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There's also his ownership stake in NVEnergy, which exploits Nevada's citizenry using a government sanctioned monopoly. Solar died in Nevada in no small part d

There's also his ownership stake in NVEnergy, which exploits Nevada's citizenry using a government sanctioned monopoly. Solar died in Nevada in no small part due to Buffet's lobbying; don't be fooled by the aww-shucks demeanour, the dude is a shark.

valuearb 9y ago
"We do not want our million plus customers that do not have solar to be buying solar at 10.5 cents when we can turn it out for them at 4.5 cents or buy it for them at 4.5 cents,” Buffett told CNBC Monday morning during a wide-ranging interview. “So we do not want the non-solar customers, of whom there are over a million, to be subsidizing the 17,000 solar customers.” The real shark was Musk, who was just mad that he wasn't able to force consumers to buy solar at more than twice the cost of other energy to subsidize his solar business, like he got the poor taxpayers of Nevada to subsidize his factory.
- Jtsummers 9y ago
  Nevada residents don't pay income taxes. They pay sales and property taxes (primarily). The majority of the income in the state, however, comes through sales taxes. Almost certainly not all from residents. Nevada itself is subsidized by outsiders visiting the state. The people of Nevada lose more money in what they choose not to tax the casinos that whatever they may have directly or indirectly put into Musk's factory. Some details on Nevada's revenue: https://ballotpedia.org/Tax_policy_in_Nevada https://ballotpedia.org/Tax_policy_in_Nevada
  - tptacek 9y ago
    So you're saying the taxpayers fund things through an even more regressive process than income taxes.
    - Jtsummers 9y ago
      Well, there is that. But also a large percentage of the sales tax (which includes hotels and such) comes from tourists, not residents.
      - kchoudhu 9y ago
        People trotted that one out a few days ago when trying to justify spending $80MM on a ball park in Summerlin: we didn't pay for it, the tourists did! Guys, you realize that that $80MM could have been used to make the CCSD not the butt of national education jokes, right?
  - valuearb 9y ago
    This is like saying the thief who stole my car didn’t hurt me cause I’m only working part time and can easily work more hours to buy another. The money gifted Musk could have gone to schools. Higher taxes on casinos and tourists isn’t free, it means fewer casinos and tourists. And it also can go to schools. Giving billionaires handouts is terrible public policy.
- kchoudhu 9y ago
  Where have I heard this line of reasoning before? Oh yeah! "We don't want healthy people to subsidize sick people."
  - tptacek 9y ago
    This reads like a non sequitur, and a nasty one at that.
rayiner 9y ago
It’s a regulated public utility, like almost every electric distribution company. Nevada’s electric rates, which are subject to government review and approval, are below the national average. What’s exploitive about it?
- kchoudhu 9y ago
  Obviously there's excess rent to be had, otherwise Buffet wouldn't have entered the fray. I would like to see that excess returned to customers.

valuearb 9y ago

"We do not want our million plus customers that do not have solar to be buying solar at 10.5 cents when we can turn it out for them at 4.5 cents or buy it for them at 4.5 cents,” Buffett told CNBC Monday morning during a wide-ranging interview. “So we do not want the non-solar customers, of whom there are over a million, to be subsidizing the 17,000 solar customers.” The real shark was Musk, who was just mad that he wasn't able to force consumers to buy solar at more than twice the cost of other energy to subsidize his solar business, like he got the poor taxpayers of Nevada to subsidize his factory.

Jtsummers 9y ago
Nevada residents don't pay income taxes. They pay sales and property taxes (primarily). The majority of the income in the state, however, comes through sales taxes. Almost certainly not all from residents. Nevada itself is subsidized by outsiders visiting the state. The people of Nevada lose more money in what they choose not to tax the casinos that whatever they may have directly or indirectly put into Musk's factory. Some details on Nevada's revenue: https://ballotpedia.org/Tax_policy_in_Nevada https://ballotpedia.org/Tax_policy_in_Nevada
- tptacek 9y ago
  So you're saying the taxpayers fund things through an even more regressive process than income taxes.
  - Jtsummers 9y ago
    Well, there is that. But also a large percentage of the sales tax (which includes hotels and such) comes from tourists, not residents.
    - kchoudhu 9y ago
      People trotted that one out a few days ago when trying to justify spending $80MM on a ball park in Summerlin: we didn't pay for it, the tourists did! Guys, you realize that that $80MM could have been used to make the CCSD not the butt of national education jokes, right?
- valuearb 9y ago
  This is like saying the thief who stole my car didn’t hurt me cause I’m only working part time and can easily work more hours to buy another. The money gifted Musk could have gone to schools. Higher taxes on casinos and tourists isn’t free, it means fewer casinos and tourists. And it also can go to schools. Giving billionaires handouts is terrible public policy.
kchoudhu 9y ago
Where have I heard this line of reasoning before? Oh yeah! "We don't want healthy people to subsidize sick people."
- tptacek 9y ago
  This reads like a non sequitur, and a nasty one at that.

rayiner 9y ago

It’s a regulated public utility, like almost every electric distribution company. Nevada’s electric rates, which are subject to government review and approval, are below the national average. What’s exploitive about it?

kchoudhu 9y ago
Obviously there's excess rent to be had, otherwise Buffet wouldn't have entered the fray. I would like to see that excess returned to customers.