Skip and Steve’s ‘brilliant scheme’

If you’re elderly, handicapped or on Medicaid, Guilford County will give you a ride. Otherwise, you’re now on your own.

This is a good lead-in to this morning’s discussion of local government becoming mere handlers of federal money. Today’s N&R editorializes on the “10 step plan” undertaken by Skip Alston and Steve Arnold to reform county government:

If indeed Alston, the Guilford commissioners chairman, and Arnold, the vice chairman, did hatch a brilliant scheme six months ago, it is perfectly brilliant in its ruthlessness, and has elevated brazen deal-making in county politics to a fine art.

Admittedly, some conservatives, notably our own Dr. Guarino, are skeptical about what’s going on down at the old county courthouse. But what thing I’ve noticed —correct me if I’m wrong — commissioners, unlike the school system and city government, don’t seem to be sitting around wringing their hands, worrying when and if the federal government is coming to the rescue with its so-called ‘stimulus money.’ Instead, Alston and Arnold are taking action the old-fashioned way — with no-holes-barred budget cuts. They seem determined that local government is going to get out of this mess on their own —- which is the way it should be.

The N&R asks if the remaining nine commissioners are “leaders or lemmings.” Their silence tells me they know Alston and Arnold are taking the proper course.

Smoking bill totally backwards

After al the debate, after all the controversy, this is what we get? A backwards bill that bans smoking in places where nonsmokers are the most willing to tolerate cigarette smoke?

Exactly what happens when government legislates your health for you.

Political allocation of wealth

Got my state refund check yesterday. The (relative) promptness is probably due to the fact that I don’t have a large family:

The North Carolina Department of Revenue has a surprise for large families this tax season — an audit. Some who got the notice from a state tax auditor feel it’s a way for the state to hold on to their money as long as possible instead of sending them a timely refund check.

Taxpayers who claimed eight or more exemptions on their state return are being asked to submit additional documentation on their dependents, including copies of birth certificates and Social Security cards. Failure to comply means a forfeited tax refund.

On a semi-related note, George Will — appearing in today’s N&R —- rips the Obama up one side and down the other:

For the first time, neither sales nor property nor income taxes are the largest source of money for state and local governments. The federal government is.

…..The Obama administration’s agenda of maximizing dependency involves political favoritism cloaked in the raiment of “economic planning” and “social justice” that somehow produce results superior to what markets produce when freedom allows merit to manifest itself, and incompetence to fail. The administration’s central activity — the political allocation of wealth and opportunity — is not merely susceptible to corruption, it is corruption.

I fear the the day will come when local government will cease to exist as we know it and merely will become handlers of federal money. More about that later.