Random Thoughts Thread

[Jmustang1968]

Don't get me started on the bullshit that NC politics is. Pat changed his stance in a heartbeat, and did it so, so sneakily.

And John Edwards anyone?

And also there is my own personal experience with the NC Gov't. During a takeover my company received a grant of nearly one million dollars to fire around seventy people to "create new jobs". Firing seventy people to hire seventy new people was seen as "creating new jobs". We didn't create s#it. We let go a lot of workers to save money, and that is the bottom line.

I don't know much of NC politics in specific. I was merely referencing what was in Daves article and retrodudes as usual ridiculous post.

[AppleQueso]

And they are representing their people and what they want done as they were voted in...

When who votes where are carefully manipulated thanks to things like gerrymandering, this sort of statement is kinda meaningless.

[Jmustang1968]

And they are representing their people and what they want done as they were voted in...

When who votes where are carefully manipulated thanks to things like gerrymandering, this sort of statement is kinda meaningless.

Both sides do it, so it kind of equals out to me. It is a constant battle that is usually made easier for those in power to self serve.

[dsheinem]

And they are representing their people and what they want done as they were voted in...

When who votes where are carefully manipulated thanks to things like gerrymandering, this sort of statement is kinda meaningless.

Both sides do it, so it kind of equals out to me. It is a constant battle that is usually made easier for those in power to self serve.

All of these statements like "well, there's two sides" or ""both sides do it" is creating a false equivalency between parties. I get SO sick of this shit, as it is usually an argument trotted out by the side that is MUCH WORSE at doing said thing.

Democratic gerrymandering? It is a really only a serious problem in one state (Illinois). Here's a breakdown for you: http://election.princeton.edu/2012/12/3 ... o-it-myth/

Furthermore, the article was very specific about why the cuts and changes in NC are problematic for the specific financial, educational, etc. situation of that state. I don't see a lot of partisan bias in the editorial, as the changes discussed are "regressive" in the truest sense of the word in that there are rights, privileges, and benefits that are being regressed.

I don't deny that some see that regression as a good thing, but given the state of the state and the apparent motivations behind the choices, it seems that the regression is at the very least being done with little thought and for purely ideological/political reasons.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Our many NC residents may find this interesting: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/10/opini ... .html?_r=0

After particularly egregious graft by Democrats in Raleigh, voters in North Carolina swept them out of office. The small-government, tea-party Republicans that we elected in 2010 promised a more transparent and streamlined state government, and they also promised to focus their efforts on the State's high unemployment rate.

After taking office, however, our new Republican leaders first order of business was secure their grip on State government. They immediately re-gerrymandered all of the voting districts, and they began working on new voting rules designed to disenfranchise as many of their political opponents as possible (i.e., additional restrictions on early voting, restrictions on voting by students and young people, voter identification requirements, etc.). The next order of busines by the "small government" Republicans in Raleigh was to strip local governements' power. Do the residents of Wrightsville Beach want to outlaw smoking on their beaches and public parks? Too bad. The Republicans in the statehouse are in the tobacco companies pockets and are planning to strike down local smoking restrictions. Do the people in Charlotte want control over their airport? You know...the one supported by their their businesses and infrastructure. Too bad. The Republicans in Raleigh don't like the Democrats that run the airport and want to transfer authority over it to a regional board comprised of representatives from the rural areas surrounding Charlotte...because...you know...so many of the people that fly into Charlotte come here to visit the booming metropolises of Wadesboro and Boger City...Along those same lines, the Republicans in Raleigh have spent a tremendous amount of energy on social issues. Apparently, when the unemployment rate was above 10%, what the voters in this state really needed was an expensive ballot initiative on gay marriage. We also need protracted debate on abortion restrctions, restictions on shariah law, and the teaching of cursive handwriting in our desperately underfunded public schools. Finally, the Republicans in Raleigh decided that the best thing for the State's egregiously high unemployment rate was to institute incredibly regressive tax and social services policies. ("Hey, poor people, now that we have cut off nearly all social services, we also expect you to fund the state government through increased sales taxes on most essential items! We will, of course, be drastically reducing income taxes on the State's wealthiest residents to make sure that we do not actually improve the State's balance sheet in any way.")

Not surprisingly, none of these efforts have had any effect on the State's unemployment rate, and North Carolina's economic recovery lags behind the rest of the nation. Even my very conservative extended family thinks that the Republicans in Raleigh are both cruel and incompetent, and I cannot wait until we - hopefully - have the opportunity to vote them out of office next year. (They may have disenfranchised us, however...we will see...) To say that I am upset about their policies and the damage that they have done to both the State and its reputations would be a tremendous understatement.

(Also...did you want to buy a Tesla in North Carolina? Too bad. The Republicans in Raleigh are firmly in the pocket of their car dealership benefactors and are trying to outlaw internet automobile sales...you know...to "protect consumers"...)

[Luke]

I don't know much of NC politics in specific. I was merely referencing what was in Daves article and retrodudes as usual ridiculous post.

Gotcha, and my post was in no way meant to be judgmental (besides the fact I'm not a fan of NC politicians as their records stink to high heaven).

______________________________________________________________

Ranking my favorite chewing gum is a pretty difficult task.

Happy go Lucky Luke LOVES Big League Chew.

Business meeting me Loves Trident (original).

Casual me loves Juicy Fruit.

Road Trip me loves Watermelon Hubba-Bubba.

Big Red is my go to when watching a movie.

[indecks]

Man I haven't thought about Big Red in ages. Now I need to find some. It always reminds me of my uncle Murl. I don't know why.

[dsheinem]

Our many NC residents may find this interesting: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/10/opini ... .html?_r=0

After particularly egregious graft by Democrats in Raleigh, voters in North Carolina swept them out of office. The small-government, tea-party Republicans that we elected promised a more transparent and streamlined state government, and they also promised to focus their efforts on the State's high unemployment rate.

After taking office, however, our new Republican leaders first order of business was secure their grip on State government. They immediately re-gerrymandered all of the voting districts, and they began working on new voting rules designed to disenfranchise as many of their political opponents as possible (i.e., additional restrictions on early voting, restrictions on voting by students and young people, voter identification requirements, etc.). The next order of busines by the "small government" Republicans in Raleigh was to strip local governements' power. Do the residents of Wrightsville Beach want to outlaw smoking on their beaches and public parks? Too bad. The Republicans in the statehouse are in the tobacco companies pockets and are planning to strike down local smoking restrictions. Do the people in Charlotte want control over their airport? You know...the one supported by their their businesses and infrastructure. Too bad. The Republicans in Raleigh don't like the Democrats that run the airport and want to transfer authority over it to a regional board comprised of representatives from the rural areas surrounding Charlotte...because...you know...so many of the people that fly into Charlotte come here to visit the booming metropolises of Wadesboro and Boger City...Along those same lines, the Republicans in Raleigh have spent a tremendous amount of energy on social issues. Apparently, when the unemployment rate was above 10%, what the voters in this state really needed was an expensive ballot initiative on gay marriage. We also need protracted debate on abortion restrctions, restictions on shariah law, and the teaching of cursive handwriting in our desperately underfunded public schools. Finally, the Republicans in Raleigh decided that the best thing for the State's egregiously high unemployment rate was to institute incredibly regressive tax and social services policies. ("Hey, poor people, now that we have cut off nearly all social services, we also expect you to fund the state government through increased sales taxes on most essential items! We will, of course, be drastically reducing income taxes on the State's wealthiest residents to make sure that we do not actually improve the State's balance sheet in any way.")

Not surprisingly, none of these efforts have had any effect on the State's unemployment rate, and North Carolina's economic recovery lags behind the rest of the nation. Even my very conservative extended family thinks that the Republicans in Raleigh are both cruel and incompetent, and I cannot wait until we - hopefully - have the opportunity to vote them out of office next year. (They may have disenfranchised us, however...we will see...) To say that I am upset about their policies and the damage that they have done to both the State and its reputations would be a tremendous understatement.

(Also...did you want to buy a Tesla in North Carolina? Too bad. The Republicans in Raleigh are firmly in the posket of their car dealership benefactors and are trying to outlaw internet automobile sales...you know...to "protect consumers"...)

What a fucking disaster. The article only hints at some of this, so your input is much appreciated.

[Jmustang1968]

I don't represent a party, so I call it like I see it. I see writers from both political extremes write articles like that. Of course that article is biased, you just agree with it so it most likely sounds good to you.

I would say many think the prior policies were a mistake when made and that they were being reverted. So call it regressive like it is a negative thing if you want, but the connotations of the word usage suggest an inherent dislike for conservative views. Many didnt see them as 'progress' to begin with.

[dsheinem]

I don't represent a party, so I call it like I see it. I see writers from both political extremes write articles like that. Of course that article is biased, you just agree with it so it most likely sounds good to you.

That is hardly an article written from an extreme position. Just because someone is making a political argument doesn't mean that it is full of "bias" and can't be trusted as valid and useful. Again, there's transparency, sourcing, and context to help make the article a strong one. Don't just dismiss it because you assume the writer has some ideological axe to grind and thus must be only presenting "one side." This is the same logic as the "both sides do it" dismissal that I find so infuriating when I talk politics with folks.

I would say many think the prior policies were a mistake when made and that they were being reverted. So call it regressive like it is a negative thing if you want, but the connotations of the word usage suggest an inherent dislike for conservative views. Many didnt see them as 'progress' to begin with.

Given the gerrymandering (NC is one of the worst states), the "many" is likely not the "majority" of NC residents, which is the main issue here. The state govt. has been hijacked by ideological buffoons, and stating that doesn't automatically make me a "biased" or "non-objective" observer/critic.