In today?s Raleigh News and Observer Looking right past the poor, Gene Nichol of UNC Law School laments the fact that politicians and the media have generally ignored the recent release of statistics showing an increase in the number of people living below the poverty line. Amazingly, after writing hundreds of words, wringing his hands with concern for the poor Nichol offers not a single proposal for lifting people out of poverty. He suggests no policies that would encourage economic growth or enhance employment opportunities. He notes that North Carolina was one of only 10 states whose median income fell between from 2001 to 2002 and yet does not mention the fact the state imposed the highest tax increases in the country during this time period. He complains that there are 43 million Americans without health insurance (implying that they are without health care, a proposition which is entirely false) but offers no proposals that might effectively reduce insurance costs and make coverage more affordable. Instead he complains that we don?t have Hillary-care type system of ?universal coverage,? which would certainly drive up health care costs across the board. He complains that the public schools are failing poor children but suggests not a single option that would give parents the opportunity to remove their kids from these failing schools. Apparently Professor Nichol?s idea of showing concern is simply to restate the facts, but with crocodile tears and exclamation points.
by Locker Room contributor