by Dennis Myers
This ModeRn WoRLd
by tom tomorrow
What’s at the top of your list? Asked along the Truckee River Michael Dee Railroad worker
Be prosperous and just move on with life, and be happy with what I’m doing, and get out of Reno.
Cynthia Pickett Therapist
Freedom, because with freedom you can do anything. I do pretty much anything I want.
Mary King Retiree
Hurts doughnut
For today, it’s feeding the ducks at the river because it’s such a nice day out.
during this session of the Nevada Legislature. Few It’s fashionable to say our government is broken. While people who are spending time at the Legislature come it’s true that it’s not working very efficiently these home talking about anything except the pervasive days, broken is an exaggeration. At various times in our rancor. In fact, the very fact that formerly moderate country’s history, partisanship has disabled the smooth statesmen are painting themselves into party corners workings of our system. Think of it like an out-ofthat will hurt their re-election chances down the road is balance washing machine—when the load is a little out reason for celebration on the opposing side. of whack, the spin cycle functions, if somewhat noisily. This session of the Legislature will likely be judged It’s only when the blanket gets all on one side of the a failure by history, which raises hopes that politicians tub that forces operating without balance will throw the will sooner rather than later come to the conclusion that machine around and cause us to get off our dead asses their self-interests are best served by cooperating and and adjust the weight. negotiating with the opposing side to It’s the discomfort caused by the This session of come up with laws and debates and inefficiency that makes us change taxes that will move the citizens of things. That’s the way our system is the Legislature this state ahead in a smooth forward supposed to work. Sure, it would be motion instead of lurching from left great if politicians made the people will likely be to right like a lobbyist driving home the priority over the parties, but in judged a failure from Adele’s. most cases, they’re in there to serve It’s really sort of funny or ironic their own interests. Often, their inter- by history. or something. People agree on the ests are aligned with those that give vast majority of issues we discuss on them money or gifts. a regular basis. Everybody agrees that people should You can see it from Washington, D.C., all the way be safe. Everybody agrees children should be educated. to Carson City. A great example would be the letter 47 Everybody agrees that the air we breathe shouldn’t Republican senators sent to Iran with the intention of cause cancer. undermining the United States’ attempt to curb Iran’s Not everything has to be a line in the sand. Not every ostensible nuclear ambitions. Isn’t there a law in the detail is a battle that can’t be lost. Sometimes minor United States that’s supposed to address the situation differences can be surrendered to the opposition as a when individuals take actions to undermine our national strategy to get a more important concession. These are interests? Seems like there should be one. We do have simple truths that we teach our children when they begin soldiers in that region, after all. to play with others. Ω But even closer to home, intense partisanship has been undermining our shared community interests OPINION
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NEWS
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GREEN
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FEATURE STORY
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ARTS&CULTURE
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ART OF THE STATE
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FOODFINDS
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FILM
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MUSICBEAT
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NIGHTCLUBS/CASINOS
Kenyatta Jermon Jewelry salesperson
Happiness, because I think it would make a better living for people if they were just a little bit happier every day.
Jim Pace Lawyer
Getting more exercise. I need to treat myself better.
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THIS WEEK
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MISCELLANY
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MARCH 12, 2015
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RN&R
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