“North Carolina. Not the Best, Not the Worst – Shooting for Average”

I have a modest proposal for our state.

We know a vehicle license plate can be a pretty dull object on an otherwise personal and valued thing. This legislative session sees more attempts to jazz them up, personalized plates and the existing menu of special plates not being enough, apparently.

My favorite of the currently available plates is the National Wild Turkey Federation, which I hope is promoting said drink, but which probably promotes said bird and, no doubt, the hunting thereof.

We've got proposals for plates touting the North Carolina Horse Council, which will join the Back Country Horseman of NC plate in the current list of 80 or so special plates. We've also got proposals for plates for the Carolina Regional Volleyball Association, the North Carolina Gold Foundation, one promoting organ donation awareness ("Donate Life") and free special plates for vets who have seen combat. 

The most controversial new one being proposed is the "Choose Life" plate. I immediately thought of Wham! and George Michael imploring me to wake him up before he go goes, but apparently I'm in the minority there. It's a social message against the exercise of a woman's right to choose.

So here is my modest proposal. In today's tight economic times, we need a special plate with a special fund that will help prop up the education and health budgets. The plate needs a slogan to rally consumers and to tell the world what we are all about.

How about a plate with the slogan, "North Carolina. Not the Best, Not the Worst – Shooting for Average"? I'm aware it is a bit long, but work with me here.

North Carolina ranks high on some things. Low business taxation (3rd lowest) and low percentage of workers who are union members (lowest) comes to mind. We're top ten in staying away from binge drinking, too.

But when it comes to health, education and poverty rates the story is, well, neither good nor bad, comparatively speaking. In fact, it's kind of average or, in some cases, a little bit below average. 

Check the health rankings. For the infant mortality rate, we rank 44th or 7th worst, percentage of population without health insurance – 13th highest, cardiovascular deaths per 100,000 – 30th lowest rate, cancer deaths per 100,000 – 27th lowest rate. 

What about education? Enrollment rate for K-12 – 30th, expenditure per pupil – 40th, graduation rates after ninth grade – 38th, salaries of high school teachers – 26th, nutrition quality of school lunches – 25th, eighth grade federal reading test scores – 30th, fourth grade federal reading test scores – 30th. (All are 'highest' rankings)

And income? Percentage of persons below the poverty level – 13th highest, percentage of children living in poverty – 10th highest, percentage of households qualifying for food stamps – 22nd, average annual pay – 25th.

Hence my proposal: We should strive for average. In some cases we are clearly there. In others we need to pick up the pace a little. A special plate with a special fund, the transportation equivalent of the education lottery fund if you will, can only help in today's dry budget times.