Perdue should call session
Your Oct. 24 editorial “Perdue should call special session,” regarding the more than 7,600 men, women and children who were forcibly sterilized from 1929 until 1974 made me weep. I totally agree that Gov. Bev Perdue should call a special session of the legislature to make the small amends to the victims that was overwhelmingly approved by the N.C. House last summer. This was thought to be a “done deal” until Phil Berger refused to even allow a vote in the state Senate.
The citizens of North Carolina should raise an outcry about this injustice.
Gov. Perdue promised to help these unfortunate people. She is leaving office very soon and certainly should keep her promise before departing by standing up to Phil Berger, calling a special session of the legislature and fulfilling her promise. The residents of North Carolina will feel and sleep better.
DOTT NICHOLSON-BROWN
Lewisville
Railroading Lance
In regard to the article “UCI strips Armstrong of Tour de France titles” (Oct. 23), the competition of bicycling has been an event for years. The International Cycling Federation has a program with rules, officials, a drug-testing facility and guidelines. Now with no real proof, only hearsay and accusations, they are doing this. With this type of thing they are doing, our political area could strip Jimmy Carter, the Bushes, Bill Clinton and President Obama of all the things they have accomplished.
Also with this kind of thinking and action, NASCAR could strip Richard Petty, David Pearson and Dale Earnhardt of all of their victories and championships without proof of anything. I think the UCI is expressing sour grapes because of its inability to prove anything.
LEON TYSOR
Germanton
No broken windows
The Oct. 31 article “Storm’s cost may hit $50B” indicates that economists believe “a slightly slower economy in coming weeks will likely be matched by reconstruction and repairs that will contribute to growth over time.” Unfortunately, statements like this, typically made by mainstream economists following natural disasters, can be used to promote a deceptive idea that destruction is good for an economy.
Based on the way that gross domestic product (GDP) is calculated, natural disasters usually reduce current period GDP, while GDP grows during the recovery period. However, growth during the recovery phase should not lead us to conclude that the U.S. economy is better off than before.
Frederick Bastiat, in 1850, rightly observed what is referred to as the “broken-window” fallacy. If a window is broken by an errant baseball, this creates business for the person who repairs windows. Ah! An increase in GDP. However, the money spent on repairing the window will not be spent on something else, perhaps new clothes or a nice restaurant dinner. The broken window has diverted activity to the window-repair industry, but at the cost of less business activity in other industries.
Beware of the economist peddling the idea that natural disasters are a godsend for an economy. Natural and social disasters result in the destruction of wealth – they don’t create it. If disasters did create wealth, Winston-Salem could grow into the most prosperous and amazing city on the planet by simply burning itself to the ground every few years.
NATHAN POWELL
Winston-Salem
No longer self-sufficient
Please quit reporting the stories of people who knew that Superstorm Sandy was coming their way, then complain that the government or relief organizations are not reacting quickly enough.
I choose to live on high ground but nature could still deal me a problem. Insurance costs money but provides peace of mind and is reasonably priced in areas that are not prone to problems.
People need to accept that living in low areas, flood plains and coasts are risky. Their choice, yet my taxes have to be wasted on their choice.
In my lifetime we have gone from being self-sufficient people to having our hands out wanting “our share.” Our current economy and debt show this is not working. We caused the USSR to run out of money with the high cost of the arms race. They must be assuming that we are doing the same to our economy.
I am older, but hope to see this resolved in my lifetime. It will be nice to say “I told you so.”
ERIC JOHNSON
Winston-Salem
Fighting over the flag
Still fighting over the flag(s) at the Veteran's Memorial in King (“Afghanistan war vet sues King over Christian flag,” Nov. 3)? Only this time the protestor is aiming for inclusiveness and equality. The only flags that need to be flown are the state flag, (lower by a respectful distance) and the American flag. When we say the Pledge of Allegiance, I seem to remember the line, “one nation, under God.” Isn't that enough?
Our Founding Fathers were not Christians, per se; many of them were deists, believing in an overseeing God, not just one that superseded others. Each was left to their own beliefs, the definition of religious freedom.
Steven Hewett is practicing his American rights: freedom of speech, freedom from having a religion imposed upon oneself and the freedom to know he can express himself without fear of retribution.
Way to go, Steve!
BARBARA DOUGHTERTY
Clemmons
LTE #4...No Longer Self Sufficient
ReplyDeleteSays "My taxes are wasted.." This goes to the Me, My, Mine, I culture of the self centered. First of all these are OUR tax dollars at work helping OUR fellow citizens in a time of disaster and need. It's not that we are no longer a self sufficient nation but that with technology and toys, we've become a self centered nation. It wasn't that long ago when neighbors and families all supported each other. When my grandfather's tobacco crop came in, the family would gather at the farm and all the neighbors got together to prime, string, and hang it. The next day, they would all go to another's farm to do the same and so on. If someone was building a barn, all the neighbors got to gather for the barn raising. There were quilting bees, canning, all a collective community action. Furthermore, We did not cause the Soviet Union to run out of money because of an arms race. That is completely simplistic view of the dynamic factors which led to the fall of the Soviet Union. The arms race certainly contributed to the many factors which were already in play from the days of Khrushchev. One factor we should be able to appreciate is their WAR with Afghanistan which began on 12/24/79 and lasted until 2/15/89. Two years later on 12/25/91, the USSR was no more. "It will be nice to say 'I told you so??'" Another statement of the self centered and one that many find distasteful.
The elimination of early voting in many locations is such an obvious and devious ploy it's really rather sickening. As former NJ Governor, Christie Todd Whitman said, it's unfathomable that these things are actually going on in the US in 2012. Face it. Early voting is vital in densely population urban areas where millions of people are trying to vote and one look at a national map of red and blue counties and the striking feature is that blue counties are overwhelmingly in densely populated areas. NY and California are good examples. Traditionally blue states, the map shows ~ 80% red with 20% pockets of blue in urban areas. The swing states of Florida and Ohio, mostly red with densely populated urban pockets of blue. So this whole idea of eliminating or curtailing early voting, it's not about the money, it's about voter suppression, it's about the destruction of democracy.
ReplyDeleteRed and Blue County Map
DeleteThe first votes are in!
ReplyDeleteTen of them, anyway. And it's an Obama, Romney tie.
The small hamlet of Dixville Notch in New Hampshire distinguishes itself every primary and general election by voting right at midnight.
Complaint filed that illegals are being registered by Nevada unions, and they are in fact voting. Complaint says without their votes, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would never have been reelected.
ReplyDeleteWho said that ain't happening? If it weren't so utterly corrupt, you'd have to just laugh.
Liberal Democrats would steal a cupcake from their grandmother if they thought it'd help them win an election.
Conservative Republicans would lie to and then steal your grandmother if they though it'd help them win an election.
DeleteJP'sCupcakery my good friend and bro' JP
Besides, we are self sufficient and make our own cupcakes.
DeleteThe symbol for the Democratic Party is so apropos. Most Democrats are asses.
DeleteI'll bet you missed me, didn't you Bob?
DeleteI have no idea if the above-mentioned vote fraud occurred, but I would not put it past unions to commit such. While several members of this forum sanctify unions, they have a long history of corruption. Remember Jimmy Hoffa, pension fund crime, the Mafia, Communist Hollywood unions, SEIU hacks indicted for embezzlement. If they'll steal money, they'll steal votes.
DeleteThey seem to be in an effort to steal the state of Michigan with a ballot initiative.
DeleteBucky, when I am surrounded by so many wonderful and loving creatures, it's hard to miss humans. There are a few that fit that category.
DeleteRe Michigan ballot initiative #2: instead of knee jerking, I read the arguments from both sides. Of course, both sides are lying like rugs, but if you ignore that and look at the merits, I would narrowly vote against it.
DeleteAs to Stab's comment, typical, while we have been watching a full-fledged Republican led voter suppression event in Florida...with the bald eagle governor at the forefront. Kudos to those with the fortitude to stand in line for eight hours to vote.
And a special tip of the hat to the pizza man who served up 400 free pizzas to waiting voters.
Typical comment, yes, but correct just the same. Cuz, you also essay some typical comments. Your remarks re Christians, for example.
DeleteI would vote against the MI initiative, and not narrowly.
lol, I am laughing. A complaint filed in Nevada by ALIPAC, lol, from Raleigh. Of course all filed complaints are true, any LEO would know that. lol Gheen says Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, would have been ousted in 2010 if not for illegal immigrants voting. A complaint by loser Sharon Angle did not overturn the results.
ReplyDeleteHe also says his group, which has 40,000 members, will organize a boycott of Las Vegas if action is not taken. OOH, we're gonna boycott Las Vegas and eat at Chick-fil-A. I'll stick with the Bouchon or the Lavo.
A lawsuit filed Monday, on the eve of the election by the co-chairman of the Ohio Green Party and editor of FreePress.org, Bob Fitrakis alleges that software in some Ohio voting machines makes the machines vulnerable to having votes altered after they are cast.
ReplyDeleteThe lawsuit involves machines made by Election Systems and Software out of Omaha, Nebraska, alleges that software on the machines could allow vote manipulation by non-election board officials.
The lawsuit comes days after FreePress.org published a report claiming that Husted had done an “end run” around Ohio law by installing the software on the vote tabulators in the weeks leading up to to the election. According to the report, the software was installed on machines that will be used by more than 4 million registered voters, including those in major metropolitan areas such as Cleveland and Columbus.
We've got corrupted elections, even if we don't want to admit it.
DeleteDemocrats don't care, so long as their man/woman wins.
and neither do Republicans, it's all the same. It's always been that way.
DeleteNo longer self sufficient. Events like Sandy remind us that everyone should be prepared to sustain themselves for at least 3-4 days until help arrives. If you live close enough to see the water, the water will eventually see you. Disasters can happen anywhere...be prepared. We have done to our economy what all developed economies have done and are doing--piling on debt on top of debt. This only ends one way. “THERE IS NO MEANS OF AVOIDING THE FINAL COLLAPSE OF A BOOM BROUGHT ABOUT BY CREDIT EXPANSION. THE ALTERNATIVE IS ONLY WHETHER THE CRISIS SHOULD COME SOONER AS A RESULT OF A VOLUNTARY ABANDONMENT OF FURTHER CREDIT EXPANSION, OR LATER AS A FINAL OR TOTAL CATASTROPHE OF THE CURRENCY SYSTEM INVOLVED” Ludwig von Mises. BTW, the part about the collapse of the USSR is pretty weak, but you just know the old Kremlin bosses are quite amazed at us.
ReplyDeleteNo broken windows. It is gratifying to see one of my favorite classic liberal political economists in an LTE. Frederic Bastiat's work, and those like him will be what follows this current period of Keynesian modeled "economics" that western governments have pretty well lynched themselves with since the end of WW 2. The current string will have to be played out as no one will listen to anything until they are forced to. No politician- well a few- will tell what people won't listen to. "Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavours to live at the expense of everybody else" Frederic Bastiat.
ReplyDeleteAgree with the last. Certainly plenty of that going on in the USA, from all parts of the spectrum.
DeleteI have re read some portions of Strauss & Howe's "Fourth Turning". Seems more interesting as time goes on. Events all around are not always apparent when you are living them---kind of like an asset bubble---hard to recognize while you are in it, but when it pops then everyone can see it.
DeleteNew Black Panther Party representative back out in front of a polling location in Philadelphia. He know AG Holder ain't going to bother him.
ReplyDeleteGOP inspection monitor 'shoved' in Philadelphia, and told to leave, even though both parties are allowed inspectors.
You gotta love these sleazy Democrats. They'll do anything.
On a different note, disaster relief. During the Reagan years, 1st term 111 extreme weather related disaster declared, during the 2nd term 112, Bush I 173, Clinton 311 and 399, Bush II 460 and 577, Obama 596. The number of Extreme weather related disasters has more than quadrupled over the past 30 years.
ReplyDeleteAHH, Standchen by Franz Schubert. Now there was an Austrian genius. He lived to the ripe old age of 32, composed 9 symphonies, and over 600 other works of lyrical and emotional artistry.
ReplyDeleteImagine if everyone in the world were as productive as Schubert, Mozart, etc.
DeleteGood afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: Gov. Perdue could certainly try, but I'm not sure how much good it will do. The victims have no political pull and no money to exert any political pull. Barring demographic shifts, the only people that the state legislatures will be paying attention to for the next 10 years are those with money.
LTE 2: If everyone is doping, then can any one cyclist be considered to have cheated? Obviously, if only one is doping and the rest are clean, there's a competitive advantage, but what competitive advantage exists if everyone is doping?
LTE 3: Mr. Powell has to keep in mind that those statements are typically reporters' interpretation of economists' words which generally results in a slight misinterpretation. Natural catastrophes bring economic activity to a halt in the affected areas due to the wreckage of the infrastructure. I don't know of any economist who would suggest that this stoppage of all economic activity for a length of time would not cause significant economic loss that will be easily overcome by the rebuillding stage. For businesses teetering on the edge, it would be the death knell. There will be an uptick when rebuilding begins because there will be substantial construction occurring that otherwise would not have occurred, however, it may take a considerable amount of time to rebuild the infrastructure necessary to resume full economic activity.
LTE 4: While I'll agree that it's difficult to feel sympathy for people who remained in harm's way despite repeated warnings to evacuate, everyone who lived in the path of the storm suffered loss whether they left or stayed. Building a house on a shrinking beach is a foolish proposition, but that wasn't the case for many of those affected by Sandy. In natural disasters such as this, it requires an immediate and massive coordinated effort to reach the victims, provide some sense of stability to the region and begin the cleanup. Insurance will only pay for your losses, it isn't in a position to provide any of the above. Recovery from disaster is a function of govt and what our tax dollars should be used for. Mr. Johnson had better get used to it, because there will be more frequent natural disasters to come.
LTE 5: Not this again :( "The only flags that need to be flown are the state flag,...and the American flag." - agreed.
The original design for the Viet Nam Memorial had no flags, no statues, no anything but the wall.
DeleteUnfortunately, there were some who didn't get it...a memorial has to have a flag...has to have statues, etc. We fought tooth and nail to keep all that out, but in the end the memorial was marred by those intrusive extras. I still think it is the best war memorial in the country.
It would be too much to hope to get rid of all the flags...I would settle for just the US flag. The kneeling soldier and his cross need to go too.
Judge orders woman to wear 'idiot' sign.
ReplyDeletehttp://gma.yahoo.com/video/news-26797925/ohio-woman-ordered-to-wear-idiot-sign-31054831.html#crsl=%252Fvideo%252Fnews-26797925%252Fohio-woman-ordered-to-wear-idiot-sign-31054831.html
______
I wish I were a judge. I'd have Rush out there every single day with an idiot sign on.
Indicative of nothing, probably, but when Susan went to vote at St. Anne's Episcopal, near Reynolda Manor, she did not have to wait.
ReplyDeleteRomney is going to win N.C. It's the rest of the swing states that I'm worried about.
DeleteObama mural behind voting booths in Philadelphia.
ReplyDeleteYou'd expect that in Iraq or China, but not in the USA.
Iowa conservatives want to ban same sex marriage. That may affect the outcome of presidential race. We can only hope.
ReplyDeleteHey Iowans...if Romney wins, I'll meet you over at Chick-fil-A. Squawk.........!
Willard Clinton, yesterday in Philadelphia:
ReplyDelete"You're laughing, but who wants a president who will knowingly, repeatedly tell you something he knows is not true?"
Damn good question, Billyboy, but apparently voters in the 90's picked one twice.
I'll stay up to watch Romney's concession speech, but I've got a job to get to tomorrow morning.
ReplyDeletePeace, love, and soul. :-)
"Let Detroit go bankrupt"
DeleteMitt Romney
Yes, it would have been a managed bankruptcy, since the companies were, um, prime candidates for bankruptcy. But, we taxpayers bailed 'em out, let the UAW off the hook, and bought the election. For that, we still hold overpriced stock, and get another 4 years of Obama.
DeleteI expected Obama to win. I am sorry to see Scott Brown lose to hard left Indian Princess Warren, and to see another Kennedy sent to slop at the public trough.
Sad.
DeleteYou want to see who really won, compare the attitude toward voting between the governors of New Jersey and New York and the governor of Florida.
ReplyDeleteAdd Governor Hickenlooper of Colorado who said everything that needed to be said. Time to stop whining and start cooperating.
DeletePredictable. Despite the fact that Colorado, Oregon and Hawaii have gone to Obama since Ohio was called, and the fact that Mitty will almost certainly lose Florida and Virginia as well, he has still not called the President to concede.
ReplyDeleteSo thousands of people are waiting in Chicago to hear the President's victory speech, because he has too much class to make it until the LOSER, in more ways than one, stops dithering and does his duty.
A new low in American politics.
Finally, more than two hours late, Mitty concedes.
ReplyDeleteAnd for those who like to blather on about Obama's teleprompters, please note that Mitty used two for his concession speech.