Local politico State Senator Ellie Kinnaird, aka the Paris of the Piedmont Prophetess, (you know her) has whipped off a memo to the steno pool (local media editors) about the ”misinformation” surrounding the proposed land transfer tax. (See Hot Orange Home Equity Tax Story|.) Maybe Miss Ellie thinks that she can still just wave her wand and have a new tax appear without anyone objecting. Not this time!

(Don't you love the way politicians “frame” issues with words. Transfer tax? It's a tax on your home equity. It has nothing to do with the “burden” you impose on the county by “transferring” your home to someone else. If that's Miss Ellie's concern, then why doesn't she seek a tax on transient renters? Silly Cosmo, bourgeosie rentiers are her friends!)

Back to the steno pool memo. Problem is, SHE's the one misinforming! In a wand-waving move, Miss Ellie compares Dare and Currituck Counties to our own Orange County. You'd think she's the Miss Ellie Of Dallas Southfork fame and doesn't have a clue as to where these counties are!

Cosmo is always willing to help. Miss Ellie, Dare and Curritiuck Counties are oceanside in northeastern North Carolina, not the Texas prairies. They are vacation home playgrounds for well-heeled Washington DC, Yankee-moneyed folks, as well as Orange County municipal attorneys getting fat off your constituents. These vacation homes have almost zero impact on the local school systems and other municipal services, and are very high priced even by southern Orange standards. Thus, these counties can milk the Yankee owners for lots of greenbacks without having to provide hardly any services in return.

How in the world can a reasonable person think that the situation in Corolla is comparable to that in Carrboro? Give me a break, GEEZ!!!!

Please Miss Ellie, go on and find yourself a new source of information on this one. A tax that is cyclically based isn't needed in these times of economic downturn. Cosmo knows that you think only in terms of tax-funded enterprises that can largely ignore economic cyles, but give those of your consituents who aren't wise enough to be tax-exempt and non-profit based to avoid yet another tax. Here's a thought, how about you fix the growth system that allows developers to walk away with profits without paying for the capital costs imposed by their profit-making ventures?

I am singing her a hymn, and it ain't a Gospel hymn…..