The current $3.7 billion budget deficit facing North Carolina presents a golden opportunity to re-evaluate the size and scope of state government. Presented with this opportunity, however, Governor Bev Perdue has failed to clearly articulate her vision for government’s role in society.
For instance, Perdue recently revealed a broad outline of her “reorganization plan” for state government. The plan included consolidating or privatizing some state agencies and a hiring freeze of “non-critical” state positions.
In an email to state employees discussing her reorganization plan, Perdue stressed that her priority is for state government to focus on its “core priorities.”
Readers of the email eager for Perdue to clearly define her vision for what she believes to be the state’s “core priorities” were left wanting. Perdue’s message disappointingly included only a vague and principle-free passing reference to “jobs, investing in our children’s education and safer and healthier communities.”
Unsurprisingly, Perdue’s lack of vision has resulted in confusion from state agencies as they try to define which positions are “critical” in their agency so as to implement a hiring freeze of non-critical positions. As mentioned in a Raleigh News & Observer article, “Perdue’s call for state agencies to voluntarily impose a hiring freeze for noncritical positions is being met with varying degrees of support, wariness and questions over what state jobs should be subject to a freeze.”
It seems that without a clearly stated vision of the proper functions of state government, assignments to identify “critical positions” can quickly become an exercise in futility.
Perdue’s lack of a clear vision has also created much uncertainty regarding two significant issues facing North Carolina: privatizing the ABC system and legalizing video poker. Perdue is waiting for the results of a consultant’s study on the impact of privatizing the ABC system before committing to a position on the issue, saying “I’m not quite there. I need to know what its worth. I need to know what its worth to the taxpayer.”
Similarly, Perdue remains uncommitted about the legalization of video poker, even though she admits she is not “philosophically opposed” to gambling.
If the governor was interested in defining her core principles and beliefs regarding state government, the answers to these questions wouldn’t require any studies; they would be quite simple. State control and monopolization of liquor sales is either a “core priority” of state government or it is not.
Furthermore, if she is not philosophically opposed to gambling (and in fact she was the tie-breaking vote in favor of the state lottery as lieutenant governor in 2005) she would find no reason to criminalize video poker.
But it does seem that, in spite of her reluctance to clearly state her beliefs on core functions of government, Perdue has recently offered some significant clues as to the principles that guide her decisions.
First was on the issue of legalizing video poker. Perdue sent her chief of staff, Britt Cobb, to a video poker parlor to report on the atmosphere at such locations. In response to Cobb’s report that the parlor was smoke-filled and “the saddest thing he’s ever seen,” Perdue said "I don’t believe I’m the mother of North Carolina, that I should …regulate people’s personal choices, but I don’t like what I heard from Britt and I don’t like what I see.”
Have you ever noticed that the word "but" often reveals someone’s true thoughts? For instance, a person may start a sentence saying "I’m not a racist, but…." and then proceed to say something extremely racist. In other words, injecting the word “but” in such a way is an indicator that whatever was said before “but” is untrue and the speaker’s true intentions are revealed after it.
In this case, we can see Perdue does believe she’s "the mother of North Carolina."
Similarly, Perdue had this to say about corporate welfare: “I don’t like them (incentives), but they are part of the game.”
Translation: Perdue likes incentives.
It seems by these most recent statements that Perdue is unwittingly providing us with a glimpse into her belief system. And what we find is a person committed to the nanny state with a healthy dose of crony corporatism.
It all adds up to someone who favors the accumulation of power in the hands of the ruling class at the expense of individual liberty.
I am always amazed at how often small items are overlooked in the desire to make the state’s income and outgo balance. Small things, like requiring a license for small scooters and motorbikes (at a fee, with insurance required) can actually add up. We are so used to dealing with BIG numbers that we forget small items, added together can really count.
There are some items that are my ‘pet’ projects, like stopping fluoridation. Drinking water (concensus of real experts, not those who have bought into the hoax) state that drinking fluoride really does not help teeth, but instead does harm to the body (fluoride is an oxidizer!). How does this affect our budget? It is EXPENSIVE! Charlotte alone spends over $800,000 a year making usre our laundry, lawns, cars, etc. do not have cavities – while only about 10% of municipal water is actually consumed! Multiply that by the number of cities across North Carolina, and you might have some real money!
No problem for teeth – we get all the fluoride they need with regular (fluoride-containing) toothpaste, which gets it to where it needs to be without harming the body.
Every year, I get a flyer printed at taxpayer expense, with self-serving paragraphs about those running for public office. The statements do not tell if the person is liberal, progressive, lenient, or conservative or what. It HAS to be an expensive brochure to publish and then mail to every household!
“It all adds up to someone who favors the accumulation of power in the hands of the ruling class at the expense of individual liberty.”
What crass hypocrisy from propagandists and shills paid for by the rich and richer who have set out to destroy the rights of us commoners. Individual libery my foot.
I think Perdue has a progressive group dictating policy to her. I saw that with the environment group and the Green Policy for new homes. It’s Agenda 21 straight from the UN that she’s trying to implement. She’s a shill of Soros, bought and paid for.
To get the budget under control and regain the confidence of votors, State government needs to cut its headcount by half, and DRASTICALLY reduce compensation for the rest. Maybe she should eliminate ALL jobs, then let people apply for the job at 35% less salary/benefits or so. The stampede would be deafening.
“propagandists and shills paid for by the rich and richer who have set out to destroy the rights of us commoners”
Obviously referring to the Democrat Party, MoveOn.Org, Media Matters, all bought and paid for by your boy, George Soros, who by the way has nothing but utter contempt for this country and individual liberties, sir. I guess it’s safe to say that you support “propagandists and shills paid for by the rich and richer who have set out to destroy the rights of us commoners.”