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Do The Right Thing: Conservatives Should Spike Panthers Plunder
Now that Jerry Richardson and his Carolina Panthers have finally made the long expected demand for millions in taxpayer subsidies for the billionaire’s middling NFL franchise — albeit in a shockingly cowardly, undemocratic, and secretive manner even for Charlotte — there glows a bright line for Mecklenburg’s conservatives to rally to hold.
No fuzzy logic or complicated rhetoric here. Actual conservatives will oppose taxing Charlotte’s poorest citizens in order to provide welfare for one of its richest. Call the roll and take a stand.
Pat, do the right thing. Sure, that second term is all that matters now. But the Uptown crowd will have no choice to support you, regardless. Ask Jack, the only threat to you is a populist uprising of the kind that would be kicked off by…siding with plutocrats and jobbing the little guy. Besides, do right and you get to go on pretending to be conservative. You like that and you’re good at it. The act might even land you a Senate seat some day. And notice how I didn’t say the P-word — principle.
Art, do the right thing. When Pat goes wobbly — and we know he will — tell him you’ll resign and turn your back on his efforts unless this abomination is strangled in its crib. Yes, your Holy Grail is the budget wheel in a GOP administration with GOP legislative control. But what is the point of political power if it is used to do wrong? And don’t try the mind trick that this “small” matter buys “bigger” wins elsewhere. It will not and cannot. Because conservatives will melt away in the face of this betrayal and you’ll be left with ciphers at your side. As ever in Raleigh.
Thom, do the right thing. Don’t ask Carroll Gray what to do. Think for yourself. For once prove to us how smart you are instead of just telling us. Over and over. And over.
Bob, do the right thing. Don’t let Jim Black win. Again. Unless that was your aim all along. It wasn’t — was it?
Ruth, do the right thing. Have someone you trust sit down and explain this to you. Not the entire game of football, we don’t have time for that. Just the big picture stuff. You know, theft bad; sparkly good. There, you are halfway home.
Charles, do the right thing. What is it gonna be, bud? You could lead a wave of reform. Or melt comfortably into the pack. Your call.
Bill, do the right thing. You said you wanted to cut taxes. Will you oppose a tax increase?
Jeff, do the right thing. You said, “I am running for State Senate because I believe that our taxes are too high and our spending is not correctly prioritized.” But honestly, I am not holding my breath.
Rob, do the right thing. Although you’ll do whatever Pat does, that is still your choice.
Finally, Rosalind. Do the right thing. Get Jerry to pull the plug on this bad idea. He is evidently ashamed of it, slinking in and out with a police escort to make his secret case to a panel of potted plants. There are alternatives. It does not have to be this way. Don’t you want him to go to heaven?
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Jeff A. Taylor blogs at The Free Lance
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Short URL: http://pundithouse.com/?p=12811
Recent Posts by Jeff A. Taylor |
Jeff calls on Republicans to stop the transfer of tax money to the private interests of the Panthers. He should also call on the Democrats as it they who will be affected the most. The rich who go out to eat, drink a bottle of expensive wine and pay a little bit more are also the people who have tickets to the Panthers. The poor who eat out and can’t afford anything but water, will also pay more. Here is a perfect example of the Democrats who were elected to office, pretending they would take care of the people, planning to take from the poor to give to the rich. The rationalizations will be just that. Only some of the people will benefit, and they will be the ones who drink expensive wine.
Crony Capitalism. Alive and Well in Charlotte, under Democratic rule.
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If my wife and I stay in Charlotte for the rest of our working careers we will – assuming we’re average Americans – generate roughly $2 million in income that we will invest or spend into Charlotte’s economy. Therefore, if the given reasoning behind using public money for the Panther’s stadium is that by doing so the ROI will be greater than the expense while helping to insure the team doesn’t leave Charlotte, my wife and I should also receive some public money to upgrade our house so we’re not tempted to leave.
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Folks should right richardson and tell them what they think this. they say he reads and responds to most letters- What he did Monday night was cowardly, as you said Jeff- wonder how a guy his age avoided the draft?
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write
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The Charlotte City Council’s decision defies all logic. They defeat efforts to fund a trolley car for $115 million that carries a small portion of the citizenry from one part of the city to another part, yet then approve funding for $125 million, which is partially for an escalator that carries a different portion of the citizenry past two levels of existing ramps. Sounds like someone knows they got a card for an inside straight with that decision. Pitiful.
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Dear Mr. Richardson,
We the people of Charlotte will gladly GIVE you $125 million if you agree to the following:
1) The city must earn replacement revenue tied directly to Panthers games at a minimum rate of $15 million per year for the next ten years. If this condition is met the Panthers shall not repay any monies to the City.
2) In any year where less than $15 million is earned by the City the Panthers shall reimburse such shortfall to the City dollar for dollar within 30 days of the last day of the current fiscal year.
3) If a shortfall occurs in any two consecutive years, the Panthers shall repay the full balance of the $125 minus revenues to the City within 30 days of the last day of the current fiscal year.
4) In the event the Panthers are sold, transferred, leave or otherwise abandon Charlotte within the ten year period, the Panthers shall repay the full balance of the $125 minus revenues to the City within 30 days of the last day of the current fiscal year. If the Panthers are unable to repay this money, you sir, shall be held personally responsible for the repayment of said balance.
Or some such legal mumbo jumbo. I could really care less if the Panthers leave or stay, but if we’re going to do this it should not cost the citizens one thin dime.
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Why let Jerry off at 0% interest when he fails to adhere to the $15/year revenue and why not have a greater penalty provision for leaving the city?
Maryland is supposed to pay the ACC $53 million for their departure to the Big Ten.
I think it would be perfectly proper to at least ask for the initial $120 million raised via PSL sales plus interest that those funds would have generated for the past 20 years (calculated utilizing the rate on US Treasury’s).
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Well, I used the word “give” in my opening sentence. At $15m over ten years the City makes $25m on the deal. And, I also said “some such” meaning the numbers could be made to make sense. But the point being, from what I’m seeing (and I haven’t fully read the deal) the City is currently giving away money they don’t own with no express and guaranteed ROI.
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I’m all for honest profits obtained by honest means – that is, by voluntary exchanges with willing buyers. If your business model depends upon looting unwilling taxpayers, there is something utterly wrong. Fix your business, don’t take from the rest of us.
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I agree Papa, but in this day and age that would mean the end of the Banks, Big Oil, Big Pharma…and ultimately the Dems and the Pubs – and then who would fund these idiots campaigns! Don’t forget – Corporations Are People Too!
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Somebody’s been thinking the rule of law applies to everyone. Sheesh!
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I’ll assume that was written with the sarcasm font. As long as we have a need for banks and medicines, there’d be a way to provide them; no need for Big Government subsidies and privileges. When everybody is subsidizing everybody else, it becomes obvious that it’s just a giant shell game, designed to keep the middlemen – the politicians – in the game where they can grab a slice of every dollar as it whizzes by.
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I can haz your tag?
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Interesting. The website removed the “” code I inserted. It was supposed to read:
I can haz your “” tag?
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Dang! It removed it again! How about just “/sarc”
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Let’s be clear on how this is gonna unfold.
The traitors in Raleigh will say that they are only bowing to local desires — and tax base. Recall that is how Sue justified rubber-stamping streetcar millions.
But the bigger problem for the con artist class is that the numbers do not work. The tax hike would service more like $200-250m. in debt (especially with BAC/WFC doing the nudge-nudge placement) — so what else do the gnomes have planned?
Subsidized re-development of the blocks surrounding Panthers LLC Stadium? Wear your Kevlar undies if you seek answers from the most fascist city in America.
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thanks for the article Jeff-
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Here’s a few more details. Jer wants $62.5m. more from the state, or 75 percent of the cost of up-fitting his stadium. Plus Thom and Bill have their rubber stamps out. What a surprise.
http://m.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/queen_city_agenda/2013/01/carolina-panthers-negotiations-stadium.html?ana=twt&r=full
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Bend over Charlotte,
One more time.
You all know the routine.
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If it is true that Richardson made a request to the city to hold onto and sell the Panthers two years after his death. This could be a good news. With an updated stadium, the city could sell to someone willing to keep the team in Charlotte.
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The team won’t leave Charlotte. The Carolinas are far too valuable for the NFL to let that happen. We “lost” the Hornets, but they were quickly replaced.
LA has already lost how many NFL teams? Two that I can think of…the Rams and Raiders. Meanwhile, Charlotte has one of the most profitable and valuable sports franchises in the country with the Panthers.
I repeat. They ain’t going anywhere!
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Since “Good Democrats” are running the County and City and it appears they are beginning to eat their own with Parks Helms telling Vilma Leake to “shut up”. Now is the time for Raleigh Republicans to squash this food tax farce.
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Raise taxes on hotels/motels and car rentals to fund it or better yet, get the money from Drunken Sailor Jerry Orr.
.
He’s rolling in the dough.
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I for one avoid dining out in Charlotte restaurants due to the fact that part of my bill goes to something I never benefit from. I will occasionally order a pizza from the local delivery joint or stop for a biscuit or sandwich from a fast food joint. However, if this tax goes through, I will not patronize another restaurant in Mecklenburg County for any reason. I am very close to other counties and another state throughout my business day and will go out of my way to dine out outside of this county just as I purchase gasoline in South Carolina on my trips to that state to avoid the high NC gasoline taxes. I propose a day of protest where no one eats out for that day to demonstrate that we have the power over these thieves.
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