The Irascible One

Politics In Nevada Is Blue And Silver And Far More Libertarian

Common Sense Tends To Lead The Way Rather Than Ideological Profanity

(Editor's note: The Irascible One will be a regular feature in the pages of The Nevada Observer beginning with this issue. More than likely arrows and darts, sticks and stones, and anything else that might be handy will be tossed at those politicians that have tendencies to overacting. Don't say we didn't warn you.)

What was in that coffee? On Nevada Day, the Republican women of Carson City throw an annual pancake breakfast, and since there is a so-called Republican in the Governor's Mansion the breakfast is held on the mansion grounds. Word is the governor's wife threw a tizzy-fit and tried to throw a current candidate for congress off the property. The candidate, as a lady would, did not respond in kind.

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Political Party Web Sites --- We checked them all out and have to say wasn't very impressed with the exception of one site. The Democratic Party web site (click here) is nothing if negative. There are several democrats running for office but you wouldn't know it going to their web page. The only thing on the home page that wasn't negative was the continuing promotion of Senator Reid, as if he doesn't already do enough on his own.

The Republican Party web site (click here) is a little more positive promoting candidates that have filed for office and discussing how to get more candidates. Wasn't able to find much grandstanding and the home page is certainly clutter free.

The Libertarian Party web site (click here) is a fully composed site promoting issues and candidates. By far the most positive of the three. The site offers Libertarian views on world, national, and state issues and actually discusses some of the issues. Have they lost their minds?

One part caught the attention of the Irascible One. It says, "take world's smallest quiz" and promises to inform you of your political position in life. You can click from the Libertarian site or go to http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html.

The quiz will let you know if your are liberal, conservative, or Libertarian on personal politics and on economic or fiscal politics. On personal politics the Irascible One is about 70 percent Libertarian. On economic politics he or she is one hundred percent Libertarian.

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Discuss Ideas? Absurd! They say (don't you love it when someone starts a conversation that way?), don't discuss politics or religion in a bar. Many friendships have been lost that way, many noses have been broken or eyes blackened, and now we're faced with the religious right insisting that every conversation dealing with politics must include whatever religion they happen to be promoting at the time.

So, we get a few brainless political felons mixing with the likes of Pat Robertson and Tammy Faye Bakker, all telling us that either their pocket book or their god needs our vote. Benjamin Franklin covered this issue pretty well a couple of hundred years ago. So did Thomas Jefferson, I do believe.

All politicians are not criminally inclined we must believe this just as we should understand that all religious zealots don't always promote death to those that don't believe as they do. And then again ...

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TABOR --- In the Nevada Policy Research Institute newsletter dated October 11, policy director Steven Miller asks a wonderful question. Or makes a statement, depending on your point of view. "If you notice, foes of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) never claim it is ineffective at restraining budget growth."

He goes on to say, "In other words, the critics, in their quiet unanimity regarding TABOR's efficacy, virtually admit why they don't like TABOR: It's successful at restraining government expansion."

Those behind the TABOR measure learned something interesting recently. Nevada has a law that defines spending and puts a cap on it. And we are within touching distance of that cap. It was enacted a quarter of a century ago and if spending increases continue at their current level, the next legislature and governor will be faced with staying under the cap, TABOR or no.

I guess we should be glad the tax and spend minority really is a minority. Except of course for our current lame-duck governor.

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Speaking of Which --- It appears that the people responsible for anointing Kenny Guinn eight years ago and then again four years ago are putting their money behind Jim Gibson, the mayor of Henderson. Big money casino interests are terrified of Jim Gibbons. He's a loose cannon, you know. In more profound English that means he speaks his mind.

With Guinn the system went this way. Give as much money as possible to this unknown commodity and no money to anyone else. If you would like to know more about how this works, have a conversation with Frankie Sue.

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Words, Words, Words --- We must stop calling those we elect to sit in the legislature, city council, etc. & etc. lawmakers. We can't handle any more laws. People are elected promising more laws. Stop! I guess we can't call them "law-take-awayers," but I bet some would get my vote if they promised to rescind many of our superfluous regulations.

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Out of the mouths of ... --- From the Nevada Taxpayer's Association newsletter, Carole Vilardo penned this gem, calling it "The power of words." Pythagorean Theorem --- 24 words The Lord's Prayer --- 66 words The Ten Commandments --- 179 words Archimedes' Principle --- 67 words The Gettysburg Address ---286 words The Declaration of Independence --- 1,300 words U.S. Government regulations on the sale of cabbage --- 26,911 words

Carole, you're the gem.

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Speaking of Words --- A couple of Hal Swift-isms. "How about an adjective a day?" he asks. Monday is Marvelous Tuesday is Terrific Wednesday is Wonderful Thursday is Thrilling Friday is Fantastic (ed. note. What's wrong with frivolous?) Saturday is Super Sunday is Scintillating

Have a happy turkey day. I'm going to the bar.

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Cartoon by Thomas Nast, April 12, 1874