A Toast to the New North State
Here’s to the new North State, a land of freedom, home of the blessed
Less taxes, less regulations and less government mess
Where people are in control of their lives and their money
Rather than bureaucrats dealing favors like honey
Here’s to the land of transformational reform
Where freedom and markets and recovery are reborn
Where jobs are what matter and kids are taught well
Where entrepreneurs have opportunity; success stories to tell.
Here’s to going from 44th to 17th and the ground that we’ve gained
Business rankings up, unemployment down- all worth the pain
Taxes, regulations, infrastructure, skilled workforce, a union ban
What’s working is working – stick with the plan.
Here’s to research, the truth, information to trust
To know, understand, comprehend as we must.
Where to go? Who’s to help? Which way can you turn?
As the torch of freedom catches fire, starts to burn.
Here’s to the John Locke Foundation and its twenty five years
Fighting for less government, free markets, allaying taxpayers’ fears
Thought leaders, the anchor, a compass, the beacon’s light
The conservative flag raised by the Knights of the Right
Here’s to the General Assembly since two thousand and ten
Less government, more freedom for all women and men
Economic recovery, jobs. We’re ahead of the rest
Hold steady. In freedom, we’ll soon be the best.
Here’s to the governor, the executive branch chief
A broken state government is your biggest beef.
So paying down debt, getting things in good shape, you’ve taken the lead
With the Carolina Comeback quarterback, a win’s guaranteed!
Forget the Monday blues, the alarmists, the big spenders on deck
Don’t expand Medicaid. Keep incentives in check
Fix the roads and the bridges, make the budget tight and lean
And you’ll be in good shape come 2016.
Here’s to the wisdom of the judges and courts
Vouchers, redistricting, property rights of all sorts
Election integrity, safety and freedom at stake
North Carolina’s Constitution is the foundation of all decisions you make.
Here’s to Carolina Journal – real facts, real news with never a slant
Corruption, reforms, reports. The real deal 4th branch
Incentives, streetcars and Hagangate tales
The story you can trust when all else fails.
Here’s to the Locke donors, supporters and friends
We’re in this together from beginning to end
Without you our thinking would just be a tank
You give us our voice. We’ll take that to the bank!
Here’s to John Hood, a writer, a mentor and boss
His wisdom and words – there’s never a loss
For twenty-five years through blood sweat and tears
He built the nation’s best free market think tank – Three cheers!
His guidance will continue, his hand ever steady
The John Locke Foundation is built and now it stands ready
To continue the mission, rights and freedoms we’ll enable
For another twenty five years, even stronger more able
Here’s to the last four years, with leadership that’s bold
Ideas of freedom, markets and liberty never get old
To the thinkers, the doers, the supporters, the statesmen
A new direction for today, for tomorrow, forever and then again.
Here’s to our home, the new North State
To the ideas, the work, the values that make her great
To the people and leaders who believe we should be free
To pursue happiness, to be our best. A land of unlimited opportunity.
Here’s to the new North State.