“I was deeply concerned about what was happening to my state,”

[AlbertCat]

Former UNCW Chancellor Discusses New Book

“Historically, North Carolina only made progress when the state’s established business leadership — some might call them our oligarchs — supported widespread education excellence and opportunity, environmental sensitivity and investment in civic infrastructure,” he says. “This support was lost after 2008. I point to a variety of reasons why it was lost, but until new business leaders emerge, or older business leaders change their mind and seize the initiative, North Carolina will continue going down a road toward diminished opportunity and economic uncertainty.”

Leutze hopes that his book inspires the people of North Carolina to take action.

“I believe the people of North Carolina are better than the government and policies were getting these days,” he says. “We can do better for ourselves, our children and our state. We once were the model of a New South modern Southern state. I hope my book demonstrates to independently minded people, Republicans, Democrats and independents, that we are headed in the wrong direction and take action at the ballet box to reset our political watch to the 21st century.”

http://www.thepilot.com/news/former-uncw-chancellor-discusses-new-book/article_113de8de-53c9-11e4-b396-001a4bcf6878.html

“What happened in North Carolina could also happen in any number of states currently considered moderate, light blue or purple...”

This! We are being punished for voting for Obama on '08...and as a warning to other Southern states who might consider doing so in the future.... IMHO of course.

[Warpy]

1. With the exception of Art Pope

the state has been run by the same oligarchs that are wrecking the entire country. Pull any fiber in the web of fake PACs and dark money and there will be a Koch at the other end of it.

[zazen]

2. he doesn't grasp the long history of the neocorporatist ed reform establishment

and the consequences of university complicity when their budgets are cut and they can only survive by spewing Gates/Duncan/Pearson/Neil Bush neoliberal ed reform talking points.

The Common Core is ill-conceived and harmful and I don't think Hunt would have resisted it. His "institute" (I know the people who founded it) are top proponents of Common Core.

Leutze just doesn't get it, like the other business oligarchs who sat by and let 2010 happen, and who odiously drove Miller out of the 4th district by sticking with neoliberal David Price, because the banks hated Miller and all he had done to fight them. Miller is our Elizabeth Warren, and mainstream Dems showed their true colors when that happened.

You sow what you reap, Jim. Sorry.