Saturday, June 04, 2005

Political Bravery

We tend to focus on political bravery at the national level, but here at the local level we have a few elected representatives who are willing to take on the established interests and speak the truth. Mike Regan and Mike Joyce are consistent voices of reason, but I also have to note Joe Bryan, the chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners.

The board increased county school funding by $12.3 million this year. The immediate response by the school board was to outline all of the programs they would have to end as a result of the "cuts." Bryan rightly points out that rather than look at their own bureacratic waste or innefficient and costly busing policies, the school board is "using scare tactics on the public." Bryan will undoubtedly face many screaming parents ignorant of the facts, and he will be pressured by the biggest base of the Democrats, the teachers unions, so let's hope he stands firm.