The news in North Carolina is that Dell, the mega computer manufacturer, is closing its production plant in Winston-Salem -- laying off over 900 workers. Dell is doing this after the state offered the company over $280 million in incentives. Folks may remember that the General Assembly convened a special session to approve the quarter of a billion dollars in incentives sparking controversy over the size of the program. But Dell is walking away nonetheless. The lesson is stark. Tax and other development incentives are no guarantee that a company will do what they promise they will do. Dell is closing the plant for business reasons. And those reasons are simply that it can't make money despite the state's generous offer. Before other states decide to hand over a large chunk of the treasury, they should examine this case closely.