A tea party, this isn't

From Editor Thomas Mitchell:

March about today, shout slogans and wave picket signs. Toss tea bags in the air. Dress up like Mohawk Indians if you like. Whatever silly, senseless act you can think of to protest the through-the-roof taxation levels that will be required to pay for financial bailouts of banks and automakers and the various redistributionist taxes to pay for all those social entitlements.

But don't compare this popular pique with the Boston Tea Party of Dec. 16, 1773.

The minuscule 3 pence tax on tea delivered by the East India Company replaced a number of higher taxes and essentially made East India's tea cheaper than the black market tea smuggled by American merchant ships. The protest was on principle, objecting to Parliament's contention it had the right to tax Americans without representation.

Make your point. Make it with speeches and essays and voter action. But don't misconstrue history, please.

Perhaps a quote from the crafter of our Constitution, James Madison, might be in order: "I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents."

Or one from Thomas Jefferson: "Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated."

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/mitchell/

Eggs a la Twain

From columnist John L. Smith:

I have not yet found any reference by Mark Twain to the wonders of the Easter experience, either the religious or secular versions.

The religious tradition is well known. It is on Easter Sunday that Jesus rose and ascended into heaven, but that is only slightly more miraculous than what takes place nowadays: The great, annual rising en masse of the Easter Christians, who return like Capistrano swallows to churches throughout the world.

After the service has ended, most of them go to breakfast, where they are likely to order eggs. Twain, it turns out, did have something to say about eggs.

When traveling, in his day by train, the cuisine was, shall we say, not so haute. Here's one recipe he remembered:

"Eggs a la Canton, Williamsport, Trout Run and Way Stations. Divest two genuine eggs of shell and claws, being careful to avoid breaking the same.

"If you break 'em, begin again at the top of the recipe and proceed anew. Lay the plumage and cackle on one side, roll the remainder very thin, add baking powder, and boil in a pudding bag over a slow fire for a week.

"Tie with baby ribbons and serve cold."

Or you can just eat out.

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/smith/

Why tart tax defeat?

From Publisher Sherman Frederick:

In one of those moments in Nevada that can't be fabricated, the Legislature formally turned down an offer from legal prostitutes to be taxed $5 a poke to help the state out of its budget crunch.

What did not come out in the hearing is the biennial rumor that brothels outside the state capital staff up during legislative sessions, which leads wags to wonder whether legislators were philosophically tax averse, or personally tax averse. You be the judge.

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/sherm/

Harrah's betting on the Mets

Business reporter Arnold Knightly writes:

Harrah's Entertainment has signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with the New York Mets that will give the casino company an advertising platform at the new Citi Field.

The deal includes a 12,000-square-foot Caesars Club that will serve food and beverages during the games. The deal also includes advertising at the Mets' minor league affiliates.

Harrah's will sponsor theme nights at the new stadium, as well as promoting special offers for its four hotel-casinos in Atlantic City. Terms of the deal were not available.

The new 42,000-seat stadium opened Monday with a game between the Mets and the San Diego Padres.

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/business/

Masto's road trip, Part V

Political reporter Molly Ball writes:

Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto this week leaves for her fifth "road trip" tour of Nevada cities, a practice that always leads to speculation about what she's running for.

Masto, who's up for re-election next year, says it's an opportunity for her to get out from behind a desk and engage with her constituents, hearing their concerns about the issues her office is in charge of -- things like consumer fraud, identity theft and Internet safety.

But it's also good politics, ensuring that the Southern Nevada native, whose public profile is understated to say the least, keeps up her statewide recognition.

This trip targets Northern Nevada.

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/politics/