In so many ways, 2006 was a really crappy year.

The United States wallowed in a bog of civil war and terrorism in Iraq, where the American death toll reached 3,000. Sudan was devastated by genocide while the international community dithered. New Orleans struggled with recovery efforts following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. The nation obsessed over illegal immigration, generating a wave of fear and hate for a specific ethnic group not seen since the anti-Arab frenzy after 9/11.

In Las Vegas, statistics indicated the valley is an increasingly dangerous place. Police agencies recorded 184 murders across the Las Vegas Valley, an increase of three from the year before. Considering the valley's growth, that's not a big jump, but it runs counter to a national trend over the past two decades of decreasing violent crime.

Fatal accident statistics are even more concerning. Clark County recorded 283 traffic deaths in 2006, up from 265 in '05 and 247 in '04. You think maybe a whole lot of people here are being reckless behind the wheel?

Of course, with the arrival of the new year, hope springs eternal. Does the "good feeling" about 2007 that I briefly experienced last week have any basis in reality?

Not likely.

There are few indications that President Bush will withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq this year. There also are few signs of a concerted international effort to stop or even slow down the savagery in Sudan. As for New Orleans, the city no longer seems to be on Bush's radar.

Perhaps my naive hope for 2007 emanates from the arrival of a new face in the Governor's Mansion. In his inaugural address last week, Jim Gibbons promised "a future that brings together the diverse communities and citizens of this great state into a common cause -- one Nevada."

Hmm. Sounds good, but not sure what it means. Gibbons tried to explain: "One Nevada is a place where all of our communities set aside what separates us, and embrace what unites us, from our citizens who mine the earth, drive trucks along our highways or serve our tourists in our hotels, to those that teach in our schools and those who enforce our laws, we come together [as] one Nevada."

Very kumbaya of him, but it's still not clear what Gibbons is aiming at. He elaborated:

"In order to achieve real results for all Nevadans, I know I must reach across the aisle, and understand that the shared patriotism I have with each person here today does not create barriers but builds bridges. In order to reclaim the American dream for all Nevadans, to truly have one Nevada, we must not only build bridges, we must cross them together."

Well, now I see. Gibbons is appealing for "bipartisanship." He's trying to make nice with the overwhelming Democratic majority in the state Assembly, which is not likely to "build bridges" with the new Republican governor.

More important, the inaugural address reveals that Gibbons apparently still has no political ideas or goals. He did not have many ideas while a state legislator or a U.S. representative, and he did not offer any ideas during his run for governor. So, why should we expect him to have any after he takes office?

Sadly, Gibbons already has put himself in a box. His one identifiable campaign pledge -- probably the one that got him elected -- was to not raise taxes. Yet Nevada is a fast-growing state with a host of pressing needs, not the least of which is billions of dollars of highway construction. And let's not forget a ballooning school system. And expanding universities and community colleges.

How is Gibbons going to fulfill his vacuous promise to help Nevadans "reclaim the American dream" when his constituents are stuck in traffic jams and their kids are learning from "permanent" substitute teachers?

When the Nevada Legislature convenes this spring, it will tackle an array of intriguing proposals, from bids to crack down on illegal immigration to efforts to institute all-day kindergarten. But in the end, the legislative session always comes down to the state budget: How will the available tax dollars be allocated?

With major differences of opinion among state lawmakers, Gibbons' plea to "build bridges" and "cross them together" will not carry the day in Carson City. As usual -- and appropriately so -- Republicans and Democrats will discuss, debate, argue and wrestle over many issues, twisting and tweaking bills and budgets until they are palatable enough for a slim majority of each legislative chamber to vote for. That's the American way, and it has very little to do with crossing bridges.

One dim hope: Once Gibbons actually starts studying the ins and outs of public spending in Nevada, he may realize the same thing that most of his predecessors -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- have learned: that most of Nevada's agencies, programs and projects are woefully underfunded.

Former Gov. Kenny Guinn took office as a tried-and-true Republican and left office as a tax-and-spender. That's what happens after your populist promises to the bleacher seats die away.

The easy part for Gibbons was pledging not to raise taxes. The hard part will be to live up to that promise and, at the same time, to achieve what he calls "real results for all Nevadans." He might want to add Lance Burton to his advisory board to pull off that one.

Perhaps my good feeling about 2007 is baseless, but it stubbornly persists. I guess I can't help feeling that we humans possess the potential to do better -- in Iraq, Sudan, New Orleans and Nevada.

Geoff Schumacher (gschumacher@ reviewjournal.com) is Stephens Media's director of community publications. He is the author of "Sun, Sin & Suburbia: An Essential History of Modern Las Vegas." His column appears Sunday.