Connie Domino: GOP occupation rules

Regarding the April 7 Point of View “What UNC professors do”: When a professor has to explain to the legislature why a college education is important, we know our state is in trouble.

History teaches us that only extremists and tyrants are afraid of knowledge. That’s why they don’t create the needed jobs first. They go after teachers and secondary schools. Next, they go after professors, universities and colleges.

The history books demonstrate that time after time, intellectuals involved in education, science and technology are the first to be bullied and the first to leave. So, when we see our teachers and professors being bullied, we know we’re already in trouble.

Many serious businesses that bring jobs will not come near North Carolina after the destruction of public education. Concerned citizens from both parties have tried to vote these legislators out. If we count each vote, a more moderate group won the legislature. Gerrymandering prevented this more moderate group from taking their rightful seats.

When the people of Wake County voted out commissioners who were warming seats, the legislature simply developed a bill that would allow a type of gerrymandering at the county level. That’s not small government, that’s scary government. That’s certainly not democracy – that’s occupation.

This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 5:56 PM with the headline "Connie Domino: GOP occupation rules."