SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 | Vol. 22, ISSuE 31
Questions Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review. Man, I don’t know about y’all, but I feel a little conflicted about some of the questions that’ll be on my ballot this November. First of all, I’m all for complete and total legalization of marijuana. This is something that should’ve been done in Nevada a long time ago. I’ll end up voting in favor of Nevada’s Question 2 and the proposed amendment to the Nevada Revised Statutes that would legalize marijuana for users over the age of 21, but I do have some strong reservations about some of the fine print. The regulations it would create would tend to favor a small number of operators and make it hard for anyone else to get into the business—at least initially. Additionally, the amendment would “not prevent employers from enforcing marijuana bans for their workers,” according to the explanation attached to the question on Washoe County’s website. This is also a problem. I’ve already heard reports of local employers who refuse to hire medical marijuana users, which is total discrimination—refusing to hire people based on their medical needs. I’m also conflicted about Washoe County Question 1, which would impose an additional sales tax in order to raise money to help the county’s overpopulated schools. Now, I know the schools need help, and if there’s one thing I believe in even more than I believe in wanton use of recreational drugs, it’s quality public education, but sales taxes are just so regressive. They hurt working families the most. Wouldn’t it be better to create a state income tax aimed squarely at Sheldon Adelson, Nevada’s richest resident? Or, even better, make local churches have to pay their fair share? But, yeah, good luck getting something like that to pass. In the end, I’ll probably vote for this measure, too, if for no other reason than just to counteract those Grover Norquist wannabe chumps who knee-jerk reject any and every tax.
—Brad Bynum bradb@ ne ws r ev i ew . com
Our GOP mole Re “Third way” (News, Aug. 18): Dennis Myers is a closet Republican. His article should have been printed as an editorial and not on the news page. The italicized “or” in the article’s subtitle—“Nowhere is it required that voters choose either Trump or Clinton”—seems to encourage people not to vote for Clinton. It is also stupidly obvious: of course we can vote for anyone we want. The fact is, however, on November 8 either Trump or Clinton will be elected, not a minor party candidate. I vote Democratic because on the issues I care most about (environment, public lands and wilderness, social issues, and health care), I agree with that party’s policies, legislative positions, and federal court appointments. Green Party positions are usually identical or similar, but I don’t vote Green Party because they won’t win, and I don’t want to make it one vote easier for a Republican to win. Anyone who thinks that Democrats are the same as Republicans is simply wrong. The biggest problem in government and politics is the nearly unrestricted flow of campaign money from corporations and wealthy people, which distorts policies and legislation to benefit them at the expense of the rest of us. This was made possible by Supreme Court rulings in 2010 (Citizens United) and 2013 (McCutcheon), both decided with 5-4 votes. Reinstatement of campaign finance limits won’t be possible until at least one more liberal justice is appointed to the Supreme Court. That won’t happen unless a Democrat is president. Finally, back to Dennis Myers’s bias. He states that independent/ minor party candidate Ross Perot cost Bill Clinton’s opponents the elections in 1992 and 1996. That’s true only if a majority of Perot’s votes had gone to Clinton’s Republican opponents. In the next paragraph, he states Al Gore would have won the 2000 election if he had won his home state. Well, no shit, he could’ve won any other state and won the election. But in Florida, Gore lost by only 537 votes. If only 0.6 percent of Nader’s 97,000 votes had gone to Gore, Bush would never have been president. And we would’ve made progress on global warming, and we never would’ve had the Iraq war, the rise of ISIS, or Bush’s two massive tax cuts benefitting the wealthy. Mr. Myers’s logic is inconsistent, although in both cases (1992/1996 and 2000) it is biased against the Democratic candidate. Michael Powell Reno
corporations shouldn’t get special deals and expanded legal rights that throw existing standards and protections by the wayside. I’m against this policy because trade deals should improve the lives and living standards of working people both here and abroad. Labor Day should serve as another wake-up call to our elected officials: reject the TPP. Paul Lenart Reno
Habitat for gold Right now the BLM decision to allow Canadian multinational Kinross Gold to continue the 80-year expansion of the Bald Mountain Mine [a Barrick Gold Corporation site in White Pine County] should be taken off the table. The fact is Kinross is a defendant in the Animas River accident in Colorado. Not only did they pollute the river but thousands of people downstream. I know some of you think the EPA is responsible, but they didn’t leave the pollution there and run off with the gold. When are we going to learn suing the EPA is suing ourselves? U.S. citizens should be tired of picking up the bill when their careless corporate children make a big mess forcing mommy and daddy to pick up the bill and clean up after them. The fact is they can’t be trusted. If you want to save wildlife you must save habitat. The recent Overland Pass fire increases a continued downward spiral of Nevada’s largest migrating mule deer herd. The Mule Deer Foundation has been oddly quiet about this. Maybe they protect money more than deer? Louis Friend Reno
ERIK HollAND
TPPing point The Obama administration will once again try to push the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement through Congress soon, and attempt to sweep the numerous problems with this trade agreement under the rug. It’s important that our community understands the impact of the agreement. The TPP would benefit corporate CEOs and investors at the expense of working people and consumers like you and me. The biggest Jessica Santina, Todd South, Luka Starmer, Brendan Trainor, Bruce Van Dyke, Allison Young Our Mission: To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages employees to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live. Editor Brad Bynum News Editor Dennis Myers Special Projects Editor Jeri Chadwell-Singley Arts Editor Kris Vagner Calendar Editor Kelley Lang Contributors Amy Alkon, Bob Grimm, Anna Hart, Ashley Hennefer, Shelia Leslie, Eric Marks,
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Cover Design: Margaret Larkin
09.15.16
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