Book's ideas lead to editorials

The Center for a Better South's new book, Doing Better: Progressive Tax Reform for the American South, continues to generate thoughts around the South -- exactly what it was intended to do.

From the July 5 edition of the Charlotte Observer:

Andrew Brack, president of the Center for a Better South, was in town recently talking about new report on state tax systems in the South. What he stated was obvious, but that doesn't mean it wasn't worth saying.

"We live in a more dynamic Sunbelt that has transformed from the goods-based, mule-driven days of the 20th century into a knowledge- and service-economy that competes globally," he said. "Unfortunately, our state governments generally haven't adapted to the new economy. Their structures have outdated tax components that need to be modernized for today's market."

The Center for a Better South, a nonpartisan think tank based in Charleston, S.C., concluded that our state's tax system ranked (alongside Virginia's) as the best in the South. Alas, that's like tying for first in a 100-yard-dash for slugs....If our tax system were a car, we'd have traded it in long ago. To keep depending on it is costly and irresponsible.

And this ("Mississippi could learn from this man") from The Natchez (MS) Democrat:

Andy Brack, president of a Charleston, S.C., think tank called the Center for a Better South, was making the rounds last week talking about taxes. Essentially, his group has recently completed a study about progressive tax reform in the South and he was evangelizing a bit from the study. Much of what the study proposes as necessary changes do make a little sense....OK, so even some stranger from South Carolina can point out the obvious holes in the system.

The real challenge is in making the old, decrepit system change for the better. Only the Legislature — prodded along by taxpayers such as you — can do that.