Thursday, July 17, 2003 | 9:17 a.m.
The people of Nevada, knowing that even representative government would find it impossible to manage the financial affairs of the state in a prudent and sensible manner during hard times, amended their constitution to make it difficult to impose new taxes without seeking "belt tightening" alternatives first.
This process was neither easy, nor cavalier, for it required a vote in consecutive elections after the long and arduous process of getting the amendment on the ballot in the first place. The success of the people's effort was thwarted on July 10 by a Nevada Supreme Court decision validating the scheming tactic used by those who would hide under the desks of schoolchildren.
This wrong step was designed to beat the people at the taxes game. Well, the game isn't over. People, collectively, have more power than any few politicians who step across the line of their mandated authority. It is time to look at recall options, throw-the-bums out elections and legal appeals to set the record straight about just whom it is that is in charge here. Make no mistake -- the fun is about to begin.
LLOYD W. CUTLER
archive
