Harry's bringing home table scraps, not bacon

This letter to the editor in the Review Journal has some interesting facts about Harry Reid. I have not checked them out so I do not know how true they are.

It states that

Data from www. visualeconomics.com indicate that Nevada is 50th (out of 50 states) in federal tax allotments per state on a per capita basis. The place with the most tax allotments per capita is Washington, D.C., with $65,109. The state with the lowest federal tax allotments per capita is Nevada with $5,889.

Good thing that Harry Reid is so influential. Just think where Nevada would be without him. Nevada and the United States would probably be in better shape.

Review Jounal letter

This is a letter that I wrote to the Review Journal. It was published on Wednesday.

On Sunday, June 13th, in Glenn Cook’s commentary titled, ‘Ten races will decide everything’, he mentions a third party candidate in only one race. This omission is glaring because the third party candidates will affect several races.

In the District 9 Senate race where I am running as an Independent American Party candidate, only 25,320 votes were cast. There are 37,927 voters in that district who are registered INA, LIB, or other. Since I am the only other candidate in that race, there is a very good chance that the voters registered NP, INA, and other will vote for me instead of one of the other candidates.

If you are going to examine political races, you should do it thoroughly and include 3rd party candidates in your analysis so that the voters have all the facts on which to base a decision.

This year many voters are disgruntled and may vote for the 3rd party candidates. In fact, the Independent American Party is the fastest growing party in Nevada.

Tom Jones

Graduation time: Hold the celebration

This NPRI article about graduation is depressing. It states that

high school graduates earn, on average, at least 38 percent more money per week than do high school drop-outs — and, with even more education, income rises substantially. High school graduates also live healthier, longer lives on average, and are less likely to go to jail or live in poverty.

Of course, you would expect that graduates would do better than non graduates. However, the article continues with the bad news. It states

Unfortunately, graduation time in Nevada is not as cheerful as it should be. Sobering data from the National Center for Education Statistics puts the "Average Freshman Graduation Rate" in Nevada at 51.3 percent for the 2007-08 school year — worst in the nation and 23.6 points lower than the national average.

NCES also notes that the drop-out rate in Nevada is 5.1 percent — 24 percent higher than the national average. In 2007-08 alone, 6,170 Silver State students dropped out of high school. Many, per the statistics, are destined for poverty and crime.

It is time to take action and cut administration costs, demand that students learn the curriculum or they fail, divide the large school districts to provide local control, and to use a voucher system.

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!!!