Toxic politics wins out on GenX response
Published September 29, 2017
Editorial by Wilmington Star-News, September 24, 2017.
We confess that we’ve been terribly naive. When we found out that an unregulated and possibly harmful chemical was being deliberately discharged into the primary source of our drinking water, we were convinced that our otherwise perpetually divided state political leaders would finally come together and act in the best interest of the people.
Boy, were we wrong.
Less than four months after the StarNews reported the presence of GenX in the Cape Fear River -- and ultimately the drinking water of a quarter million people -- our poisoned state politics are winning out over the very legitimate concerns of the people of Southeastern North Carolina.
Our most powerful state legislator, Sen. Bill Rabon of Southport, has been publicly AWOL on GenX. Sen. Rabon tends not to get very outspoken unless it’s a very vital issue -- like, say, a developer who needs a subdivision de-annexed.
We thought for sure, however, that Sen. Michael Lee and Reps. Ted Davis and Holly Grange would give their allegiance to the people. Well, sorry, Good Folks of Southeastern North Carolina -- if you are a Republican in the N.C. General Assembly, you kiss the rings of Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore.
But wait a minute -- isn’t there another Wilmington representative from our area who could be help out or at least have some input?
Oh, that’s right. We forgot that Rep. Deb Butler -- despite literally begging to be appointed to one of the committees investigating GenX -- belongs to the governor’s party. She’s been told to butt out.
That’s right from the playbook we’ve come to expect Berger and Moore to use. We had hoped for better from Lee, Davis and Grange on the entire GenX response.
As we said, we’ve been terribly naive.
