JLF

Most people consider themselves fairly well-informed, and are not likely to admit that they (personally) are vulnerable to manipulation. Those other people are, of course, but not me. And while we might think we carefully "choose" the sources of our information, our brains often store and edit things according to a different set of often less "enlightened" rules. Whatever. It's part of our psychological makeup, and not likely to change any time soon.

Of all the millions of people in North Carolina who could offer opinions about stormwater management and coastal pollution, the Charlotte Observer turned this week to a reliable source at the John Locke Foundation, Mitch Kokai, whose main qualification is the fact that he's part of Art Pope's multi-million-dollar opinion manufacturing machine.

Fridays at the Art Pope Puppetshow are always interesting affairs. John Hood takes a much need break from his daily hackery, allowing the minions to step up to the plate of free-market fanaticism. I read the stuff every week because it provides good insight into how the JLF brainwashing machine operates.

Today's guest column features a screed against the City of Raleigh's impact fees on new development by Jon Sanders. What's most interesting (but not at all surprising) is the thinking behind Sanders' commentary. Simply put, Sanders conflates "money" and "benefits" as though the two are indistinguishable concepts. In reporting the results of a study by Michael Walden, an economics professor at NC State, Sanders weighs into the "all growth is good" swamp with both feet.

Leave it to Art Pope's minions to argue against one of the very few energy sources that could immediately contribute to building a sustainable energy portfolio. And, as usual, their arguments are full of hot air.

RALEIGH – North Carolina needs a “Coast Law” to protect residents from wind turbines that ruin local landscapes, harm wildlife, and pose potential health risks, all while providing an unreliable source of electricity. That’s the key conclusion of a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report.

Oh. My. God. Now we have Puppets all a'twitter about local landscapes, wildlife and health. Will wonders never stop ceasing?

Today's edition of the Carolina Urinal, the fount of all wisdom from the John Locke Puppetshow, features a one-two Puppet punch that'll knock your socks off.

First up is Roy Cordato with one of the most bizarre pieces I've ever read from the Puppetshow, which is saying a lot. Bear with me though, because it's worth dissecting the methods of their madness.

Imagine that a commission or study group was formed by the state of North Carolina to consider and evaluate proposals for reforming North Carolina’s business regulations. Furthermore, the state hired consultants to assess the economic impact of the different changes being considered. Now imagine the consulting group was formed by a very conservative out-of-state think tank or advocacy group, known for opposing business regulations – the Cato Institute or the Heritage Foundation. In addition, most of the group’s funding was coming, not from taxpayers, but from four wealthy foundations known for supporting right-wing causes.

After years of listening to the anti-tax zealots at the Art Pope Puppetshow, the North Carolina General Assembly has lost its sense of decency and perspective.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get much worse for families in North Carolina relying on the state’s mental health system for support, state officials gave them an unwelcome Easter surprise Thursday afternoon.

It came in the form of a memo announcing that the state was slashing by a third the amount it will pay for community support services provided to children and adults with mental illness. That is likely to mean some of the most vulnerable people in the state will no longer get the help they need.

We the People were out ahead of Dole and Burr on opposition to the OLF. And we are out ahead of our scaredy-cat representatives in Raleigh when it comes to social services.

The few real journalists remaining at the N&O must cringe with embarrassment every time Rick Martinez, Art Pope's planted Puppet at the paper, comes out with a new column. His most recent is truly laughable.

First off, in his infinite wisdom ignorance, Martinez questions the viability of conservation, preferring instead to build more coal-fired power plants that would hasten the demise of the planet. True to his Puppet roots, Martinez has never met a thoughtful approach to planning he didn't like.

The latest chapter in North Carolina's growing record of civic selfishness occurred early Tuesday morning in the Buncombe County town of Woodfin, a few miles north of Asheville. In a room packed with 150 or so people, the town's Board of Adjustment rejected Progress Energy's request for a conditional use permit to build a small, 130-megawatt peak power plant.

Stagemanager Hood is in rare form this morning. He's still beating the free-market drum claiming that North Carolina has a crappy business environment, of course. But he has also discovered a new and charming way with words. This from today's column.

Last year, I used the term “metaphorical zombie” to describe the idea that North Carolina has an attractive business-tax climate. So, once again, let’s try a shotgun blast to its head.

A shotgun blast to the head?

My father killed himself with a gun fifteen years ago. Representing countless others who have lost loved ones to suicide, I have two words for John Hood. And they aren't "drop dead."

Stagemanager Hood must have had an easy time writing today's column over at the JLF Puppetshow. He's calling for all sorts of legislative and electoral reforms. The problem is, he's been scooped by Speaker Joe Hackney who has already declared that the issues Hood's writing about will become the House Rules.

So instead of actually adding value to the discussion, Hood trolls in the dirty waters still swirling around Jim Black, who has been fully discredited and will likely end up in jail for his transgressions. But that doesn't stop the Stagemanger from stomping his feet and pounding his fists as though he has something meaningful to say.

To regain the public trust, and to set right at least some of what has gone so horribly wrong, state policymakers must be forthright, resolute, and bold. They should recognize that corruption has tainted past legislative action, and that in the future their work will be judged not simply by the intended ends but by whether the means used to enact the legislation were just.

I received two emails tonight from a person who had the following to say about my post on Doctor Roy Cordato.

This is the second email:

I would have commented, but I would have had to create a sign-in, and after looking a many of the posts and comments, it just didn't look like a group I would want to spend much time with.

This is the first:

How does anyone benefit from the vicious personal attacks you make? Global climate is an extremely complex subject. The science behind alarmism is, at best, alarmingly uncertain. The proffered solutions could destroy the national economy. Now is the time for some common sense, and your efforts subtract from that. Hence my question, what benefit from your viciousness? How does this help move the public debate forward?

The JLF policy report "Johnston County's 'Dumb Growth' Plan: The Growth Management Committee Fails to Understand Basic Economics" itself fails to understand basic economics.

Higher Property Taxes. With the increase in the value of housing countywide, the next revaluation in 2011 will show a marked increase in property tax levels. This will pose a hardship on the elderly and others on fixed incomes.

Basic economics and basic property tax comprehension show this to be a false/incorrect statement. Especially when there is an "increase in the value of housing countywide," there is no overall relationship between the revaluation and the property tax levy. When revaluation is done, especially on an eight year schedule (the longest term legally allowed) it is almost 100% certain that the tax rate goes down. Some people's taxes will go up and some will go down. The County is required to publish a "revenue neutral" rate so people will know if net taxes are actually being raised. For example, if the tax base doubles in value, they have to publish the rate (half as much as before) that would get the government the same amount of money if the revaluation had not been done. That's not to say the County won't decide they need to raise taxes, but that's a separate issue and unrelated to a revaluation. The great minds at the JLF should know all this.

I knew the marriage between the Raleigh News and Observer and the Charlotte Observer would likely come to no good. Not only is the Char-O editorial page going to hell in a handbasket, but now the paper's reporters are picking up habits of the political guys in Raleigh.

Remember last year when we called out the N&O on its over-reliance on Pope Puppets as sources for their news stories? Well, the disease appears to be contagious.

Today, Richard Rubin writes about the challenges of transportation funding in Charlotte. And who does he turn to for expert testimony about how the legislature works? None other than Stagemanager Hood.

I passed your van in downtown Clayton on my morning walk today. Let me first thank you for covering the story. (I tried to link to your story, but couldn't find it on your website.) I know your news team will cover the Growth Management Committee meeting in Smithfield tonight.

I have a challenge for you, should you choose to accept it:

At tonight's meeting, make a special effort to correctly identify the speakers and people interviewed on camera.

The story in this morning's newscast stated that "some county residents" don't like the Growth Management Committee recommendations. To back up that claim, the report followed with an on-camera blurb from Joe Coletti (the paid John Locke Foundation guy.) Your on-screen graphic identified Joe as "Resident". So we get it -- the guy made an indelible and notable impression on your reporter. It was kinda funny the first time.

There was an awful lot of hot air circulating up in DC last night. I got home in time to watch the Dubya train ... rolling off the tracks in slow motion. Lucky me. The saviors of the evening were Jim Webb and the SOTU live blogging thread here. Most excellent friends -- y'all had me in stitches when I shoulda been dozing off to sleep. But let me get to the question in my title ...

[Editorial note: the kitties are just for decoration. No kitties were harmed in the writing of this rant.]

In case you weren't aware, we had an open meeting of the Johnston County Growth Management Committee last night in Smithfield. Woohoo!, right?

Well, GUESS WHO CAME to stick their nose where it don't belong?!