NSHE Is Certainly Not A Benevolent Institution

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Lots of confusion out there.

Pro sports leagues are private, for-profit businesses. Profits accrue to the Owners. Players work for the highest bidder. Nothing wrong with that.

True charities are non-profit benevolent organizations. Money leftover after (very low) expenses ("net income") gets distributed to the nominal beneficiaries. I am aware of exactly ONE charity like that.

Most charities are non-profit businesses. There is relatively *little* (~5%) net income because expenses are very high. The money goes to pay for executive salaries, wine-&-cheese parties, and condos in Ft Lauderdale. Even then, distributions are not very discriminating. NSHE comes to mind. Where's its executive retreat?

I hope to influence people, especially those inclined toward small government who've never really thought about NSHE before. It's working.

Hey Klaich, Smatresk, Kruger, Hauck, Livengood, Sandgren et al. We're on to you!

Academic Welfare

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

The University of Nevada is like a charity. Here's a hint. The beneficiaries are not meant to be its employees.

So what if UNV faculty salaries are not competitive with the private sector. Teaching is a low paying job.

So what is UNV faculty salaries are not competitive with other universities. Why should we copy their mistakes?

So what if UNV Administrative salaries are not competitive with those of their academe peer group or Fortune 500 Executives. The public sector is NOT supposed to be a place to get rich.

UNV is like all those other BIG charities. MDA, Dimes, United Way, etc. ~95% of the money goes to pay for overhead. What is UNV in business for?

The Regents should choose as President (for $1/yr) the guy who can best sell the following:

You know our work rules. We don't pay a lot or offer tenure. We don't do big research or sports. Our main mission is to teach the next generation of applied scientists. Teaching is a sacred task you took upon yourself when you accepted your doctorate. Feel free to pursue your research interests in your spare time. Please join us.

Labor of love. I don't personally know any PhDs who would accept such an offer, but I'm sure there are many who would.

UNLV Professors Get Paid >> the Governor

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

The ex-Dean's salary is outrageously high. Why does he make more than the Governor? If Sandgren is such a talented engineer he should be working in the *private* sector.

This whole notion about paying "competitive" salaries to attract top-notch NSHE faculty/admin is such a load of bull. Maybe CalTech needs (and can afford) to do that, but a *public* university should be structured more like a benevolent society. From each according to his ability, as it were.

No more Fortune-500 payscale for Profs/Deans. All we can do is pay them token honoraria (a little extra if they agree to coach football) and award them distinguished titles ("Coach", if they so desire). Professor/Dean symbolizes a fellow's commitment to *teaching/management* and his renunciation of personal financial gain.

No more leveraging the titles we bestow into lucrative private sector consulting contracts. If you covet the prestige of being addressed as "NV Professor", then sorry. Strict limits on outside income. Of course a power systems professor should be able to consult for NV Energy. All fees revert to the University of Nevada.

If a PhD, talented teacher is unwilling to abide by those rules, hire him as an instructor (part time) -- if we can afford it. If need be, recruit emeritus professors from Princeton.

DRI: Political Science

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

• What enables DRI to receive government grants? Politics.
• How are DRI experiments prioritized? Politics.
• Why does a so-called scientific research institution need an Office of Diversity? Politics.
• Who gets appointed to Administration sinecures? Politics.
• What firms receive DRI Purchasing approval as vendors? Politics.
• How was DRI's mission decided? Politics.
• How was DRI's site chosen? Politics

Nobody here but us dedicated scientists.

Political Insiders Picks Candidates

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

The RNC .. picked .. The Sarah

Someday the BIG government cabal will just assign us prefects from out of state. Our only job as voters will be to confirm candidates who don't even *live* here. The DEMs will assign us Northeastern professors and UN bureaucrats. The GOPs members of the military-industrial complex and NY bankers.

Abolish DRI

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

DRI is a tax CONSUMER. It's just another government contractor. Like Sandia, LBL and Oak Ridge. It could NEVER survive as a *commercial* research firm. It's the post office with no water.

We don't want a Nevada government owned and operated research lab whose business model is winning politically controlled federal government grants. That's not diversification of our economy. It's diversification of *government*.

Research is an uncertain activity best left to the *private* sector. DRI's full-time researchers don't teach. They train career-track research graduate students and post-docs. They pay themselves huge salaries. For instance, President Wells makes ~$305K/yr. That's right.

Academic welfare.

DRI also has the usual political structure, including a "Diversity Office". We pay for their clubby desert playground. They have all the fun and get rich in the process. Outrageous!

ABOLISH DRI.

Hey CCSD Parents: Opt OUT Of Federal Testing

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

The NAEP tests are strictly voluntary. Schools which accept federal funds must administer them but the students who attend those schools DON'T have to take them.

Hey public school parents. Tell the US Dept of Education that you don't want any part of their schemes. PROHIBIT your child from taking federal assessment tests. Beware! Your child will likely be singled out and sent to the principal. Admnistrators will browbeat him, even threatening him with EXPULSION unless he submits.

Know your rights! If they threaten your kid, SUE.

I had an experience like this in high school. The US Army came to the school to administer aptitude tests to the seniors. Huh? The junior officer started explaining the intructions. Then he said "Sign at the bottom, otherwise we won't be any point to taking the test .." We all looked at each other and dropped our #2 pencils. A mutiny!

Yup, the principal had us over to his office for individual interrogation sessions. None of us backed down. A few days later he sort of told us "Oh, forget the whole thing." and that was that. He must have heard from somebody's lawyer.

Regent Abuse

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

We don't want to hear any more ivy tower debates. No more pompous statements about higher education representing the future of this state. No more opportunistic, plaintive admissions of taxpayer abuse long after revelations first came to light.

Division 1 sports is the ultimate vertical cut. No more mealy mouth Wixom talk advocating vertical cuts after he and the other hack Regents approved contracts for a new UNLV head football coach ($450K) and athletic director ($280K).

Public Education: Everywhere A DISASTER

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Florida's fourth graders -- whose test scores essentially matched ours in 1998 -- are now a full grade level ahead of ours

Statistics.

Last week RJ published a story about 4th grade scores on federal government standardized reading tests.

Yes, NV and FL were at opposite poles, but overall not too far apart.

Yes, FL's score (226) was higher than most, but ND matched it. VA was even *higher* (227), and a few states came close (OH, NY, PA, MO, etc). How many of *those* states follow FL's model?

I oppose federal involvement in K-12, however if the 2009, 4th grade test results show anything, it's that public education is *everywhere* a CATASTROPHE.

NPRI has a pro-alternative government school agenda. If NPRI had a dental health agenda they would have attributed FL's statistical rise in test scores to water fluoridation.

CCSD & NSHE. Two Sides of the Same Pork.

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Klaich doesn't care how poorly CCSD does its job so long as it keeps awarding HS diplomas. Graduates are potential NHSE warm bodies. Klaich needs them to justify his $330K/yr salary. In fact, the less prepared the better. Kids who require *remedial* instruction represent a potentially longer subscription.

Nevada taxpayes want to know. How many times do we have to pay to teach kids the 3R's?

National Education Testing

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Although I believe it's a good idea to track how kids are doing, I oppose federal testing/standards. Washington has NO constitutional role in K-12. Besides, their own district consistently scores *poorly*. Why are they so concerned about *Nevada* schoolkids?

I've analyzed the 4th grade test and the results (nationsreportcard.gov). As expected, public education is *everywhere* a disaster.

Going back ~20 years US results are basically *flat* -- and skewed heavily to the low achieving side. The raw score for "advanced" (top 10%) is also flat (~264). You'd think it would be closer to 400 (out of a possible 500). Can anyone argue that per-pupil spending has gone *down* over that period?

Yes, Nevada does a little worse than the national average. But the issue is NOT that FL beats us. It's that EVERY state has a crappy public eduction system. We can talk about beating the US average til we're blue, but that's still a race to mediocrity -- MUCH lower than that on a global scale.

How many more *trillions* of dollars is this country going to spend on public education before we get the message that the system is a CATASTROPHE and CANNOT be reformed.

Nevada Reading Test Scores Only Slightly Below Average

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

the average reading score is 211 .. national average is 220.

What's the scale? Seems like NV kids are not that fsr below national average. Public education is *everywhere* a CATASTROPHE.

I believe that DC -- the perennial last place finisher in these competitions -- has the HIGHEST per-student public education spending in the USA.

NSHE Officials for BIG Government

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Wonder why so many of these derelicts support NSHE? Chancellor Klaich makes $330K. President Maryanski $250K. Provost Bowers $189K. VP Divine $190K (best guess).

ALL these guys vote for Democrats.

The public sector is NOT supposed to be a place to get rich.

The Coalition For BIG Governnment

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

The Republicans represent the right (anti-abortion) wing of the Democrat Party -- which is skewed pretty far to the left to begin with. That is why when the Democrats propose a huge expansion of the federal healthcare program the Republicans can't find the right words with which to oppose them. All we hear from them is slogans like "No federal funding for abortions!" and "No cuts to Medicare!" The Republicans cannot come up with a principled argument in favor of smaller government because they are BIG government all-the-way.

The only thing Republicans stand for (statistically) is NOT-Democrat. Democrat healthcare reform bad. Republican prescription drug benefit good. Democrat war in Afganistan bad. Republican war in Iraq good. Democrat economic stimulus bad. Republican good. COLOSSAL government Democrat incumbent bad. HUGE government Republican challenger good.

Medicare is the *definition* of BIG government. Which party is defending it? I get confused sometimes.

This GOP opposition demagoging is such a crock. After this election season ends and people forget about (or are resigned to) national healthcare the Republicans will be that entitlement's BIGGEST defenders. That's right.

They way they defend the US Dept of Education, Medicare, FICA, and all the other Washington BIG government programs.

Still don't believe me? Ask your favorite Conservative candidate which Washington programs s/he wants to cut. There's ~$4T of existing, on-budget pork to choose from. It shouldn't be that hard for him/her to find a few trillion. See if s/he'll even give you a straight answer.

Busybody Judge Hears PLAN's Petition

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

PLAN is hard left. Throwbacks to the Soviet Krushchev era. Even their name reveals their propensity toward central planning.

PLAN is an anti-Capitalist, extreme environmentalist group. Of course they want to ruin natural resource firms wherever they be. But PLAN would just as soon ruin big box stores, banks, casinos, auto manufacturers; anything which smacks of capitalism.

PLAN is supported by AFSCME, SEIU, NSEA, NOW, PP. The usual suspects. They're even supported by the NV Shakespeare Company -- a NEA recipient! Your tax dollars at work. Individual donors include

• Chris Giunchigliani ($250)
• Jan Jones ($1,000)
• Sheila Leslie ($250; "Sustained Giver & PLAN Hero")
• Renee Ruiz ($100; "Sustained Giver")
• Frankie Sue Del Papa ($100)
• David R. Parks ($100)

(Source: PLAN newsletter)

Hey Fulkerson. Why don't you share with us the names of some of your other high profile donors?

As much as I oppose this future ballot initiative the lawyers involved here are even *more* contemptible.
The crooked state judges have NO constitutional authority to review -- meaning reject -- ballot initiatives which seek to Amend the NSC. Certainly not *before* the people have had a chance to vote YES/NO. Not *ever*. Their only role is to referee that that votes were properly counted. Government by the lawyers for the lawyers.

The initiative process was created to bypass roadblocks the special interests always set up to thwart unfriendly bills emanating from the normal legislative process. Here we have lawyers fighting over what sort of language the voters will be allowed to consider. What are we? Too stupid to figure out what it means by ourselves?!

Ross Miller is supposed to be the only public official who has any say about who/what gets on the ballot. Suing him over obvious errors in process in one thing. But a bunch of lawyers should not be able to frivolously and arbitrarily challenge (and even reverse) his decisions. This is legal tyranny.

Note: I do not own shares in (or receive any money from) natural resource firms. I oppose BIG government and the high taxes necessary to pay for it.

The Tax Code: GOP's Favorite Tool

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Gibbons will propose tax breaks for businesses that move to Nevada.

The GOP's favorite device for controlling the economy. The tax code. End corporate welfare. Don't cut newcomer taxes by 50%. Eliminate ALL business taxes.

Who wants to invest money in a business when the crooked politicians see it as a money tree they can shake when they need extra cash. We've all heard the relentless screams -- especially from DEMs -- to raise taxes on banks, mining, casinos, big box stores etc, because they're "not paying their fair share". I'm surprised Buckley hasn't called for "Statizing" them!

The uncertainty argument is valid, although Fibbons should not be the one making it. His two biennium budgets (FY '07-'11) were both partially (and increasingly) dependent on BUSINESS taxes. Didn't Fibbons just sign special session legislation raising corporate fees? So what the heck is this clown talking about?

Public Schools For The Rich

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

The dozen or so homeschoolers that I know are *not* rich people. In fact many of them are *struggling*. Some private school parents I'm acquainted with receive financial aid. I also know a bunch of middle class parents who could afford private school -- if they were willing to sacrifice for it -- but use their local "good" public school.

My observation is that relatively few kids are so unfortuate that a "public option" is their only hope. My experience is that most young kids are eager to learn but school ruins them. Therefore probably no more than 6,0000 CCSD kids are both desperate *and* motivated. Very manageable.

Those who support public (free) education for all are defending a de facto system of economic (if not racial) segregation. Those who can afford to live in good neighborhoods (generally White) receive a tax subsidy to enable their kids to attend public schools more-or-less on par with private schools. Safe, advanced placement courses, etc. 'CCSD Ed Dump' (1719) is basically correct. Kids in bad neighborhoods (not so White) are condemned to absolutely horrible public schools.

Those who say that if it wasn't for the government they would have been shutout of education should consider the lament of parents who were unable to afford private or homeschool because of their tax bills.

Who's Worth More: A High School Kid or a 1st Grader?

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

CCSD should come with warning labels.

The chance of CCSD expelling a high school student for a gun violation is many times greater than for a first grader busted with the same caliber weapon. A high school student is "worth" far less than a 1st grader.

A high school student can only bring CCSD a few years of government revenue. He'll likely dropout before the duration anyway. A 1st grader represents potentially *many* years of state funding -- more if CCSD can successfully label him special ed.

The high schooler has already been ruined. His standardized test scores are a source of embarassment. CCSD can exploit the first grader as a sympathy case. He's what CCSD is all about.

There may be a market for PRIVATE gun schools. Curriculum could include The Chemistry of Gunpower, Aerodynamics of a Supersonic Bullet, Thermodynamics of a Gun Barrel, Lens optics, Infrared Imaging, etc. Electives in Hunting, Marksmanship, Trick Shooting, etc.

AND ANYONE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CARRY ON CAMPUS.

Consultants to the CCSD Contractors

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Henry King, a consultant who oversees criterion reference tests for the state.

Charter schools are PUBLIC schools. They are government funded. So are "magnet" schools, "empowerment" schools, and all the other structural gimmicks.

Teaching the 3R's to poor kids -- pubic education's original, constitutional role -- is an intrinsically simple and inexpensive task. How many consultants do you need to accomplish it?

BTW. We homeschool. No endless testing. No teaching to the test. No consultants. NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING. Our kids are doing just fine, thanks.

CCSD's Suggestion Box

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Don't take that ridiculous survey. It just gives Rulffes an excuse to hire more IT people to build the web application, statisticians to analyze the data, and SGML document processors to produce the final report.

Then it goes in Rulffes' trash can. Along with your child's education.

UNLV Football Players Run to Practice

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Hauck is more interested in having them run onto the field ..

None of the football players run to class. They run *out*. That is, if they bother to show up.

Brooks and Taumua are both majoring in Criminal Justice. Clausen majoring in Interdiscplinary (AKA "Jockology"). Not serious.

UNLV Journalism

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Why are taxpayers on-the-hook for this? This is the sort of diversion offerred to 9 year olds at summer camps and tech museums. These kids could accomplish the same thing at home using cheap computers and video technology. Instead we have to pay to maintain the studio, the "Professor" and the entire ridiculous "Journalism" program.

Saleable skills. Really. Journalists are being laid-off left and right.

NSHE: The Future of Nevada. NOT!

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

A main criteria for figuring out which programs to cut is how much they cost.

That's very advantageous for the potentates who run UNLV. The state subsidy is the same for each undergraduate. Smatresk has an incentive to enroll as many warm bodies as he can (until marginal cost exceeds marginal benefit) and to direct them into the most vapid programs he can. Huge lectures on video. Sections taught by part-timer ESL instructors or graduate students; online courses, etc.

Smatresk can't be bothered with a task to train the next generation of applied scientists. That's just too costly. Meanwhile, 90%+ of students (who stick around to graduate) earn worthless diplomas. Staffers at all levels earn money they could not make in the private sector -- especially those wacky liberal arts professors. Administrators make $200K+ for lording over the empire and shmoozing with bigshots (or whatever it is they do).

Now what's all this talk about higher education being key to the future of this state?

Smatresk Threatens Informatics (Politicians AlwaysThreaten Parks)

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

President Smatresk ($300K) most certainly will NOT cut Division 1 sports. Sports is UNLV's #1 priority. Basketball coach makes $1M/yr. Football Coach makes $450K. Athletic director makes $280K. FF's eat your hearts out!

Smatresk knows that if he eliminates BIG sports popular support for his institution would wane. Legislators might then decide that UNLV is not worth funding at all. Smatresk is a politician. He'll do whatever it takes to build and maintain a constituency large enough to protect his own sinecure.

Communications is a complete joke. The program exists only to provide academic cover to jocks who are not dumb enough to qualify for that remedial University Studies undegree program. Any degree program unusually popular among jocks should be summarily abolished.

Won't happen. In fact, Smatresk will EXPAND jock programs.

What are jocks supposed to major in? Nuclear Physics? Smatresk needs to give jocks every possible opportunity to coast through their four years of NCAA eligibility. It looks really bad when jocks are concentrated in one or two degree programs which nobody can describe. He needs to give them *plenty* of choices. Basketweaving. X Studies. Sociology. Kinesiology. Management. X Education. Sports Counseling. Blah blah blah. Anything you can think of which sounds cerebral and sophisticated but in reality has no standards and wouldn't challenge a third grader.

The numerous nonjocks in these programs are just wasting their parents' (and taxpayers) money. The Athletic Department appreciates it, though. It allows Smatresk to defend them as low cost.

Rheault Reads The Fine Print

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

State Superintendant for Public Instruction Keith Rheault said the "wording is fine."

Federal money, eh? More coordinators. More directors. More consultants. More grant writers. More staff meetings. More presentations. More testing. More legal opinions.

More political parsing.

CCSD Gimmick #46: Race To The Top

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

What Race to the Top is really encouraging is looking at new, innovative ways to increase student achievement

More gimmicks. More unconstitutional federal funding (always with strings) and control. More central planing. More Washington impositions. More Dept of Ed bureaucrat dispositions. More lawyers to ensure compliance. More billable hours for lobbyists to seek dispensation.

MORE CAMPAIGN CASH FOR POLITICIANS.

Public education is a *political* institution.

Public Education: Great News for Paper Factories

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

lawmakers issued a resolution that requires [K-16 bureaucracies] to formalize recommendations on improving fiscal efficiency and accountability

Is that resolution binding? More jobs for lawyers to ensure compliance. More jobs for administrators to draft 400 page reports which nobody is going to read. And then you people complain about all the money spent outside the classroom!

Until we can completely abolish CCSD, break it up into 15,000+ smaller districts.

The *Real* Nuclear Waste

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Sawyer, Bryan, List, et al. Former high level public officials. Billing $400/hr plus expenses.

Scum of the Earth.

I know a few nuclear guys. All have impressive academic credentials and many years of industry technical experience. They've all been unable to find work in the field since Three Mile Island. Isn't it amazing how many shnooks -- who nothing about physics (or economics for that matter) -- make nice livings off the nuclear industry?

Want BIG Government? Pay BIG User Fees

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Under our constitution, the crooked politicians must first decide how much government they want in the biennium, and then find a way to fund it. Balanced budget.

The Legislature spends ~115 days piling on the government. More K-16. More REAL ID. More employment training for Horsefurd's clients to burn. More regulations for Raggio's clients to fight. More citizen dossiers (databases). More Prozac. More initiatives. And on and on and on. No one should be surprised that spending grows 8% from the previous biennium.

They spend the last 5 days arguing over how to pay for it. Existing tax sources at their practical economic limits, the crooked politicians go hunting for *new* ones. And why not? You have to pay for it somehow.

I oppose BIG government and the high taxes necessary to pay for it. Still, if we're going to be stuck with BIG government The Legislature should impose USER FEES. Charge parents $15,000/yr for each kid they send to public daycare (K-12). Charge UNLV liberal arts undergraduates $800/credit.

Make the folks who consume government services pay for their true cost.

The NSHE Scam

Originally posted in a LVRJ forum

The original University of Nevada (now UNR) was chartered as a small A&M (+Mining) land grant college. It was endowed with sufficient capital (in Trust) to make it forever independent of additional tax support. That means *all* UNR students -- with declared majors in Mining, Agriculture or Engineering (Military Sciece, too) -- should be paying ZERO (or just nominal) tuition. I think they currently pay the same as liberal arts majors (who shouldn't even be there). This outrage is going to get worse. Soon they'll be paying the most.

Hey UNR applied science majors. Sue the Regents for stealing your constitutional, free science education birthright!

NSHE is a *political* institution! What is this

• Redistributionist scheme that middle class kids have to pay more to subsidize poor ones?
• Egalitarian obsession that no one should be priced out of a college education -- even dumb kids?
• Elitist conceit that those who choose not to go to college should be forced to pay for those who do -- even those who are there just to goof off?
• Distorted communal value system that places liberal arts programs on equal footing with science ones?

UNLV or UNFLV?

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Big time college sports serves as an advertising vehicle for their schools. That's a reality. OK then. Let's pay D1-A football players on a scale with NFL players whose accomplishments help sell razor blades and beer. Or, maybe UNLV should just buy time on the Stupor Bowl. That might be cheaper and more effective. For that matter, why does a *public* university need to advertise for business? A State might as well just place an add in Street Sheet touting its welfare and Section 8 benefits.

A public university's faculty and ACADEMIC programs should be advertising enough.

UNLV Sports Fanatics

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

I know that Harvard plays against Yale [in football] but not Notre Dame. I know that the Ivy's compete at the top level in basketball (and crew).

Sorry if I don't know my D1's from my D2's from my D1-AA's. I guess that makes me a moron.

At my house ESPN is on "skip". At [sports fanatics'] houses it's on all the time.

UNLV Football Makes A Profit. NOT!

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

As I've posted in RJ fora numerous times, Division 1 certainly does NOT turn a profit. In fact, Division 1 sports is a tax CONSUMER. In the current biennium the state appropriation for UNR Intercollegiate Athletics is $5.8M/yr. The corresponding appropriation for UNLV is $7.9M/yr. See AB-562 Section 17 (2009).

You're just perpetuating a big LIE spun by sports marketers.

Besides, where UNLV sports is concerned you can't really talk about black/red in a way that makes business sense. It's always fuzzy accounting. What does it mean to show a "profit" when your star "employees" are prohibited -- at least officially -- from being paid? These studies never take into account the destruction caused by Division 1. The non-existent admission standards, the junk departments maintained, the future legal class action liability for permanent brain injuries sustained during collisions, etc.

More Money for UNLV Sports Facilities

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

If some basketball fanatics want to use their own money to build UNLV a practice facility [which will include an "academic area". LMAO!], I don't really object. That's the way public education is SUPPOSED to be funded. I won't quibble here about about the annual ~$500K maintenance cost -- especially if the donors have committed to pay for that, too.

But under NO circumstances should a bunch of wealthy sports boosters be able to HIJACK the mission of a *public* university. No compromised admission standards for players. No jockology majors to give them academic cover. No text messaging with the coach during mid-terms. None of this 6 years of non-progress towards completing a degree.

I don't mind professors making *accomodations* for athletes. For example, scheduling make-up exams and arranging special lab times, but otherwise players have to be treated just like ordinary students. None of this going over the head of the English professor, like what happened at SUNY.

And I don't want to hear any more of this "successful Division 1 sports programs boosts recruiting of scholars, raises the profile of the University, blah blah blah ..." When did sports become an ADVERTISING program?

NSHE is a POLITICAL Institution

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

• Progressives see a beacon for new employers.
• Sports fanatics see future NCAA Championships.
• Chauvinists see a source of state pride.
• Egalitarians see a way to help poor people -- even dumb ones -- go to college.
• Diversity zealots see a way to help "minorities" -- even dumb ones -- go to college.
• Leftists see a way to indoctrinate future voters about the threat of man-made environmental destruction.
• and on and on.

The crooked politicians don't share any of those delusions. They just see an opportunity to buy votes.

NSHE has *always* been about politics. The flagship university (now UNR) was situated to enhance the value of the land the Central (Republican)-Pacific RR schemed off the government. In fact the campus is just north of the depot! The "sales pitch" for the land grant colleges was to train brainy drones for the new demands of the Industrial Revolution (not completely false), but Washington politicians saw the program as a way to reward cronies (like modern-day redevelopment authorities) and buy support for Republican policies -- especially its aggressive military posture against the Southern states.

NSHE does not deserve your support.

Glick Wants to Close Ag. He Better Read the State Constitution

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

The University of Nevada, Reno plans to close its College of Agriculture ... to deal with new budget cuts.

Glick cannot legally shutdown the College of Agriculture. It's constitutionally REQUIRED. In fact, money was set aside in Trust to fund that department -- along with Mining and Engineering (Military Science OK) IN PERPETUITY.

Hey UNR College of Agriculture employees. Sue NSHE to find out whatever happened to all that Trust money (Article 11 §3). Even if the crooked politicians "swept" it they still have to pay it back.

Smatresk Will Protect UNLV Jock Majors

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Smatresk is blustering. He is a politician. He will most certainly NOT cut "Recreation & Sports Management". That is a jock major. Smatresk will do everything in his power to maintain and even EXPAND jock programs. Without sports popular support for UNLV would sharply decline. Legislators might then conclude that UNLV was expendible.

Jocks need to be able to coast through school. Smatresk's job is to ensure that jocks have academic cover, at least until their four years of NCAA eligibility have elapsed. He can't afford to reduce the number of jockology majors. What else are they going to major in? Nuclear Physics? It would look really bad if 97% of the student-athletes were majoring in a single degree program.

Guns In Schools

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

The 2nd Amendment is a restriction on the *federal* government. CCSD is *not* a federal school. Please don't lecture us about CCSD's federal funding ..

Now, the right to carry a gun in your house, walking down the street, etc is guarenteed by Article 1 §11. Does that right extend to a public school?

Maybe. It's debatable.

Here we go again. Some constituency gets offended. Some lawyer who wants to get his name in the paper sues, the Administration goes into crisis management mode, CCSD lawyers get engaged, and all hell breaks loose. Next stop District Court and the 9th Circuit.

One BIG distraction.

All this nonsense could be avoided if we just abolished public schools. The private schools which would open to fill the void would set their own gun policies. There might even be a market for GUN SCHOOLS.

So Many Things Wrong With Higher Education In Nevada

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

UNLV is one big POLITICAL institution. It's all about pumping money into a district other than Raggio's, jobs for friends, PC "goals" like diversity and "critical theory" (communism), and sports. It should be shuttered.

Division 1 sports is a tax CONSUMER. In the current biennium the state appropriation for UNR Intercollegiate Athletics (Division 1) is $5.8M/yr. The corresponding appropriation for UNLV is $7.9M/yr. See AB-562 Section 17 (2009).

Incidentally, whatever money is generated from D1 -- through ticket sales, broadcast rights, merchandising, snacks, etc should revert to the General Fund for the crooked politicians to redistribute as *they* see fit. Whoever authorized UNLV to operate semi-pro sports teams in lieu of direct taxpayer support and/or user fees (tuition)?

DRI is a tax CONSUMER. It's just another government contractor. Like Sandia, LBL and Oak Ridge. It could NEVER survive as a *commercial* research firm. It's the post office with no water.

NSHE should be reduced to its constitutional minimum: one campus (UNR) offering practical instruction in just three departments. Mining, Agriculture and Engineering. Funding provided by donations, traffic tickets and the Trust established ~140 years ago. All students on scholarship or else paying just nominal tuition.

Liberal arts majors can transfer to the Claremont Colleges.

DRI: Academic Welfare

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Nobody wants to pay higher taxes to create a sandbox for eggheads.

That never stops the crooked politicians. Ever hear of DRI?

A Nevada government owned and operated research lab whose business model is winning politically controlled federal government grants is the OPPOSITE of entrepreneurial.

Research is an uncertain activity best left to the *private* sector. DRI's full-time researchers don't teach. They train career-track research graduate students and post-docs. They pay themselves huge salaries. For instance, President Wells makes ~$320K/yr. That's right.

Academic welfare.

DRI also has the usual political structure, including a "Diversity Office". We pay for their clubby desert playground. They have all the fun and get rich in the process. Outrageous!

UNLV President Neil Smatresk

Originally posted in a LVRJ forum

Smatresk makes $300K and lords over a nice-sized empire. He'll do whatever it takes to maintain his power and bureaucracy.

Just like a politician.

Smatresk's solution is to raise taxes (tuition) rather than eliminate waste.

Just like a politician.

Smatresk supports all the "goals" of UNLV. Unionism, cronyism, diversity, awareness, egalitarianism, redistributionism, affirmative actionism, pride, expansionism, and so forth.

Just like a politician.

Smatresk is just another lying politician, appointed by those political hack Regents for political purposes.

A Mission for the University of Nevada

Originally posted in a LVRJ forum

If a public university is to have any mission at all, it should only be to train the next generation of applied scientists, not future sports Hall-of-Famers. So which group does Smatresk propose to hit with higher fees? Which group does Smatresk think deserves free rides?

The applied science professors bring in the federal grant money. UNLV takes its "cut"; ~50%. Research is a profit center. That's right. But the primary mission of a professor is supposed to be teaching, not sales. Nobody wants to pay higher taxes create a sandbox for eggheads. Unless you expect X-Ray Crystallographers to teach The Short Stories of Vladimir Nabakov, that means UNLV must offer science courses and LABS. No way around that.

In contrast, the Liberal Arts programs are pure burden. Their professors bring in NO grant money. Students in *those* majors should pay full fee. $800/credit sounds about right.

For that matter, eliminate Division 1 sports. Field teams from the strapping ranks of the science students. Their professors can coach. $100/game. Graduate students assistant. Put the "student" back in student-athlete.

What to Do About NSHE

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

1. Slash Klaich's $335K salary. The public sector is NOT supposed to be a place to get rich. There is NO justification to pay Klaich >twice what we pay Gibbons.
2. Eliminate Division 1 sports. Teams can be fielded from the more strapping ranks of the applied science majors. Coaches recruited from the Chemistry faculty. No more athletic scholarships. Put the student back in "student"-athlete. No more NFL/NBA/MLB pay scale coaches.
3. Reduce NSHE to its constitutional minimum: three UNR departments -- Mining, Engineering, and Agriculture (MEA).
4. As the Constitution intended, award free rides (or charge only nominal tuition) to MEA majors. UNR was set up with a perpetual trust to fund MEA, with even a cushion built in to fund Military Science if ever added. Our financial obligation to NSHE should be ~$0.
5. Abolish non-MEA programs entirely, or else charge such students user fees (tuition) high enough to cover their true costs. $800/credit sounds right.

CCSD 6th Grader Packs Heat

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

An Ed Von Tobel Middle School student was arrested Tuesday for having a gun at school, Clark County School District police said.

CCSD should come with warning labels. Where did she hide the ammo?

Little Bonnie Parker is a very valuable commodity. She represents as much as six more years of state funding cash flows. Extra bucks if she qualifies for special ed; too valuable to expel. She'll just be quietly moved to another school in the area. But not to a rich, predominantly WHITE school.

Rich kids get superior facilities, the best teachers and AP courses. Poor kids get football, metal detectors, and "culturally sensitive" instruction.

Horsefürd Shows His Hoof

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Horsefürd said I plan on focusing my time on [higher taxes (and spending)] during the next legislative session.

"We're going to raise your taxes and there's nothing you can do about it!" The contempt these arrogant, crooked politicians have for the private sector. Unbelievable.

I don't know about Tucson, AZ, but if we had small government in *Nevada* the biennial budget could be as low as $160M. That's right.

Eliminate ALL government programs except those which are constitutionally requried and fund those at bare minimum.

1. The three branches. Small government regular sessions would last 4-5 days. Legislators earn $200. No PERS or per diem. Layoff 90%+ of full time employees. Total cost $10M.
2. Prisons and juvenile hall. Opaque budgets. Pardon inmates serving time for victimless crimes. Save a bundle.
3. A militia. One ex-USArmy Commanding General. $50K. The rest reserves. Besides,the federal government has to defend us if the Governor requests assistance.
4. Assorted bureaucracies (AG, Treasury, Superintendent, etc). Less than $5M.
5. Mental/Rehab hospitals for bona fide RESIDENTS who are severely disabled (benevolent institutions). Currently ~25% of the budget. Opaque budgets. No more out-patient services. Minimum level of care. Want more? Go to *private* hospitals.
6. Three UNR applied science departments. Education trusts pay for it *all*. Shortfalls covered by user fees (tuition). Total cost ZERO.
7. One public school per district (18 statewide). A little red schoolhouse only for teaching the 3Rs to poor kids (as originally intended). Done by 8th grade. Trusts pay for it. Total cost ZERO. No more public daycare for rich kids.

That's it.

So you see, $160M is a conservative estimate. Keep in mind that the biennial budget represents only ~1/3 of state spending. We pay extra for roads, etc.

Legal Immigration

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Stop complaining about the illegals. They are far outnumbered by the LEGALS, who are killing us with their usage of "free" public education, "free" medicare, "free" UMC ER visits, and so forth.

Hey xenophobes. It's *your* favorite BIG government programs which are attracting illegals to this state. End the welfare state. No more welfare magnets.

Illegals working here in the private sector are more than welcome to stay. Any *legal* resident who advocates BIG govermment should be deported back to the country their great/grandfather came from.

Adios, gringos!

Trust "Sweeping"

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Trust "sweeping" (as it's euphemistically called) is such a perfect scam for the crooked politicians. Benefits are promised sometime in the distant (unseeable) future. Higher taxes *today*. The money sits there until they steal it to pay for some scheme completely unrelated to the one they sold us on.

In the case of education trust funds, that pilfered money has to be repaid. Sometime. In accounting terms that's a long-term liability, ie a LOAN.

So much for a balanced budget.

Lawmakers Reach Deal To Protect BIG Government

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

Horsefürd said There are certain parts of this plan each one of us don't like.

Yes, the parts which allow taxpayers to escape with their lives.

Another victory for the BIG government coalition. AB-6 was the tax bill. In the Assembly, RINO (and future Raggio replacement) Gansert (and her fellow RINOs) voted with Buckfee for higher taxes. In the Senate, RINOs Raggiowe and Townspend maintained their BIG government 30 year hitting streaks.

In the Assembly, Don Gustavson (R-Sparks) was a notable NAY vote. He will be resigning his seat to run for State Senate. He's pretty good. He deserves our support.

Republicrat Consensus

Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum

The rare bipartisan accord between the Republican governor and the Democrat-controlled Nevada Legislature

What the heck are these reporters talking about? Their differences are tiny compared to their BIG government consensus.

The biennial budget is funded through sales taxes, gaming taxes, business taxes and so forth. This represents what the crooked politicians can discretionally spend. A year ago those taxes were generating ~$3.0B/yr. Fibbons proposed a budget with room taxes and higher sales taxes to lift that figure to $3.2B/yr. The DEMs gladly went along.

THIS WAS THE CONSENSUS.

The Republicrat legislature wanted to spend $3.4B/yr. Only $200M/yr (6.2%) more than Fibbons.

Going into the weekend tax revenues had fallen to ~$2.4B/yr. Fibbons wanted an extra $50M-100M/yr. The Democrats all for it.

THIS IS THE $2.5B/yr NEW CONSENSUS.

Seems to me that the DEMs were pushing for only another $50M (2%) above that.

We have two political parties in this state. The Republicrats (the BIG Government Coalition) and the Small Government opposition (libertarians). The former has an ~80% market share. The latter <2%.

The rest are too busy watching TV to notice.