Indy Endorsements!

Mark,

I really don't see how you can accuse me of lacking respect for the will of the voters given the support from the CHCCS parents have thrown behind this 'democratic' election. Holding an election at a time when history will document the probability of a low turnout is, IMHO, the equivalent of disenfranchisement. Using that election as the basis for making a single, critical purpose is cowardly.

As you know, I've been loud and repetitive about the injustice of adding an Orange Co district tax to bring education equity between the two districts with drastically different different demographic and land use profiles. Anyway you look at this situation, its the CHCCS district tax that continues to constrain options. When you are trying to find a creative solution to a tough (lose-lose) situation, the best strategy is to eliminate all constraints and work from basic assumptions (all children in Orange County should receive excellent educations). That doesn't mean you can't put a single educational tax back on the table; doesn't mean you can't raise ad valorem taxes; doesn't mean you can't ask permission for yet another sales tax increase. What it does mean is that decision makers have maneuverability rather than being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Charlie--I hope this addresses your question as well. But if not, you asked for acknowledgement "that there are but two possible scenarios for equalizing funding across the county, either drastic tax increases for OCS residents or drastic funding cuts for CHCCS." Let me be repetitive. I believe that if you take the CHCCS district tax off the table, then there are more than two options. Working from a clean slate is just so much neater and makes it easier for everyone to understand and participate in the decision making process.

Terri,

The opportunity to vote is the key to a democracy. The taxation of OCS residents is for the OCS voters to decide. Being 4th of 115 school districts is not unjust if that is how they choose to be taxed.

I disagree with basically all of the second paragraph as it ignores the fact that the ratio of taxable property is in proportion with the number of students. We already had this discussion in the DT thread, and you still have not made a case to support your claims, which reminds me that neither Liz nor Libbie bothered to engage in that conversation or respond to my questions on their statements in district tax thread, they just kind of pop in and out in a manner that conveniently keeps them from justifying their statements (Karl Rove would be proud).

M

Terri,

"I believe that if you take the CHCCS district tax off the table, then there are more than two options."

If you know of ways to equalize school funding county-wide without big tax increases for OCS and without big funding cuts for CHCCS, please share them. If you don't have specific ideas, then I would say that you're still tending to deny the harsh realities.

Mark and Charlie,

Did you ever stop to wonder why you can expect me to 'make my case' when you don't feel the need to make your case for me? Proably because your position represents the status quo, a default position of power.

I expect the county commissioners to represent the views of the minority without trampling all over the rights of the majority whenever possible. In this instance, the majority rights they should be protecting are that your children deserve an excellent education--not your power differential as represented by the special tax. As long as that power differential exists, the conversation will always lean in your direction, the minority will always be charged with the near impossibility of proving the abstract or the possible.

As Charlie can attest through his experience with annexation, it sucks to be run over by power--even when that power train has no evil intentions.

Respectfully but not compliantly yours,

Terri

Terri,

I hope you don't feel beset upon. I want to try to fully understand your point of view, and see if I'm missing something.

I don't understand your statements about power and majority. Isn't this OCS DT vote giving OCS residents the power to choose an appropriate level of taxation for themselves? How does the CHCCS DT give the majority power, when OCS has the option to do the same?

If we implemented a single county-wide school funding system, the majority in the CHCCS area would force the taxation and funding far above current OCS levels. Wouldn't that be a majority trampling a minority?

I get the feeling that we're coming at this from such different perspectives that we're not quite speaking the same language. Maybe we can try in person at our next opportunity.

Charlie,

You are asking great questions that need to be answered and understood before there is a vote. I don't think anyone of us understand the full range of issues, and especially from the other sides view. I respect Mark Peters and all the research he has done on this issue. I also respect Liz Brown and the other OCS BOE members who've done equally good research. And they don't agree at all. I couldn't tell you what they agree on or what the major points of disagreement are. It's all too emotional--one side feeling their children education is in jeopardy, one side feeling their homes are in jeopardy (economics), and many in between who just want to figure out how we can ensure that children are well educated but not at the risk of our rural community/amenities.

I can't say the commissioners haven't made an effort, but I don't think that effort has been sufficient. I'd like to see the most vocal proponents on each side (with a few moderates thrown in) come together and propose 2-3 solid options that can be explained and understood by the voters on both sides of the issue BEFORE we hold a referendum. I don't think voting on something you don't understand is democracy. I don't think holding a referendum on a highly emotional, divisive and poorly understood issue is good governance.

Gerry,

Just got around to reading what you said up there.

I've got to strongly disagree with you: Jason gives students precious little to get excited about. He's on campus a lot, sure, but I haven't heard one thing from his mouth that, as a student, made me excited to go out and vote for him.

Why? He's not running a student campaign. He's admitted his much on UNC students' blogs -- he doesn't actively stump on campus or speak to student issues because students won't vote. THERE is your self-fulfilling prophecy, and it's the real reason on-campus voting has been so drab. Don't blame the DTH editorial board for a candidate's failure to engage his constituents.

(I should point out that as of this morning, I'm no longer affiliated with the newspaper. So nothing I say should be construed as coming from the DTH.)

Thank you Chris and the other Editors of the DTH!

Incredible effort to cap off thorough coverage of this election cycle.

For those who haven't seen it, the DTH staff put a huge ad on the back page of today's DTH calling on students to "show up" and vote. They also included their endorsed candidates.

As of 10:45am, 505 votes to-date at Morehead! I'd love to meet Tom's challenge and have to cut my beard off.

Chris,

I think the DTH's efforts to turn students out will have done more to produce whatever number do than any other group on campus. The efforts by student groups have been pretty weak, so all the front page and editorial space that has been devoted to voting information is crucial. Without it, I don't know how most students would even be aware of the election because no one else is telling them about it.

Your departure is the DTH's loss.