archived: 13 - 19 Feb, 2005         Back                 Next

                        SENATE DEMOCRATS FORCE THE ISSUE 

As TPJ readers know, Britt Cobb conceded the race for Commissioner of Agriculture to the Republicans. If the Democrats thought   

The Republican dominated State Supreme Court threw out thousands of ballots by qualified North Carolina voters who went to the polls on Election Day.  A travesty. The News & Observer nailed the point: 

It's time for Fletcher at last to acknowledge the obvious -- that a clear majority of registered voters, casting their ballots in good faith, preferred his opponent. He should concede the race to Atkinson and let her take office, giving an important department stable leadership.

Fletcher believed (and believes) that over 11,000 of the votes in his race were illegal, in that they were provisional ballots from people who had voted outside their correct precincts, although in their home counties. So he took the matter to court, and lo and behold, the Supreme Court last week did indeed cast out those 11,000-plus ballots. But the common sense solution is clear, even if the law may need clarifying: The votes should count.

There is no evidence of voter fraud here. These people were doing their duty, and no one told them at the time that they were doing anything illegal. They do not deserve to be disenfranchised. – News & Observer  

Senate Democrats, reading the State Constitution, found that the General Assembly is actually the judge of disputed elections.  Democrats immediately introduced legislation to establish the rules for resolving disputed elections.   

Democrats in the State Senate passed Senate Bill 82 yesterday – EVERY Democrat present and voting.  Republicans attempted to amend the bill to prevent its application to the election for Superintendent.  Democrats were united in defeating the amendment.  

You can read the bill at this hyperlink: 

Senate Bill 82 

Democrats in the State Senate stood up for the principle that every voter has a right to cast a vote that counts.  North Carolina Democrats took a major step in standing up as a Party – standing for strong constitutional rights.   

THERE IS A REASON WE ARE DEMOCRATS 

                        WHEN WILL TPJ LEARN?
                        [Authored by William A. Franklin] 

First let us celebrate Mr. Dean's appearance at the DNC as Chair. 

You of course have your opinion.  However, following Oliver Cromwell to the Long Congress, "I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken."   The items you address are superficial and only support the crowd which has screwed us and screwed us up for many years.  Why not select someone impatient for change, which Turlington is most likely not -- given his obligations to the old ways of imperial business by the hierarchy. Meek has courted the grass roots, much like Dean, and I like that.  And we can with a newly involved set of citizens.   

Going to a Democratic meeting is like watching paint dry.  Who is leading any charge?  No one!  And Easely [sic] and his crowd, including Turlington, are go along and get along, as usual. Don't stir the waters!  Don't make waves.  Remain in the middle.  Well it is not left, middle or right, it is movement, excitement, involvement at the roots and citizens. 

(1) The NC Democratic Party has been entirely unresponsive to members of the public, including most of its members, unless one is part of an "in crowd of ole boys and girls", most of whom are involved in some type of group think. 

(2)  The NCDP has been so closely identified with "Bidiness" that it has lost its way and become Republican Lite.  Note the appointment of Phil Kirke to head of the School Board as just one example of many.  The last Chair of the NCDP was a lobbyist.  Turlington is an "ole boy".  Neither Easely [sic] or Hunt should control the NCDP but grow a new generation.  Their record is not so sterling as everyone pretends.  Mandate a living wage.  The issues of taxes has been made toxic not just by the Republicans but by right wing Democrats, thereby not allowing rational discussion and forcing any new taxes which are really needed to be regressive (sales, fees, etc.) and forcing costs down on counties against property taxes. 

(3)  The NCDP kowtows to the Governor and a number of too powerful legislators with their roots and current thinking embedded in the mid 1900s. This crowd is indeed "conservative".  Under their influence NC has remained a low wage state in concert with its anti-labor theme (they call it right to work), designed to keep wages that way.  This obsession has its roots in the late 1800s and early 1900s when Democrats actually promoted killing and maiming as a way to keep poor whites and blacks (Fusionists) from organizing around their mutual interests - remember Josephus Daniels -- the leader. Don't know your history, keep making the same decisions.  And let us remember that the Democrats were the party of absolute racial persecution up to 1968, despite FDR, until the Republicans adopted the George Wallace strategy (another good Democrat).  There is much to repent which I am not sure has taken place. 

(4)  As for the NCDP chair race - the issue is not the Meek will take the party to the left as much as the fear of the "good ole" crowd that he will drag it and lead it into the light of day, some modern age.  So encrusted with nepotism and cronyism is the current structure that he at his best may be able to bring it to 1990.  

(5) The NCDP platform and organization are intentionally obtuse, complex, nonsensical and beyond the understanding of mortals, even the self appointed "super mortals" in the Assembly and executive.  The gathering of 500 plus people to elect a chair is insane.  All this favors the "good ole" crowd who maneuver between the lines and promises of the platform (meant to be all things to all people) and the organizational structure which is straight out of the Vatican of 1500.   

(6) Then there is redistricting.  This is so abysmal that we will never have any relief.  And as with referenda, the assembly and executive are so afraid of the people as to allow either, whilst maintaining onerous and prohibitive measures against third parties.  Does this appear to be government for the many or the favored few.  Again, Meek appears to be a way to cut away the gangrene and rot of the many past years and allow to focus cleanly on dominating this state for the purpose of serving the people.  Why not go with an independent commission like Iowa, against which neither the assembly or executive can prevail, save proven felony and/or malfeasance in office. Perhaps we can find a few honest men and women. 

(7)  And then there is the continued celebration of our educational programs, all designed to prepare fodder for "budiness"  without clear views on what the needs of the market place will be in 10 or so years when most of our children are working.  And NCCBI and "Budiness” with their focus on the next quarter are unlikely to foresee these needs, witness the textile industries and tobacco goons, who exist still in forms of denial which are at best pathological.  And the demise of tobacco has been obvious for 30 years or more to those who would see. 

So, there is such pathology in the NCDP, and sheer rot, as to need a clean pruning of the structure, after all, is that not what our much vaunted "Budiness" leaders espouse when they buy one another out?  If it is good for them, it should be good for us. 

We need: 

(1) A clean slate in the NCDP with Meek. 

(2) Referenda which can be initiated by the taxpayers without impossible barriers and no supervision by Government save management of elections. 

(3) A living wage, well above the poverty line. 

(4) A fix of the schools in which the physical plant and intellectual capital is not fallow 1/4 of the year, just to start.   

(5) An end to high stakes testing and empowerment of teachers to teach and not just to some strait jacketed syllabus designed for tests.  TQM works miserably in "budiness" and disastrously in schools. 

(6) Feedback to the plebeians directly and completely to the taxpayers and citizens from party leaders who obviously feel we are unworthy. 

(7) Legislation to allow third and fourth political parties to compete which are viable and do not present them with impossible barriers. 

(8) Divorce the government from NCCBI and make it just another corporate supplicant. 

(9) Devise and legislate a "corporate sunset" on corporate charters of firms which are larger than $5M annual revenue, such that we control them and not them us.  Set up a citizen’s commission, with no one with any corporate role, to devise this. 

(10) Prepare and pass NCDP platform and organization which are relevant, simple, generally inclusive and understandable.  This is the first step to gaining the support of people.  Perhaps we are needing "Fire, Ready, Aim" as opposed to letting corporations and "budiness" telling us what to do in every circumstance. 

When will you learn Mr. Gheen?                                   

Junkie:  TPJ seeks to publish the widest possible range of views within the Democratic Party. Franklin’s letter to TPJ is published in that spirit. 

Franklin asks “When will your learn Mr. Gheen?”  The short answer is that we are always learning.  Both TPJ and articles from its readers are a part of that process. 

Franklin also asks, “Why not select someone impatient for change, which Turlington is most likely not -- given his obligations to the old ways of imperial business by the hierarchy.”  Turlington has published a four point program to rebuild the Party if he is elected (click on the hyperlink in blue to see the plan):

PLAN TO RESTRUCTURE THE NORTH CAROLINA
DEMOCRATIC PARTY

I. Restructure the State Party staff
A. Move to a desk system assigning specific staff to specific counties.
B. Base some of the State Party staff outside of Raleigh given the size of our State.

II. Focus on winning local elections
A. Train grassroots activists where they live.
B. Work with local party leaders to recruit candidates for all elections.

III. Invest in county and precinct organizations
A. Work with local activists to spread “best practices.”
B. Provide resources to strengthen our local organizations.

IV. Form a County Chairs Association
A. Assign a dedicated staff person to the organization.
B. Have regularly scheduled calls and meetings with State Party Chair.
C. Create an internet-based web forum to facilitate sharing of ideas

If it sounds familiar, it should.  It is many of the same points that Gov. Dean made in his bid for Chairman of the DNC.            

_____________________________________________

UPDATED:  February 15, 2005

                        HERE THEY COME … AFTER BOSEMAN 

Republicans are bringing their brand of radical politics to North Carolina – specifically, the issue of gay marriage.  Judson Cox, a Republican writer, has opened the attack: 

The day is fast approaching when gay marriage may become legal in North Carolina. This southern state, in the heart of the Bible belt, is set to become the next battle ground in the culture war.

In 1996, North Carolina passed legislation to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Unfortunately, much has changed since then. Homosexual unions in other states and a variety of constitutional issues have made that law inadequate.  . . .

On January 27th of this year, Sen. Forrester and Sen. Smith (R-Johnston) reintroduced the Defense of Marriage Amendment. Given the nationally victorious sweep of similar amendments only a few months ago, one would think this legislation would be quite popular. In other states, Republicans and conservative or moderate Democrats would rush to support such popular legislation for fear opposing an issue so favored by the voters — not in NC!

Gerrymandered districts gave Democrats powerful majorities in both houses of the North Carolina General Assembly in the 2004 election. Democrats in these protected districts are more concerned with garnering favor with the wealthy and powerful homosexual lobby than they are the concerns of their constituents. The recent election also yielded North Carolina's first openly lesbian State Senator, Julia Bozeman (D-New Hanover). Bozeman has vowed to legalize gay marriage and adoption in North Carolina. Should the Defense of Marriage Amendment come up for a vote, Bozeman and her very liberal Democratic colleagues would vote against it.

Gay marriage is in no way popular in North Carolina. Bozeman was elected because the liberal press in her district (Wilmington) withheld her lesbianism and radical gay agenda from the voters. With a colluding press and huge sums of money from national gay activist groups, she was able to conceal her agenda and win a Republican seat. If the Democratic Party fails to protect traditional marriage, or if the radical agenda of its younger, more liberal members becomes well known in the state, Democrats would soon lose their majority in the Legislature, and much more. For this reason, unprecedented action was taken by more clever heads in the Democratic leadership to avoid the issue.

In order to prevent the Defense of Marriage Amendment from ever seeing the light of day, Senate Rules Committee Chair, Tony Rand (D-Cumberland) changed the rules. Whereas in 2003, the bill died in committee, now no bill may even be referred to committee without Rand's approval — yes, this is the same Tony Rand that gained national attention recently, when he attempted to remove all Christian symbols from the Legislative Building's chapel! This so called "conservative Democrat" is so willing to appease the radical liberals in his party that he has subverted our entire democratic process. This one man is preventing the Defense of Marriage Amendment from receiving a vote. This one man is allowing the radical gay activists to wield more power than the overwhelming majority of North Carolinians who oppose them. This one man must be stopped.

If you are a North Carolinian, please visit www.northcarolinaconservative.com and sign the petition in support of the Defense of Marriage Amendment. Demand that Sen. Tony Rand stop obstructing the will of the people, and allow this important bill to receive an up or down vote. Please forward this article to every North Carolinian you know, and to everyone you know, asking them to do the same. This is not a partisan issue — now is the time for Christians, conservatives and all who believe in traditional marriage to stand and be counted. Act now to defend traditional marriage! – Renew America

First, Cox is correct on one point.  Rep. Forrester’s bill will not come out of committee in the Senate for a vote.  Republicans will play the issue publicly however. 

Cox’s article is so full on inaccuracies and distortions it is difficult to know where to begin an analysis.  These are a few essential facts:   

1. Cox:  Bozeman [sic] was elected because the liberal press in her district (Wilmington) withheld her lesbianism and radical gay agenda from the voters. With a colluding press and huge sums of money from national gay activist groups, she was able to conceal her agenda and win a Republican seat.  FALSE 

FACTS: Boseman’s sexual preference was well known by voters in her district.  Republicans repeatedly ran gay baiting advertisements.  

2. Cox:  In 1996, North Carolina passed legislation to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Unfortunately, much has changed since then. Homosexual unions in other states and a variety of constitutional issues have made that law inadequate. MOSTLY FALSE 

Cox is correct that North Carolina, lead by Democrats, passed a Defense of Marriage Act in 1996.  The NCDMA has been in existence for almost ten years and has not been successfully challenged. There are no known existing legal challenges to the law. 

Additionally, the NCDMA could be judicially invalidated ONLY if the State Supreme Court, which is controlled by Republicans, voted to overturn the Act.  In short, there is no legal threat to the NCDMA. 

What Cox does not tell his readers is that gutter Republican gay baiting may have actually helped defeat their own candidate.  The Wilmington Star News had actually endorsed Boseman’s Republican opponent.  After their endorsement, but before Election Day, Republicans ran an ad that: 

notes with alarm that she has received out-of-state support from “known lesbian activists,” and that Ms. Boseman, a New Hanover County commissioner, “seeks to be the FIRST openly gay or lesbian state senator” in North Carolina’s history. In contrast, the ad points to the GOP’s pride in Ms. Boseman’s Republican opponent, state Sen. Woody White, because of his “conservative, pro-family approach to public service.” – Star News 

The Star News, reacting to this gutter form of politics, withdrew its endorsement of Boseman’s Republican opponent: 

Intended or not, the ad struck many people, including the paper’s editorial page editor, as gay-baiting. In reaction, Editorial Page Editor Chuck Riesz took the rare, if not unprecedented, step of revoking a recommendation the paper made in favor of Mr. White’s election. – Star News 

TPJ, in analyzing the election results in the State Senate, noted: 

Boseman’s election may represent a significant message. Is the message that voters in North Carolina are not ready to support either gay marriage or civil unions but voters will not tolerate personal vilification of individuals based upon their sexual preferences?  If that is indeed the message, it provides the Democratic Party with guidance on how to approach the “gay issue” in the immediate future. – We Won!  

Cox’s article, while published only in Republican circles, signals that the Republicans are starting to rally their supporters to attack Democrats on the issue of gay rights.  Democrats need to start preparing to not only defend but to attack Republicans on the issue.  TPJ recommends the following: 

First, Democrats enacted the NCDMA in 1996.  No legislation has been introduced to repeal the law.

Second, there is no judicial challenge to the NCDMA in North Carolina.

Third, even if there was a legal challenge, Republicans on the North Carolina Supreme Court would have to vote to overturn the NCDMA.

Fourth, while most North Carolinians do not support gay marriage, citizens of good moral values and faith do not believe in personal vilification of any person for their beliefs. 

Fifth, a majority of voters in Boseman’s district elected her and their choice is to be respected – even by citizens who may not agree with their choice. It is the North Carolina way! 

                        A NC PROGRESSIVE AGENDA, PART I (Continued) 

The opening TPJ series on the six steps to build a successful progressive Democratic Party movement in North Carolina has generated substantial interest.  Mac Whatley, Mayor of Franklinville in Randolph County writes: 

I couldn't agree more with [TPJ’s] comment about our need for a progressive think tank.  I've been mayor of the Town of Franklinville in Randolph County since 1983, and I know that every elected official in North Carolina gets a copy of the Locke Foundation Carolina Journal every month.  Not to mention their TV and radio shows and etc.  And we Democrats can't even agree on a Party Platform in a presidential election year! 

A think tank would not only handle the framing and marketing, but get clear on the Big Picture—the long-term goals and visions for the Party – that would unify all the interest groups that pull and tug the Party in so many directions. 

So, where do we go from here?  How do we get the progressive visionaries together?  A “mock constitutional convention” ?

How do we get past the southern ‘traditionalists’ and ‘modernizers’, to use Paul Leubke’s terminology; and do we want to go more towards his “economic populist” model as an alternative? 

Even more interesting to me is the work philosopher Ken Wilber is doing in Boulder, Colorado, with “integral politics” —integrating red, blue and all colors and levels of psychological development in an integrated political structure.  Wilber foresaw the whole current split years ago.  It is also the subject of a chapter in his book A Theory of Everything.  There’s a lot of great stuff being done on new directions in politics—it’s a lot deeper and broader than red vs. blue or their values vs. our values.               

TPJ welcomes ideas from all its readers on building a winning progressive movement in North Carolina. Over the coming weeks, TPJ will have more recommendations for North Carolina progressives.

_____________________________________________

                        SAGE COUNSEL  

President Clinton’s counsel to Democrats nationally, see today’s THEM DEMS, applies equally to North Carolina Democrats:  

"We've got to stop beating on each other and redirect our fire against the people we disagree with."  -- Washington Post 

N.C. House Speaker Jim Black says the race shows the good health of the party, that there is more than one strong candidate. Sen. Tony Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat who was Meek's mentor, has endorsed Turlington. He doesn't see any broader message in the division over the chairman's race. "It just says we're Democrats." – Charlotte Observer  

TPJ finds it disturbing that progressive Democrats in North Carolina would welcome attacks upon Governor Easley because he would “be a Republican” anywhere else.  Does any reasoned mind believe that North Carolina would be better today if the radical Republicans in North Carolina were in control of the executive branch?  In Mississippi, the radical Republicans are cutting Medicare resulting in no heath care for thousands of their citizens.  In Georgia, radical Republicans are rewriting creationism into school text books. Even in California, Arnold’s budget axe is closing public libraries.  Eleven states have just adopted constitutional amendments banning same sex marriages and some states have moved against civil unions. – TPJ REPLY TO TIM LISZEWSKI 

Just this week, early results from Gov. Easley’s Learn and Earn program were publicly released.  Learn and Earn allows high school students to attend local community colleges and graduate with a high school degree and a two year associate’s degree.  Experts in education made these comments: 

“These schools blend the high school and the college experience so students have A, an expectation to achieve high levels, and B, the support they need to achieve high levels,” said Tony Habit, director of the New Schools Project.

 

Fifteen of the schools exist statewide, but if Easley has his way, that number will increase to 35 by the end of this year and then to 55 the following year.

 

“The governor has set a goal that every student should be in reach of an early-college high school,” said Habit, who said the program is a part of the overall plan to improve high school education in this state.

 

“Only 63 percent of our ninth graders will go on to graduate (from high school) in four years,” Habit said. “Only 58 percent will achieve a bachelor’s degree within six years of entering (a college) class.”

 

The program already has supporters throughout the education system, including J. Lynn Cale, associate vice president for instruction and curriculum at Edgecombe Community College.

 

“What this is going to do is really save a lot of students,” he said. “Schools are way too large, and students are falling through the cracks.”

 

ECC is one of the 15 locations that will be converted into a college-experience high school next fall with the addition of freshman students; it currently is a middle-college program.

 

Marcia Edge, administrator of Edgecombe Middle College High School, said students choose to come to these schools for myriad reasons.

 

“Some just want to get ahead in school. … Some just needed more individualized attention,” she said.

 

With 50 students, total individual attention is one of the major features of the school, which ideally will grow to 100 to 125 students, Cale said.

 

“The kids are more of a family,” Edge said. “They help each other stay on track.”

 

Along with interacting with their peers, students also must be a part of the larger college community, a task they meet with ease, Cale said.

 

“They are among our best students, and we just don’t differentiate,” he said.

 

The students can complete two-year degrees in a variety of areas such as nursing, radiology and industrial technology. They might also decide to take two years of transfer credit.

 

The program opens doors for many students, Edge said.

 

“Now, college is an option for them,” she said. “I think it’s the best thing happening in high school.” – Daily Tar Heel (emphasis added) 

Learn and Earn is truly a progressive program championed by Gov. Easley and the Democratic Party.    

Progressive Democrats should carefully consider Pres. Clinton’s sage counsel and “redirect the fire.”  

                        A NATIONAL POLL – A NORTH CAROLINA VIEW 

In the context of the race for Chairman of the NDP, Gallup surveyed members of the NDP Executive Committee and Democrats nationally. – Gallup   Some of the polls results should be carefully considered by North Carolina progressive Democrats.

4. If you had to choose, would you rather see the Democratic Party -- [ROTATED: become more liberal, (or) become more moderate]?     More liberal More moderate No opinion         2005 Jan 27-Feb 8 23% 52 25 Trends for Comparison: Rank-and-file Democrats nationwide    More liberal More moderate No opinion 2005 Jan 14-16 35% 59 6 5. How likely do you think it is that the Democratic Party will win the presidential election in 2008 -- extremely likely, very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely?     Extremely likely Very  likely Somewhat likely Not too  likely Not at all likely No opinion               2005 Jan 27-Feb 8 30% 47 19 1 1 2 Trends for Comparison: Rank-and-file Democrats nationwide    Extremely likely Very  likely Somewhat likely Not too  likely Not at all likely No opinion 2005 Jan 14-16 18% 24 45 8 4 1 __________     7. If you had to choose, which of the following approaches do you think the Democratic Party should take with George W. Bush and the Republicans over the next four years – [ROTATED: mainly try to defeat the Republican agenda to draw clear distinctions between the two parties, (or) mainly try to find areas of compromise with Bush and the Republicans to get things done]?     Defeat the Republican agenda Find areas of compromise No opinion         2005 Jan 27-Feb 8 68% 24 8

A fair interpretation of the Gallup poll results demonstrates the tasks ahead for progressives in North Carolina.  These are the major points: 

1.       The Democratic Party leadership believes that the Party should become more moderate by +29% and the rank and file Democrats by a nearly equal spread of +24%.

 

2.       National Democrat leaders believe by an astounding +31% that major changes need to be made to the Party, but believe that instead of focusing on energizing the Party’s core support to accomplish that objective, emphasis should be placed on attracting undecided and swing voters.

 

3.       While Democratic Party leaders believe the Party should defeat the Republican agenda rather than find compromise with it by +44%, rank and file Democrats are much less optimistic about recapturing the Presidency in 2008 than the party leadership. 

These comparisons strongly suggest that the Party will not be moving “left” even though the Party is moving away from compromise with the Republicans. 

Even though this poll is national in scope, one would reasonably assume that the North Carolina numbers would not be more progressive. 

                        A NC PROGRESSIVE AGENDA, PART I  

At a recent meeting, I was asked what progressive Democrats in North Carolina must do to become a viable and successful force in North Carolina.  There are six steps to success in TPJ’s view.  TPJ will outline the six steps in the coming weeks. 

Step One:  Progressives in North Carolina need to organize a comprehensive think tank dedicated to North Carolina issues.    

North Carolina has an extensive stable of progressive thinkers.  The central problem is that progressive thinkers are not organized under the central umbrella of a thank tank.  For example, when Gov. Hunt initiated his annual N.C. Emerging Issues Forum on health care, some progressives complained that the composition of the forum was largely corporate and lacking in speakers who would advocate universal health care. 

Progressives should ask what the progressive alternative for North Carolina is.  Simply advocating universal health care is unavailing.  What specific plan would NC progressives advocate, how would the plan would be implemented, what is the cost, and how will the State find the tax dollars to fund the program.  Assuming that NC progressives have a specific plan, progressives need writers to make the public case for the plan, speakers to convince the public and organizers who can build the coalitions that would be required to pass such legislation. 

The lack of a NC progressive think tank is a critical deficiency in North Carolina. If NC progressives want to have a significant impact on public policy in the State, it will have to persuade substantial segments of the public.  

The most effective progressive movement in North Carolina is the death penalty moratorium movement.  A coalition of groups has joined the effort.  For several years, they have written on the subject, successfully brought the issue to the public’s attention, presented the essential facts justifying their position and have appeared in hundreds of communities across the State to build support.  As a result, they stand on the verge of success on the issue in this session of the General Assembly. 

Howard Zinn lays out the underpinning of the think tank that is needed: 

What does it take to bring a turnaround in social consciousness - from being a racist to being in favor of racial equality, from being in favor of Bush's tax program to being against it, from being in favor of the war in Iraq to being against it? We desperately want an answer; because we know that the future of the human race depends on a radical change in social consciousness.

 

It seems to me that we need not engage in some fancy psychological experiment to learn the answer, but rather to look at ourselves and to talk to our friends. We then see, though it is unsettling, that we were not born critical of existing society. . . .

 

This would seem to lead to a simple conclusion: that we all have an enormous responsibility to bring to the attention of others information they do not have, which has the potential of causing them to rethink long-held ideas. It is so simple a thought that it is easily overlooked as we search, desperate in the face of war and apparently immovable power in ruthless hands, for some magical formula  -- Truthout  

The Republicans in North Carolina have simply outperformed Democrats in issue development and advocacy.  The John Locke Foundation is a leading example of the Republican effort.  Their webpage can be found here:  -- John Locke Foundation   

The JLF currently has the following articles listed on its home page: 

LOCAL TAX BURDEN GROWING
Charlotte Tops State List in Taxes
Agenda 2004: Local Budget & Taxes
Getting Tax Reform Right
Analyst: Get Control of Medicaid
NC Wasted Billions on Road Projects
Agenda 2004: The State Budget
Trends in North Carolina’s County Road Conditions, 1998-2004 

If progressives wonder why cutting taxes in North Carolina has become a near “religious exercise,” even among some Democrats in the General Assembly, one only has to look at the effort that Republicans are putting into winning the issue among our citizens. 

Conservatives also have the North Carolina Education Alliance and The John William Pope Center for higher education issues.  

If NC progressives truly want to become a force in North Carolina Democratic Party politics think – think tank.  It is where it all must begin.

Last Update: 03/23/2006