"We are looking to move back to Durham."

yeah elvisboy, non-profits or governments never have to stick to budgets, or scrimp and save in order to make ends meet.  Only for-profit businesspeople have experience in that area.

You know, part of the part of politics is knowing when to speak up and knowing when to stay silent. It's similar to the boy that cries wolf: if a person or a group criticizes every single action that a politician takes, at some point they become marginalized by their own complaining, whether it's Bush, Obama, or town officials.

There are problems with every politician, every governmental body in the world. But when you do nothing but complain (let me ask you -- have you ever served on a town board or commission), and complain about everything, well, why should anyone listen to what you have to say?  Particularly when you start with the premise that those who work in government and non-profits -- probably the two most austere environments, at least in NC -- have no idea how to be "cost-effective." 

You want to convince people of your point of view on politics?  Try being political, not simply a chronic complainer.

To say there has been a loss of commercial tax base means that we had a strong business sector at one time and have lost it. I know we've had businesses come and go, but seriously, we have more businesses today than at any other time in my memory. The problem is that the residential sector has grown even faster, along with demand for expensive services. I'd really like to see both towns and county rezone some of the land that is currently zoned as residential or mixed use to light industrial or office park so that we can get our local economy back into better balance. We aren't going to dig out of this problem by relying on retail growth.

When the local government is run in large part by people who work for either non profits or government agencies such as UNC-CH then they have very little idea about being cost effective or saving money.  Tax money to them is the manna needed to push their social agendas forward. 

This will NEVER change and taxes will continue to spiral out of control until a majority on the governing boards have some experience in fiscal management and restraint.

And of course, the vocal "me too I want my program" bunch will continue to vote the tax and spenders into office, while others disinterested in the whole thing will scratch their heads and wonder why they are broke and cannot afford to live here on a retirement income.

And I so love some of the arguments that pop up, like "it is only $250 more to live here".  That is a joke.  Most single family homes have property taxes in the $3,000 and up range in the County, and double that in Chapel Hill or Carrboro.  $6,000 a year is $500 a month according to my calculator.  A lot of money.

And of course others will say, "if you don't like it then move away" as if it were as easy as flipping a switch to those of us who have roots here.

I can only hope that some day there will be more Matt C's on the local councils and less Mike Nelsons.  Of course, I will probably have moved away by then.

Okay,  Progressives, pound away at me in classic liberal style!