Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The Nevada Constitution requires public support of institutions for the mentally and physically "challenged". These programs account for ~25% of the biennial budget.
If one of our residents gives birth to child with severe problems, I don't really object to trying to provide a minimum level of comfort. I *do* object to people who work for the system making huge salaries and outpatients who suffer from human conditions like "depression" (bad hair days) asking us to pay for their "meds" (drug addictions). Worst of all, these programs act like a sad sack magnet.
The state benevolent institutions budget is opaque, but experience tells me that it's a LOT bigger -- at least 10X -- than it needs to be. We could cover it with two or three days worth of August sales taxes.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Public Education Meant To Be A Safety Net
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Some people have trouble thinking outside the box. If we abolish, almost overnight any number of good quality *private* schools would open to satisfy the demand for education services. For all tastes and price points. The only "workable" education system is one that keeps the government OUT of it.
Our public education system was envisioned as a safety net, for poor kids who otherwise would have no chance. That is why the Constitution specifies "one school" and allowed optional attendance. It was never meant to be CCSD's "all (no) things to all people".
If we had small government in this state, then indeed, we really could get by on ~$50/head. I've already described how it could. Mining taxes might be insufficient (I don't memorize these numbers), but some other small revenue source would not. For instance, sales tax revenue from 10 days in August.
Whether small government could be had for $100M per year, $80M or $12.50 is debatable. The exact number is unimportant, so long as we recognize that government is WAY larger than it needs to be. I conservatively estimate 19X.
Some people have trouble thinking outside the box. If we abolish, almost overnight any number of good quality *private* schools would open to satisfy the demand for education services. For all tastes and price points. The only "workable" education system is one that keeps the government OUT of it.
Our public education system was envisioned as a safety net, for poor kids who otherwise would have no chance. That is why the Constitution specifies "one school" and allowed optional attendance. It was never meant to be CCSD's "all (no) things to all people".
If we had small government in this state, then indeed, we really could get by on ~$50/head. I've already described how it could. Mining taxes might be insufficient (I don't memorize these numbers), but some other small revenue source would not. For instance, sales tax revenue from 10 days in August.
Whether small government could be had for $100M per year, $80M or $12.50 is debatable. The exact number is unimportant, so long as we recognize that government is WAY larger than it needs to be. I conservatively estimate 19X.
I Oppose BIG Government and the High Taxes Necessary to Pay For It
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The Nevada Constitution sets a minimum size for state government: the 3 branches, limited K-16, prisons, mental hospitals (safety net), a militia. That's about it. Though mining taxes alone could cover the minimum, the Constitution gives the government wide latitude about what to tax. You know, so that it will always be able to pay its bills.
In the past ~150 years the crooked politicians have given us bigger and BIGGER (maximum!) government, which naturally required more and MORE revenues -- including sales tax -- to fund it.
I oppose BIG government, and the high taxes necessary to pay for it.
The Nevada Constitution sets a minimum size for state government: the 3 branches, limited K-16, prisons, mental hospitals (safety net), a militia. That's about it. Though mining taxes alone could cover the minimum, the Constitution gives the government wide latitude about what to tax. You know, so that it will always be able to pay its bills.
In the past ~150 years the crooked politicians have given us bigger and BIGGER (maximum!) government, which naturally required more and MORE revenues -- including sales tax -- to fund it.
I oppose BIG government, and the high taxes necessary to pay for it.
K-16: All For Only ~$2M/yr
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
K-16 is a whopping ~50% of NV's biennial budget. If we had small government in this state, our annual financial obligation for public education would be less than $2M per year. Then we wouldn't need sales taxes and we could ABOLISH them.
You say "How can that be?" The Nevada Constitution specifies a minimum of one public school per district (18 statewide). We should return to the "little red schoolhouse" model -- @$100K/school.
The constitution also mandates a state university with no less than (minimum) 3 applied science departments (Ag, Mining, Eng). Eliminate *everthing* except those departments. The original endowment would pay for them. A small state university model reduces our financial obligation for higher ed to ZERO.
K-16 is a whopping ~50% of NV's biennial budget. If we had small government in this state, our annual financial obligation for public education would be less than $2M per year. Then we wouldn't need sales taxes and we could ABOLISH them.
You say "How can that be?" The Nevada Constitution specifies a minimum of one public school per district (18 statewide). We should return to the "little red schoolhouse" model -- @$100K/school.
The constitution also mandates a state university with no less than (minimum) 3 applied science departments (Ag, Mining, Eng). Eliminate *everthing* except those departments. The original endowment would pay for them. A small state university model reduces our financial obligation for higher ed to ZERO.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
If You Don't Like Our Musical Then Don't Go
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Easy for you to say. We've already paid for *your* ticket.
"Shut up and pay your taxes!" Typical CCSD arrogance. I've already paid quite a bit for your education. This is the thanks I get. Public education creates an entitlement mentality among its "beneficiaries".
Easy for you to say. We've already paid for *your* ticket.
"Shut up and pay your taxes!" Typical CCSD arrogance. I've already paid quite a bit for your education. This is the thanks I get. Public education creates an entitlement mentality among its "beneficiaries".
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
CCSD Lets Dunderhead Jock Teach Math
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Hale .. received a bachelor's degree in kinesiology
AKA "Jockology". As Al alluded to (0646), it's ridiculous to let a dunderhead jock teach math. Maybe he should be assigned to teach Latin also?
When will taxpayers finally demand that CCSD fulfill its primary mission to teach the 3R's? I, for one, am SICK of CCSD focusing on purely political goals like football, coed gym and left-wing musicals.
The only CCSD things taxpayers seem to get upset about are firewatchers, renaming a football stadium, and charging varsity athletes user fees.
What arrogance. Can you imagine McDonald's serving customers horse meat when they ran out of paddies? The reason that CCSD can get away with assigning non-mathematicians to teach math is because it is has a monopoly. Don't like your math teacher? Tough luck! Go to another CCSD school.
What I don't understand is how poor parents allow this sort of abuse to continue. Rich white kids are assigned the cream of the CCSD teaching crop. Poor minority kids get assigned teachers of the same race. I suppose to teach them self-esteem.
Hale .. received a bachelor's degree in kinesiology
AKA "Jockology". As Al alluded to (0646), it's ridiculous to let a dunderhead jock teach math. Maybe he should be assigned to teach Latin also?
When will taxpayers finally demand that CCSD fulfill its primary mission to teach the 3R's? I, for one, am SICK of CCSD focusing on purely political goals like football, coed gym and left-wing musicals.
The only CCSD things taxpayers seem to get upset about are firewatchers, renaming a football stadium, and charging varsity athletes user fees.
What arrogance. Can you imagine McDonald's serving customers horse meat when they ran out of paddies? The reason that CCSD can get away with assigning non-mathematicians to teach math is because it is has a monopoly. Don't like your math teacher? Tough luck! Go to another CCSD school.
What I don't understand is how poor parents allow this sort of abuse to continue. Rich white kids are assigned the cream of the CCSD teaching crop. Poor minority kids get assigned teachers of the same race. I suppose to teach them self-esteem.
Monday, October 26, 2009
HeadsThey Win ..
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Political consultants and close friends Billy Vassiliadis and Pete Ernaut .. Doesn't seem like they're on opposite teams
That's because they're NOT. They're both on the BIG GOVERNMENT team.
Political consultants and close friends Billy Vassiliadis and Pete Ernaut .. Doesn't seem like they're on opposite teams
That's because they're NOT. They're both on the BIG GOVERNMENT team.
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