Charlotte Observer Lies

If you read the Charlotte Observer, you know they are the paper of record for the socialists who run North Carolina. They absolutely love anything that's associated with government and increasing or expanding government at quite literally any cost. And if that cost happens to be the truth, that doesn't matter -- as long as it expands their agenda and government control.

The Article appears in the "News" section of the paper -- but there's almost nothing in it that's news at all. Instead, it's mostly typical Observer cheerleading -- basically saying that anyone who opposes higher taxes and more government is a stupid moron and only the Observer is qualified to determine what should be done with your money because you're dumb. But this article goes further than the normal cheer leading by including outright lies:

The following letter is from Tom Ashcraft:

Dear Mr. Koconis:

The above column by you and its accompanying photographic depiction contain a factual falsehood. I’m part of the embryonic SCAT group, and I do not want “to kill the light rail line” along South Boulevard as you wrote. Obviously, with the money already spent, that line should be run; indeed, it was supposed to have opened months ago, but as with many things coming from CATS you can’t trust what they say.

Attached is the official report of cost overruns on the south corridor line, a disgrace by any measure. If the transit sales tax is not repealed this fall, there will be, in my opinion, many more cost overruns in the future.

The photo depiction with your column shows the south corridor line with a caption asserting, “The real aim of SCAT is to kill the light rail line.” As to the line shown, that’s a fabrication as far as this SCAT supporter is concerned. You and The Charlotte Observer owe your readers an apology and a correction. Will we get one?

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

Sincerely, Tom

Waiting for a retraction? I wouldn't hold my breath.

Oh, and the cost estimates? Here's a summary:

Date/ Estimated Cost/ Estimated Completion Date:
July 1998/ $227 mil / None
Feb 2000/ $331 mil / Winter 2005
May 2003/ $370 mil / Spring 2006
Jan 2004/ $398 mil / Apr 2007
Jan 2005/ $426 mil / Aug 2007
Sep 2006/ $462 mil / Nov 2007

Go ahead, try and convince me there's anything government can do right.

Posted by: Ogre at 11:09 AM

Comments

1 Maybe y'all could get it killed like we did in Raleigh.

Posted by: William Teach at May 16, 2007 01:24 PM (IRsCk)

2 That implies that the people have any say in government. Keep in mind, this is the same place where voters overwhelmingly voted against building a basketball stadium, but the politicians built it anyway.

Posted by: Ogre at May 16, 2007 01:27 PM (oifEm)

3 NC won't find the conversion from a freely elected government to communism hard. You are already there. Slipped in while you were sleeping.

Posted by: Scrapiron at May 16, 2007 04:38 PM (2nDll)

4 I seriously believe we are already there. Name something, ANYTHING that you can produce without state approval. You can't sell or trade ANYTHING without asking permission. That is state control of production.

Now try and get elected. If you're not one of the "chosen" few, you simply cannot be elected. Over 90% of the public offices in the state are non-competitive due to gerrymandering -- so if you want to get elected, you have to be part of the ruling class.

The only big differences between Communist Russia and the state of North Carolian is that we're allowed freedom of speech (most of the time), freedom of religion (when it's okay), and we have a higher standard of living.

Posted by: Ogre at May 16, 2007 06:08 PM (oifEm)

5 Sounds like the Big Dig in Dixie.

Posted by: joated at May 16, 2007 09:58 PM (A5s0y)

6 Not quite as expensive -- then again, we're not done...

Posted by: Ogre at May 16, 2007 10:45 PM (YVnhV)

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