Opinion

Political speech enjoys special protection under the First Amendment because democracy cannot survive if government has the power to limit expression of high public interest and social concern.

It’s an absolute outrage when government employees steal from the public or unlawfully use their jobs to enrich themselves. But the outrage is compounded when those individuals, once convicted, are allowed to collect their taxpayer-funded pensions — even from prison.

If the viability of your argument depends on having no one hear it, you don’t have much of an argument in the first place.

Sometimes, the perfect can’t be the enemy of the good. Although there was much to abhor about the defense funding bill that finally cleared Congress last week — Washington’s sausage factory was in rare form this month — the legislation delivered several land provisions of such importance to Nevada that the policy monstrosity should be celebrated across the Silver State.

Net neutrality sounds like a great thing.

Early voting for the Nov. 4 general election starts today in Clark County. Citizens who are anxious to complete their civic duty but are concerned they don’t have enough information should wait until Sunday, when the Review-Journal publishes its biennial general election voter guide.

Summer isn’t quite over, but make no mistake, it’s election season. Early voting for the Nov. 4 general election starts one month from today. Beginning today, the Review-Journal’s editorial board will offer recommendations in almost every race on the ballot, starting with endorsements in District Court and Family Court races — 28 seats for which all registered Clark County voters can cast a ballot.

What’s happening in Missouri could have happened in Las Vegas. More than once.

As Nevada continues digging out from the Great Recession, there have been some encouraging signs over the past couple of weeks. On July 11, the Review-Journal’s Alexander Corey reported that Nevada got out of the basement on CNBC’s annual report on the best states for business, jumping from a dismal No. 47 up to a bit more respectable No. 29. That news came on the heels of a July 8 report from the Review-Journal’s Wesley Juhl that Thumbtack.com — a website catering to small-business professionals and customers — rated the Silver State 14th in its annual small business survey.

The government’s budget deficit will drop by almost $100 billion this year — from $680 billion to $583 billion. The deficit is the lowest it’s been since President Obama took office, and $66 billion less than the administration predicted earlier this year when it released its budget.