10 Thursday, February 13, 1997 Pahrump Valley Gazette
Editorial
"The Best Politicians Money Can Buy"
By Robert Lowes
The late Jess Unruh, the longtime speaker of the California
Assembly was the first to put political contributions into their
proper perspective with his quote that "money is the mother's
milk of politics." While those words were first said back in
the early 70s, the statement is just as accurate today as it was
30 years ago. Funny how much some things change; the more
they seem to remain the same. The relationship between
money and politics is as irrefutable as the law of gravity.
However, considering some recent revelations from both
political parties on campaign contributions, perhaps the time
has come for us to rethink the role of money in politics.
That old line about being the best politician money can
buy,just isn't so funny anymore. How could anyone possibly
think any of our current crop of politicos would be influenced
by a mere $500, non-reportable campaign contribution. Maybe
I've become a cynic in my advancing years, but I have seen
too many votes influenced for far less. Influence is peddled
over expense-account lunches, jobs for favored friends and
relatives, Taxpayer-supported junkets. So what's the harm in
accepting a limo ride from the airport and having a few
lunches with lobbyists? After all, the only thing you really
sell, at the least, is your ear. Besides, when you are a country
bumpkin, it's nice being treated like a king by those with
access to the hill. I know, I used to get paid big bucks to do
it, and the abuses of power work from the very top on down.
President Clinton, for example, comes off slightly less
than credible when he attempts to explain his private meet-
ings and White House hospitality with fat-cat contributors are
not for pure political money-grubbing purposes, and unless
you have just fallen off the proverbial turnip truck and landed
on your head, it might be difficult to accept the fact that his
vice-presidential bag man went to the Buddhist Temple in
L.A. with the only the purest of motives.
No waY. It's difficult to separate money from politics. It
has become the name of today's political game. But it really
is nothing new, it's gone on unchecked at various levels of
government for years. Campaign-finance is shaping up to be
a dominant item on the political agenda for 1997. As a senate
committee prepares to launch an extensive and costly inves-
tigation into possible campaign-finance tactics abuses in the
recent 1996 election, many of our elected and appointed
officials are beginning to feel the pressure of their recent
fundraising activities.
This is not the first time in our history that there has been
widespread frustration over questionable campaign-finance
tactics and a desire for large-scale re-
form has taken hold throughout this
country, from the nation's capitol to
Carson City to Tonopah.
A little more than a century ago, Theodore Roosevelt - a
figure much admired by our current president - evaluated the
progress of the recently formed Civil Service Commission in
exposing and outlawing unethical campaign-fundraising
methods of that era.
The fundraising abuses that were being criticized back
then took a different form from hose drawing current criti-
cism. Campaigners today are commonly accused of accept-
ing large donations in exchange forpolitical influence, whereas
the abuses cited by Roosevelt were examples of pressuring
government employees to make donations to the party that
had hired them. But the public dissatisfaction with how
politicians and political parties both get and use their money
is common to both time periods.
Like I said, the more things change; the more some things
seem to stay the same.
In fact some of Roosevelt's words of more than a century
ago could be used as a guide for today's committees at all
levels of government investigating campaign-finance abuses
and reforms.
In presidential (election) years the" pressure for funds is
very great. The national and state campaign committees
strive urgently to get every dollar possible....A certain amount
of soliciting for money, usually by indirect methods, goes on
... A great deal of it was done in the last presidential campaign,
in 1888. It is too much to expect the Commission will be able
to put a complete stop to it now; but at least we intend to try
to minimize the evils complained of, and to make them less
than they have ever been before.
Roosevelt's complete article on the subject of needed
campaign-finance reforms written for the Atlantic Monthly
in July 1882, should be required reading for everyone, candi-
dates and contributors alike, involved in political fund raising
in today's world. President Clinton, who professes to be one
of Teddy's big fans, could profit from the wisdom of those
timeless words of political wisdom, not to mention our very
own county commissioners and other elected officials who
will soon be seeking financial support for their 1997 cam-
paigns.
Our current president, obviously no stranger to the impor-
tance of campaign contributions himself, has been quoted as
saying, "I think it' s a good thing when contributors care about
the country and have some particular area of expertise they
want to contribute." "Nobody buys a guaranteed result, nor
should they ever, but they should get a respectful hearing."
There it is, folks, you heard it directly from the headman
himself: This ear for Sale, Bring checkbook.
Let's face it, everyone of us has a vested interest of some
sort, and we all have our individual areas of expertise and
deserve, at the very least, a respectful hearing. That and a
$10,000 donation to the DNC could get you an overnight stay
at the White House courtesy of Bellhop Bill.
All of which may sound a bit harsh for me to be picking on
the president, which I'm not, but the problem of political
financing transcends partisan party lines and infiltrates all
levels of government, national, state and local. It's the system
itself that is corrupt and needs fixing before that corruptness
seduces even the most honorable of men. And you don' t have
to look very far to find some examples close to our own
backyard, but that's another story for another time.
Pahrump no longer the redheaded stepchild
When the Nye County Board of Commissioners meet in
Pahrump next Tuesday, it will mark the first time in five
months they've seen Pahrump. At least officially. Just two
short months ago, Chairman Dick Carver announced he
would only be willing to meet in pahrump "if something on
the agenda affected Pahrump.,' The comment was covered
heavily in the local media and Pa.hrump residents responded
with angry epithets directed atCarver, "Carver of the County"
was my favorite.
However, the winds of Nye County politics are often
unpredictable. When Red Copass motioned the second meet-
ing in February be held in Pahrump, Carver hardly whim-
pered. True, he did ask if the agenda would contain anything
of interest to Pahrump. Both Cameron McRae and Copass
assured the Round Mountain rancher that would be the case.
During the same meeting in December, Carver implied
we Pahrump residents don't care what the county commis-
sioners do with our town, our youth, our senior citizens, our
emergency services, our police protection, our water or our
roads. In short, our tax dollars. Carver, by alleging more
"residents from Amargosa were in attendance in Pahrump
than Pahrumpians," at the last meeting held in Pahrump
September 17, essentially stated Pahrump is apathetic and
doesn't care about Nye County Government or what they do
with our tax dollars. No, Carver did not actually say this; but
any student of Nye County Commission meetings knows
exactly what Carver meant.
With the above-referenced facts, coupled with a new
commission, it is probably critical for the future of Pahrump
to turn out in droves and attend this meeting. At least three of
the commissioners would benefit from such an event. Pahrump
has by far the largest population. Around 70 . percent. Most
importantly, Pahrump carries 66 percent of the votes. Think
about it.
NoW, it is not suggested any commissioner is not aware
of this fact. What one or more may not be aware of is this:
Pahrump, the red-headed step-child of Nye County since time
began, doomed to neglect and county hand-me-downs decade
after decade, is all grown up. Pahrump has developed into a
bright little town with tremendous potential.
The town board, despite having their hands figuratively
tied in respect to who has local control (the county in most
cases) is looking forward with cautious optimism. There does
exist a certain animosity between Bob Little and a few of the
other members, but time will temper any discontent. There
are numerous task forces and committees in session advising
the board with issues as important as the Pahrump Regional
Planning Commission or the Business License, to the Legis-
lative or Economic Development task forces, to the arena and
fair boards. The discussions, workshops and actions are
fiscally sound and in this writer's opinion, in the best interest
of the community. The county commission needs to see this.
They need to be made aware of what goes on when a town is
growing out of itsel flike a weed. Pahrump is no longer a town
covered with alfalfa and cotton fields where the Cotton
Know What I Mean?
by Doug McMurdo
Pickin' Saloon is the town center.
Voters should be congratulated for
their votes last November.
The growth is obviously out of
control. The commissioners should take a tour of Paul
Tarantino's castle and look what the lack of a building
inspector can do for gravity. When the building tumbled to the
ground, no less than four state agencies got involved. With
Chairman Carver's self acknowledged loathing of all things
government, insofar as intervention goes, he should be the
pilot to help Nye County clean up their act and establish a
reasonable, non-burdensome building permit process that
will not only provide protection but will keep the state out of
our backyard.
What else does the town need to show the commission-
ers? For starters, let's give them a tour of our local schools.
Granted, they don't oversee the school district. But they do set
aside PETT funding for them. The four million dollars
pledged in 1996 needs to be left alone. The money has been
assigned, don't touch it. Perhaps the overcrowded schools
will help them see the light. The roads. Frankly, this writer
laughs at people who complain about dust in the desert. But
Pahrump's infrastructure has to be upgraded. The town will
never attract big employers without a reasonable road system.
Water. If recent reports are even 50 percent accurate, some-
thing drastic needs to be done now. To procrastinate over
something as precious as water would be criminal. Planning.
Fund Ron Williams and give his department the tools neces-
sary to put some teeth in the Pahrump Regional Planning
Commission. Senior Citizens. There is a large but silent
segment of Pahrump residents who allege abuse at the Senior
Citizens Center. While some reports prove to be without
merit, others are surfacing which are grievous and substan-
tial. It is unfair for our seniors to be living "a winter of
discontent" because the folks in charge are out of touch.
Visit the Senior Center and talk with some of our older but
wiser citizens. Youth Center. Several months ago, the
county offered $100,000 for a multi-purpose/youth/con-
vention center. Take a look at what our youth don't have.
There will be no tour of the facility because we don't yet
have plans. To be completely fair, the town recently com-
missioned an $8,000 survey that indicates only six Pahrump
residents give a damn about a youth center for our kids.
Emergency Services and Police. The commissioners cut
one million dollars from Sheriff Wade Lieseke's budget.
Field personnel will have to work overtime because the
sheriff cannot and will not cut services. This will place
overworked, overstressed cops on the street. Officer and
civilian safety will be compromised. The ambulance bay is
overwo, rked and understaffed. Some people are going to die
if funds don't get to emergency services. I would suggest the
town ask the county how to hire a good lawyer, but they
don't seem to be any better at it than the town board is.
The strict definition of government is simply the exer-
cise of authority over a state or organization. Government is
political administration and those who govern direct the
affairs of the state or organization. The government, at any.
level, takes our dollars and in turn manages our services.
Theoretically, anyhow.
It is time Pahrump stand and be recognized. Carver
wasn't all wrong with his implications. Pahrump residents
need to quit bitching and start acting. Make plans to take an
hour or two and attend part of the meeting. Observe your tax
dollars at work. See how the business of governing Nye
County works. You're the boss. Go see if your employees
are earning the salaries, some very high, that you pay them.
The Nye County Board of Commissioners meet-in
Pahrump February 18 beginning at 9:30 a. m. The meetings
are held at the.Bob Ruud Community Center at Basin and
Highway 160. For a modest donation, the Seniors will
provide hot coffee and pastries. The meetings are usually
recessed from noon to 1:30 p. m.
Here's a hint: The commission has an annoying habit of
waiting until the end of the meeting to discuss anything even
remotely controversial. It is rumored they do this to cut
down on the number of witnesses.
Schedule accordingly.
(k
