Guarino

Jeff Hyde vs. Incumbent Senator Don Vaughan

Jeff Hyde is mounting a spirited challenge against State Senator Don Vaughan.  I first met Jeff after he gave an excellent speech at the Greensboro Tea Party back in the spring.   But I also learned at that time that he was running for elective office; and that we coincidentally attend the same church.

Jeff has circulated a series of pieces since then that seek to differentiate himself from Vaughan.  These are described as "discernible differences"; and can be found on his website.

What are the differences?  I will attempt to summarize.

First, he describes Vaughan as a connected career politician, and suggests we should instead have a "citizen legislature".  Makes sense.

But he further suggests that Vaughan is part of the crowd that tends to choose increased governmental control and higher taxes; create bloated, intrusive government,; and undermine free markets.  He discusses Vaughan's party affiliation, which in North Carolina has meant expansion of government, unrestrained spending, interference with free enterprise, and diminished liberty.

He cites Vaughan's support for the gas tax; and his votes to raise taxes and increase state debt.  He also cites Vaughan's support to give a $45 million tax break to Apple, a politically favored company, in exchange for only 50 jobs created.  Jeff Hyde instead wants to create a more pro-business atmosphere statewide, and limit taxes for everyone.

Jeff points to a recent study that evaluated the value of state services delivered relative to state taxes imposed.  In this study, North Carolina ranked 33rd among the 50 states.  We do not even rank among the top 50% of states with respect to the value delivered to citizens.  Jeff sees this as a problem.  He expresses particular concern over the rapidly mounting state debt.

The North Carolina State Senate has a limited number of members; and it is conceivable that control of that body could change this year if several seats were to flip.  That would be a momentous, positive change for our state.  If Jeff were to defeat Vaughan, and Democrats lose control of the Senate, it would help reverse the awful cycle we have seen in North Carolina.

I am going to vote for Jeff Hyde for the North Carolina Senate.

Civil Rights Museum Employees and Black Officers

We have had discussions recently at this blog regarding the prospect of certain black officers being terminated at the Greensboro Police Department.  It has seemingly been represented by some parties that such an occurrence would be impermissible.

In fact, in our comment threads, one or two folks have floated the legal theory that the black officers have a "property interest" in their jobs at the GPD; and that taking away their jobs would almost be tantamount to taking away their property rights.

Of course, the system is rigged so that public sector employees are fairly invulnerable to being terminated or laid off. 

But we learn today that the local civil rights museum is having some problems; and is forced to lay off five employees.

I don't know for sure, but I suspect that at least one or two of the employees might have been black.

Here are some big questions.  Do those five laid off employees have a "property interest" in their jobs?  Should they have been made invulnerable to being terminated?  Should they have a legal claim against their employer?

After all, if it is impermissible to fire black police officers for cause, then why should it be permissible to lay off black non-profit employees when they did nothing wrong?  Why is it OK for the civil rights museum to let people go, and not the police department?

Civitas Poll: Pantano Leads McIntyre By One

Civitas:

According to the poll of 450 registered voters in that district, 46 percent of voters said they would vote for Pantano if the election for United States House of Representatives were held today.  Forty-five percent said they would vote for McIntyre, and nine percent of voters said they are undecided.

However, when looking at those who are most likely to vote in 2010, Pantano’s lead jumps to a 52 percent-42 percent margin.  In addition, Republicans are heavily backing Pantano (81 percent-14 percent), along with unaffiliated voters by a 61 percent-34 percent margin.  Democratic voters are in support of McIntyre by 71 percent-16 percent.

Child Porn at the Library via Wi-Fi

A man is charged in Winston-Salem with viewing child pornography on his laptop at the library via wi-fi.  This could easily happen in Greensboro.

The wi-fi signal provided by our public library is not filtered.  And remember also that it is not even "throttled". 

Recall also that, at least once before, a gentleman was apprehended because of viewing child porn at the GPL.  It was reported on local television news last year.

What happened in Forsyth County is not by any means unthinkable in our libraries.  In fact, it is downright likely to occur here.

Downtown Performing Arts Center Now an Agenda Item

We learn on the front page of the News and Record that a performing arts center is being proposed for the downtown Greensboro area. 

It should be noted that bond issues have been proposed for a performing art center at least a couple of times in the past, but they have gone down in flames at the polls.  This time, there is a new twist, because downtown is being proposed as the location instead of the Coliseum complex.

I think a downtown performing arts center would be a great idea, and would be a very nice amenity primarily for upper middle class and wealthy Greensboro residents.  A few observations:

1.  How did this recommendation arise? 

The recommendation is one of six coming out of the Downtown Consolidated Plan, a city-county effort designed to spur economic development in the center city. 

We learn in an accompanying article that the consultant's recommendation for a performing arts center was "based on extensive community input dating back to October".

2. Hmmm.  Who provided this "extensive community input" in favor of the performing arts center?  Likely not you or I.

The article does not answer this question, but you can make an educated guess.  Greensboro's "downtown business establishment"-- Action Greensboro, the Greensboro Partnership, Downtown Greensboro Inc.-- have been major forces in favor of using taxpayer dollars, and especially bonds, to make favored projects happen.  This crowd wanted the performing arts center previously.  When bond issues fail at the polls in Greensboro, they merely get resurrected again and again until they pass.

And of course, city staff might have provided some input into this process.  Matt Brown is featured in the article.

Conservative policy outcomes are subject to revision.  Progressive policy outcomes are inviolate.  Those are the rules of the game in Greensboro.

3. Support for the premise that it was this crowd that promoted the idea of a downtown performing arts center is contained in the article:

Greensboro leaders say it’s time the city has a first-rate downtown performance space of its own.

“From a personal perspective, it is something that needs to happen and needed to happen for a long time,” said Walker Sanders, president of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro.

Action Greensboro, which is part of the Greensboro Partnership, lists on its website the Downtown Consolidated Plan as one of its projects of interest.  The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro is one of the eight foundations that comprise Action Greensboro.

I checked the Community Foundation's website.  Its 2009-2010 annual report lists assets of $107,506,167.  Mr. Sanders' foundation has more than enough money to pay for the performing arts center.  I think they should be encouraged to do so if they want it so badly.  But even if they only wish to pay part of the expense, the other foundations comprising Action Greensboro likely could make up the difference.

I remember last winter's City Council hearing regarding the aquatics center.  Mr. Sanders stood up at the podium to advise the council that a couple hundred thousand dollars had been donated to pay to teach schoolkids to swim.  Of course, this was a pittance in comparison with the likely long-term expense to teach all the kids in the whole school system, but it was presented as a momentous development that further justified using bond monies for the aquatic center.  It was literally jaw-dropping; and the amount offered represented only a tiny percentage of the monies the vaunted foundations comprising Action Greensboro have available to them.

4. The News and Record article says Keith Holliday is promoting a conversion of the Carolina Theater to a performing arts center.  Its space would have lesser seating capacity than what the consultant envisions; but I think Holliday actually has a good idea.  A performing arts center at that venue would be superior to that which it typically offers.

5. Do performing arts centers spur downtown economic development?  That is the stated purpose of the consultant's report, but I think the premise is dubious.  It seems fairly clear to me the consultant made the recommendation based on what some key, influential people said they wanted-- not based on what is a true economic development driver.

How would it spur economic development?  Sure, visitors to the center would spill out late at night and visit certain restaurants that remain open late.  But I suppose that would also happen if you built a big movie multi-plex downtown.  In any case, would this truly be an economic development driver?  Probably not.

6. The fact that downtown has been recommended as the location will naturally garner additional support.  There is much downtown idolatry in Greensboro.

7. Our "downtown business establishment" is a dishonorable crowd.  Perhaps that is why Rob Clapper left the Chamber of Commerce.

They take delight in the process of advancing certain favored proposals, and sticking taxpayers with the costs.  Greensboro's lower and middle income residents will be paying for this performing arts center if public funding is demanded and obtained.  But it will be mostly those in higher socioeconomic groups who will enjoy using the center.

The unelected elites delight in advancing their own political vision of how tax monies should be spent.  They continuously find new projects to fund with your money.

It would be interesting to know how this "consultant" arrived at the objective determination that a performing arts center is one of the best things we can do to boost downtown economic development.  Was it a preordained conclusion, dictated by our local elites?

Update: More at Triad Watch.

Bob Etheridge Ad

HT: Dome

The Spectacular Collapse of the Atlanta Braves

A couple of months ago, the Atlanta Braves were just-about-the-best-team-in-baseball.  They were first in their division, with great hitting, a very good bullpen and excellent starting pitchers.

But they peaked too early.  The collapse we have seen over the last 30-45 days has been nothing short of spectacular.  Atlanta lost approximately 10 games to the Phillies in the standings over a very brief period of time.

What happened?  The starting pitchers began to lose their edge.  Chipper Jones got hurt; and I suspect that opposing pitchers no longer had to pitch to the upper part of the Braves' line-up.  His absence probably hurt in at least a couple of other ways.  While I am a Braves fan, I am not a huge Chipper fan, so I do not take pleasure in admitting the costs associated with his absence.  The team just has not been producing runs reliably.

I do not know whether the Braves will make the playoffs this year.  They are currently about a half game behind for the wild card berth.  But at this point, it hardly seems to matter.

George Hartzman's Questions on the Downtown Hotel Need to Be Answered

The local ruling class and journalistic class are in the process of signing off on the downtown hotel.  They are now making noises suggesting that people who do not drop their objections, and get with the program, must have something wrong with them.

There is a natural tendency locally in recent years to do whatever it takes to boost downtown.  It is considered the "enlightened" thing to do.

Whatever it takes.

Some among the local ruling class might be loathe to cross Skip Alston.  They know the threats that were made, and the impacts they could have.  They might be choosing their battles.  They might be viewing the situation in a purely utilitarian way.

But George Hartzman has been thinking long and hard about the situation.  He has engaged in some incisive analysis; and has asked some hard questions.  When someone of his reasoning ability looks at an issue as closely as he has, you would think some folks might take notice.

But they have not.  They are busy boosting downtown; choosing their battles; running away from challenging Skip; and making decisions in a utilitarian manner.  They are not considering right vs. wrong; nor are they looking at the project from the standpoint of feasibility.  They need to read George Hartzman.   

Candidacy of Jon Hardister

Several years ago, Pricey Harrison burst upon the local political scene with an over-the-top House race funded in large part by the money now-imprisoned former House Speaker Jim Black raised for the state Democratic Party.  Pricey was the closest thing we have to local royalty, having descended from one of Greensboro's wealthiest families.  Many folks jumped on her bandwagon. She was elected even though she did not live here.

Her campaign pieces took issue with the incumbent, Joanne Bowie, whose chief offense was to refrain from spending too much of the taxpayers' money on favored Democratic programs.

Pricey and her colleagues in Raleigh have spent the state of North Carolina into the ground.  We face a $3 billion deficit next year; massive unfunded liabilities; and much higher state debt.

We have a choice this year, and his name is Jon Hardister:

Coleman: No Apologies-- (wink, wink)

We learn in the print edition of the N&R (unposted) that Commissioner Carolyn Coleman has no plan to apologize for the manner in which she spoke at the last Board of County Commissioners meeting.  Of course, that is no surprise. 

From a political standpoint, she does not have to apologize.  The local media will not birddog her and drumbeat her as they would a conservative elected official.  Her constituents will not hold her accountable.  And, of course, she has been a principal in the PAC, so that immunizes her as well.

Of further interest is the level of skepticism seen in the local media in recent days regarding the actions and claims made by certain members of Conservatives for Guilford County.  We typically don't see that kind of skepticism when citizens who are members of sanctioned victims groups, or who are agitating for local governmental funding, speak up at meetings.  In fact, they have to literally sit in the chairs of City Council members in order to attract negative attention.  And we typically don't see that kind of skepticism when units of local government pursue "progressive" projects and policies.

It is more than OK for some citizens and groups to speak.  But when conservatives dare to speak, be prepared for the pushback, because it will assuredly come.

Update: C4GC says she is now requesting an apology herself.

   

November is Coming

My Statement at Last Council Meeting on Library Pornography and Filters

The following is a statement I made at the last Greensboro City Council meeting:

I watched with considerable interest the debate over internet filters for the Greensboro Public Libraries at the last council meeting. Six council members voted against requiring filters at the libraries. I want to thank the three who voted in favor-- Mayor Knight, and council members Thompson and Wade.

The solution implemented by library staff and the library board-- so called “throttling”, or slowing-- is insufficient. The library customer who wishes to surf for porn, if he is patient, will continue to be able to view hard core pornography and child pornography, right in the Greensboro Public Library.

Some have suggested filtering just the children's section of the library. But that is not enough.

Adolescents and teens should be protected, and they should be free to use the adult sections of the libraries unattended-- not just the children's section. Taxpayers, simply put, should not be paying for the viewing of pornography at the libraries. And even adult customers should be protected from inadvertent exposures to porn because of sites viewed by other customers in the adult section of the libraries.

When I was a teenager, I was entirely free to use public libraries unrestricted, and unattended by my parents. I think kids in Greensboro should safely be able to do that also. We need to remember that the library staff and the library board allowed this situation to fester for more than a decade before undertaking its half-hearted solution.

There are several North Carolina state laws that I want to call to your attention. Apparently, it is against the law in the state of North Carolina to knowingly disseminate material harmful to minors; to disseminate obscenity; to disseminate obscene material to a minor; and to distribute child pornography. These are all apparently illegal in the state of North Carolina. The problem is that when the Greensboro Public Library transmits the internet to computers used by its customers, and also via wi-fi, it violates the spirit of these laws I just mentioned. Library staff and the library board know they are potentially making these types of materials available.

And what compounds the problem is that we are not using the best available technology to prevent that from happening. If we used best technology to block hard core pornography and child pornography, then it could be argued that we made a good faith effort to prevent inappropriate dissemination and viewing. But if we refuse to use best technology-- that is, filtering-- then we cannot say we made a good faith effort.

(I ran out of time, and did not get to deliver my final paragraph, which follows:)

A moral society acts to protect minors in matters such as this, even if it results in some inconvenience to adults.  Greensboro cannot represent itself as a “family-friendly” city if people are able to view hard core porn and child pornography at its libraries unfiltered.  I request that the City Council reconsider the decision it made at its last meeting, and implement the use of filters.

Mourning in America

HT: Conservative NC

Contrast Carolyn Coleman Against Jim Kee

News and Record:

City Councilman Jim Kee  — the only City Council member who attended the session — mentioned several times that the council had not yet determined if it would like to start using the landfill for household trash again.

He said he wants the council to explore the use of technology instead.

But out of the evening’s tension grew calls among residents for political action.

“We need to go on record tonight as saying, technology or no technology, we do not want that landfill open,” County Commissioner Carolyn Coleman  said to applause from the crowd.

This passage contrasts the sordid past of Greensboro's African-American political leadership with hopes for, perhaps, a better future.  It contrasts the old fear-based identity politics with a potential for genuine community leadership.

Jim Kee has the opportunity to differentiate himself, and rise above the muck, if he continues to demonstrate independence; and if his leadership does not seek to reward vested interests. 

Coleman, on the other hand, has had an unfortunate week.

Candidates Down the Home Stretch

It has already been a long campaign season for many of the candidates on the ballot in November.  There has been much prognostication about favorable conditions for conservative candidates at the polls, but the Democrats might be gaining ground.  Conservatives cannot grow complacent.  They need to work this election like any other--and even more so, considering all that is at stake.

We need to give to the candidates we support, to the extent we are able to do so.   We need to volunteer our time either with individual campaign efforts, or with the local Republican party.  It is never too late to knock on doors.

During campaign season, there are few things more sad than to see phone banks in a party headquarters sitting idle.  It is absolutely imperative that folks step up and work those phone banks.  The party headquarters is at a convenient location-- on Market St. in Greensboro, in the same shopping center where Gold's Gym and Aaron Rents used to be.

Those interesting in volunteering for the phone banks can call Al or Jeff at 373-4467. It is time to step up.

I added a new feature to the blog today.  In the upper right hand corner, there are links for the websites of candidates I am supporting.   I will be adding links for more races as time proceeds. 

Brad Miller vs. Bernie Sanders, Avowed Socialist

It is time for a biennial feature at this blog.

We like to call the attention of our readers to a Senator from Vermont named Bernie Sanders.  The thing to know about this gentleman is that he is an avowed socialist.

It occurred to me that we should investigate his congressional voting record, and compare it with that of the esteemed Rep. Brad Miller, who represents part of Guilford and Rockingham counties.

I checked the ratings of both the American Conservative Union and the liberal Americans for Democratic Action.  Each rate on a scale of 0 - 100.  The results?

Miller had a lifetime ACU rating of 4.71, and Sanders had 6.73.  Miller's 2009 rating from the ACU was 0; Sanders' was 12.

The 2009 ADA ratings for the two men were equal.  Both Miller and Sanders scored 100%.

My conclusion?

If anything, Congressman Brad Miller's voting record is to the left of Senator Bernie Sanders.  Draw your own conclusions; but I think Miller himself is a socialist, just like Sanders.

If I was voting in that congressional district, I would be voting for Miller's opponent, Bill Randall.

A Physician Running for the US House In North Carolina

The conventional wisdom is that there are three North Carolina Democratic incumbents possibly at risk of losing their congressional seats in November.  These are Heath Shuler, Bob Etheridge and Larry Kissell.

Last week, we reported here about Mike McIntyre, who is facing a spirited challenge from Ilario Pantano.

But there is another race of interest.

David Price is a congressman who represents the Triangle region.  He is not well known in the Triad.

My wife has some relatives who live in northern Virginia.  We visited a number of years ago.  These particular relatives are liberal Democrats, and as residents in the DC area, are attuned to congressional politics.  They were familiar with Price, and made mention of him because they knew we were from North Carolina.  In fact, they spoke positively about Price, presumably because he is a liberal.  He has a reputation as a conscientious liberal, not unlike Pricey Harrison.

It turns out that Price's opponent this year, B.J. Lawson, is a physician.  He is one of many physicians this year who are running for Congress.

But there is more.  Carolina Politics reported a couple of weeks ago that a poll showed Lawson tied with Price.  And one political statistician has projected that Lawson has a one-in-four chance of unseating Price, even though the Democrats have a two to one registration advantage in that district.

I am unaware of Price or McIntyre ever having been mired in scandal.  Yes, this is an unusual year, and anything could happen.  One Zogby poll just released, however, suggests the Democrats may be making some gains over the last week or so. 

With the looming juggernaut of socialized medicine, there may be more interest in Lawson's candidacy in the Triangle region as the election nears.  It would be good to have a North Carolina doctor in the House. 

Carolyn Coleman vs. Isabella Atkins

Rush Radio this morning featured a segment on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners controversy.  I had the opportunity to hear it just as I was pulling in to work.

On the one hand, you have a conscientious citizen authentically expressing her concerns before the Board.  On the other hand, you have a commissioner who treats the audience in a condescending, sarcastic manner.

And yet, some parties attempt to paint Atkins and Conservatives for Guilford County as the villains.  You have some parties trying to minimize what Coleman did.  Atkins justifiably wants an apology; but such an eventuality in our fair city would be nearly unprecedented.

They don't talk about how Coleman's Simkins PAC cronies financially benefit from the downtown hotel deal.  They don't talk about how extortion seemed to have been committed in order to protect those financial benefits.

They don't talk about how Project Homestead (PH), which operated on public monies, sold Coleman her home with an interest-free loan; how PH was operated by one of her Simkins PAC cronies; and how her home loan was forgiven by PH at the very moment it was filing for bankruptcy.

Coleman and her friends are fairly fortunate.  Being a principal in the Simkins PAC means you are not likely to be held accountable.  It means never having to say you're sorry.

Gushing Over Hotel, Aquatic Center

We are beginning to see various parties gush, to differing degrees, over a meet to take place at the aquatic center.  We are being told that we all need to get behind both the aquatic center and the downtown hotel.

Imagine if those out-of-town visitors using the aquatic center stay at the downtown Wyndham!  That would be unadulterated nirvana.  That would be Greensboro's version of capitalistic success.

More about "capitalism":