The State Assembly is currently struggling over how to generate more revenue for the state, specifically, to add more funds to the Nevada school system. It is the opinion of this author that perhaps more time should be spent reviewing our current expenditures and reforming programs that aren’t succeeding. Nevada spends a respectable amount of money per student compared to other states, yet Nevada public schools consistently under perform. While this post is not about the school system, any increase in funding for them should be coupled with an audit to form a more effective program.
The debate on generating new revenue from raising taxes focuses on two different plans. One would increase taxes on businesses making over a million dollars per year, the other would attempt to repeal the Constitutional limit on the amount that mining companies can be taxed.
The issue is making strange bedfellows out of Republicans and Progressive Democrats. While my own beliefs follow conservative free market principles, it must be acknowledged that taxes are a necessary evil that we must deal with as citizens of this country and state.
It is a common mistake to believe that Republicans are against all taxes and are trying to protect big businesses. On the contrary, most of the recent GOP resistance to raising taxes is founded in the need to protect the middle class from tax hikes that will be harmful to the growth of our still limping economy. Most Modern American Conservatives’ problem with our national tax policy stems from its complexity and attempted progressiveness.
A complex tax code makes it hard for individuals to succeed because they are not part of the incestuous relationship between our politicians and big businesses. The plague of “Crony Capitalism” is a serious problem in our country as businessmen and morally shallow politicians pack the tax code with favors and special protections for their friends.
This is why most true Conservatives support a simpler, fairer tax code, so that all companies and individuals are treated the same by their common government. Here is where the Progressives and Conservatives diverge. Progressives believe that more successful should pay more in taxes; Conservatives believe that everyone should pay the same percentage in taxes. While the Conservative idea may not squeeze every single available cent from “The Rich” it is much simpler and makes it hard to abuse the system.
As it stands, the miner faction here in Nevada are fighting hard to protect their special exemption from taxation. The statement put forth by Nevada GOP Senators makes the claim that the top gaming companies in Nevada by a gross tax of 6.75 percent compared to a 2.3 percent by the Mining companies. This is clearly an issue. No company, especially in such an established industry as mining should receive such special protection. Instead of raising taxes solely on successful business, which would continue to make the tax code more complicated, we should level the playing field for all.
The goal of our Government should be evenhanded, dispassionate taxation. This will result in a smoother functioning economy. A flatter, fairer tax code would benefit all with the exception of those who are abusing the current system. Nevada should set the example for the nation and work on making its tax code as easy and fair for its citizens as possible.
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