All the good
One of the Occupiers' loathed 1 percenters has passed away: Abraham "Abe" Brenner. Let's take a moment to reflect on all the good this man did for this community.
He worked very hard, built a very successful business, put a good many people to work, and he and his family then gave us Brenner Children's Hospital. He paid it forward.
But these malcontents, mostly out of ignorance, berate his kind while ignoring mediocre point guards making $15 million a year and perky TV news readers getting $20 million. What's wrong with this picture?
CHARLIE WEAVER
Winston-Salem
Without question
I don't think anybody disputes that to sustain our current deficit spending we borrow 40 cents on the dollar. Furthermore, our debt is now some $15 trillion with about $4 trillion added in the last three years.
Our president and the Democrats would like us to believe that adding some extra taxes to the top 1 percent, or what he calls the "rich," will make everything better. The Republicans want us to think that by not raising taxes and cutting social programs, new jobs will develop. A sixth-grader could see that these two parties have created the biggest baloney sandwich anybody ever made, and the really sad part is many Americans are blindly eating it without question.
The current arguments highlight that our elected officials are only beholden to the special interests that gave them the money to get elected. Heck, we have not even had a budget in the last three years and our Congress now is forming supercommittees that can't get the job done.
The Occupiers need to forget about Wall Street and head to Washington, where the real corruption is taking place. Next election, vote 'em all out!
DAVID JONES
Winston Salem
Lack of leadership
Unfortunately, the current N.C. legislature wins the award for total lack of leadership during 2011, and even though I am a Republican per se, the majority party is almost totally to blame.
Note the following items, which are just a few of the dumb ones passed:
- Deciding to put the marriage amendment to a vote: None of their business.
- Deciding the process a woman should have to take to get an abortion: None of their business.
- Approving a pro-life license plate, but not a pro-choice license plate: Once again, none of their business.
- And the coup de grace of their stumbling around was approving five extra school days — good in itself, but not even thinking about allocating funds for schools to do this. One word says it all: Dumb.
Maybe we should take the money the legislators are paid and use that for the five extra days.
And they are considered leaders?
DON WITTE
Advance
Trajectory
The first goal of our elected officials should be the budget. How can any prudent person, entity or government survive without knowing the resources they have at their disposal? Our budget as a nation is best expressed as percent of GDP. We are operating close to 25 percent, and we should be closer to the 20 percent historical average. A change in trajectory is possible through several avenues.
By eliminating unnecessary federal programs and streamlining government we can make the necessary fiscal reforms quickly by lowering the rate of increase (trajectory) of spending. Is this the time to spend on a high-speed rail system, or the duplication in educational programs, or the various community development funds? Why should N.C. taxpayers fund positions to seek matching federal funds? Just have the fed make a block grant directly to the state.
Social Security absolutely needs to be made solvent and viable for the long term. Outlays need to grow more slowly than entitlements. Longer work lives must be joined with a higher personal saving rate. A strong minimum benefit incorporating gradual increases in retirement age with reductions for the more affluent is reasonable. The current structure is a Ponzi scheme. Payroll taxes for individuals 62 and older should be eliminated.
Changing the trajectory in government spending can achieve these goals. Government spending may not go up forever. Our failure as Americans has been to elect plutocrats who have taken the American Dream away from our children.
HIL CASSELL
Winston-Salem
LTE #1....Sorry Charlie, but you in no way honor Abe Brenner by using his passing to promote your political agenda. I'll tell you "what's wrong with this picture?" To even suggest Abe Brenner is loathed by anyone is just remarkable. You need to take a moment and do some self-reflection Mr. Weaver.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cheap and sorry attempt to demonize and personalize OWS by suggesting somehow the loathing and berating of philanthropists while ignoring mediocre professional athletes. To quote you, Charlie, your letter was written "mostly out of ignorance." OWS is not about individuals, it's about a system.
ReplyDeleteI would like to thank LaSombra and Rush for demonstrating the other night the 'hate' that politically correct and gay and lesbian activists will exact on individuals (me) if they disagree with others on social issues.
ReplyDeleteAlthough liberals preach 'tolerance', they are some of the most intolerant people in the
world.
To Stab: It's interesting that a poster called me a coward for not posting my name, yet when called out to post his, he refused.
The reason I don't post my real name is mainly because there is a good chance some 'nut', like Rush, might drive-by, in a 'cowardly' fashion, and throw a brick through my window.
Although I admire your decision for posting your identity, I think it could be a risky proposition, given the number of 'Rushes' there are in the world.
Here's an old commercial that I think is applicable to today's push for gay marriage.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLrTPrp-fW8
After the 2008 presidential election, exit interviews were conducted on Obama voters to determine their political intellect and knowledge. The surveys found out that most, if not all, knew something about Sarah Palin in the negative sense, but most didn't know who Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid were.
ReplyDeleteThis video, although satiric, is almost true in terms of how the liberal media is portraying conservatives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=X0wkR9goqJ0&feature=endscreen
Bucky: Thank you for addressing me in the name I chose to be known as on this blog. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteAT NO TIME have I EVER demonstrated ANY HATE towards you or anyone, or any OPINION, of yours or anyone else's. Hate and political correctness is what YOU call it, I call it having a discussion. If you can't handle the discussion, GET OFF THE BOAT!!!. Everyone else here seems to be able to ride the waves, so to speak.
Your intolerance of certain segments of the population is CLEARLY EVIDENT, but it's worn thin on EVERYONE ELSE here. Except when the topic is pertinent, stick to current news events.
Be respectful of others, and their opinions. This includes name calling, somethin you seem to be adept at.
Leftovers from 12/19:
ReplyDelete@dotnet, I respectfully decline your invitation but hope that it remains open during a time of the year that is not so busy (or cold) as to take in some of Winston-Salem's downtown that so many keep whining about.
@Rush: Bucky REFUSES to be ignored. His mere presence, virtually and physically, wreaks havoc around him and he THRIVES on it. Trust me on this.
@everyone else: the emotional exchanges of a few days ago seems to have created a state of openness. I hesitate to divulge my true identity, but if there's a need to know feel free to e-mail me; I give personal responses. L-O-O-O-N-G before the internet I used to do what was then known as "Skip Tracing" for small-time financial institutions and collection agencies. It was standard practice for these agencies to use pseudonyms so as to protect it's employees from retribution. The internet has made it so much easier for someone to do just that, and so I hold on for dear life to what little privacy I DO have in this age of technology.
Brava!!
ReplyDeleteLaSombra....hang onto your privacy. I intend to do the same for one or two very good reasons.
ReplyDelete" . . . demonstrating . . . the 'hate' that politically correct and gay and lesbian activists will exact on individuals (me) . . ."
ReplyDeleteBucky, you are F-A-A-A-R from being the victim.
Speaking of Brenner's, we have some friends whose 2 year old grandson is there now with third degree burns on his legs and backside. Those people at Brenner Hospital are life savers.
ReplyDeleteLa Sombra A/K/A Rielle.....it's funny that you and the others in here think you are tolerant of others, yet many of you literally loathe me and my opinions. Too bad, the truth never goes out of style.
ReplyDeleteStab says, let's get back to real news. Gay and lesbians topics are in the WS Journal, and other news outlets daily. However, when I discuss it, it's not real news. What a ridiculous statment.
Rush's statement that he was 'drinking', and he somehow got out of hand the other night, just confirms my opinion that he's a drunk and/or a substance abuser that gets on the computer nightly while under the influence.
I know it 'bugs' many of you to no end when I'm right. But you all should grow up, and start facing reality.
So, all you can continue to express your 'hate' for me and my opinions if you wish. But I'll just go on telling the truth. And I make no apologies for do so.
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ReplyDeleteRielle, you're wrong, as usual. I don't know your name, and even if I did, I wouldn't post it like you THINK you have just done.
ReplyDeleteIt's clear your 'hate' for me runs deep.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBecause you express 'hate', that's why. You and Rush are the primary 'haters' in here. Why are you so intolerant of conservative views?
ReplyDeleteBucky, there is no way O.T. could write the intellectual responses he posts to your banal diatribes and be a drunk. In my opinion, you are drunk with ignorance and intolerance.
ReplyDeleteAs many on this forum have asked, if you would just play "nice" and leave that subject about which you are anal retentive about alone your comments and presence would be welcome here.
Wordly
I realize most of the posters in here are gay and lesbian activists. However, I thought most of you would be tolerant of my views. It's clear that most of you are 'haters' of views other than your own.
ReplyDeletePreaching 'tolerance' while 'hating' others....strange combination.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBucky,
ReplyDeleteI am not a gay activist. To my knowledge I have no close gay or lesbian relatives. I would consider my closest gay friend to be Bob a man I’ve never met. I will vote against NC’s marriage amendment and will actively solicit for the other 3 registered voters in my household to do likewise. However, Public Policy Polling indicates the amendment will pass in NC and I do consider this to be unfortunate.
Wordly
To strongly disagree DOES NOT equal Hate, it just means that I strongly disagree.
ReplyDeleteRielle....I realize you apparently live in a irrational world, but objective data indicates that I'm right on most issues. I know that won't make sense to you. But I answered your question.
ReplyDeleteTo offer a different point of view does not mean that I am right, nor does it mean that your point of view is wrong. It just adds light to a big picture.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI wish you weren't such a 'hater'. Your attempted exposure of my true identity indicates that you really hate me. If that was my true name, you've would have compromised my own and my family's safety and security.
ReplyDeleteThat's really outrageous when you think about that hateful act.
" . . . objective data indicates that I'm right on most issues . . ." is the reason you were fired as a volunteer.
ReplyDeleteThe sad part of it all is that you're feeding off of this, even as the negative attention you get is better than no attention at all.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that you were such a 'hater'. I guess my theory about liberal Democras holds true, sadly.
ReplyDeleteLte4...good post. What is going on in Washington now is little more than day by day positioning for favorable headlines. What we as a nation face fiscally is almost too terrible to contemplate and most in Government know it. They will do anything to keep from telling the truth which is: what’s happening in the US is NOT a garden-variety cyclical recession. It is a STRUCTURAL SECULAR DEPRESSION. And the reason is that we are currently witnessing the collapse of the greatest debt bubble of all time. 2008 was the first round of this. We’re now heading into the second round in which entire countries will go bust. Europe dominates our business headlines for a reason.
ReplyDeleteHere's a story about a liberal activist, who is extremely smart.
ReplyDeleteI realize this isn't real news. But check it out.
It just goes to show that your can be smart, but still a dumbass.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/paroled-american-berenson-leaves-peru-15195234
Mornin' WW, hope all is well. maybe you can help. I found an old pocket knife over the weekend at a yardsale. One of the blades has a tree etched in it?
ReplyDeleteHey Bob...word to the wise---give that pocket knife a wide birth.
ReplyDeleteIt's similar to an old boy scout knife I used to have, two blades, a can opener and a bottle opener
ReplyDelete¡Hola, WW! How about a picture of the pocket knife? My husband and his BFF collects them; they would kick themselves to know that it was found at a yard sale. They mostly frequent the gun show circuit.
ReplyDeleteQue tal LaSombra. I never learned much about knives as i always managed to lose one almost as soon as I got it.
ReplyDeleteI gave it to one of my cousins for Christmas and I just found the company online, search: tree, pocketknife and you get Boker, Tree Brand, Solingen, Germany, which is where my kitchen knives are made, so I'm guessing it's probably a nice knife.
ReplyDeleteWW....'Que tal' is not used commonly in most Spanish speaking cultures. However, some people do use it.
ReplyDeleteMay I ask where you picked that phrase up?
Good afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: Mr. Weaver hasn't been paying too close attention. The Occupiers' ire is directed at Wall Street and the big banks, not entrepreneurs such as Mr. Brenner or athletes/entertainers. The Occupy W-S group protested Wells Fargo, not Reynolds or any of the startups on Technology Way. One of those times I wish the Journal had a FactCheck.
LTE 2: "The current arguments highlight that our elected officials are only beholden to the special interests that gave them the money to get elected." - that's been the situation ever since the mass communication era began.
LTE 3: Another idiotic decision was to drop the penny sales tax at a time when revenues are very tight. Good observations, Mr. Witte.
LTE 4: With unemployment running twice the historical rate and 2 wars, running a 25% GDP budget is to be expected. What would bring it back to the 20% norm would be ending the wars and expanding the economy to bring the UR back to normal. SS is actually not in that bad of a shape, especially in comparison to Medicare. SS just needs some tweaking to get through the baby boomers. I don't see serious debt reduction being viable until the UR is brought back down.
My invitation is good through out the year. I prefer a time when we can get together for a leisurely spell without having to rush back to work or whereever.
ReplyDeleteThank God the Republicans control the House. Democrats have 'stuffed' the current budget bill with all kinds of outrageous spending.
ReplyDeleteHere's a video by Sen. McCain pointing out the 'pork' that the Democrats want to pass in the bill. No wonder Obama and the Democrats have doubled our deficit in just 36 months.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMUx8KmX4B0
The Democrats want to RAM this bill through too. Why can't anybody read the 'bills' before the American people find out what's in them?
ReplyDeleteBucky @1:54. I first heard that phrase in Nicaragua back during that time from the mouth of a habitually drunk Sandinista "bag man". I heard it over the years in southern California too by the same nationality of people there.
ReplyDelete@WW's 1706hrs: I don't know how many regional differences there can be to the phrase, but where I grew up it's Spanish slang for "What's up?".
ReplyDeleteDon Witte spent years in the business sector, but he had to get a job at Forsyth Tech after retirement. He lost all of his money in the stock market. This information was obtain from the World Wide Web. I know that'll drive Wordly nuts. But this is not directed at anyone.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose for Witte's letter-his own job preservation in the education field. How quickly we change.
Hey Rielle.....if your husband is in the law enforcement field, I hope you talked to him today about your knuckleheaded decision to try to 'out' someone's identity in a blog.
ReplyDeleteDo US a favor, and don't do any more favors regarding any Schatzman issues. You clearly don't think too good.
Jeez...it just never stops.
It was also in Spanish I, Lesson I, first sentence in Spanish Class:
ReplyDeleteHola Paco. Que Tal? Como estas?
Bien. Y tu?
Asi, Asi.
Como esta female person.
Ella esta muy inferma.
Que lastima. Ojala que se mejore pronto.
Yeah...I'll agree. She's sick all right.
ReplyDeleteBobby...except for your little tirade when you crashed the site, you're looking like the adult in here lately.
ReplyDeleteNice pictures of the old house.....did you do the floors?
ReplyDeletecrashed the site?
ReplyDeleteYeah....when I made you mad...you deleted all of the posts, remember? I know you put them back (except for mine), but nobody could get back on in that section. I just loosely used the term 'crashed' to describe your actions, or was that Stab?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteActually, I just took you up on a dare. "No one has ever deleted my posts. No one would dare."
ReplyDeleteBobby...I WAS being a little arrogant. I'll admit it.
ReplyDeleteNow what about the floors? I love hardwood floors.
Oh Shit. You know you're getting old when "The Fonz" is doing Reverse Mortgage Commercials.
ReplyDeleteThe ne floors were put in by the owners, the upstairs had the original hardwood floors from 1903.
ReplyDeleteThe floors last forever. It's the general structure of the house that usually falters.
ReplyDeleteThe Mast General Store in Valle Crucis is a good example.
Used to go up there a lot on weekends when I lived on the farm.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the name La Sombra posted if you google FSCOwatch that last name comes up along with an address. Different first names. Fcsowatch.com Whois lookup - Whois. Kind of scary. Don't know what happens when you google Wordly, but then I always assume that anything I post to the WWW could one day be public.
ReplyDeleteBucky, I would like to commend your behavior this evening as you as refrained from posting about the subject that should not be named, and you have contributed positively to the dialog.
"the subject that should not be named" -Wordly
ReplyDeleteI've got another little post upcoming that you might find objectionable, please don't look. And shhhhhhhhhh......don't tell anybody if you do.
Wordly.......I don't run or own that website. So, LaSombra's foolish assumption that I'm the owner of FCSO.COM is erroneous. That's the bottom line.
ReplyDeleteWhen you run a Whois, you just get the owner of the domain name.
You can choose to believe LaSombra or me. Take your pick.
I'll continue to post either way. So LaSombra's mission to stop my posts has failed.