Regarding the N.C. Legislative Committee and their lack of common sense to attempt to use their wisdom to merge 22 local community colleges: Their [attempts] to save money leaves a lot to be desired. "Career politicians" have failed to realize that — due to the rising cost of tuition this year and [that some] students will have to drive 30 or more miles to attend class — will only drive away more students from attending community colleges.
Many of these students are now pushed financially due to raising families, high food costs, gas prices, etc. These career politicians have failed to address what they will do with the buildings, employees and campuses once they merge them. This is a no-win situation for the state, the communities involved, the students and employees.
What do you expect when this committee has Chair Julia Howard, who has been there for 24 years, Co-Chairs Fletcher Hartsell (22 years) and Debbie Clary (18 years)?
Other members include Martin Nesbitt, 30 years; Jean Preston, 20 years; Edgar Starnes, 18 years; Dan Clodfelter, 14 years; David Lewis, Jean Farmer-Butterfield, Becky Carney, 10 years; Bryan Holloway, Neal Hunt, eight years: and Stephen LaRoque, six years.
These 13 career politicians have held office a total of 198 years. This is what is wrong in the N.C. Legislature today: Career politicians do not know when to leave.
These people are doing their very best to destroy education in North Carolina for students who can't afford to attend a four-year college. These 22 community colleges with their students and employees are potential voters in 2012. That could be the start of term limits in North Carolina for firing these self-serving politicians who no longer live in the world of reality.
— Vernon Hill
Morehead City
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