• States Are Battling • Ex-Vietnam Radical Bilingual Blues C A R O L I N A Stirs Up the Triangle Redistricting in Court Americans as Hobbits

Volume 10, Number 12 A Monthly Journal of News, December 2001 Analysis, and Opinion from JOURNAL the John Locke Foundation www.CarolinaJournal.com www.JohnLocke.org Teachers Unions Violated IRS Rules, Legal Group Says

Foundation files in-depth Conservative groups say complaint against NEA & they keep independent of North Carolina group political party operations

By DON CARRINGTON Associate Publisher By DON CARRINGTON RALEIGH Associate Publisher s the National Education Association RALEIGH an arm of the Democratic National onservative-leaning groups such as I Committee? Landmark Legal Founda- the Christian Coalition and the tion, a Virginia-based conservative group, C National Rifle Association fre- insists it is. quently support the ideas and same candi- By studying NEA budgets and strate- dates as the Republican Party of North Caro- gic plans, Landmark concluded that the lina, but have they established formal cam- NEA is using tax-exempt membership dues paign committees like the Democrats did in to support political activity. Even though 1996? the NEA is permitted to do so, it must “No, we have never done it, and would report the political expenditures and pay never think of doing it,” said North Caro- corporate taxes on that income. NEA has lina Republican Party Chairman Bill Cobey. not done so. “We might ask them to take an interest in an Landmark said the NEA not only had issue. We would never bring them in on a considerable involvement in the party plat- strategy session, much less a vote.” form but also had veto power over plat- What did he think of the Landmark form issues. The evidence, reviewed by The North Carolina Association of Educators is headquartered in downtown Raleigh. complaint against the NCAE? “I wasn’t Carolina Journal, is convincing. shocked. My perception of the Democrat In July, Landmark asked the Internal taxable political activities, and that the The law Party was that these groups were in control. Revenue Service to investigate the activi- groups have failed to report the activities to They were collecting union dues and using ties and tax filings of the NEA and five state the IRS. The NEA and its state affiliates are re- them for political purposes,” he said. affiliates, including the North Carolina As- Landmark reviewed documents that quired to file an IRS Form 990, which is “The dues paid by NCAE members are sociation of Educators. the Federal Election Commission obtained titled “Return of Organization Exempt From from salaries paid by taxpayers. The Demo- The request, called a “complaint,” is a during a lengthy investigation of the AFL- Income Tax.” Most nonprofits, including crat Party needs the government unions 20-page document accompanied by 25 ex- CIO and the Democratic National Commit- Landmark and the John Locke Foundation, because they are losing union membership hibits totaling hundreds of pages. The other tee. are also required to file the form. Some in the private sector,” he said. state associations were from Pennsylvania, In July 2000 a federal judge ruled the nonprofits, such as the NEA and NCAE, are The North Carolina Rifle and Pistol Nebraska, Kansas, and Minnesota. The five AFL-CIO’s coordinated activity was per- permitted to make political expenditures, Association is the state affiliate of the NRA. states were selected not because they were mitted under campaign laws, but the judge but the expenditures must be reported sepa- Has the group established a formal arrange- the worst offenders, but because documen- failed to rule on the IRS issue. rately. ment with the Republican Party here in tation was the easiest for Landmark to ob- Landmark asked the FEC for copies of The percentage of funds devoted to North Carolina? tain. all information that was collected from any political activity helps the IRS determine “We are a single-issue organization. We party. The FEC told Landmark there was a whether an organization is a labor union or cooperate with other organizations that have Rules for political activities “microfiche problem” and that there were actually a political organization falling un- similar goals, but we don’t participate in too many documents. der a different set of tax rules. broad-base coalitions,” said association Landmark alleges that all six groups After Landmark threatened a lawsuit, A political expenditure is one intended President Russ Parker. “We would never be violated IRS rules for nonprofit organiza- the FEC allowed the organization access to to influence the selection, nomination, elec- involved in a strictly partisan cooperation tions by participating in undisclosed politi- the information. On May 2, 2001, Land- tion, or appointment of anyone to federal, with other groups. We have supporters and cal activities and expenditures during the mark went to the FEC office and began state, or local public office. Expenditures detractors in every party. I thought that the 1996 election cycle. Under IRS rules, the copying more than 6,000 documents. include payments, loans, gifts, or anything NCAE did, too.” groups are required to fully and publicly Landmark has said its main focus is on of value including a promise to make an Parker said that his organization edu- disclose the extent of all political activities. the NEA. The FEC was not investigating expenditure. cates voters and that it will publish state- Unless they are separated from general the NEA, “but the NEA is the most power- Since at least 1994, the NEA tax filings ments from all candidates on issues impor- activities and conducted through a political ful, the largest, and the wealthiest union in indicate it has made no such political ex- tant to his organization. action committee, political activities are tax- America — it has 2.6 million members — penditures. To prove it, Landmark included “During Clinton’s first term the NRA able. and the AFL-CIO is a combination, sort of the NEA’s 990 tax returns as exhibits in the was audited by the IRS and they found Landmark claims the evidence it has an over-arching group of several unions,” nothing. Based on the evidence Landmark gathered indicates that the NEA and affili- said Landmark President Mark Levin in an claims to have, this should be very interest- ates spent substantial operating funds on interview on WorldNetDaily in August. Continued as “NCAE,” Page 3 ing for the NCAE,” he said. CJ

Charter Schools in North Carolina The John Locke Foundation NONPROFIT ORG. Contents 200 W. Morgan St., # 200 U.S. POSTAGE Favor 58% Raleigh, NC 27601 PAID Oppose 22% RALEIGH NC Not Sure 20% Calendar 2 PERMIT NO. 1766 State Government 3 Education 6 Higher Education 10 Local Government 14 Books & the Arts 18 Opinion 20

% of N.C. Respondents in Oct. 2000 JLF Poll Parting Shot 24

Dec CJ Corrected Pages 1 4/2/02, 3:11 PM C A R O L I N A Contents

JOURNAL ON THE COVER HIGHER EDUCATION •Bicycle helmet giveaways in Pittsboro; Cary may spend more taxpayer money on • Is the National Education Association an • Former campus radical turned conserva- “public” art; and other local news. Page 17 arm of the Democratic National Commit- tive David Horowitz comes to North Caro- tee? A conservative legal foundation in Vir- lina, unleashing heavy criticism on UNC- THE LEARNING CURVE Richard Wagner Editor ginia tells the IRS that it is. Page 1 CH for antiwar demonstrations. Page 10 • A review of Competition or Compulsion? NORTH CAROLINA •A former Black Panther leader spoke at The New Market Economy Versus the New Thomas Paul De Witt Duke University Nov. 15 to an apparently Social Engineering, edited by Richard Opinion Editor • State Republicans, as they had threatened, receptive crowd. Page 11 Ebeling. Page 18 sue their Democrat counterparts over al- leged unconstitutional redistricting. Page 4 • Duke offered femininity, fantasies, sexu- • A review of The New Thought Police: Inside Paul Chesser alities and dinosaurs as course of the month the Leftist Assault on Free Speech and Free Associate Editor • The state’s Environmental Management choices for CJ, but we chose Marxism. Minds by Tammy Bruce. Page 19 Commission makes a rule so it can main- Page 12 Sherri Joyner, Erik Root, tain control of isolated wetlands on private OPINION Jon Sanders property. Page 5 •Leftists are up in arms over a new report Assistant Editors that urges college campuses to teach • Editorials on the DMV’s flawed license • In approving millions in debt for prisons, America’s history and principles. Page 12 issuing policies and local campus antiwar the legislature sidestepped the constitu- protests. Page 20 Andrew Cline, Roy Cordato, tional requirement to seek voter approval • The University of North Carolina at Charles Davenport, Ian Drake, for such capital projects. Page 5 Chapel Hill may open a business school in • Editorials on subsidized home loans and Tom Fetzer, Nat Fullwood, the totalitarian country of Qatar. Page 13 the expansion of auto emissions inspection David Hartgen, Paige Holland, George Leef, Michael Lowrey, EDUCATION fees. Kathryn Parker, Marc Rotterman, LOCAL GOVERNMENT Page 21 Jack Sommer, George Stephens, •School choice programs in North Carolina John Staddon, Jeff Taylor, improve student achievement and increase •Foes of forced annexation and higher taxes • State legislators have tried to defend their Michael Walden parental involvement, according to an in- turned out their votes and successfully 2001 session as a successful defense of edu- Contributing Editors dependent study. Page 7 elected their candidates last month. cation, but John Hood says “hogwash.” Page 14 Page 21 • Lindalyn Kakedelis, former Charlotte- Hans Hurd, Rheta Burton, Bryan Mecklenburg school board member, writes • John Charles of the Cascade Policy Insti- • Richard Wagner says national security Gwyn, Nathan Lintner Editorial Interns that families deserve to have their choice tute in Oregon discusses peak-period road trumps any First Amendment rights the in schools. Page 7 pricing as a solution to traffic congestion. media may claim to have. Page 15 Page 22 • Two reports find that smaller schools im- prove education, but North Carolina • Randall O’Toole says federal grant mon- PARTING SHOT schools are getting larger. Page 8 ies for “smart growth” often end up in the John Hood hands of lobbyists. Page 16 • The real tragedy of the legislature’s de- Publisher • Toisnot Middle School in Wilson is one • An interview with Dare County’s lone parture from Raleigh was that a “Clean of the best high-poverty middle schools in Republican commissioner Richard Johnson. Smokestacks” bill wasn’t passed, leaving Don Carrington Associate Publisher the state. Page 9 Page 16 the state’s mountains in a haze. Page 24 Calendar Published by The John Locke Foundation 200 W. Morgan St., # 200 Raleigh, N.C. 27601 (919) 828-3876 • Fax: 821-5117 Rep. Walter Jones to Headline ‘Innovate 2002’ Event www.JohnLocke.org

n Saturday, Jan. 19, the Center for his early career he also worked as a corre- Bruce Babcock, Ferrell Blount, Local Innovation will sponsor “In- spondent for the Associated Press and The John Carrington, Hap Chalmers, novate 2002,” a daylong confer- Wall Street Journal. In 1963 he teamed with Sandra Fearrington, Jim Fulghum, O ence at the Washington Duke Inn next to the Rowland Evans to write the political col- William Graham, John Hood, Kevin Kennelly, Lee Kindberg, campus of Duke University in Durham. umn “Inside Report,” which Novak contin- Robert Luddy, William Maready, U.S. Congressman Walter Jones, who ues to write three times a week, and is now J. Arthur Pope, Assad Meymandi, represents the 3rd District of North Caro- syndicated to more than 300 newspapers. Tula Robbins, David Stover, lina, will give a keynote luncheon address Novak perhaps is most well-known Jess Ward, Andy Wells, on the theme, “Protecting our National Se- from his cohosting duties on CNN of the Art Zeidman curity: How the Federal-Local Government programs “Crossfire,” “Capital Gang,” and Board of Directors Relationship Has Changed Since Septem- “Novak, Hunt & Shields.” ber 11.” Cost for the lunch is $15. Contact Kory The conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. Swanson at (919)828-3876 to register. with a continental breakfast, and will fea- CAROLINA JOURNAL is a monthly journal of news, analysis, and commentary on state ture three separate sessions. The opening • John Locke Foundation Chairman and and local government and public policy session will begin at 9 a.m. with the topic President John Hood will continue to tour issues in North Carolina. “This Is Your Land? The Debate Over Prop- throughout the winter promoting his latest erty Rights and Annexation.” This discus- book, Investor Politics: The New Force That Rep. Walter Jones ©2001 by The John Locke Foundation sion will be moderated by Pamlico County Will Transform American Business, Govern- Inc. All opinions expressed in bylined ar- Commissioner Christine Mele, and will fea- Greensboro Keith Holliday, and newly ment, & Politics in the Twenty-First Century. ticles are those of the authors and do not ture Randall O’Toole, senior economist from elected Mayor of Winston-Salem Allen Upcoming events will take him to Chicago, necessarily reflect the views of the editors of the Thoreaux Institute; David Jones, former Joines on the panel. Seattle, Michigan, New England, Tennes- Carolina Journal or the staff and board of the Locke Foundation. mayor of Wilmington; and William Caster, The program is scheduled to end by 3 see and South Carolina. county commissioner of New Hanover p.m. Cost for registration is $35. The rate for Material published in Carolina Journal County. elected city, county or school board officials Shaftesbury Society may be reprinted provided the Locke Foun- The second session is titled “Where is is $20. Members of the news media are dation receives prior notice and appropri- the Money? The Art and Science of Work- welcome to attend free. Each Monday at noon, the John Locke ate credit is given. Submissions and letters ing with Local Government Budgets.” Mod- Contact Kory Swanson at (919 828-3876 Foundation plays host to the Shaftesbury to the editor are welcome and should be erated by former Charlotte Mayor and gu- or [email protected] if you would like Society, a group of civic-minded individu- directed to the managing editor. bernatorial candidate Richard Vinroot, more information, or to register for this als who meet over lunch to discuss the panel participants will include Arielle Mor- event. issues of the day. The meetings are con- Readers of Carolina Journal who wish to receive daily and weekly updates from CJ ris, former city council member from ducted at the Locke offices in downtown editors and reporters on issues of interest to Greenville; William Eggers, senior fellow at • Syndicated columnist and CNN per- Raleigh at 200 W. Morgan Street, Suite 200. North Carolinians should call 919-828- the Manhattan Institute; and Vernon sonality Robert Novak will speak at a John Parking is available in nearby lots and decks. 3876 and request a free subscription to Robinson, alderman of Winston-Salem. Locke Foundation Headliner luncheon at Shaftesbury will start the new year Jan. Carolina Journal Weekly Report, deliv- After the luncheon, the third session noon Feb. 11 at the Brownstone Hotel in 7 with immigration activist Ron Woodard, ered each weekend by fax and e-mail, or will address “Homeland Security: How Raleigh. director of N.C. LISTEN. On Jan. 21 former visit Carolina Journal.com on the World Local Governments Should Respond to Novak began his journalism career 53 academic William Lynch will discuss his Wide Web. Those interested in education, Terrorist Threats.” David Hartgen, profes- years ago while he was a student at the unique proposal on Social Security. higher education, or local government sor of transportation studies at UNC-Char- University of Illinois, working as a reporter If you would like to join us, call Kory should also ask to receive new weekly e- letters covering these issues. lotte will moderate the discussion, with for the Joliet (Ill.) Herald-News and Swanson for details or email him at Raleigh Police Chief Jane Perlov, Mayor of Champaign-Urbana (Ill.) Courier. During [email protected]. CJ

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 2 4/2/02, 3:15 PM December 2001 C A R O L I N A JOURNAL North Carolina 3 NCAE Mixes Politics and Tax-Exempt Union Dues, Complaint Alleges

Continued From Page 1 ity schools, takes their property without SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT compensation, tramples their individual lib- complaint filed with the IRS. erties and hampers their economic oppor- The NEA is permitted to participate in tunities.” political activities, but it must report the • The NEA and its state affiliates are required by law to expenditures to the IRS. N.C. officials respond Both for-profit and nonprofit organiza- fully report their political expenditures. tions are permitted to establish political • Nonprofit organizations are permitted to make political Evans was chairwoman of the North action committees, but PACs are subject to expenditures provided such expenditures conform with Carolina Democratic Party during the 1996 strict income and expenditure reporting Coordinated Campaign. CJ asked her what rules and the full disclosure of all political the law. she could recall about the Management activity. Committee that listed Wilson of NCAE as a Even though the NEA operates a PAC, member. “I don’t remember anything about the evidence, Landmark said, indicates that • The NEA does not report political activity as required on such a formal arrangement. The only activ- “NEA’s political expenditures and activi- IRS forms. ity when there was some approval was ties extend beyond its reported PAC activi- • The NEA and state affiliates participated in a coordi- interviewing for the manager,” she said. ties and, therefore, beyond the zero dollars Wilson was executive director of the it has reported on its last several federal tax nated campaign with the national Democratic Party to NCAE during the 1996 Coordinated Cam- returns.” elect targeted candidates. paign referenced in the Landmark exhibits. Landmark acknowledges that the NEA In September 2000, Wilson left the North official political organization, NEA-PAC, • The NEA participated in a campaign to defeat congres- Carolina organization to take a job as execu- meets the appropriate standards for a PAC, sional candidates that, in 1994, supported the “Contract tive director of the NEA , which has head- but that NEA’s political activities include With America.” quarters in Washington, DC. A spokesman the “expenditure of substantial general rev- for Wilson said that he was too busy to talk enues that have not been reported as tax- • The NEA’s strategic priorities include additional politi- by phone but that he would respond to able income to the IRS.” cal activities. written questions from CJ. In a written response Wilson said, “By The evidence • The 1999 and 2000 NEA financial reports reveal extensive way of background, while I was executive political expenditures. director of NCAE and in my current posi- In its complaint, Landmark provides tion as executive director of NEA, I have evidence that the NEA does not report any encouraged those organizations to always political activity on the proper IRS forms. • The NEA and affiliates must comply with IRS laws. comply with the relevant legal requirements The most revealing documents show • The IRS is charged with enforcing the law. whether imposed by the IRS or federal or that the NEA and the state affiliates partici- state election agencies. I am confident that pated in a coordinated campaign with the • The IRS must determine whether the NEA and affiliates both organizations have always abided by Democratic National Committee and other are subject to civil and criminal penalties. all such requirements.” groups. According to the exhibits, that 1996 Wilson said he had not read the Land- campaign was to elect specific Democratic mark complaint. When asked about the candidates. “We intend to be successful in North wide Democratic turnout, campaigns that 1996 Democratic Coordinated Campaign One piece of evidence of the link be- Carolina in 1996. We are ready for the Re- are not statewide races may ask to have Management Committee, he said, “I was tween the NEA’s approval and the flow of publicans and we are working together. additional precincts targeted within their invited to be on the committee, but not as a money is the following statement obtained Governor Jim Hunt, future Senator Harvey districts. Such requests will be considered representative of NCAE. As far as I know, from the Bobby Ethridge for Congress Com- Gantt, Democratic Party Chair Libba Evans, by the Steering Committee.” the committee never met.” mittee in North Carolina: and other party leaders have set the stage While the aforementioned parts of the He also said that the NCAE’s Political “When the draft plan is initialized in for success with careful and thoughtful plan- document seem to be just a plan, the next Action Committee “is the vehicle through the state, it is forwarded to the DNC for ning and amassing the financial and politi- section entitled “Governing Structure” spe- which such political activities are funded review. If the plan meets the DNC’s specifi- cal resources for the battle ahead,” stated cifically lists by name NCAE President John and implemented.” cations, it is shared with the National Coor- the section labeled “Resolved.” Wilson as a member of the Steering Com- NCAE President Carolyn McKinney dinated Campaign funding partners at the “By participating in mittee as well as a mem- did not respond to several requests. AFL-CIO, NEA, Emily’s List, and other na- the Coordinated Cam- ber of the smaller and tional campaign committees for review. paign, all campaigns can ÒWe are ready for the more powerful Manage- Levin comments further When the DNC and its national partners enjoy the benefits of pay- Republicans and we ment Committee re- including..., the AFL-CIO and the NEA agree ing for certain activities sponsible for day-to-day Levin told CJ that one of the main dif- on the contents of a plan, each national with a combination of fed- are working together campaign operations. ferences between the political left and po- partner will give their funding commit- eral and non-federal ... Ó Ñ stated the sec- AFL-CIO President litical right is that leftist organizations such ment to the state.” money — a huge advan- Chris Scott was also as the AFL-CIO and the NEA exist prima- This statement from the Ethridge com- tage for campaigns where tion labeled ÒRe- listed as a member of rily to organize large numbers of people for mittee demonstrates, says Landmark, that every dollar counts,” solved.Ó both the Steering and political causes. “They get special IRS treat- the NEA had veto power over the contents stated the following sec- Management commit- ment, but behave like political organiza- of a state-coordinated plan and could with- tion, entitled “Overview.” tees. tions. It is time to get this issue resolved. All hold funding if it did not approve. Continuing with a heading entitled The document detailed the activities of us can do it, or none of us can,” he said. But in response to a subpoena to pro- “Rules of Engagement,” the Overview listed that were to be undertaken by the Coordi- “It is a misuse of hard-earned union duce documents and submit written an- a subsection titled “Steering Committee/ nated Campaign. They included develop- dues. Members have little knowledge of swers, Raleigh lawyer John R. Wallace, on Management Structure.” Under this sec- ing a voter file, public opinion research, how their money is being spent,” he said. behalf of the Ethridge for Congress Com- tion it said the central governing body of the opposition research, and voter contact made How would the tax liability work? mittee, denied that the Ethridge committee Coordinated Campaign would be the Steer- up of direct mail, phone banks, and regis- “They would have to pay corporate tax was aware of AFL-CIO participation in the ing Committee, which would be brought tration drives. rates on income used for political purposes,” coordinated campaign together by the state party chair (Libba Levin said. He also said the NEA would Evans) and may include representatives What is Landmark? have to identify all monies used for political The North Carolina connection from the various campaigns plus the “AFL- purposes. CIO, NEA and/or other actively participat- Landmark is an IRS-designated non- “But the problem to them is two-fold, During the 1996 election cycle, the ing labor members.” profit 501(c)(3) organization with offices in because one, they don’t want to reveal how NCAE’s PAC spent $265,000. Those expen- So as part of the rules for each state Kansas City, Mo., and Herndon, Va. The much they spend on political purposes, and ditures were separate, properly accounted campaign to receive funds, the Democratic foundation charges no fees and accepts no two, the NEA is so big and involved in so for, and not the subject of the Landmark National Committee suggested that the government monies for its services. It is many activities it would be too difficult to complaint. North Carolina Steering Committee include funded by tax-deductible contributions file an accurate return.” But like its national counterpart, the a representative from the state teachers from private citizens and grants from pri- Levin said the NEA and the state groups NCAE failed to report any other political union. vate institutions. signed documents asking for tax-exempt expenditures on the 990 form. CJ did not This document went on to mandate “In courtrooms throughout America, status. They were given that status because have access to detailed budgets from the that each member of the committee would on the nation’s airwaves and in print, Land- they asked. He also said that any claim to be NCAE and therefore was unable to deter- “have a voice in Coordinated Campaign mark Legal Foundation is the first line of bipartisan in their political activities was mine the amount of political expenditures programs and financial line-items based on defense for the U.S. Constitution and the “irrelevant and false.” He explained that all that were made. But documents make clear their contributions to the Coordinated Cam- rule of law,” states the organization’s lit- political activities are prohibited — even a connection between the Democratic orga- paign resource pool.” The more resources erature. Landmark claims that in the past the support of Republican candidates. nizations and the NCAE leadership. the NCAE would commit, then the more 25 years its legal victories have substan- What’s next? Levin said Landmark is One DNC document outlined the rela- veto power it would have in the use of tially advanced core conservative prin- still waiting for the IRS to take action, but tionship between the Democratic National Coordinated Campaign funds. ciples. The foundation says it “represents his organization is already working on a Committee, the North Carolina Democratic Under the “Targeting” section the docu- public figures and average Americans vic- related action that it expects to file by March Party, individual campaigns, and constitu- ment states: “Though basic targeting will timized by the unconstitutional laws and 1. He would not elaborate on the exact ent groups. be done with the goal of maximizing state- regulations that deny them access to qual- nature of that action. cj

Dec CJ Corrected Pages 2 4/2/02, 3:12 PM December 2001 C A R O L I N A 4 North Carolina JOURNAL

Around the State Making a Federal Case Out of Redistricting • The North Carolina General Lawsuit takes county issue to the national level, but GOP says it’s a state decision Assembly may have set a precedent for other states, and could soon have company as tax-raisers. As reported By PAUL CHESSER 100 precincts by the Associated Press, “forty-four Associate Editor throughout the states saw revenue growth fall from RALEIGH state are split into August through October, according orth Carolina Republicans think two districts. to a Nov. 1 report from the National their lawsuit against state Demo- Republicans Conference of State Legislatures.” cratic officeholders over gerry- not only com- As a result, a number of states are N mandering may finally settle long-unan- plained about the discussing the possibility of tax in- swered questions about the (state) constitu- splits, but the con- creases, and many are having to tionality of “whole county” redistricting. tortions of some schedule special sessions because of However, Democrats think the question districts for the balanced-budget requirements in was answered a long time ago. purposes of creat- their constitutions. North Carolina The last time districts were redrawn by ing voting favor- House Speaker Jim Black has said he maintaining county boundaries was 1971. ability for Demo- expects to have to convene again as Republicans point specifically to Ar- crats. They cited well, to address the state’s budget ticle 2, Sections 3 and 5, which state “no District 20 as an woes. county shall be divided in the formation of example, which a Senate (or representative) district.” But begins in central • Evidence of either the Raleigh the state document subjugates itself to the Johnston County News & Observer’s lack of objectiv- U.S. Constitution. and extends south Senate Minority Leader Patrick Ballantine (left), R-New Hanover, and ity, or the city of Chapel Hill’s lack of The lawsuit challenges the constitution- through Sampson House Minority Leader Leo Daughtry, R-Johnston, are parties to a lawsuit against Democratic lawmakers over redistricting. Photo courtesy NCGOP conservatives, was on display in a ality of Democrat majority-drawn districts County (dividing Nov. 15 article. The Chapel Hill Pub- for the state House and Senate after the 2000 it among four districts), and ends near the Democrats’ state Senate plan splits 51 of the lic Arts Commission believes there census. Republicans claim the maps, al- coast in Pender County, which is divided 100 counties, with 17 for the purposes of is a paucity of taxpayer-funded art ready approved by both chambers, improp- into five districts. complying with the federal Voting Rights in the city, so its members hope to erly divide 34 of the state’s 100 counties for Pender’s population totals just over Act. He said the House plan breaks up 70 “persuade the Town Council to set the Senate, and 37 counties for the House. 41,000. Each state representative is to repre- counties, with only 33 to comply with the aside 1 percent of the annual con- To Democrats, the issue of dividing sent as close to 67,078 constituents as pos- Voting Rights Act. struction budget for sculptures, counties was decided in 1982. In a federal sible. Republicans say the districts violate “We must stop this blatant disregard paintings… and other artworks.” lawsuit based on the Voting Rights Act of the traditional redistricting principles of for the voters of North Carolina and the rule “Public art can be a great factor 1965, which prevents the disenfranchise- compactness and common interests. of law,” Cobey said. “Voters should be of economic development,” Renee ment of black voters by allowing counties to Adjoining to District 20 are Districts 19 choosing representatives, not the other way Piechocki of the arts commission told be divided so they can elect minority repre- and 21, which make similar north-south around.” the N&O. “People want to come to sentatives, a three-judge panel said that stretches, also bending in interesting but Johnston County Superior Court Judge towns that have neat things in them.” because the 40 counties under the act partisan ways. Knox Jenkins Jr. issued a temporary re- The story said the commission wants couldn’t be split, neither could any other Even sparsely populated counties are straining order, which would have pre- all new construction projects to be counties in the state. broken up. Pamlico County, whose popula- vented the Democrats’ map from being used part of the program — buildings, However, Republicans claim that the tion numbers just over 12,000, is split among until the matter is settled. parks, sidewalks, bridges, etc. Ap- federal judges did not take into consider- three districts, as is Martin County, whose However, a hearing he had scheduled parently no opposition to the idea ation North Carolina’s constitution, and population is just over 25,000. was suspended pending the federal court’s could be found, because the remain- would have no reason to. They hope the Further adding insult to injury, said the review of the case. der of the article quoted only offi- state Supreme Court will Republicans, are a signifi- cials supportive of public arts fund- rule on the constitution- cant number of districts GOP’s maps ing. ality of “whole county” with solid Republican ma- redistricting for the re- “Voters should be jorities that were packed To support their case, Republicans pro- • The City of Greensboro’s Parks maining 60 counties. One choosing representa- over the equivalent rep- duced sample maps that preserve majority- Department is reconsidering a pro- hitch: Democrats have resentative number of minority districts that split counties as re- gram, implemented Nov. 1, that at- asked a federal court to tives, not the other way 67,078 by up to 5 percent, quired by the Voting Rights Act, but other- tempts to prevent parents from slug- review the case because around.” — North likely resulting in fewer wise maintain the integrity of county lines ging erring referees at city-run youth they say it implicates the Carolina GOP Chair- Republican “safe dis- in drawing other districts. athletic events. The program re- federal Voting Rights Act, tricts.” On the other hand, The result is fewer districts with mul- quires parents who enroll their chil- but it may still be re- man Bill Cobey a large number of Demo- tiple members representing them, as com- dren in Greensboro’s sports leagues manded back to the state cratic districts contained pared to Democrats’ plans that keep such to first view a “good sportsman- level. up to 5 percent fewer than districts to a minimum. Democrats and other ship” video, then sign a pledge. Ac- Republicans cite in their complaint a the 67,078 number of constituents, poten- observers say multimember districts that cording to the Associated Press, par- 1981 letter from the Civil Rights Division of tially giving them more representatives maintain most county boundaries often sub- ents must watch the 19-minute video the U.S. Department of Justice to the state’s throughout the state. merge minorities’ voting power. on the city’s cable channel or at a Board of Elections. The letter, which evalu- “The county boundaries game disap- recreation center, then write down a ated the state’s requirement to preserve The lawsuit peared a long time ago,” said Thad Beyle, a code at the end of the video and entire counties in the redistricting process, political science professor at University of bring it to registration. The program stated in part that “this determination … As they had threatened during the en- North Carolina-Chapel Hill. “You can’t do is under review because some city should in no way be regarded as precluding tire legislative redistricting process, Repub- that and have one person, one vote.” officials and council members find the State from following a policy of preserv- licans sought redress from a state superior Democratic maps already approved the process too complicated. There ing county lines whenever feasible in for- court judge over Democrats’ refusal to draw would likely increase their own numbers in has been no word from city officials mulating its new districts.” what the GOP called “fair” districts. the House from a slight four-seat majority on funding plans for umpire body- The letter also said that many states “They have not followed the (state) con- by about six to seven seats. They already guards or ballfield metal detectors. maintain whole-county districts as well, stitution, we believe,” said House Majority hold a commanding lead in the Senate, 35- which Republicans intend to cite as ex- Leader Leo Daughtry, R-Johnston. 15. However, Beyle said present-day maps • Three of the state’s largest amples in presenting their case. The GOP At a press conference Nov. 13 at the can change their makeup in a hurry. newspapers, with reputations of will refer to state court decisions in Texas, Legislative Building, State Republican Party “Sometimes in a state like North leaning liberal, recently criticized Tennessee, and Kentucky that allow for Chairman Bill Cobey decried Democratic Carolina…things could change right under House Democrats over the redis- county preservation in redistricting, once attempts to draw themselves an insur- the plan like they did this last time,” he said. tricting process. The News & Record compliance with federal law is met. mountable electoral majority as they de- In his order, Jenkins wrote, “this case of Greensboro wrote Nov. 15 that Similarly, Republicans will point to signed the new districts. raises extremely serious constitutional ques- the new 13th Congressional District, court decisions in four other states that “They have trashed the constitution of tions strictly under the North Carolina Con- as drawn by Chairman Thomas require their legislators to harmonize their the state of North Carolina,” Cobey thun- stitution…” Wright, D-New Hanover, was “an constitutions with federal law in voting dered. “They have violated their oath of Republicans believe if the federal court incumbent’s dream and a conscien- cases. office.” returns the case to Jenkins, he may not look tious citizen’s nightmare.” Raleigh’s The complaint listed Senate Minority favorably upon the Democrats’ move to News & Observer on Nov. 12 said that The approved districts Leader Patrick Ballantine; Rep. Art Pope, R- “go over his head” after he issued his in- politics and partisanship “are mus- Wake; Daughtry, and Cobey as plaintiffs junction. cling out reason.” And the Winston- Democratic mapmakers in the House, against various state Democratic officials, Regardless, Republicans want the case Salem Journal wrote that Democrats led by Redistricting Chairman Ronnie including Gov. Mike Easley, Attorney Gen- heard at the state level, so the state constitu- “abused the rules,” although the pa- Sutton of Hoke County, showed little re- eral Roy Cooper, Senate President Pro Tem- tion can finally be interpreted on the issue. per added that the GOP deserved gard for county boundaries. In fact, there pore Marc Basnight, and House Speaker “You can draw maps (based) on the some blame. CJ are dozens of instances where precincts are Jim Black. North Carolina Constitution,” Ballantine split to promote party favoritism. More than Cobey said in a statement that the said. “Enough of this nonsense.” CJ

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 4 4/2/02, 3:16 PM C A R O L I N A December 2001 JOURNAL North Carolina 5 Moore, legislators handcuff voters Prison Projects Skirt Public Debt Provision in State Constitution

By PAUL CHESSER radar of public view, they were above-board because the state is obligated to make lease- 1990.” Associate Editor in seeking approval last year for $3.1 billion purchase payments, likely at the cost of Actually 1991, after the state Supreme RALEIGH in general obligation bonds for higher edu- more than $19 million per year for 20 years. Court decided lease-purchase agreements six-line item in this year’s budget cation infrastructure. He said that was a Two former state Treasury officials, includ- permitted governments to incur debts with- puts taxpayers on the hook to pay contradiction in policy. ing Boyles, estimate total cost for financing out approval through a vote. A more than $450 million in debt for “The bottom line to all of this is the the prisons could run over $450 million, High said the North Carolina Infra- the state, without voting to approve it, as is contrarian view,” Boyles said. “On one hand once interest, legal and administrative fees structure Finance Corporation assumes the constitutionally mandated. they disapproved it with the universities, are calculated. risk, along with the its bondholders. Board The section of the budget authorizes but on the other hand they approved it with Cost for construction under the con- members for the corporation are to be ap- North Carolina’s Department of Adminis- the prisons.” tract is just over $223.8 million. pointed by the treasurer. tration and Department of Correction to “The debtholder has no action they can build three 1,000-cell prisons in the counties Details of the funding plan Accountability uncertain take against (the state) except to take the of Alexander, Anson, and Scotland. The facility away,” High said. “If we don’t make Anson and Scotland facilities have already The state is able to skirt the voter-ap- But who holds accountability for the the payment, they just take the prison away.” begun construction, and Alexander’s is ex- proval requirement because technically it is project is fuzzy. To think the state might consider de- pected to begin in the spring. the finance corporation “This authority essen- faulting on its debt obligations may disturb The controversial aspect of financing taking on the debt, then tially has a blank check,” some. Given that the legislature tried val- for the prisons is the result of the legislature’s turning around and al- “If this is legal, then we said Charles Heatherly, iantly to preserve the state’s Triple A bond decision to require Treasurer Richard Moore lowing the state to use former deputy state trea- rating during budget negotiations, pros- to create a third-party nonprofit organiza- the facilities under a can just borrow money surer. “They can sell pects of defaulting are unlikely. tion, the North Carolina Infrastructure Fi- lease-purchase agree- for everything.” bonds for almost anything In a letter to The News and Observer of nance Corporation, existing solely to be the ment, which has yet to be associated with these pris- Raleigh, Heatherly cited a provision in the owner and “landlord” of the prison proper- officially drawn. How- — Former deputy state ons. They can charge an North Carolina constitution that states “debt ties. To some, it gives the appearance of the ever, the state is obligated treasurer Charles unlimited amount of fees payments rank first, above all other obliga- legislature trying to obtain borrowed fund- to the prisons once con- Heatherly to this.” tions.” ing without the approval of the state’s vot- struction is completed. Advocates for the “Personally, I don’t think it’s legal,” ers, as is required by the constitution. Department of Cor- plan say city and county Heatherly said Dec. 7. “If this is legal, then rections leadership suggest that doesn’t governments in the state have financed we can just borrow money for everything.” Former treasurer’s criticisms leave taxpayers on the hook. “The state has projects in this manner for a long time. Most Moore signaled in August in an inter- not obligated itself,” said Lynn Phillips, of those facilities are fed by a stream of view with The News and Observer that the “They did it in such a ‘sleight-of-hand’ assistant secretary of the Department of revenues from the public users, such as state may use similar methods to finance way—almost no attention was given to it Correction. “The state will not use its taxing hospitals. other capital projects in the future. during the legislative debate,” said Harlan power to pay off this financing. None of “This clearly isn’t a new concept,” said Boyles said the state may have avoided Boyles, a former state treasurer. these loans are secured that way.” Bob High, director of State and Local Gov- seeking public approval for the prisons be- Boyles said that while lawmakers pur- But the only way the finance corpora- ernment in the Treasurer’s office. “Our lo- cause it’s not as politically appealing as sued financing for the prisons under the tion will be able to obtain its funding will be cal governments have been using it since bonds for higher education. CJ

N.C. agency ignores Supreme Court and state judge Agency Rule Awaits Challenge We Want Less!

Concerned About Issues Such As By PAUL CHESSER ers and businesses who want to dredge or Taxes, Regulations, Property Rights Associate Editor fill wetlands in order to build, while at the & Patient Choice in Health Care? RALEIGH same time maintaining authority to pre- fter a Supreme Court ruling earlier serve isolated wetlands they deemed wor- Thousands of your fellow North this year, the state’s Environmen- thy of protection. Carolinians are, too — that’s why A tal Management Commission Several business groups challenged the they have joined North Carolina found itself lacking control under federal commission’s ability to institute such a rule, Citizens for a Sound Economy to law regarding North Carolina’s isolated claiming the jurisdiction over state waters fight for less government, lower wetlands, so it established a rule on its own. had already been established by the Su- taxes, and more freedom. They are In January the U.S. Supreme Court ruled preme Court opinion. They said in order to making their voices heard. that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could exercise authority over isolated wetlands, North Carolina CSE members protest state exercise no oversight over bodies of water the commission would need to follow a Fighting for the People’s Agenda tax increases at an August rally in Raleigh. not specifically defined in the 1972 Clean permanent rulemaking process, which Water Act. The Corps’ oversight could ex- would require public hearings and other North Carolina Citizens for a Sound Economy holds politicians accountable for tend only to designated waters defined as bureaucratic hurdles, likely taking more their votes on taxes, regulations, and other issues. Its aggressive, real-time “waters of the United States,” limited to than a year to implement. campaigns activate a grassroots army to show up and demand policy change. “navigable waterways,” “waters in inter- The business coalition sought redress state commerce,” “interstate waters,” and against the temporary rulemaking through And it gets results. CSE has helped to defeat three large tax increases in North any tributaries leading to, or wetlands adja- the mediation of the state’s Office of Ad- Carolina and defended property rights, parental choice, and individual freedom cent to, such waters. The court ruled in that ministrative Hearings. Administrative Law before the state legislature, county commissions, city councils, and elsewhere. Illinois case that the Corps, which had tried Judge Beecher Gray found in favor of the to exercise jurisdiction over an abandoned business groups in two decisions, saying Here’s what some are saying about Citizens for a Sound Economy: sand and gravel mining site, could not in- the commission didn’t prove there was suf- terfere with a private enterprise’s use of an ficient reason to bypass the full rulemaking ¥ “They have been doing a great job all over the country educating people.” “isolated wetland.” process. However, OAH did not possess — President George W. Bush As a result, the decision’s implications the power to prevent the commission from extended to North Carolina, because the instituting the rule anyway. ¥ “CSE is a great organization . . . The hundreds of thousands of volunteer state had adopted the Clean Water Act’s The business coalition is now pinning its activists that are members of CSE are vital to this country’s economic prosperity.” definition of wetlands that are protected by property rights hopes on developers. Ac- — U.S. Rep. Richard Burr of Winston-Salem the government. So following the court’s cording to a recent report in The News and ruling, the state’s Environmental Manage- Observer of Raleigh, 10 projects that fall ¥ “You guys are everywhere! CSE is a great organization. CSE, thanks.” ment Commission decided in April that for under the temporary wetlands rule await — Sen. John McCain private owners to be able to make signifi- approval from the Division of Water Qual- cant changes to isolated wetlands, it would ity, which originally lobbied the Environ- require authorization from the state, based mental Management Commission to insti- Get Involved! on a permitting system that the commission tute the rule. Craig Bromby, a lawyer repre- Join North Carolina CSE would implement. Such a system would senting the business groups, said any one of NORTH CAROLINA and Make a Difference! need to be set up via a temporary rule, those developers could challenge the estab- issued by the commission, authorized by lishment of that rule through state Superior 115 1/2 West. Morgan St. Raleigh, NC 27601 no one other than its own board. By follow- Court, and because they have the backing www.cse.org ing the temporary route, the commission of Gray’s decisions, possibly see the rule 1-888-446-5273 would be able to issue permits to develop- thrown out. CJ

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 5 4/2/02, 3:16 PM December 2001 C A R O L I N A 3 6 Education JOURNAL

School Reform Briefs The Battle Over Bilingual Education

•After more than a year of wait- An overview on educating Hispanics and other non-English-speaking students ing, the first report to the State Board of Education on closing the achieve- ment gap has arrived. By SHERRI JOYNER classes with native English speakers. Proposition 227 and others The commission concluded that and LINDSAY MAPES Thomas and Collier found ESL to be the “we can no longer afford to avoid the Staff Writers least-effective program at narrowing the The most famous battle against bilin- discomfort often associated with rec- RALEIGH achievement gap between LEP and tradi- gual education occurred in California. In ognizing that ethnic culture (race) is ust 58.7 percent of elementary and tional students. 1998, a ballot measure titled Proposition somehow associated with this fail- middle school-age Hispanics scored at 227 passed to end the bilingual education ure. The evidence is compelling. In grade level in last year on state end-of- In North Carolina system. every analysis of EOG test data from J grade reading and mathematics tests. In Under the new system, most California the ABCs program presented to the high school, only 38 percent of Hispanics According to the 2000 Census, at least LEP students are placed in English immer- Commission over the past year, the graduate in North Carolina, according to one in 10 residents in North Carolina is sion programs. After two years, English factor of race was dominant in dif- findings from High School Graduation Rates Hispanic. Yet our state seems to be making learners were improving greatly, with the ferentiating levels of achievement.” in the United States by Jay Greene with the little progress educating these students. strongest improvement occurring with the Five “Root Causes” of the prob- Manhattan Institute. Even with a lack of evidence for suc- youngest students. lem are identified in the report, in- Most states are struggling to educate cess, ESL programs are the most common in With a 2-1 margin in Arizona, voters cluding the evidence that minorities non-English speakers, otherwise catego- North Carolina. approved another ballot initiative in No- are more often exposed to less-quali- rized as Limited English Proficient students. Asheboro City Schools and Duplin vember 2000 against bilingual education. fied teachers. Initiatives in California, Arizona, Massa- County Schools, with the largest concentra- But now under court order, education lead- The report also identifies the fol- chusetts, and many other states have made tion of Hispanics in the state, 20 percent and ers are devising plans to improve programs lowing 11 recommendations to close headlines as educators duel over the most 15 percent respectively, both use ESL to for LEP students, including supplemental the racial gap between white stu- effective strategies. The most popular ini- address language barrier needs. state aid for LEP students. dents and black students: tiatives for serving LEP students are: Two types of ESL, Pull-out and Pull-in, Despite the state’s efforts, parents of a 1. Reduce and eliminate the dis- 1.) English immersion — Instruction is are commonly used across the state. In Pull- 6-year-old girl filed a suit last month against proportionate number of minority entirely in English. out, a small group of stu- the state for forcing their daughter to re- students assigned to special educa- 2. ) English as a sec- dents, usually under 12, main in an English-only class. tion programs. ond language — Can ei- are removed from their Currently, about one-third of LEP stu- 2. Promote and encourage ad- ther be a class period or a Even with a lack of mainstream class by an dents in Arizona have received waivers to vanced course work and challenging full day of instruction ESL teacher.They work remain in bilingual programs. strategies to increase the number of evidence for success, where some support is on improving their lan- Connecticut has also made recent ad- minority students who perform at given in the student’s na- ESL programs are the guage skills and some justments to its bilingual education pro- the highest levels on end-of-grade tive tongue. However, the English content. grams. A new law has placed a 30-month tests. most common pro- class usually consists of Pull-in uses a similar limit on the amount of time LEP students 3. Design a public information grams used in North only students who are not model, but in this pro- can spend in bilingual programs. campaign to get the attention of par- fluent in English. Carolina. gram the ESL teachers While the national trend seems to be ents as a method to raise awareness 3.) Transitional bilin- come into the main class- moving away from bilingual programs, re- of attitudes and practices. gual education — In- room to make demonstra- cent debate in Massachusetts has led state 4. Each school should be re- structionfor some subjects is in the student’s tions that reach both the LEP and tradi- representatives to preserve bilingual edu- quired to provide the district office native tongue but a certain amount of time tional students. cation. with an annual action plan to get is also spent learning English. The success in Asheboro City Schools parents involved, a record of paren- 4.) Two-way bilingual education — In- has been limited. About two-thirds of LEP Bush’s proposal tal involvement, and a record of vol- struction is given to students in two lan- students with novice English skills advance untary home visits by teachers and guages with the hope that all students in the one level by the end of the school year with Under the current law, a minimum of administrators. class become bilingual. the assistance of the ESL Pull-out model, 75 percent of federal bilingual education 5. That the State Board of Edu- leaving another one-third behind. funds are to be used for programs that use cation and the superintendent de- What does research tell us? Despite the success of English Immer- the student’s native tongue. sign and fund a professional devel- sion in other states, the North Carolina De- In his campaign to “leave no child be- opment initiative that will ensure Like any other policy issue, there are partment of Public Instruction does not hind,” President George W. Bush’s pro- classroom teachers acquire necessary mixed opinions on the effectiveness of bi- encourage the program. posed education plan would get rid of a skills to be successful. lingual programs and English immersion. At this month’s State Board of Educa- stipulation that the federal government fa- 6. That the state provide teach- Critics of bilingual education claim that tion meeting, Fran Hoch, DPI section chief vor bilingual programs over English-only ers 11-month paid contracts every the program is ineffective and keeps stu- for Second Languages and ESL, reported on programs. four years to develop new skills. dents learning too long in their native lan- what she termed the mythology that sur- Other major elements of the program 7. The state should create, fund, guage — causing difficulties mastering rounds second-language acquisition. include consolidating the Bilingual and Im- and support special seminars and English and slowing assimilation. “Some of the most prevalent myths migrant Education Programs in a single course development for existing uni- Critics of English Immersion claim the surrounding language learning included federal agency and mandating that all LEP versity teaching education faculty. program throws the student into the deep the idea that students, especially young students be taught in English after three 8. That all new teacher education end without taking into consideration the ones, learn language quickly and easily and years. faculty members at North Carolina individual needs of students. that students automatically learn another The bill would also require states to campuses be rated on knowledge, Parents of LEP students are also split. language when immersed in an environ- monitor the progress of LEP students in skills, and dispositions they will Some parents have complained that after ment where everyone speaks that lan- attaining English and teachers for LEP stu- need to teach new teachers. years in the school system, their children guage,” Hoch said. dents would be required to have fluency in 9. That the state resolve the are still not tested in English. Jane Cowan, with DPI, has also voiced English. shortage of qualified teachers by pro- Other parents prefer to have their chil- her concerns that English Immersion does States that fail to meet their perfor- viding monetary incentives to pre- dren taught in their native language. not meet the needs of students according to mance objectives could lose up to 10 per- pared teachers and placing them in While most states have used bilingual the law. cent of funding of grant programs. CJ high need schools and teaching ar- education since the 1960s and support the eas. program, the New York Board of Education 10. That the State Board of Edu- recently reported that English immersion Percent of N.C.Students at Grade Level on End-of-Grade Tests by Race, 2001 cation should set universal standards works best for young students. to measure the achievement gap and SOURCE: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. “According to their data, 84 percent of 90.0% incentives at the district level. those enrolled in kindergarten exit within 11. The state should commission three years,” Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said. a study to examine the history of or- 80.0% “In contrast, traditional bilingual programs ganized education for American In- have a far lower success rate.” dians and blacks that can be used to George Mason University researchers, 70.0% prepare teachers for diverse class- Wayne P. Thomas and Virginia P. Collier, rooms. have tried to get a handle on the issue. Before any action, it is impera- 60.0% Since 1996 they have studied the vari- tive that all educators believe all chil- ous methods and concluded that one-way dren can learn. “We must first believe and two-way developmental bilingual edu- 50.0% that it can be done — that struggling cation is the most promising. minority students can score on par Nationwide, one- and two-way or dual- with their white counterparts — be- 40.0% immersion programs, are used in about 300 fore we can expect it to happen,” the schools. report states. For the full report, go Both programs give student instruc- 30.0% to www.ncpublicschools.org. CJ tion in English and their native tongue, but Black Hispanic Native American Multi-racial Asian White dual-immersion places LEP students in

Dec CJ Corrected Pages 3 4/2/02, 3:12 PM C A R O L I N A December 2001 JOURNAL Education 7

Compulsion vs. school choice Public Schools Toying with Children’s Lives Families Deserve

By SHERRI JOYNER Choices in Schools Assistant Editor RALEIGH s director of the Children’s Scholarship Fund id you choose the school your child of Charlotte, the last months have been attends? If you are like most par- extremely rewarding as I have visited ents, you didn’t. Most children A D schools, talked and worked with low-income fami- who attend public schools are routed to lies, processed more than 400 private-school schol- schools based on assignment and busing arships, and discussed issues with donors. What formulas that school officials create — of- may surprise many is that individuals support this ten with an eye toward maintaining racial charity. Donations range from small cash gifts (even or socioeconomic balance. from the families we support) to large grants of over But being able to choose your own $1 million given by Julian Robertson, John Walton, child’s school may be more beneficial than and Ted Fortsmann. No mat- some officials are willing to recognize. ter what size gift, individuals Existing school choice programs in who know the importance of North Carolina and the nation have dem- education have embraced the onstrated that choice can generate several vision. Our program changes benefits, including higher student achieve- lives. Simply stated, we want ment and increased parental involvement. every family to have the oppor- An independent study of the Children’s tunity to choose the best school Scholarship Fund in Charlotte, a private Pupils at First Assembly Christian School, which participates in the fund for their children regardless of program that gives partial scholarships to their financial circumstance. children in low-income families, found that choice parents Social engineering is not new to the school system. The Over the past 25 years of are generally happier with their child’s school. system’s old reassignment plan had been based on racial being involved in K-12 edu- Lindalyn Nearly twice as many choice parents gave their child’s balance, but seeing legal challenges to that practice in cation, I have had the privi- Kakedelis school an A, at 53 percent, compared to public school Charlotte and other cities, the schools chose socioeconomic lege of seeing all types of re- parents, at 26 percent. balance as its new method to ensure all schools are given form emerge from the frame- Choice programs also have led to a significant increase the “right” diversity of students. work. We now have home schooling (more than in the number of smaller, community schools and fewer In the March issue of Carolina Journal, Brigid Thomp- 24,000 families in North Carolina), charter schools, facility needs. son, a new homeschooler and former PTA member, said private schools, special-teaching-methods schools, Most people easily recognize scholarships, vouchers, she noticed the Wake County district was choosing high- virtual schools, religious schools, and the traditional and charter schools as choice alternatives. But there are performing nodes of students to transfer to low-perform- public school system. Now, even the Charlotte- many more dimensions to choice.School systems often ing schools — one of the reasons she decided to homeschool Mecklenburg School system embraces the concept consider magnet schools to be choice programs. Higher- her two sons. of allowing parents to choose among their 148 income families are able to choose neighborhoods to live in “It was their way of averaging out the scores to make schools. and can send their children to private school as methods of the school look all right,” Thompson said. But I have noticed that while there are thou- choice. But lower-income families rarely Research and policy reports found sands of higher-education scholarships, there are have such options. on the system’s webpage support the virtually none for K-12 education. Why would any- Regardless, most parents take for With school officials decision of the Wake County Public one have a problem with this type of charity? Edu- granted the idea that no matter what, School System to reassign students based grouping students to cation is one of the most fundamental ways to pro- their child will be able to attend the local, on income. They claim the academic per- duce a well-informed and self-governingt public. public school. suit them best, PTA formance of all students suffers when a Not one family should feel stuck with a single edu- This may not be the case. school has too many students from low- members are urging cational provider. I applaud the bold move of any School districts are not required to income homes. school system that provides parents the responsibil- take community or parental desire into all parents to fight the But that answer doesn’t satisfy many ity of choosing a school. The discussion is not one of account. They can choose to reorganize reassignments. parents. Another issue of compulsion “either/or,” but “and” and “both.” schools and bus children based solely on has also crept into view over the last The objections to providing educational options proper peer diversity — a goal that can year. Schools offering a year-round are amazing: “I don’t want to have anything to do lead to a disconnect between families and the school. schedule were originally created as an option, but now with the Children’s Scholarship Fund because it is students are being forced to attend. too political,” “I paid once for everyone’s education Wake County reassignments Oak Grove Elementary School, a year-round school in — why should I have to give again?” “That organi- Raleigh, didn’t have enough students from low-income zation is simply a white, Republican, underground The recent reassignment proposal in Wake County has families, so WCPPS will more than double the school voucher movement,” “I am concerned about a child parents fuming, with plans to relocate 5,800 students to proportion of low-income students to 8.7 percent under the who receives a scholarship taking the position on different schools. Under the new plan, students who live proposed reassignment plan. the sports team of a full-paying child.” Wow, do we just blocks away from a school will be compelled to attend One concern that has been raised by a parent and PTA have an opportunity to educate the adults about the another school, miles away. member at Oak Grove is whether low-income families will business of K-12 education! Something has to be Dr. Walter Sherlin, associate superintendent of Wake be able to afford child care during the periodic, and lengthy, done. CSF provides options for low-income fami- County public schools, said recently that its reassignment three-week breaks. lies, options that are necessary when you realize that plan was necessary to ease crowding in schools. Given these trends, many parents in Wake County nearly half of economically disadvantaged ninth- While some assignments are necessary to fill the open- now feel they have little choice over where their children graders in Charlotte drop out of school. ings of three new school facilities, it is obvious that the attend school, despite system claims to the contrary. This past fall, the North Carolina Education school system is doing much more. Students who live near Alliance did a superb job of looking at success stories some schools are being prohibited from attending the Intradistrict choice in Cumberland County of schools that serve low-income students and find- closest school, or even the next closest school, but are being ing common elements that lead toward success. As assigned to a third school that is even further away. Noting the limited choice parents often have in public stated on the Alliance tour, reliable, scientifically In fact, the school system assigns students based on schools for their children, Cumberland County Schools based education research is not easily available. family income and student performance. The Wake County offer intradistrict choice to families in their area. The pro- Therefore, what can be done while politicians de- Board of Education assigns students with the goal that all gram allows parents to choose among several schools in bate, advocacy groups spend millions of dollars to of the county’s public schools have no more than 40 percent their area. secure their positions, and researchers continue to of the students receiving free or reduced-priced lunches With more than 40 schools across the county, serving research? Help families! I never receive a phone call and no more than 25 percent of students scoring below all grade levels, the program is designed much like a from a parent who is satisfied with his child’s edu- grade level on state reading tests. magnet school program. Every school teaches the North cational provider. The parents who call are desper- “The whole idea is racist in concept,“ said Jess Ward, a Carolina Standard Course of Study, but each has a different ately looking for help and have heard that CSF former Cary town council member. “They are assigning focus. For example, students can choose among schools opens doors of opportunity. students all around for the purpose of social engineering, that focus on classical studies, health or natural sciences, While the debate of providing educational op- when they could be providing those resources to help low- finances, and communications, plus year-round options. tions continues in the halls of courts and legislators, performing schools.” The two keys to making the program work are the today some child is stuck in a classroom where his With school officials grouping students to acehive number of choices available and the fact that attendance is parents feel they have no power. Thanks to CSF- socioeconomic balance — regardless of whether they scat- not restricted to where a student lives. Charlotte, under the leadership of the John Locke ter a community — PTA members are urging all parents to Parents in Cumberland County have responded posi- Foundation, more than 350 families have accepted fight the reassignments. tively thus far. A survey of the program found that 70 that opportunity of choosing a education that, even But in a recent television interview, Sherlin denied that percent of the parents were more satisfied with their with a scholarship, is a financial sacrifice. There is the system was reassigning students based on income and childrens’ experience in the choice programs than in previ- really only one problem — there are other families repeated that reassignments were necessary to ease crowd- ous schools. waiting and needing the opportunity. CJ ing — causing one to wonder whether the school system It also found that parents liked being able to choose cares to admit the problems it may be causing for families. schools for their children. CJ

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 7 4/2/02, 3:17 PM December 2001 C A R O L I N A 8 Education JOURNAL

School Reform News From Across the Nation Smaller may be better School Size Makes a Difference, Accountability in Disability Nationwide Research Shows

attles in Washington, D.C. are Number of autistic swells By SHERRI JOYNER Flight and Cape Hatteras Elementaries in once again focused on educa Assistant Editor Dare County. tion. The House and Senate are The percent of children with autism B RALEIGH But Nathan and Febey say a New York deliberating over additional dollars that in Metro Detroit is swelling rapidly, ac- orth Carolinians are paying to re- City study found that while smaller high will be put toward programs to assist cording to The Detroit News. The number duce class size, but does school schools cost more per pupil to operate, the student with disabilities, and whether of autistic children in Oakland, Wayne, size also matter? Absolutely. Re- cost is actually less expensive than at larger the money should be accompanied by and Macomb counties have doubled in N search from school size tells us that on schools when cost is calculated per gradu- reforms and account- the last five years. For average, smaller schools can provide a safer ate. This effect is due to higher graduation ability measures. example, Oakland place for students, higher achievement, rates posted at smaller high schools. Federal programs County had 200 autistic higher graduations rates, and greater satis- to assist students with impaired students in faction for students, teachers, and families, Alternatives to smaller schools disabilities are autho- 1995. By December 2000, according to a study by the Center for School rized by the Individu- it had 641. Change at the University of Minnesota’s Even without building smaller schools, als with Disabilities What was once con- Humphrey Institute. schools can create a smaller feel for students Education Act. IDEA, sidered a rare, mental The report, Smaller, Safer, Saner, Suc- and teachers through specific strategies and first signed into law by disorder, characterized cessful Schools by Joe Nathan and Karen restructuring. President Ford, has brought millions of by self-absorption, inability to socially Febey, provides brief case studies of 22 The U.S. Department of Education out- disabled children into regular class- interact, repetitive behavior, and social public school buildings in 12 states: Ari- lines several options for states and districts rooms. dysfunction, is becoming much more zona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, to consider from alternative scheduling to But as Rod Paige, secretary of edu- common. Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, multiyear groups. cation, pointed out in a Washington Times “Autism was once rare, perhaps only Oregon, Texas, and Washington. To encourage large districts to person- article, in spite of our success, “serious one or two of every 10,000 births,” said The U.S. Department of Education is alize high schools, $125 million in competi- challenges remain in providing students Sally Burton-Hoyle, executive director also clear on the subject. “Research findings tive grants is available from the U.S. De- with disabilities the free and appropri- of the Autism Society of Michigan. “Now, support the notion that high school stu- partment of Public Education to districts ate education in the least restrictive en- it may be as many as one in every 500.” dents are more successful when they attend that wish to create smaller, more support- vironment.” While medical professionals aren’t small schools,” points out the department ive learning communities. For example, black children are al- sure why there has been a drastic surge, in An Overview of Smaller Learning Commu- Four small school structures that can most twice as likely to be identified as educators are looking for ways to pay nities in High Schools. enhance student learning emotionally disturbed as white children the costs of educating increasing num- The North Carolina are: academies, house and are more than twice as likely to be bers of autistic children. Department of Public In- plans, school-within-a- identified as mentally retarded, accord- “It costs $20,000 to $25,000 a year to struction agrees that Small schools can pro- school, and magnet pro- ing to data from the Office of Special educate an autistic student, compared to smaller schools increase grams. Each of these plans Education and Rehabilitative Services. the roughly $7,000 a year for a regular vide a safer place for student safety, student in- divides student popula- “Our system fails to teach many of education student,” said Don Bollinger, volvement, and could students, higher tions into subgroups to these children fundamental skills like associate superintendent of the Macomb lead to higher achieve- help students feel more reading and then inappropriately iden- Intermediate School District. achievement, higher ment. connected to each other, tifies some of them as having disabili- Luke Tsai, a psychiatrist at a Univer- graduation rates, and Nevertheless, to adults, and to their ties,” Paige wrote. “Not only does this sity of Michigan clinic, noted that the schools in North Carolina greater satisfaction. school group. hurt those children who are increase could be due to a change in seem to be getting larger, Charter schools are misidentified, it also reduces the re- definition a few years ago that made it not smaller, because as also a viable option. Re- sources available to serve children with easier for more children to qualify. the department points out, it actually comes search shows that charter schools are smaller disabilities.” The number of children classified as down to money. than traditional public schools, have friend- President Bush has outlined a plan autistic has increased not only in De- “School systems must build as many lier atmospheres with more parental sup- to increase funding for IDEA by $1 bil- troit, but across the nation. seats as possible with very limited funds,” port, and cost taxpayers less in North Caro- lion while creating strategies to improve The number of autistic children says a department report. “Small schools lina because they do not receive per- pupil the performance of students with dis- taught in regular classrooms increased are more costly [to] build, staff, and operate funding for facility costs. abilities. The Senate, however, has pro- 7.3 percent from 1992 to 1996, according than larger schools, when analyzed on a While increasing the number of charter posed an amendment to expand the pro- to the National Center for Education per-pupil basis.” schools in North Carolina will ensure choice gram without addressing its problems. Statistics. Each school will typically have a me- for families who want their children to at- “This amendment would remove The number of students served in dia center, PE space/gym, administrative/ tend small schools, and can be delivered at IDEA from two levels of review… by the classroom with any disability also guidance suite, cafeteria, and other support a low cost, officials have yet to determine making it a mandatory program,” Paige increased by 10.5 percent during this spaces. The difference in cost between build- whether they are willing to move forward said. “But if there is one thing we know time, bringing into question whether ing one 600-person school and two 300- by raising the 100-school cap. about government programs, it is that more students are actually disabled or person schools is about $32,000 — a price money without accountability does not whether more lenient guidelines and many districts aren’t willing to pay. Based Public opinion help.” definitions are the cause. on economies of scale, North Carolina stu- Paige also points out that the Senate dents can expect to attend large schools. According to a recent Public Agenda amendment would require only 45 per- Failing to serve disabled In an effort to encourage smaller schools, survey released in September 2001, 80 per- cent of IDEA’s funds to be spent on the the department suggests several ideas to cent of parents interviewed agreed smaller children, with the remaining money Through a court-appointed man- limit costs. Just two of the ideas represent schools are better at spotting troubled stu- spent on general purposes. date, the Ravenswood District in San ways to share costs of facilities, including dents. “Students with disabilities deserve Jose, Calif., received a “very disappoint- partnering with other groups and increas- The poll also found that most parents every dollar appropriated for them, not ing” report on its progress toward pro- ing community use and involvement to and teachers agreed that smaller schools 45 cents, and all students deserve accu- viding for the needs of its special educa- stimulate the desire of citizens to fund fa- are better at spotting bad teachers and that rate identification of their skills, abili- tion students. cilities. smaller schools would be better at helping ties, and progress,” Paige said in The Now, the district has until March 31 Highlighting one success story, the de- students in large urban districts. Washington Times article. to prove to U.S. District Judge Thelton partment points out that Pamlico County While smaller schools may be better, House Republicans seem to be back- Henderson that it is capable of provid- High School combines a high school media only 32 percent of parents surveyed said ing both Paige and Bush in their efforts ing disabled students with a “free and center with a public county library. In addi- they have given a lot of thought to reducing as they rejected the Senate’s amend- appropriate public education.” tion, the computer lab can be used by the school size and consider other reform is- ment early December. According to the review, one of the community after school hours. sues, including class size, teacher pay, and “We all know the current program main failings is that the district continu- These “facilities appear to work well,“ discipline, as more pressing issues. isn’t working,” said Rep. John A. ally failed to hire qualified staff to de- the department said in the report. “Obvious While no definitive study has been done Boehner, an Ohio Republican who is liver the required services. contributing factors to this success are that in North Carolina, a Wake County Poll chairman of the House Education Com- “It’s appalling,” said Mark Mlawar, the community is relatively small and that conducted by Tel Opinion Research in De- mittee. the court monitor, after he describe the the sense of cooperation between agencies cember 1999 for the John Locke Foundation “It overidentifies children. It district did nothing to help a preschool is very high.” showed that more than 70 percent of Wake overidentifies minority children and has student who scored a zero last summer Other examples of schools in North County residents said they would rather been exploding in its costs and com- on a screening test. Carolina that offer joint-use public libraries their child attend a school with high aca- plexity because of court cases. We must “In my view, this is the height of are: Athens Drive High School in Wake demics even if the school building was take a good look at this program,” professional irresponsibility, to test stu- County, McDougle Elementary/Middle smaller and had fewer amenities than most Boehner said. (As reported by The New dents and then do nothing as a result of Schools in Chapel Hill-Carborro, Ocracoke schools presently have. York Times) the test,” Mlawar said. CJ K-12 School in Hyde County, Princeton K- Only 20 percent of Wake County resi- 12 School in Johnston County, and First dents were opposed. CJ

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 8 4/2/02, 3:18 PM December 2001 C A R O L I N A JOURNAL Education 9 School Innovation Spotlight Toisnot Middle Closing the Achievement Gap with High Expectations

By SHERRI JOYNER Percent Proficient in Mathematics, by Race race, gender, and socioeconomic status,” Assistant Editor Perry said. “Students at Toisnot are coached WILSON to work together. Our students are aware of Black Students o one rises to low expectations; 100.0% differences and capitalize on those differ- 96.2% White Students you get what you expect,” said 94.7% 94.5% ences to make learning universal and valu- Dalphine Perry, principal of able for all.” N 90.0% Toisnot Middle School. It is this philosophy 86.2% that has made Toisnot one of the best high- 83.1% Teachers and achievements poverty middle schools in the state. Toisnot Percent of Toisnot 80.0% has had tremendous success closing the 78.0% Middle School Research tells us that teacher satisfac- achievement gap in the last few years. 73.7% students proficient tion and support is imperative for high Principal Dalphine Perry boasts that on state’s end-of- student performance. 70.0% the faculty is a true team, sharing a clear grade mathematics At Toisnot, teachers help make the de- exam. vision that all children can and will suc- cisions that affect them. ceed. 60.0% SOURCE: Toisnot The faculty, as a whole, has the ability Serving as the leader, Perry sets high 56.2% Middle Schools, to make decisions regarding instruction, expectations for both the faculty and staff Wiilson County school policies, program development, stu- Schools. and sets schoolwide goals. 50.0% dent evaluation, athletics, scheduling, and While the core of the curriculum has 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 staff development. remained unchanged, the school invokes “There is a real sense of community different strategies as needed to meet indi- among the students, teachers, and adminis- vidual needs of students. trators in the building,” Perry said. “The average student attending middle math standards for their grades receive in- While most public schools are strug- Faculty members work with staff de- school today is not the same student who tensive tutoring throughout the school year. gling to educate minority students ,Toisnot velopment and integrated teaching daily. attended five years previous. He has differ- Whether it is math or reading, student has had success closing the gap between Perry has encouraged a positive envi- ent needs, desires, interests. The faculty at growth is systematically monitored white students and black students. ronment by sharing with her teachers a Toisnot Middle School is aware of such throughout the school year. Then, the re- On average, 83 percent of black stu- high level of expectations for all students. needs… they cater classroom strategies to sults are scrutinized and used to restruc- dents at Toisnot are on grade level in math- As a School of Distinction for the last accommodate the needs of individual chil- ture the planning and implementations of ematics. three years, Toisnot’s success has not gone dren,” Perry said. the standard course of study. Perry notes that the success isn’t due to unnoticed. The school has been selected to High expectations are considered high any special concoction, but to high expecta- serve as a Professional Development School priority at Toisnot. Encouraging involvement tions. in partnership with Barton College this year. “We believe that once children taste “There is a high level of expectations Perry was also named the principal of success in middle schools they will hunger The ties between Toisnot and the local for each and every student attending Toisnot the year 2000-01 by the Wilson County to taste it again. After all, community are also Middle School with thoughtful regard to School System. CJ success breeds success,” strong. The Wilson Edu- Perry said. “Schools are only suc- cation Partnership, after- Indeed , with a stu- school care sponsors, and dent population that is cessful when the businesses in the area primarily black, the school home, community, and contribute to a wide ar- is gaining ground in clos- ray of educational needs CAROLINA JOURNAL Publisher ing the racial gap that per- school work together. at the school. sists in North Carolina’s All components must The PTA at Toisnot John Hood Garners Praise schools. be present.” has also offered tremen- High-poverty schools dous support in the class- that post high academic room, at athletic events, for His Most Recent Book: marks succeed because they have high ex- tutoring, art exhibits, the library, and for the pectations for all students. school’s Renaissance awards program. Perry believes that “all students want “We really try to exemplify a total learn- to be successful, no human is comfortable ing experience,” Perry said. “Children are with failure, especially children.” accepted as individuals, held responsible for their success, pushed to academic excel- Investor Politics Math success lence, and nurtured through physical, emo- tional, and social changes.” The New Force That Will Transform American Business, Since 1996-97, black sixth-graders have The importance of family involvement Government, and Politics in the 21st Century increased math proficiency from 63.2 per- is also stressed. “The most important factor cent to 91.4 percent at Toisnot on end-of- in determining the success of a child in grade state tests. school is the involvement of his parents in Math instructions is tailored specifi- his day-to-day schoolwork,” Perry said. “John Hood has produced a timely and informative account of the most cally to meet the needs of students and “Schools are only successful when the home, significant demographic shift of this century — the rise of a shareholder accelerated — pre-algebra is offered to sixth- community, and school work together. All graders, algebra to seventh-graders, and components must be present and support- democracy in America.” — Jack Kemp geometry to eight-graders. ive of one another in order for all children to Those students who do not meet their be successful.” “Investor Politics is chock-full of interesting historical anecdotes, clever policy analysis, and surprising musings.” — National Review

“John Hood offers many astute observations about the reasons govern- C A R O L I N A Weekly Report ment social programs are imperiled.” JOURNAL for Executives — Greensboro News & Record “I highly recommend Investor Politics to any reader interested in under- Carolina Journal Weekly Report for Executives is your antidote to wa- standing how our government turned into an entitlement trough.” tered down media coverage of state politics and policy. North Carolina — Kevin Hassett, AEI has hundreds of newspapers. But from those hundreds of papers, only a handful of reporters are assigned to Raleigh. And how many of them “Investor Politics is a fascinating study of a vast array of important public do you think write from a free-market frame of mind? policy topics.” — Dan Gerlach, The Sanford Herald In Carolina Journal Weekly Report, you get unfiltered weekly coverage of state government from experienced reporters who have actually read the Federalist Papers. Our reporters attend committee meetings and Look for Investor Politics in bookstores or at www.TempletonPress.org. interview lawmakers face-to-face, so you get the stories firsthand. To subscribe, email [email protected] or call (919) 828-3876.

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 9 4/2/02, 3:18 PM December 2001 C A R O L I N A 10 Higher Education JOURNAL

Bats in the Belltower Horowitz Speaks in Raleigh and Chapel Hill,

Academics hold their breaths Assails Moeser, ‘Leftist Movement’ at Universities The end of racial preferences in California, thanks to Proposition 209, has had the but-we-can-discrimi- By PAUL CHESSER nate-fairly academic Left in a tizzy Associate Editor since the voters approved the mea- RALEIGH sure overwhelmingly in 1996. The eftist-radical-turned-conservative- measure, which prohibits racial and activist David Horowitz spoke in gender preferences in the state, has L Raleigh and at the University of failed to live up to the dire warnings North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Nov. 28. from opponents who said it would Horowitz, president of the Center for the amount to “ethnic cleansing” in the Study of Popular Culture, has been sharply University of California system. The critical of leftists in higher education before enrollment share of in-state minor- and after Sept. 11, and he has been espe- ity students (black, Hispanic and cially critical of UNC-CH. American Indians, that is; Asians are Horowitz’s appearance in Raleigh was apparently disqualified as minorities sponsored by the John Locke Foundation by virtue of their generally stellar as a Headliner luncheon. More than 200 academics) in the UC system is down people attended the event at the Brown- a Amnesty-International-mobilizing stone Hotel in Raleigh, and the luncheon 0.2 percent since the last class admit- received intense media coverage, including ted under pre-Prop 209 standards — many television news services, newspapers, they comprised 18.8 percent of the and student publications. 1997 class and 18.6 percent of the Horowitz, who says he helped organize Horowitz speaks at the John Locke Foundation’s Headliner luncheon in Raleigh. 2001 class. the first anti-Vietnam War demonstration Upset that the people of Califor- at Berkeley in 1962, now provides conser- nia had spoken (“NO” to discrimi- vative leadership in support of America’s and CIA, the selling of intelligence technol- left before he finished explaining his view nation, even if you think you can dis- war in Afghanistan. “I’ve lived long enough ogy to our enemies, and leftists such as An- and rebuting descriptions of him as a ‘rac- criminate with good intentions) and to see what the consequences of opposition thony Lake and Samuel Berger in the Na- ist.’ Horowitz calmly described them as that minorities were getting enrolled to that war were,” Horowitz said of his op- tional Security Agency, as reasons for U.S. “close-minded” and said they would under the same standards as every- position to the Vietnam War. vulnerability when the attacks occurred. “never learn how to respond to these kinds one else, the socially conscious types Horowitz said those “consequences of “If there is an individual singularly re- of arguments,” which he described in other at the recruitment and retention cen- opposition” led to a divided United States sponsible for September 11th,” Horowitz comments as “rational.” ters of UC-Berkeley have decided the over the war, leading North Vietnamese said, “it is William Jefferson Clinton.” “This is a sad commentary on the Black only way to get their way (we’ll de- military generals to believe that, while they Student Movement and the Black Cultural cide which minorities are worth en- couldn’t defeat the United States in war, At UNC-Chapel Hill Center,” Horowitz said of the walkout. “It’s rolling) is to artificially deflate mi- “they knew they could outlast us.” Once a much sadder commentary on the admin- nority enrollment. How so? They an- America left, communists slaughtered mil- Horowitz’s appearance at UNC-CH, istration of this university and the leftist nounced that they plan to discour- lions of South Vietnamese and Cambodi- sponsored by the College Republicans, fol- professors that are encouraging this type of age minorities from enrolling. ans. “Their blood is on the heads of the an- lowed several articles on his organization’s student behavior.” The thinking (if that is what it tiwar movement,” Horowitz said. web site, www.frontpagemag.com, about “We walked out to show that we do not can be called) behind their idea is Formerly a key adviser and confidant the “hate-America left” holding teach-ins support racist teachings,” BSM leader Kristi that if they succeed in lowering the of Panther leader Huey Newton, Horowitz at UNC-CH, including a compilation of ar- Booker told the DTH. Despite having called number of minorities enrolling at renounced his leftist beliefs in a painful and ticles under the headline “UNC-Chapel Horowitz a racist, Bookers’ feelings were Berkeley, then people will see the heart-wrenching odyssey he described in Hill’s Holy War Against America,” in which hurt when she learned of Horowitz’s com- damage done to admissions there by his autobiography Radical Son. He went on Horowitz This compilation declared “The ments about the BSM’s walkout. The DTH the ban on racial preferences. One to become one of the chief engineers of University of North Carolina is a one-party reported that she cried and said Horowitz’s can only imagine them cutting their George W. Bush’s “compassionate conser- school, and I’m going to wage a war to comments were “really hurtful” and power lines to signify how bad the vative” crusade. make it a two-party school.” “makes me feel like I am not a part” of rolling blackouts in California are. As a result of Horowitz’s own “radi- Horowitz, who earlier this year caused UNC-CH. Along those same lines, James H. cal” conversion, he now crusades as a con- an uproar at UNC-CH and other campuses, Clark, founder of Netscape and other fronter of what he calls not the liberal, but including Duke University, with his cam- Horowitz is heckled Silicon Valley ventures, has decided “leftist” movement on America’s college paign placing an advertisement entitled to protest President Bush’s recent campuses today. He is waging a campaign “Ten Reasons Why Reparations [for Sla- While the largely sympathetic crowd decision on stem-cell research. Clark against campus protesters through speak- very] Is a Bad Idea — And Racist, Too” in responded with 13 thunderous ovations, thinks the decision will hamper the ing engagements and pamphlet distribu- campus newspapers, recently told The Daily there were also hecklers who repeatedly development of stem-cell research tion with the theme “Think Twice Before Tar Heel that the campus reaction to the ter- interrupted Horowitz to yell out comments because it limits federal funding, You ‘Bring the War Home,’” which he says rorist attacks is “the worst American uni- and questions. One woman lauged loudly meaning such research will have to is a “battle for America’s youth.” versities have ever been, and UNC is one when Horowitz mentioned that “100 mil- rely on private donors like himself. Horowitz said on his Nov. 28 visit to of the worst,” he said. lion lives” were taken by Communist re- In order to force lawmakers to “de- Raleigh that one of the biggest problems is UNC-CH art professor Elin O’Hara gimes in the 20th century. cide to pursue what I believe to be a at UNC-CH, where “you have a propa- Slavick, one of the organizers and partici- The most confrontational moment of rational course in this vital part of ganda machine funded by you (taxpayers) pants of the teach-ins at UNC-CH, told The the event took place during the question- our national future,” he wrote in The and supported by the chancellor.” News & Observer of Raleigh that she “would and-answer period. A student who identi- New York Times, he is withholding UNC-CH’s proposal to establish a cam- not support” his coming to speak to UNC- fied himself as an ROTC member argued $60 million of the $150 million he pus in Qatar also drew fire from Horowitz. CH. She said Horowitz was unlikely to fos- with Horowitz, calling him a “divider” pledged to Stanford University for He said the Persian Gulf emirate is led by ter an exchange of ideas. rather than a “uniter.” The student took is- biomedical research. “an Islamic radical” and that “there are no Speaking to about 1,000 students and sue with several aspects of Horowitz’s Next up: Gun-control advocates human rights [there] — not only for homo- faculty at Memorial Hall at UNC-CH, speech, and Horowitz responded that he who demonstrate the danger of fire- sexuals and for women, but for anybody Horowitz addressed both the recent teach- knew more about those things than the stu- arms by shooting themselves in the who disagrees with the sheik.” ins on the campus and the slavery repara- dent did. At that the student turned to leave, foot? Horowitz repeatedly singled out UNC- tions movement. He spoke out against the Horowitz asked him where he was going, CH Chancellor James Moeser for criticism, actions of “leftist faculty” and administra- and the student replied that Horowitz had At least it’s our conspiracy for not promoting a pro-American counter- tors, specifically Moeser. just called him “stupid,” an insult he in- balance to several antiwar teach-ins and Horowitz also talked about his past as ferred from Horowitz’s comment. Horowitz Columnist William Raspberry rallies. He said there is no discipline at the a radical protesting the Vietnam War and replied that he had done no such thing, but recently gave the “plain language” university for students or faculty who he compared it with the present actions of several others in the crowd agreed with the reason for why black America thinks threaten violence against conservatives, or the “Marxists” who participated in the inference made by the ROTC student. Oth- “affirmative action in higher educa- who seek to stifle outspokenness by those teach-ins. “In their hearts, they were jump- ers, however, were amused by the sensitiv- tion is still vital” to their interests: critical of leftists on campus. Horowitz was ing up and down when they blew up the ity of their peers. Also during the question- “Unlike the days when white accompanied in North Carolina by body- World Trade Center,” Horowitz said. and-answer period, a woman who de- admissions officers conspired to guards because of threats against him. “That’s Wall Street! They’ve been hoping scribed herself as “a liberal Democrat” told keep blacks out of their schools, we Horowitz further defended American for this!” Horowitz she came expecting to “hate ev- now have a situation in which blacks actions in Afghanistan, and placed part of A group of several dozen students, erything” he said, but was instead “very im- will be under-represented at the the blame for the World Trade Center and mostly black, staged a walkout less than 20 pressed” and enjoyed his speech. CJ most prestigious schools unless Pentagon attacks on the Clinton adminis- minutes into the event. The protest, led by whites conspire to let them in.” CJ tration. He cited the lack of anAmerican re- the Black Student Movement, a student sponse after the 1993 bombing of the World group that has previously criticized Staff intern Darren O’Connor contributed to Trade Center, the weakening of the military Horowitz for his stand against reparations, this article.

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 10 4/2/02, 3:18 PM C A R O L I N A December 2001 JOURNAL Higher Education 11 War denounced as “the Bush s---” I Am an American

Former Black Panther Leader ecent events have put race back or the city where they live. And only in on the front page. The North the South does this mean anything at R Carolina State University Stu- all, and then only in passing. We aren’t Insults ‘Fascist’ U.S. at Duke dent Senate fast-tracked and approved Southern-Americans, or Midwestern- a resolution (R35) to condemn the ter- American; we are Americans. rorist acts and any act done in retalia- Some people are so dependent on tion against an “Arab-American, Asian- the idea that race matters that they By JON SANDERS The Duke University News Service’s American” and Muslims in the United seem to impose it on our society and Assistant Editor entry on the speech said nothing about the States. Condemning the acts is the right language. Race doesn’t matter. To para- RALEIGH war on terrorism as a topic of Brown’s thing to do. However, the wording of phrase Martin Luther King, Jr., we former head of a domestic terror- speech. All the information about the con- that clause wasn’t as good as it was later should not be seen for the color of our ist organization spoke at Duke tent of Brown’s lecture it offered was: in a revision of the same bill. That later skin, but the content of our character. University on Nov. 15 to an appar- “Elaine Brown, Black Panther Party. Ms. A clause referred to “Americans of Arab We, Americans, recognize our differ- ently receptive crowd. Brown will talk about the global struggle or Asian decent.” ences, are strengthened by our diver- Elaine Brown, the first woman to lead to end oppression of women and minori- The true tragedy of this is that our sity, but note that skin, like eye color, the Black Panther Party, spoke at Duke’s ties worldwide.” identity is hyphenated. It is not politi- does not determine the color of our Page Auditorium. Brown’s talk was spon- Weeks after the Brown event, the Duke cally correct to be an Ameri- hearts. Even bitter rivals sored by Duke’s Women’s Studies Depart- campus was still buzzing. can. Instead we are Arab- have come together on this ment and the Black Student Alliance. Chronicle columnist John Zimmerman Americans, Euro-Americans, point. Rudolph Giuliani, a Brown, who composed the Black Panther called it “remarkable” that the BSA and the Asian-Americans, Native- lifelong Yankees fan, was National Anthem, serves on the board of Women’s Center “would stoop so low” in Americans, and African- given a standing ovation in the foundation named for Black Panther inviting Brown. Americans. We are not a Shay Stadium, where he was leader Huey Newton. Zimmerman wrote that the only appar- hodgepodge group of booed before Sept. 11. Brown is also the author of A Taste of ent criterion for those organizations to se- people. If there is one thing Even UNC-CH fans, the Power: A Black Woman’s Story, in which she lect a speaker “is that the person be a well- that 9/11 has shown us, it is same people who had a chronicles her life and her involvement in known member” of the appropriate minor- that we are a unified people. Stalin-modeled communist the Black Panthers. Her book includes ac- ity group. We are Americans! group recruiting on campus, counts of numerous brutalities committed Brown was invited to speak “because Mark Hofer Theodore Roosevelt at when they painted N.C. by the Panthers, including the disappear- she is a black female who has attained some the beginning of the last cen- State’s Free Expression Tun- ance and murder of Betty Van Patter, for notoriety,” Zimmerman wrote. “No matter tury said, “There is no room in this coun- nel after the football game, didn’t paint which Brown was also a suspect. that her fame results mostly from her crimi- try for hyphenated Americanism. The over the part between the two bridges. “If I did not believe in nal past; her race and her one absolutely certain way of bringing That part of the Free Expression the ultimate rightness of gender instantly qualify this nation to ruin, of preventing all pos- Tunnel had an American Flag (note our goals and our party,” her to talk about ‘racism Brown pronounced sibility of its continuing to be a nation at there is no qualifier on “American”) she wrote, “then what we and feminism.’” all, would be to permit it to become a and a small mural/memorial to the at- did, what Huey was do- President George “Indeed, the Nov. 15 tangle of squabbling nationalities.” tack victims. UNC-CH is not known for ing, what he was, what I event would be no differ- Bush “stupid” and a Why did we have the right idea vis- being the most pro-American campus was, was horrible.” ent than the Arab Stu- ible over a century ago and seem to have in the nation, to say the least. However, Before her talk, “cokehead” and said dents Organization’s lost it since? We have fallen to what I they left the flag on the wall. That flag Brown conducted an in- that “Laura Bush killed sponsoring a talk by hinted at earlier, “political correctness.” went up after the attacks, painted formal workshop with Osama bin Laden,” her ex-fiance.” The word “political” means “of, relating anonymously by a student or group of student leaders, on topics Zimmerman wrote. “Af- to, or concerned with the theory or prac- students. An American flag was still that ranged from her in- ter all, bin Laden is a tice of politics.” In the politics of this there until Oct. 30. It has been a full volvement in the Black Panthers, globaliza- well-known person and an Arab. Purely as country there is always a debate on what month since the attacks and a portion tion, and the need for students to pick up a bonus, he happens to be a terrorist leader exactly is the correct or best way of do- of the tunnel hasn’t been painted over, the torch for civil rights. like Brown. According to BSA logic, bin ing things. Political correctness by its save for changing the message on the The Chronicle, Duke’s student newspa- Laden is a superstar!” very definition is inaccurate at best. stripes. To anybody who has been here per, reported on Brown’s speech. Accord- If the letters page of The Chronicle is any We are Americans, not ancestral a while, that is unheard of. ing to reporter Andrew Collins, Brown’s judge of student reaction, Zimmerman’s groups. If we did the same thing by state, In disgust we are united. In anger speech was received by an “enthusiastic au- column provoked more of an outcry than it would seem absurd. People from this we are united. In response we are dience of over 200 people” who “frequently Brown’s speech did. state would be North Carolinian-Ameri- united. In rebuilding we are united. In interrupted her with applause and laugh- On Nov. 30 Traci Bethea wrote that can. That’s a mouthful, to say the least. language we should also be united. But ter.” Zimmerman’s column sounded “like the You would also run into people who because some people don’t see them- What were they applauding? Accord- ravings of a confused and threatened per- have moved between states, just like selves or others as Americans this con- ing to The Chronicle, Brown was severely son with too much time — and a dictionary children of mixed marriages. I would be tinues. Muhammad Ali took as an in- critical of the United States’ war on terror- — on his hands.” either an Ohio-American or a North sult being called “African-American,” ism. “Exactly what happened, and whose Her take on Brown was this: “While I Carolinian-American. I am neither; I am He wasn’t an immigrant. He was an war is this, anyway?” Brown asked. “I’m do not exactly agree with Brown’s remarks, an American! American; we are all Americans. CJ telling you, as a black person, this is not my she did improve the status of women by We do this sort of thing by region, war… Yesterday, you didn’t even want to heading a major group of dissidents. This even though we shouldn’t. We have have a dialogue; now you want me off wav- feat is remarkable.” Northerners, Southerners, Midwestern- Hofer is a junior at N.C. State. This article ing a flag?” On Dec. 3 Jonathan Marshall wrote that ers, and Westerners. However, you was originally published in Broadside Brown criticized the money going to Zimmerman was “actively striving to pro- rarely hear people call themselves this. magazine, an independent publication writ- the war effort, including, Collins reported, mote disrespect and ignorance.” He said When they are asked where they are ten and published by students of N.C. State the $40 billion going for defense and the $15 Brown was “destroying the stereotype of from, people either answer with the state (www.broadsidemagazine.org). billion airline bailout. That money, Brown blacks who contentedly accept their situa- said, would be better spent on education. tion.” Brown also called the U.S. government On Dec. 6 Christopher Curtis wrote that fascist and concerned only with the inter- Zimmerman lacked qualification to be criti- ests of big industry. “I think global fascism cal of the BSA and the Women’s Center de- is in place,” Brown told the crowd. “The in- cision to invite Brown. “Since Zimmerman 200 W. MORGAN STREET, STE. 204, RALEIGH, NC 27601 OPE CENTER 919-828-3876 • FAX 821-5117 • WWW.POPECENTER.ORG terests of this government are solely those is neither a black in America nor a woman for Higher Education of the big corporations. I don’t know any in our society, his enlightened insight re- P GEORGE C. LEEF, DIRECTOR other definition of fascism.” garding the qualifications of Brown to In denouncing “the Bush s---,” Brown speak to this demographic certainly didn’t said Secretary of State Colin Powell was come from personal experience.” With colleges and universities enrolling a record number of students and spending “unqualified and dangerous.” She also Curtis also agreed with Brown about called National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Clarence Thomas, unprecedented public and private dollars, the mission of the Pope Center for Higher Condoleezza Rice “really crazy,” pro- whom he said “were placed in power by Education Policy couldn’t be more important: to report on, analyze, and research nounced President George Bush “stupid” white men” and thereby “do the most dam- issues in higher education such as cost-effectiveness, tenure, curriculum, and the and a “cokehead,” and charged that “Laura age” to the cause of “disrupt[ing] the sta- quality of undergraduate education. Bush killed her ex-fiance.” tus quo.” She also bashed school vouchers as “a Zimmerman did receive one voice of The Pope Center publishes Inquiry papers on these issues, holds an annual confer- bizarre, stupid program” and called Oprah support, however. “Zimmerman has a per- ence for academics and policy analysts, and distributes a weekly e-newsletter on Winfrey “America’s Mammy,” fectly valid point,” Brice Johnson wrote on higher education. Some Women’s Studies students said Dec. 3. that The Chronicle’s account was incomplete “It is the ideas in the movement that For more information, please call Jon Sanders at 919-828-3876 or visit and focused only on Brown’s controversial count, and those ideas expressed in Elaine statements, although they agreed Brown Brown’s speech are counterproductive and www.popecenter.org. was quoted accurately. offensive to all.” CJ

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 11 4/2/02, 3:19 PM December 2001 C A R O L I N A 12 Higher Education JOURNAL

Course of the Month McCarthy invoked despite calls for robust dialogue The Building-Crumbling Power Leftists Blast Report Urging Colleges of American Imagination To Teach American History, Principles

he Duke University Literature said could have prevented the terrorist By JON SANDERS cent allowed students to graduate without Program has announced its attacks, which he refers to several times Assistant Editor any history credits. course offerings for Spring 2002, as the “event,” from happening was RALEIGH “It has never been more urgent for edu- T new report by the American Coun- cation at all levels to pass on to the next and the announcement caused some (drum roll, please) — Marxism! Also, the vexation at CM. The announcement, at culprits really at fault, once you look cil of Trustees and Alumni has the generation the legacy of freedom and de- duke.edu/literature/ugrdf01.htm, pre- hard enough, are (again with the drum) AEstablishment-Left wing of mocracy,” the report states. “If institutions sented CM a veritable cornucopia of po- — Americans! academia up in arms. fail to do so, alumni should protest, donors tential honorees. Which do we choose? Turns out, as Jameson explains, The report, “Defending Civilization: should fund new programs, and trustees “Femininity in Contexts?” “Fantasies of “the seeds of the event… are to be found How Our Universities Are Failing America should demand action. What is not taught Absolute Power?” “Sexualities in Film in the wholesale massacres of the Left and What Can Be Done About It,” builds will be forgotten, and what is forgotten can- & Video?” “Imagining Dinosaurs?” (For systematically encouraged and directed on the fact that “academe is the only sector not be defended.” readers who have forgotten already, by the Americans,” especially “[t]he of American society that is distinctly di- The report has been panned as neo- these are all listed as literature courses). physical extermination of the Iraqi and vided in its response” to the terrorist attacks McCarthyism by leftist academics. The Fortunately, CM can choose several, the Indonesian Communist Parties,” on America to reiterate (not to mention, un- source of this oblique criticism is the one per month. This month, CM chooses which “were crimes as abominable as derscore) the organization’s call for trust- report’s examples of “the message of much the literature course “Marxism & Soci- any contemporary genocide. It is, how- ees, donors and alumni to seek change in of academe… BLAME AMERICA FIRST.” ety,” which, as far as CM can tell, is not to ever, only now that the results are work- their institutions of higher education. Crafting the list “has a little of the whiff of be confused with “Imagining Dino- ing their way out into actuality, for the The report stresses that “the robust ex- McCarthyism,” as Massachusetts Institute saurs” or “Fantasies of Absolute Power”. resultant absence of any Left alternative change of ideas is essential to a free soci- of Technology professor Hugh Gusterson means that popular revolt and resis- ety.” But what emerges in it is that the ex- told The New York Times. “Their aim is to LIT 181.01 MARXISM & SOCIETY tance in the Third World have nowhere change of ideas on college campuses is any- enforce a particular party line on American This course will focus on both Marx’s own to go but into religious and ‘fundamen- thing but robust. The re- colleges and universi- works and seminal works in the Marxist tra- talist’ forms.” port explains that ACTA ties,” Columbia Univer- sity professor Eric Foner dition. We will read Marx’s work not only Jameson also carped about the un- is not seeking to limit free “Their aim is to enforce as presenting a political and philosophical certainty of the war on terrorism. He speech on campus, but to griped in the Times. position, but also as proposing a method of was certain only of one thing: “until we expand it so that profes- a particular party line “Only fanatics demand inquiry relevant to various academic disci- know [what the war on terrorism will sors and students who on American colleges lock-step conformity,” plines and intellectual projects. Reading the look like], we can have no satisfactory support the war effort are the Globe editorialized. more recent authors who take up Marx’s picture of the ‘events’ we imagine to no longer intimidated by and universities.” Apparently none of project will give us an understanding of the have taken place on a single day in Sep- the dominant campus — Columbia University the McCarthyism blood- hounds of the Left sniffed alternatives within the Marxist tradition and tember.” (That last nifty turn of phrase, ideology. It provides a list professor Eric Foner help us gauge the relevance of Marxism as a about what we all imagined took place of over 100 examples of out either of the explicit scholarly methodology today. This is the re- on Sept. 11 — you know, that notewor- things said on campuses statements in the report quired core course for the Perspectives in thy day in the annals of psychology nationwide that represent that “professors should Marxism and Society certificate program. when hundreds of millions of Ameri- the range of campus responses to the ter- be passionately defended in their right to cans for some unexplained reason si- rorist attacks and how they hew to the per- academic freedom” or “let us be clear. This This course offers CM several av- multaneously hallucinated terrorists vasive campus line “that has increasingly is not an argument for limiting free speech enues of commentary. Being a literature attacking the World Trade Center and suggested that Western civilization is the on college campuses.” Or, perhaps, since course, fortunately, it’s not restricted by the Pentagon, and some were so de- primary source of the world’s ills.” both statements were followed by equally the tenets of science. Otherwise, it would luded as to have spontaneously vapor- Calling America’s first line of defense explicit comments that those exercising have all the real-world validity of a ized themselves at their places of busi- “a confident understanding of how and their freedom are not exempt from criticism, course on “Geocentrism & Society.” Can ness, coincidentally at the World Trade why this nation was founded, and of the they held their noses at it. you imagine: “Reading the more recent Center — earned Jameson an invitation continuing relevance and urgency of its first The ACTA report is being decried as a scientists who take up the geocentric from LRB reader Geoffrey O’Brien in principles,” the report calls on “all colleges threat to academe — despite its lucid sup- project will give us an understanding of New York City “to learn the difference and universities to adopt strong core cur- port for academic freedom, and because it the alternatives within the geocentric between imagination and reality by tak- ricula that include rigorous, broad-based seeks that same freedom for those outside tradition and help us gauge the rel- ing a stroll in what is left of the courses on the great works of Western civi- of that orthodoxy (“robust debate”) as well evance of geocentrism as a scholarly neighbourhood where I lived for the lization as well as courses on American his- as increased attention paid to American his- methodology today.” past ten years.” tory, America’s founding documents, and tory and principles in college curricula. Note also that the course is a “re- Because Jameson also wrote that America’s continuing struggle to extend Ironically, such criticism reinforces the quired” and “core course” for the Per- Americans were “united by the fear of and defend the principles on which it was dominance of the campus ideology dis- spectives in Geocentr — er, Marxism and saying anything that contradicts this founded.” It notes that a previous ACTA cussed in the report, and it demonstrates Society certificate program. So students completely spurious media consensus,” study found that, of the top 55 institutions exactly why its calls for reform should be take note: If you want to pay $28,000 a CM wishes him to know that he has noth- of higher education in America, none re- heeded. year to receive certification in the most ing to fear in the Land of the First quired students to take even a single course The report is available for download (in spectacularly intellectually threadbare Amendment and would like to echo The in American history, only three required a PDF format) from the ACTA website: philosophy of two centuries ago that cre- Weekly Standard’s gentle questions: course in Western civilization, and 78 per- www.goacta.org. CJ ated and justified the most spectacularly “Fear, one wonders, of what? Has vicious and brutal regimes of the last Jameson ever been silenced for his century, you have to take this course. views?” An Excerpt from ACTA’s ‘Defending Civilization: How Our Furthermore, this course is taught Then again, taking another glance Universities Are Failing America and What Can Be Done About It’ by the head of the literature program, at Jameson’s department’s literature Fredric Jameson. This is the same Fredric courses for next spring, CM cannot guar- Until the 1960s, colleges typically of a student who feared retribution. Jameson who has ignored repeated antee Jameson freedom from fear if he required students to take surveys of “‘My grade depends on a lot of the pro- (more on that in a moment) calls from happens to sit in on Duke literature Western civilization. Since then, those fessors who spoke,’ the student ex- Duke students writing for The Duke Re- course “Fearing Fear Itself: A History surveys have been supplanted by a plained. ‘If you voice an opinion of dis- view offering him an entire page in their of the Horror Film.” CJ smorgasbord of often narrow and trendy sent, professors look down on you.’” publication to explain a quotation attrib- classes and incoherent requirements that uted to him in a 1986 issue of Commen- do not convey the great heritage of hu- Students and often professors, es- tary: “To create a Marxist culture in this man civilization. Accompanying this pecially if they are untenured, are re- country, to make Marxism an unavoid- basic failure is an atmosphere increas- luctant to question publicly the domi- able presence and a distinct, original, ingly unfriendly to the free exchange of nant campus ideology. In light of this and unmistakable voice in American ideas. Students have reported more and campus climate, it is not surprising that social, cultural, and intellectual life, in more that they are intimidated by pro- often the students who feel free to speak short to form a Marxist intelligentsia for fessors and fellow students if they ques- out are those who oppose the war on the struggles of the future — this seems tion “politically correct” ideas or fail to terrorism. According to The New York to me the supreme mission of a Marxist conform to a particular ideology. In some Times, students at more than 146 cam- pedagogy.” The Review repeats its call cases, students have even been subject puses in 36 states had rallied to urge every month. Jameson has ignored it for to official sanctions for speaking their the country to avoid any military re- more than 4,000 days. minds in class. So pervasive is the cli- sponse. It is urgent that students and He did not ignore, however, the Lon- mate of intimidation one New York re- professors who support the war effort don Review of Books’ request for his porter covering a City University of New not be intimidated. If both sides are thoughts on Sept. 11. Naturally, what he York teach-in recounted the piteous tale heard, students and all of us benefit. CJ

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 12 4/2/02, 3:19 PM C A R O L I N A December 2001 JOURNAL Higher Education 13 UNC-CH Considers Opening a Business School in Qatar Freedom, war on terrorism, and other issues spark wide-ranging debate on Chapel Hill campus

By JON SANDERS In the late 1990s, Qatar reportedly al- Assistant Editor lowed Osama bin Laden to visit often, and RALEIGH even allowed al-Qaeda to take up public s the liberation of Afghanistan con- collections at mosques. tinues unabated and well ahead of On Oct. 10, the OIC headed by Hamad Aschedule, and as Hamas takes held an emergency meeting in Doha to dis- credit for another bloody round of suicide- cuss U.S. retaliation against the Taliban in bomb attacks on civilians and teenagers in Afghanistan. While the OIC avoided con- Israel, the University of North Carolina at demning the U.S. action, the Los Angeles Chapel Hill mulls a proposal to open a busi- Times reported, the OIC’s “rhetoric was ven- ness school in the Emirate of Qatar. omous, condemning Israel as a sponsor of Qatar is a tiny Middle Eastern country ‘state terrorism’ against Palestine. of about 770,000 people. It lies on the east- “The delegates also rejected any at- ern border of Saudi Arabia and faces the tempts to categorize Islamic groups such as Persian Gulf. According to the UNC-CH Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorists, al- website about the proposal, the school though both groups have targeted civilian would expand the bachelor of science in Qatar’s capital city of Doha on the Persian Gulf contains about 40 percent of the population. and military in suicide bombing missions business administration degree program by in the past. . . At one point, Sheik Hamad basing a campus of the Kenan-Flagler Busi- fessor of Management Dennis Rondinelli Such organizations include Amnesty even seemed to blame Israel for the Sept. ness School and UNC-CH in Qatar. The pro- has strongly objected to the proposal’s ra- International, which has been stymied in its 11 attacks.” posed “UNC-CH-Q,” as the website refers tionale and security issues, noting that attempts to judge Qatar on human rights, Ettela’at, the international Persian daily, to it, would initially enroll about 25 Qatari Qatar “is completely surrounded by coun- or even to investigate the numerous reports reporting on a meeting between Hamad students who are expected to go on to work tries with regimes hostile to the United it has received of torture there. The State and Iran President Mohammad Khatami, in the oil and petroleum business. Fresh- States — Iran, Iraq, the United Arab Emir- Department reports that young children, wrote the following on Oct. 25: “The Qatari men and sophomores will be overseen by ates — or those such as Saudi Arabia, primarily of African or South Asian descent, emir said that the Zionist regime and its the College of Arts and Sciences; juniors and Yemen and Oman that harbor groups dedi- are forced to work as jockeys in camel races. prime minister [Ariel] Sharon are exploit- seniors by the business school. cated to harming Americans.” Other concerns include physical and even ing the Sept. 11 terrorist attack to intensify Students must meet both schools’ ad- The final decision, as Moeser told a stu- sexual abuse of foreign domestics. Signifi- its violence against the Palestinians. He said mission requirements plus the swim-test re- dent forum in November, rests with Moeser cantly, Freedom House lists Qatar as one of that the Islamic Republic of Iran is the sym- quirement for graduation and the himself. “At some point, someone is going the “unfree” countries of the world. In Free- bol of democracy among the regional states. multicultural perspectives curriculum. to make a decision, and that’s my job.” dom House’s ratings of “Political Rights” He said the neighboring states are follow- UNC-CH will control the program’s design. Qatar (pronounced, as the UNC-CH and “Civil Liberties,” Qatar receives a 6 out ing Iran’s lead in promoting democracy.” Operating costs, however, will be borne by website points out, like “Kotter” as in “Wel- of 7 for both (on a scale where 1 is the most “I am optimistic about the future of the the Qatar Foundation, run by one of the come Back Kotter”) has become famous in- free and 7 is the most repressive). By com- region, thanks to the pattern set by Iran for emir’s three wives. The foundation seeks ternationally as the home of Al-Jazeera, the parison, the United States rates 1’s on both promoting democracy,” Hamad said, ac- to establish a business school in its “educa- “CNN of the Muslim world” that has been scales, and Afghanistan and Iraq rate 7’s. cording to Ettela’at. CJ tion city.” Two other U.S. universities are criticized by President George W. Bush and already there. Virginia Commonwealth Secretary of State Colin Powell for provid- University runs an arts school for women. ing Osama bin Laden with a mouthpiece. Cornell University runs a medical school. Its owner is Sheik Hamad Ibn Khalifa Al- Although some critics wonder whether Thani, who also has been the emir of Qatar oil money wasn’t behind the university’s since a successful coup against his father in gushing enthusiasm for the proposal, UNC- 1995. Hamad is also the president of the Or- CH justifies it on the basis of furthering the ganization of the Islamic Conference. “globalization” of the university, which in- The regime in Qatar is totalitarian. The cludes bringing new intellectual perspec- Al-Thani family has been in power for more tives back to students, new research oppor- than a century. Non-Muslim religious ser- tunities to faculty, and a new context for in- vices are allowed to be conducted only in ternational public service for students and private, and then only after notifying the faculty. As Chancellor James Moeser told a government. The U.S. State Department A New Web Site Providing a State Perspective student forum on the proposal, “To be the notes that “the government has embarked leading public university in the world, we upon a program of ‘Qatarization,’ which is on 9/11 and the Current International Crisis need to be a global university.” aimed at reducing the number of foreign From the John Locke Foundation Not all in the UNC-CH community fa- workers.” The Qatari government monitors vor the proposal. A recent email survey of websites and email traffic for dissent Arts and Science and business school fac- against the regime, has imprisoned critics, ulty found about one-fourth strongly in fa- monitors private social, sports, trade, and Recent Articles and Columns Spotlighted on NCAtWar.com Include: vor of the proposal and a similar propor- other groups, which are required to regis- tion strongly opposed to it. Faculty and stu- ter with the government, and bars entry to • Military historian Victor Davis Hanson argues that the Western way of war — dents have spoken for and against the pro- international organizations that are critical and Western notions of freedom and civilization — are proving their worth. posal in forums conducted on campus. Pro- of the regime or other Arab governments. • Moderate Muslim clerics preach peace in Durham and Greensboro while a former Black Panther leader calls First Lady Laura Bush a murderer at Duke. Mark Your Calendars Now! • North Carolina’s economy, hurt further by wartime deployments, awaits help from Washington, where disagreements about tax cuts block a stimulus bill.

Tax Increases, Growth, Property Rights, • Dr. Andrew Taylor, NCSU Political Scientist, on the likely impact of the war Privatization, Counter-Terrorism Plans on North Carolina politics and the U.S. Senate race. — Learn More About These Issues at • As U.S. Marines from Camp Lejeune participate in military action near Kandahar, Seymour Johnson airmen prepare for deployment to the Mideast. Former Charlotte Mayor “INNOVATE 2002” Richard Vinroot • Gov. William Yarborough, former head of Special Warfare Center at Ft. Bragg, The Annual Policy Conference of the Center for Local Innovation distinguishes terrorism from legitimate armed resistance.

Saturday, January 19, 2002, 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. • Locke Foundation President John Hood argues that North Carolina short-lived Washington Duke Inn, Durham, North Carolina anti-war movement unknowingly exposed its own fallacies.

Other Confirmed or Invited Speakers • U.S. Rep. Walter Jones (3rd District, North Carolina) • Greensboro Mayor Keith Holliday For the latest news, analysis, and commentary on the war on terrorism, • Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines visit what National Review once named its “Cool Web Site of the Day” Jane Perlov, Chief of Police located at www.NorthCarolinaAtWar.com — or www.NCAtWar.com. City of Raleigh For more info, contact Kory Swanson at 919-828-3876 or [email protected]

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 13 4/2/02, 3:20 PM December 2001 C A R O L I N A 14 Local Government JOURNAL

Town and Country Big Government Takes a Hit in Two Cities

• The Center for Local Innova- Voters turn out to oppose forced annexation and higher taxes in local races tion will conduct the Innovate 2002 Conference at the Washington Duke Inn on the Duke University campus. By ERIK ROOT The victories of Thompson, Peterson, center plan and the building of a Wal-Mart Topics at the conference will in- Assistant Editor and Moore owe their success most likely to Supercenter. He was the more conservative clude the top issues of the day and WILMINGTON the highly organized and active group Good member of the two. Peterson was the self- those that are challenging in the day- oters turned out in numbers higher Neighbors of New Hanover County. While proclaimed spokesman for the neighbor- to-day operation of modern local gov- than usual in Wilmington’s pri- their annexation case remains before the hoods group, actually a not-in-my-back- ernment. V mary Oct. 9 and general election 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, they did not yard (NIMBY) group. He was campaigning In particular, there will be panels Nov. 6. Not surprisingly, the issues bring- sit back and do nothing. They wanted to on a theme to deter the growth and devel- on annexation, budgeting, and the ing people to the polls: forced annexation make sure that the Wilmington city govern- opment of Asheville. A pro-business politi- role of local governments in home- and property rights. ment would not take the land of others. cal action committee called Citizens for New land security. Rep. Walter Jones, R- In the primary, Katherine Moore barely They ultimately hope the city will deannex. Leadership backed Worley and other city N.C., will be the luncheon speaker. avoided a run-off and was re-elected to the It remains to be seen what the anti-annex- council campaigns. In the end, he defeated The panels will feature both local city council by opposing forced annexation. ation majority will do now that they are Peterson to become Asheville’s new mayor. elected officials and nationally recog- Two of the three vote-getters in the elected. The city council race also provided vot- nized scholars. Among the scholarly mayoral primary race publicly committed The city council race, as well as the ers with a stark choice. Joe Dunn received representatives will be William opposition to forced annexation and fa- mayoral campaign, offered a clear choice the most votes in the primary and contin- Eggers, a senior fellow of the Manhat- vored government con- and the conservative mes- ued that trend in November. He was the tan Institute. Eggers is working on a solidation between the sage won handedly. Ac- most conservative, business-friendly can- book on how the Internet and related county and city. The victories of sev- cording to many voters, didate on the list. He campaigned on the technologies are transforming gov- Anti-annexation, they are not through. twin themes of jobs and tax relief. “Without ernment. He is the former manager of pro-property rights can- eral Wilmington can- They have vowed to fight jobs, we can’t have the kind of neighbor- the Texas Performance Review and didate Harper Peterson didates owe their suc- for the removal of coun- hoods we want,” Dunn said in the Citizen ended up handing tax and cil members who, resi- Times. Project Director for e-Texas, a state cess to a highly orga- initiative charged with developing annex candidate Charlie dents say, don’t support However, the second most popular recommendations to save tax dollars, Rivenbark a loss for the nized and active group property rights. vote-getter, Holly Jones, is anything but increase the use of technology, im- mayor’s seat. Though against annexation. Such a message does conservative and campaigned on afford- prove customer service and inject pri- some think Peterson is not bode well for the re- able housing. She favors taxpayer invest- vate-sector competition into state ser- largely a tax- and-spend maining liberal council ment in housing programs and downtown vices. liberal (he is a registered members such as Jack development. Also on the panel is Randall Democrat), he campaigned on the twin Conlin and Laura Padgett. City Manager Jones and another like-minded but O’Toole, author of a new book, The themes of consolidation and property rights. and forced annexation supporter Mary unsuccessful candidate, Brownie Newman, Vanishing Automobile. O’Toole teaches It appears that Peterson received the votes Gornto has already been terminated. co-opted the looks of successful County at the University of California at Ber- primary mayoral candidate Bill Caster re- Commissioner Nathan Ramsay. Ramsay keley and is also a senior economist at ceived. The affable Caster received the third Asheville’s lurch to the right? upset a long-term incumbent. His campaign the Thoreau Institute. most votes in the primary and was a sup- colors were red and white. Jones and Some of the local officials partici- porter of consolidation and property rights. On the other side of the state, in Newman (who were running together in pating in the event are Wilmington Rivenbark has a long history of voting Asheville a city council incumbent, Barbara what looked like a slate) printed their cam- Mayor David Jones, New Hanover for tax increases and for supporting city Field, lost in a primary. During a city coun- paign material (like bumper stickers) with County Commissioner Bill Caster, and endeavors to tax people outside the city cil session to draft a resolution responding the same colors and look as Ramsay did in Winston-Salem City Councilman limits who have no voice in the electoral to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks she said that hopes of capturing enough votes to win. It Vernon Robinson. process. He remains boldly on the side of the hijackers were not cowards but rather, only half-worked. The third panel will discuss involuntary annexation, but he was on the that they were “brave,” the Asheville Citi- Another pro-business candidate that “Homeland defense: how local gov- fence concerning consolidation. zen Times reported. Even though she apolo- won a council seat was the somewhat un- ernments should respond to terrorist According to reports in the Morning gized for her comments and tried to explain derstated conservative Charles Mumpower. threats.” Among invited panelists is Star of Wilmington, Peterson also ran on a herself, the voters sent her packing. Another pro-market advocate, retired busi- Greensboro Mayor Keith Halliday. fiscal restraint platform. He appears to op- Another city council incumbent, vice ness administrator Jim Ellis, did not win Charlotte Mayor, and Shallow Hal pose such high-cost and high-tax endeav- mayor Chuck Cloninger, gave up his seat election, placing fourth. However, he is ru- movie star Pat McCrory will be join- ors as a new convention center. “It takes when he failed to garner enough votes to mored to be in line for appointment to ing the Center for Local Innovation money to run and grow a city” and the make the mayoral runoff election. Worley’s seat when the new mayor takes on a panel as well. voters want to know that their money is Cloninger’s major campaign theme was to office in December. If so, that would make The event is scheduled for Jan. 19 being properly spent, Peterson told the Star. rid the area of billboards that he said pol- Asheville’s city council decidedly more and will conclude at 3pm that day. Peterson was definitely the beneficiary luted the sky and the daily commute. right-leaning than it was under the leader- Please direct all correspondence and/ of the newly annexed areas of the city as The key fact in this mayoral primary ship of outgoing mayor Leni Sitnik. or questions to: Erik Root, 919-828- voters from those places turned out in great election is that the candidates who spent Voter turnout was higher than normal. 3876 or you may e-mail him at numbers to vote. For most of them, annex- the most money failed miserably. [email protected] ation and high taxes were their major con- The primary left two city council in- New mayor in Fayetteville cerns. The grass-roots organizations have cumbents to battle Nov. 6 for the mayor’s elected one of the most conservative city seat. The election focused on development Four of five incumbents held their coun- • In our ongoing debate with the governments in recent memory. and “smart growth” issues. Candidate Brian cil seats in Fayetteville’s council primary City of Wilmington, Deputy City They were responsible for the primary Peterson labeled the other mayoral candi- while the mayor’s race headed for runoff. Manager Bill Whisnant sent to CJ ma- election of pro-property rights Council- date, Charles Worley, as “pro-business, not terial on annexation that the city woman Katherine Moore. Moore opposes pro-neighborhood.” Worley has supported mailed to residents. He said the city’s annexation. both the multimillion-dollar convention Continued as “Mixed Messages,” Page 15 fee forcing residents in newly an- Newcomer Jason Thompson scored a nexed areas to hook up to water ser- huge upset over incumbent Jack Watkins. vices is $1,250. However, this does not Thompson quadrupled his primary vote count the fees residents are forced to Nov. 6. The more people that heard pay for hiring a plumber to hook up Thompson’s message, the more votes he their homes to the line. got. Watkins was the pro-annexation candi- Whisnant said Wilmington’s tax date and a tax-and-spend proponent. rate is lower than the county’s (47 Nevertheless, local Republicans did not cents compared to 69 cents) and so is support Thompson despite the Citadel not the sole cause for the increased graduate’s solid conservative message. Even taxes of forcibly annexed residents. though the city races are nonpartisan, the The taxes of some individuals have parties do recruit and get involved. doubled because of additional taxes The Republican Party’s refusal and, and fees imposed on them. Many of some say, downright hostility to Thomp- these taxes are retroactive. That’s son prompted at least one conservative voter right; it is not enough for the city to in the city to say that “Republicans in simply institute a tax, but they must Wilmington have not seen a tax increase or charge residents extra. And all of forced annexation they did not like.” The these bills come due around the holi- vice chairman of the county Republican days. Party, Chris Bolles, quarreled with party What a particularly nice gift from members over what he called a lack of prin- the city. Kinda makes one warm all ciple and even stepped down for a spell. He CJ over doesn’t it? continually supported the conservative Ja- son Thompson.

Dec CJ Corrected Pages 4 4/2/02, 3:13 PM C A R O L I N A December 2001 JOURNAL Local Government 15

Across North Carolina Mixed Messages in Local Elections Peak Pricing Could Help Local Traffic Continued From Page 14 tion of a transit system, explaining that another lawyer would receive the compensation. Agar did not buy Meeker’s Mayor Milo McBryde faced Marshall Pitts in the Novem- argument. Indeed, Agar was even more concerned after he By JOHN CHARLES ber election. Pitts won. heard Meeker’s response. Guest Columnist Of the two candidates, Pitts was the only one support- The News & Observer of Raleigh endorsed Meeker for PORTLAND, ORE. ing consolidation. Otherwise, both candidates appeared to the campaign in part because he received less money from he most obvious transportation problem in have the same view of government and wished to use developers than incumbent mayor Coble did. The N&O any major city is peak-period traffic conges- taxpayer money to lure business into Fayetteville. Pitts was also blasted Coble for failing to put enough emphasis on Ttion. In order to solve this problem, it’s im- the highest vote-getter in the primary. regionalism and for not supporting rail transit. portant to understand the cause of congestion. Traf- Going after businesses was the campaign issue for Meeker will be joined by Sierra Club member Janet fic gridlock reflects an imbalance between road sup- Harnett County elections as well. According to the Cowell, who campaigned that “Raleigh needs a breath of ply and road demand. The reason for the imbalance Fayetteville Observer, the loss of Erwin Swift Demin mill was fresh air.” She, like Meeker, campaigned on the rail transit is that most highways are priced incorrectly. a major cause of economic concern. plan, a ban on “clear cutting,” and her involvement in the The primary method of paying for roads is the efffort to stop a controversial project called The Oberlin. gas tax. Unfortunately, the tax tells the motorist noth- A doozy in Durham Meeker and Cowell, successfully it seems, painted ing about the relative Coble as the political equivalent of a lumberjack who could scarcity of roadway space The mayoral election in Durham turned out to be a not wait to clear the Triangle of trees. Meeker told the press at certain times of day; it squeaker victory for Bill Bell as the voters decided not to that clear cutting in Raleigh was not a problem until Coble is just a sales tax on fuel. “Stick with Nick.” This election was another example of a came to office. Once paid, the motorist candidate winning the most votes in a primary but ulti- With the victories of Meeker and Cowell, Raleigh has perceives the cost of road mately losing the general election. Republican Nick decidedly moved leftward politically. access to be “free.” Be- Tennyson was the top voter-getter in the October primary. cause other motorists A Republican, he ran as a moderate and that did about No arena fallout in Charlotte have similar perceptions, as much good as Raleigh Mayor Paul Coble running as a they logically converge fiscal conservative. A top issue was crime. Tennyson cam- One could claim that it is more of the same in Charlotte on highways at the same JohnJohn CharlesCharles paigned heavily on his law and order policies. Crime has as there were no real surprises this election. Mayor Pat time. The result is traffic been declining since 1998 in Durham and Tennyson leaves McCrory easily won re-election. McCrory beat Democrat congestion. office with a larger police force in place. Ella Scarborough for the second straight time, but this time The solution to this problem is peak-period road Probably the biggest issue hurting Tennyson was a by an even greater margin. The victory was all the more pricing. This is a road-user fee that varies by the time small business loan scandal in which the city doled out over impressive considering McCrory did not buy radio ads but of day, location, and direction of travel. The fee $800,000 in loans to business that appear to not exist. instead concentrated on television. Said one voter in The changes at certain times of the day because demand Former County Commissioner Bell criticized the mayor for Charlotte Observer: “I like Scarborough. I think she’s good. for road space is constantly changing. For example, his lack of oversight and leadership of the loan program. But McCrory’s been in there for a while. He’s got more at periods of high demand, we each impose delay Partisan politics was introduced into the “nonparti- experience and that’s what we need right now.” Many costs on every motorist behind us. At 2 a.m., those san” campaign when Democratic National Committee op- voters just believed that they should not “change horses in delay costs are essentially zero. A rational user fee eratives came to Durham to visibly support Bell and get out the middle of the stream.” The city council will remain in system has to reflect these variations. the vote. They spent $25,000 on the race. the hands of the Democrats. This concept is not a new one to most consum- The Republican National Committee (and state Re- What has turned out to be important is what occurred ers. We see it used widely in such applications as publican Party), on the other hand, did little to nothing. just a day after the election. Apparently, the strategy of matinee movie pricing, time-of-day rates for long- While the Republicans were sitting on their hands, Demo- downtown businesses and the politicians they support is to distance calls, and off-season discounts for resorts. crats secured the voice of former President Bill Clinton for the tackle the abrasive question of the new arena for the In these and other situations, suppliers of goods or a get-out-the-vote phone campaign. It worked. Charlotte Hornets. services use fluctuating rates to help spread out de- Asa Spaulding, chairman of the Durham County Re- Political leaders were stung this year when the voters mand, thus minimizing congestion and eliminating publican Party, said before the election overwhelmingly rejected the corporate the need for expensive new facilities that might be that the GOP would extend an invitation welfare deal for the Charlotte Hornets. used only for short periods of time. Peak-period tolls to the mayor-elect after Nov. 6. Bell ac- So disgusted were many are collected through electronic systems that allow cepted the invitation and spoke to the ÒWhen they originally Charlotteans that the team recently set a users to pay on the fly. Transponders are placed on Republican group. built the course, it was franchise low in attendance at a recent all vehicles using a priced facility. Motorists estab- DNC involvement has made some game. Still, this apparently has not dis- lish private accounts to keep track of payments and Democrats unhappy. Several of them going to pay for itselfÉ suaded local elected officials who — now the transactions are made through a computer. have reportedly joined the growing ranks ItÕs not like this is a that they are safe for two more years — This approach has been used since 1995 with of unaffiliated voters by changing their community that needs are beginning another push for a “new” great success. The best known example is SR 91 Ex- registration. stadium to be built at taxpayer expense. press, in Orange County, Calif. SR 91 is a privately “I just want my garbage and my a golf course.Ó Don Reid, who campaigned against built, privately operated, 10-mile expressway that is leaves picked up on time and my street the arena, told the Observer that “if it electronically tolled and has 14 different prices, rang- swept a few more times," Patrick Byker were simply a matter of (the city contrib- ing from 75 cents to $4.25. The rates are set to main- said in the Herald Sun of Durham. “I don’t think that’s a uting) land and infrastructure… that might be acceptable. tain free-flow conditions. As a result, SR 91 never Republican or Democratic issue.” Byker is also chairman of If it’s more than that, (the council members) have betrayed suffers from congestion problems. Users report high the moderate-conservative Friends of Durham. the people of Charlotte.” levels of satisfaction, not just for the time savings, With professional baseball actually looking to shrink but for the reliability. Motorists place a high value “No taxes” message triumphs in Raleigh the number of franchises and voters in other cities turning on knowing how long a trip will take. With peak- down taxpayer-financed stadiums and arenas in recent period pricing, trip time is very predictable. Other Coble, who garnered most of the votes in Raleigh’s years, the issue of sports subsidies would seem to be a facilities using peak-period pricing include Interstate mayoral primary, couldn’t stop a runoff with former coun- controversial one. But supporters argue that without a 15 near San Diego, and all Hudson River crossings cilman Charles Meeker, and ultimately lost by about a taxpayer commitment, professional basketball will leave between New York and New Jersey. In April, the larg- thousand votes in the November general election. Charlotte, taking with it spillover benefits for the uptown est-grossing toll bridge in the world, New York’s Meeker ran on a “better growth” theme, focusing on area and the economy as a whole. Many economists dis- George Washington Bridge, began implementing broad outlines rather than specific policies. However, he pute the existence of such benefits, however. peak-period pricing, and the change received strong did vow not to raise taxes. The no-taxes pledge represents Over the coming months, Charlotteans will have to endorsements from The New York Times and other lo- a sea change in political attitudes in the capital city since the wait to see how their political leaders try to sell the Hornets cal newspapers. election of former Mayor Tom Fetzer on a tax-cutting arena deal this time. One concern with this approach is that people platform in 1993. Still, Meeker’s promise didn’t keep him would be forced to “pay twice” for roads maintained from pledging to charge Cary-like impact fees of up to Get off my golf course through a gasoline tax. The way to address the prob- $10,000 for every home or business built in Raleigh. The lem is to begin reducing gas taxes and replace them town of Cary has implemented these policies, so far not Finally in the Buncombe County town of Woodfin, all with electronic tolling, at least for major highways. generating measurable economic consequences (see the incumbents were defeated. The controversy surrounded a If those roads are supported solely through tolls, mo- news roundup on page 17). government-funded golf course and the 12-cent tax in- torists will still pay only once for their use. A majority of the voters seemed not to mind that crease that local elected officials passed to fund it. Peak-period pricing will not solve all traffic prob- Meeker’s law firm was directly involved with lobbying The Citizen Times of Asheville reported many voters lems. Some regions simply need to build additional efforts to push through the Triangle Transit Authority were angry over the construction in 1999 of the Northwoods lane capacity. The advantage of road pricing is that (TTA) agenda. Appearing on radio station WPTF’s “Jerry Golf Course. The course has not performed as expected. it tells decision-makers where expansion is most Agar Show,” Meeker said he could not understand how “When they originally built the course, it was going to needed, and it provides a ready source of cash. CJ anyone would think his firm’s involvement with the TTA pay for itself. That fell through and now we’re paying for would constitute a conflict of interest. He said he would not it. I really wanted to vote for this reason. It’s not like this is John Charles is the evironmental policy director of the Cas- benefit monetarily from TTA even though he is a partner in a community that needs a golf course,” said voter Ronnie cade Policy Institute in Portland, Ore. the firm that stands to receive monies for the implementa- Young. CJ

Dec CJ Corrected Pages 5 4/2/02, 3:13 PM December 2001 C A R O L I N A 16 Local Government JOURNAL

Local Innovation Bulletin Board Commissioner Richard Johnson Feds Fund Stupid Growth Swims Upstream in Dare County By ERIK ROOT treated fairly. I mean, they are not going to he Environmental Protection 1999. The FHWA expects to give out an- Assistant Editor nominate me for chairman. With six Demo- Agency has given more than other $30 million in the next two years. MANTEO crats and one Republican they are probably T $500,000 to “smart-growth” ad- Most or all of the grants go to a gov- CJ: What prompted you to run for county com- going to keep some things for themselves. vocacy groups in 2001. This is on top of ernment agency, but the law specifically missioner? But they have been fair. the $1.5 million it gave to smart-growth allowed the agency to “partner” with groups in 2000 and nonprofit groups. Johnson: I have never been involved in CJ: This is your second term. What is the biggest the $6 million to $7 For example, New politics. Never been involved in the Repub- issue facing Dare County? million it gave in the Jersey Transit re- lican Party other than to be a Republican. A late 1990s. ceived $535,000 to friend came to me and asked that I run. My Johnson: Schools. Schools, bar none. We Most of these plan for “transit- first response was I don’t want to do it. have a school board that wants another groups use the funds friendly communi- I was teaching Sunday school and I high school built. The school is to hold to either lobby for ties.” always told those in the class that they about 850 students. They sent us a note that smart growth in The grant pro- should stand up for what they believe in — they could not complete the school for $30 their local areas, to posal specifically to always stand up for what was right no million. I think we are looking at $36 million “educate” the public states that NJT will matter what — and as I studied I came to the to complete it with a $2 million operating about smart growth, share the money conviction that we are obligated to stand up cost. or to hold confer- with other groups for what was right in politics, too. We just raised taxes, too, against my ences so smart- By Randall O’Toole, Policy Analyst “to leverage the tal- One Sunday church was called off be- vote, by about 6 cents because we had to growth advocates ents and resources cause of a snowstorm that went through the address the $30 million high school issue. can meet and work on their political tac- of its nonprofit and government part- area. Most people could not get to services. We are completing a $10 million el- tics and agendas. ners leaders in smart growth, commu- I listened to three sermons that day at home ementary school that will have an $800,000 Some of these groups are associa- nity and downtown revitalization, re- and all three had the same message: If you annual cost above what we are paying now. tions of government officials whose gional planning, and public education.” are going to make a difference and stand up In addition, they are talking about another staffs lobby various government officials Four non-profits are specifically for what you believe, you must be involved. $15 million elementary school at the beach, in favor of smart growth. mentioned, including: Downtown New I decided then to run. I which I am sure will bring us I have identified the following 2001 Jersey, New Jersey Future, the Project for ran against an incumbent who about $1 million in additional grants as smart-growth grants: Public Spaces, and the Regional Plan- was vice chairman. He was a cost to educate the same ning Association. member of several boards. He amount of students because The Central Puget Sound Region (a did support big government you have to heat these build- Recipient Amount regional government) received $400,000 and was more liberal than I ings, hire groundskeepers to promote “transit station communi- am. I am real conservative, and kitchen people. Local Gov't Commission $10,000 ties.” but had no political experi- Alts for Communities & Env $20,000 The grant says that the funds will ence at all. Most did not give CJ: Any other issues? Grow Smart Rhode Island $20,000 be shared with 1000 Friends of Wash- me a chance to win, save the 1000 Friends of Penn $45,000 ington, which will do “public educa- chairman of the county Re- Johnson: We have issues fac- Cong. For New Urbanism $35,000 tion,” including “community forums publican Party. Many did not ing us in terms of beach Gulf Coast Institute $35,000 and radio ads.” give me a chance, and as a renourishment. Our tax base Vermont Forum on Sprawl $10,000 Other “partners” are the Transpor- result I did not receive much Richard Johnson is eroding away and falling Earth Island Institute $15,000 tation Choices Coalition, Washington financial support. into the ocean. The motels and Vermont Forum on Sprawl $25,000 Environmental Council, Livable Com- My first election I had about $2,700 that restaurant owners are going to pay a one- Nat Conf of State Legislatures $10,000 munities Coalition, Bicycle Alliance of I ran my campaign with. I bought hats that cent tax that will go directly to beach Center for Clean Air Policy $225,000 Washington, and Sustainable Seattle. said “elect Richard Johnson.” For a $20 renourishment. Basically the tourists will Friends of Florida $50,000 Unfortunately, the TCSP web site donation I would give someone a hat. So, be paying for those projects. Environ. League of Mass $10,000 does not yet provide detailed informa- half of what I had went into the hats. We have the same issues that everyone tion about most of these grants. The In my second race I was re-elected (and else does, really. The sheriff wants more grants page on the TCSP web site somebody told me, I have not looked into money, and so do the deputies. They find Also in 2000 the EPA gave $100,000 (www.fhwa.dot.gov/tcsp/projects/ this, that I am the first Republican commis- that another county pays more and they to Environmental Defense to promote Searchdb.cfm?function=public) in- sioner in Dare to be re-elected) even though leave. It becomes a constant bidding war for “commuter choice” (mandatory reduc- cludes a $600,000 grant given to the the Democrats outnumber the Republicans police protection, the same way it is for tions in driving), $200,000 to the Conser- Lane Council of Governments in Or- about 4 to 1. In the second campaign I only teachers. vation Law Foundation to promote a rail egon. had about $3,000. So, I have not had a lot of network, and $346,000 to various other This money helped pay for a funds. I sold shirts that year. CJ: Are unfunded mandates, in such areas as groups to promote smart growth in one “smart-growth” newspaper insert that Many of the people who have sup- Medicaid, causing Dare County much strain or way or another. was sent to 450,000 households in Or- ported me and my campaign were openly difficulty? The above information was obtained egon. The Willamette Valley Livability Democrats. In Dare County you have to from the EPA grant database (http:// Project, a group that was created by 1000 realize that you have a significant amount Johnson: Well, for Dare County it is not www.epa.gov/envirofw/html/gics/ Friends of Oregon, wrote the insert, of conservative Democrats. really too bad. When the state passes these gics_query.html). while the Lane Council of Governments A lot of Republicans run and they run mandates down… we have such a strong Curiously, this database has been only helped with the layout (so the in- like they are anti-Democrat instead of just tourist economy that we do all right in purged of any information about past sert says). saying they are conservative. I don’t care meeting them. Of course with everything grants given to the Surface Transporta- But the TCSP grants page does not who I work with. If that person is a conser- going on in the nation, that could change. If tion Policy Project or certain other of the mention the Willamette Valley Livabil- vative, honest, and fair, I don’t care if he’s a all the tourism goes away, then we will be in EPA’s former “transportation partners.” ity Project or other partners. The web Democrat or not. worse shape than other parts of the state. It is difficult to know how many other page promises to eventually fill in the Unfunded mandates have not been as grants are not in the database. blanks for many of these projects. CJ: So, then, has it been easy to work with your big an issue as others yet. What does matter EPA grants may pale in comparison However, it appears many TCSP fellow commissioners? is the state saying that they are going to to grants given out by the Federal High- grants are used by government agencies fund class-size cuts in schools but do not way Administration to government to develop smart growth plans. Johnson: Politics rears its head every once fund the additional space needed for class- agencies and nonprofit groups under These agencies share the money in a while. I think that most people realize if rooms. Section 1221 of the Transportation Effi- with nonprofits so that the nonprofits I vote against them it is not for partisan This is challenging when we do not ciency Act of 1998. can engage in public lobbying for those reasons but because I simply disagree with have the money to build more classrooms. This section is supposed to fund proposals. This subverts the laws in a certain position they are taking. And I It almost amounts to adding a wing onto “Transportation and Community and many states that forbid the government think that those who have voted against me every school we have. So they are dictating System Preservation Pilot Programs.” In- agencies from lobbying. CJ is not for partisan reasons but because they class size, but not funding schools. That spired by 1000 Friends of Oregon’s disagree with me. kind of unfunded mandate costs our county “LUTRAQ” (Land Use, Transportation, I am a Republican because I am a little a ton of money. I am not sure I agree with Air Quality) studies, many, though not more conservative than Democrats who are the reduction in class size. all, of the TCSP grants go for research or This report was written by Randall more liberal. If I cast a vote against a more If you look at other countries with high studies promoting smart growth. O’Toole. O’Toole will be a featured panelist liberal cause I think people understand it is scores, as I understand it, their class sizes According to the TCSP web site at the Center for Local Innovation’s “Inno- because I am a conservative first. are bigger than ours. I think a lot of this stuff (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tcsp/ vate 2002” conference to be held in Janu- The other commissioners have worked surrounding class size is feel-good. We need index.html), the program has given out ary. See pages 14 or 24 for more details on with me and not shut me out. I have been to become more responsible in our approach. more than $90 million since it began in the event, which will be held in Durham. appointed to boards and commissions. I Not everyone can be mainstreamed. If a think they have given me opportunity and student is not passing a grade they need to have worked with me. I think I am being be dealt with differently. CJ

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 16 4/2/02, 3:21 PM C A R O L I N A December 2001 JOURNAL Local Government 17 From Cherokee to Currituck An Epidemic of Laws Usurps the Rights of State’s Homeowners

By ERIK ROOT too: “It appears that y’all are not listening to Observer of Raleigh reports. to move their pets into the shade on hot Assistant Editor the citizens who put y’all in there. This is According to the ominously named days. RALEIGH our county, not yours,” said county resi- public art task force, the town of Cary could “If a dog owner has a shelter that is n Pittsboro, the state of North Carolina dent Billy Timberlake. spend $1.2 million on public art. It would weather-worthy, and he feeds and waters gave the city $1,400 to distribute 200 also create a permanent public art program his dog, in my opinion he’s taking care of Ibicycle helmets, according to the Her- Granville Taxes Spike and a commission to administer projects. his animal,” Commissioner Larry Craig said. ald-Sun of Durham. The helmets were pro- “Done properly, public art… is a draw, If the ordinance passes, in the summer own- vided free to toddlers and adults. Granville County property taxes will it’s a way for people who come into your ers will have to provide enclosed doghouses One wonders how the state was able to rise dramatically after that county’s revalu- community to remember it” said Jennifer with a roof, floor and doorway opening. afford such a luxury, given the budget crisis ation. Tax Assessor Danny Faucette said in Murphy, a consultant based in Charlotte. The doghouse will have to be positioned in it is in. the Herald-Sun of Durham Murphy assisted in the shade as well. In the winter, owners will Nevertheless, Pittsboro gave away the that property values have the development of the have to make sure their dogs are protected helmets at taxpayer expense because of the risen 54 percent. plan espoused by the task from the cold, wind, rain, snow, or sleet. new law called the North Carolina Child Apparently Granville “People need to under- force. bicycle Safety Act. The law requires all chil- has decided not to embark The town asserts that Wasted in Atlantic Beach dren under the age of 16 to wear bicycle on a revenue neutral re- stand that their taxes art will draw the dispar- helmets. valuation. will probably go up and ate communities together Private companies are the best avail- “People need to un- they need to know that and make the town able means for cities and other local govern- Water ordinance in person derstand that their taxes “tighter.” Mayor Glen ments to capitalize on the natural innova- will probably go up and the revaluation will re- Lang appears opposed to tive technologies that come from such an The Person County commissioners they need to know that flect that.” the projects and thinks enterprise. passed a water ordinance that would re- the revaluation will reflect the money would be bet- “The track we are pursuing is to let the quire new homes and buildings to hook up that. Anyone who has ter spent on roads and private companies come in and use their to a water line if the structures are within questions should bring them before the com- schools. innovative technologies,” Commissioner 300 feet of it, the Herald-Sun of Durham missioners and not wait until next year Doug Harris said in the Daily News of Jack- reports. before they voice their concerns,” Commis- The in-humane society sonville. Existing homes or businesses would sioner Herbert Gooch said. “It’s not a happy Some of the town’s residents have fail- have to be hooked up to the line only if their time for people,” Commissioner Tony The Humane Society of Lincoln County ing sewer systems and others are concerned wells fail and owners cannot drill a new one Cozart said. But while the county is raising wants the Lincoln County commissioners about getting waste off the island. because of health hazards. taxes and officials admit that tax bills will to pass an ordinance requiring dog owners Harris thinks privatization will allow The ordinance, which at first did not increase dramatically, it is unclear why they to build their dog houses to certain specifi- the town to keep bills at $50 a month. include the exception, will allow for some have to increase so much. cations. The ordinance would tell dog own- A study by the Maryland-based firm freedom of choice. Nevertheless, at least ers how to build the houses and where to Infrastructure Management Group Inc., con- one county commissioner, Eugene Berryhill, Recession? Increase art spending build them, according to the Charlotte Ob- ducted a study for the town to make sure a opposes the ordinance, claiming it isn’t server. The Humane Society is concerned system would pay for itself with reasonable worth “two hoots and a holler.” Cary is considering spending more tax- that the current ordinance doesn’t provide charge for the service. The study was paid Some citizens oppose the ordinance, payer money on public art, the News and animal control officers to force dog owners for by grants. CJ

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To obtain more information about CLI, Hon. Tom Fetzer and subscribe to Prism, its weekly e- Director, Center for Local Innovation Former Mayor of Raleigh letter, call Erik Root at 919-828-3876.

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 17 4/2/02, 3:22 PM December 2001 C A R O L I N A 18 Learning Curve JOURNAL

From the Liberty Library On Culture

• The Cato Institute has pub- lished Medicare’s Midlife Crisis by Sue “...Find Them All, and in the Darkness Bind Them” Blevins, president of the Institute for Health Freedom. The book examines By JOHN HOOD not stand the light of day and the program’s origins, evolution, Publisher must prevail by fooling others and future policy options. Blevins re- RALEIGH into advancing its cause counts how Medicare was created as n case you’ve been living in a cave for whether they realize it or not. part of a larger plan for universal the past few months — and if so, vari- In the first book, Frodo the health insurance, and points out how Ious members of the U.S. armed forces hobbit is charged with the task Medicare costs grew far beyond the are probably looking for you — the first of of destroying the Ring that his original estimates used to muster three films based on the Lord of the Rings forebear Bilbo had “burgled” in political support for the program. trilogy is being released this month. a previous story, simply called She also finds that Medicare restricts I am not going to regale you with The Hobbit. The Ring is the key health care choices, jeopardizes the lengthy accounts of the books or their cul- to defeating Sauron and those doctor-patient relationship, and tural influence. Far more knowledgeable who use other rings of power threatens to invade the medical pri- people than I have been and will continue he has forged; its inscription vacy of seniors. More information on to do so. Moreover, as with writing on Star reads: “One ring to rule them the book can be found online at Trek or G.K. Chesterton, a halfhearted at- all, one ring to find them, one www.cato.org. tempt to opine about an author like J.R.R. ring to bring them all and in the Tolkien will only get one into trouble, as darkness bind them.” Frodo the Hobbit draws his elvin blade, ponders the ring. • Earlier this month Regnery there is always someone out there who But Frodo is not charged (New Line Productions Inc., 2001) Publishers released Bias: A CBS In- knows a lot more about the subject than you with completing this task sider Exposes How the Media Distort do — and is likely to prove it at the slight- alone. A “Fellowship of the Ring” forms to My thought is simply this: right now, the News, which according to news est opportunity. include a wizard, an elf, a dwarf, two hu- America enjoys the fellowship of other reports has caused an uproar at au- But I did have a thought about the tim- mans, and three other hobbits. Their adven- countries in its war against terrorism. But thor/reporter Bernard Goldberg’s ing of the “Fellowship of the Ring,” the first tures are colorful, spellbinding, and im- as the conflict escalates and expands, these former place of employment. In his part of the trilogy. It comes as the United mensely entertaining. Yet at the end of the allies may fall away, or in some cases be book Goldberg writes about wide- States faces an evil adversary of worldwide day, as some have fallen and others have overthrown. Like Frodo and Sam, we may spread media bias among the major power and influence. Like the dark forces gotten sidetracked, it is left to little Frodo ultimately face alone a seemingly insur- network news divisions, and reveals led by Sauron on the book, Islamic terror- and his loyal friend Sam to take the Ring to mountable challenge. One can only hope specific examples through his own ism respects no civilized bounds and is the towering volcano where it was forged, that we rise, like they, rise to the challenge experience at CBS. He portrays CBS completely self-aware; it knows that it can- there to be destroyed. and vanquish the evil that threatens us. CJ executives as patsies for “Evening News” anchorman Dan Rather, and Book Review says news division President An- drew Heyward told him, “All the networks tilt left.” An anonymous CBS executive told the Drudge Report Professor Ebeling Explores Threats to Freedom that Goldberg was a “traitor” and a “bitter man who is now determined By GEORGE C. LEEF ploring the threats to freedom posed by the Enemies,” but is not simply a reprint of a to settle a score.” Contributing Editor new social engineering. “The contributors,” chapter. It’s a fresh look at what I regard as RALEIGH Ebelings writes, “all warn of the continuing the key battleground in the current war • Also out from Regnery is Richard Ebeling, Editor: Competition or Com- danger from the idea and ideology of the between freedom and authoritarianism, Casper Weinberger’s In the Arena: A pulsion? The New Market Economy versus the social engineer, in all its modern transfor- namely the fight over the desirability of Memoir of the 20th Century, a collec- New Social Engineering, Hillsdale College mations.” progress. tion of the former defense secretary’s Press, 2001, 241pp. The first and by far the longest essay in personal reminiscences. Throughout the book is by Professor Ebeling himself — Stasis menaces progress the last century Weinberger has been here is a chameleonlike characteris- “Planning for Freedom: Ludwig von Mises at or near the front lines of history, tic of the enemies of freedom — they as Political Economist and Policy Analyst.” Postrel’s argument is that our ability to whether reporting to Gen. Douglas Tkeep changing the appeals they use Ebeling’s wide-ranging discussion touches make progress is menaced by the forces of MacArthur on the movement of the to get people to surrender liberty and prop- upon numerous interesting points in Mises’ stasis. That is to say, there are people who Japanese fleet, listening in stunned erty. During the Cold War period, those career before World War II, including an contend that humans live well enough (or silence as President Richard Nixon who favored central control over individual exchange with Hayek in which Hayek ac- even too well) already and ought not to dismissed his entire Cabinet the day freedom importuned people with the ab- cused Mises of ”extreme rationalism.” jeopardize what we have by permitting oth- after he was re-elected, or joining surd claim that state control over the Unless you happen to be among those ers to experiment with new products, meth- President Ronald Reagan on the economy would both be more fair and make people who think that there is virtue in ods and ideas. White House lawn as they wel- us more prosperous. “partial rationalism” or “occasional ratio- She quotes British philosopher John comed back the hostages who had Now that they realize good old-fash- nalism,” this comment is Gray, who whines that been held captive in Iran. ioned socialism is almost impossible to sell, certainly a mark against freedom fosters “the Weinberger provides a window on they have switched to a new set of claims Hayek. The new social engi- malady of infinite aspi- personalities and motivations of calculated to be more appealing to Ameri- Most of the essay, rations.” Proponents of other leaders such as Margaret cans who are, for the most part, rather afflu- however, concerns Mises’ neers have figured out stasis would like to tell Thatcher, George Bush, and Henry ent and unlikely to be swayed by even analysis of the untoward that the old adage is us just what our aspira- Kissinger, and their effects on his- toned-down Marxism. effects of government in- true — you do catch tions may be. Another tory. More information on Regnery Now the siren songs of the tervention in the free af- excellent contribution titles at www.regnery.com. authoritarians are more apt to appeal to the fairs of men. more flies with honey comes from Fred Smith fears of those affluent people, saying that One of the chief prob- than with vinegar. of the Competitive En- • More fond recollections of the they might lose their comfortable living lems of interventionism, terprise Institute. He Reagan years can be found in Peggy unless the state is given further powers. he observed, was that it compares the current Noonan’s When Character Was King. inevitably creates ripples of disturbance in fight over “globalization” with the “Pro- She contends that the one thing a The new social engineering other human endeavors that then seem to gressive Era” in the United States. man must bring into the White require further intervention by the state. Smith points out that then, as now, House with him if he is to succeed is The subtitle of this book is a good de- Ebeling writes, “Thus, in Mises’ con- most intellectuals sided with the forces of a character that people come to rec- scription of the current sales pitch: the new struction of the logic of interventionism, a control rather than with liberty. In the Pro- ognize as high, sturdy, and reliable. social engineering. The challenge to the free ‘dynamic’ is set in motion that generates the gressive Era, when change meant increas- The former Reagan speechwriter market now comes not in the strident red of potential for an ever-expanding circle of ing government control, they favored and current Wall Street Journal col- Lenin, but in the muted earth tones of envi- interventions due to the disruptions previ- change, but in the modern era change means umnist argues in the book that the ronmentalism, the “antisprawl” movement, ous interventions have created.” At the time, ways for people to escape from control and, true source of Reagan’s success was the “precautionary principle,” and similar the problem Mises was thinking about was Smith says, intellectuals have become the his character — his courage, his notions, all designed to seduce comfortable efforts at central economic planning, but his reactionaries. kindness, his persistence, his hon- Americans into the embrace of collectivist insight applies with equal force to the “new Other essays in the book are by George esty, and his patience. Noonan re- policies pushed by politicians and goups social engineering.” Bittlingmayer, Allan Carlson, W. Michael flects on her own memories of dripping with concern and compassion. Those who want to reshape society are Cox, Peter Ferrera, Vaclav Klaus, Nancie Reagan and discloses never-before- The new social engineers have figured no more able to stop with just a few mea- Marzulla, Patrick Minford, Sam Staley and told stories from his family, friends, out that the old adage is true — you do catch sures of control than were those who de- Walter Williams. The book is a worthy con- and White House colleagues to re- more flies with honey than with vinegar. sired to reshape the economy. tinuation of the fine Hillsdale series. CJ veal the true nature of the man. A Vi- That makes them all the more dangerous. My favorite essay in the book is by king Press title, at www. In the most recent addition to Hillsdale’s Virginia Postel, “The Future and Its Enemies: penguinputnam.com. CJ Ludwig von Mises Lecture Series, editor Dynamism vs. Stasis.” The essay, of course, George C. Leef is book review editor for Ideas On Richard Ebeling has collected 12 essays ex- has its roots in her book “The Future and Its Liberty.

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 18 4/2/02, 3:22 PM C A R O L I N A December 2001 JOURNAL Learning Curve 19 Movie Review ‘Harry Potter’ Leaves No Stone Unturned for Kids — and Adults

By NATHAN LINTNER The actors are British and as such, pres- Chick Publications has produced an Editorial Intern tigious accents abound. While the initial information video entitled, Harry Potter: RALEIGH setting is London, the majority of the action Witchcraft Repackaged, Making Evil Look Inno- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, 152 does not take place there, but in a type of cent, the aim of which, according to the min., Rated PG hidden world. In fact, the story assumes company’s website, is to reveal “how com- two worlds. One, that of Muggles or “non- pletely occult is the world of Harry Potter.” art of Shakespeare’s genius was his magic folk,” is visually indistinguishable The website states that due to the books’ ability to write plays that appealed from the modern world in which audience popularity, “the ancient occult religion of P to diverse audiences. In 15th century members themselves live. The other is a Wicca is being introduced in almost every London, uneducated commoners stood on world where wizards, public school in America.” the floor of the theater and were entertained witches, magic, and the The movie is an accu- by the story’s action and drama, while in like, are the norm and The films central rate depiction of the first the gallery and gentlemen’s rooms the more where the manner of book and has enjoyed wealthy and educated classes interpreted dress, architecture and themes are love, similar popularity. mythological and classical references and absence of certain tech- friendship, honor, trust, But to assert that J. K. regarded themes centered on the popular nologies offer a setting and selflessness… evil Rowling created the story studies of the day. In today’s cinemas this that is mostly pre to con- with the intention to turn sort of dual appeal, while perhaps less temporary 19th century and mischief are not children onto mysticism prominent than it should be, survives. in appearance. Inhabit- rewarded. or make them imitate oc- In good movies, an entertainment qual- ants of each world are cult practices represents a ity satisfies audience members who crave aware that the other ex- faulty and shortsighted nothing more than a good time, while a ists, but only characters who possess magi- interpretation of the film’s visual and tex- subtle intellectual ingredient stimulates the cal abilities can travel between the two at tual information. more ambitious viewer with societal, philo- will (so long as they know where the secret The characters’ words and actions re- sophical, historical or political commen- corridors lie). Muggles are confined to their peatedly suggest that spells are not to be tary. native moviegoers looking to have fun with own world. cast for spite or vengeful purposes and the This dichotomy also applies to children a special-effects-packed yet innocent story forces of good are preferred to those of evil and parents at family or children’s movies. will likewise be pleased. Crusade for Sorcerer’s Stone throughout the story. Despite some charac- Usually, of course, it is the child who de- The film is based on the first of a hugely ters’ misuse of magic, it is taboo to cast spells sires entertainment and the accompanying popular four-book series by British author Harry and his two schoolmates serve and practice witchery in the Moogle world parent that hopes for a substantive and J. K. Rowling. However, viewers who did as the main characters as they embark on a and the main antagonist is defeated. meaningful story. Adults can often appre- not contribute to the books’ popularity will crusade to save the sorcerer’s stone and The film’s central themes are love, ciate a story’s creative and literary compo- have no trouble following the plot or being protect the forces of virtue. As the plot friendship, honor, trust and selflessness; in nents and be entertained by the talents of entertained. In fact, audience members who unfolds, the three characters experience sev- the resolution evil and mischief are not re- the author, regardless of whether the con- have not read the books may even enjoy the eral miniadventures that include two en- warded. The characters who embody the tent is marketed specifically to them. movie more than the Harry Potter buff counters with a vicious three-headed dog, most positive themes are children; their righ- whose knowledge of the storyline will di- a battle with a giant troll and a journey teousness serves as a model of proper con- Adults will be stimulated minish the element of surprise or suspense. through the dark forest, where unicorns, duct and it is with them that the audience The story centers on the life and early centaurs, werewolves and creatures of the most strongly sympathizes. While the imaginative qualities of Harry training of a boy wizard (Harry) and details night roam. Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone, Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone will doubtless the trials and discoveries that his character The BBC reported in November that 60 while no Hamlet, is an entertaining family captivate children, it is visually stimulating encounters along the way. The names and Australian schools had banned the Potter film that will resonate with educated and and creatively entertaining and will also terms are unusual, but thanks to the visual books from their libraries because of con- perceptive adult audiences. Excellent vi- engage the interest of most adult viewers. medium, a strict knowledge of them is not cerns that the content might encourage chil- sual effects and computer-animated cre- Fans and students of classic poetry, litera- required, though remembering names will dren to experiment with the occult. Certain ations make it a great big-screen experience ture, alchemy, magic, and the sciences prove helpful when a character is spoken of groups have voiced similar concerns about — most will leave the theater satisfied and should be especially receptive, but imagi- but not seen. the movie. conclude that it was worth the money. CJ

Book Review ‘Sleeper’ Tattles on Left Wing’s New Thought Police in America

By CHARLES DAVENPORT JR. Given the potency of her message, she think critically about what surrounds us. gagged? Many readers will find it reassur- Contributing Editor will be declared either an intellectual ter- Furthermore, a multicultural society en- ing to know that at least one lesbian, RALEIGH rorist or a freedom fighter. And all but the courages and rewards arrogance, pride, prochoice liberal not only concedes the pres- Tammy Bruce: The New Thought Police: In- most hardened radicals will choose the lat- and separatism. ence of, but also resoundingly condemns, side the Leftist Assault on Free Speech and Free ter. In fact, many readers of the activist per- The persuasive power of common this flagrant hypocrisy: Look around you. Minds, Forum, 2001, 268 pp., $23.95 suasion will be compelled to acknowledge sense is paraded again when Bruce ad- Labels such as racist, sexist, and homopho- a dreaded truth: The Left has a newly dresses the dangers inherent to hate-crime bia are routinely used to demonize anyone ince Sept. 11, the term “sleeper” has anointed nemesis, the likes of which it legislation, another pet cause of the nihil- who doesn’t support the leftist agenda. imposed itself on the American vo- hasn’t encountered since the emergence of istic Left: Make no mistake — hate crime is So eclectic is the author’s philosophy S cabulary, but the concept of an en- another sleeper, David Horowitz. His philo- a euphemism for Thought Crime, allowing and so wide is the range of her targets, that emy within is nothing new. sophical journey foreshadows that of the government to gain the public’s assent nearly every reader will stumble across an Even in the relatively innocuous realm Tammy Bruce, who quotes him favorably. to prosecute people for what they think in issue here and there on which he and Bruce of political philosophy, shadowy villains Disillusioned by the murder of his addition to what they do. This is a potent disagree. Such is the nature of a book that abound, and the latest example is Tammy friend Betty Van Patter in the early 1970s, argument, yet it is not quite sufficient to defies convention. Bruce. Her recently published book, The Horowitz, the son of communists and an illustrate her thesis. In fact, Bruce was kind enough to in- New Thought Police, serves as a reminder associate of the infamous Black Panthers, clude the obligatory chapter on media bias: that in the arena of ideas, as elsewhere, the cast aside his left-wing colleagues. The essence of Bruce’s book “In general, the fact that journalists are usu- internal enemy is the most feared. Soon thereafter he skewered his former ally on the Left has been a good thing for This is a breathtakingly honest book ideology in a series of books including Radi- But this will do nicely: The Left imple- me and any other feminist. The issues I’ve that offers an insider’s view of the activist cal Son, The Politics of Bad Faith, and Hating ments speech and mind control because worked on, such as abortion and women’s Left, including the National Organization Whitey, all of which were damning indict- they know they cannot truly persuade on rights, have historically been well-received for Women, the National Association for the ments of the Left. Consequently, Horowitz the issues; silencing the opposition be- and supported by the Left. I’ve felt lucky Advancement of Colored People, the is a particularly contemptuous figure in ac- comes their only recourse. There, in a nut- that I was on the same side as those who American Civil Liberties Union, and oth- tivist circles. shell, is the essence of The New Thought Po- program the news.” But since alienating her- ers. Her credentials as a sleeper fortify what A similar degree of disdain surely lice. In short, the radical forbids a forthright self from NOW, she writes, “I’ve found out might otherwise be condemned as just an- awaits Ms. Bruce, who assails a host of lib- discussion for fear of revealing his own in- what it’s like trying to get your message out other vicious right-wing assault; Bruce is eral sacred cows: Multiculturalism is not tellectual puniness. when you’re on the wrong side of an issue.” not only a former president of the Los An- about exotic restaurants and charming Isn’t it ironic that left-wing activists Welcome to the conspiracy. CJ geles chapter of NOW, but also a self-de- street fairs. congratulate themselves for celebrating di- scribed openly gay, prochoice, gun-owning, It is a code word for moral relativism. versity, and for their morally superior sense prodeath penalty, liberal, voted-for-Reagan Accepting the notion that all ideas and sys- of tolerance, while simultaneously insist- Charles Davenport Jr. is an op-ed columnist at feminist. tems are equal precludes a willingness to ing that traditionalists are bound and the Greensboro News & Record.

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 19 4/2/02, 3:23 PM December 2001 C A R O L I N A 20 Opinion JOURNAL

for his gubernatorial race has something to do with Easley’s we all may have our preferences or objections to one or the Editorials inattention to enforcing the law. other alternative, the pooh-bahs of “peace” in their ivory At one time the actor Peter Sellars was asked by a fan, towers are sad little people with apparently little under- “Are you Peter Sellars?” Sellars said “Not today” and standing that, yes Virginia, there actually are truly, demon- walked away. In North Carolina apparently this man could strably, and basically evil people in the world. Instead, we DMV DERELICTS say the same thing and get a driver’s license. Easley, it have Paul O’Neill in a forum at N.C. State claiming “every seems, would surely approve. war the U.S. has started in the last 50 years was against Asleep at the wheel on drivers’ licenses Given the events of Sept. 11 and North Carolina’s people of color” or ignorant history professors such as renown as a haven for those seeking fraudulent drivers’ State’s Akram Khatar spewing foolish bromides (he said licenses and identification, actions by the legislature this the war is about “oil”). tate government has an obligation to ensure that year to tighten procedures for the acquisition of these state- Stan Goff, a “professional antigovernment protester” drivers’ licenses and other forms of state-autho- issued documents are a day late and a dollar short. When — whatever that means — suggested the events of Sept. S rized identification are legitimate and not tainted by noncitizens and nonresidents can get official state-issued 11 were simply a U.S. government plot to justify war and doubt. In North Carolina, the state is failing miserably at documents of such importance, not to mention actually build a Central Asian pipeline. These people are, charita- this minimal task. Given the horrors of Sept. 11 and the register to vote, confidence in government at all levels bly put, fools with no obvious knowledge of history and a proved connections to terrorist machinations, the citizens suffers. And deservedly so. blinding contempt for America. of our state should be deeply concerned about the demon- All things in life require checks and Whatever the idiocies mouthed by strable incompetence of state government. balances. Willa Cather wrote in her novel As early as August 26, the professoriate and the rest of the radi- Sadly, much of what has happened with respect to the “Alexander’s Bridge,” circa 1912, that “no cal hive that swarms around tax-funded N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles and its issuance of one can build his security upon the noble- 2000 Easely should universities, those who whine about en- licenses and other forms of identification — as reported in ness of another person.” Honor and in- have known of prob- couraging a “cycle of violence” need to last month’s Carolina Journal — offers little solace as to tegrity are good and necessary in both rethink their analytical process. America either the integrity of state-issued identification or the public officials and in the execution of the lems with the issuance did not start this war. We have no choice probity of the system. law. We cannot safely assume, especially of drivers licenses. but to take our message home, force- Current events demand that we pay due attention to a in light of this drivers’ license and identi- fully, to our enemies. greater degree than we otherwise have. The integrity of any fication imbroglio, that our public offi- This is, in fact, a rare moment when state-oriented identification procedure is vital also to the cials are necessarily noble and attentive in maintaining the utilitarian motivations are applicable. With the Islamic fas- security of our homeland and that of our freedom. security of citizenship against the transgressions of those cists having killed thousands of innocents both here and As it is, North Carolina has issued drivers’ licenses to who subvert the law, with the connivance of the state, to abroad, the lives of many more will be saved when our those who have lied about Social Security numbers, the hide their true and often malevolent purposes. mission is complete and the miscreants imprisoned or, pref- status — or lack thereof — of citizenship, home addresses, When four top state officials essentially ignore such a erably, killed. true names, the eligibility to vote, and insurance coverage. serious problem as Carolina Journal, the New York Times, In the meantime, our culture continues a misguided In 1997 almost 400,000 licenses were issued to people who and CBS News have reported on regarding our State De- and evolving degradation of language. Censorship’s pri- said they did not have Social Security numbers. Of that partment of Motor Vehicles, there are ample reasons for the mary definition suggests that one is attempting to prevent total, many were illegal aliens or nonresidents of our state. citizens of the state to lose respect for the government that the dissemination of information and ideas by force of law. Whether the goal is to disguise one’s identity, falsely claims to represent them. Many campus potentates, including Chancellor James claim the possession of liability insurance, evade DWI Moeser of UNC-Chapel Hill, responded to the ridicule of penalties, or skirt immigration law, it is clear that our state taxpayer-funded “peace panels,” in which America has has become a national source of illegality. been trashed and denigrated for defending itself, by whim- WAR CRIES pering that others were trying to engage in censorship Et tu, Mike Easley? when they voiced objections to the one-sidedness of these forums populated by those who would rather sit in a circle, With the attorney general’s office — at the time headed Campus left full of mush, as usual chant “kumbaya,” and “dialogue” with murderous thugs by one Mike Easley — asleep at the switch, not yet having so we can understand why they really hate us. Then we issued a governing opinion on questioning standards pro- can all have a group hug, they can go on about their mas- mulgated on July 12, 1999, one wonders what, if anything ith America at war, our university and college sively murderous ways, and, for ignorant peaceniks, the may have happened since the terrorist attacks on the Ameri- campuses — with a professoriate now infested world will smell of flowers once again. can homeland on Sept. 11. Given what has transpired W with ‘60s left-wing radicals — seem unable to In truth, as Michael Barone wrote for U.S. News & World through the DMV, to call its inattention to a sheer case of foster a serious public policy debate about the relevant is- Report, the only true attempt at the suppression of speech negligence and incompetence is to be too kind. sues. North Carolina State University, the University of has been by those who want to stifle pro-American senti- Wayne Hurder, director of the DMV’s Driver License North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and UNC-Wilmington ment. Division, SBI agent David Barnes, Larry Leake, chairman of among others have hosted panels largely dedicated to the State Board of Elections, and then Attorney General trashing the United States for having the umbrage to re- 9/11 and the Reichstag Fire Easley all presumably knew over a year ago of malfeasance spond to the attacks of Sept. 11 with military force. in the issuance of drivers’ licenses. We have credibly re- While inviting Osama bin-Laden and the Taliban’s Do we exaggerate about the abhorrent nature of the ported that Easley should have known full well of prob- Mullah Mohammed Omar to partake of an afternoon tea campus dialogue? Wel, at the Sept. 21 “dumb-in” — orga- lems in Madison County having to do with inadequately seems a ridiculous option, many of those floundering about nizers called it a “teach-in,” further degrading the language confirmed identification of illegal aliens and did absolutely in academe, where the real world rarely intrudes, seem to — leading participants equated America with Nazism and nothing about it. And if he did not know, what does that tell think that such a tete-a-tete will help us to understand why called for our country to apologize to “millions of other us about the job he did as attorney general? Given his such hatred is directed at the people of the United States. victims of American imperialism.” Goff, the “professional performance to date as governor, however, perhaps we We have little interest in facilitating a theological dis- antigovernment protester” — hint; get a real job pal — com- shouldn’t be surprised by the reticence he exhibited on this cussion about the justification for war. We were viciously pared the attack on America with the Hitler-induced matter. But who knows? Maybe the fact that Leake is a attacked and President Bush is properly seeking out those Reichstag fire, apparently suggesting that 9/11 was some political ally of Easley’s who also helped him raise money responsible and wants them, yes, “dead or alive.” While sort of propaganda ploy. At another “dumb-in,” this one at UNC-Wilmington, Lisa Pollard, an assistant professor of history there, said “what is it we can do, after bringing Mr. bin Ladin to trial, to be less of a terrorist?” Forget the use of a superlative and respectful title for a mass-murdering thug and forget for now the idea of a trial for bin Laden, which would be most unwelcome. (Should it come to that, he should get a fair trial — albeit a short, sweet, and secret one by a military tribunal — and then be summarily executed along with as many of his henchmen as we can get our hands on.) What remains most disturbing about these campus events is that, in environments where the pursuit of knowl- edge and free discussion of ideas should be sacrosanct, we are faced with intellectual midgets who seem to think they are being subjected to censorship if some openly disagree with the infantile notions they promulgate at our expense. The campus leftists demonize America, demand that patriotic slogans not be posted in public, and corral their forces to strike “God bless America” from our lexicon. If they had the true courage of their alleged convictions they would be in Afghanistan right now trying to have a “peace- ful dialogue” on American foreign policy sins with Osama bin Laden and his brutal al-Qaeda henchmen. But if they want to give aid and comfort to the enemy they shouldn’t be surprised at an angry and vengeful response. What’s more, if we may put it bluntly, they should whine on their own dime and be thankful they live in a country where they have the freedom to do so.

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 20 4/2/02, 3:23 PM C A R O L I N A December 2001 JOURNAL Opinion 21

Chapel Hill, said “it is a big step forward for clean air, par- tal activists to centralize a single federal emissions stan- ticularly for the urban areas of North Carolina.” dard which many wish to be centrally enforced by limited PENSION PAYOFF? As reported by James Eli Shiffer of The News & Ob- state inspection resources for questionable gain and at great server of Raleigh, the bill allows inspections stations to cost. Virginia fought this battle with the EPA seven years Subsidized housing loans on deck charge up to $30 for emissions tests. It also raised vehicle ago. inspection fees, even though the inspections are of ques- Second, the best available evidence clearly shows that tionable necessity. most autos on the road today contribute relatively little to rawing comfort and solace from home owner- North Carolina’s most populous counties — air pollution. It is a small minority of cars and trucks — ship is an experience deeply desired by the Mecklenburg, Guilford, Forsyth, Wake, Durham, and Or- delivery vehicles, older cars, those in a poor state of repair DAmerican people. While housing has been sub- ange — have been required to do emissions inspections — that generate most of the problematic emissions. We sidized in our country since the 1930s through a combina- for years now. Last year the legislature expanded the num- need a system to target these vehicles for inspection, re- tion of the mortgage interest deduction and low-cost gov- ber of counties facing such a requirement to 48 by 2007. pair, or replacement, not a system that foists regulatory ernment loans, it is not at all clear that such financing tech- With older cars exempted, the new coverage will be phased costs on those who are not responsible for the air-quality niques are necessary for citizens to purchase their own in over several years. issues supposedly being addressed. homes. North Carolina prattles on about the need for economic Moreover, such subsidies have perverse effects. Their Washington’s Blackmail development but is fast becoming one of the most perni- benefits accrue primarily to households with higher-than- ciously aggressive leviathan states in the country. Between average incomes. And by reducing the real prices to con- There are two serious problems with the current regu- our horrendously high taxes and increasingly onerous sumers for buying larger homes, the subsidies essentially latory regime. First, it is based on the way state legislators regulations — imposed at a time when the economy is in steer investment capital away from productive business bow obsequiously to federal blackmail by a power-hun- recession, and do so with little real justification other than in favor of residential development. gry federal government. This also leads to demands by auto the raw pursuit of power — the government’s continue Now comes State Treasurer Richard Moore with a manufacturers, the federal government, and environmen- expansion fouls the air at least as much as our cars do. CJ scheme to subsidize loans for a limited number of govern- ment employees through manipulation of the state’s $55 billion pension fund. Currently being studied by a Moore- appointed working group, the idea has superficial appeal because we can all identify with the goal of home owner- ship. It is, after all, part and parcel of the American Dream. Hoopla, Hogwash, and the ’01 Session Moore lifted the idea from California Gov. Gray Davis, who, following the electric utility fiasco there, demon- strated his own level of financial wizardry to a degree that eaders of the North Carolina General taking away a valuable tax credit to families who buy would get him tossed from Harry Potter’s Hogwarts. The Assembly’s Democratic majority tried desper- private health coverage for their children (foolishly News & Observer of Raleigh reported that Moore hopes “to L ately to put the best face on it. The longest-ever justifying the latter as “eliminating a loophole” even offer 200 mortgages to public school teachers in Nash, legislative session, which concluded on Dec. 6, pro- though it was originally intended to eliminate the tax Guilford, Gaston, and Buncombe counties, providing a tected patients from evil HMOs and featured new in- bias favoring employer-based and government health fixed mortgage rate of 4.99 percent for 30 years.” The pa- vestments in class-size reduction and preschool pro- plans). These measures will increase enrollment in per also said “a single person could earn no more than grams, they said proudly. Medicaid, thus hitting taxpayers again later on. $43,500 per year to be eligible” and the price of a financed “We’re one of the very few states that went for- But surely, say defenders of the legislature, only home could be no more than $126,000. Moore has launched ward in education when most of the others went a tax increase could save North Carolina education a 50-loan pilot program. The state Housing Finance Agency backward,” said House Speaker Jim Black, D- from fiscal ruin? What a shameful deception this is. and Fannie Mae will enable the reduction of rates on $10 Mecklenburg. State spending will actually grow by more than 5 million in loans by offering $1.6 million in subsidies. Hogwash. percent this year, hardly evidence of a Current mortgage interest rates average between 6.75 The 2001 legislative session will be re- meaningful attempt to eliminate waste and percent and 7 percent on a fixed 30-year loan. The pay- membered as a political and policy catas- restrain government growth. The gover- ment for these rates is deductible but Moore would offer trophe, a series of mishaps and mistakes nor got a $15 million kitty with which to qualifying state employees a 26 percent to 29 percent ad- motivated by raw partisanship, special- reward big corporations who play political vantage over those of us competing in the market for stan- interest politics, and bad faith. ball with him. The state’s Medicaid pro- dard loans. It is not at all clear that a single person making Yes, the newly elected legislature and gram, already the most expensive in the $43,000 requires or deserves such a subsidy. Gov. Mike Easley took power this year South, posted a double-digit increase and Federal housing aid via the home mortgage interest facing significant challenges. An economic escaped any significant reform. deduction is the third largest social program in the United slowdown, a growing budget deficit, a foot- John Hood The ridiculous Global TransPark States after Social Security and Medicare. And given the loose faction of liberal Democrats, a sur- project in Kinston got millions more to exigencies of the marketplace it has a stronger political base prising new congressional district — all made the waste. Other spending on corporate welfare, arts of support than transfer programs such as cash welfare, legislative situation complex. subsidies, administrative duplication, ineffective pro- Food Stamps, or Medicare. Moore is obviously playing to But our leaders addressed these issues in ways that grams (yes, including those in schools), and useless the emotions of the political environment. But he has an- widened the already deep chasm between the political university research was spared. other goal too; to give state employees a back-door pay class in Raleigh and the remainder of the state. Oh, and speaking of the University of North raise. As the N&O observed, “every drop of one percent- Carolina system, it got away with a multi-billion age point in interest is the equivalent of a 3 percent pay Flipping and Flopping dollar construction program left largely intact even increase for state employees.” though voters had approved it only months before on In a perfect world, no housing subsidies would exist Easley began his tenure with a disastrous State of the ironclad promise that it wouldn’t raise their taxes. whether they are interest deductions, direct subsidies, pub- the State address that attached his political future to a This was, to put it bluntly, a lie. Coupled with double- lic housing, or rent control. They distort the marketplace passing a state lottery — an agenda that simply isn’t talk on the tax issue from Easley and legislative lead- in favor of those with the political pull to intimidate easily important to very many North Carolinians, even those ers, it will leave average North Carolinians wonder- cowed politicians and against those who, in properly func- who tell pollsters they like the idea. ing if anything politicians say can be taken seriously tioning markets, could find housing acceptable to them After running a campaign last year against Repub- in the future. given their income. A better idea for teachers and state lican Richard Vinroot that succeeded in wooing fis- employees would be, as with Social Security, to allow them cally conservative Bush voters with warnings about Politicians Lack Connection to Reality to manage their own pension investments rather than hav- Vinroot’s supposed tax-raising proclivities, Easley then ing an elected or appointed official do it for them. flipped on the issue and proposed one of the largest tax Exposed as allergic to the truth, the political class Christopher Howard, assistant professor of govern- increases in state history. After months of denying also wasted their time and $20 million of our money ment at the College of William and Mary, recently observed their intentions to do so, Democratic leaders then on an 11-month session that passed an embarrassing that “if power consists of the ability not only to resist change passed such a tax increase in the midst of a worsening gerrymander and shackled North Carolina’s economic but also to discourage serious debate over change, then recession and a nation heading off to war. recovery with high taxes. Aghast business and com- the home mortgage interest deduction is truly powerful.” With a price tag of more than $1 billion over the munity leaders have responded by calling for firm Rather than building additional government subsidies into next two years, the package hit consumers with a half- limits on legislative sessions and a more productive the housing market, Moore and other state leaders should penny sales tax while sparing the politically powerful relationship between the two political parties and be searching for ways to reduce them. lobbies such as lawyers, doctors, and the news media, between Easley and Jones Street. who maintain a sales-tax exemption on their services. The problem goes deeper than that, however. We The bill, passed essentially on a party-line vote, have a General Assembly that is disconnected from raised the top income tax rate to 8.25 percent, meaning the real economy of the state (which has little to do that entrepreneurs and other high-value professionals with ribbon-cuttings and wasteful subsidies) and from ODOROUS TAXES will pay more than half of their income in federal and the lives of average North Carolinians. Their hubris state income and payroll taxes. Since competing states will cost the rest of us dearly. CJ Pollution test fee hike stinks like California, Virginia, Florida, Texas, and Massa- chusetts will now offer substantially lower tax rates, why should these job-creating individuals come to or Hood is president of the John Locke Foundation and o comply with the federal Clean Air Act for the pur- stay in North Carolina? author of Investor Politics: The New Force That Will pose of keeping our own highway money Legislators went after the private health insurance Transform American Business, Government, and Tflowing back to North Carolina from Washington, industry with a vengeance, slapping a new tax burden Politics in the 21st Century, just out from Templeton the General Assembly recently approved a compromise to and costly new regulations on HMO customers and Foundation Press (www.TempletonPress.org). raise the annual emissions fees for autos so that charges will be up to as much as $30 a year. Rep. Joe Hackney, D-

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 21 4/2/02, 3:23 PM December 2001 C A R O L I N A 22 Opinion JOURNAL

Editorial Briefs

Asbestos Fears and the WTC

Some scientists say that the reason the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center collapsed in a matter of minutes following the assault by two commercial airliners was the lack of asbestos in the building to retard the flames’ progress. In 1971, even as the World Trade Center was under construction, New York City banned the use of the fire retardant asbestos, amid concerns that it causes cancer. The structures’ supporting steel beams were coated with asbestos insulation to keep them from reaching temperatures above 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit — at which point steel becomes soft — up to the 64th floors, but was replaced by another fire-retarding material further up the columns. The Twin Towers were designed to with- stand the impact of a Boeing 707 and a raging four-hour fire before the steel lost strength and collapsed, says chemistry professor Art Robinson. During those four hours, the build- ings’ designers believed workers below the fire level would escape, while those trapped above the fire would be plucked from the roof by heli- copter. Unleash the Media in War? Not So Fast However, Tower One collapsed one hour and 40 minutes after it was struck by the first airliner; Tower Two collapsed after 56 minutes of fire. By RICHARD WAGNER the battlefield and through his personal style chronicled Although the fire-retarding material used in Editor the day-to-day reality of war to homes in America. the upper floors was tested by Underwriters RALEIGH The problem with these examples, though, is that even Laboratories up to the temperatures of ordinary ebating the rights of a free press vs. national Pyle and his colleagues had to contend with the unavoid- fires and was found to have comparable fire security, for me, is like arguing religion: I’m forced able censorship of delayed publication of their stories. By retarding capability, the New York Times has noted Dto forget my religion for the sake of a greater good. the time Americans read Pyle’s accounts of GIs in action, that some experts think asbestos would have A newspaper editor for 28 years and an activist for the smoke from the battlefield had long drifted into thin air outperformed it at the higher temperatures open government, I have always considered myself a foot and the safety of our soldiers was no longer an issue. reached by the burning jet fuel. soldier fighting a seemingly endless war against govern- Before Desert Storm and Vietnam, wars were waged in Asbestos has been shown to cause lung can- ment abuse of power. And I have the scars, and awards, to a time devoid of television, the Internet and other means of cer in workers exposed to high levels for long prove it. electronic communication. periods of time during the manufacturing pro- That, however, was before Sept. 11. Now, I find myself Television’s powerful and immediate influence was cess; the Environmental Protection Agency now at odds with many of my colleagues who seek unfettered demonstrated in the unrestrained reporting of the Vietnam says casual exposure is not harmful. access to government information while the nation is wag- War. To the delight of the North Vietnamese and the Reported in the New York Times and on ing a war against terrorism, both abroad and at home. Vietcong — who quickly learned they could use the me- WorldNetDaily.com, 11-20-2001 Reading columns written by some of those journalists dium as a tool for propaganda — television spilled the leaves me wondering whether they really know what horror and chaos of war real-time into the living rooms of Online Trading and the Market they’re demanding. Rather than making a case for the First America. We soon lost our will to fight. Amendment, they appear once again to be elevating them- Ironically, many of the journalists howling the loudest Has the growing availability of online trad- selves to a plateau reserved only for themselves and other are those who embrace laws that strip us of our civil ing technologies greatly affected stock market elitists. liberties and preach that Big Brother must protect us from volume and volatility? In a recent study, re- Take, for instance, a column headlined “The war on ourselves. These are the same people who advocate affir- searchers found that although the introduction journalism,” written by Paul McMasters of the First Amend- mative action, seat-belt laws, gun control, and witch hunts of Web trading seems to increase total trading, it ment Center. McMasters scores a few points with his against deadbeat dads. does not appear to increase short-term trading or arguments about government going too far to restrict the Now these journalists question that same government’s last-hour trading. press. He cites the grounding of news helicopters, the authority to protect us against a foreign enemy. Go figure. The author’s study was based on trading removal of certain information from federal web sites, and Other Americans understand that they will have to data from the participants of two large corporate the banning of photography at the World Trade Center as make sacrifices during wartime. Many of these will include 401(k) plans. Both plans opened a Web trading examples of undue censorship. civil liberties and even their very lives and those of their channel in 1998, adding to preexisting phone Granted, some of these measures might have been loved ones. At such a time I don’t think they will under- trading. Within 18 months of the initiation of extreme. But let’s not forget our priorities: War is the stand any journalist’s devotion to a “right to know” reli- Web trading, Web transactions had grown to ultimate in extremism. The nation faces a clear and present gion. approximately 60 percent of all transactions. The danger to its very existence. Isn’t it understandable that Restraints on a free press are nothing new. Federal and total trading rates of the participants, adding up those entrusted with security of our nation would seek to state open records laws grant exclusions with which a phone and Web channels, had also quadrupled protect it, sometimes unreasonably, even if some civil majority of journalists readily abide. Among the exclusions from its pre-Web level. liberties must be sacrificed? are those for personnel records, to protect personal pri- Of those participants who tried the Web, 88 vacy, and ongoing investigations by law enforcement au- percent made their next trade on the Web. Con- War on journalism? thorities, to protect civil security. ditional on a first and second Web trade, 94 The Supreme Court has routinely held that First percent made their third trade online, and 96 And, really now, is this national crisis all about a “war Amendment freedoms are not absolute, usually to protect percent of Web traders made their fourth trade on journalism?” I think a huge majority of Americans the rights of others, such as against libel and the invasion of online. The average phone transaction in these would be surprised to learn that. They believe, rightfully, privacy, or to guard against subversion of the government data is 75 percent larger than the average Web that the nation is actually battling terrorism, not the press. and the spreading of dissension in wartime. transaction — for example, respective transac- McMaster’s column is just one among scores of articles President Abraham Lincoln was the first to use the tion averages of $70,000 (phone) versus $40,000 written by journalists who bemoan being shunted into a “clear and present danger” reason for censorship during (Web) for one of the two firms and $105,000 backseat on war coverage. Their cause, under the mantle of the Civil War. First Amendment freedoms and protections versus $60,000 for the other firm. the First Amendment, is just. Their aim, unfortunately, is were secondary, according to Lincoln, to the preservation The researchers also determined that while off target. of the nation. Similar restrictions were invoked during high-balance plan participants are more likely to Many journalists, including McMasters, have com- World War I and World War II. try the Web, low-balance participants are most plained that government officials should allow them to It’s time that all journalists, and government officials, likely to trade frequently on the Web. Low-bal- accompany troops in the field and to file reports on their get on board with the Principles for News Coverage of ance participants conduct a relatively large share observations. Combat. The principles, adopted by representatives of the of Web transactions. They insist they could be trusted not to divulge sensi- American news media and the Pentagon after the Gulf War See James J. Choi, David Laibson and An- tive information and to protect the lives of American sol- in 1992, allow for open and independent coverage of U.S. drew Metrick, “Does the Internet Increase Trad- diers. military operations while the guidelines also protect the ing?,” NBER Working Paper No. 7878, Septem- These reporters point to the performance of journalists lives and security of U.S. forces. It is clear that while the ber 2000 National Bureau of Economic Research. in past wars as evidence of their trustworthiness. Look at principles grant some openness to journalists, the overrid- World War II’s Ernie Pyle as an example, they say. The ing consideration is operational security and the safety of Pulitzer Prize-winning Pyle accompanied U.S. troops in American lives. That is as it should be. CJ

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 22 4/2/02, 3:23 PM December 2001 C A R O L I N A JOURNAL Opinion 23 State Democrats Follow National Trend in Redistricting

By JOHN HOOD apportionment). To do so, they will need to take the kind Publisher of risks that Democrats in California and North Carolina RALEIGH (and the two Democratic judges on the Texas panel) would ast month the North Carolina Senate abandoned an not. For example, in the Pittsburgh region GOP lawmak- attempt to contort the state’s new congressional map ers could opt to wrap a solid Republican district around L to flip a 7-5 Republican majority to a 8-5 or 7-6 the city or create two Republican-leaning districts to the Democratic one. With an overwhelming majority in the north and south. state senate, Democrats nevertheless had to capitulate to a Several Republican operatives I have talked to suggest closely divided state house, which had already drawn a the low-risk approach. Despite President George W. Bush’s plan essentially protecting all incumbents and drawing the wartime popularity — this is the first time in 40 years that state’s new 13th district to lean Democratic. an incumbent president has a shot at gaining congressional In so doing, North Carolina Democrats — who gained seats through redistricting — Republicans are nervous national fame 10 years ago with amazing feats of political about the economy, voting trends on other issues, and the cartography that generated, among other creations, the so- Democrats’ get-out-the-vote successes in local and state called "bug-splat" district struck down by the U.S. Supreme elections earlier this month. The GOP has yet to come up Court —followed a path already well-trod by legislative with a strategy to match the use of tape-recorded messages majorities in other large states this year. from Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and other Democratic celebri- It is the path of least resistance. After dramatic legisla- ties to generate solid turnout among blacks and other base tive elections across the country last year that promised to voters. If too many districts are drawn with only a slight determine control of Congress through redistricting, most Republican tilt, the result could be disastrous, say Repub- political observers now expect the new maps to have sur- lican worrywarts. prisingly little impact on Washington power politics. But given what has already happened in other big Charles Cook, the longtime election analyst and pub- states, the GOP might be well-advised to take some risks lisher of the Cook Political Report, expects the redistricting now. There will be far fewer competitive seats for Con- gains to be a “wash” between the two parties, with a net gress in 2002 that we have seen in a long time, perhaps a GOP pick-up of as few as three seats. Given earlier predic- few as 25. Assuming Republicans maintain a national ad- tions that Republican redistricting advantages in such vantage in fundraising, they should be able to deploy sig- states as Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and Michi- nificant resources in the relatively few seats likely to de- gan might generate double-digit gains, Cook’s latest prog- Former Mass. Gov. Elbridge Gerry, namesake of “gerrymander.” termine control of Congress next year. nostication may seem like more bad news for Republicans Finally, a series of legal processes await the new maps, already buffeted by the loss of two governorships and a gressional map that seemed to eliminate at least one Demo- thus clouding the picture. The Bush Justice Department number of mayor’s offices in elections earlier this month. cratic seat and threaten four additional ones, setting up a must sign off on redistricting plans in states subject to the But Democrats have suffered their share of redistrict- significant swing in the current 17-13 Democratic major- Voting Rights Act. A decade ago, pressure from the elder ing setbacks so far this year. In California, Gov. Gray Davis ity. But in November, a three-judge federal panel opted for Bush’s department resulted in the creation of a number of and solid Democratic majorities in both houses were sup- what has been called the “least-change” option, basically majority-minority districts, which made surrounding ones posed to engineer big gains to offset Democratic losses else- protecting incumbents of both parties while making one more competitive for Republicans. Furthermore, the courts where, but these gains didn’t materialize (partly because of the Lone Star State’s two new districts solidly Republi- are already filling up with lawsuits. In North Carolina, Republicans have already lost most of California’s com- can and the other marginally so. Democrats celebrated the separate teams of conservative plaintiffs have sued in both petitive seats in recent elections, including four last year). panel’s decision — Rep. Martin Frost (D-Texas), who heads state and federal courts. During the past decade, judges The Democrats will probably pick up one seat in the up the party’s national redistricting effort, said that “with- ordered the state legislature to redraw its congressional Golden State. With the same result likely in North Caro- out large gains in Texas, Republicans’ redistricting rheto- map four times. The outcome of the latest legal wrangling lina, the party can celebrate a significant victory only in ric is no longer credible, so GOP strategists better devise is impossible to predict — other than the fact that many Georgia, where legislators approved a new map on Sept. some new spin for how they keep the House in 2002” — lawyers, Democrats and Republicans, will be gainfully 28 that may well shift an 8-3 Republican edge in the del- but theirs was a defensive win, not a shot on the GOP goal. employed for the foreseeable future. CJ egation to a 7-6 Democratic one. (Georgia picks up two A number of shoes have yet to drop here. Perhaps most new seats due to population growth). important is the redistricting plan expected from the Re- In Texas, which has a Republican governor and a split publican majority in Pennsylvania within the next month. legislature, partisan prospects have careened wildly in re- They hope to widen their current 11-10 majority in the com- Hood is president of the John Locke Foundation and author cent weeks. In October, a state judge ordered a new con- monwealth to 12-7 (Pennsylvania loses two seats post-re- of Investor Politics (www.TempletonPress.org).

Economic Outlook Robin Hood Is Alive and Well in the Federal Tax Code

By MICHAEL L. WALDEN between 1979 and 1997. Furthermore, with the exception of one tax rate in- Contributing Editor However, there was not an even change between the crease in the mid-1980s, tax rates for the poorest house- RALEIGH two years. The federal tax burden was reduced signifi- holds fell constantly over the time period. In contrast, with ne of the favorite activities of politicians is to cantly in the early and mid-1980s, but the exception of two years, the average change the tax code. Since 1978, federal politi- rose thereafter. tax rate paid by the richest households Ocians have passed 15 major tax bills. Just this The composition of federal taxes also rose. summer, Congress passed another change to federal taxes changed during the two decades. The Have politicians oper- As a result of these changes, the share that will be phased-in over 10 years. An often-heard criti- share of federal taxes from individual of federal taxes paid by the richest house- cism in the mainstream press is that most tax changes favor income taxes remained virtually un- ated a “Robin Hood in holds rose from 57 percent in 1970 to 65 the rich (remember the coverage of the Bush tax cut last changed in 1997 from 1979, but the share reverse” scheme — percent in 1997, while the share paid by summer). In fact, tax changes have frequently been termed did fall in the early and mid-1980s and the poorest households fell from 2 per- “Robin Hood in reverse,” implying the changes benefit the increased in the late 1980s and 1990s. The taking from the poor to cent to 1 percent. rich at the expense of the poor. share from payroll taxes rose in the 1980s give to the rich? The Although not covered by the CBO and fell slightly in the 1990s. The share answer… is “no.” report, the Bush income tax cuts of 2001 A closer look from corporate income taxes fell in the followed the same pattern: lower income 1980s, but rose in the 1990s. households received the largest percent- But have they? What really has been the impact of all age reduction in their taxes. the alterations in federal taxes in recent decades? And what A modern Robin Hood income groups have been winners, and which have been Moral of the story losers? And what of the conventional conception that tax To answer these and other questions, the nonpartisan changes favor the rich at the expense of the poor? Have The moral of this story is simple. Contrary to popular Congressional Budget Office studied changes in all federal politicians operated a “Robin Hood in reverse” scheme — thought, federal tax policy has favored the poor over the taxes from 1979 to 1997. Included were individual income taking from the poor to give to the rich? past two decades. The traditional Robin Hood is alive and taxes, corporate income taxes, payroll taxes, and federal The answer from the CBO study is a resounding “no.” well in the federal tax code. CJ excise taxes. The CBO’s report was just released and, to say Between 1979 and 1997, poorest households received the least, it is packed with many headline-grabbing find- the largest reduction in the total federal tax rate, and the ings. richest households received the smallest reduction. Spe- Michael Walden is a William Neal Reynolds distinguished First, what does the report say about the overall federal cifically, the tax rate reduction for poor households was professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Eco- tax burden? Perhaps surprising to many, the CBO analysts more than five times larger than the reduction for rich nomics at North Carolina State University and an adjunct found the total effective federal tax rate fell modestly households. scholar with the Locke Foundation.

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 23 4/2/02, 3:24 PM December 2001 C A R O L I N A 24 Parting Shot JOURNAL House Can’t Overcome Profiteers To Pass Bill ‘Clean Smokestacks’ legislation is stuck in committee while industry keeps polluting pristine mountains

By BLYTHE LEE to their customers. Reprinted from The Nuisance Preserver “While it is not a perfect bill, it is the SPRAWLEIGH best we could come up with given the fact hile blackened smokestacks re- that, unlike the Senate, we have competi- peatedly burped noxious oxides tive elections over here — for now,” said W and other brown stuff, leaving House Speaker Slim Blacklungs. “As some- many North Carolinians gasping at the one has said, only misanthropes can be sight, the state House ignored its constitu- against this bill.” ents’ temporary attention by failing to act However, while the measure had some on a “Clean Smokestacks” bill during this bipartisan support, there still were not year’s session. enough votes to bring it to the House floor The bill, passed overwhelmingly in the for victory. “We heard rumors that legisla- heroic Senate by a 43-5 vote in April, would tors might try to amend the bill on the require the polluting utilities Duke Power- floor,” Blacklungs said. “That’s a bad habit ful and Carolina Profits & Unenlightened we’ve been trying to break members of this Co. to install Smokeaters on their 14 coal- year.” fired power plants throughout the state. In an effort to create the illusion of a fair The contraptions would suck the toxic and balanced article, the N&P interviewed A factory’s “Dirty Smokestack” belches toxic filth into the sky over God’s country. clouds away from Birkenstock-clad hikers a corporate shill (not his official title) who in the Great Smoky Mountains (its histori- opposes the legislation. “We might have to lay off more people Public Utilities Committee and the cham- cal name merely a coincidence), instead “Smoke good. Profits good. Air bad,” if this legislation passes,” said Richie Guy, ber has adjourned, it means the earliest it funneling the emissions directly into smoke- grunted economist Roy Cordato of the John president of Rural Sockmakers, Inc. He said could be taken up again is when lawmakers filled rooms where corporate CEOs scheme. Locke Foundation, the only real person in- his electric bill could increase by more than meet again next May. That means another “We think this is a good bill that every- terviewed for this story. $50,000 per year, which he admitted might six months of mountain peaks obscured by one but misanthropes can support,” said Dragging his knuckles behind him as still probably leave him some profit. toxic haze, polluted air that drizzles down Shirley Saintly of the environmental advo- he slinked around his office, Cordato also “All their business is going to Mexico on streams and wildflowers, and yet an- cacy group N.C. PRISTINE (which stands said that there’s scientific research some- anyway,” said Saintly of N.C. PRISTINE, other Christmas that, sadly, won’t be white. for Proudly Rejoicing in State Trimming Its where that refutes the need for the Clean “so it doesn’t really matter. The state’s tourism industry — the Noxious Emissions). Smokestacks legislation. Apparently he has “It’s a small price to pay in order for us state’s number one industry, according to The legislation requires Duke Powerful won a sufficient number of converts with to bring an end to obscured vistas, lung- the tourism industry — is worried. and C&PU to install the Smokeaters, con- his “science” to help hold up the bill. clogging smog, tear-inducing emissions, “Some businesses might need low-cost sidered to be art-of-the-state thinga- In addition, big business profiteers who and phlegm-inducing toxins. We’re trying electricity, but folks come here for the scen- majiggies, at an estimated cost of $2.5 bil- said they need less expensive electricity to to reduce the number of loogie expectora- ery,” said one hotel owner. “Why can’t the lion. However, if passed, the law would earn even more profits, said their profits tions on mountain trails here, too. They’re government get its act together and pay for allow the two big-money, lobbyist-heavy would be hurt because of the anti-profit so gross.” this, instead of making businesses, consum- power companies to pass the extra costs on legislation. Profits, they stated. Because the bill is stuck in the House ers, or taxpayers do it?” CJ INNOVATE 2002

Washington Duke Inn, Durham Saturday, January 19, 2001 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. U.S. Rep. Walter Jones (D-NC) Former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot

ome hear mayors, county commissioners, managers, and other local government leaders across North Carolina and the nation discuss innovative new ways of addressing local issues such as taxes, budgeting, property C rights, housing, transportation, and public safety. Whether you are concerned about high property taxes, waste- ful spending, unfair annexation, or counter-terrorism efforts, “Innovate 2002” is one event you can’t afford to miss.

Other confirmed or invited speakers include Raleigh Chief of Police Jane Perlov, Greensboro Mayor Keith Holliday, Winston-Salem Mayor Alan Joines, former Wilmington Mayor David Jones, UNCC transportation expert Dave Hartgen, growth-policy expert Randal O’Toole, and Revolution At The Roots author William Eggers of the Manhattan Institute.

The event costs $35 per person ($20 for elected local officials) and includes breakfast, lunch, and conference materials. For more information or to make a reservation, call us at 919-828-3876 or visit www.JohnLocke.org.

Pamlico County Commissioner Winston-Salem Alderman New Hanover County Fmr. Greenville City Council Christine Mele Vernon Robinson Commissioner Bill Caster Member Arielle Morris

Hood Edit Dec. CJ 24 4/2/02, 3:24 PM