(Bruce Feher) – This link will connect you to a recent article that appeared in the Las Vegas Review Journal about the rise in Nevada’s unemployment rate.
This is a very disturbing piece. One that hits the nail right on the head!
In summary, Nevada and Las Vegas in particular are hurting, badly; like you didn’t already know that. Our citizens can’t find work, our home values sink by the minute, many can’t even afford to move.
All the while, our government officials collect their paychecks and benefits, form ridiculous commissions, come up with cockamamie plans that will never work, point fingers, play the blame game and in general accomplish nothing!
We are mistaken if we think government has the answers to to problems of the private sector. How could they? Government at all levels has no experience in creating prosperity, never has and never will.
Modern government can only survive because of the taxes “paid” or otherwise extorted from productive citizens. They use this money to take care of themselves and then they use what’s left over to “take care” of the needy and of course to buy votes.
Until now they have done well but the problem now is that those who made America great are being choked to death by these same government entities. We have been bled dry.
Nevada must attract manufacturing companies, we must produce items that the rest of the World wants to buy. We have learned, the hard way, that the casinos and mining can not do it alone and they can’t be expected to pick up the tab all the time. Even they have only so much money.
So, what did our elected officials spend the last legislation doing? They fooled around with a helmet law, made it so you can get a fine if you talk on a cell phone while driving and dozens of other laws, rules and regulations that will not produce a single private sector job!
Why is this? Well, it’s our fault. We let them get away with it! We trusted these people to do what was right, they didn’t have a clue and now look at the mess we stuck with.
It is easy to criticize, to complain, whine and cry but none of this will produce jobs either.
So, what will?
We know that what has been “tried” does not work. The old lower taxes (which they didn’t do), reduce regulations and other assorted baloney are old hat. It’s the same song and dance they always use.
We need to think out of the box!
Instead of discussing “incentives” and other bureaucratic garbage we need action!
What kind of action?
How’s this for starters.
The Silver State hosts hundreds of conventions and trade shows every year. How many have display space for Nevada? Do our high ranking officials attend these conventions and trade shows on a regular and try to build relationships with the exhibitors? There are thousands of manufacturers World Wide. Do we have representatives making visits to these businesses?
One thing is for sure, if you want business you have to go out and get it! Rarely, does it come to you.
Make doing business in Nevada so attractive that an executive would have to be crazy not to establish a plant or re-locate a business. There are ways, lots of them but it takes leadership and that my fellow citizens is something that is lacking here.
Stay tuned for more suggestions and yes, if you have a few they are welcome!
