The majority
The writer of the letter "A small percentage" (Jan. 9) is upset about bike lanes in Winston-Salem. "A small group of insiders are running an expensive program to fit their vision of what the city needs," he writes — as if that's a bad thing.
He adds: "They always come up with reasons that sound good on the surface, but never put it to a vote of the people." Of course, the people voted for the officials who make decisions about these programs. So, see? It's not that bad.
"In the process, they are creating inconvenience and expense for the majority of the people." But it's always a minority of people who get things done. The majority of the people are not creative. The majority of the people are not forward-thinking — they would rather save a penny today even if it means spending a dollar tomorrow. Most of all, the majority of the people are not engaged. Many don't even vote. Many only show up at city council meetings when something unusual and controversial is happening.
If he doesn't like the way things are done, perhaps the letter writer should run for office. Then hecould be part of the small percentage willing to make the important decisions — and take the heat for it.
ADAM SIZEMORE
Winston-Salem
Support the stadium
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school board should grant final approval for the new Reynolds High School stadium, to be paid for by private funds. Give the boosters a deadline with which to come up with all or a portion of the funding required. Then, just as the private community responded to support the magnificent renovation of Reynolds Auditorium almost a decade ago, so too will they support the new stadium.
Contrary to some recent concerns that the stadium "will not represent all the people" ("Stadium foes fear traffic, parking, noise," Jan. 11), any time we invest in our school system, we strengthen the educational experience of all our young people, who will be the future leaders of our community and thus will represent all the people. Further, the project's inclusion of a replacement for the decrepit Wiley gym, also with private funds, speaks to the inclusive nature of this project to benefit those beyond Reynolds. And, the "Brunson argument" mixes apples and oranges and is irrelevant to the stadium decision. Yes, Brunson must be replaced, but to wedge another school in the proposed stadium space is not a viable option. Brunson must be handled as a separate issue, not an either/or related to the stadium.
We should not miss this opportunity for this partnership. It is fitting that the teams and students attending the most historic flagship high school in the county be able to have a home adjacent to their school, not five miles away.
BRIAN P. MYERS
Winston-Salem
Bicycle education
I grew up in the Netherlands and have lived in Winston-Salem since 1977. Without my bicycle I feel like a cowboy without his horse; however, I find it scary to ride on busy streets. I concur that education in traffic rules for cyclists and drivers is necessary.
In the Netherlands, drivers are tested on rules in regard to cyclists (e.g. you flunk if you forget to look over your right shoulder for a cyclist before making a right turn), and children learn traffic rules in elementary school. All the streets have sidewalks and separate paths for cyclists. Consequently, cycling is very popular, children walk or ride a bicycle to school, and adults ride their bike to work.
Our city is becoming more attractive and safer with sidewalks, greenways and bicycle paths. I applaud the city for employing Matthew Burczyk, an outstanding bicycle and pedestrian coordinator.
FIET (SOPHIA) W. ROTHBERGER-KRAAL
Winston-Salem
Conflicts of interest
This is in response to Monte Mitchell's lengthy story "Couple's ties to fund examined" (Jan. 15).
It is always awkward when conflicts of interest arise involving board members of nonprofit foundations. Ideally such situations would never occur, but, in the real world we live in, such issues do occasionally arise and must be resolved. That is why it is vitally important that nonprofits have in place in advance a robust and transparent policy that both protects the foundation and also informs board members what is expected of them in such situations.
In other words, conflicts are inevitable. The real question is how they are handled.
It is difficult for me to comprehend that a Golden LEAF board member could be criticized forcomplying with the foundation's strict conflicts policy.
Readers should know that:
- Not one dime of Golden LEAF grant funds has ever been paid to me, my wife, or to our consulting firm.
- The Golden LEAF and its board members are not currently subject to the N.C. State Ethics Act, as reported. However, as a member of the UNC School of the Arts Board of Trustees, I am personally subject to the act. I completed mandatory ethics training and have filed a comprehensive financial-disclosure statement with the N.C. Ethics Commission as required by the act.
Our work will continue in support of North Carolina's struggling rural communities.
MICHAEL A. ALMOND
MEMBER, GOLDEN LEAF BOARD
Piney Creek
"In the Netherlands, drivers are tested on rules in regard to cyclists (e.g. you flunk if you forget to look over your right shoulder for a cyclist before making a right turn), and children learn traffic rules in elementary school."
ReplyDeleteFIET (SOPHIA) W. ROTHBERGER-KRAAL
Let me let you in on a little secret Sophia, you lala land inhabitant, you're not in the Netherlands anymore. Jeez.
Five things to know about the blackout.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/2012/01/17/wikipedia-blackout-january-18-5-things-to-know-about-sopa-pipa-protest/
I'd rather learn more things about this Pipa, than the other one.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/pippa-middleton
Maybe that's what Google was doing to me. Since I'm one of the most read bloggers in the forum, they put that little 'blackout' type symbol next to my name on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteThey just wanted to get the word out.
Dot Net:
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: We indeed have a republic form of govt instead of a democracy. I find it rather amusing how people who are opposed to some proposal always seem to assume that the majority agree with their particular position. Of course, as Mr. Sizemore points out, the majority usually doesn't care one way or another. Nice rebuttal from Mr. Sizemore.
LTE 2: "...the most historic flagship high school in the county ..." hmm..I wonder if Mr. Myers attended Reynolds. Since private funds are being used, and I didn't attend Reynolds, it doesn't matter to me if they build it or not.
LTE 3: That's so cool you grew up in the Netherlands Ms.Rothberger-Kraal. I've always wanted to visit that country. From Ms.Rothberger-Kraal's experience, and from my experience in Scottsdale, incorporating bike lanes can be done quite effectively. There are plenty of examples around for the city to model after should they decide to proceed.
LTE 4: A prime example of Mr. Sizemore's assertion that "it's always a minority of people who get things done". That minority serves on the boards of the mover and shaker groups in this county, so naturally, they are going to know each other and often have professional as well as charitable deals taking place amongst them. I didn't understand the point of the article either other than to point out some of the minority who do get things done in this county like Mr. Almond. I'm on board with Mr. Almond on this one.
Yesterday's SCOTUS denial of the CC's appeal: Well, duhh! What did people expect was going to happen? This has been settled law for years. I really wish we still had the pre-FB format because seeing some of the reponses of those who have no clue about Constitutional law or how our judiciary system works is quite entertaining.
"I really wish we still had the pre-FB format because seeing some of the reponses of those who have no clue about Constitutional law or how our judiciary system works is quite entertaining."
ReplyDeleteYes indeed. They they don't know judicial review from judicial revue.
"they they"...which is funny, because when I was a kid I had a bad habit of repeating the last word in my sentences when I talked. I sounded like Jimmy Two Times from Goodfellas.
DeleteLTE #1: Excellent letter. His points about who gets things done are right on the money.
ReplyDeleteLTE #2: I don't think we need a football stadium in Hanes Park.
LTE #3: Since a half blind midget with an IQ of 50 can easily get a driver's license in the USA, it is not even safe to be a pedestrian, much less ride a bicycle.
LTE #4: Don't know enough about this to comment.
Sounds like you are being a bigot Rush. I thought you were above that sort of thang.
DeleteGee, BuckKnot, I was thinking of you when I wrote that phrase. Seems like a perfect fit.
DeleteRe: SCOTUS decision...I note that Steve Corts says that this has a chilling effect on freedom of religion. Maybe at The Creation his brain was installed upside down or something, because the effect is just the opposite...it ensures freedom of religion for all, while affecting his freedom not at all...he is still free to pray at home, at church, in the street (WARNING: see comment about driver's licenses above), anywhere he wants, even in the hallways at the county office building.
ReplyDeleteWhat he cannot do is attempt to impose his particular brand of superstition on any of the rest of us at a government meeting. Corts and his ilk exhibit extreme arrogance, which I'm sure would puzzle Jesus, who was all about humbleness.
Isn't it funny how people that don't believe in Jesus or any type of religion, can tell other people what Jesus would think or do?
DeleteI wish the bonehead would use, "LTE #4: Don't know enough about this to comment", more often.
Could be because most atheists and agnostics know far more about the bible than most so-called christians do.
DeleteIn fact, that is WHY they are atheists and agnostics, because their knowledge of real history tells them that the bible is a work of fiction, like the book of mormon and Newt Gingrich's resume and Rush Limbaugh's explanation of why he didn't serve in Viet Nam.
Bible is capitalized nitwit. I've tried to tell you that several times.
DeleteYou're being a little hard on Rush, OT. He was actually very ambivalent about going to Vietnam.
DeleteOn the one hand, the opiates from the Golden Triangle were dirt cheap. But on the other, no McDonald's.
He really was on the horns of a dilemma.
True. My favorite was his claim to a high school football injury...then his supposed high school coach couldn't remember having any butterballs on his team.
DeleteIt ends up...in more ways than one...that it was a Pilonidal cyst...which is essentially a boil full of ingrown hairs at the top of your butt cheeks. I can't say any more about that, because BuckKnot will get too excited by the subject matter.
Student rejects Oxford.
ReplyDeleteNowell, of Winchester, New Hampshire, told the BBC that the school’s interview process made her feel like “the only atheist in a gigantic monastery.”
_________________________
All I can say is have a good life. You'll never live this one down.
Liberals, you gotta love 'em. They're too stupid to hate.
President Obama's re-election team has bought up ad time in several key swing states and will begin to air the ads starting Thursday, a campaign official told Fox News.
ReplyDeleteThe official said the ads will air in Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina and Wisconsin -- all states Obama won in 2008
____________
He can forget North Carolina this time around. Most sane people realize that Obama is not the way to go for the next four years. Wheeeeeoooooooooooooooooo! Most of us have had enough!
It's almost unfair how easy it is when you go up against a dumbass who has no idea of much of anything.
Delete1. In 2008, Obama won the electoral vote 365-173.
2. The above "swing" states have 65 electoral votes.
3. So Obama can lose all of the above "swing" states and still win the electoral vote 300-238.
4. But it is far from assured that Obama will lose any or all five of those "swing" states.
5. For instance, the latest polls (this week) show Obama dead even in NC against Romney, and several points up on the only other possible candidate, Newty.
6. And if Romney wins the nomination, he will have to reverse course on some of his more ridiculous statements which he has employed to try to get the GOP nomination.
7. Since he has already reversed course on those statements from his previous statements, that will constitute a double reversal, which just might call into question his veracity.
8. Call him "Waffle House" Romney.How many votes will that cost him?
9. Since money is important, it is reasonable to point out that Obama has about 10 times as much money as Romney and there is much more where that came from.
10. As always, stupid is as stupid does.
What amazes me is that the even the "Know Nothing" party would have had a slam dunk against Obama, but the GOP is so stupid that they have probably blown that possibility.
DeleteIf, and that is the tiniest of ifs, they should win the presidency, it would be by the tiniest margin in American history.
And even so, because people are not quite as stupid as they seem, the polls also show a strong likelihood that they will lose the House of Represenatives back to the Democrats.
And for icing on the cake, the polls also show that they might very well lose both houses of the NC state legislature. Wouldn't it be cool if that moron McCrory won the governorship, only to find himself saddled with the old tried and true Democratic controlled legislature?
Laughing all the way.
9. Yes, lots of money available, from unions who will spend millions to reelect their puppet while piously whining about corporations and Citizens United.
DeleteGood evening, folks!
ReplyDeleteOT, Roscoe seems to be improving.
As Jim and Tammy used to say, PTL! Roscoe is a great name, BTW. Not in the same league with Rum Tum Tugger or Macavity, but it will do nicely.
DeleteRoscoe and I both thank you, and we defer to the name "Macavity," indeed a classic.
DeleteMs. Nowel is NOT from New Hampshire. She is from Winchester, Hampshire, England.
ReplyDeleteI doubt if she will spend one minute regretting her decision. Oxford & Cambridge used to be considered the best schools in the world, but they are not necessarily tops even in Great Britain any more. Ms. Nowell's choice, University College, London, may now be the best. Other contenders are the University of Edinburgh, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Imperial College in London, not to mention Trinity College across the Irish Sea in Dublin.
Elsewhere, the best include Tokyo University and the University of Hong Kong in Asia; the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and the École Normale Supérieure de Paris and more in Europe; and the Australian National University.
Of course, the best cluster of outstanding schools is right here in the USA, headed by Harvard, MIT, Yale, Brown, Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Cal Tech, Cal Berkely, Cal San Diego, Duke and, just across the border, McGill University in Canada.
Really smart parents wouldn't choose any of these schools for their kids to attend as undergraduates, because they can get a better education at a small school, a few of which are Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, Haverford, Davidson, Emory, Bowdoin, Reed, Middlebury and a host of others. Those interested in girls only schools should look at Mt. Holyoke and Vassar and a few others.
Students who visit a lot of schools before choosing tend to have the best college experiences and get the best education.