Home

2AM Club Guide

Archive

Contact

Personals

Wildside Personals

Democracy in Peril

By Steve Sebelius

SAN FRANCISCO TREAT: Sure, Assemblyman Ron Knecht, R-Carson City, is a moron. But he just may have a point when it comes to Assembly Joint Resolution 18, a measure that would limit the growth of Nevada's budget to a combined total of inflation, population growth and the state's gross domestic product. Republican lawmakers may vote for a big tax increase if they can also tell voters they implemented a tax restraint system.

But Knecht puts the "flaw" in flawed messenger, having once asked for a bill draft that would have renamed Nevada "East California" and changed the state song to "Taxman." Confronted about the joke, Knecht told reporters he wasn't responsible. Later, he admitted he made the request, but said it was a joke. The press just didn't get it, Knecht said Tuesday.

"AJR18 is the measure we need to keep the tax-and-spend crowd from turning our great state into East California, with their excesses and San Francisco-style liberal policies," Knecht says. (Hey, we warned you he's a moron.) Call us San Francisco-style liberals, but we think the City by the Bay stands head and shoulders over Knecht's hometown of Carson City. And doesn't California perform better than Nevada in a whole mess of social and education indicators?

JUST WRONG: Teachers enter the tax debate on the moral high ground: They are engaged in one of the most noble professions, and their charge is to literally shape the future. We at Democracy in Peril think they deserve a lot more money.

But the heavy-handed tactics being contemplated by the Clark County Education Association erase those natural advantages. A May 7 letter from Clark County Education Association President May Ella Holloway tries to gauge how committed teachers are to getting that tax passed. The text is classic:

"As you are aware, any work stoppages such as sick-outs, walk-outs, or strikes are statutorily illegal in Nevada. However, in order to send a message to the Legislature that you are frustrated and concerned about education funding, your job, future income, and working conditions; even though illegal, would you be willing to:

"(Check as many boxes that apply)

"Engage in a prolonged work stoppage (5+ days)

"Engage in a short-term work stoppage (1-3 days)

"Contact legislators via e-mail, postcard, phone calls and leafleting

"Participate in a public march/rally."

So, let's get this right: Even though strikes are illegal in Nevada, the teachers union is wondering if teachers might care to break the law and leave their classrooms to make a political point about money? What happened to the high-minded ideals of "prevailing on behalf of children"? That sound you hear is the moral high ground falling into the ocean along the fault lines of crass, brazen politics.

Steve Sebelius writes a daily e-mail newsletter, the E-Briefing, from which "Democracy in Peril" is excerpted. Reach him at 383-0283 or by e-mail at ssebelius@reviewjournal.com. To subscribe to the E-Briefing at a Mercury reader special price of $20 per year, go to www.lasvegasmercury.com/ebriefing.