I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr If Dr. King were alive today, half a century after his famous speech, he would surely be disappointed his dream remains unfulfilled. It seems the country is even more divided, … [Read more...] about Can’t We All Just Get Along?
Commentary
The Right to VoteRestoring Confidence in Elections
Since the 2020 election concluded, voting issues have come to the forefront for our nation. Some contend the election was “rigged” while others insist it was fair. I won’t speak to whether or not this most recent election was conducted fairly for all parties. I will simply point out that in my household of two, I received six ballots to vote. Obviously, I didn’t take advantage … [Read more...] about The Right to Vote
Let’s Consider OthersAnd Stay in Our Own Lanes
Now that we are moving away from the pandemic and it’s, hopefully, in the rear-view mirror, we’re all looking forward to a return of normalcy. There is absolutely no doubt the shutdown changed the way we behave as a society. However, it seems we have yet to return to a place of mutual respect and kindness where individuals stay in their own lane. In other words, we all need to … [Read more...] about Let’s Consider Others
It’s a Win! Senators go to Bat for NevadansLawbreaking Elected Officials Should be Held Accountable
Nevadans owe state Republican Senators a debt of gratitude. In case you missed it, last month the state’s Supreme Court ruled the power grab by democrats during the 2019 legislative session was unconstitutional. By way of background, in 1994 the people of Nevada voted to change the constitution to require any bill that raises taxes to have a super majority vote in both … [Read more...] about It’s a Win! Senators go to Bat for Nevadans
DMVA Consumer’s Nightmare, An Entrepreneur’s Dream
As a business leader, how would you like to provide a required service with no competition? Would you like to be the only provider of a product with a built-in customer base that must access your facility to be in compliance with the law? It sounds almost too good to be true. Yet that’s the position the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is in. If they don’t want to break the … [Read more...] about DMV
What Gives them the Right?Separation of Powers in Nevada
“The powers of the government of the state of Nevada shall be divided into three separate departments, the Legislative, the Executive and the Judicial; and no persons charged with the exercise of powers properly belonging to one of these departments shall exercise any functions, appertaining to either of the others, except in the cases expressly directed or permitted in this … [Read more...] about What Gives them the Right?
COVID-19’s Latest VictimLegislative Freedom
In Nevada we have what’s known as a part-time citizen Legislature. Our state’s elected officials only meet for 120 days in odd-numbered years and those that serve often have other jobs in Nevada. Only three other states have a similar schedule and it’s a deliberate choice. A citizen Legislature, by design, keeps our political process both small and local. It’s meant to push the … [Read more...] about COVID-19’s Latest Victim
America LostCancel Culture Versus Freedom of Speech
The America of today would be unrecognizable to those who began this country. The ones who fought for freedom and said, “All Men are Created Equal” wouldn’t recognize what we’ve become. So many things have led to this, I couldn’t create a list of them even if I wanted to. So, let’s just focus on one. It’s a phrase I’m sure you’ve heard, “Cancel Culture.” A form of public … [Read more...] about America Lost
Hot MarketTime to Buy in Nevada?
I’m confident that anyone who tried to predict where they’d be at the end of 2020 was wrong. No one could have anticipated the realities of last year. Trying to plan for the future, either professionally or personally, has been challenging for many because we simply don’t know what’s just around the corner. We started the year with an air strike on Iranian army general Qasem … [Read more...] about Hot Market
It’s time to ChooseThe Economy Versus COVID-19
Over the last eight months, COVID-19 has been brought into sharp focus for most of us. I know people that have caught the virus and have seen the effect it has on them. It’s certainly not something anyone should be taking lightly. The advice on how to protect yourself and others is solid: social distance, mask up, isolate if you’re high risk and avoid people that are sick. It’s … [Read more...] about It’s time to Choose
A Win for TaxpayersDistrict Court Upholds Nevada Constitution
You may recall, during Nevada’s Legislative Session last year, two bills were passed that extended taxes that were scheduled to sunset. What makes these two bills unique is that they both were unlawfully passed. The Nevada Constitution requires a two-third supermajority of both houses to pass any tax increase. While Democrats had a supermajority in the Assembly, they were one … [Read more...] about A Win for Taxpayers
Sisolak’s AgendaPartisan Politics at its Worst
Unfortunately, by now, I think we’ve all grown accustomed to partisan politics and amoral politicians using social issues to further their own political agenda. At no time has this practice been more prevalent, or more blatant, than in 2020. With a presidential election looming next month, it’s never been clearer that, when it comes to winning, many politicians will do whatever … [Read more...] about Sisolak’s Agenda
“Special Taxes”ls Your Business Next?
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.Martin Niemoller, a German theologian … [Read more...] about “Special Taxes”
Nothing Special HereNevada’s Special Legislative Session
“Whereas, Section 9 of Article V of the Constitution of the State of Nevada provides that, ‘[T]he Governor may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the Legislature by Proclamation and shall state to both houses, when organized, the business for which they have been specially convened;’ … Now therefore, I, Steve Sisolak, Governor of the State of Nevada … do hereby convene the … [Read more...] about Nothing Special Here
Loss of Common SenseA State Controlled with Rights Infringed
Nicknamed “Battle Born”, we Nevadans are an independent bunch and have a history of wanting to run our own lives. We don’t want government control, nor do we need it. Nevertheless, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend recently with more and more government infringing on basic rights they have no business being involved in. The recent coronavirus pandemic is just the latest excuse … [Read more...] about Loss of Common Sense
The Erosion of Freedom
“They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety” Benjamin Franklin Our founding fathers would be stunned if they could see how far our nation has drifted from its original charter. While many of the changes have seeped into our lives over a period of years, the pandemic has caused an escalation in government … [Read more...] about The Erosion of Freedom
A Shout Out to the Helpers
When the Governor announced the shutdown of businesses throughout Nevada in mid-March, it seems many among us were in a state of shock. As the new reality started to sink in and people developed new routines, an unexpected camaraderie started to take place. The “we’re all in this together” mantra was embraced as people reached out to each other to help however they could. I … [Read more...] about A Shout Out to the Helpers
Nevada Governor Fails to LeadLessons Learned from a Pandemic
First of all, I recognize it’s much easier to be an armchair quarterback than to be the one calling the shots. Our leaders, from all levels of government, have had to make unprecedented decisions in the wake of COVID-19. In many cases, their decisions have been a matter of life and death and extremely difficult to make. There’s always going to be people that disagree with those … [Read more...] about Nevada Governor Fails to Lead
Time to EvaluateCrisis of Humanity
Life on earth has changed dramatically in the past few weeks. The COVID-19 virus has infected humanity in every nation and wreaked havoc throughout the world. Panic, fear, disbelief and anger is in our own backyard and you may be experiencing those very emotions yourself. Even before the coronavirus, it was a frightening time and it’s easy to give into those fears. As of … [Read more...] about Time to Evaluate
Democrats & Legislative Council Bureau Running AmokIgnore the Will of the People
In September of last year, Nevada State Senator Heidi Gansert was a guest columnist with Nevada Business Magazine. She explained how, in the last session, Democrats ignored the two-thirds supermajority constitutional requirement to pass two bills: SB 551 and SB 542. The first, SB 551 prevented the Modified Business Tax (MBT) from sunsetting as scheduled and made the higher rate … [Read more...] about Democrats & Legislative Council Bureau Running Amok