Opinion:

A Few Observations On

Earthquakes, Elections,

Morals, And Political Ethics

In 1,000 Words

Or Less

by Johnny Gunn

Whoever said that a picture is worth a thousand words doesn’t understand the language, for it is words that stimulate the imagination not pictures.  A few well placed words can create a flow of thoughts no picture could ever reproduce, and an equal number of misplaced words can create a quagmire of problems that would not be pretty in any picture.  The reverend Wright has flame and brimstone spewing from his nostrils and Barack Obama is considering never going to church again in his life.

Hilary Clinton will not forget the “mis-spoken” words dealing with snipers and Bosnia for many years, and yet, when she brought the subject up, we were caught up in rapt attention.  Here is the former First Lady of the United States of American coming under sniper fire, having to hit the tarmac with “incoming,” and we all created in our minds, there is that wonderful stimulation of the imagination, a picture of what was happening.

She is now saying, “if only that had been true,” for it is a delightful scenario.  Nevada has been home to some nifty earthquakes these last few months, some that rumbled through Wells in eastern Nevada did horrible damage that might not be repaired for years.  Near Reno recently there have been some temblors that have the local population in a tizzy.  The largest, only 4.7, broke some knick knacks, knocked some stuff off the shelves, even did a bit of structural damage to a few buildings, but was still 4.7.  Those that have grown up in earthquake country don’t begin to count until 5.1 or better.

A conversation at the GOP State Convention opens the eyes to reality.  If you are from the mid west, you are terrified of earthquakes.  If you are from the west, you are terrified of tornados.  One wiseacre said the earthquake on the night before the convention was simply Hilary crashing. 

Which brings up the fine point of accepting the will of the people.  In two consecutive elections Nevadans voted most favorably for term limits for our representatives in city, county, regional, and state government, including those that represent us in the legislature.  There is a conspiracy of elected officials, lobby groups, and special interests underway as you read this to overturn the will of the people.  The word conspiracy is being used in all of its powerful meaning for this is a blatant attempt to maintain political control of the legislature. 

Political power is a drug, it has a narcotic affect that drives some to set aside morals and personal ethics, to disregard personal responsibility, and that power is held by only a few in Nevada.  Some are in the legislature, some believe they are king makers, above the fray, so to speak, and others represent powerful special interests.  They have at their disposal more money than most of us can imagine and are willing to use that money, that power, that influence to purchase their way into maintaining that power no matter the will of the people.

There are some that believe it is Harry Reid behind the conspiracy while others are positive it is Bill Raggio, one on each side of the political spectrum while also being heavy hitting leaders with untold power and influence.  Regardless of whether this conspiracy is being led from inside the legislature, from inside the gaming cartel, from inside the various unions, or from some other point of extreme power, the conclusion will be the elimination of term limits, and the will of the people will have been defeated.

This is not how representative democracy is supposed to work.  They were elected to represent us not the special interests with boxcars full of money, and if we have determined that they should only be there for a specific number of years, it is our decision, not theirs to change when they feel the need to exert that political clout.

It’s a very hyper political year and many people will use many words, some well chosen, some ill thought out, some with imagination stimulation, some with dirt and foul odors, and all designed to make you accept a certain point of view or view a candidate favorably.  There is one area of politics that needs to be changed immediately and that is the recorded messages sent by telephone.

If you don’t have the desire to talk to me personally, don’t call.  If you feel your point of view should be important to me, talk to me personally, not at me by recording. 

We did this in less than 800 “highly stimulating” words (my phrase).  See you at the polls.

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Cartoon by Thomas Nast, April 12, 1874