When you want to make an omelet, you need to break a few eggs. That adage also clearly applies to our state’s education system. I’ve been a Nevada resident for almost half a century and, as long as I’ve been here, the biggest topic of concern has been our failing school district. For years we’ve been among the worst in the nation in a number of measurements. Our failure in … [Read more...] about Break It to Fix It
Commentary
Questioning AuthorityChecks and Balances
In high school civics, most of us were taught about the Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances in our government. As a refresher, our government is designed with three branches, each with individual powers to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. The Legislative Branch passes laws. The Executive Branch enforces laws. And the Judicial Branch interprets … [Read more...] about Questioning Authority
Shop and Vote Your Values
This may be the most politically incorrect commentary you read in a while. So, if you are especially sensitive, please just turn the page. I write this knowing people will disagree, my email will be flooded with responses and I may be punished, or as we like to say these days “cancelled”. Regardless, the cultural madness needs to stop, and God-fearing leaders need to find … [Read more...] about Shop and Vote Your Values
Repairing the Vote“Hope is Not a Course of Action”
In a phone call earlier this year, Mark Wlaschin, deputy Secretary of State (SOS) for elections in Nevada said, “Hope is not a course of action. We are taking action.” He was referring to the measures the Secretary of State is taking to prevent election fraud and restore confidence in Nevada’s process. Wlaschin spoke about the ways the SOS office is working to secure the voting … [Read more...] about Repairing the Vote
Parent’s RightsSome Things Shouldn’t Involve the Village
When I first heard the idea that children don’t belong to their parents, but rather to the community, I passed it off as far-left nonsense. That was in 2013 with the following quote, “We have to break through this idea that kids belong to their parents, or kids belong to their families,” by Melissa Harris-Perry, a commentator for MSNBC. Then, last year, while running for … [Read more...] about Parent’s Rights
Education Needs HelpAnd Parents Need Options
There seems to be one issue Nevadans can all agree on to some degree – education needs to improve, the health of our state depends on it. However, how to improve education is an issue that has been hotly debated and those debates tend to fall along party lines. You may recall in 2015 the Legislature passed, and then-Governor Brian Sandoval signed, Senate Bill 302, which … [Read more...] about Education Needs Help
Mission WarLas Vegas Wants Nonprofit’s Land
CARE Complex is a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating homelessness in Downtown Las Vegas. The organization was established in 2005. In 2014, CARE purchased a foreclosed property in the city’s “Corridor of Hope” – a prime area to help those burdened with homelessness. Three years later, in 2017, the City of Las Vegas opened the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center next door to … [Read more...] about Mission War
Dangerous Word PlayHolding the Line with “Shall”
For as long as I can remember, the Clark County Education Association (CCEA) has been working to raise taxes for education. They’ve come to nearly every industry in the state with their hand out for more money. Like most other business owners, I firmly believe in the importance of education and the need to fund education. However, Nevada’s education system, and CCEA in … [Read more...] about Dangerous Word Play
Unconstitutional LawDon’t “Ghost” Homemade Guns
Last year, Nevada legislators passed AB 286, an anti-gun bill that would have made some elements of home gunsmithing illegal under a broad banner definition. As it was passed, the bill would have prohibited a person from possessing, purchasing, transporting or receiving an unfinished frame or receiver of a firearm or assembling a firearm without a serial number. The law was set … [Read more...] about Unconstitutional Law
What is Truth…And, is it Relative?
How important is the truth to you? I expect it’s important to most of us, so let’s dig into what truth is. And, since its December, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let’s first look at what He says about truth. When being interrogated by Pontius Pilate prior to His crucifixion, Jesus directly references this question of truth. In the Bible, John 18:37 (NKJV), Pilate asked, … [Read more...] about What is Truth…
Blessings CheckMore Than Thanksgiving
… the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It … [Read more...] about Blessings Check
Enough is EnoughStop Government Overreach
I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education.Thomas Jefferson Those words were written by Jefferson in a letter dated September 28, 1820. Now, just … [Read more...] about Enough is Enough
Can’t We All Just Get Along?
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?
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