Common ground?

One annoying thing about the fright wing pundits is that once in a great while they make good points. Which means we have to sift through all their predictable rhetoric to find those few things worth considering. John Hood of the John Locke Foundation today recaps the conservative agenda for the 2006 NC Legislature. Let’s talk about it.

Focus taxpayer dollars on core governmental functions, eliminating whole functions and categories of spending (such as corporate welfare) that lie outside the proper scope of constitutional government. Reorganize state government to reduce the number of major administrative departments to 13, down from the current 26.

I’m generally not in favor of corporate welfare, especially when it’s done ad hoc on a case-by-case basis. But the elimination of economic development funding – which can include corporate welfare – would be disastrous. This kind of thinking would have precluded the development of the Research Triangle Park, which most people agree has been an important part of North Carolina’s economy.

As to reducing the number of departments, I have no opinions. But I do know that big departments can become unwieldy and that smaller ones are often more responsive.

Enact a Taxpayer Protection Act to limit annual growth of state spending so that it cannot grow faster than a combination of inflation and population growth.

Such silliness. Taxes should be driven by needs for investment, not some arbitrary index that doesn’t reflect changing conditions, strategic issues and opportunities.

Reform the state’s tax code to increase simplicity, efficiency, and equity by broadening the tax base and imposing a single, lower rate. Stop using taxes in an attempt to manipulate personal choices or economic decision-making.

I agree about simplicity, efficiency and equity, but the tax structure must and will remain progressive.

Eliminate the state’s educationally deficient and statistically worthless End of Grade tests in favor of an off-the-shelf national test that is a truly independent assessment and offers meaningful comparisons across time and state boundaries.

The irony is killing me. Federalize our schools with more NCLB nonsense? I agree that our assessments aren’t effective, but making W the arbiter of academic accomplishment is laughable.

Provide low- and modest-income families the range of educational choices already available to the wealthy (and already provided in preschool and higher education).

Pre-school and higher education have well-proven options. K-12 does not. Until we know what works and what doesn’t work, we should continue careful experimentation. Unless of course you’re in favor of faith-based schools.

Focus scarce transportation dollars where they will be most productively invested, while eschewing the kinds of transit-oriented Smart Growth policies that will increase traffic congestion, air pollution, and taxes.

Who can argue against “most productively invested?” The real question is what that means. If you’re planning horizon is next week, well go ahead and fiddle while Rome burns. But if you’re imagining the lives your grandchildren will lead, it might make sense to think ahead a little.

Get state and local government out of the business of attempting to pick winners and losers in the marketplace through various economic-development schemes, especially if they intrude on private property rights. The best way to make the economy more competitive is by delivering core services effectively and keeping taxes and regulations moderate.

There you have it again: the holy grail of private property rights and taxes. Why not focus on shared goals and think of public expenditures as investments in the common good? Why not strive for a true excellence in government?

Is it is possible for us to find common ground on some of these issues? I honestly don't know. When I look at the NCGOP party platform, it makes my skin crawl. So I'm not very optimistic, but it might be worth a conversation.

What say you?