More taxes for Nevadans?

When it comes to deep thoughts on public policy, the Las Vegas Sun's Brian Greenspun is, with no room for dispute, the Paris Hilton of Nevada's brain trust.

Consider his whimpering at the end of the 2007 Nevada Legislature, which adjourned this month without passing any new taxes on residents. Like Paris when she was hauled back to jail, Brian stamped his feet, cried for his mommy and sobbed: "It isn't fair!"

A typical Greenspun column makes about as much sense as the ending of "The Sopranos." But in his rant of June 3, Brian's basic premise could not have been more clear: "Stupid, stupid Nevadans! Pay more taxes! Waaa! Waaa! Waaa!"

In fact, this is a recurring theme with the Sun. Greenspun is a mindless advocate for increasing just about any tax you can name. (Although he did oppose the creation of a levy on country club dues -- I kid you not). Jack up the gasoline tax? Just do it. Tear up the Nevada Constitution and create a state income tax? Beautiful. Tax the bejabbers out of homeowners and businesses? Yippie-ki-yay, my friend.

And, in the mind of Brian, why, oh why, won't the Legislature and the governor do these things? Because the big, bad ol' anti-tax Las Vegas Review-Journal maintains a Svengali hold on the minds of Nevada politicians and voters.

Where should a rebuttal to this lunacy begin?

Let's start with this: Nevada is a good place. This is so because the first instinct of a long line of Nevadans has been not how to tax the living hell out of people, but how to spread and lighten the tax load while still achieving the things that make our state better. We start with the basics (public safety, roads, education) and then move to other priorities only as growth and better management allow.

The idea that Nevadans are somehow escaping taxation is baloney. According to the Tax Foundation, Nevada ranks fifth in the percentage of individual income confiscated by local, state and federal taxes, trailing only the big-government paradises of Connecticut, New York, the District of Columbia and New Jersey.

If my esteemed colleague spent more time in Las Vegas and less time at his house in Malibu, Calif., he might remember this.

As for casting the Review-Journal as the chief advocate of efficient government and lower taxes, Brian unwittingly pays this newspaper a high compliment.

But the real point, which apparently will come to Brian like a news flash, is this: For some two years, the Sun has been distributed with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Every day for the past 630 days, he's enjoyed the opportunity to expound his world view to the readership of the largest newspaper in the state. In literally hundreds of editorials and columns, he's had an equal chance to sell his soap.

And guess what?

Nobody's buying.

That's not because the Review-Journal hypnotizes people. Readers know what they are doing. They benefit from reading two newspapers with two different views each morning. And when they see the patronizing "I am smart, you are stupid" editorials in the Sun, they reject them.

Now look. I'm sure that when Brian goes home and talks this over with his dog and his neighbors, they'll find the idea of low taxes foreign to the discussion of community betterment. Malibu is a unique place on the political map.

But, brothers and sisters, it ain't Nevada.

Nevertheless, in the winter of his discontent, far be it from me to deny Brian an opportunity to put his money where his mouth is. After all, he says the Review-Journal is "greedy" because it pays its tax bill in full and would prefer not to pay any extra. If that's "greedy," then let me give my soft-headed colleague a chance to be "generous."

Let's create a special tax for him. Call it the Alternative Idiot Tax.

Want an AIT state income tax? Knock yourself out. How does 6 percent on the first $2 million of income and 75 percent of everything beyond that sound? Step up to the plate, big boy. The state will love your money.

How about an AIT making gasoline $7 a gallon? And heck, while we're at it, tack an extra $100 on each gallon of fuel for the private jet. That'll make those Malibu commutes to Las Vegas just a bit more satisfying.

Be a leader. Pay the idiot tax.

Or stop your Paris Hilton whining.

A new book

Many moons ago local attorney Robert Massi told me he was thinking about writing a book about how people get legally abused by "the system." He had a title in mind.

"What do you think about this title for a book?" he asked.

Because I'm a newspaper publisher and therefore used to giving anyone who will listen the benefit of my uninformed opinion, I told him: "If you have the guts to use that title, you'll sell a lot of books."

Well, for better or worse, he did it.

If you get a chance this summer, pick up a copy of "People Get Screwed All The Time." It's by a local-boy-made-good. And I think you'll enjoy it.

Sherman Frederick is publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal and president of Stephens Media. Readers may write him at sfrederick@ reviewjournal.com.