Views

Be careful what you wish for, it might come true

Details

Tuesday, 05 May 2026

Written by Margaret Dickson

Did you wince as you paid your property taxes this year?
I did.
I am also appealing a revaluation of property our family owns in another North Carolina county, as the appraisal on a next-door lot of almost exactly the same size was valued at less than half of the Dicksons’ appraisal. Fingers crossed on that one.
That said, a proposal floating around in the North Carolina General Assembly for a state constitutional amendment limiting property taxes is a bad idea and then some. So far, no local government has ever hit the current limit of $1.50 per $100 value, which makes the proposed amendment look like a solution in search of a problem rather than a problem itself.
Property taxes are imposed locally to pay for local services, most of which we expect to be in place when we need them.
For example, if someone breaks into my residence, assaults me on the street, or hijacks my car, I definitely want a well-trained, adequately compensated law enforcement officer on duty to handle the situation. If I am injured, I definitely want a well-trained, adequately compensated EMS professional to tend to my injuries. I want garbage pickup and recycling services in my community, as well as parks for recreation and communing with nature. I want firefighters, streets with few potholes, sidewalks, and stormwater management programs. And, although my own precious jewels are long out of formal education, I want good schools for today’s students because education ultimately floats all boats.
All of these services are supported at least in part by local dollars raised by local property taxes. It is a gross generalization to say that lower taxes will mean fewer services, but it is also true.
Having been there and done that, I understand why some members of the General Assembly are supporting this constitutional amendment and why those who understand the tactic but do not support it would have a hard time voting against putting such a measure on the ballot in November. The hard, cynical truth is that no one in the history of the world has ever been successful on a platform of “I will never lower your taxes,” and no one wants to lose an election.
Short of further limiting local property taxes, even though no county has yet reached the current limit, what can be done to ease the very real burden suffered by some property tax payers?
Various proposals have been advanced for more nuance than provided by North Carolina’s current flat-rate property tax system. Second homes could be taxed at higher rates than primary residences. The current property tax valuation system—the one I am appealing—has obvious issues, as thousands of taxpayers can attest. Perhaps our burgeoning AI industry can help with this. Perhaps it will make it worse, but, at the moment all across the country and in North Carolina, expensive properties tend to be undervalued, and modest properties tend to be overvalued, a situation that generates enormous resentment. We could consider expanding property tax reductions for certain demographic groups like seniors and disabled individuals, including veterans.
The proposed constitutional amendment is a “one size fits all” vehicle when a more thoughtful and nuanced approach is needed. Individual taxpayers have our own situations, as do individual communities. None of us should be taken in by this “run on” bill, as in “I need a crowd-pleaser piece of legislation to ‘run on’ in 2026.”
This is a real-world example of “be careful what we wish for because our wish just might come true.” We can and should do far better than this.

Editor’s Note: Margaret Dickson served in the North Carolina General Assembly for four terms.

Gregg’s excellent Waffle House adventure

Details

Tuesday, 28 April 2026

Written by Pitt Dickey

Right now you are probably asking yourself: “Self, are there clues in the Gilligan’s Island Theme Song about how to teleport to a Waffle House?” The answer is clearly yes. “Just sit right back/ And you’ll hear a tale/ A tale of a fateful trip/ That started with a hungry guy/ Aboard a teleported ship.”
That’s right, friends and neighbors; we are going to learn of the miraculous teleporting trip of Gregg Phillips, who was recently appointed head of the US Federal Emergency Management Office of Response and Recovery. Being head of the FEMA office charged with responding to national emergencies is a pretty serious responsibility.
It is heartwarming to know that Gregg will be working when the hurricanes hit this summer. Rest easy, America. Gregg is on the job. He can get to any trouble spot in the US almost instantaneously using teleportation. Gregg related this story to the Onward podcast in January 2025.
Ponder what Gregg revealed. One night, Gregg took a hankering for some good eats at the local Waffle House. I understand his desire for good vittles. When feeling a bit down, my wife and I go to our local Waffle House for a quick meal to restore our equilibrium. Where else in America (other than IHOP) can you get a five-star floor show after midnight from the other patrons?
The Waffle House is a place of many culinary wonders. It has more different delicious kinds of waffles than you can shake a stick at. Choose from Classic waffles, Chocolate chip waffles, Peanut butter chip waffles, or Blueberry waffles. If you want heartier fare, consider the Cheesesteak Melt Hashbrown Bowl, the Sausage Egg & Cheese Grits Bowl, the Texas Chicken Melt sandwich, the Chicken Fiesta Protein Bowl, or the Ham, Egg, & Cheese Hashbrown bowl. You cannot go wrong with any of these fine options.
Now, back to Gregg’s Big Adventure. Gregg was at home with the family when the lure of the Waffle House suddenly struck him.
He told his boys, “I was gonna go to the Waffle House to get some Waffle House. I ended up at a Waffle House about 50 miles away from where I was.” The boys asked him where he was.
“I said, ‘Waffle House in Rome, Georgia.’ And they said, “That’s not possible, you just left here a moment ago. But it was possible. It was real.’”
Gregg explained that he had been teleported after his car was “lifted up” and ended up in a ditch near a church some 40 miles away. After that startling trip, he said his car was teleported again to a Waffle House 50 miles away in Rome, Georgia.
Gregg does not recommend teleportation as a form of mass transit. He told the podcast, “Teleporting is no fun. You know it’s happening, but you can’t do anything about it, and so you just go along for the ride. And wow, what just an incredible adventure it all was.”
Words of wisdom.
Some mysteries remain unsolved. It remains unclear what delicious food Gregg ordered at the Waffle House or why the teleportation initially deposited his car in a ditch near a church before completing his odyssey to the Waffle House.
If Mr. Sulu had been operating the Transporter on the Star Ship Enterprise, perhaps Sulu would have been distracted momentarily by Tribbles or Lieutenant Uhura’s form-fitting uniform. We may never know. The staff at the Rome Waffle House was questioned, but denied seeing Gregg or anyone else teleported there on the night in question.
The possibility that Men in Black may have used a Neuralyzer to wipe out the staff’s memories of Gregg’s teleportation cannot be ruled out.
Unfortunately, there are skeptics doubting Gregg’s story. O ye of little faith. A pox on your houses. If Gregg said it, I believe it, and that settles it. Scorners may sneer at, and whitlings defame him.
Still, my heart swells with gladness whenever Gregg tells his story. Gregg defends his three-hour teleportation tour, writing on social media that “I know what I experienced and haters got to hate.”
I am proud to be an American, where at least I know Gregg is free to teleport to disaster areas to bring the healing hands of FEMA to bind up the nation’s wounds during hurricane season.
Sleep well, America. Even though Gregg was teleported to a ditch near a church, he persevered, completing his quest to dine at the Waffle House. You’re in good hands with Gregg in charge of FEMA.

(Illustration by Pitt Dickey)

Troy's Perspective: We are better than this

Details

Tuesday, 05 May 2026

Written by Troy Williams

Throughout his presidency and campaigns, there have been three notable attempts on the life of President Donald J. Trump, highlighting the serious threats faced by national leaders. While these events are reported widely, it's important to consider multiple sources and perspectives to understand the full context. Both Democrats and Republicans are engaging in a lively discussion about their roles in the current rhetoric, highlighting their differing perspectives on this crucial issue.
Is the President directly responsible for the violence directed against him? When it comes to the death threats, my answer is no. However, his political opponents are communicating in ways that could incite individuals who are already on the edge of mental instability to engage in dangerous behaviors. This not only threatens the President but also endangers all citizens.
This situation is unfolding on a national level, but its impact is also deeply felt in our local politics. We must acknowledge and address these connections to strengthen our community. Despite our varying political beliefs, we are still neighbors and part of the same community, united by shared values and a commitment to understanding one another.
It is concerning that some members of the community rely heavily on national leaders' guidance rather than considering local perspectives. Democrats are increasingly using race as a divisive issue. Given that discussions around race can evoke strong emotions, the community must be aware of this manipulation. We should promote critical engagement with political rhetoric that encourages citizens to think independently.
Democrats are understandably reluctant to address the recent federal indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center due to the party's historical support for the organization. The SPLC is a well-known nonprofit that tracks hate groups and fights against racism. The central allegations against the SPLC include wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. Specifically, it is accused of paying informants within hate groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, to fabricate and agitate instances of racism to justify its existence. Revelations like these are always difficult to accept, but if they are proven true, there should be no need for a cover-up. It is essential to let the truth come out, regardless of the consequences.
In a democracy, you are considered innocent until proven guilty. However, a federal indictment carries more weight than just accusations. If the charges against the SPLC are validated, it could reveal important insights into the current state of race relations in America.
We need to lower the temperature and engage in civil political dialogue. The behavior often seen in Washington, D.C., and Raleigh should not be tolerated. Is it fair to compare America to Nazi Germany? I don't believe so. While we are not perfect, Trump is not akin to Hitler. Making such extreme comparisons is irresponsible and only stirs up division. We are better than this.

On Housing Affordability, Deeds Trump Words

Details

Tuesday, 28 April 2026

Written by John Hood

Most federal, state, and local policymakers are saying the right things about housing. Our leaders say they want to make it easier for young people to purchase homes and for older people to keep them. But are they doing enough to turn their words into deeds?
To make housing more affordable, we must build more of it. Expand supply to meet demand, and prices will adjust accordingly. That’s how the market process works. And this comports with the findings of most empirical research on the issue, which shows a positive relationship between barriers to new housing and its average price.
How can policymakers encourage more housing supply? By easing regulations that limit where new housing can go, how many units can be constructed per acre, and how many (non-safety) amenities are required. By streamlining the process to get a building permit. By eliminating tariffs on lumber, steel, appliances, fixtures, and other goods used to produce housing for sale. And by creating more ways for skilled workers to emigrate legally to the country to fill construction jobs, while also encouraging and training young people to enter the field.
Want to make it easier for households to obtain mortgages? Rather than monkeying around with price controls or pressuring the Federal Reserve to lower rates, policymakers should go after one of the primary pressures on credit markets: Washington’s reckless deficit-spending. When the government is borrowing heavily, Adam Millsap of Stand Together Trust argues, “it has to increase interest rates to attract more investors,” and then those higher Treasury rates “push up mortgage rates, as well as car loans, small business loans, credit card rates, etc.”
These aren’t new ideas. Outside the fever swamps of populist and socialist agitation, they aren’t even particularly controversial ideas. But applying them consistently can be difficult. Every zoning code, bureaucratic delay, import tax, and labor-market regulation has a political constituency — someone who gains, or at least expects to gain, by shutting others out.
Despite these challenges, state and local leaders in North Carolina have implemented some important reforms in recent years. As a result, we are, indeed, better off than most places. According to the latest data I could find, only Idaho is adding new housing stock at a faster rate than North Carolina is. Among large metropolitan areas, Raleigh-Cary topped the list with 28.8 new units per 1,000 existing homes, followed by Austin (28.6), Dallas (22.2), Houston (21.6), and Phoenix (21.4). Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia came in sixth with 21.3. Among mid-size metros, both Wilmington (1) and Asheville (10) ranked high. Among small metros, Burlington ranked fifth.
Because North Carolina is adding population faster than the nation as a whole, such increases in supply won’t necessarily yank housing prices dramatically downward. What they will do — what they already seem to have done — is lessen the upward pressure on prices, and produce modest declines in some local and regional markets.
Now is no time to pause, however. Some of our competitors are pressing forward with ambitious reforms. Colorado and Arizona, for example, have adopted statewide reforms to permit residential uses in commercial zones, allow single-stair multifamily designs, and ease parking mandates. Lawmakers in Florida, Idaho, and Virginia have enacted bills requiring their municipalities to legalize manufactured homes within their jurisdictions. I’ve long been an advocate for this policy, which taps the tremendous potential of mass production and automation to serve a broad swath of price-sensitive workers, young families, and retirees.
Matching words with deeds on housing is the right thing to do. It’s also the politically astute thing to do. Affordability remains a top priority for voters. A recent High Point University poll revealed significant pessimism among North Carolina voters, with 59% describing America’s economy as getting worse rather than better, 54% opposing the administration’s tariffs, and 81% saying price increases have greatly or somewhat affected their spending decisions.
Many barriers make housing artificially scarce and thus inordinately expensive. We can’t afford to keep talking about them. They must come down.

Editor's Note: John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His books Mountain Folk, Forest Folk, and Water Folk combine epic fantasy with American history (FolkloreCycle.com).