Lt. Gov. Dan Forest discussed government’s role, perhaps highlighting a paradox the state GOP faces. Earlier, Jason Lewis reiterated that “government is the enemy,” as Reagan once put it. But of course in North Carolina Republicans now control government.
It might be said that, rhetoric aside, the real task is to return government to its proper role, meaning it no longer is the enemy of freedom but its servant.
For instance, Forest said the incoming administration found that “the IT infrastructure of the state is a wreck.” The most telling sign: the new technology chief found there was no way to actually communicate to with his staff, except over the building intercom. (Which the clueless media mocked.)
Meanwhile, some grand old government buildings are literally falling down, he added. Nor are state employees always happy campers. He told of one state employee who, upon being thanked for his service, tearfully said, “I’ve worked here for 35 years, and nobody’s ever thanked me before.”
That by the way could be the paradox of the Democratic Party: though they call constantly for bigger government, they often fail to properly tend and maintain it. If Republicans can restore what’s useful and prune away what’s unneeded, wasteful and even destructive in government, they could solidify their position.
BTW, in talking about the prospects for the year, he said in passing, “You are going to see voter photo ID.” That brought a standing ovation from the crowd, indicating that conservatives are behind the idea.
Forest warned the crowd that liberals will attack voter photo ID on “civil rights” grounds, so conservatives must be prepared for that.
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