A critical decision
Our Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board is preparing to make a decision critical to the future of our community: the selection of a school superintendent to replace Don Martin, who will retire in June 2013. Considering how vital a good education is to personal success and how important a superior public-education system is to our community’s economic competiveness, the selection of a new superintendent may well be one of the most important hiring decisions to be made in our community for years.
We’ve seen some significant successes in our public-school system, the most notable being an improvement in the high-school graduation rate from 71 percent in 2007 to 81 percent this year, but there is still much work to be done. It is imperative that we build on this and other educational successes.
The school board is asking for community input on what qualities the new superintendent should have, and I urge everyone to participate. Those who can’t attend a forum should consider taking the online survey on the school system’s website (http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/suptsurvey). Those who don’t have access to the Internet can call United Way for a hard copy with a postage-paid return envelope.
Together, we can continue to improve the quality of public education in our community. Make your voice heard!
R. MICHAEL WELLS
Winston-Salem
Nonprofits must speak out
I serve on the board of directors of the N.C. Center for Nonprofits, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps other nonprofits to lead and manage their organizations effectively, reduce costs, save time and work together to solve social problems. We’re proud of our 1,605 member nonprofits, which serve all 100 counties.
If Congress doesn’t act before Dec. 31, more than $54 billion will arbitrarily be cut from federal programs. In North Carolina, it would mean that 70,000 women, children and families would lose services as nearly $7 million is cut from child-care, maternal-care and child-development block grants that support the work of nonprofits. The demand for nonprofits’ services would increase while federal funding for many nonprofits would decrease.
Equally important are recent proposals to cap itemized deductions. Because the proposed caps are lower than the amount of fixed-cost deductions like state/local taxes paid and mortgage interest, they would essentially eliminate the tax incentive for individuals to give to charitable nonprofits.
The charitable tax deduction is a unique aspect of Americans’ ability to support the causes they care about. Gutting it would be like pulling out the rug from underneath those very organizations and causes that keep our communities glued together.
The nonprofit sector belongs to all of us, and we must take care of it. Whether you’re a nonprofit board member, staff member or a volunteer, I hope you’ll speak out for the many nonprofits that stand to lose so much.
TOG NEWMAN
BOARD CHAIR, NC CENTER FOR NONPROFITS
Winston-Salem
They still don’t get it
OK. President Obama won re-election. Now, all the people who voted for him must surely understand that he was the guy who couldn't pass a budget in over three years, and he controlled both houses of Congress for two of those years. He is the guy who spends and spends and never seemed concerned about the deficit he was building until after the past election. And, I still don't think he's concerned.
He wants to raise taxes on the rich? Fine. But that won't solve the deficit problem at all. Everyone knows it, but half the nation doesn't seem to be concerned about it. The U.S. just keeps printing money and printing money.
The administration and Democrats says that Social Security is safe for years. That's bull. There's no money in the Social Security Trust Fund, just IOUs from the U.S. government. What will those IOUs will be worth when the value of our dollar keeps dropping? Yet, the president wants to spend more “stimulus” money, when we're broke.
How did the last “stimulus” money help except to drive up our country's debt?
Raising taxes isn't the answer. Sure, a little more money coming in will help, but the major problem is the spending. If the president had been concerned about our “fiscal cliff” problem, one would think he would have addressed the issue head-on two or three years ago and reduced spending. It's the only answer.
Raising taxes won't solve the problem. Does anyone get it now?
HOWARD W. MOFFATT
Winston-Salem
Finish the Thought
Briefly complete the sentence below and sent it to us at letters@wsjournal.com. We’ll print some of the results in a few days. Only signed entries, please — no anonymous ones.
“All I want for Christmas is …”
LTE # 4... They Still Don't Get it
ReplyDeleteHow properly titled. I've given this civics lesson several times but this LTE added a new twist. First and foremost, the executive and legislative branches are separate and equal, the President does not control the Senate nor the House of Representatives, even if the same political party controls all 3. Now about the two years the Democrats had a majority in both Senate and House, in the Senate, a simple majority does not give either party control over legislation passed. There is the FILIBUSTER, from the Spanish filibustero, literally, freebooter. Originally used to describe an irregular military adventurer; specifically : an American engaged in fomenting insurrections in Latin America in the mid-19th century, William Walker and John Quitman being two of the most famous. Although the Democrats had a majority in the Senate from 2008 to 2010, they only had a filibuster proof supermajority of 60 for 134 days from September 24th, 2009 - February 4th, 2010. For those who follow closely, after the election of 2008, Senator Al Franken was not seated until July 7th, 2009 because of the legal battle with former Senator Norm Coleman over the election results. By that time, Senator Ted Kennedy was too sick to appear on the Senate floor for votes and he passed away on August 25th, 2009. Paul Kirk was appointed to take his place and assumed office on September 24th of that year, but now former Senator Scott Brown won a special election and was sworn in on February 4th, 2010. So let's be clear, although the Democrats had a majority in the House and Senate for the first two years of President Obama's first term, they did not have control over legislation being passed. We can only hope that Minority leader McConnell will make the American people his #1 priority now that his previous #1 priority has failed. Let's hope he finally gets it. McConnell should hearken back to a former Senator, Speaker of the House, and Secretary of State from Kentucky, Henry Clay, The Great Compromiser. But of course if you asked Andrew Jackson, he would tell you that Henry Clay was corrupt.
After his Presidency ended, Jackson was asked what things he thought he had left undone. He replied: “I didn’t shoot Henry Clay and I didn’t hang John Calhoun.”
DeleteLTE1...I know Mike Wells and I think this is the first LTE I have seen, though I've probably missed some.
ReplyDeleteHi WW! I have known Mike Wells for years, and he is also my lawyer. I am fortunate in both respects, and WS is fortunate to have him as member of the community. He would make a fine mayor if Allen Joines doesn't run again.
DeleteStab...I think you are right but then you and I would be lawyerless?
DeleteJoines is good mayor. Let's hope he runs again.
DeleteIndeed, Wells is too good a lawyer...the community cannot afford to lose him to the city.
DeleteAllen will not begin to think about stepping down until certain benchmarks are hit downtown. There are currently about 2700 people living downtown and about 2000 working in PTRP. The ultimate goal is 30,000 residents and 30,000 working in PTRP. I doubt if Allen would be willing to leave before the current numbers reach about 7,000 each.
The biggest holdup right now is a lack of available living space. About 400 units are expected to be completed within the next year.
Meanwhile, we're all celebrating the announcement that Washington Perk will open a downtown location on Fourth Street, right across from our favorite hangout, Camino Bakery.
Meanwhile, we're all celebrating the announcement that Washington Perk will open a downtown location on Fourth Street, right across from our favorite hangout, Camino Bakery. [sic]
DeleteDad gum, these lessons are hard. That is what happens when you try to teach people who have repeated the sixth grade several times. They're just too dumb to learn.
DeleteThis time, we'll try the German method.
Achtung! We only use sic when we are quoting someone else's work which has an error in it.
Maybe you should reread your sentence NW?
DeleteThat's what I like about liberals. They're so arrogant, and sometime too stupid, they refuse to admit that they've made a mistake.
DeletePathetic.
Lawyer to the jury: There was no sidewalk anywhere around the shooting. Judge: What about the photo that shows a sidewalk beside the body? Lawyer: I object your Honor, you shouldn't try to instruct the jury on what they see or don't see OR what's depicted in the picture.
DeleteOh brother.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Delete"Meanwhile, we're all celebrating the announcement that Washington Perk will open a downtown location on Fourth Street, right across from our favorite hangout, Camino Bakery."
DeleteRepeated and reread...still perfect, as usual.
Buckboy has no future as a literary critic, but he's doing well as the forum fool...just can't resist letting it all hang out.
LTE2...I know you folks are on edge because thousands count on you. It is a shame that your work is at the mercy of a bad economy. It is a worse shame that there is a middle man between between you and we the people that pay money to the Federal Government every year. Seems if the middle man was out of the equation, you would be able to do your work with less stress. I think a patch over will be done and your groups will be ok.
ReplyDeleteLTE3...what we have today is a continous campaign in place of Executive leadership. "Never let a crisis go to waste" was more true than we imagined. Orchestrated agitprop from a man with no ability beyond that of a "community organizer". Force people into need and fear and they will accept anything you offer them. The half of the nation that seems unconcerned is ok with being constantly entertained, distracted by alternate reality video games and non stop button pushing on their gadgets. When the system finally does crack, they will be first to ask what happened, I didn't know, nobody told me.....Well chump, here's the bill.
ReplyDeleteMost of the cities that are now going bankrupted are in areas that voted for Obama and Democrats. Many Democrats think there's an easy way out of most economic situations. The people of Greece found out the hard way that that's not the case. With Democrats in charge, it looks like we'll find that out the hard way too.
DeleteExample of a recent lesson:
Delete"Most of the cities that are now going bankrupted [sic] are in areas..."
These liberal Democratic nitwits can't run a city, yet they want to run the country. No wonder we're a collision course with economic hell.
DeleteLesson continues...
Delete"No wonder we're a collision course with economic hell." [sic]
"All I want for Christmas" is something pleasant to offset the loss of two close family members this year.
ReplyDeleteSorry for your losses Whitewall.
DeleteThank you.
DeleteMy condolences as well.
DeleteWhen you're 10, it seems as if there are way too many family members and it's a challenge to memorize all those aunts and uncles and cousins.
You'd think that the number would increase as you get older and new generations come along. But it hasn't worked like that in my family.
Grandparents generation is all gone. Parents generation down from twenty to one aunt in Florida. My generation down to seven, most in Florida. Next generation only my two sons and seven nieces and nephews, most in Florida or New York. Next generation only five so far...all in Florida.
When I was ten, you'd find that many people in the living room and that many more in the back yard at a small family gathering, and that only counts the adults.
I join you, WW, with two parents gone relatively recently, and Susan's mom in the past year, too. Life is all the more previous as time passes.
DeleteThank you as well. A few days ago Mrs WW and I were going through the short list of "who's left" and I concluded that "all the good people are gone". That's probably replayed in most families.
DeleteThe older you get, the faster your friends and relatives die off.
DeleteThat's why I try to get in five a day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEiWXz3BkpA
My earlier comment should read, "Life is more precious . . ." I'm now recovering from flu, not quite clear headed yet.
DeleteThis is my rifle, this is my gun! This is for fightin, this is for fun! Hut two.....threeee four!
DeleteI don't know but I've been told...nitwit balls are made of mud. Hut two......three four!
As mentioned before, Buckboy gets his fantasy life from movies, TV and crackpot websites.
DeleteThat is the only place where you will see "This is my rifle, this is my gun…" used as a marching cadence.
"I don't know but I've been told…" is a marching cadence, but unlike the flawed one cited above, the next line has to rhyme with "told". That is mandatory…a soldier who came up with a non-rhyming cadence would be sent on a marching party.
Variety was added to this cadence by changing part of the first line:
"I don't know but it may be, chased a possum up a tree!
I don't know but it may be, Sergeant Smith done set him free.!"
Every DI has his own favorites, and woe be unto the recruit who cannot learn them. Just as well that Buckboy stayed out of the service.
Cadence was originally provided by drummers to keep marching troops in step, which was very important for efficiency when an army was on the move. Baron Von Steuben introduced such cadences to Washington's army during the Revolutionary War.
Voice cadences were also used, usually by the drill master or other designated person, and were pretty much confined to "left, right, left, right." During WW II, while his unit was slogging home through a swamp in the dark, a black soldier assigned to a training command at Fort Slocum began a call and response routine: he called out "Sound off!" And the others responded "One-two!" "Sound off!" "Three-four!"
The exhausted soldiers perked up and by the time they got back to base had added "Cadence count!" "One-two-three-four; One-two…three/four!" The improvement in morale was noticed and the black soldier worked with training instructors to create more cadences. This type of cadence is still known as the "Duckworth Chant" for its inventor, Pvt. Willie Duckworth.
Many other cadences, particularly those known as "Jodys", were created by black soldiers. Over the years, drill instructors and their troops have come up with many creative "calls".
LTE #1 - I know Michael Wells and he is right. If you don't provide input now, then you have no right to complain later.
ReplyDeleteLTE #2 - I know Tog Newman as well. Since her retirement as head of curriculum in the public schools she has worked tirelessly for the good of the community. Her husband is the architect Michael Newman.
As to her concerns, I don't know what to say, other than that it is pitiful that in a country as wealthy as ours such a letter has to be written.
LTE #3 - I'm happy to say that I do not know Mr. Moffatt, nor do I want to. It is also pitiful that in a country as wealthy as ours, where education for all is readily available, there are millions of ignorant morons like Mr. Moffatt who eternally parrot the bullshit of the moron right. Not a single one of his "facts" is in fact a fact.
As recommended for others with poor reading and writing skills, I urge Mr. Moffatt to avail himself of the resources available at Forsyth Tech.
As I have mentioned before, we need not fear China, Russia, Iran or anyone else. The ignorance and stupidity of the average American is all the enemy we need.
FINISH THE THOUGHT - All I want for Christmas is to wake up alive and happy, with brain and body functioning as they are supposed to, as I do every other day of the year.
A Polish company hired to renovate a 140,000 square foot 18th century chateau in Yvrac, France, got confused and demolished the building instead.
ReplyDeleteThe jokes have already started: How many Polacks does it take to undo 250 years of history?
The Auckland, New Zealand SPCA has taught three abandoned dogs how to drive a car. So far, they have been accompanied by a human assistant, but next week, Porter, a 10 month old bearded collie mix, will solo for the first time.
ReplyDeleteBet he's a better driver than the average American.
Certainly better than the ones around here. How do you blind an NC driver? Put a windshield in front of him.
DeleteHa, ha.
DeleteIf Porter does screw up and somebody yells out "You son of a bitch!", Porter will just wag his tail and say "Woof!"
Speaking of blind drivers and windshields, I figured out how I can solve the windshield and vision problems with my next purchase: my next car will have a prescription windshield right down to the subtle line near the bottom of the glass. That'll do it.
DeleteThe plot thickens a bit: the Russian owner of the destroyed mansion is going build a replica in its place, already has the plans drawn up. Hmmm. It appears that renovations would have been more costly than demolishing and rebuilding, which the town would not have permitted. Thus, perhaps, the "mistake."
ReplyDeleteGee, just what France needs, a replica of an 18th century chateau.
DeleteThere is nothing tackier than a nouveau riche trying to impress people with some gaudy house. Reminds me of the fool doctors who ruined the old Conrad farmhouse out on the river a couple of years ago.
A cousin of ours Dell Norfleet, lived in a house on Club Park Road. The house was later bought by the ex-fire marshal who should have stayed a fire marshal, Scott Livengood (who was an early childhood playmate of mine). He redid the place extensive, in a manner that would warrant OT's description above. My mother would launch into a tirade about what Scott had done to our cousin's house when his name came up, which was frequent, as KK was in the news for quite a while.
DeleteYeah, I remember the house...shudder!
DeleteMany moons back I was having a couple of beers with some KK guys at Myrtle Beach and they were talking about what a fool Scott was. I thought "When I get home, I think I'll sell my KK stock." Was I lucky or what?
A couple of years ago, I bought some KK at about $1.40 a share. Doing OK so far. Bought Chrysler for about the same price as well.
Both flyers. If they tank, you're not out much, so why not go for it?
Finally.......what I've been looking for. 'Buck' naked underwear!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they will fit me perfectly.
http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/dtc-shared/mix-match/mens-buck-naked.aspx?feature=P11031-C89849-L2
As always, the classiest act on the forum.
DeleteAnd because I make a special effort to buy American made products, I know all the men's clothing websites.
The product is made in China, and is synthetic fabric, perfect for Buckboy to wear while munching one of his synthetic "chicken" sandwiches.