• Charter Schools • Forced Annexation Fighting to Grow, P. 8 and Freedom, P. 17 N.C.’s High Taxes, P. 6 C A R O L I N A Secrecy in Jackson, P. 16

Statewide Edition A Monthly Journal of News, Analysis, and Opinion from August 2007 • Vol. 16, No. 8 the John Locke Foundation www.CarolinaJournal.com JOURNAL www.JohnLocke.org Moore Knew About Parton Annual ‘Artist Fee’ CJ also asked them whether Moore But his staff disputes was aware of a feasibility study that required 200,000 square feet of retail as irrelevant findings space and two hotels first to be in place for the theater to succeed. Holloman and of feasibility study Romocki would not answer the question and suggested the requirement was By DON CARRINGTON irrelevant. The theater was scheduled Executive Editor to open July 26, but only one hotel was RALEIGH under construction, and none of the retail taff members of State Treasurer space had been started. Richard Moore acknowledged The 35,000-square-foot theater was July 10 that Moore knew about completed and turned over to Parton SRandy Parton’s annual $1.5 million in March. It is to be the cornerstone of “artist fee” but disputed as irrelevant the Carolina Crossroads Entertainment a key contention of a feasibility study District, situated along Interstate 95. regarding the arrangement to build with According to his agreement with the public funds a theater in Roanoke Rapids city, Parton has almost total control of named after the entertainer. State Treasurer Richard Moore (above left) knew of the $1.5 million artist’s fee arrange- theater operations and is responsible for For more than two months Moore ment with Randy Parton (above right) when the Local Government Commission, of which making monthly payments to cover the Moore is chairman, approved the financing arrangement for the Randy Parton Theatre city’s loan on the project. and his staff have avoided answering (above center) in Roanoke Rapids. (CJ photos by Don Carrington) questions about the project. A lot was riding on Moore’s ap- Moore is chairman of the Local office, must approve all city and county Tim Romocki, Moore staff members proval of the project. If the public financ- Government Commission, which gave plans to borrow money. It determines involved in the Parton Theatre approval ing had not been approved, the private final approval Feb. 6 for Roanoke Rapids whether a local government can afford process, acknowledged, when asked by developer, B&C Roanoke LLC, would to borrow $21.5 million to finance the to pay the money back. Carolina Journal, that Moore specifically Randy Parton Theatre. The commission, Deputy Treasurer Vance Hollo- knew about Parton’s annual fee before whose staff is housed in the treasurer’s man and Debt Management Director approving the project. Continued as “Moore,” Page 2 CO2 Alarmist Organizations Affecting Policy in N.C. By PAUL CHESSER The fact that private advocacy Associate Editor Private advocacy money is paying for money is paying for the research be- RALEIGH hind North Carolina’s Climate Action he Center for Climate Strate- research used by N.C.’s global warming Plan Advisory Group (CAPAG), and gies, which is using funds from similar panels and commissions in foundations that promote carbon- advisory group. other states, has raised questions about Tdioxide constraints because of global- whether a predetermined bias affected warming fears, is influencing govern- for CCS’s research on cost and benefits, produce recommendations that, if imple- their findings. ment climate-change policy in several while the private foundations — some mented, would cost taxpayers millions “I certainly have some concerns states, including North Carolina. with explicitly alarmist viewpoints on of dollars in additional taxes, as well as In almost all cases the states’ tax- the dangers of human-induced carbon- placing restrictions on property rights, payers are paying little or no money dioxide emissions — provide funds that vehicle usage, and growth. Continued as “CO2,” Page 3

Do you believe global warming is a 80threat to North Carolina? The John Locke Foundation NONPROFIT ORG. Contents 200 W. Morgan St., #200 U.S. POSTAGE Raleigh, NC 27601 PAID RALEIGH, NC North Carolina 3 PERMIT NO. 1766 Interview 7 Education 8 Higher Education 12 Yes 63% Local Government 16 No 29% Books & the Arts 20 Not Sure 8 % Opinion 24 Parting Shot 28 John% William Respondents Pope Civitas in June Institute Civitas Poll, Institute July 2007Poll CAROLINA C a r o l i n a North Carolina JOURNAL Journal Moore Knew of Parton ‘Artist’s Fee’ Richard Wagner Continued from Page 1 Editor Don Carrington have had to obtain private funds for the Executive Editor long-term financing of the facility. Roa- noke Rapids officials are planning for Paul Chesser, Mitch Kokai, ticket sales and other theater revenues Michael Lowrey to raise enough funds to pay the debt Associate Editors service and Parton’s $1.5 million an- nual fee. If those funds are not enough, Chad Adams, David N. Bass, local sales or property taxes will have Shannon Blosser, Andrew Cline, to be used. Roy Cordato, Paige Holland Hamp, The theater’s first show, scheduled David Hartgen, Sam A. Hieb, for July 26, was to feature Parton and Lindalyn Kakadelis, George Leef, Karen McMahan, Karen Palasek, his newly formed band, The Moonlight Susan Robinson, Marc Rotterman, Bandits. A schedule posted on rpthe- Mike Rouse, Jim Stegall, atre.com indicates his shows will run George Stephens, Jeff Taylor, Wednesdays through Saturdays for the Michael Walden, Karen Welsh, remainder of the year, but no other acts Hal Young were listed. Contributing Editors Feasibility study Abby Alger, Alyn Berry, Joe Boylan, Brittany Bussian, Roanoke Rapids hired Economics Justin Coates, Mary Lou Craven, Research Associates, an international Josh DeBottis, Bryn De Luca, The Randy Parton Theatre sits completed and alone in the Carolina Crossroads develop- consulting firm, to study the feasibility ment. According to a feasibility study, two hotels and at least 200,000 square feet of retail Caitlin Donnelly, Geoff Lawrence, of the Randy Parton Theatre. space had to be completed before the theater opened. The questions surrounding the Parton Michael Moore According to information on Theatre have even prompted a story in the supermarket tabloid National Examiner, see Editorial Interns the company’s Web site, “ERA is the below. (CJ photo above by Don Carrington) Published by leading consulting firm serving the about $30 combined per person, with The John Locke Foundation entertainment and leisure development with effective dis- Patrons, Sponsors 200 W. Morgan St., # 200 industry, and has “pioneered the ana- counting and ticket and Hosts paying Raleigh, N.C. 27601 lytical techniques and methodologies packaging policies $500, $1,000, and (919) 828-3876 • Fax: 821-5117 related to the planning, development designed to encour- $2,000 respectively. www.JohnLocke.org and operational evaluation of many age repeat and fam- Listed at the top of of the world’s leading attractions.” An ily visitation.” the invitation, ap- Jon Ham employee in ERA’s Washington, D.C., • “The theater parently designat- Vice President & Publisher office said the manager for the Roanoke is able to draw on a ed as hosts, were people with close John Hood Rapids project was Bill Owens. When CJ range of non-ticket Chairman & President reached Owens by phone, he refused to revenues typical to ties to the theater. discuss the study and said he was told similar venues, for Included were Roa- Bruce Babcock, Herb Berkowitz by city officials not to answer any ques- example conces- noke Rapids Mayor Charlie Carter, James Culbertson tions about the study. sions and gift shop Drewry Beale, Car- Jim Fulghum, Chuck Fuller Both the initial report, dated April revenues.” olina Crossroads Bill Graham, Robert Luddy 15, 2005, and the final report, dated • “The $3 mil- developer Michael Assad Meymandi, Baker A. Mitchell Jr., Dec 13, 2005, said ERA considers the lion reserve funded Dunlow, theater Carl Mumpower, J. Arthur Pope proposed Randy Parton Theatre a “mar- by the City of Roa- employees Cathy Tula Robbins, Thomas A. Roberg ket-viable attraction concept, given that noke Rapids is an and Mike Scott, and David Stover, Robert Stowe III available resource State Rep. Michael Andy Wells the following underlying assumptions are met”: for covering expect- Wray, who helped Board of Directors secure state funds to pro- • “Key elements of the larger ed start up costs and mote the project. proposed development, including two operating deficits.” Carolina Journal is a monthly journal Documents obtained of news, analysis, and commentary on state hotels, at least 200,000 square feet of • “No major act by CJ show that the bureau’s and local government and public policy issues retail space, and additional entertain- of terrorism or war, or executive director, Lori R. in North Carolina. ment/amusement opportunities are other major economic shocks, have signifi- Medlin, used her govern- operational by the time the theatre ment e-mail account the day ©2007 by The John Locke Foundation opens.” cant negative impact on the Inc. All opinions expressed in bylined articles of the fund-raiser to solicit at- • “The theatre is competently domestic tourism economy during the are those of the authors and do not necessarily forecast horizon.” tendees. “Subject: Fundraiser for Richard reflect the views of the editors of CJ or the and proactively managed to maximize Moore,” the e-mail said. “Please review staff and board of the John Locke Foundation. earnings and deliver a product that is in the attached invitation. It is not too late Material published herein may be reprinted as tune with the marketplace.” The fund-raiser to decide to attend. You may arrive at long as appropriate credit is given. Submis- • “The show(s) associated with Moore, a Democrat, said May 22 the event this evening and check in with sions and letters are welcome and should be theatre are of high quality, are regularly that he will be a candidate for governor Gene.” Medlin sent the e-mail to an directed to the editor. “refreshed” with new content, and are in the 2008 election. undisclosed list of recipients. A copy of appropriately targeted to draw from Roanoke Rapids area support- the invitation was provided as an e-mail CJ readers wanting more information resident and visitor segments.” attachment. between monthly issues can call 919-828-3876 ers sponsored a fund-raiser for him • “Pre- and post-opening market- June 11 at the home of Halifax County Medlin did not return phone mes- and ask for Carolina Journal Weekly Re- ing efforts are sufficiently funded, and port, delivered each weekend by e-mail, or visit Commissioner Gene Minton. Minton sages seeking comment about her work are successfully targeted to generate CarolinaJournal.com for news, links, and ex- is also a board member of the Halifax for the Moore campaign. Two years ago clusive content updated each weekday. Those a healthy mix of visitor market atten- County Convention & Visitors Bureau. the General Assembly appropriated interested in education, higher education, or dance.” The bureau is a government agency, $500,000 to promote the Parton Theatre local government should also ask to receive • “The theater achieves an aver- and board members are chosen by the and surrounding Carolina Crossroads weekly e-letters covering these issues. age, per-attendee ticket price of about county commissioners. Entertainment District. Medlin’s bu- $23, which reflects an adult ticket price of Tickets to the fund-raiser were $100 reau is managing those funds. CJ CAROLINA August 2007 JOURNAL North Carolina  CO2 Alarmist Organizations Affecting Policy in N.C.

Continued from Page 1 commitments are process,” the CCS Herald-Tribune report. “State political to the purposes Web site says. “We leaders have decided it’s time to act. This about whether or not we’re getting and goals of the “In light of the global provide extensive is not a problem without a solution; there an objective review about the state of processes.” and national momentum technical and is a wide range of solutions.” the science and the benefit of the state Peterson said planning support, CCS appears to cultivate its clients taking some action,” said state Senate CCS has no role in ... many are convinced issue-based edu- by first targeting governors. Arizona, Minority Leader Phil Berger, an Eden the outcomes, nor cation, and other New Mexico, Montana, Minnesota, Republican. do its donors. He that North Carolina must capacity- and con- Vermont, South Carolina, and Washing- said his organiza- prepare its economy and fidence-building ton all established their climate-action How CCS operates tion is interested steps with state groups via executive order issued by in state self-de- its people for a carbon- officials through their respective governors. CCS, a policy center of Pennsyl- termination on its personal confer- A similar attempt was made with vania-based nonprofit Enterprising climate change constrained world.” rals and assess- North Carolina, where the state’s Divi- Environmental Solutions Inc., says it is choices. ments before the sion of Air Quality justified the creation not an advocacy organization, unlike “Once [stake- Excerpt from formal climate of the Climate Action Plan Advisory its parent nonprofit, the Pennsylvania holders] develop NC DAQ report planning process. Group through language in the 2002 Environmental Council. Instead, CCS of- that list [of ap- “Our work Clean Smokestacks Act. In December ficials say, they help with climate-action proved options], reaches a more 2004 CCS wrote in a proposal (marked planning processes, drawing together it is their decision,” he said. “We don’t formal stage of engagement when we “confidential”) to the state that Gov. representatives, called “stakeholders,” make those decisions for them.” are formally asked to serve as an expert Mike Easley approve a greenhouse gas from various business, advocacy, non- As far as how CCS gets involved and neutral third party to manage the mitigation policy planning process. In profit, and governmental groups within with a state or region in the first place, process of developing a state’s climate the proposal CCS cited language from each state where they work. Peterson said his band of advisors goes action plan.” a September 2004 NC DAQ report on Tom Peterson, the executive di- only where they are asked. In late May CCS was poised to carbon-dioxide emissions. rector, says CCS is a “policy-neutral” “We act on invitations,” he said. get an invitation from Florida. Peterson “In light of the global and national service organization that facilitates the spoke at a global-warming conference momentum,” the proposal said, quoting climate-action process, by: introduc- Getting the invitation in Tampa, and warned that Florida is the carbon-dioxide report, “and because ing carbon-dioxide mitigation options among the top 30 emitters of greenhouse of the risks and opportunities climate for consideration; providing technical But apparently that applies only gases in the world, the St. Petersburg change poses for our state, many are analysis; creating a greenhouse gas emis- to the official climate-action planning Times reported. The newspaper said Gov. convinced that North Carolina must sions inventory for the state; providing process itself, after a CAPAG-like group Charlie Crist, a Republican, “has a strong prepare its economy and its people for moderation and mediation for meetings is established either by a governor’s ex- interest in the issue,” and that he wants a carbon-constrained world.” and conference calls; helping stakehold- ecutive order, or by a legislative action. to put solar panels on the governor’s But Easley never issued an execu- ers reach consensus on decisions; and In fact, CCS says on its Web site it is in- mansion and drives around Tallahassee tive order on climate change. In DAQ’s maintaining records, Web sites and volved in the creation of the state groups in an ethanol-fueled vehicle. view Easley’s approval was not neces- meeting notes. before they are hired by the states. “Emissions have to go down in sary, since the agency cited authorization “It’s strictly for supporting infor- “Our work actually begins long order for us to stabilize,” Peterson said mation exchange,” Peterson said. “Our before a governor launches a planning at the conference, according to a Sarasota Continued as “CO2,” Page 4 Parton Theatre Financial Statements ‘Trade Secret’

By DON CARRINGTON million “artist fee,” plus housing and a vehicle. Executive Editor According to the agreement with the city, Moon- RALEIGH light Bandit has almost total control of theater opera- oanoke Rapids City Manager Phyllis Lee refused tions and is responsible for making monthly payments July 23 to release a Randy Parton Theatre quar- to cover the city’s loan on the project. terly financial statement that she had received Moonlight Bandit’s specific obligations in the Rfrom Randy Parton’s production company. agreement are relatively few. They include cooperat- The city borrowed $21.5 million to build and ing with the city and the developer, procuring profes- launch the theater project and it retains title to the sional music and entertainment artists, and producing property. The theater was completed in March and performances. leased to Moonlight Bandit Productions, Parton’s The agreement does require Moonlight Bandit company. to deliver quarterly financial statements to the city Lee told Carolina Journal that the financial state- 15 days after the end of each quarter. The most recent ment was marked “Proprietary and Confidential.” statement was due July 15. North Carolina’s public records laws require most The city is planning for ticket sales and other records in possession of public officials to be disclosed The Randy Parton Theatre’s opening performance was theater revenues to raise enough funds to pay expenses, upon request. scheduled for July 26. (CJ photo by Don Carrington) including Parton’s $1.5 million annual fee and the Lee also issued to CJ the following statement: monthly debt service on the $21.5 million. If those “The City of Roanoke Rapids received the quarterly Martin told CJ that she disagrees with the city’s funds are not enough, the city will have to use local financial statements from Moonlight Bandit Produc- position. “The quarterly financial statement on the sales or property taxes. tions, LLC as required in the Economic Development theater’s operation cannot be considered a trade secret Local officials expect the 35,000-square-foot, Agreement. These financial statements are confidential of Parton’s company,” she said. 1,500-seat theater to be the anchor of the 1,000-acre information as defined by GS 132-1.2 and therefore re- In April, on the advice of the city attorney, Lee Carolina Crossroads entertainment and retail develop- lease of this information to the public is not authorized. initially refused to release to CJ the economic develop- ment, off Interstate 95 south of Roanoke Rapids. The City will continue to provide information that can ment agreement between Moonlight Bandit, the city, The theater’s first show featuring Parton and be disclosed under the public records law.” and private developers. his newly formed band, The Moonlight Bandits, is The General Statute cited by Lee states that pub- Days later, after consulting with David Lawrence, scheduled for Thursday night. A schedule posted on lic agencies are not required to release information a a municipal government expert with the UNC Institute rptheatre.com indicates his shows will run Wednes- public contractor considers a “trade secret.” of Government, she released the document. The docu- days through Saturdays for the remainder of the N.C. Press Association legal counsel Amanda ment showed that Parton was to receive an annual $1.5 year, but no other acts are listed. CJ August 2007 CAROLINA  North Carolina JOURNAL CO2 Alarmist Organizations Affecting Policy in N.C. Continued from Page 3 have any writ- Minnesota and its own list of carbon-dioxide mitigation ten agreement New Mexico options, each designed to reduce emis- for CAPAG from the Smokestacks bill. with CCS. * T h e sions to some degree, most of which But according to the agency’s writ- “There is Surdna Foun- have been considered or implemented in ten justification for sole-sourcing the no contract be- dation in 2005 other states. Options are considered by contract with CCS, the lure of private tween us and g a v e C C S the appropriate technical work groups, foundation money to finance the project this group,” $60,000 for its which forward approved options to the was attractive as well. The justification Sawyer said. Arizona and overall climate-advisory group for final cited carbon-dioxide mitigation efforts Amounts New Mexico consideration. in other states. paid by other projects, ap- CCS produces all meeting sum- “These efforts and concepts have states work- parently in maries, agendas, PowerPoint presenta- drawn the attention of ‘several foun- ing with CCS addition to its tions, and all other related documents, dations’ which are active in assisting were not avail- recent $30,000 including a final report that goes to development of public policies in this able in time for North Car- elected officials. area to the point that they, working for publication olina CCS also posts documents to, and through [CCS], …have indicated a de- of this article. * T h e manages, the Web sites for most of the sire to assist [North Carolina] in making But the public Marisla Foun- states with whom they work. They do such a plan development possible,” the funds paid by dation contrib- so using an Internet service called Re- document said. Arizona, New uted $20,000 source Saver, owned by the nonprofit North Carolina put $100,000 into Mexico, Min- f o r N o r t h Global Environment and Technology its CAPAG project, while the following nesota, and Carolina, and Foundation, which says it “promotes the carbon-dioxide-conscious foundations South Carolina unidentified use of innovative technology to achieve covered most of the rest of the $350,000 fall well short amounts for sustainable development.” budget: Rockefeller Brothers Fund, of North Caro- Minnesota and CCS-hired personnel moderate $100,000; Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, lina’s $100,000 New Mexico most meetings, and they also provide $75,000; the Surdna Foundation, $30,000; The state justified creating the Climate Action Plan taxpayer par- * The En- all technical and analytical information and the Marisla Foundation, $20,000. Advisory Group through language in the 2002 Clean ticipation for Smokestacks Act. ergy Founda- about each carbon-dioxide-mitigation CAPAG. tion, according option. Their analysis does not include Bringing the money with them to state documents, helped fund projects an assessment of the extent to which the CCS has used private money, Who’s paying? in Minnesota and New Mexico policies that they have presented will raised from foundations focused on car- * The Compton Foundation gave affect the climate. In every state where it works, bon-dioxide reductions, to administer CCS $26,000 in 2005 for its Arizona and CAPAG was not created to study CCS, in its documents that explain the climate-action policy groups in all the New Mexico projects the science of global warming, said Tom climate advisory group processes, prides other states they’ve worked in as well. * The John Merck Fund contrib- Mather, public information officer for the itself on the transparency of the groups’ The fact that states have to spend little uted $45,000 to CCS for its work in N.C. Division of Air Quality. Instead the project through public meetings, public or nothing on their projects is attrac- Vermont group was tasked with “develop[ing] documents, and Web site accessibility to tive to government officials concerned * The Merck Family Fund granted recommendations for specific actions to those documents. about their climate- change policies. For CCS $50,000 last year for its Vermont help reduce or prevent climate change,” But the transparency has limita- example in Montana, where the state and South Carolina projects to be delivered to the Legislative Com- tions. The fact that CCS brings its own paid minimally for its $370,000 Climate * The WestWind Foundation mission on Global Climate Change. Change Advisory Committee project, funding to a venture — despite that is granted $30,000 in 2006 for CCS’s work Inevitably questions come from air-quality officials avoided the competi- initiated by government and designed in Virginia and in the Southeast CAPAG members, however, Peterson tive bidding process because of all the to influence public policy — means it said. He said when they do, CCS ana- foundation money that CCS brought. does not have to divulge its financial CCS’s template lysts refer them to information about “It appears to the department that sources for its various state projects. CCS global-warming science produced by The process for CCS is nearly only one source, the Center for Climate did provide for Carolina Journal detailed the United Nations’ Intergovernmental identical in every state it works with. Strategies, …is acceptable or suitable information about its private funds Panel on Climate Change, and by the The climate-action advisory groups, for the service desired,” a Montana received for North Carolina’s CAPAG, National Academy of Sciences. facilitated by CCS-hired personnel, Department of Environmental Quality but declined to respond to subsequent “We don’t dispute their findings,” official wrote in a “Request for Best rounds of inquiries about foundation produce the same series of documents, Peterson said. “We don’t take a position Source Contract Approval.” “No other funding for other states’ projects. as the result of a similar series of meet- on them.” contractor group of which the Depart- “I believe that it is best that you ings, usually six of them, of the climate But despite the weight of the ment is aware has the funding to per- receive this information from the states group, as well as subgroups. organizations behind the reports pro- form the whole project, of which the where the work is occurring,” said In nearly all cases (North Carolina vided to CAPAG by CCS, consensus is Department’s contribution of $50,000 Brian Hill, a director on the board of being one exception), the process is ini- nonexistent on the threats, and actions is but a small part.” CCS’s parent organization, Enterpris- tiated by a governor’s executive order. needed to be taken, in response to global In other states the need for special ing Environmental Strategies, Inc., in The governor then appoints, usually, 25 warming. approval to skip competitive bidding an e-mail. to 35 members to the study group, while “Although no cause for alarm rests was unnecessary, because the minimum Told that the states do not have CCS compiles a draft greenhouse-gas- on this issue, there has been an intense threshold for requiring competitive bids CCS’s detailed private funding infor- emissions “inventory” for that state. The effort to claim that the theoretically wasn’t met because of all the private mation nor, in most cases, total overall inventory is imprecise, however, since expected contribution from additional money CCS contributed. The New budgets for the projects, Hill did not there is no way to exactly measure total [human] carbon dioxide has actually Mexico Environment Department paid respond to further requests delivered via carbon-dioxide emissions. been detected,” said Richard Lindzen, only $20,000 for CCS to assist its Climate telephone messages and e-mails. In addition to the establishment professor of atmospheric science at Change Advisory Group. Minnesota But some information, albeit in- of the overall climate-action advisory MIT, in a July 2, 2006 Wall Street Journal will pay no more than $40,000 for its complete and nonspecific, is available group, five “technical Work groups” editorial. commission, the same amount Arizona through other states’ Climate Action associated with various sectors of the “Given that we do not understand contracted to pay. A representative for group documents, and also through the economy are created, usually broken the natural internal variability of climate South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, a private foundations themselves. Among into the following categories: agriculture change, this task is currently impossible. Republican, said his state is paying noth- those involved: and forestry; energy supply; residential, Nevertheless there has been a persistent ing for CCS to advise its Climate, Energy * The Rockefeller Brothers Fund in commercial and industrial; transporta- effort to suggest otherwise, and with and Commerce Advisory Committee. In 2005 granted CCS $255,000 — $100,000 tion and land use; and cross-cutting. surprising impact.” fact, according to Sanford spokesman of which went to its North Carolina CCS determines the range of poli- Joel Sawyer, South Carolina doesn’t CAPAG work, and also to projects in cies that are considered by introducing Continued as “CO2,” Page 5 CAROLINA August 2007 JOURNAL North Carolina  JLF Report: N.C. Property Rights Weakest in Nation By CJ STAFF other states are made so far can or any other reason, Bakst said. “Since RALEIGH taking real steps only be described legislation can be changed at the whim he N.C. Constitution has the to protect their “Last year, the North as baby steps in of political interests, this is far from nation’s weakest property rights citizens’ property the right direc- adequate protection.” protection, even after state law- rights, this legisla- Carolina legislature tion,” Bakst said. “Quite simply, any legislator that Tmakers addressed the topic in 2006, ac- ture seems more in- failed at its chance to en- A special opposes a constitutional amendment to cording to a new John Locke Foundation terested in protect- legislative com- protect against eminent domain abuse is policy report. ing government act meaningful eminent mittee, the House being disingenuous, at best,” Bakst said. In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court interests.” Committee on “If legislation were a proper means for in Kelo v. City of New London held that Two of North domain reform.” Eminent Domain the protection of rights, then the North the government could seize private Carolina’s neigh- Powers, issued Carolina Constitution would not need property for economic development. b o r s , G e o rg i a Daren Bakst an interim report to protect any rights, including freedom The JLF report makes the case for a and South Caro- JLF Analyst identifying sever- of the press or equal protection.” constitutional amendment to protect lina, already have al issues it would A well-drafted constitutional against these types of takings and other amended their address after the amendment is critical for property rights eminent-domain abuses. Eminent do- constitutions to boost property rights session. “For no apparent reason, this protection, Bakst said. The amendment main is the government’s power to seize protections. committee never met again even though should: limit eminent-domain power private property without the consent of A total of seven states amended most of the issues it was concerned about to property takings involving a proper owners. their constitutions last year. “Voters were not addressed by the legislature,” “public use”; protect against misuse of “Last year, the North Carolina overwhelmingly supported the eminent Bakst said. laws against “blight”; provide “just” legislature failed at its chance to enact domain amendments,” Bakst said. State legislation is all that stands compensation in eminent domain meaningful eminent domain reform,” The N.C. General Assembly ap- between North Carolinians and the cases; and create a fair process for said report author Daren Bakst, JLF legal proved legislation in 2006 to address government’s ability to take their private property owners targeted in eminent and regulatory policy analyst. “While property rights protection. “The changes property for economic development domain cases. CJ CO2 Alarmist Organizations Affecting Policy in N.C. Continued from Page 4 oxide taxes, and taxes and surcharges on of generation for electric power. The CCS’s work is complete with electricity bills. Critics argue that many legislature and North Carolina’s citizens Arizona’s and New Mexico’s climate Senate Minority Leader Berger cast of these programs increase tax burdens, should stop, examine the facts carefully, change advisory groups. doubt upon the U.N.’s research. are a drag on the states economy, and and remove emotion from this issue The Arizona Climate Change “The U.N.’s track record for pre- have little or no impact on global tem- before we take steps that may very well Advisory Group produced 49 recom- dicting actual temperature increases are peratures. have long-term negative consequences mendations to reduce greenhouse-gas usually incorrect by between 45 to 75 “If we determine that carbon for our economy.” emissions in the state. “The CCAG percent,” he said. emissions are truly a threat to the en- CAPAG has already recommended strongly recommends early and ag- Where does North Carolina vironment, there are more effective 16 “early consensus” options to the Leg- gressive implementation of the recom- stand? options than those proposed by the islative Commission on Global Climate mendations and a corresponding set of CAPAG held its seventh meeting environmental committee,” said State Change. incentives to promote their early adop- on July 16. A large menu of options Sen. Robert Pittenger, R-Charlotte, and It considered 37 other options for tion,” the advisory group wrote in its is under consideration. Among them member of the Legislative Commission possible approval to the legislative panel final report to elected officials. are taxpayer subsidies for biofuels, on Global Climate Change. at a July meeting. The LCGCC is by law New Mexico’s Climate Change removal of barriers to “smart growth,” “Nuclear power, for example, cre- required to make a final report on its Advisory Group sent a list of 69 policy tax-funded expansion of mass transit, ates no carbon emissions and is gener- findings and recommendations to the recommendations to Gov. Bill Rich- renewable-energy incentives, carbon-di- ally recognized as the cleanest method full General Assembly in April 2008. ardson, a Democrat. CJ

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NC Delegation Watch Americans for Tax Reform

Reps: Stop Mexico trucks Group: N.C. Taxes Among South’s Highest In a letter July 2 to President Bush, Third District Rep. Walter By PAUL CHESSER during that time period, at $2,602 per Jones and Eighth District Rep. Associate Editor capita. Robin Hayes, both N.C. Republi- RALEIGH “Right now taxpayers are Among the Cost of Government cans, joined 112 House colleagues n average, North Carolinians Day rankings, North Carolina landed in urging the president to stop the had the 14th-highest amount of under attack from Con- the third-latest of states in the South- Department of Transportation’s tax increases per capita among gress.” east, just ahead of Virginia, July 11, and Cross-Border Demonstration Oall states during the past seven years, Florida, July 13. Program, a program that allows Americans for Tax Reform says in its Grover Norquist “Average North Carolina residents thousands of Mexico-domi- recently released annual Cost of Govern- Americans for Tax Reform must work 187 days out of the year to ciled commercial trucks on U.S. ment Day report. pay for the cost of government spending highways without safeguards Americans for Tax Reform said and regulations,” Norquist said. “That to ensure that they comply with North Carolina raised its taxes by $5.9 is days later than all of its neighbors Homeland Security and immigra- billion during that time, the second the economic growth achieved under besides Virginia. As North Carolina tion standards and laws. highest increase among states in the President Bush’s tax cuts.” has raised taxes by nearly $6 billion “The Cross-Border Dem- Southeast, behind Tennessee. For N.C. taxpayers, Cost of Gov- from FY 2002-2008, taxpayers should onstration Program would give The Washington-based taxpayer ernment Day came earlier than the contact their legislators and tell them Mexican truck drivers unfettered protection group calculates the price tag national average: July 6. That placed it that 187 days worked for government access to the United States with- for federal, state, and local government 27th among the 50 states. Alabama and is enough.” out a demonstrable way to verify to individual taxpayers every year, and Oklahoma tied for the earliest calendar In contrast Rob Schofield, of the their identity, immigration status ranks the costs per capita for each state. date, June 22, for their taxpayers to pay liberal public policy organization N.C. and length of stay in the United Americans for Tax Reform then com- off their overall government expendi- Policy Watch, wrote in January that the States,” the congressmen wrote. putes how many days out of the year tures. Connecticut by far had the latest state’s tax increases this decade were a “It is also unclear which law it requires for the average taxpayer to date in Americans for Tax Reform’s relative bargain. enforcement personnel have the pay for his or her share of government rankings, with a date of Aug. 2. “…During a decade in which responsibility, authority and train- spending. The group said this year av- “The burden in Connecticut is so North Carolina was forced to grapple ing to check a Mexican driver’s erage Americans finished paying their onerous,” the report said, “both because with skyrocketing growth in the cost of status and enforce compliance government tabs July 11, two days more it has very high relative incomes, get- health care, a massive influx of school with the federal laws once they than was required in 2006. ting a big hit from the federal income age children, an exploding prison popu- are in the United States. “Right now taxpayers are under tax, and because it has high state and lation, and repeated federal cost shifts “Mr. President, we under- attack from Congress,” said Grover local taxes.” in which Congress dumped responsi- stand your intention to fully Norquist, the organization’s president, But the organization also reviewed bility for essential services onto state implement the provisions of in a press release. “With tax increases state tax increases over the past seven government, state leaders managed NAFTA by opening our Southern on everything from cigarettes to private years, and found that the average N.C. to keep most basic state services alive border to commercial traffic,” equity on the table, this year’s Cost of resident paid $668 more because of those and kicking for an extra 300 bucks per the letter said. “However, the Government Day must spur politicians increases since fiscal 2002. Overall, New person — or about 82 cents a day,” he Administration should not put into action to protect taxpayers and Jersey by far had the largest tax increase wrote for the group’s Web site. CJ those interests ahead of our public safety, homeland security, and economic vitality.” Did S.C. Get a Better Google Deal Than N.C.? By PAUL CHESSER estimate that Google could reap about through its “Super FILOT” (fee in lieu Jones challenges on Libby Associate Editor $4.8 million in those tax breaks from each of property taxes) program. RALEIGH state if it reaches its targets of about 200 Some news reports about the The following day Jones, in eb search engine company new jobs at each facility. negotiations for the Lenoir data center his own letter, responded to the Google said in April that it Also, both states exempt taxes on portrayed a direct, one-on-one competi- president’s commutation of a jail would build a $600-million electricity and investments in equipment tion between North Carolina and South sentence for I. Lewis “Scooter” Wdata center near Charleston, S.C., which and machinery. The S.C. Department Carolina, which implied one of the states Libby by calling for the presi- would represent a similar investment to of Commerce Web site did not indicate would lose out. dent to pardon two imprisoned one announced earlier this year in Lenoir, any other state incentives made avail- In reality, according to Google of- former Border Patrol agents: N.C., in Caldwell County. able to Google. The company will pay ficials, 12 locations in seven states are Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Little information was immedi- sales tax on construction materials; an under consideration for similar server Compean. Both are serving time ately available about the details of tax estimated $7 million for each project in facilities. in federal prison for shooting at breaks offered by South Carolina and each state. The company had long been re- a drug smuggler who brought by local government officials there. A The difference between the states searching the Charleston-area site, a fact 743 pounds of marijuana across Google official said the company’s deals may be in local government tax breaks. known to North Carolina and its local the border. with the two states were “not an apples- Caldwell County and the City of Lenoir government officials. “While you have spared Mr. to-apples comparison.” will give back 100 percent of Google’s “Everyone knew from the begin- Libby from serving even one day Economic development officials property taxes, and 80 percent of its real ning that there were multiple projects of his ‘excessive’ 30-month prison for North Carolina, Lenoir, and Caldwell estate taxes, for a period of 30 years. and multiple potential sites for these term, agents Ramos and Compean County have been criticized by some for But according to the S.C. Depart- projects,” Schnitt said. “Is it possible that have already served 167 days of giving away too much in tax revenues to ment of Commerce, Berkeley County the Lenoir site could have ended up at their 11 and 12-year prison sen- persuade Google to build a data center will receive an estimated $1.96 million in Mount Holly [in Berkeley County]? Yes, tences,” Jones wrote. “By attempt- — also called a server “farm,” because property taxes annually. Its press release but then the Mount Holly site would ing to apprehend an illegal alien it is a large facility containing banks of said, “This revenue is the equivalent of have ended up somewhere else.” drug smuggler, these agents were computers that operate its Internet busi- the property tax collected annually from Schnitt said some N.C. officials enforcing our laws, not breaking ness — in the western part of the state. 1,000 homeowners with homes valued visited the Berkeley County site, “so them.... I urge you to correct a true Incentives granted by both states at $200,000.” they were very much aware of what was injustice by immediately pardon- include job development investment Don Hobart, legal counsel for the going on.” Hobart confirmed knowl- ing these two law enforcement grants, which rebate a percentage of N.C. Department of Commerce, said edge about the advanced negotiations officers.” CJ withholding taxes per new job created. South Carolina “extend[ed] a major with South Carolina and also Google’s Both North Carolina and South Carolina property tax incentive” to Google interest in other states. CJ CAROLINA August 2007 JOURNAL CJ Interview  Schwartz: We’re Wasting Resources in Global Warming Scare

nvironmental consultant and ing, it causes the your report and greenhouse gases, almost solely to green- visiting fellow at the American oceans to warm, see some of the house gases, is probably incorrect. Enterprise Institute Joel Schwartz and those warmer claims, some of the But also, the kinds of things that Erecently produced the N.C. Citizen’s sea surface tem- real evidence, is environmentalists and Al Gore are try- Guide to Global Warming and partici- peratures increase there a pattern that ing to get us to do are among the most pated in the John Locke Foundation’s hurricane intensity they’ll see about costly policies that you could possibly five-city Global Warming Tour from and frequency. But the ways in which implement. And so if you want to solve Charlotte to Wilmington. another thing that the evidence that’s the problem, you want to solve it in the When the tour reached Raleigh, climate models pre- put forward by cheapest way possible. Schwartz discussed the citizen’s guide dict for greenhouse alarmists is not So one of the things that some with Mitch Kokai for Carolina Journal warming is that the quite right? scientists are actually even researching Radio. (Go to http://www.carolina- climate changes is something called geo-engineering, journal.com/cjradio/ to find a station in other ways that S c h w a r t z : where you try to offset any warm- near you or to learn about the weekly actually offset the Yeah, I think there ing effects — whatever is causing the CJ Radio podcast.) effect of sea sur- are a number of warming. So even if it’s not greenhouse face temperatures, ways. One of them gases, even if it’s human activities other Kokai: Joel, I’m going to start with and that effect is hurricanes. You than greenhouse gases, if it’s natural a quote right from this new report. It from greenhouse never hear about factors, one thing you could do would says, “The greatest threat we face from warming really the other side of be to spray, essentially, glitter above climate change is the danger of rushing shouldn’t—should the issue on hurri- the poles. Joel Schwartz (above) spokeat several John into foolish and costly policies driven by be kind of a wash. Locke Foundation events in June. canes, the fact that This is something that volcanoes ill-founded climate change hysteria.” Is The irony is they’re not increas- already do every once in awhile, and it this a really big problem? that just a couple a weeks ago the journal ing, that greenhouse warming actually does cool the earth. It’s something that Nature published a paper that looked at should act in ways that would reduce would probably be a lot less expensive Schwartz: I think it’s a big prob- hurricane frequency and intensity go- the intensity of hurricanes and so on. But than the vast reductions in energy that lem, both in North Carolina, around the ing back three centuries in the Atlantic there are a number of other things that would be required to reduce carbon U.S., and around the world. The kinds and concluded that it was actually the people probably aren’t aware of. dioxide. It would work to reduce tem- of things that climate activists want us quiescent period during the 1970s and One is that just about every week perature regardless of what’s causing to do would be very costly. That means ’80s that was unusual, and the current there is a paper published in one of the the warming. there’d have to be “wrenching transfor- increased hurricane activity in the At- major research journals that is inconsis- So that it makes more robust than mation” of our way of life, as Al Gore lantic over the last 10 years is typical of tent with — or even directly contradicts greenhouse gas reductions. It wouldn’t likes to say. It would mean that we would the long-term norm. — claims based on greenhouse warm- require these wrenching transformations have to stop using energy in almost all And also if you look worldwide, ing. So the pattern of warming around in our way of life. It wouldn’t prevent the ways we use energy now — most even though we’ve seen an increase in the Earth is not consistent with the people in developing countries from of the driving, most of the things, the hurricane intensity and frequency in the warming being due to carbon dioxide getting a higher standard of living and benefits we get from energy. Atlantic in the last 10 years, worldwide and other greenhouse gas emissions. greater safety and longer lifespans and It also means that people in devel- there’s actually been no overall change, There is research suggesting that other greater health. oping parts of the world wouldn’t be and in fact hurricanes are actually de- factors, including human factors like So that has potentially a lot of able to increase energy use, and that’s creasing in some parts of the world. So soot emissions, could be a major factor, advantages over reducing greenhouse something that they need to do in order probably there’s really no effect. natural factors like the sun. gases, but of course this all assumes that to become, to develop the healthy, safe, Other research shows that climate the amount of warming is going to be and comfortable lives that we enjoy in Kokai: There is another piece in models do a lousy job of predicting real large and that it’s going to cause awful Europe and the United States and other your report that deals with the issue world climate, which suggests that the dangers like floods and hurricanes, and parts of the world. So I think it’s a big of the coasts, and there are some who things that they’re telling us about the I don’t think there’s evidence that that’s problem. contend that greenhouse warming is future probably aren’t right. Even if the going to happen any way. In addition, the kinds of things that going to flood the Outer Banks and wipe model matches some trends from the people are talking about doing in North out some of the state’s coastal areas. You past, they do such a poor job on oth- Kokai: There will be some people Carolina, even if they’re implemented point out that there’s no evidence that ers that maybe they’re matching those in the audience who will say, “OK. If worldwide, it wouldn’t actually have would point to that happening. trends for the wrong reasons and there global warming is a danger, we should any effect on temperature 50 or 100 years are offsetting errors in the models. do something now.” Are they right? And from now. And so we’re talking about Schwartz: Well, sea level is rising, And so, there are lots of reasons if so, what should we do? all pain and no gain. but sea level has been rising for more to believe that the supposed consensus than 100 years. In fact, it’s been rising that climate change is due to greenhouse Schwartz: Well, first of all you Kokai: In the report itself, you since the end of the last ice age thousands gases and is going to be disastrous is can string together a whole bunch of rebut about 17 different claims that are of years ago. We have good data going wrong, and that we could go headlong improbable events in a whole bunch made by people who are on the alarmist back more than 100 years on sea level into these policies that would be very of different directions, not just climate end of the global warming debate. We’re rising in many places of the world, and costly and won’t do us any good, and of change, and imagine all these different not going to have time to go through all the sea level was rising before we had course would take away our resources disasters that could befall you, and if you 17, but I do want to hit some, especially emitted many greenhouse gases, even from other things that are important say, “Well, let’s throw all of our resources those that have particular interest for back in the early 1900s. to us. into dealing with all these improbable North Carolina. We’ve emitted about 95 percent of events, you’re not going to have much North Carolina has dealt quite our greenhouse gases since the 1920s, Kokai: One of the things you point left to deal with real dangers.” a bit with hurricanes in the past, and and yet sea level was rising before that, out is that you’re not saying that there And so blowing global warming there are several of these claims that and in fact the rate of sea level rise has is no warming. You’re also not saying out of proportion means that you are deal with hurricanes and the impact of been declining during the 20th century, that there is no impact from man. But if wasting your money, you’re wasting global warming on hurricanes. What even as greenhouse warming has sup- there is some sort of warming, if there your effort on things that aren’t going do we know about the impact of global posedly increased. is some sort of danger, we could and to do you any good, and that just means warming or climate change on hurri- So those two things don’t wash, should do different things than having that you’re going to make yourself canes in terms of danger, frequency, or this claim that we’re going to have—that increased taxes or regulations that will worse off. anything else? we’re having dangerous sea level rise, limit our options in the future. So just because environmental- and that it’s being caused by global ists cook up these scares doesn’t mean Schwartz: Well, in terms of cli- warming. Schwartz: Yeah, I think that the that we have to totally change our mate change, the theory is that with danger is overblown. And I think also way of life without getting any benefit greenhouse gases, if it causes warm- Kokai: So as people go through that the attribution of the warming to in return. CJ August 2007 CAROLINA  Education JOURNAL State School Briefs After 10 Years, Charters Fight to Grow

Mecklenburg bond effort By JIM STEGALL suspended or expelled from a traditional Co-chairs Eulada Watt, Lu- Contributing Editor school. Without these six schools in the Ann Tucker, and Bolyn McClung RALEIGH “The Democrats have mix, the graduation rate for charter high launched Mecklenburg County’s en years after North Carolina’s locked down public edu- schools rises to 63 percent. bond campaign July 13 at the first charter schools opened their To sort out the conflicting claims, renovated Dilworth Elementary doors the innovative schools of cation policy in this state. the State Board of Education has con- School, The Charlotte Observer Tchoice are still struggling for acceptance vened a commission composed of leg- reports. and understanding in the halls of power. They have no vision for islators, educators, and civic leaders. A controversial $516 million Frustrated charter school supporters re- meaningful education Headed by Dr. Michael Fedewa, super- bond proposal for Charlotte- port little progress this year on their key intendent of formation and education for Mecklenburg Schools will be the legislative initiatives, while opponents reform.” the Diocese of Raleigh, the commission centerpiece of their effort. They continue to snipe from the sidelines. is to conduct a comprehensive study of will also urge voters to approve It’s not that charter school advo- Sen. Eddie Goodall North Carolina’s charter school program $30 million for Central Piedmont cates aren’t trying. At least seven bills R-Union County and make recommendations for changes Community College and $35.6 were filed in the General Assembly this in law or policy, including possible million to buy land. session to increase the number of char- changes to the cap law. The trio said they don’t yet ter schools or to secure more equitable so low. The study also pointed out that As a former chairman of the first have a budget or strategies to funding for them. But only two got so the graduation rate for students in the Charter School Advisory Board, Fedewa avoid a repeat of the 2005 school much as a hearing in a legislative com- 19 charter high schools was 55.3 percent, recalls that “we were truly building the bond defeat. The campaign faces a mittee. One of those would mandate compared to 68.9 percent for students in plane while we were flying it,” especially dual challenge: making the case for the closure of charter schools whose regular public schools. when it came to establishing policies for bonds and persuading supporters students consistently scored low on Responding to the study’s find- approving charter applications. As a to vote in an off-year election with state-mandated tests, and the other ings at a press conference called by result, he said, some charter applications Republican legislative leaders, Terry no national or statewide races. would establish a legislative commis- were approved that probably shouldn’t Stoops, education policy analyst of the In 2005, the three co-chairs sion to study whether charter schools have been. John Locke Foundation, downplayed represented the full spectrum. were working as intended. As of press He also noted that although the the differences. Referring to a handful of Watt voted yes on school bonds. time, neither bill had been voted on by state has revoked a number of charters McClung, like 56 percent of people charter schools that just missed the cutoff either house. for various reasons, it has never done so who turned out that year, voted no. for making adequate yearly progress, he The top priority of most charter because of poor academic performance. And Tucker, like about 80 percent supporters is to raise or eliminate the said, “Slightly higher performance by only five charter schools would have Some charter school supporters point out of Mecklenburg’s registered vot- cap of 100 charter schools currently in resulted in charters outperforming the that the combination of keeping a cap ers, stayed home. State election force. The cap was imposed by the initial regular public schools.” of 100 schools in place while allowing records show she missed three of charter school law as part of a compro- Other charter advocates have chronically under-performing schools the past five school bond votes. mise, which made the legislation more explained the difference in graduation to continue operations drags down the She and county commission- palatable to charter skeptics. rates by pointing out that six of the 19 statistical performance of charter schools ers Chairman Jennifer Roberts Sen. Eddie Goodall, R-Union, was charter high schools (including the five overall. said that makes her representa- one of the legislators who filed a bill ear- tive of the people this campaign with the lowest graduation rates) are In its meeting in July, the commis- lier this session to eliminate the cap. He must reach. Roberts worked with “alternative” schools, meaning that they sion briefly discussed the issue of racial said he is not surprised that the Senate county, school, and business lead- focus their attention on students who balance in charter schools. Joel Mattley, leadership has sat on the bill. ers to recruit the co-chairs. are most at risk of failure. a consultant in the Office of Charter “The Democrats have locked down To qualify as an alternative charter Schools, presented data showing that public education policy in this state,” statewide, white students and black Wake taps rainy-day fund school, at least 75 percent of the student he said in a telephone interview. “They body must have a history of truancy, students are slightly over-represented The Wake County school have no vision for meaningful educa- behavioral problems, involvement with in charter schools, with Hispanics and board raided its rainy-day fund tion reform.” He predicted that noth- the juvenile justice system, or have been Asians are slightly under-represented. CJ July 17 to balance its budget while ing would change “as long as the same restoring local pay raises for bus vested interests run the legislature.” drivers, cafeteria workers, and Charter school opponents found other support staff, The News & ammunition in a recent study by the N.C. Observer of Raleigh reports. Center for Public Policy Research that The school district was faced concluded charter schools must improve with a $5 million shortfall after in four areas before the state should getting less money than it had re- consider raising or eliminating the cap. quested from county commission- According to the center’s study, North ers. After several hours of lengthy Carolina’s charter schools exhibit low negotiations and compromises, the academic performance relative to their board agreed to tap into its rainy- regular public school counterparts, lack day fund for $2.9 million, far more racial and ethnic balance, do not transfer than had been recommended by innovations to regular public schools, administrators, to save support and are sometimes poorly managed, staff raises. especially in financial matters. “It may not be that much The center based its claim of poor more money for them, but it’s academic performance on an analysis important that we at least give of charter schools‚ ratings in the states‚ them something more,” said board ABCs accountability program, which member Carol Parker. Because establishes seven categories of schools of record growth, as many as based on how well students perform 8,000 new students this fall, the on standardized tests. According to school district had asked county the study, 53 percent of charter schools commissioners for a $29.9 mil- were in the bottom three categories lion increase. CJ of academic achievement, while 48.1 percent of regular public schools rated CAROLINA August 2007 JOURNAL Education  Families Choosing Non-Public Commentary Schools Save Taxpayers Money It’s Time To Remove the Cap By HAL YOUNG ueling research reports the trict schools often don’t account for Contributing Editor past two months have re- charter schools’ smaller proportion RALEIGH ignited smoldering debate of academically gifted students. orth Carolina’s Constitution Dover the merits of raising North Overall, though, charter guarantees “a general and Carolina’s cap on charter schools. schools are making strides aca- uniform system of free public On May 2, the John Locke Founda- demically. In 2004-05, 61.1 percent Nschools” for “every child of appropriate tion published a 10-year review of of charter schools met federal ad- age and sufficient mental and physical the state’s charter school equate yearly progress ability.” Fulfilling that promise for 1.4 movement, arguing for standards, compared to million students cost taxpayers $10.3 bil- removal of the 100-school 57.3 percent of tradition- lion for the 2005-2006 school year, plus cap. On June 6, the N.C. al public schools. $1.16 billion for capital expenses. Public Center for Public Policy Opponents of education costs 39 cents of every dollar Research released a re- removing the charter paid to the state, making it the largest port cautioning lawmak- school cap also cite racial single category of state expenditure. ers against raising the imbalance as a rationale As large as that is — the entire cap, suggesting charter for restraining growth. state budget for fiscal 2005-2006 was schools must first im- There’s no question $17.2 billion — it could have been larger. prove their performance. that minority children Who’s right? In my are over-represented in According to one measure, parents who Lindalyn view, it’s time to remove charter schools. But it’s send their children to non-public schools Kakadelis or teach them at home are saving their the cap. Obviously, like not because they are left fellow taxpayers more than $1 billion Rod Helder, director of the N.C. Division any 10-year-old, the char- there by “white flight” of Non-Public Education. (CJ photo by Hal ter school movement has into better schools. every year. Young) experienced growing pains. Nev- Rather, traditional public schools spending about $149 per student in 2002. Exactly how much? ertheless, the schools are providing have consistently failed to close North Carolina has a higher percentage valuable, tuition-free education black-white achievement gaps, Figures like this were brought to of home-schooled students, but the fig- options to about 30,000 students in leading higher percentages of black light by former Secretary of Administra- ure would still be less than $300 for the the state. More than 5,200 languish families to opt out of the system. tion Gwynn Swinson in 2005, when she same scenario here. on waiting lists. Public opinion It’s no wonder: A 2006 report by told a legislative committee meeting that Some economists have said this strongly supports charter school the Schott Foundation for Public private and home education was saving kind of calculation is too simplistic growth: A poll July 2006 by the Education shows an alarmingly the state and local budgets about $980 because it doesn’t analyze the remain- John William Pope Civitas Institute low graduation rate of 47 percent million in education expenses every ing capacity of school facilities, differ- found that 59 percent of North for black males in North Carolina. year. ences in per-pupil expenditure from one Carolinians favored removing the Critics suggest management Rod Helder, director of the state’s county to the next, and other variables. cap to enhance parental choice and problems or poor financial over- Division of Non-Public Education, said When opponents suggested home ease the school construction burden sight should force foreclosure of the that number is much higher now. In 2004- schooling actually took money away on the state. charter school movement. These are 2005, there were from the school Critics point to faltering state legitimate concerns, yet the nature nearly 150,000 stu- system in Nevada, test scores as a reason to block of a charter, or “contract,” ensures dents in private a home-school- expansion. Yes, state achievement that schools with rampant financial and home schools, “When you multiply ing organization results are mixed — some charter or management difficulties will he said. The pub- funded a more schools do well, while others do eventually be forced to close. Since lic school system those 149,864 students detailed study for not. But isn’t this the case with all the law’s passage in 1996, 39 char- spent an average of the state. public schools? Consider too, that ters have been given to schools that $7,328 per student [in nonpublic educa- “It was a poor-performing charter schools no longer operate. Nine had their that year. tion] by $7,328 each, matter of incre- operate at the discretion of the charters revoked, 11 never opened, “When you mental costs,” said State Board of Education: Unlike and two had charters that were multiply those the expenditure savings Frank Schnorbus, struggling district schools, charter not renewed. The rest relinquished 149,864 students president of the schools can have their charter (and their charters voluntarily, because [in non-public in FY04-05 to the State Nevada Home- with it, their ability to operate) of difficulties with facilities, or education] by school Network. revoked. The State Board of Educa- because they failed to put together $7,328 each, the of North Carolina was In 2003, he told tion might indeed need to step it up programs that appealed to parents expenditure sav- $1,098,203,392.” the state’s school and close charter schools that fall and students. ings in FY04-05 to funding guru that behind academically. But the state That is as it should be. Charter the State of North Rod Helder “if we really cost must first ensure charter revoca- schools that can’t get it together C a r o l i n a w a s N.C. Division of them money, we tions are issued based on academic — academically, administratively, all needed to know $1,098,203,392,” Non-Public Education growth, since many students arrive or financially — shouldn’t stay he said. “You see how much.” State at charter schools below grade open. But their problems shouldn’t how much money officials were un- level. define or impede the growth of the public schools interested in a pro- It’s also worth noting that an otherwise successful education did not have to spend.” posed study, though, so NHN contracted much of the achievement data on movement. In the end, the presence Another alternative is to assume Nevada Policy Research Institute to charter schools has been plagued of thousands of schoolchildren on the schools’ financial pie will stay the research the question. by methodological concerns, giv- charter school waiting lists speaks same size regardless of enrollment The institute found that adding one ing charter schools an unfair bad volumes about the need for more changes. Dr. Brian Ray of the National student to the schools actually cost more rap. Charter school performance of these schools. Isn’t it time we Home Education Research Institute than the average per-pupil expenditure, evaluations generally fail to disag- listened? CJ and Nick Weller of the Cascade Policy so keeping that child in private education gregate alternative charter schools Institute, writing in School Business Af- saved a larger-than-expected cost. In a from overall data, skewing scores fairs, found that adding home-educated rapidly expanding school system, such downward. Additionally, statistics Lindalyn Kakadelis is director of students into a static budget equation in comparing charter schools and dis- the North Carolina Education Alliance. Oregon would only change per-pupil Continued as “Families,” Page 11 August 2007 CAROLINA 10 Education JOURNAL

School Reform Notes Parents want more choices

Math, science charter school Garner Schools: Choice For Some, Not All Computer and electrical engi- neering professors. An elementary By KAREN McMAHAN school teacher. An RFMD design Contributing Editor engineer. A businesswoman for a RALEIGH pharmaceutical company. or years, Garner families have They want to create a school resolved their problems over for children that focuses on scientific school reassignment by quietly careers, the News-Record of Greens- Fopting out — choosing private or home boro reported. schooling or moving out of Garner and All they need is state approval, Wake County. then the Triad Math and Science Before Superior Court Judge Academy could go from a 308-page Howard Manning’s ruling in May proposal to Guilford County’s that the school system cannot legally fourth charter school in 2008-09. assign students to year-round schools The school is one of three vy- without parental consent, more than ing for two open charter spots. The 3,500 families had opted out of Garner State Board of Education likely will schools over more than a five-year pe- decide in September. It would cost riod. Since the ruling, hundreds more about $1.7 million, a combination have opted out. Many Garner parents want to know why Wake County Public Schools assigns so many of state and local money, to run the free-and-reduced lunch students to their schools. (CJ photo) school the first year. Excellence and fairness “I think we are bringing a happens to parents who don’t have the are choosing to move to other parts unique innovation,” said Ali Tom- The primary issue is not traditional time or resources to keep after school of Wake County or to other counties bak, a design engineer with RFMD versus year-round calendars but rather officials? I have the ability to choose; to ensure quality education for their and president of the Triad Math and academic excellence and fairness for all others do not.” children. She and Sims cited instances Science Academy’s board. students. Garner residents want to know Both Sims and White wondered where families moved to a community A focus on math and science is why their schools have unfairly shoul- why the enrollment at magnet schools precisely because of its schools, only something America needs, Tombak dered the burden for the county’s free- in other parts of the county, primarily to have their children reassigned and said. He cited studies, such as the and-reduced (F&R) lunch students. Broughton and the beltline districts, are bused miles away to another school 2000 report by the National Com- Carol Sims, a Garner real estate protected. with disproportionately numbers of mission on Mathematics and Science agent, said the school board is not busing “Why are some kids treated bet- free-and-reduced lunch students and Teaching for the 21st Century, that to make the schools better. “F&R plus ter?” White speculated it has to do with low test scores. In one case, a family show American students falling F&R equals higher F&R,” Sims said. votes. Lancaster agreed, saying that the opted out and chose to drive their child behind their global peers. For example, Garner High School until districts need to be redrawn so all school 15 miles away to another school because the recent reassignment had 70 percent board members are “answerable to the of its academic excellence. Both Sims and free-and-reduced lunch students and county as a whole, not just a district.” White think that Garner schools are un- has consistently been one of the lowest Otherwise, the beltline districts have the fairly perceived as low quality because Christian sports academy performing schools in Wake County. It’s largest population and thus the greater the high numbers of free-and-reduced Organizers of a proposed on the state’s turnaround list for failing voice, Lancaster said. lunch students skew the scores. Christian-based sports academy for to meet academic standards. With Susan Perry and Carol Parker Kernersville say that it could be the Amy White, a former member of saying they would not seek re-election to Inequity in school construction first step toward creating a network the Wake County School Board who the school board, Garner residents were of private high schools stretching represented the Garner district, said that hoping for a better chance to resolve The current debate over a proposed across the country, the Winston-Sa- parents “want to know that my child, like Garner’s issues. However, after learn- new high school in Garner underscores lem Journal reports. any other child in any other school in the ing that Ann McLaurin, wife of Raleigh the problem. As Sims pointed out, “More Plans for Veritas Sports Acad- county, has an equal opportunity for an Mayor Charles Meeker, is running for than 2,500 homes have been built in emy were filed in Kernersville July excellent education.” Parents want more Perry’s seat, many expressed concern southeast Raleigh during the last five 16. magnet schools and more choices. about a possible conflict of interest. years compared to only 700 in Garner, Organizers said they would The lottery for magnet schools is and another 2,500 homes are projected like to see the school open in the not truly random, as Andy Lancaster, a Reflecting diversity for Raleigh. So why have no new schools fall of 2008 and enroll 125 to 140 former Garner resident, discovered sev- been built in southeast Raleigh?” Many students. First, organizers must eral years when he petitioned to get his Garner is a diverse community and higher-end homes south of Garner have pass a review by the Kernersville daughter into Timber Drive Elementary, the residents want their schools to better families with no children. planning board and meet fund-rais- a Garner magnet school. His daughter reflect that diversity. Despite the school The school board has allocated ing goals. had been assigned to Aversboro El- board’s insistence that its decisions are only land in Garner, and the board con- The school’s president and ementary, but he and his wife wanted not based on race, their actions appear tinues to bus kids, mostly low-income, founder, Gary Newell, lives in the year-round calendar and magnet contradictory. White said she and other to Garner schools. Garner residents Kernersville. He is a motivational program offered at Timber Drive. The residents had spent countless hours cre- want community schools, not county speaker and the founder of Outreach application criteria made it apparent ating maps for Garner schools that both schools. America, an organization that runs that the state was, “in essence, punish- achieved racial balance and reduced When asked about the school sports camps and other activities ing success,” Lancaster said, meaning free-and-reduced lunch percentages to board’s assertion that they cannot find with a Bible-based focus. that families from higher socioeconomic far less than 30 percent. But until the suitable or large enough parcels, White “I see so many kids that are status stood little chance of getting a Wake Cares lawsuit, the school board disagreed, saying the real problem is 13 and 14 and I think they would seat over lower socioeconomic families. paid no attention. Over the past few the school board’s unwillingness to pay have had a chance,” Newell said. Thus, he said, it was “not a true lottery months, Garner residents have stepped landowners a fair price. “Why aren’t they “Either bad associations or drugs as advertised.” up efforts to bring public attention to willing to pay those owners what they’d or whatever takes these kids out. I Lancaster spent nearly two months, their issues, having learned that being pay for land in Holly Springs and other have seen so many kids whose lives visiting the school and making daily diplomatic and cooperative does not parts of the county?” were destroyed and I thought, ‘Wow, phone calls to school officials before achieve results. On July 9, school board officials could I have made a difference?’ his daughter was finally accepted. Sims Schools play a major role in a defended their choice of school sites Finally I said if I don’t ever go for said some parents are afraid to show family’s decision about where to live. to Wake County commissioners, with it I will never know.” CJ up and complain, so they either put With school scores now accessible on Garner Mayor Ronnie Williams once up or opt out. Lancaster asked, “What the Internet, White said many families again voicing strong opposition. CJ CAROLINA August 2007 JOURNAL Education 11 Families Choosing Non-Public Schools Save Tax Money

Continued from Page 9 provide tax relief have been introduced in both houses of the General Assembly, as North Carolina’s, taking one student but stalled in committee the past two out doesn’t diminish school funding but sessions. only slows its growth rate. It actually Ernie Hodges, president of North increases the money available for the Carolinians for Home Education, is students that remained. concerned that any bill might introduce Schnorbus and his organization regulations that would discourage fami- distributed copies of the institute report lies from considering home schooling, to legislators and state officials in 2005 and reduce the expected savings, too. and again this year. “I haven’t heard “Attempts to control home school- that argument any more,” he said. “Not ing which detract from its desirability once.” will also have a negative impact on its “The notion that home-school fiscal benefit to the taxpayers of North children somehow ‘cost’ the public Carolina,” Hodges said. “[But] with schools turns reality on its head,” the the hundreds of millions of dollars that study said. “In truth, the situation could home schooling saves the state, it should be more accurately characterized as one be seen as a financial blessing.” in which Nevada’s public education Haas was likewise cautious, saying establishment profits from unwarranted his organization would support the idea taxes on parents who choose to exercise “in a broad terms, but we’d have to see their parental rights.” specifics; you can’t just give a blanket Cost of not costing taxpayers response.” He said that funds or credits should go to parents, not institutions; Although they spend less than the this avoids problems with state support state would, families with children in for private and religious institutions. nonpublic education still face signifi- cant tuition, fees, and expenses. Home The bottom line schoolers typically pay $500 to $600 per Enrollment in traditional private year for books and materials, accord- and religious schools grew to almost ing to several studies. Dr. Joe Haas of 95,000 this year, Helder said. This year’s the N.C. Christian Schools Association tally of home-schooled students will be said that their member schools range released in August, but the number of from $2,750 to $3,500 per year per child, home-schooled students in 2006 was es- which is less than the national average, timated at 64,387, and it typically grows according to the federal Department of The state’s Division of Non-Public Education, located in the Administration Building by 8 percent to 12 percent each year. Education. on West Jones Street in Raleigh, says private and home education save North Carolina taxpayers nearly a billion dollars a year. (CJ photo) At the end of 2005-2006, nearly “There’s a higher reason than 160,000 students, more than 10 percent money for operating a Christian school,” orientation, as an outreach of the local to remember that if home-school stu- of the state’s student population, was re- Haas said. “A great percentage of our church.” dents enroll in public schools, they do ceiving a nonpublic education. Whether students are in our schools because their While state law provides a genial not generate any additional tax revenue that represents a saving of $1.1 billion parents believe it is their responsibility environment for operating nonpublic for government because their families or some other amount, these families to see to the training of their children. In schools, the state does little more to already pay taxes that fund education ...” are markedly reducing the cost of “free our segment, there is more of a ministry encourage the choice. “It is important wrote Ray and Weller. Bills that would public schools” for everyone else. CJ

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Many N.C. universities re- Do Sports and Community Colleges Mix? quire summer reading for fresh- men. Here are the titles used this year: ommunity colleges are supposed members is a problem throughout the to be an educational stepping state’s community college system. Put- • Appalachian State: A Home It’s certainly true that on the Field by Paul Cuadros. A stone for people who didn’t ting more resources into hiring capable Cmake much of their K-12 years or find professors would certainly seem to be a story of perseverance and success athletics are a big part by the Mexican high school soccer that they need to learn a new skill if they higher priority use of money than field- players of Siler City. are to find a new job. The idea that those of American life, but it ing sports teams. • Duke University: The Best schools would become more effective in doesn’t follow that every It’s certainly true that athletics are of Enemies by Osha Gray David- their role by adding organized sports a big part of American life, but it doesn’t son. A portrait of race relations in programs seems strange. Quite a few school must have com- follow that every school must have com- Durham, told through a story of of them are doing petitive teams. There are many smaller friendship between a black activist so, however. petitive teams. There are colleges and universities that confine and an ex-Klansman. Are com- many smaller colleges their athletics to club sports that inter- • Elizabeth City State Uni- munity colleges ested students can participate in if they versity: Incidents in the Life of a Slave and sports pro- and universities that con- wish to. Having softball as a club sport, Girl by Harriet Jacobs. A personal grams a sensible for example, would be far less costly than narrative by an N.C. slave who mix? fine their athletics to club an intercollegiate baseball team. suffered at the hands of a ruthless A recent We should also bear in mind that The sports that interested owner. article in the nation’s largest university, the Uni- Chronicle of High- versity of Phoenix, doesn’t have any • Elon University: An Incon- George students can participate er Education (“To athletics. Students just take courses. That venient Truth by Al Gore. A collec- Leef in if they wish to. Having tion of pictures and catch phrases Increase Enroll- model works fine, efficiently delivering based on Gore’s multimedia pre- ment, Commu- softball as a club sport, educational main courses without the sentations on global warming. nity Colleges Add More Sports,” July added cost of side dishes and desserts. • North Carolina State Uni- 6, 2007) focuses on Guilford Technical for example, would be Shouldn’t community colleges operate Community College in Jamestown, N.C. basically the same way? versity: Colors of the Mountain by Da far less costly than an Chen. An autobiographical story The school’s president, Donald W. Cam- But what about recruiting? Keys of the hardships of life in China eron, recently created a baseball team at intercollegiate baseball said that he began his school’s sports under communism during Mao’s Guilford Tech and joined the National program in 1998 in order to appeal to Cultural Revolution. Junior College Athletic Association. team. high school students who had played • UNC-Chapel Hill: The Since 2003, according to the article, varsity sports and didn’t want to attend Death of Innocents by Sister Helen more than 40 other community colleges a college that didn’t have similar athletic is foregone when you decide to do Prejean. An argument on the ways have joined the NJCAA , which has 16 programs. Perhaps a few students de- something. The student fees, bookstore in which the criminal justice system members in North Carolina. cide whether to enroll in a community revenues, and donations could be used might be killing innocent people. Cameron sees the sports program college or in some alternative based on for other purposes. It isn’t clear from the • UNC-Charlotte: Three as a benefit for the school as a whole, sports considerations, but the number is article whether the donations are given Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. An saying that “Athletics is just one more probably very small. More importantly, specifically for athletics; if not, then the autobiographical story of Morten- way of offering extracurricular oppor- though, why should N.C. community tunities that make a whole student.” point about opportunity cost applies. son’s failed attempt to climb Mt. colleges worry about recruiting? Spend- Is it really the case that the expenses Everest, seven weeks of recovery Furthermore, he contends, the addition associated with fielding competitive ing money to attract a few additional in a small Pakistani village, and of sports teams has “really turned our sports teams (equipment, travel, com- students who might go elsewhere if it his return to build a school for the student morale around. Our bookstore pensation for coaches, and so on) are the weren’t for the presence of a baseball village children. manager will tell you that he cannot keep best use of funds? Perhaps, as Cameron team doesn’t seem to be of any impor- • UNC-Greensboro: Choice our sports paraphernalia in stock.” contends, having sports teams boosts tance for the people of the state. of Farewell, I’m Bound to Leave You Another supporter of sports pro- “student morale,” but even if we accept Finally, there is the problem that by Fred Chappell, Mountains Be- grams is Robert C. Keys, president of that that’s true — and how would we having sports programs creates the yond Mountains by Tracy Kidder, Rockingham Community College in know since morale is not something we possibility of misuse of funds, favorit- Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, Teach Wentworth, N.C. “We live in an athletics- can measure — shouldn’t the key con- ism, and other abuses. In 2006, the N.C. Like Your Hair’s On Fire by Rafe minded world. A lot of people think that sideration instead be student academic State Auditor’s Office found serious Esquith, Cradle-to-Cradle: Remak- if you don’t have an athletics program, achievement? deficiencies relating to the baseball team ing the Way We Make Things by you’re not a real college,” Keys said. Let’s put it this way. If we have to William McDonough and Michael Asked whether having competitive at Blue Ridge Community College. (You choose between having a baseball team Braungart, and Don’t Let’s Go to the athletics doesn’t create some headaches, can read the report at http://www. whose successes might make some or Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood Keys said, “Yes, but so do nursing and ncauditor.net/epsweb/reports/inves- perhaps even most of the students feel by Alexandra Fuller. chemistry. If that was the only criteria, tigative/inv-2006-0290.pdf.) The State good for a while and spending more • Western Carolina Univer- we wouldn’t have many programs.” Auditor’s findings led to a resolution of money to improve teaching and learn- sity: The World Made Straight by Ron Some community colleges go so the State Board of Community Colleges ing, which way should we go? Rash. High school dropout Travis far as to recruit students from around censuring the trustees of Blue Ridge That question seems to answer Shelton stumbles on a neighbor’s the country and even internationally Community College for their failure itself, so the real question would be crop of marijuana while fishing in in order to do well in national cham- to oversee properly the actions of the whether there are ways that community rural North Carolina. pionships. colleges could spend their funds that school’s president. • Wake Forest University: The athletics program at Guilford would improve teaching and learning. College sports programs divert Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Tech cost the school $165,000 this year, The answer is yes. resources from educational uses and Nafisi. A blend of memoir and and that figure will increase by $20,000 Hiring more and better faculty create avoidable headaches. It would be literary criticism about the power when the baseball team gets going. Un- members is the most obvious way. At wise for community college leaders to of art and its ability to improve der N.C. law, community colleges are one of the largest community colleges steer away from them and concentrate people’s lives. not allowed to spend funds from state in North Carolina, Wake Tech, courses on academics. CJ For an analysis of the appropriations on athletics, so Guilford in economics have had to be canceled summer reading selections see pays for them out of student fees, book- because at the very low rate of pay the “Higher Education Issues” on store revenues, and donations. All expenditures, of course, have school can offer to prospective faculty George C. Leef is vice president for Page 15. CJ their “opportunity cost.” That is econo- members, it can’t attract enough pro- research for the John William Pope Center mists’ lingo for the best alternative that fessors. Low compensation for faculty for Higher Education Policy. CAROLINA August 2007 JOURNAL Higher Education 13 CC System’s Presidential Search Commentary Promotes Discussion of Conflicts Has Title IX Served Its Purpose?

By JANE S. SHAW ed out that the state supports community y first job as a writer was however, because of the high oper- Contributing Editor colleges through a formula that rewards to cover sports in West ating costs of college football. For RALEIGH enrollment rather than education suc- he N.C. Community College cess. Getting enrollment numbers up is Virginia. The assignments instance, UNC-Charlotte estimates Mwere simple—go to the games, fol- that adding college football would System is choosing a successor “the name of the game,” said Duncan, a to H. Martin Lancaster, its current game that leads to “enrollment padding” low the games, report on the games, cost $8.9 million, nearly doubling Tpresident, who will step down in May and even “enrollment fraud.” (Duncan and occasionally offer commentary the school’s athletics budget. That 2008. In a series of meetings, the search is preparing a study of community col- and features. includes $1.6 million to support committee has solicited public comment leges for the Pope Center for Higher That’s easy enough, given my new women’s sports. about the “qualifications and character- Education policy.) admiration for sports. I’ve always Critics of Title IX think that istics” needed by the next president. The goals of the system are broad. believed that sports were a great opportunities for women have been The meeting July 11 in Raleigh, led Jon Lee Wiggs, author of an authoritative avenue in helping boys and girls added at the expense of opportuni- by Norma B. Turnage, vice chairwoman history of North Carolina’s community to learn about character ties for men. The Col- of the committee, was low-key, with colleges, quoted from early documents and to gain self-respect. lege Sports Council, a only eight commentators. But enough stating that the goal of the colleges is to Even with my group that advocates for issues surfaced to suggest that the next “take the people where they are” and admiration for sports, I Title IX reform, calls the president will face some troublesome provide them with education. Thus, he have a hard time justify- current system a quota conflicts. considers “remediation and develop- ing the continuation of system. Schools must T h e 5 8 - mental education” Title IX in its present reach certain numbers school system a central role for form. The law, part of of women in athletics in is often called a the colleges. the Education Act of order to be in compli- “stepchild” of Getting enrollment num- In contrast, 1972, which celebrated Shannon ance. They claim that North Carolina’s bers up is “the name of Bonita Budd, who its 35th anniversary in Blosser was not the intent of the public education teaches at Wake June, states simply that original law. system because it the game,” said [John] Technical Com- programs receiving fed- Efforts to meet gets less attention munity College, Duncan, a game that eral support cannot discriminate on the numbers test for women have than either K-12 stressed the im- the basis of gender. While not spe- meant cutting men’s sports, they or the University portance of edu- leads to “enrollment pad- cifically mentioning athletics, Title argue. The group has created an of North Carolina. cating students IX triggered a growth in collegiate interactive map highlighting how But it is rapidly from other coun- ding” and even “enroll- athletic opportunities for women. proportionality tests have elimi- growing in im- tries, acquaint- portance. Already, ment fraud.” ing American At the time, Title IX served nated sports around the country, about 800,000 stu- students with the its purpose. It opened the door for including men’s soccer, men’s dents attend per global economy, women to enter collegiate athlet- volleyball, men’s swimming, men’s year, compared with 190,000 in the and easing students’ transition to four- ics, something that might not have gymnastics, and wrestling. four-year University of North Carolina year institutions. occurred. Without Title IX we might Title IX’s premise is one that system. If UNC adopts a minimum ad- The system is diverse, and each not have known about athletes such we can all support. No one should mission standard, as expected, students college is relatively autonomous, al- as Mia Hamm or Ivory Latta. be kept from the halls of academia who aren’t qualified for UNC might opt though overseen by the State Board Do we still need Title IX or the athletic field based on gender. for community colleges, increasing their of Community Colleges. Don Hunter, today? However, changes are clearly need- enrollment. executive director of the N.C. Asso- The Department of Educa- ed in enforcement and ultimately There also is new interest, re- ciation of Community College Trustees, tion’s Office of Civil Rights uses in how schools react to compliance flected in cooperative efforts such as expressed hope that the new president three tests to assess whether a tests. Western Carolina University’s “two- would recognize the traditions of the school is in compliance with Title If opportunities for men step” program, in helping graduates of past, while fostering accountability and IX. The proportionality test requires are being reduced in an effort to two-year schools move “seamlessly” to compliance with the rules. that opportunities for men and maintain Title IX compliance, as the four-year system. And a new law His comments reflected the fact women to participate in sports be they appear to be, then the Depart- allows community colleges to provide that accountability might be a problem. proportional with student enroll- ment of Education’s Office of Civil teacher certification programs for college In 2006, state Auditor Leslie W. Merritt ment. The other tests examine a Rights should take a look at how graduates who want to teach in North Jr. reported that only one of the 58 N.C. school’s history in offering oppor- it is enforcing the current statute. Carolina. Until this year, restrictions community colleges has an internal au- tunities to men and women and Guidelines that lead to a quota sys- choked those programs. ditor. The college is Central Piedmont, whether it has fully and effectively tem should be replaced with a fairer Is the community college sys- which has two internal auditors. done all it can to create opportuni- testing system. tem ready to teach more students and A few high-profile cases have ties. In general, only one of the tests Eliminating Title IX would prepare them for four-year schools? also raised doubts about fiscal account- must be met. not end women’s sports. The games Ann Russell, president of the North ability. In 2006, the president of Halifax Title IX supporters are dis- would still be played, and schools Carolina Community College Faculty Community College was dismissed for satisfied with the enforcement by would still create opportunities. Association, told the committee that multiple financial improprieties. Later the U.S. Department of Education, Perhaps more opportunities would faculty compensation for the system is in the year, the State Board of Com- especially the proportionality test. be created because schools would the lowest in the southeastern region and munity Colleges censured the trustees They also note that much more not be tied to arbitrary guidelines 44th in the nation. Also, faculty in the of Blue Ridge Community College for 44-year-old system will soon be retiring insufficient oversight, which had led to money is spent on men’s athletic about how athletic departments “in droves.” Community colleges have financial violations in connection with programs than on women’s athlet- must look. CJ often been able to “make silk purses the school’s baseball program. ics programs. out of sows’ ears,” Russell said, but the The state board is expected to select According to the Chronicle of resources may be running out. a new president by the end of 2007. CJ Higher Education, in 2005 only 17 Lack of resources, however, might schools spent more than $10 million Shannon Blosser manages the be a smaller problem than incentives on women’s sports, while 82 spent Chapel Hill office of the John William built into the system. John M. Duncan, Jane S. Shaw is executive vice presi- that much on men’s programs. Pope Center for Higher Education who has worked at four North Carolina dent of the John William Pope Center for That statistic is a red herring, Policy. community colleges over 31 years, point- Higher Education Policy in Raleigh. August 2007 CAROLINA 14 Higher Education JOURNAL Bats in the Belltower North Carolina Colleges Joining So, What ‘Genderfied’ You? World Global-Warming Movement he following e-mail was reenactment has become as true to posted on a UNC-Chapel the past as possible, we still stop By PAUL CHESSER tion.” Hill listserv in early July. It and look at the photographs Associate Editor • “Encourage use of and provide Tis reprinted here verbatim in all Memory is tied to images, RALEIGH access to public transportation for all its faux-scholarly weirdness, save and these photos will (hopefully) he leaders of two N.C. institutions faculty, staff, students and visitors at of higher education, the largest each institution.” for identifying the author (someone help you clarify forgotten things and one of the smallest colleges, • “Within one year of signing the must be concerned for this person’s in the past and create connections Thave joined more than 280 other college document, begin purchasing or produc- dignity). from that memory to now. This and university presidents nationally in ing at least 15 percent of the institution’s Worth highlighting are the process doesn’t work for everyone, support of the American College and electricity consumption from renewable neologisms — “phototherapy,” and part of the investigation is University Presidents Climate Commit- sources.” “genderfied,” “gender seeing when photo- ment, which was launched in June. • “Establish a policy or a commit- memory,” and “gender therapy does or does not UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor tee that supports climate and sustainabil- expression” — and the work and why or why James Moeser and William “Sandy” ity shareholder proposals at companies project’s assumptions not. Pfeiffer, president of Warren Wilson where each institution’s endowment is that “gender is taught” Even if you don’t College in Swannanoa, invested.” and that it is “an all en- want to contribute a signed the commitment The climate com- compassing and continu- gender memory, I need earlier this year. mitment was created ally changing thing”: other help. I need people The official state- by three other organi- willing to reenact roles ment of the collaborating zations: ecoAmerica, in other people’s memo- institutions says, “We the Association for the Hello everyone! Jon ries. You would get the recognize the scientific Advancement of Sus- My name is R— Sanders story from the memory consensus that global tainability in Higher —, and I am currently contributor and try to warming is real and is Education, and Second working on a photothera- make it as real for that largely being caused Nature. All are environ- py project, called Gender Lessons, person as possible. by humans” and “we mental activist groups. that investigates how gender is Don’t worry if you are not further recognize the According to the taught to children. on campus for the summer. This need to reduce the global climate commitment I originally started this is a project I want to gradually emission of greenhouse Web site, there is no project in Maria Deguzman’s work over the rest of the summer gases by 80 percent by financial obligation as- Queer Latino/a Photography and the upcoming school year. mid-century at the lat- sociated with signing and Literature class (which is If you are interested, con- est, in order to avert the the agreement. amazing). Now, I have fallen in tact me at []. Also, on Facebook, I worst impacts of global warming and to The above-required policies, how- love with the investigation and have a group for the project called reestablish the more stable climatic con- ever, clearly have costs to the institutions. the idea of getting it published R——’s Photography Project ditions that have made human progress According to ACUPCC, “the costs for over the last 10,000 years possible.” one day. So, I need your help to Peeps. In the group, I have photos achieving climate neutrality will vary The signatories to the agreement do that. from the original ten contributors greatly depending on the approach the pledge to develop a “comprehensive To participate, I need people I investigated. Also, if you want institution chooses to take. Many actions plan” for their schools to “achieve cli- to send in their stories where they to read what I have written so far, taken to move an institution towards mate neutrality as soon as possible.” climate neutrality can have attractive remember being taught gender. It let me know. Climate neutrality is the practice of returns on investment, which can then can be anything: from sex talks Thank you for taking the offsetting any greenhouse gas produc- be re-invested in further actions towards to clothes shopping. One person time to read this. I hope everyone tion with actions that reduce greenhouse neutrality, ensuring that the process is told me that her parents told her is having a wonderful summer! gases released into the air. The aim is to financially beneficial in both the short a woman’s role in sex is to lay “neutralize” the organization’s effect on and long term.” there. Gender is an all encom- global warming. Moeser signed on to the effort in passing and continually chang- The originator of the e-mail The commitment calls for member January. In his column for The Chapel ing thing. It’s different for every dreams of getting this work pub- institutions to complete an inventory of Hill Herald that month he wrote, “our single one of you wholly, but, no lished. No doubt it will be; what all their greenhouse gas emissions within campus, along with colleges and univer- doubt, there will be similar cases. would be surprising would be if a year and to update the inventory every sities throughout the country, must lead If you don’t feel like you were ever it didn’t also receive an academic other year. efforts to address global climate change taught gender, I would ask you to grant. It’s too bizarre not to. Getting The schools also must set target through research, education and reduc- think again. These lessons aren’t actors to stage someone else’s “gen- dates and goals for achieving climate tion of greenhouse gas emissions.” just from parents. Peer pressure der memory” for taking snapshots neutrality, expand research into that Pfeiffer, who joined the agreement provides it, along with TV ads, of “genderfication” as a form of area, and implement mechanisms that in April, wrote in an Asheville Citizen- music lyrics and so much more. “phototherapy” is precisely the sort measure the progress toward climate Times column, “I’ve pledged that our I need stories from every of transcendent silliness that 21st neutrality. college will take major steps to reduce In addition, member colleges and different type of person, especially century American research universi- carbon emissions, and that I’ll ask other universities must employ at least two people above the age of 21. Just ties are renowned for. campus presidents around the nation to of the following: send in your story that “gender- The only question is how long sign the accord.” • “Establish a policy that all new fied” you or dissuaded you from till “Snapshots of Genderfication” The Citizen-Times also looked campus construction will be built to at picking a certain gender expres- becomes the topic of a very ear- into other schools’ decisions. Stephen least the U.S. Green Building Council’s sion–no matter what it is. The nest, self-impressed “Studies” class Baxley, an associate vice chancellor at possibilities are endless. – which will, by rote, boast of teach- LEED Silver standard or equivalent.” • “Adopt an energy-efficient UNC-Asheville, told the newspaper last If you send your story in, ing students “critical thinking.” CJ appliance purchasing policy requiring month that the agreement “has some and it is selected, we will stage purchase of ENERGY STAR-certified very noble goals that I think we are fully a reenactment the memory with products in all areas for which such in sync with. But we need to figure out the aid of actors (if needed). I will ratings exist.” how we would accomplish them. photograph the reenactment as Jon Sanders is research editor for • “Establish a policy of offsetting “My only reservation on it is that it progresses. After you feel the the John Locke Foundation. all greenhouse gas emissions generated it’s a very general, open-ended com- by air travel paid for by each institu- mitment.” CJ CAROLINA August 2007 JOURNAL Higher Education 15 Analysis College Summer Reading Could Be Useful If Handled Better

By GEORGE LEEF the local and global by Paul Cuadros, insightful. Administrators chose the and JENNA ROBINSON worlds they inhabit The Best of Enemies book because it addresses many of the RALEIGH through reading. by Osha Gray Da- questions that incoming students have any colleges and universities The readings and vidson, Incidents in thought about: “What do students get these days have a “summer discussions aim not the Life of a Slave Girl from a college education? What’s truly reading” program for incom- only to encourage by Harriet Jacobs, valuable? What do I hope to make of Ming students, which requires them to critical reflection and Don’t Let’s Go my life?” The book’s author, Da Chen, read a book and be prepared to discuss about important is- to the Dogs Tonight will be the guest speaker at N.C. State’s it during the first few days of class. sues but also to in- by Alexandra Fuller Wolfpack Welcome Week Convocation The programs are designed to create a vite personal consid- all focus on race or Festival. common ground among new students, eration of how our ethnicity. The no- A common thread among the challenge them to think critically about individual actions affect these issues.” tion that most social phenomena, and choices for summer reading is that the new ideas and introduce them to uni- But the book Elon has chosen, Al Gore’s nearly all of America’s problems, can be books are quite recent. Perhaps it would versity work and intellectual life at a An Inconvenient Truth, is nothing but a explained by racism, sexism, classism, be wise for the people who make the se- university. shallow polemic that even scientists who and so on is one that most students will lections to cast a wider net, considering This is a splendid idea. Done well, believe that human activity is respon- repeatedly encounter in their courses in books that are not new but have stood such reading programs can help to get sible for climate change have panned. the humanities and social sciences. There the test of time. college students off to a good start by It’s scarcely even a “book” at all, but isn’t any benefit in leading off with a As a college freshman in 1969, the concentrating their minds on the nature more of a collection dose of it. senior of the two authors of this column of and reasons for academic study. of pictures, graphs, UNC- was assigned to read The Educated Imagi- Unfortunately, if it is done poorly and PowerPoint G r e e n s b o r o ’ s nation by Northrop Frye. It had nothing this becomes at least a missed opportu- slides. Many of the books are summer reading to do with current events or socio-eco- nity. If a school chooses a book that has F u r t h e r - of dubious value for the program, with nomic problems. Rather, the book was no timeless message, it will fail to make more, Gore’s book the choice of six about literature and literary criticism. any lasting impression on the students. makes no attempt purpose of getting in- books, allows stu- Frye sought to explain why literature If a school selects a book that is faddish at objective, schol- dents to choose is important and to show that reading or polemical, it is worse than a missed arly inquiry, failing coming freshmen to see a m o n g m a n y great fiction can expand our imagina- opportunity. It conveys to the students to acknowledge options, ensur- tions, enabling us to see the world from the idea that college is more about what that reasonable what higher education ing that students new vantage points. to think than about how to think. Sadly, and well-informed should be about. read something Another book that some colleges at some institutions that happens to be people have come in which they are and universities have in the past cho- the case in many of the courses taught, to different conclu- interested and are sen as their summer reading is How but still it’s best to start freshmen off sions about climate able to discuss the to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler and with a good impression. change. Perhaps the most important work with like-minded students. Unfor- Charles Van Doren. First published The list of books chosen by many thing students can learn from college tunately, none of the books offers both in 1940, this is something of a “living N.C. schools can be found in the “Cam- is how serious intellectual debates are academic rigor and engaging content. classic.” It explains what reading is re- pus Briefs” on Page 12. Many of those conducted. Nothing could be further Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis, the graphic ally about and how to get the most out books are of dubious value for the from a model of that than An Inconve- novel of a young girl’s life in Iran, is a of it. That’s something students need purpose of getting incoming freshmen nient Truth. compelling story, but fails to introduce now more than ever. CJ to see what higher education should Many of this year’s summer read- students to university-level work. be about. ing choices introduce incoming fresh- North Carolina State’s sum- George C. Leef is vice president for Elon’s Common Reading program men to the pervasive race/class/gender mer reading choice, The Colors of the research at the John William Pope Center for is designed to challenge “students, fac- lens through which professors today so Mountain, an autobiography of life in Higher Education Policy. Jenna Robinson is ulty, and staff to examine themselves and often view the world. A Home on the Field China under communism, seems more campus coordinator for the Pope Center.

Concerned About Higher Education in North Carolina? So Are We!

The John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy online carries up-to-date higher education news coverage and research on North Carolina universities.

popecenter.org Visit the Pope Center online at Looking out for today’s college students. popecenter.org August 2007 CAROLINA 16 Local Government JOURNAL Town and County Secrecy Surrounded Jackson Moratorium Plans

No gates in Asheville Editor’s note: This is the third install- ment in a series investigating the spread of Asheville has banned the “smart growth” regulations across North creation of future gated commu- Carolina and other states. Pushed by envi- nities in the city. The decision is ronmentalists, smart growth abrogates the a marked change in policy, since rights of property owners and diminishes Asheville had approved a request individual liberty, critics say. to create a gated community as recently as February. That action, By RICHARD WAGNER though, might have help inspire Editor the move toward banning further SYLVA, N.C. gated communities, the Asheville ecrecy surrounded plans for enact- Citizen-Times reports. ment of a moratorium on develop- Earlier this year, Asheville ment in Jackson County before the approved a 132-home gated subdi- Smeasure was hastily put into effect in vision called Thoms Estate only af- early February, county commissioners ter developer Global Development and business executives say. Resources promised not to restrict “The moratorium came up as a pedestrian or bicycle access and surprise to everyone except a few of limit vehicle access only at night. the commissioners,” said Chairman The developer argued that buyers Brian McMahan, the only commis- expected gates as an amenity. sioner who voted against the measure. Opposition to future gated “Commissioner [Tom] Massie was one communities was based on impact of the individuals. And we discussed it Critics of a development moratorium in Jackson County say commissioners failed to mention on connectivity and its perceived briefly and we added it to the agenda their intentions in the election campaigns in November (CJ photo by Richard Wagner) impact on a sense of community. that night [Feb. 5]. I had not even seen “I’m not from Asheville, but the moratorium the bank has about $20 “I was kind of blind-sided,” he a copy of it.” when I came to Asheville, I moved million worth of loans whose outcomes said. “I had worked 12 years and I could The moratorium, which went into into an established neighborhood, are questionable. kind of see the end of the tunnel for a effect the next day, has drained millions and I joined the community,” said “We made the loans, with the way future, and then they just kind of jerked of dollars from the county’s economy, Councilman Bryan Freeborn, we’re going to get paid back with the the rug out. I’ve got nine TrackHoes, and McMahan and local businessmen said. speaking in favor of the ban. “To development of the property. Now it’s I’ve worked my butt off, and I’ve got Critics have said the commis- me, gates are really anti-com- kind of put us at a loss of not knowing them three-quarters paid for, if I owe sioners who voted for the moratorium, munity.” how quickly they can develop it, how on five of them. and who were led by Massie, did not “I just don’t want Asheville many lots they can get with the slopes, “What happens if you can’t work mention the issue before the election in to become a series of gated com- and the widths of the roads, and those and finish paying another $25,000 after November. munities, especially with the more kinds of things,” he said. you’ve already paid $100,000 on each When asked by CJ whether those high-end neighborhoods as they “I had some folks who were look- one? Are you going to lose that on each commissioners avoided discussion of a continue to be developed,” said ing to borrow money and they were not machine?” moratorium, Massie said, “Now, only Mayor Terry Bellamy. aware of the moratorium. They were “Jay” Pavey, a lawyer in Sylva, a moron stands up and says what his The ban does not apply to buying 100 acres in Jackson County. reports that the number of real-estate direct strategy is going to be. But we existing gated communities or And I said, ‘You might want to do some closings done by his firm has decreased can…learn from some of our neighbors planned gated communities that more investigation before you buy this significantly. “We did approximately and past history. So, no we did not stand previously had been approved property, because they were planning on 50 closings in our firm in March, and up and say, ‘Elect us and we’ll have a by the city. developing it. They backed off of buying we’re down probably 15 to 20 closings moratorium.’ the property,” Plemens said. a month now. And this is normally our “No. 1, that heightens people’s Joel Rice, owner of an excavating busiest time of the year.” fears unnecessarily because that may company in Cashiers, said his business “I’ve talked with a client of mine not have been the case … But we did has lost a total of about $750,000 because who said, ‘I employ 15 people, and I’ve Iredell County’s discovery tell people, I told them specifically, I told of the moratorium. “We’re about half had to lay off eight of them.’ I’ve talked them at every public gathering I went Iredell County has found what we were this time last year in gross to a number of people and they’ve all to and spoke…that we were going to 69 homes valued at a total of $14 sales,” he said. told me, ‘I’ve laid off people. We don’t look at some land-use regulations of a million that it had not had on its “All of this started when the news have work,” Pavey said. reasonable nature to deal with subdivi- tax rolls. Most of the properties are came out. Everybody was scared of the “I’ve gotten phone calls from peo- in a half-completed development sions, environmental protection, and ple asking, ‘Is there any work available?’ safety issues.” unknown and they put a hold on every- called Davidson Pointe that was thing,” Rice said. “I lost a $300,000 job In the first time in anyone’s memory, annexed by the town of Davidson Bankers, lawyers, developers and they’re trying to find work. It has just others associated with the construction the day after they had that first meeting a few years ago. Davidson lies that night and I had been working on come to a screeching halt,” he said. primarily in Mecklenburg County, industry said the moratorium hit like an Marty Jones, former president of ambush, cost them tens of millions of that about six weeks and had all the leg and therein lies a large portion of work done on it. When it came out the the Highlands-Cashier Board of Real- the problem, the Statesville Record dollars, and jeopardized their businesses tors, rejects claims by some county of- and their employees’ livelihoods. first day, the guy just backed away from & Landmark reports. the deal. He said, ‘too much unknown, ficials and the Chamber of Commerce “There was no record of this Roger Plemens, president of Ma- that the moratorium has not hurt the con Bank, said that the bank supports I’m not going to do it.” neighborhood at all,” resident So far, Rice said, he has been local economy. So far, the unemploy- “planned growth,” but that the mora- ment rate in the county has remained Trish Mulloy said. lucky that he hasn’t had to lay off any torium came as a surprise. “It was. It fairly steady. “There are 90,000 parcels employees because his business and was. I know of one particular developer “That’s just a bunch of bull,” Jones out there, and I’m sorry, but we others in the county had enough work can’t keep up with everything,” who owned several hundred acres and said. The real crunch is just beginning under contract before the moratorium Iredell County Tax Assessor Bill he had gone far enough that he had to hit. was enacted. But after being in business Doolittle said. “The majority of Phase I already platted that he could “In South Jackson we’re off about for about 12 or 13 years, he said, “If the people let us know [what is going continue to sell lots, but it left his other 25 percent in the number of units, and moratorium stays in place, and I don’t on], but a number of people don’t properties in limbo in how to plan hir- we’re off about 15 percent in the median pick up something new, I would say each year.” CJ ing surveyors and engineers and those price of the land. It’s driven people to kind of things.” within 30 to 40 days there will be six or Plemens estimated that because of eight layoffs, at least.” Continued as “Secrecy“, Page 19 CAROLINA August 2007 JOURNAL Local Government 17

Hurts poor communities Commentary JLF Analyst: Forced Annexation Legislators’ Bizarre World

Violates Democratic Principles erception is a powerful word According to statistics, a person By CJ STAFF advantaged areas that could benefit and probably the cause for is far more likely to get struck by RALEIGH from municipal services will sit outside consternation across the state lightning than to become a victim orth Carolina needs to scrap town limits, while elected leaders target Pbody politic. In particular, it is man- of a landslide caused by faulty forced annexation laws because neighborhoods that boost the city’s tax ifested in the General Assembly. construction. I’m still waiting for they violate democratic prin- base, Bakst said. Studies have shown this Having spoken recently to lightning legislation. Then again, a Nciples, help cities ignore their budget selective annexation a group of them, I’ve come away person also is more likely to get hit problems, and exclude minority neigh- tends to hurt minor- more mystified than I was before by a train. Meanwhile, I’ll wait for borhoods, concludes a new John Locke ity communities, he walking in those bizarre hallways. safe-train legislation. Foundation Spotlight report. said. I sometimes have to Such legislation “Forced annexation was supposed Because cit- ask myself, “What is an example of when to promote sound urban development ies and towns can color is the sky in their legislators think they’re in areas that need municipal services,” select targets for an- world?” doing something for said report author Daren Bakst, JLF legal nexation, they can One particular public health. Actually, and regulatory policy analyst. “Instead hide their own bud- example is the current they are ignoring the it has done the opposite. It has created a get problems, Bakst Daren Bakst Slope Bill (HB1756). cost vs. benefit issues: A system in which cities ignore areas that said. “When the N.C. The measure is a vivid fiscal note is not attached need the benefits of annexation. Forced League of Munici- example of when leg- to the legislation. annexation is undemocratic, and there palities argues that forced annexation islators’ perceptions Landslides are is no reason why the state’s annexation helps with bond ratings, it is admitting and reality don’t mix. natural occurrences process has to continue trampling on the economic rationale for annexa- The legislation would in the mountains, and civil rights, voting rights, and property tions,” he said. “Adding an appealing essentially require until mountains erode to rights.” unincorporated area becomes a bailout Forced annexation takes place for a municipality that wants to fix its counties to have an flatlands, landslides will when cities and towns acquire unincor- own poor financial condition. As long engineer and sup- continue. Even if the leg- porated areas next to their existing terri- as that financial bailout mechanism is porting staff on the county payroll islation were to be approved, and tory without the consent of residents who in place, cities can take unnecessary to ensure that houses don’t slide property owners in the mountains live in the targeted risks and make down hills. were required to hire geotechnical annexation areas. poor budgetary Supporters of the bill tell engineers to make sure all is well “This process has decisions.” stories about old women whose on 40 percent slopes or greater (a come under ex- “The legislature has a Meanwhile, life savings were lost when some good idea), shifting soil above, be- treme criticism, in the targeted ho- unscrupulous real-estate agent sold low or adjacent to the “engineered” large part because chance to recommend meowners pay them a house that collapsed. With site would change the safety of the of its treatment of more than just apologies to the old women in “safe” site. There is nothing in the individuals living and enact meaningful additional taxes, question, is an anecdote worthy of bill to deal with such an occurrence. in unincorporated Bakst said. “To sweeping, costly, and invasive new Even politicians cannot legislate areas,” Bakst said. reform. The question is add insult to in- legislation? nature. State legisla- not if the laws need to be jury, individuals In theory, the act seems to What the legislature could tors are consid- who are forcibly make sense. But the facts say other- do in this instance is continue with ering a study of reformed, but how they annexed have to wise. The N.C. Geological Survey the mapping program started after municipal annexa- pay ‘development has tracked landslides — 330 of hurricanes Ivan and Frances and tion laws. The N.C. should be reformed. A fees’ for municipal them over the past 66 years (more consider approving banks, insur- House Rules Com- good place to start would water and sewer have occurred but these are just ance companies, or real estate agent mittee held a pub- services,” he said. the ones they tracked). The major- disclosure requirements dealing lic hearing on the be to focus on preserv- “These fees can ity occurred on land considered with slope and safety concerns be- topic June 13 at the cost thousands of natural slopes vs “modified.” This fore a county could sign off on new Legislative Build- ing the rights of North dollars. If a mu- is hardly a cry for sweeping legisla- construction. ing in Raleigh. nicipality wants tion. The reality is that people will “The legisla- Carolinians.” to forcibly annex Recently, two massive storms make mistakes, and dangerous ture has a chance an area, it should swept through the mountains situations will occur, but passing to recommend and Daren Bakst bear the costs of destroying roads and generating such a sweeping piece of legislation enact meaningful Policy Analyst providing the in- dozens of landslides that killed five forcing counties and individual to reform,” Bakst John Locke Foundation frastructure for said. “The ques- these services.” people. The state reacted to cre- incur massive new costs regardless tion is not if the Beyond the ate the future ability to generate of whether their lots are made of laws need to be financial burden, landslide warnings, which is a good topsoil or solid granite is missing reformed, but how they should be forced annexation violates fundamental idea. The storms dumped more the point. It’s becoming a steeper reformed. A good place to start would rules of democracy, Bakst said. “Resi- than 20 inches of rain in less than slope to build in the mountains be to focus on preserving the rights of dents in areas to be annexed should have 10 days in some parts of the moun- even without such unnecessary North Carolinians.” a voice in the process,” he said. “North tains. No amount of legislation legislation. CJ The current annexation system Carolina’s annexation system should would have stopped such a force of suffers from an inherent flaw, Bakst ensure whoever is making decisions on nature. said. “The system ignores the rational annexation is accountable to the people The legislation ignores the Chad Adams is director of the behavior of municipalities to protect being annexed. Accountability will pro- fact that banks and insurance Center for Local Innovation, vice presi- their own interest and the interests of tect democratic principles and promote companies want safe structures dent for development of the John Locke their current residents,” he said. “Mu- sound urban growth. built. So do designers and general Foundatioin, and former vice chairman nicipalities will annex areas only when “Forced annexation needs to contractors, who take a lot of pride of the Lee County Board of Commis- there is some financial benefit and not be eliminated immediately, and sig- in constructing safe buildings. sioners. a financial harm.” nificant annexation reform needs That means economically dis- to be adopted.” CJ August 2007 CAROLINA 18 Local Government JOURNAL

Local Innovation Bulletin Board From Cherokee to Currituck W-S Recycling At a Crossroads Gridlock Takes a Toll ow Winston-Salem pays for districts. Four of the districts are drawn its recycling program is the to favor black candidates. he average driver in the Los immediately and K-Mart publicized subject of growing debate. The In February, Fayetteville voters ap- Angeles area spends the its 90-day generics for $15. Other Hrecycling program is a money loser and proved a new alignment after a petition equivalent of more than two regional supermarket stores such the City-County Utility Commission, drive had put the issue on the ballot. The Tworkweeks each year stuck in traf- as Giant Eagle of Pennsylvania and which operates the county’s landfills, is council would still have nine members, fic. But “congestion pricing,” where Meijer of Michigan started offering increasingly unwilling to cover its losses, but six would have been elected from tolls vary based on the time of day a handful of generic antibiotics for the Winston-Salem Journal reports. districts. The remaining three members and traffic, are keeping traffic mov- free. Winston-Salem’s curbside recy- would have been elected at-large. ing along a 10- The sim- cling program is run by Waste Manage- Fayetteville and Cumberland mile stretch of ple $4 price has ment Inc. under a contract with the city. County are covered by the Voting Rights Orange Coun- also brought The company collects 11 types of mate- Act of 1965, which requires federal ty’s State Road transparency Congestion pricing is a rials, takes them to a processing plant, approval of any elections changes to 91, USA Today to the retail sorts them, and sells them. The items col- assure they says. fair and effective idea for drug arena. lected include don’t nega- Conges- Until recently, fighting gridlock. It em- newspapers, tively im- tion pricing is when a drug’s magazines, pact blacks. a fair and ef- ploys basic economics patent expired, t e l e p h o n e With three of fective idea for p h a r m a c i e s by letting price find the books, junk the districts fighting grid- would charge mail, office in the “6-3” lock. It employs balance between supply as much as paper, chip- plan, the key basic economics and demand. they liked for board, corru- by letting price the generic to federal ap- gated card- proval was find the balance version. One board, glass bottles, plastic bottles, between supply and demand. Thanks study found that the markups would the likelihood of black candidates win- aluminum beverage cans, steel food ning at least one at-large seat. to high-tech tracking systems, it need be as high as 4,000 percent. For cans, and aerosol cans. not involve the bane of conventional instance, in 2004, health economist Justice Department officials While the city receives a portion thought that the city’s attempts to show toll roads, the traffic-inducing toll Devon Herrick found that a 30-day of the proceeds from the collected ma- plaza. prescription of Prozac’s generic ver- that blacks could win at-large were not terials, it comes nowhere near the cost analytically rigorous enough. Assistant Congestion pricing has other sion, Fluoxetine, was selling in Iowa of operating the program. The city is advantages as well. It helps finance for $55, in some places in Florida Attorney General Wan J. Kim wrote that expecting $220,000 in rebates from Waste black voters would have “substantially road expansion. Revenue from for $43, in Virginia for $45, and at Management this year against the $2.5 congestion pricing can help pay for the discount wholesale club Costco less than certain prospects of electing million cost of operating the program. candidates of their choice to four of the expensive road-building projects Wholesale for $7.09. “I don’t think any recycling pro- nine positions” in rejecting the proposed — the toll lanes on California’s SR gram has ever paid for itself if you’re 91, for instance, were built at no cost alignment. Kids safer today talking about a comprehensive recycling to taxpayers. program that local governments run,’’ It also encourages public In the wake of shocking crimes said Wayne Thomas, the assistant solid- Greensboro animal licensing? transportation. With roads funded such as the mass murder at Virginia waste administrator. through a variety of sources, driving Tech, there is good news to report: Competition from privately owned Greensboro is the only large city is subsidized, which discourages America’s children are actually safer, landfills has increasingly cut into the in the state without an animal licensing people from using rail and bus sys- Richard J. McNally, psychology pro- ability of the utility commission to ordinance. That might change soon if a tems, and makes building new ones fessor at Harvard University, says in subsidize the recycling program. The proposal advancing in Guilford County less practical. the Wall Street Journal. share of the county’s garbage being is approved. Opponents of congestion pric- Sociologist David Finkelhor disposed of in private landfills has in- Under the proposed fee struc- ing say that it adversely affects busi- and clinical psychologist Lisa Jones creased from 18 percent five years ago ture, owners of fertile animals would nesses such as trucking that rely on document that rates of crime have to 35 percent last year with city-county be charged $20 per year; the fee for cheap use of the nation’s highways. dropped by as much as 70 percent, de- landfill usage is down 27 percent over fixed pets would be $15 per year, thus That is true, but congestion already pending on the nature of the offense. the same period. providing an incentive to have animals exacts a heavy toll on drivers: In 2003 Since 1993, the juvenile homicide The utility commission in turn sterilized. The charge for microchipped it cost $63 billion in lost productivity rate dropped by 50 percent, and the wants the recycling program to be paid or tattooed animals would also be $5 and additional gasoline, while mo- drop was even steeper for children for through some other mechanism, such lower because they are easier to identify torists spent 3.7 billion hours stuck between the ages of 14 and 17. as property taxes. if they get lost. in traffic, according to a Texas A&M Things have improved since “We have done it for many years,” An exemption would exist for University study. 1990 for nearly every category of said utility commissioner Paul McGill hunters, breeders, and show-pet own- child victimization. According to the of subsidizing the recycling program. ers, who would pay $10 per animal to Big-box drug wars National Child Abuse and Neglect “It’s got to end. It’s way past time to do a maximum of $100 per year. Data System, substantiated cases of action instead of talk.” Enforcement has emerged as a par- Big-box retailers, such as Wal- childhood sexual abuse declined by ticular concern. While many pet owners Mart and Target, have entered a drug 49 percent, and substantiated cases are responsible, a substantial number price war with each other, meaning of physical abuse declined by 43 Fayetteville redistricting aren’t. They don’t get their pets vacci- lower prices for consumers, KRXI-TV percent. So why have things been The U.S. Department of Justice nated against rabies as required by state in Reno, Nev., says. getting so much better for Americans has rejected a proposal to change how law. And they presumably also wouldn’t Wal-Mart’s announcement that under age 18? There are probably Fayetteville elects its city council, citing get an animal license, for which a current it was launching a test program to multiple causes, McNally said. More the likelihood that it would reduce the rabies shot is a prerequisite. sell 291 generic drugs for $4 a pre- criminals are behind bars, more po- number of blacks elected. The city is “If you’re not going to enforce scription in the Tampa area set off a lice officers are on the streets, and unlikely to appeal the ruling, the Fay- it, then you shouldn’t implement the scramble among all pharmacy retail- more social workers are dedicated to etteville Observer reports. policy,” Guilford County Commis- ers. Target matched Wal-Mart’s offer improving the lives of children. CJ Fayetteville’s City Council has sioner Melvin “Skip” Alston said to nine members, which are elected from the Greensboro News & Record. CJ CAROLINA August 2007 JOURNAL Local Government 19 Secrecy Surrounded Jackson Moratorium Effort Continued from Page 16 others said that the um simply comes ion, that’s where good government steps commissioners, as about because of in and provides some kind of minimum existing, rather than vacant [housing],” “When I weigh all the he said. candidates in the the growth in Jack- standards so that there are some regula- “The median price of vacant land election, did not things that were there on son County here tions out there both from a public safety is $115,000, and last year it was $149,000 mention a morato- for the last sev- standpoint and also from the standpoint per transaction [developable lots, tracts, rium. Also, he said, the table and I look on eral years, prin- of consumer protection.” and lots of record],” Jones said. “It would the other commis- cipally in the last Disasters in the mountainous be difficult to calculate the hundreds of sioners were eva- the impact that it could 15 years,” Massie region also motivated Jackson County sive about their said. “We think commissioners to consider the ordi- thousands of dollars of loss.” have on people’s liveli- No Realtors have gone out of busi- plans for direct- the growth rate’s nances, Massie said. He cited “numerous ness yet, he said, but, “It’s definitely ing growth in the hood, and … a lot of been extraordi- situations” in Haywood, Macon, Swain, hurting…I do know of developers who county. nary…and many and Jackson counties in which landsides are in dire straits. There are a lot of “I have al- people — most people, of the other com- killed people and destroyed homes. them,” he said. ways campaigned, missions in this However, neither Plemens nor The moratorium, and the damage in the two elec- I would say — live from region are expe- Pavey could recall any fatal disasters it has caused, wasn’t necessary, McMa- tions I have been paycheck to paycheck. riencing the same in Jackson County. “There have been a han said. in, on no zoning. types of growth, couple of instances, in Haywood County, “When I weigh all the things that The issue of zon- If they don’t get paid this particularly in the I think…but I don’t see that problem were there on the table and I look on the ing is probably influx of second as being huge” in Jackson County, Ple- impact that it could have on people’s one of the hottest week, then their pay- homes and sea- men said. livelihood, and … a lot of people — most topics that you’ll sonal residences… Before the bank makes loans, he people, I would say — live from pay- answer during the ments don’t get made. and we can see a said, it already takes steps to protect its check to paycheck,” he said. “If they campaign. It’s the They don’t have money real explosion in investments. “That’s what we have to don’t get paid this week, then their pay- question that’s on the near future as look out for. We definitely have to take ments don’t get made. They don’t have everybody’s mind to buy food, to eat gro- more and more a hard look at property on steep slope.” money to buy food, to eat groceries that — especially a people retire, and Insurance companies, real-estate firms, week. They don’t have anything. county that has no ceries that week.” this is where they and developers generally do likewise. “And a lot of these young guys zoning. want to retire to.” The commissioners’ next step in have gone out and borrowed everything “That ques- Brian McMahan A l t h o u g h the process will be work sessions, where they could borrow in their names, try- tion was put up to Jackson County some people op- they will study the proposed ordinances ing to build a business and we would all the candidates. Commissioner pose regulations, submitted by the planning director. have ruined it. And when I weigh that All the candidates he said, the ma- Another public hearing is scheduled against whether we’re going to be able said, ‘Oh no, we’re jority of residents for Aug. 6. to stop one more house from being built, not in favor of want “reasonable” “The moratorium is set to expire it wasn’t worth it.” countywide zoning. We’re in favor of regulations enacted. Aug. 8. It’s only a five-month morato- The four commissioners who land-use planning.” “Now, what’s the definition of rium,” Massie said. voted for the moratorium were Massie, Massie, however, defended the ‘reasonable?’ We don’t know exactly According to Pavey, however, and William Shelton, Joe Cowan, and Mark other commissioners’ actions and said what that is. We do know, for a fact, that others, the public’s sentiment is one of Jones. They also instructed the Planning it’s not true that as candidates they mis- there’s been an unwillingness – Jackson surrender, for now: Board and the Planning Department, led the electorate about the possibility of County’s had no subdivision regula- “I think a lot of people have given directed by Linda Cable, to draw up introducing land-use ordinances. “I did tions at all – that’s the reason we had up. A lot of people have said, ‘OK, there’s proposed steep-slope and subdivision campaign on land-use regulations as did the moratorium. nothing I can say, or nothing I can do ordinances. at least one of the other commissioners “But there’s been an unwillingness is going to change the minds of these McMahan, in opposing the other and probably two of them about the fact of the industry to regulate itself and es- commissioners. They’ve made their commissioners, said he has been left in it was time to do something,” he said. tablish any kind of minimum standards minds up, and we’re just waiting on the the dark about their plans. He and many “The movement for the moratori- whatsoever. Consequently, in my opin- next election.” CJ

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From the Liberty Library Book review

• No one man or woman has Edmondson Illustrates Dewey’s Dubious Legacy ever been in a position to see the presidents, and the presidency, so * Henry T. Edmondson III: John Dewey thought, which might be the most intimately, over so many years, as has and the Decline of American Education; worrisome consequence of adopting the Rev. Billy Graham. They called Intercollegiate Studies Institute; 2006; pedagogy based on his ideas. One needs him in for photo opportunities. They 200 pp; $25 to look no further than the legion of called for comfort. They asked about constructivist-based programs, such as death and salvation; about sin and By TERRY STOOPS “I Like Me” and “values clarification,” to forgiveness. At a time when the Contributing Editor identify the kind of destructive influence nation is increasingly split over the RALEIGH Dewey’s ideas have had on schooling in place of religion in public life, The enry Edmondson describes the United States. Preacher and the Presidents: Billy Gra- his book John Dewey and the Within the classroom, Dewey in- ham in the White House reveals how Decline of American Education as sisted that teachers should not impose the world’s most powerful men and H“a simple exegesis of Dewey’s writing, abstract aims or external standards on world’s most famous evangelist knit with commentary suggesting how his their students. Instead, he endorsed faith and politics together. Written by thought finds expression in contempo- learning through play and hands-on TIME magazine’s Nancy Gibbs and rary American education.” He reminds activities, and defended an ad hoc cur- Michael Duffy, learn more at www. us that ideas have consequences, and riculum that favored neither vocational hachettebookgroupusa.com. John Dewey’s ideas have had disastrous nor academic subjects. Dewey main- consequences for American education tained that socialization was just as im- over the past 50 years. portant as teaching essential skills, such • Years before 9/11, America’s enemy issued a warning and the Anyone who attempts to write as reading. Edmondson concludes that country wasn’t listening, says Jed about Dewey’s ideas is immediately our current confusion over standards Babbin. He says the warning con- presented with two problems. The first and goals is a “natural consequence of tinues today—by enemies such is selecting works from the vast corpus Dewey’s insistence on such fluid edu- as Iran, North Korea, and radicals of writing by and about Dewey. The Col- cational standards.” and terrorists across the globe—but lected Works of John Dewey covers 71 years Edmondson includes chapters America is still not listening. of Dewey’s writing in a mere 37 volumes, on the educational thought of Thomas Babbin, former deputy un- while the Library of Congress lists 375 Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. What dersecretary of defense, sounds books written about Dewey alone. At times, Dewey in- might appear to be an unusual detour the alarm in In the Words of Our Edmondson, who teaches political is actually an instructive discussion of Enemies, exposing demagogues, science at Georgia College and State Uni- sisted that he was heir alternatives to Dewey. At times, Dewey dictators, and death squads that versity, focuses on four of Dewey’s major apparent to Jefferson, insisted that he was heir apparent to openly threaten America. Among works, Democracy and Education, Human Jefferson, but Edmondson shows that the evidence Babbin cites is what Nature and Conduct: An Introduction to So- but Edmondson shows Dewey departed from both Jefferson Islamists are saying about their cial Psychology, Schools of Tomorrow, and and Franklin by repudiating those plans for America; how Venezuela’s Experience and Education. He also draws that Dewey departed Founders’ shared belief that a vibrant Hugo Chavez is leading a radical from a number of Dewey’s other major from both Jefferson and republic requires an education designed anti-American revolution that aims works in educational philosophy, politi- to cultivate personal virtue. Dewey’s to organize the world’s oil supplies cal and social philosophy, and ethics, as Franklin by repudiating radicalism is nowhere more apparent against America; and why China’s well as a wide range of secondary source those Founders’ shared than in his rejection of the Founders’ plans go beyond regional hegemony material. Overall, Edmondson’s cover- educational ideals. to driving the United States out of age of Dewey’s thought is excellent. belief that a vibrant re- Edmondson offers a number of the Pacific. See www.regnery.com The second problem is Dewey’s public requires an edu- ways that we can disinherit Dewey for more information. awful prose and ambiguous ideas. Even from our educational system. They fall William James and Oliver Wendell Hol- cation designed to culti- into two broad categories: philosophi- mes, both admiring colleagues in the cal coherence and excellence in teach- • Do you love America? What famed Metaphysical Club, recognized vate personal virtue. ing. Philosophical coherence includes about your kids? You want them that Dewey’s writing was often vague implementing reforms that restore clar- to love America as much as you and confusing. Although Edmondson ity, traditional values, and liberal arts do, but when popular culture tells agrees that Dewey was an abysmal Dewey believed that schools should be to schools. Edmondson also calls for them it’s cooler to bash this country communicator, he argues that readers places where the child’s impulse and the abolition of the middle-school con- than to love it, how can you teach can overcome Dewey’s lack of clarity whim rule — insofar as those impulses cept, schools of education, and student them to be proud and loyal citizens? by recognizing that he “subordinates and whims are consistent with the values learning outcomes, all of which impede As mothers themselves, author his philosophy to his [progressive] of progressivism. genuine educational innovation. Myrna Blyth and former presiden- politics.” Dewey did not, however, contend He wants to encourage excellence tial speechwriter Chriss Winston Using that approach, Edmondson that schools should be places of uninhib- in teaching by maximizing teacher struggled with the same dilemma. is able to provide a succinct overview of ited activity, as many unfamiliar with autonomy and improving teacher Shocked by the growing patriotism Dewey’s ideas without being weighed his work believe. Edmondson points preparation. Those aren’t bad ideas, gap, they set out to create a real- down by his writing. out that Dewey was a man blinded by but what we really need to do is the world resource all parents can use Throughout the book, Edmondson his desire to see schools as the means one reform that cuts the Gordian Knot to teach their kids about the great- highlights Dewey’s disdain for religion, to implement a comprehensive pro- — to separate school and state. Dewey’s ness of America’s past, the promise tradition, and inherited values. Dewey gram of progressive social change. As philosophy would probably never have of its future, and the important role said such beliefs are at least signs of a “microcosm of social life,” the school taken root and wouldn’t last long in an everyone plays in its democracy. unintelligent thinking and, at worst, provided Dewey a convenient place environment where parents made their How to Raise an American: 1776 Fun outright oppression by the wealthy to socialize students into adherents of own choices and spent their own money and Easy Tools, Tips, and Activities to and powerful. Philosophically, Dewey progressive ideals; that is, collectivism for schooling. CJ Help Your Child Love This Country argued that, because human nature is and statism. shows you how to make patriotism a always in flux, fixed values and beliefs Dewey also rejected religion and priority without it becoming a chore are inimical to progress. Consequently, traditional values in favor of encour- for you or your kids. At www.ran- he declared that schools should no lon- aging perpetual experimentation via Terry L. Stoops (tstoops@johnlocke. domhouse.com/crown. CJ ger be a venue for teaching traditional the scientific method. Edmondson sees org) is education policy analyst at the John religious and moral values. Instead, this as a streak of nihilism in Dewey’s Locke Foundation. CAROLINA August 2007 JOURNAL The Learning Curve 21 Will N.C.’s Shameful Eugenics Past Be Visited on the State Again? ome people never ask the right early 1900s. Progressivism, to risk North Carolina approved 90 percent ics is government intervention. One questions. Or even ask any- oversimplifying a nuanced move- of the petitions. historian has stated that the eugenics thing. Take science and govern- ment, can be summed up as an effort The eugenics program targeted program reveals state neglect. But it Sment intervention, for many progres- to create a more egalitarian America. poor and rural North Carolinians. actually reveals the consequences of sive actions (whatever progress is, To that end, more than a few Progres- As I viewed the exhibit, on display government’s excessive meddling. It no one has defined it sufficiently for sives, including Margaret Sanger, the at the Museum of History in Raleigh, started a welfare program that had me) are nothing more than barbarism inspiration for Planned Parenthood, that shed light on this dark moment inherent flaws and tried to fix prob- revived. Case advocated eugenics. in North Carolina’s past, I wondered lems by intervening in people’s lives in point: the Before Nazi Germany instituted how many so-called feebleminded Tar — in this case, actually entering bod- eugenics move- forced sterilization programs, North Heels came from rural areas and to ies. Forced sterilization was excused ment in 20th- Carolina established the Eugenics what extent the cultural clash between as a means to keep “undesirables” century North Board of North Carolina in 1929 and urban and rural America contributed from having more children who Carolina. started forced sterilizations (nega- to interpretations of feebleminded- might empty the purses of the welfare What is tive eugenics). When states decreased ness. Whatever the extent, the victims system. eugenics? It’s the number of sterilizations in the were poor and were duped into sacri- In a new name of “social biol- the study of mid-1900s, North Carolina’s number ficing their reproductive abilities. ogy” and in the debates involving or belief in the uniquely increased. In 57 years, ac- Although more women (4,989) abortion, cloning, in-vitro fertiliza- Dr. Troy possibility of Kickler cording to some sources, the govern- were sterilized than men (911), the his- tion, et. al., eugenics is alive today. improving the ment had violated 7,600 individuals. tory of the eugenics program was not The debate will intensify as a modern qualities of the Thankfully, the state ended the Eugen- inherently sexist. One in six steriliza- superstition in science is used solely human species or a human popula- ics Board of North Carolina in 1974. tions left a man not only incapable of to explain humanity and life — life is tion, especially by such means as The Eugenics Board’s purpose conceiving a child but also from hav- not a formula in chemistry class, but a discouraging reproduction by persons had been, as much as possible, to alle- ing sexual relations. miracle — and Americans decide they having genetic defects or presumed viate poverty and eradicate addiction Nor was the program inherently want government to intervene in the to have inheritable undesirable traits and crime. This was done by giv- racist. More white women — 2,851 name of progress. (negative eugenics) or encouraging ing social workers power to identify — were victims than black women We must examine history and reproduction by persons presumed to “undesirables” and recommend to a — 2,098. And more white men — 675 start asking the right questions. CJ have inheritable desirable traits (posi- five-member state board that a person — than black men — 235. About 40 tive eugenics). be sterilized. North Carolina allowed Native Americans — only 1 man The idea in North Carolina sterilizations for three reasons: epi- — were sterilized, too. Troy Kickler is director of the North no doubt grew out of the Progres- lepsy and two broadly defined catego- The elephant in the room that no Carolina History Project. (http://www. sive movement of the late 1800s and ries, sickness and feeblemindedness. one wants to discuss regarding eugen- northcarolinahistory.org) Little League Heaven By Carolina Journal Editor Richard C. Wagner mmm$@e^dBeYa[$eh] 9"1,Ê" Ê" Ê/ Ê7 Ê",ÊÊ When Lillie Jo Sweeny threw out ",/Ê
,"
Ê*1  Ê*" 9 the first pitch of the game at Houston’s #REATINGYOUROWNPERSONALiÞÊ
VVœÕ˜ÌAT Astrodome in 1989, she joined the As- WWW*OHN,OCKEORGISAGREATSTARTINGPLACEFORTRACKING tros and thousands of boys and girls THECRITICALPUBLICPOLICYISSUESFACING.ORTH#AROLINA in celebrating the 50th anniversary of %ACHDAY YOURiÞÊ
VVœÕ˜ÌSEARCHESACOMPREHENSIVE Little League base- ball. The event also DATABASEOF*,&REPORTS BRIElNGPAPERS NEWSARTICLES saluted her de- PRESSRELEASES ANDEVENTSNOTICESTODISPLAYTIMELY ceased husband, Odie Sweeny, a INFORMATIONABOUTTHEISSUESOFYOURCHOICE)TSAN Little League leg- end who managed EXCELLENTTOOLFORTHOSEDRAFTINGLEGISLATION RESEARCHING a never-say-die POLICYISSUES PREPARINGNEWSSTORIES PLANNINGPOLITICAL team for 38 years — a record in ORLOBBYINGCAMPAIGNS ORSEEKINGINFORMATIONWITH Texas and one of the longest streaks WHICHTOBEANINFORMED in the nation. Little League Heav- VOTERANDCITIZEN en: The Legend of Odie Sweeny, 6ISITWWW*OHN,OCKEORG an inspirational biography, serves ANDCREATEYOURPERSONALIZED a generous slice iÞÊ
VVœÕ˜ÌTODAY
of Americana and traditional values.

Available at PublishAmerica.com, Amazon.com and at major bookstores. August 2007 CAROLINA 22 The Learning Curve JOURNAL

Short Takes on Culture Book review A Reagan Bio That Stinks Wooster: Philanthropic Mistakes • Martin Morse Wooster: Great Philan- • Ronald Reagan: Fate, Freedom, and dad’s efforts to hook her up with his thropic Mistakes; Hudson Institute; 2006; the Making of History yoga instructor, and you’ll be hooked. 157 pp; $14.95 By John Patrick Diggins The guy loves steak tartare so Liza, W.W. Norton & Company who doesn’t eat red meat even when By GEORGE C. LEEF it’s cooked, eats raw ground beef so Contributing Editor ans of the 40th president might she won’t hurt they guy’s feelings. RALEIGH be tempted by the smiling cover Another guy she dated loved sweet- he University of Chicago was photo, interesting subtitle, or breads and she ate that too. Why founded with John D. Rocke- Fdust jacket testimonial promising can’t guys just order a burger? she feller’s money and numerous “[a]n original reappraisal of Ronald wonders. Tpublic libraries were created through Reagan from the conservative per- Other episodes (there are 24 in the philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie. spective.” the first “season”) touch on double People hear about philanthropic success But the writer who offered that dating, dancing, attempts to get the stories and generally assume that chari- praise must not have read the book, attention of a much-younger bar- table foundations are doing wonderful which comes across as a backhanded tender, and online dating services. As things with the fortunes of the nation’s tribute full of caveats and disclaim- you watch the episodes you wonder super-rich. In fact, there is a common ers. why this funny and clever woman view that the charitable work done John Patrick Diggins does not can’t get a date. with the wealth amassed by business pretend to be conservative. His liberal All of America got involved in tycoons is a “giving back to society” bona fides attracted this reviewer to picking from three of her dating pros- that at least partially atones for their the book. How would Diggins recon- pects by voting online. They chose undoubted transgressions against law cile modern-day liberal views with “Cinnamon” over “Nantucket” and and or morality. The basic idea behind this program praise for the conservative Reagan? “JFK, Jr.” but you’ll have to wait to But who reflects on the possibility was to fund community organizations in He doesn’t. Instead Diggins con- see how that turns out. Season One that charitable foundations might actu- impoverished areas, mostly inner-cities. cocts a convoluted scheme in which ended as Liza and “Cinnamon” had ally do harmful things with the money Ford Foundation officers assumed that a Reagan enthralled with Thomas just met at a sidewalk café. Season at their disposal? activists in each community would know Paine’s rhetoric and Ralph Waldo Two has already begun. There is only one such person who best what kinds of programs would Emerson’s philosophy succeeds in — JON HAM comes to mind, namely Martin Morse be most beneficial. Thus, to effectuate ending the Cold War peacefully, Wooster, author of Great Philanthropic the overall program, Ford created new despite his “neocon” advisers’ bel- Mistakes. Wooster has made quite a community organizations that would licosity. Reagan was great, Diggins • “Grizzly Man” (2005) study of philanthropy. His earlier book, have great latitude to do whatever their tells us, in spite of his conservative Lions Gate Video The Great Philanthropists and the Problem leaders wanted. The result was a set of beliefs. Directed by Werner Herzog of Donor Intent, examined the tendency community organizations “so flexible Glaring errors in Diggins’ text for charitable foundations to be taken as to be virtually spineless, agencies range from small (Reagan’s first Timothy Treadwell spent 13 over by “experts” who overwhelm- whose very existence was dependent budget guru alternates between the summers living among wild grizzly ingly have a leftist outlook and steer on their ability to write proposals that names “Stockman” and “Stockton,” bears in Alaska. In this documenta- the foundation’s giving in ways that reflected what their sponsors wanted sometimes within the same para- ryTimothy grows to believe he is ac- are often radically at odds with the to hear,” as Harvard historian Stephan graph) to large (Diggins interprets the cepted by the bears, which later leads philosophy of the donor. Thernstrom said. line “government is the problem” to to the death of him and his girlfriend, With his current book, Wooster Another illustrative failure Wooster mean that Reagan wanted the state Aime Huguenard. focuses on eight cases where huge highlights is the Annenberg Founda- to disappear). The footage of Timothy is foundations made mistakes: the Rock- tion’s gigantic effort at public school The dust jacket promises an amateur -- shot by himself with a efeller Foundation’s attempt to recast reform in the 1990s. Walter Annenberg argument that Reagan “deserves to be video camera and a tripod. It is only American medical education; the Lasker made his money in magazines, especially regarded as one of our three or four the unusual content and the strange Foundation’s war against cancer; the TV Guide. His foundation announced greatest presidents.” Diggins never behavior of Timothy that makes this population-control campaign of the Ford in 1993 the “Annenberg Challenge,” goes that far, instead offering “belated film worth seeing. Timothy is a deeply and Rockefeller Foundations; the Ford in which it put up half a billion dollars respect” to “one of the most inspiring disturbed individual who feels more Foundation’s “Gray Areas” program; and asked other philanthropies to toss political leaders in the second half of compassion for bears than humans. the Carnegie Corporation’s public televi- in some of their money as well. the twentieth century.” He talks to the camera, mouth- sion campaigns; the Ford Foundation’s Government schooling was going — MITCH KOKAI ing off about society and the way he school-decentralization initiative; the to get a huge financial boost with the is treated for being a bear lover. But MacArthur Fellows program; and the money designated for “reform” efforts. many of his ideals were contradic- Annenberg Foundation’s public school All of the funding, however, went into • “39 Second Single: Dating Stories tory. reform crusade. After reading about the educational status quo, which hap- So Bad They Must Be True” He mentions several times that each one, my mind was drawn to Mil- pily absorbed the money and went about Online video series he was doing this to protect the bears, ton Friedman’s observation that no one business as usual. 39secondsingle.blogspot.com yet he lives among them in a tent. He spends other people’s money as carefully Summing up, Wooster writes, “The even names the bears, talks to them, as he spends his own. grant maker usually finds himself sur- I don’t remember how I stum- and attempts to pet them. Doesn’t this Foundations don’t act. The people rounded by mendicants, courtiers, and bled onto this video blog series, but disturb their natural habitat? who run them do. Wooster’s eight cases flatterers. Faced with all this flattery, I’m glad I did. It’s better than most But if you can put aside that center around foundation decision mak- he naturally becomes more than a little TV these days. “39 Second Single” Timothy uses a lot of profanity, it is ers who had grand visions for changing full of himself.” Combine that with the (I’ve yet to figure out the meaning of rather captivating to watch the way the world. Arguably, the one who best common belief among those people who the title) is a series of three-minute he interacts with the bears. There exemplifies the typical mindset was Ford are drawn to foundation work that they online videos documenting the efforts are no gruesome scenes of him or Foundation President McGeorge Bundy. can design and implement programs of Liza Persky, a 39-year-old single his girlfriend being tortured or eaten Bundy, who ran the giant in the 1960s to make the world better and you have woman living in Manhattan, to find by the bears. But the film left me in and 1970s, once said, “I may be wrong the perfect formula for the dissipa- a good man. disbelief as friends and family called but I am never in doubt.” It’s that lack tion of wealth. CJ Watch the first episode, “Steak Timothy’s fate a “tragedy.” of doubt that is the root of the problem Tar Tar,” in which she recounts her — JANA DUNKLEY CJ time after time. Ford’s “Gray Areas” George Leef ([email protected]) is program is an excellent example. book review editor of The Freeman. CAROLINA August 2007 JOURNAL The Learning Curve 23 Reagan Private Diaries Show Man With Little to Hide

• Douglas Brinkley, ed.: The Reagan Dia- abbreviations sprin- Thatcher stemmed rying.” ries; HarperCollins; 2007; 767 pp; $35 kled throughout. He from the early weeks No one feared Reagan’s intentions obviously wrote for of his administra- more deeply than the Soviet Union, and By HAL YOUNG himself, not history, tion, and he took as Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, and Contributing Editor since national events immediate liking to Konstantin Chernenko died in quick RALEIGH and meetings with many others, from succession, much of Reagan’s first-term ou know a book is special when heads of state are Egypt’s Anwar Sa- contact with Soviet leadership was left the reader is captured by the interspersed with dat to the president to their ambassador, Anatoly Dobrynin, end papers. Douglas Brinkley’s trivialities, such as of Portugal (“a so- whom he also liked (“Everything we’ve Yedition of Ronald Reagan’s diaries a call from a Hol- cialist but a rabid heard is true ... [the Dobrynins] are a reproduces his own account of the lywood friend; an anti-Communist”). most likeable couple. In fact so much so assassination attempt March 30, 1981: oft-repeated, “I hate Some major allies you wonder how they can stick with the “Getting shot hurts,” he says, changing Monday;” and wry weren’t so favored; phoniness of the Soviet system.”) Reagan from black to blue ink, and admits to observations about Reagan had a much chose to pursue “quiet diplomacy” with increasing pain and fear until he found his health. better response to them in the meantime; it was left for himself in the emergency room praying There are flash- Germany’s conser- Mikhail Gorbachev and the second term for the gunman. “I realized I couldn’t es of anger and an vative Helmut Kohl to directly confront the Soviet leadership, ask for God’s help while at the same undercurrent of hu- than his predecessor, though Reagan always kept their actions time I felt hatred for the mixed up young mor. While he isn’t the “pessimistic” and reactions in view and wondered at man who had shot me.” It’s a revealing writing his political Helmut Schmidt, their oft-reported belief that American moment. testament, it is easy and found Canada’s aggression was truly imminent. Ronald Reagan kept a very per- to follow his guiding principles. “The Pierre Trudeau and France’s Francois The book is an interesting reminder sonal and very readable diary — from his press is dying to portray me as now Mitterrand exasperating to deal with. of how much has changed — or hasn’t first inauguration to the last flight from trying to undo the New Deal. I remind Reagan was castigated for his “evil — since 1980. We meet Phil Gramm as a the South Lawn. The man that emerges them I voted for F.D.R. 4 times,” he wrote. empire” characterization of the Soviet Democrat, Newt Gingrich as a second- is much what we thought we were see- “I’m trying to undo the ‘Great Society’. Union, but he had definite opinions term congressman with “tempting” ing — warm and optimistic, comfortable It was L.B.J.’s war on poverty that led about our other enemies as well. He ideas on the budget, and Jacques Chirac in his own convictions, and willing to to our present mess.” recognized the dangerous instability of as mayor of Paris. reach out to anyone who seems willing to Reagan had a bipartisan friendship men like Saddam Hussein (“a no-good It’s a remarkably comprehensive reach back. Reagan didn’t mind record- with House Speaker Tip O’Neill, whom nut ... trying to build a nuclear weapon”) view of the daily life and thoughts of ing that sometimes Republicans caused he called “a true pol. He can really like and Mohammar Qaddafi (“a madman”) an American president. Even reducing him more grief than Democrats, that you personally & be a friend while had to be confronted from a position of the five volumes to one, the demands of polls were interesting but not terribly politically trying to beat your head in.” strength. the office boggle the mind. important, and even the leader of the He reserved his outright disgust for He was pleased his tough reputa- Reagan observed that even the free world had arguments with his kids left-wing Republicans like then-Sen. tion preceded him; when Iran released hours away from the Oval Office are and missed his wife when she went out Lowell Weicker, “an arrogant, pompous the American hostages on Inauguration spent constantly working, and agreed of town. In other words, it is the diary fathead” as Reagan described him; “I Day, Reagan wrote later “[the] last 2 with Nancy that the president never gets of a man with a clear conscience, who answered his question without telling weeks of negotiations were completely a vacation, only a change of scenery; it just happened to be president. him what a schmuck he is.”). When dominated by Iranian fear they’d have is no wonder that chief executives age The eight-year journal is reduced to moderate Republicans quailed at his to negotiate with our admin. I couldn’t before our eyes. The wonder of this one a “mere” 767 pages, but Reagan’s entries economic plan — more than once — he be happier.” is that one of the most successful was are so succinct it’s hard to guess what concludes, “We have rabbits when we Other thug regimes shared this also the oldest when he first took the was omitted. Years of writing editorials need Tigers.” concern. “Intelligence reports say Castro office, and even after eight years and a and radio commentaries made Reagan World leaders form a steady parade is very worried about me,” said Reagan. bullet in the lung, still departed an op- a concise journalist, and most days are through the diary. Reagan’s friendship “I’m very worried that we can’t come timist looking forward to “home & the captured in a paragraph or two with with British Prime Minister Margaret up with something to justify his wor- start of our new life.” CJ Books authored By JLF staFFers Free Choice for Workers: Selling the Dream A History of the Right to Work Movement Why Advertising is Good Business

By John Hood President of the John Locke Foundation By George C. Leef Vice President for Research at the John William Pope Center for Higher “[Selling the Dream] provides a Education Policy fascinating look into the world of advertising and beyond ... “He writes like a buccaneer... Highly recommended.” recording episodes of bravery, Choice treachery, commitment and April 2006 vacillation.” Robert Huberty www.praeger.com (Call Jameson Books, 1-800-426-1357, to order) Capital Research Center August 2007 CAROLINA 24 Opinion JOURNAL

Commentary Water Grows As an Issue

hile a shortage of water urdays. No sprinkler or irrigation is usually something system use is allowed on Mondays. we think of as an issue Raleigh is addressing its wa- Win dry portions of the West, it is ter needs in a unique manner: It’s quickly becoming commonplace in building a second water distribu- North Carolina. The potential im- tion system to carry water intended pacts are significant. Forget about for irrigation and industrial use. limited school capacity as being the Water used for these purposes in limiting factor on growth. Water most places is usually tap water, fit shortages or inadequate sewer to be directly consumed by hu- facilities can quickly lead to a state- mans. The idea in Raleigh is to take imposed moratorium the treated wastewater on new construction, that would otherwise as several N.C. com- be discharged back munities have recently into rivers and creeks discovered. and sell for it half the Perhaps the cost of potable water. Editorial highest-profile water That would leave more dispute pits Concord, potable water available Kannapolis, and the for the city’s growing state of North Caro- population. The Mental Health Free Lunch lina against Hickory The city’s limits Michael single sentence in a recent leg- market forces in guiding health-care and the State of South Lowrey on irrigation wouldn’t islative debate highlights the policy. The normal process of weigh- Carolina. The two apply to this so-called danger of an overly meddle- ing costs and benefits causes “more Cabarrus County cities want to “reuse” or “reclaimed” water. Asome government: “Do we care enough urgent things to be done ahead of less draw water from the Catawba Raleigh plans to have 10 miles of about the citizens of North Carolina to important things when prices ration River Basin. Hickory and other pipes ready to move reclaimed stop the discrimination against them scarce resources,” economist Thomas communities in that basin oppose water by 2010, and eventually envi- in insurance coverage for mental ill- Sowell noted in his 2004 book Applied the move, citing its effects on the sions expanding the system to 145 ness, just like we’ve had to stop it for Economics. adequacy of the local water sup- miles of pipe. other discrimination with the 24 other “When patients pay for their own ply, especially during droughts, The Wake County town of mandates that have been passed by the medical treatments, they are more apt and future economic development. Knightdale, meanwhile, buys General Assembly?” to establish priorities, so that someone The Catawba River doesn’t end at a fixed quantity of water from Not one mandate. Not two. Not with a fractured leg is far more likely to the state line, and the downstream Raleigh and is using that limit as 10 or 20. State lawmakers have forced go to doctor than someone with a minor neighbor isn’t happy about the the means to try and alter its mix insurance companies to provide two headache,” Sowell writes. “But, when reallocation, either. South Carolina of housing. The town has a dispro- dozen types of coverage, and Rep. both are treated free of charge to the officials are so unhappy that they portionate amount of low-income Martha Alexander, D-Mecklenburg, ut- patient, then people with minor ailments are suing North Carolina, which housing. It wants future housing tered the words above while endorsing may take up so much of doctors’ time approved the transfer last year, to to be of greater value. To get there, a 25th mandate: full insurance coverage and medical resources that those with prevent it from happening. it recently decided to limit the for every conceivable strand of mental more serious medical conditions must Union County, Cabarrus amount of water and sewer capac- illness. It’s a concept dubbed “mental be forced to wait.” County’s next-door neighbor, is ity that can be allocated to moder- health parity.” Now apply the same principle to another place where water supply ated-priced housing units. “We do not need to continue dis- mental health parity. If coverage is man- has become a constraint on growth. “Our purpose is to ensure a crimination in this body,” Alexander said datory, and if individuals or businesses Earlier this year, the N.C. Division diverse housing stock,” Town Man- while outlining her bill for state senators. are already footing the bill through of Water Quality rejected sewer ager Gary McConkey said to The “We need to cover them all.” higher premiums, expect more people applications for more than 1,000 News & Observer of Raleigh. “We “Covering them all” in this case to ask for mental health services they homes in the fast-growing county, are therefore setting aside a certain means forcing people to buy mental might not need. citing inadequate capacity at the amount [of water and sewer capac- health insurance coverage, even if they Some lawmakers understand that county’s largest water treatment ity] to be used for low- and moder- have other priorities, said John Locke point. “We have more benefits, more plant. The good news is an expan- ate-income housing.” Foundation fiscal policy analyst Joseph costs, and premiums are going to go Coletti. “To say that everybody who has up,” Sen. David Hoyle, D-Gaston, said sion of the undersized Twelve Residents of Wilmington are insurance has to buy this, which is what during the mental health parity debate. Mile Creek treatment plant should probably sick of hearing about the this ends up being, becomes extremely “I just want to make sure that we don’t be completed later this year. The city’s sewer problems. expensive.” pass something that costs us more than bad news is that the state recently The state’s population is pro- State senators raised concerns we can afford.” How about telling gov- determined that there isn’t enough jected to increase from 9 million to about mandating coverage for all forms ernment to butt out? water flow in the creek to allow for about 12.3 million by 2030. Those of mental illness, but senators still en- Price is not just a barrier that stops any future expansions. extra people plus the necessarily dorsed a limited version of the mental people from seeking mental health treat- Then there’s Raleigh, where associated jobs will inevitably place health mandate. Regardless of the extent ment. Misconceptions about prices lead year-round water conservation further strains on the state’s water of mandated “mental health parity,” to “organized attempts by various insti- measures just became manda- supply and sewer systems. In other lawmakers cannot stick the entire bill tutions, laws, and policies to get those tory and permanent. Residents of words, water as a public policy and to so-called Big Insurance. Businesses prices paid for by someone else,” Sowell even-numbered addresses may development issue will become and individuals would pay higher pre- writes. “For society as a whole, there is water on Wednesdays, Fridays, more critical over time. CJ miums, regardless of their mental health no somebody else. Yet few of those in and Sundays, while residents of status, Coletti said. politics seem prepared to face that fact. odd-numbered address may water Michael Lowery is associate edi- Speaking of costs, the debate over Economists may say that there is no such on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sat- tor of Carolina Journal. mental health parity and other mandates thing as a free lunch, but politicians get highlights a larger issue: the need for elected by promising free lunches.”CJ CAROLINA August 2007 JOURNAL Opinion 25 Nuclear Is Energy Future Commentary N.C. leaders should follow the bandwagon or get out of the way The Causes of Prosperity orth Carolina’s Climate Action of clean electricity on a global scale. The Plan Advisory Group and the great advantage of nuclear power lies in hat makes some coun- for just 5 percent of total wealth, Legislative Commission on the vast amount of energy that can be tries rich and others with another 18 percent made up NClimate Change have made sustainable extracted from a mere handful of the ele- poor? of machinery and other human- energy a priority this legislative session. ment uranium, which is found in great WIt’s a question policymak- produced tools and physical assets. A proposed “Renewable Portfolio Stan- concentrations underground. ers and economists have debated The remaining capital stock, 77 dard” (RPS) demands that 7.5 percent Nuclear energy is economical and for centuries, probably for mil- percent of the total, is intangible. of North Carolina’s energy come from reliable. Today, nuclear power plants lenia. Adam Smith wrote about Its constituent elements are brain- “new renewables”— solar, wind, and have a superb safety record — both for the subject more than power, habits, and trust. biomass. Nuclear power, although it plant workers and for the public. The 200 years ago. Plato, Moreover, to the is both renewable and clean, is not in- waste from nuclear power has a tiny Aristotle, and the post- extent that countries cluded in the proposed legislation. volume and can be stored safely under- Confucian philosophers differ in these relative By 2030, the South Atlantic Grid, ground while its radioactivity decays of China weighed in on proportions, the ones which includes North Carolina, will to natural levels. Many North Carolina the subject hundreds of with a higher share of require 22.530 quadrillion BTU’s of elec- residents and businesses are already years before the birth of total wealth in intangible tricity per year, a 26 percent increase over using nuclear power. Nuclear power current energy production levels. The generation contributes about 35 percent Christ. In today’s politi- capital are the wealthiest. International Energy Agency projects of the electricity used by Progress Energy cal debate, you hear all For example, Switzerland that, even with continued subsidy and customers and 47 percent of the electric- sorts of theories: climate, ranks first in wealth at research support, these new renewables ity used by Duke Energy customers. nature’s bounty in flora about $650,000 per per- can provide only 6 percent of world Overall, 30.8 percent of power generated and fauna, the presence son. Natural resources electricity by 2030. They are expensive, in North Carolina is nuclear. of valuable natural re- make up only 1 percent inefficient, and unreliable. The Nuclear Regulatory Com- sources, education level, of Switzerland’s wealth, Nuclear power — like wind, hy- mission is taking steps to streamline infrastructure, exploita- while intangible capital dro, and solar energy — can generate the licensing process for new plant tion, sheer luck. makes up 84 percent. On the other electricity with no carbon dioxide or construction. Shearon Harris, one of The question is relevant to hand, the poorest country is Ethio- other greenhouse gas emissions, which Progress Energy’s two nuclear facilities North Carolina political debate, pia, with only $2,000 in wealth per should please the global warming alarm- in North Carolina, recently applied to too, in that variations in economic capita, 41 percent of it in natural ists at the Division of Environment and have its license extended for another 20 performance among the states, resources and 50 percent in intan- Natural Resources and in the General years past its original license agreement while not nearly as wide as among gible capital. Assembly. — until 2046. countries, are significant enough to The two most important The critical difference between N.C. lawmakers have already draw research attention about what determinants of a country’s nuclear energy and other so-called “re- demonstrated their ineptitude at lead- newables” is that nuclear energy is the ing. On the issue of nuclear energy factors are most associated with intangible capital are education only proven option with the capacity they now have two options: follow or economic growth, and to what and government corruption. This to produce vastly expanded supplies get out of the way. CJ extent these factors are amenable to will sound plausible to many N.C. influence by government policy. policymakers, but I’ll bet they Many popular notions about couldn’t guess the proper propor- rich and poor economies are tions. Hamilton says that a “rule of American Dream Still Kicking surprisingly lacking in empirical law index” measuring corruption, support. Within the United States, the security of property rights, Analyzing economic data correctly reveals cause for optimism it is simply not true that states with and other legal matters explains 57 more generous incentive policies or percent of variances in intangible n our continuing mission to rescue since the 1960s, so leaving them out economic reality from the tender results in a substantial undercounting higher-education subsidies grow capital. Education explains 36 mercies of the Bad News Heirs, of the growth of worker compensation faster than states without them. percent. Iwe commend to your attention today since then and its value today. Internationally, many of the most To put this in practical terms: this paper by James Sherk, the Bradley There are other problems with the successful economies in the world assuming that what is true at the Fellow in Labor Policy at the Heritage data, too. They employ measures that are in places such as Japan, Sin- level of national economies is also Foundation. overstate price inflation and understate gapore, and Hong Kong that are significant at the state level, N.C. In his piece, “Analyzing Economic the real value of goods and services relatively poor in natural resources, policymakers should be pay- Mobility: Compensation Is Keeping Pace purchased by households over time. including arable land. ing at least as much attention to with Rising Productivity,” Sherk takes There is also a mismatch in the data sets Economist Kirk Hamilton rule-of-law issues – raising ethics on the frequently repeated fallacy that between average data and median data. and his colleagues at the World and lobbying standards, policing something has gone horribly wrong in And changes in family structure can have Bank have been pursuing some government scandals, reforming the American economy because gains in dramatic effects on income data that are pathbreaking new research into the confusing and counterproductive worker productivity are no longer trans- reported per family or per household, question of what makes national regulations, strengthening prop- lating into commensurate increases in given that if a husband and wife each economies succeed. Their key in- erty-rights protections, and provid- worker compensation. Far from it, Sherk making $25,000 a year divorce, that sight is that the vast majority of the ing adequate funding for the state found. Analysts of the “Two Americas” means a single household with a $50,000 capital stock in the world economy judiciary – as policymakers cur- school prefer to fiddle around with wage income becomes two households with data, which do show relatively weak an average income of $25,000. is held neither in commodities, rently pay to education policy. growth since the early 1970s. Looking only at cash wages ad- manufacturers, or financial as- The quality of education is, The measure that really matters justed in the normal way, it looks like sets. The most valuable capital is indeed, a critical issue for North is not the cash wage, though, but the workers aren’t taking home the share intangible, made up of personal Carolina’s economy. But strength- dollar value of the total compensation of productivity gains they used to. But knowledge, skills, social cohesion, ening the rule of law is even more that workers receive — including health after Sherk’s adjustments, the trend and a body of clear and fair rules of critical. CJ plans, employer contributions to retire- lines since 1987 of productivity gains conduct and exchange. Hamilton’s ment programs, vacation time, and other and real worker compensation per hour team estimates that for the world Hood is president of the John non-wage benefits. These benefits have are virtually identical. Just relax, folks. as whole, natural resources account Locke Foundation. become an increasing share of the aver- The American Dream is very much alive age worker’s compensation package and kicking. CJ August 2007 CAROLINA 26 Opinion JOURNAL

Editorial Briefs

Federal pork and its costs In recent years, members of Congress have inserted thousands of pork-barrel spending proj- ects into bills to reward interests in their home states. But such parochial pork is only a small part of a broader problem of rising federal spending on traditionally state and local activities, says Chris Edwards, director of tax policy studies at the Cato Institute. Federal spending on aid to states increased from $286 billion in fiscal 2000 to an estimated $449 billion in fiscal 2007 and is the third-largest item in the federal budget after Social Security and national defense. The number of different aid programs for the states soared from 463 in 1990, to 653 in 2000, to 814 by 2006. The theory behind aid to the states is that federal policymakers can design and operate programs in the national interest to efficiently solve local problems, Edwards said: In practice, most federal politicians are not inclined to pursue broad, national goals; they are consumed by the competitive scramble to secure subsidies for their states. At the same time, federal aid stimulates overspending by the states, requires large bureau- cracies to administer, and comes with a web of complex regulations that limit state flexibility. How Is North Carolina’s Economy Changing? By involving all levels of government in just about every policy area, the aid system creates a wo recent announcements signaled the The answer, though, is “no.” In the last 30 lack of accountability. When every government continuing change in the N.C. economy. The years North Carolina’s economy has actually grown is responsible for an activity, no government is first was that the giant Philip Morris ciga- faster than the national economy, and income per responsible, as was evident in the aftermath of Trette factory near Charlotte was closing. Days later, person has approached the nationwide average. Of Hurricane Katrina. Hanes, an apparel manufacturer, announced major course, the progress hasn’t been in a straight line, job cutbacks. but over the long haul, North Carolina’s economy But these were only the latest blows to tobacco has risen rather than fallen. and textiles. Throughout most of the 20th century, The reason is that the N.C. economy has been FDA: friend or foe? North Carolina’s Big Three of tobacco, textiles (in- totally remade over three decades. The Big Three cluding apparel), and furniture (includ- of tobacco, textiles, and furniture has The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ing lumber and paper) dominated the been replaced by the Big Five of tech- recently rejected Arcoxia, a new COX-2 inhibitor state’s economy. As recently as the late nology, pharmaceuticals, banking, food made by Merck, writes Walter E. Williams. In 1970s, the Big Three accounted for 22 processing, and vehicle parts. Highways explaining the FDA’s disapproval, Robert Meyer, percent of the state’s economic produc- leading to computers, medicines, banks, director of the agency’s Office of Drug Evalua- tion and two-thirds of all manufacturing meat products, and car accessories have tion, told reporters that “simply having another production. replaced Tobacco Road. drug on the market” wasn’t “sufficient reason to Today, output from the Big Three is Unfortunately, the transformation approve the product unless there was a unique only 7 percent of total output in the state hasn’t been smooth or without issues. role defined.” and one-fourth of manufacturing produc- One problem is that the workers let go tion. A total of 300,000 jobs have been cut Michael by the Big Three don’t necessarily have According to Hoover Institution scholars Da- Walden vid Henderson and Charles Hooper, that position in the industries in the last three decades. the training and skills required by posi- As indicated by the impending tions in the new Big Five. greatly exceeds the FDA’s mandate to determine downsizing at Philip Morris and Hanes, the reduc- The second issue is that the transformation a drug’s safety and effectiveness. Arcoxia has tions aren’t over. Industry observers expect more has not occurred in every region of the state. Most been tested on more than 34,000 U.S. patients. It production and job cuts in the Big Three at least of the new income and jobs created by the Big Five has been approved for use in England, Germany, over the next decade. The Big Three’s share of the have been in urbanized counties along the Interstate and 61 other countries in Asia, Latin America, state economy will shrink to 4 percent, and an ad- 40-Interstate 85 corridor stretching from Wilmington and Europe. ditional 50,000 jobs will be eliminated. to the Triangle to the Triad and to Charlotte. Many According to the FDA’s literature, its man- Yet the industries won’t disappear. There will of the state’s rural and small towns have been left date is to put together an expert FDA review team likely always be smokers in the country to supply. out of the new economy and are still reliant on the for new drug applicants to evaluate whether the The textile industry is seeing growth in noncloth- Big Three. studies the sponsor submitted show that the drug ing products related to residential and commercial To paraphrase an old car ad, “this is not your is safe and effective for its proposed use. Nothing construction, and more apparel production will father’s North Carolina.” Economies have always in the FDA mandate requires that a drug has to be focused on high-end styles as well as high-tech changed — it’s just that the pace of change seems be better than what’s currently available in order specialty clothing to military and business buyers. faster today. The challenge for the state is, among to win approval. Domestic furniture factories will cater to smaller this change, to keep moving forward. The challenge Henderson and Hooper argue that in the niche markets and emphasize speed of delivery and for individuals and communities is to arm them- worst-case scenario where Arcoxia is no better service after the sale. selves with the skills, talents, and vision necessary than existing drugs, it would compete with those However, if the Big Three carried North for what are ahead — no small tasks, indeed! CJ Carolina’s economy for much of the last century, drugs. A new drug that competes with existing and if those companies are now disappearing, then drugs would moderate drug prices and cause what has this meant for the overall state economy? Michael L. Walden is a William Neal Reynolds dis- competitors to stay on their toes. CJ Are we floundering and falling behind? It would be tinguished professor at North Carolina State University understandable if the answer were “yes.” and an adjunct scholar of the John Locke Foundation. CAROLINA August 2007 JOURNAL Opinion 27 Government Collective Bargaining Means Higher Taxes

ouse Bill 1583 would repeal tion of Labor and Congress of Indus- According to the Center for union’s demands are usually met to the existing statute (NC Gen trial Organizations Union Facts, 3 percent of the total avoid a shutdown of essential ser- Stat §95-98), which prohibits • American Federation of workforce in North Carolina is union- vices. Imagine what would happen if Hcity, town, county, or state employees Teachers ized, while 8.7 percent of government teachers decided to strike during the from entering into an agreement or • International Brotherhood of employees belong to a union. The school year. contract with any Teamsters Local 391 average public-sector salary is $33,037, Many workers believe that the labor union. The • N.C. Coalition of Police/Inter- while the average government high price they pay in dues will not measure would national Union of Police Association employee salary is $37,854. North bring better benefits. A large portion restore contract or • The Professional Fire Fighters Carolina residents could pay 4.57 per- of the dues collected goes into politi- collective bargain- and Paramedics of North Carolina cent less in state income taxes if they cal campaigns for candidates and to ing rights to local North Carolina is a right-to-work weren’t paying for inflated govern- support issues many workers do not government and state, meaning that employees in a ment employee union wages. believe in. If a majority of the workers state employees unionized workplace cannot be forced In many well-publicized in- want to be unionized, even if it’s 51 and teachers. to pay “agency fees” to the union if stances across the country, demands percent, their preference is binding on Collective they decline to be union members. made by the unions to unreasonably everyone. Once a union is in place, all bargaining is the Becki Under House Bill 1583, all active increase salary and benefits have put the workers have to accept it as their Gray process of nego- and retired state and local government companies out of business, and work- representative in all bargaining, even tiation between employees and teachers may choose ers lost their jobs. When government if they’d rather negotiate on their own workers and management to deter- to have deductions taken from their employees unionize, the “company” behalf. mine conditions of employment. It pay or retirement checks to be paid to won’t go out of business but increased North Carolina has the second would inflate taxpayer-funded jobs, the employees or retirement associa- demands result in huge tax increases lowest percentage of unionized em- discourage economic development, tion. Historically, union organizers use for taxpayers. Each percentage in ployees in the country at 2.9 percent. and limit government workers from strong-arm tactics to coerce workers to increased salary for state employees South Carolina is the lowest at 2.3 negotiating their own individual em- join against their will or without accu- costs taxpayers about $107 million. percent. Companies want to avoid the ployment contracts. rate information to make an informed The government is in the busi- stranglehold of unions. They look for During the 2004 election cycle, a decision. ness of providing services to citizens. environments that encourage entre- coalition that is pushing the legislation The percentage of workers This requires well-trained workers. preneurship and job creation to estab- gave more than $2.3 million to state represented by labor unions has been Government is in competition to hire lish and grow their business. Eco- legislative candidates. The coalition declining for decades, but govern- these workers, providing government nomic development works best when includes: ment is the only sector of the economy with plenty of incentive to treat those free-market decisions are encouraged. • State Employees Association where unions have consistently grown employees well and compensate them Collective bargaining for government of North Carolina, the largest non- for several years. According the Bu- fairly. employees will spur higher taxes and union public employee association in reau of Labor Statistics, government In collective bargaining, it is the discourage economic development in the nation employees are more than four times role of the unions to make demands North Carolina. CJ • Service Employees Interna- more likely to unionize than those in of the government. When those tional Union the private sector, costing the taxpayer demands are not met, unions often Becki Gray is director of the State • N.C. State American Federa- plenty. strike. In a government strike, the Policy Resource Center. Thank Elizabeth Dole For Upholding the Rule of Law

his summer Sen. Elizabeth our citizens.” “The rush shouldn’t be to legal- building the 700 miles of wall autho- Dole of North Carolina helped But if all of the illegal aliens are ize 12 million people; the rush should rized by Congress and signed into law scuttle the so-called “grand instantly legalized, what other phrase be to do everything in our power to last year by Bush. Also, we should Tbargain” immigration reform bill that describes that other than amnesty? show the borders have been secured.” make it less attractive to all employ- would have given amnesty to more The Heritage Foundation said she said. “Rush to do that. Rush to ers to hire illegals by imposing heavy than 12 million to 20 million illegal Congress should set aside this “grand secure communities.” fines on them for doing so. immigrants — while doing virtually bargain” and begin anew the serious The senator was right on target. Illegal immigration is not some nothing to secure work of crafting sensible immigration Dole first tried to make improve- sort of uncontrollable force of nature. U.S. borders. reforms that will: ments to the bill, but after essentially It can and should be regulated. The Backed by • Enhance rather than compro- being blocked, Dole changed tactics: rule of law and our borders must be President Bush, mise national security; “Basically the bill comes down,” she respected by those who would come who was looking • Affirm, rather than undermine, said. Dole was pressured by the GOP here. to enhance his rule of law; leadership and the backers of the im- Like many other citizens of the legacy, and Sens. • Facilitate economic growth in migration reform measure not to make United States, my great grandparents Ted Kennedy and a fiscally responsible fashion; a move. She changed her vote anyway. came through Ellis Island — legally. John Kyle, the • Create a temporary worker This was an act of political They learned to speak English, stud- bill was accu- Marc program that is balanced, market courage that North Carolinians have ied American history and became rately described by Rotterman driven, and enforceable, and enrich not witnessed since former Sen. Jesse productive citizens. former New York the fabric of our culture while uniting Helms stood firm against the Panama By opposing the Bush-McCain- City Mayor Rudy us as a people. Canal Treaty. Kennedy amnesty bill, Dole signaled a Giuliani as “a mess.” Dole understood, as did many For those of us in the conserva- way for a new approach: Enforcement The last straw for conservatives conservatives outside Washington, tive movement, the rejection of the first, amnesty last, and open arms for was when Bush attacked his own con- D.C., that none of the above would be immigration bill opens a chance for hard-working laborers and skilled im- servative base and talk radio for a lack accomplished by passing the grand real reform — reform that respects the migrants from across the world who of patriotism. “If you don’t want to bargain. In an interview with The will of the majority of the citizens of want to come here legally to be part of do what’s right for America,” he said News & Observer of Raleigh, Dole said, the United States, reform that pro- the American dream. CJ of opponents of the Bush-Kennedy “My view overall on all this is: What tects both our economic and national immigration bill, “if you want to scare people want, and what we’ve heard security. Marc Rotterman is a senior fellow the American people, what you say is from thousands of people, is they First on the agenda, we must of the John Locke Foundation in Raleigh the bill’s an amnesty bill. That’s empty don’t have any confidence right now stop new illegal immigrants from and a former member of the board of the political rhetoric, trying to frighten with regard to securing the borders.” entering the country by funding and American Conservative Union. August 2007 C a r o l i n a 28 Parting Shot Journal Judge Nixes Jobs Potential of ‘Project Mumbler’ (a CJ parody)

By I. N. SENTIFF Dell. But after some haggling, we settled on 10 as a nice Staff Writer round number of employees for ‘Project Mumbler.’” RALEIGH The Commerce Department then threw the .C. Department of Commerce officials suffered numbers into its economic development formula to a blow in July when a judge thwarted their determine how much impact the project was likely latest plans to trade a package of targeted tax to have on the N.C. economy. Nincentives for the promise of new jobs. “Looking back at that $543,000 figure, we realized “We had the press release all ready to go, and that number didn’t have anything to do with actual then the judge up and decided to send Jim Black to money,” the staffer said. “That was disappointing. But prison,” said a Commerce staffer who spoke with we figured Speaker Black would be able to convince Carolina Journal under the agreement that his name some chiropractors to invest in the new operation. would not be used. “Now we’ll have to find someone Maybe a lobbyist would front him half-a-million else to take our incentive money.” bucks.” Documents obtained by CJ show that Commerce The project faced some other challenges. “Leg- economic developers had been targeting Black for islators are always giving us grief that most of these incentives, ever since they learned of his proposal incentives seem to go to big, wealthy counties that to avoid time behind bars. The former N.C. House have no trouble attracting jobs,” the staffer said. “We speaker faced the prospect of up to 10 years in federal thought ‘Project Mumbler’ might be a good fit for an prison, after pleading guilty in February to federal underserved rural county, but then we noticed that corruption charges. Speaker Black would face house arrest in Mecklenburg But Black’s lawyers filed paper work July 9 sug- County. Oh, well.” gesting that he should pay his debt to society by using U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle spoiled Com- his 40 years of experience as an optometrist. The law- merce Department plans July 11, when he rejected the yers suggested Black could give 2,000 free eye exams show the incentive machinery started moving forward. eye exam proposal and sentenced Black to 63 months a year, offering a $543,882 benefit to taxpayers. “First, we gave the project a code name,” the Com- in federal prison. “As soon as we saw that dollar figure, the wheels merce staffer said. “Every incentives project needs “Now we have to come up with another started turning,” the Commerce staffer told CJ. “What a good code name. Given the speaker’s diction, we way to meet the governor’s incentives quota,” if Speaker Black created new jobs for people who could called this one ‘Project Mumbler.’ the staffer said. “I’m not too worried. I’ve been help him conduct all of those eye exams? Good-paying “Then we calculated the number of jobs Speaker coaching the neighbor kid who mows my lawn. jobs? Jobs that could help North Carolina move into Black could reasonably get away with saying he would I’ll have him call a legislator and threaten to take the knowledge-based economy?” create,” the staffer said. “Some people got a little carried his lawn-care business to Virginia, unless he gets Once the idea sprouted, internal documents away. They thought this could be the next Google or a Job Development Investment Grant.” CJ

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