For the week of
October 14, 2011
- carolinajournal.com
Reaction of the Week
RALEIGH — Government programs targeting energy efficiency do little
more than put so-called experts in charge of decisions that should be
left in the hands of millions of consumers and producers. A John Locke
Foundation economist reaches that conclusion in a new Spotlight report.
“Energy efficiency is rooted in the idea that some people, who have been
labeled experts, believe that other people — American citizens, North
Carolinians, residents of a particular town or city — are using ‘too
much’ energy,” said report author Dr. Roy Cordato, JLF Vice President
for Research and Resident Scholar.
“It is an empirically and even conceptually unsupportable assertion,”
added Cordato, a Ph.D. economist. “The reality is that energy efficiency
requirements and programs are about substituting so-called experts'
preferences for the preferences of people who actually purchase
resources and do the consuming and producing.”
As a concept, “energy efficiency” has no relation to real economic efficiency, Cordato said.
“Whichever definition you use, ‘energy efficiency’ focuses strictly on
saving energy even if it means sacrificing overall economic efficiency,”
he explained. “Pursuing energy efficiency leads to the strong
possibility that use of other inputs might increase. In other words, it
might take more labor, plastic, steel, copper, glass, or other inputs to
make up for the reduced energy use.”
News Features
CJ: GOP works to override veto of energy jobs bill
RALEIGH — Republicans believe they will have
enough votes when they return to session in November to override Gov.
Bev Perdue’s veto of legislation both opening North Carolina’s coastal
waters to natural gas drilling and authorizing hydraulic fracturing to
recover inland shale gas deposits. CJ: Solar conference attendees seek incentives
RALEIGH — Facing stiff challenges from
government-subsidized foreign competition and stifled by restrictive
domestic regulations, solar energy advocates nationwide are seeking
aggressive remedies. In North Carolina, solar entities are pushing for policies and incentives to catapult the industry to a higher level of growth. CJ: State’s first charter continues helping students
DURHAM — The first public school to receive a
charter in North Carolina continues on the cutting edge of curriculum
and character building for underprivileged students. Established in 1997, the Healthy Start Academy, a K-8 public charter
school in Durham, pioneered a shift in the educational process for
underprivileged and troubled youth in the state. CJ: Regulations hinder food truck ministry
SALISBURY — Pastor Michael King estimates one in
four black men in Rowan County is unemployed. In an effort to employ
them, King’s church recently purchased several old buses, gutted them,
and began transforming them into food trucks. Perdue, senator tangle over unemployment agency
RALEIGH — Gov. Beverly Perdue’s administration announced
Wednesday it was blocking some changes to unemployment benefit
guidelines approved by the General Assembly this summer over Perdue’s
veto and the threat of higher taxes for North Carolina businesses.
Upcoming Events
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 12:00 PM, Noon
A meeting of the Shaftesbury Society
with our special guest Dr. Tom Palmer
"The Morality of Capitalism: How Free Markets Create Justice and Prosperity" Friday, October 21, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. noon
A Lunch Time Discussion
with our special guest The Honorable David Sentelle
"National Security Law: The Changing Role of the Courts" Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
A Constitutional Workshop in Pinehurst, NC
with our special guests Dr. Troy Kickler & Dr. Michael Sanera
Workshop #2 in Pinehurst: "What would the Federalists and Anti-federalists say about the current political and economic crises?" Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 9:30 am - 3 pm
A Constitutional Workshop in New Bern, NC
with our special guests Dr. Troy Kickler & Dr. Michael Sanera
Workshop #1 in New Bern, NC- What the Founders and the State Ratification Conventions Can Teach Us Today Thursday, November 03, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.
A Lecture at Duke University
with our special guest Nicholas Wapshott
Keynes Hayek: the Clash that Defined Modern Ecnomics
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Capital Quotes
“I’m going to vote against the amendment because I cannot in good conscience look an unemployed man or woman in the eye and tell them that this amendment is more important than finding them a job.”
— Gov. Bev Perdue, as quoted by the Greensboro News & Record, explaining why she vote against a proposed state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
“It just seems like the governor is wanting to obligate us to move down a path that could cost the state some $300 million with no real way to pay for it.”
— Rep. Nelson Dollar, R-Wake, as quoted by the Associated Press, talking about Gov. Bev Perdue’s support for funding pre-K programs for all at-risk 4-year-olds.
“My personal opinion is that we need to make North Carolina as unwelcome for any illegal alien from wherever they come from.”
— Rep. Frank Iler, R-Brunswick, describing his view on immigration to the Wilmington Star-News. Iler is the co-chair of the newly formed House Select Committee on the State's Role in Immigration Policy. “This letter is just a political stunt to promote a leftist agenda.”
— Dolores Quesenberry, a spokeswoman for the N.C. Department of Labor, as quoted by the Winston-Salem Journal, commenting on a complaint filed by Legal Aid of North Carolina alleging that the department had failed to ensure the safety of migrant workers.
On The Air This Week…
This week on C J Radio…
Carolina Journal’s Rick Henderson reacts to Gov. Perdue’s idea to suspend congressional elections for two years; Florida Sen. Marco Rubio talks about American exceptionalism and foreign policy; legislators discuss the possible sale of surplus state property; the Cato Institute’s Pat Michaels discusses global warming alarmism; JLF’s Terry Stoops makes recommendations for improving how teaching colleges train new teachers.
This week on NC Spin…
Join moderator Tom Campbell
for another week of political discussion and debate on the most
intelligent television talk show in the state. Topics this week: Tuesday’s elections;
North Carolina in poverty; playing the blame game
and Ross takes the UNC helm. This week’s panelists: John Hood, president of the John Locke Foundation; Chris Fitzsimon of NC Policy Watch; and columnists Rick Martinez and Cash Michaels.
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