at all times. That is the law. In Arizona all you need to show you are a legal citizen is a driver license, MVD identification card, Native American Card, or a Military ID. This is what you need to vote, get a hunting license, etc.. So nothing new has been added to this law. No one is going to be stopped walking down the street etc... The Socialist who are in power in DC are angry because we dare try and do something and that something the Socialist wants us to do is just let them come. They want the "Transformation" to continue.

Maybe it is too late to save America . Maybe we are not worthy of freedom anymore. But as an elected official I must try to do what I can to protect our Constitutional Republic . Living in America is not a right just because you can walk across the border. Being an American is a responsibility and it comes by respecting and upholding the Constitution the law of our land which says what you must do to be a citizen of this country. Freedom is not free.

THE RELUCTANCE TO TAX OURSELVES: Nevada's depravity

The tone of this article is terribly condescending.

Rather than a fiscal crisis, Nevada suffers a crisis of greed, selfishness and stupidity. The state's elementary and secondary public education system, its universities and its other public services -- notably child welfare, health and mental health -- are already among the most poorly funded and weakest in the nation. Yet this wealthy state is currently in the process of further reducing its commitment to public services.

No one should be forced to work for someone else.

John Locke wrote,

"Though the earth and all inferior creatures be common [as the gift from God] to all men, yet every man has a 'property' in his own 'person'. This, nobody has any right to but himself. The 'labor' of his body and the 'work' of his hands, we may say , are properly his."

In the Federalist no. 79, Alexander Hamilton wrote,

"In the general course of human nature a power over a man's subsistence amounts to a power over his will."

In the Federalist no. 73, Alexander Hamilton wrote,

In the main it will be found that a power over the man's support is a power over his will."

As it is we work almost 6 months a year to pay all the various taxes that we have to pay. We are like the serfs under feudalism.

Parking rates at McCarran Airport

There are 2 letters to the editor in the Review Journal about the increased parking rates at McCarron. They both make great points.

The first states,

I see that Randall Walker, director of the Clark County Department of Aviation, has spent $13 million in taxpayer money to "improve" our airport experience by squeezing every last dollar he can from us while we use the airport parking facility that we already paid for with our taxes in the first place ("Airport opens 'Express Exit,'" Wednesday Review-Journal). Mr. Walker, who is paid a public salary and benefits package of $375,000, just wants us to all to "pay our fair share."

It goes on to point out that he has

10 assistant directors with public salary and benefits packages ranging from $130,000 to $205,000 per year.

I couldn't find a link to the second letter so I will put most of it here.

Mr. Walker also said it wasn't "fair: that some people drove around looking for meters that still had time left on them. so. What? The airport was still getting paid for the use of the slot--and even getting paid if it stayed empty.

Finally, he said this will reduce lines leaving the parking lot. I never waited in line leaving short-term parking as a result of having to pay. I already paid when I parked. Now what I'll be waiting for is a traffic opening as a result of those who will keep driving around the airport rather than paying the increased fees.

Once again, another bureaucrat feeding us a line in the name of getting more money: "It''ll be better for you. Trust me."

I have used the short term parking lot at least twice a month for 13 years. I have never had a seen a line to leave this parking lot in all that time.

You are already having to pay more for government services. Wait until the next legislation session. Taxes will be raised again unless you vote in people who will fight to cut taxes and get our economy growing.

The Financial Bill

One question asked of candidates at the Republican debate last night was about the financial bill. They were asked if "this was a dog and pony show".

I think it was more than a "dog and pony show". It was an attempt to blame the financial industry for something that the congress encouraged and actually started.

Along with the Federal Reserve, Congress was responsible for this entire financial collapse. Of course, the financial industry participated. Congress forced them into making bad loans. They looked for a way to protect themselves. They found it to be very profitable. So they promoted it.

We cannot let the Fed and Congress get away with what they did by blaming others.

Arizona immigration law already having an effect

I was at the Republic congressional debates at the Orleans last night. One of the big issues was the Arizona immigration law. Every candidate supported it.

This article in the Review Journal on Thursday says that it is already having an effect.

Many of the cars that once stopped in the Home Depot parking lot to pick up day laborers to hang drywall or do landscaping now just drive on by.

Arizona's sweeping immigration bill allows police to arrest illegal immigrant day laborers seeking work on the street or anyone trying to hire them. It won't take effect until summer but it is already having an effect on the state's underground economy.

It also states that

An estimated 100,000 illegal immigrants have left Arizona in the past two years as it cracked down on illegal immigration and its economy was especially hard hit by the Great Recession.

Where do you think that they are going? Could it be Nevada?

We have pass legislation similar to Arizona's in the next legislative session.

So just what is it that defines profiling anyway

This letter to the editor asks the question,

What’s wrong with profiling?

The writer uses a robbery situation to show that police use profiling all the time. That is how they catch criminals.

They interview the witnesses and then look for someone who meets the description. This happens all the time when a crime is committed and no one complains.

So we have a crime of illegal immigration. They police have a description. They go out and look for people that fit the description.

I don't see the problem. In fact, the Arizona Immigration law forbids racial profiling. I would work to get a similar law passed here in Nevada before it is too late.