Column for Sept. 27, 2007

Drop back and punt on ETJ a good thing

I read with interest the article in last week's edition of "The Selma News" about the failure of Selma and Wilson's Mills to come to an agreement on extraterritorial jurisdiction between the two towns. The failure to reach an agreement basically forced an agreement, which was to leave the jurisdiction over the disputed areas with the county rather than either of the two towns.

Personally, I believe that was the best scenario. I feel about an extraterritorial jurisdiction about the same way I do forced annexation. The town has corporate limits, and I would much prefer that the town's power extend no further than the corporate limits. Across the state, towns under 10,000 population have a one mile reach beyond their corporate limits into which to extend the tentacles of their influence and regulation. According to state law, "any city may exercise these powers within a defined area extending not more than one mile beyond its limits. With the approval of the board or boards of county commissioners with jurisdiction over the area, a city of 10,000 or more population but less than 25,000 may exercise these powers over an area extending not more than two miles beyond its limits and a city of 25,000 or more population may exercise these powers over an area extending not more than three miles beyond its limits."

Johnston County, for some unknown reason, has a two mile authorization. I have read in several journals and news articles that the State of North Carolina has specifically authorized towns in Johnston County to have the two mile authority with county approval, but not necessarily other counties. I have been doing more research into the topic and will be compiling some data for action in the future. I am sure that I will find out more and more facts as time goes on as to the whys and hows behind extraterritorial jurisdictions (ETJ) and Johnston County, in particular.

That same statute says, "Where the extraterritorial jurisdiction of two or more cities overlaps, the jurisdictional boundary between them shall be a line connecting the midway points of the overlapping area unless the city councils agree to another boundary line within the overlapping area based upon existing or projected patterns of development." Apparently, that agreement of another boundary line could not be agreed upon and both towns must have felt that it was mutually beneficial to drop back and punt rather than automatically have a line connecting the midway points of the overlapping area. That was probably the best scenario for both towns.

As I said a bit earlier, I feel about ETJ about the same as I do forced annexation. I especially feel that it is inappropriate to have an ETJ that extends two or three miles beyond the corporate limits of a municipality. There is a reason why it is called "city limits". I understand the reasons for allowing an ETJ, but regulation without representation other than to have some residents of the ETJ serve on the Planning Board is still regulation without representation.

There was a bill in this year's NC Legislature that would allow residents of an ETJ vote in municipal elections. Personally, I have no problem with that, though the NC League of Municipalities does. If people can be regulated by a town in which they do not live, they should have just as much right to vote for the nomenclature of that town's governing body as the town's citizens. That is only fair. I will take it one step further and say that people who own property in a town, though they personally reside in a different town, should be able to vote in any town's municipal election in which they own property or are influenced or effected by a town's regulatory body. Since the property owners will be subjected to the municipality's regulations and taxation, it is quite appropriate to allow them to do so, especially since towns and counties rely heavily upon property taxation for sources of revenue. I realize that is getting off the subject of ETJ for a bit, but the principle is the same.

One thing to keep in mind is the fact that towns extend their ETJ by ordinance. As we learned last week, a two-thirds majority vote is necessary in order to pass an ordinance the first time through, with time frames for secondary voting. I will watch with interest future ETJ expansion efforts.

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On Saturday, September 29 from 9:30 AM until 12 noon, you can meet with me at Edelweiss Cafe and Bakery at 101 South Raiford Street in Uptown Selma. Feel free to ask questions, express concerns, share issues, or just swap stories. The coffee and pastries are my treat!

Column for Sept. 20, 2007

More problems with forced annexation?

One thing that this paper's editor, Rick Stewart, has hammered for a long time is the open meeting law as pertaining to town government. He has called the town to task a few times when the Town Council has gone into closed session to discuss subject matter that may or may not be material requiring closed session.

This last week, the Selma Town Council again wound up it monthly meeting in a closed session. This was advised and requested by the town's attorney to discuss a current case of litigation against the town. I fully understand the need for this sort of closed door session, but I have to wonder whether or not this is necessary each and every time something is discussed. This is especially true when the subject matter is a very public affair.

In this case, a reliable source has shared with me some of what the Town Council was discussing in closed session. In journalism (not that an opinion column is necessarily journalism), you sometimes have to know your sources, and with this one, I know that he or she would be "in the know". Sure, I am not Woodward or Burnstein, and I would never want to be either of them, and I have no mystery "Deep Throat" informant.

I have gone on record as opposing forced annexation for Selma or any other town. When the issue came up a few months ago and was a small firestorm, I wrote in opposition to forcibly annexing property into the town corporate limits. Specifically, the folks in McCormick Heights have been upset about their incorporation into the town limits. I am in full sympathy with them, since the annexation seemed to be purely financial in nature and may not have been all that wise a financial deal for the town. Furthermore, the annexation had questionable legal issues that should have been thoroughly addressed rather than having been dismissed with such a cavalier attitude.

Now it seems that a technicality not even brought up in the legal objections to annexation may have arisen. In a lawsuit filed against the town, an issue of procedural voting on annexation may be a snafu for the town's plan to incorporate McCormick Heights. I was informed that a vote on annexation takes more than a simple majority. The reason being is that state law requires a two-thirds majority for any ordinance to be passed by a town. Annexation is accomplished through the process of passing an ordinance. According to state statute, "In addition, no ordinance nor any action having the effect of any ordinance may be finally adopted on the date on which it is introduced except by an affirmative vote equal to or greater than two thirds of all the actual membership of the council, excluding vacant seats and not including the mayor unless the mayor has the right to vote on all questions before the council."


In June of 2004, North Carolina Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake, Jr. wrote in a decision for the high court, "Involuntary annexation is by its nature a harsh exercise of governmental power affecting private property and so is properly restrained and balanced by legislative policy and mandated standards and procedure". If my source of information is accurate, then this is a prime example of the reason for the quote by Chief Justice Lake. This annexation seemed rushed, arguments seemed discounted, and technicalities ignored.

By this procedural flaw, it seems that it may very well be that the annexation ordinance is null and void. The town did not have a two-thirds vote in the affirmative. There are other towns that have found out they had the same problem the hard way, when a Court of Appeals ruled against them.

This entire situation brings up one other question. If there was this procedural problem with this annexation ordinance, how many other ordinances in the town may actually have been enacted illegally for the same reason? It looks like the town may want to revisit its minutes of previous meetings in which an ordinance was passed and reaffirm its town code.

When the town residents, the Town Council, and those being annexed were assured that the annexation met all legal requirements, why was this potential snafu not known in advance? The League of Municipalities had this information readily available to the town, not to mention the statutes that someone in the town must have known about in order to conduct town affairs.

When you are talking about taking away the freedom and money of property owners and fellow citizens, a government can not afford to be slack. If this legal challenge is successful, how much town money has been spent on the reports, the consultations, the attorneys, and the procedure that could have been saved by simply respecting private property rights?

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Column for Sept. 13, 2007

Desiring the honest, despising the false

Today I had a couple of contractors at my house fixing problems left by a dishonest businessman. When I bought my house here in Selma, I found that the seller never disclosed the fact that the air conditioning system was in need of replacement. This violated our contract for purchase, but I had no idea until I was moved in and living here for a while. I eventually paid to replace the system with a new one. The contractor I hired was dishonest in that his license as an HVAC contractor was suspended, yet he sold me a system anyway. Because his license was not valid, he did not get the town to issue a permit for the work. I eventually had to go to an administrative hearing to testify against this contractor.

This man was given the opportunity to rectify his work, which was sub-par and would not pass inspection, anyway. He took a lot of shortcuts and left code violations. He also left old, abandoned air conditioning registers open, never having sealed them. Today, I had those removed, sealed, as well as some other work being done around the house. Much of the work being performed was because people were dishonest in their business dealings.

This is not new to me. I have dealt with dishonest people quite a bit just this year. I had dishonest people emailing me about positions I have stated in this column or on the internet who have twisted what I had written into something I did not say and insist it is the case. I have had people put up web sites just for the sole purpose of showing hatred for me. Yeah, it actually happened. I have had men who claim to be of good report fabricate stories about me, my dealings with them, and all for the purpose of self justification. According to The Sermon on the Mount, I must be blessed.

I have been talking to several people who have seen their long time spouses be deceitful and literally spread lies about them. Just yesterday, I was fellowshipping with a local pastor whose wife recently left him after being seduced by the dark side of The Force to follow after her own ways. I have seen this a lot with different people and simply fail to comprehend the lack of fidelity.

There have been many shady deals that have been perpetrated upon the citizens of North Carolina. We were told we would pay for schools with a lottery and then we have bond referendums and now tax hike referendums for the same purposes. We have seen national shame come upon the state and specifically, three men at Duke University because of one dishonest man with an agenda. We got the lottery because of a dishonest political play in the state legislature. We got a budget surplus because of over taxation and then the state dishonestly kept the overage to spend on pet projects. We were told that additional school spending would raise test scores but recent results published in within the past week or two show the opposite. All of this does not even get into bribery and corruption scandals associated with Jim Black.

Once in a while, I run across an honest man. Recently, I paid a business to perform a service for me. I got exactly what was promised, for the amount promised, and even earlier than promised. I may have paid more than I would have with other companies, but I got a quality product from an honest man.

I wish that sort of honesty would transcend the world in business, personal relationships, and government. One of my biggest pet peeves in life is being lied to. Lying is what got Bill Clinton impeached. He did not get convicted in the Senate, but he was still impeached. Being dishonest does not pay dividends in the long run. I expect and demand honesty from my friends, family, business dealings, and my government officials. You should, as well. Sure, I expect worldly people to act like the world does, but that does not mean that I should not demand honesty. I don't know about you, but I am very tired of being lied to by the media, government, and people in general, hence this rant. It may seem like a personal "bone to pick", but it really is just a general frustration lately with so much dishonesty coming from so many directions and from so many sources.

Just last week, I found a deal on some "best of" CD collections, so I picked up some Billy Joel and ABBA (yes, I am actually old enough to remember and enjoy them) which were missing from my music collection. One song from the collection by Billy Joel that has been going through my head for a week is "Honesty". I leave you with the chorus to that classic song.

Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honest is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you

Column for Sept. 6, 2007

I wish I could thank Congressman Etheridge for his visit

A few weeks ago, I wrote a column about the purpose of government. As I write today's column, I have just returned to my office from the Jernigan Building in Uptown Selma. Congressman Bob Etheridge was holding office hours today for his constituents. When I arrived, there were already dozens of people seated in the former court room seats waiting to speak with their Congressman.

I went because I wanted to speak with my Congressman, as well. However, the purpose of my visit was most likely very different than most of the visitors. I was told that if I wanted to speak to Mr. Etheridge, that I should sign in on a log book on the podium. I went up to the front of the room, grabbed a pen, and proceeded to sign my name and address into the log book. After finding that I had the one pen in the bunch that was running out of ink, I found one that did write and finished my log entry. I noticed that there were two or three full sheets of names ahead of me, all waiting to see Mr. Etheridge.

After I stood in the back of the room, having elected not to sit in the hard folding seats, I remained standing. I had been seated most of the day already. I watched people as they came into the room. I saw many sweet looking, blue haired old ladies. I saw a young, beautiful Latina holding the hand of her toddler. I saw middle aged men and senior citizen aged men. I saw men that I know come in to the room and sign in to the log book. I saw our Police Chief enter and check on the gathering. I saw a local politician waiting for a photo opportunity and seizing it when a photographer arrived. Of course only loyal Democrats such as Will Crocker were at this event and he was able to squeeze his mug into a shot with the Congressman. Never mind the idea that a United States Representative does just that. He represents all constituents, not just those of one particular party. This works just the same when the Republicans have their public relations machine in place. I observed all of this with interest. I pondered whether this was worth my time, when a stamp is only 41 cents. Two hours of my time was worth more than 41 cents to me.

What was heartening was that there were so many people there to see their elected representative. What was troubling was that there were so many people there to see their elected representative. What was troublesome about it was that so many of these people were present to see what the government could do for them rather than to meet the man elected to be their mouthpiece and give their opinions. There were people who were veterans who had trouble with the Veterans Administration, people with Medicare issues, people with Social Security problems, and the like. Many people were filling out forms authorizing the Congressman's office to investigate their problems. A Congressman is a representative, not a troubleshooter. Were there not so many entitlement programs and socialist agendas in government, we would not need a full staff for each of the 435 members of Congress to deal with the very bureaucracy that they created.

Why was I there? I had a simple question or twelve that should have only taken five minutes or less. I had a pocket copy of the United States Constitution with me and a list of the bills that supporters of Congressman Etheridge have touted as some of his wonderful stances. Those include repealing the restrictions on federal spending on embryonic stem cell research, a bill allowing the government to negotiate directly with drug companies to lower prices for Medicare, and Mr. Etheridge's own "The America's Better Classrooms Act of 2007", which provides $25 billion in bonds for school construction and modernization.

My biggest questions were: 1. Have you ever read the entire Constitution? 2. If so, please show me in the Constitution where any of these projects and bills are authorized by the Constitution. I was ready to supply a copy for his personal use. 3. If such authority for Congress is not allowed under the U.S. Constitution, then why, Mister Congressman, are you supporting completely unconstitutional measures?

I have a history with Mr. Etheridge, having interviewed him on the radio on several occasions and always asking tough questions. One time, his campaign manager even told him not to answer one of my questions while we were live, on the radio. Rest assured that I would ask the same if Mr. Etheridge was a Republican, only I would cut him even less slack. I thought the better of waiting a couple of hours for this and figured that the value of a stamp is far less than that of my time. I left baffled and yearning for a return to Constitutional principles.

Column for August 30, 2007

Oxymoron of the week: government efficiency

This November, I want you to pay real close attention to the ballot in the upcoming election. Before you snarl at me like PETA at Michael Vick, it is not what you may be thinking. On the ballot this year will be a referendum or two. We are almost sixty days away from a significant decision for taxpayers.

As some of you may know, the State of North Carolina has approved two options for local governments to use to increase taxes. One is a .4% land transfer fee and the other is a quarter percent increase in sales tax. Voters in each local district will have to approve the taxation in order for it to be considered by a local government. A vote of affirmation would allow the county to pass one or the other but not guarantee that one would be enacted. A negative majority referendum vote would kill the idea completely. No matter how you slice it, we are talking about the potential of higher taxes.

One thing about the sales tax increase that bothers me is that we would fork over that money to be paid to a notoriously thieving system. The state collects sales tax money we pay to retailers. The state takes its portion and then disperses the portions allotted to the local governments. I remember that several years back the state had an unbalanced budget. To help make that budget balance, the state simply decided that they would not parse out the share of the sales tax due local governments.

The incredible thing is that in order to help local governments recover some of the absconded cash, the state allowed local governments to raise local sales taxes even higher. Those taxes again would go right into the hands that stole from local governments to begin with. Why should the state ever be trusted with more of our money? Even if it is just one quarter of a percent increase, I do not trust the system to be honest.

Keep in mind that the state that would be taking this money is the same state that has robbed from the highway trust fund and never replenished it, even after having well over a billion dollar surplus last fiscal year and refused to put the money into the trust fund, return it to the over taxed citizens, or pay the towns the money previously mentioned.

If only we had a nearby harbor and the proposed taxes were on tea! Do we not sent millions, even billions to our state, county, and towns already? Oh, I know, it is for the children, right?

Why drain the equity in someone's home at the time of the sale just for more money for adequately funded schools? I just looked at my home equity for a financial check up, and I would be slapped with an unjust distribution of the equity I worked hard to achieve for the benefit of extra revenue to an already funded school district.

Property taxes, as it is, are inherently unfair. People like myself, who are property owners, pay taxes while those who rent do not. In Selma, that means only 40% of the citizens here pay the freight for our schools.

If you really think you own the land you have, just stop paying your property taxes and you will find that the feudal overlords of government will confiscate that property and sell it to make their cut of your hard earned property value. Now the proposal is to penalize those who sell their hard earned investment.

If the triple tier bus schedule proposed for Clayton could be avoided by mysteriously coming up with money for new buses, then we can certainly find areas in which we can be more frugal with the money we supply government.

I sincerely hope that the citizenry of Johnston and other counties will have the backbone and intelligence to vote NO on both proposals for increased taxation. We already have a huge bond we just approved and a lottery that were supposed to help with school construction. I want accountability and efficiency with that money, not just the milking of us citizens for more of it.

Column for August 23, 2007

Remembering the purpose of government

I have been doing a lot of reading on early American history as of late. I am a part of a small group of men who have formed what is being called "The Patriots' Pub" (on the internet at www.patriotspub.us). The purpose of the group is to lay out the foundations of history in this country that led up to the writing of the United States Constitution. This has been a great refresher for me, since this is a period of history that does not seem to be taught in depth any more. There are so many people who have never been taught about the origins of the Constitution, of the nation, about the reasons for independence, and the reasons for the guarantees written into the Constitution.

One thing about being a part of The Patriots' Pub is that we have a ground rule to follow. We do not allow political commentary about history; we only present the facts as we have found and researched them to be. The words of any opinion will be quotes from those men of the time. This does a great service to the presentation and project. The frustrating part is that I can't offer commentary on the parallels between those days and today. When we read the state of affairs, the oppression tactics of the British crown, the taxation, and the control exhibited by a government upon its citizens, I am amazed. It has often been said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

I have had numerous conversations with other people who are even outside of the United States, who have the right sense about the purpose of government. One thing that we all agree upon, whether Christian, agnostic, or otherwise, is the purpose of government. To put things into perspective from several views, in Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense", published in January of 1776, Paine wrote, "Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher. Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil." I have been reading some of Paine's writings in preparation for more presentation in my group.

From a Christian perspective, the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 13, "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil."

One thing that I totally agree with the deist, Paine, as well as Paul, is that government is supposed to be an entity that serves society and is necessary for the punishment of evil. Lately, I have seen the government at various levels punish those who do right. Whether that punishment is via taxation, unjust laws, or a lack of regard for what is righteous and ordained of God, we have often lost the purpose of government.

I encourage each and every one of you to investigate history. Do some reading of your own, and be a responsible citizen. This may seem like a simple admonition and a boring one, but quite honestly, I am amazed at the lack of knowledge being shared in our schools and possessed by the general populace. I have learned more by reading on my own and sharing with other people than I was ever taught in school. This tells me that there is a difference between going to school and being educated. I was amazed at how much I either forgot or was never taught to begin with. If you have internet or library access, there are plenty of resources available, and therefore no excuse for a lack of knowledge. I make none for wherein I have been lacking and endeavor to remedy that. I hope you will, as well.

Column for August 16, 2007

Because I am an American, THAT'S why!

I take exception to those who come into this nation illegally. When someone comes into my home through the window instead of a doorway, I consider him an intruder and I deal with the uninvited individual. I don't instead offer for him to live in my home, eat my food, get medical help, have an education, and give him cash to send to his family who lives elsewhere. Why? Because I am an American.

I believe in defending the right to free speech. I do not believe in giving my time to those who wish to waste it with the use of their free speech to spew their lunacies that espouse principles that will take away my own freedom. Instead, I believe in counteracting their idiocy with truth. Why? Because I am an American.

I don't believe in pressing 1 for English or in paying for other languages to be printed on government documents that I help pay for. I believe in pursuing the dream of being a fellow countryman in the language that has been used here for four hundred years and that the vast majority of residents use every day. Why? Because I am an American.

I believe in hard work instead of lazily relying upon the rest of society to supply money upon which to exist. I believe in charitable benevolence, but only for those who can not do for themselves rather than those who will not do so for themselves. Why? Because I am an American.

I believe in reading and understanding the history of this nation and the supreme laws upon which it was framed. I believe that if we are to operate under a set of rules, it is wise to be familiar with the rule book. I believe in following the rule book and not making up rules as we go along. I believe that Congress, the Supreme Court, and the President should follow the rule book, too. Why? Because I am an American.

I believe in keeping taxes as low as possible and not take more than is necessary to run the government as lean and efficiently as possible. I believe that individuals know better how to spend their money, raise their children, and contribute in charitable giving than any government bureaucracy. Why? Because I am an American.

I believe in owning guns not just to defend a home, but to help defend a nation. I believe that the reason we have a right to keep and bear arms is to throw off tyranny and repel invasion. I believe in exercising the right to own arms because we can, if for no other reason. I believe that if we are not vigilant in keeping guard on such freedoms that we will lose them. Why? Because I am an American.

I believe that there is a reason behind the verbiage "all enemies foreign and domestic". I believe that there are those who do not hold the same values that the rest of Americans have held since our continent was being settled. I believe that we must first counteract their error with truth and reserve the right I just mentioned as a last resort. I believe that we have many enemies that are domestic. Many were foreign, but have become a domestic problem. Many are and always have been domestic. I believe that they must be resisted so that we can maintain the greatness of this nation. Why? Because I am an American.

I believe that people should let their opinions be made known to their elected representatives. I made sure that our county school board members and county commissioners all got a copy of my last column. I email, fax, and write my Congressmen, state representatives, and state senators about legislation and issues that affect us as citizens and for which I have a passion. I believe that every citizen should shake off their apathy and do the same. Why? Because I am an American.

I believe that if you disagree with the opinions that I just shared that you wrong, don't know what America is all about, and probably are part of the "enemies…domestic". I also believe that you have every right to believe as you do and I will defend your right to believe and say so. Why? Because I am an American.

Column for August 9, 2007

Wiping off my shoes

Have you ever walked down a sidewalk or on a lawn and suddenly you smelled a present left you by a dog? Then you realize it is now on your shoe? I got that same sense upon reading the letter to the editor that was printed in this newspaper from Dr. Anthony Parker, the Superintendent of Schools here in Johnston County.

In his letter, Dr. Parker cited a bunch of statistics about how much money was being spent, was needed, and how many students he expects to enroll in our county schools in the future. He used this opportunity to stump for a tax increase to generate more revenue for schools.

In Johnston County, we just passed a $99 million bond referendum in May to assist in school construction. Next, we supposedly have a lottery to benefit education, hence the inaccurate name, "The North Carolina Education Lottery". Obviously they were both ineffective, a boondoggle, or not good enough for Dr. Parker.

Is it not ironic that right here in Selma, we have a charter school starting this year that takes no state or county money for school facilities? They are only given the exact same amount of money per student that the public schools are allotted. The cost of facilities for charter schools has to be paid out of that money whereas public (government owned and run) schools get that money plus money for facilities.

We are now paying Dr. Parker $209,000 a year to do his job. We pay him to administrate the school system. We do not pay him to perform political lobbying, recommend how to fund schools, or attempt to sway the process that we elect people to perform. He is paid more money than the Governor of this state to run a school system of only 31,000 students compared to the Governor's constituency of 8.8 million people.

We elect people on the County School Board, the County Board of Commissioners, and state legislators to take up such debates and decisions. We did not hire Dr. Parker to attempt influence for a needless tax increase.

We had a $1.5 billion budget surplus in this state just this year. That means that we as taxpayers were overtaxed that much. Instead of spending the surplus on school construction, retiring debt, or refunding the overage, the money was squandered. On top of that, the state still wants to raise taxes and so does Dr. Parker.

When I was in school, we used 20 plus year old textbooks. They often were in disrepair. However, history, mathematics, elementary science, and English do not change, so we squeezed use out of the books. I was talking to a young local teacher recently who told me that she just got brand new textbooks but was informed not to use them for some unknown reason.

When I was in school, we did not use mobile classrooms. We put 35 to 40 children in a room and we did not know that we were overcrowded. We put students in converted closets. We turned a drama stage into a library so that the library could be used for classroom space. We cut some extra-curricular activities and almost cut out the entire sports program at one point. I personally still have a letter from the mayor of that small town thanking me for my input on the matter at a town meeting when I was a mere elementary school student.

Parochial schools in the area turned out a quality education for even less money than the public schools because they were frugal with their money but focused on education instead of facilities and maintaining a highly compensated bureaucracy.

I have been accused of using sophisticated verbiage in my columns and keeping a dictionary handy to write my word craft. No, it is merely a product of a school system that faced the same student population and funding issues but still turned out students with a decent education rather than whining about needing to increase taxes on landowners.

In preparation for this column, I redid some research. According to The Federation for American Immigration Reform, Hispanics made up 57 percent of enrollment growth in North Carolina public schools from 2000 to 2005. Personally, I do not care that these people are Hispanics. I only care whether they are here legally or not. According to the Carolina Journal, roughly 65 percent of North Carolina’s Latino population are illegal immigrants (December, 12 2005 article). That tells me that we have a huge issue with having to pay for the education of children who do not belong in this nation.

Doctor Parker, the problem is not with a lack of money being sent to the federal government, the state, or the county to pay for schools. The problem is that we are mandated to pay for the education, meals, and health care of those who do not belong in this nation, so the problem is with the federal government, under-taxed landowners. The problem is with schools having a bloated administrative staff who are paid more than our chief executive officer of our state. It is a problem with administration, Dr. Parker, not with money. More money does not equate to quality education, and that is what we pay you to provide. If money was the answer, then the Washington, D.C. schools would put out the best students in the world.

When the schools can prove great frugality with the money we already provide, I will consider supporting a tax increase. Until then, I have to go wipe off my shoes.

Column for August 2, 2007

Fairness in enforcement is necessary

When property owners are given a deadline to bring their buildings up to just minimum specifications for safe habitation, the town has an obligation. The obligation is to follow through on its commitment. If not, then some people who are adversely affected can claim unfair treatment while others are constantly given extensions.

Over a year ago, property owners with unsafe buildings were given notice to fix the properties or have them torn down. If they did not comply nor tear down the structure, the town would do it for them. The owners were given almost a year to do something. A process was set in place to comply, to petition for extension, etc. Some did apply for extensions and they were granted across the board for all. Four months extra were given. Then, some owners started working on their properties. To those property owners who showed reasonable effort, more time was granted to complete the work.

There were many owners who did not do anything. Some who did nothing are now complaining that they want more time. Now, the town council has backed down yet again on yet another request and allowed just that.

What bothers me is that some houses are going to be torn down, people are going to lose their properties, and they are going to have a lien against their property to help recover the costs associated with demolition. I have no problem with that concept if the property owners are going to do nothing about properties. However, I am troubled that there is a double standard in place here.

If the town is going to "get tough" on these properties, extension after extension after extension is not going to help the cause. I just read that the town has granted yet another extension to a property owner one month after the extended deadline had passed. Now, the owner has a two week time line just to get a plan from a general contractor. That could mean that the process with this one property, over which there have already been many breaks granted, could drag out indefinitely.

I am all for private property rights. However, I am also all for equal protection and treatment under the law. This action by the town to clean up blighted properties that do not even meet the minimum standards for human occupancy have nothing to do with race, creed, sex, religion, or social status. It has to do with meeting minimum criteria for basic sanitation and safety.

With property rights comes responsibility. One can not constantly ignore the responsibility and claim the rights. If someone does not take care of a property, it becomes a haven for drug users and transients (as the property in question repeatedly has), it lowers the value of the surrounding properties, and affects the neighborhood, then action needs to be taken. Some property owners, apparently, have to be dragged kicking and screaming to their responsibilities. When notified of the responsibility, some have shirked it and a good "head slap" is needed, which in effect, is what the owner of the condemned house in question has gotten. I merely say that he should have the same treatment as the others who have or will be losing their properties and not have indefinite exceptions unfairly made for one person who has dragged his feet but squawked the whole way.

Has this whole condemnation policy worked? Since I am on the Planning Board for the Town of Selma, I do get to see properties come up for planning review. Four old houses that were condemned and previously given an extension will finally be town down and nice new duplex homes will be erected in their place. This will help the tax base for the town, attract a higher quality tenant, improve the neighborhood, and hopefully profit the owners.

Two other duplexes were reviewed at the planning board meeting a week ago Monday. These are going to be built in established neighborhoods that have previously been blighted by the same old, substandard housing. These buildings can only help the neighborhood and the town in the same way.

As much as I would prefer to see these buildings be single family homes that local folks would own instead of rent as tenants, it is a small start towards change in the standard of living in Selma. It is a slow process, for certain, but worth it in the long run.

Column for July 26, 2007

Kiss your gun rights goodbye?

When you think of the word evil, you may conjure up images of hideous looking creatures out of some mythological movie. Maybe you think of some hideous witch or a devil with a pitchfork. Not me. When I think of evil, I think of well intentioned people in suits who wish to take a vote on a piece of legislation to stifle the masses. There are several such bills before the state legislature right now.

Because I choose to be active in writing and other forms of media, I get to speak with people who are known to be fountains of information. Sometimes I simply read information that is freely available to all, yet is rarely reported.

Grass Roots North Carolina (grnc.org) is a group to which I belong. It has one primary mission, which is to educate the public about our right to keep and bear arms and deal with legislation at the state level. Often, I get emails from them telling me about the latest attempt to curb your freedoms to procure, own, or use firearms for sport or self defense.

North Carolina House Bill 1287 is one that I find most insidious. That bill would register anyone who is denied a pistol purchase permit by the local sheriff into a database run by the State Bureau of Investigations. In theory, that database record would be purged after 8 years. That means that for eight years, any sheriff who does a background check on you will know that you were denied a purchase permit.

In North Carolina, county sheriffs can deny you a purchase permit at will with no reason given or for any motivation, with or without a criminal history check. The denial will appear in all subsequent records check on the individual in question.

Here is the horrific part. The database would be shared with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives at the federal level. Of course, state laws for purging data do not apply to federal agencies. That means that if Steve Bizzell decides that he wants to deny you a pistol permit in Johnston County, you will now have an FBI record. That record will follow you all over the country forever.

At the federal level, the McCarthy Bill (HR 2640) will ensure that your right to keep and bear arms will be decided by a doctor, not by the Constitution. Allegedly, the bill would put any mental health records into a the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS. Don't ask me why it isn't NICBCS, but then you wouldn't be able to pronounce the acronym like the name of a New York basketball team). If you had a bad day and were feeling depressed so you visited the Johnston County Mental Health Services office, you would now be entered into a criminal database.

It is bad enough that this is already checked by the sheriff during a background check for obtaining a concealed carry weapons permit. People in this county have already been denied these permits because they hit a bad, temporary patch in life and are now branded; precluded from ever being able to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

The 2nd Amendment was never about hunting. It was and is about being able to throw off tyranny. Those who adopted the Constitution knew the tyranny that could be placed upon citizens by decree. They also knew what it meant to throw off that same tyranny.

It is happening again. Our freedoms are being restricted. A governing body prefers unarmed subjects. Disarming the public was a popular tactic of despots of the 20th Century. As this nation becomes more and more socialistic, we are seeing the same liberties being squashed as they did. And, in this more technologically modern age, we are seeing an Orwellian approach to tracking everyone and everything by Big Brother. Sadly, even alleged gun rights groups like the NRA are too obtuse to oppose Big Brother and protect your privacy and gun rights. That is just one reason why I refuse to have an NRA membership.

If you have ever wanted to purchase a handgun for leisure or for self defense, you may want to do it before bills like these become law and some gun rights lobby groups continue to sell out your freedoms. You may also want to join "no compromise" gun rights organizations such as Gun Owners of America and Grass Roots North Carolina. Bit by bit, your freedoms, whether you chose to exercise them or not, are being eroded.

Column for July 19, 2007

Is the upcoming local political season too political?

Since long before I have been doing this column, I have been pleading with people to get involved in their communities and their government. I don't believe in just whining about the operations of our various levels of government. I believe in putting action to your beliefs.

I am glad to see that we have at least one man "stepping up to the plate" for the Selma mayoral race this year. I personally do not personally know William Overby, who at the time of this writing, was the only candidate to file for that office. Then again, two years ago, nobody really knew who I was, either. The filing period for November's municipal election closes this Friday.

Mr. Overby has publicly stated that he supports the town's efforts to hire a fire chief. I have publicly stated my position on the matter in this column, on the internet, and in private conversations both verbally and via email. I have gotten my share of hate mail over my position. Mr. Hester has gotten his share of hateful sentiments and actions aimed his way. I am convinced that the only reason that a cross was not burned on his front yard was because it would have been the fire department would have to put out the flames. As of this writing, Mr. Hester has not filed for re-election.

The town has posted employment ads soliciting applications for a new chief. I have looked at the job listing and have personally forwarded the position on to some people I know who are qualified for the position. I got a funny response from a friend of mine. He said, and I quote, "Thanks, but not interested…this one is way too political. Good luck in the search."

Here is what I know for sure. There are many fire departments that operate with a high degree of efficiency and morale under the proposed structure. I can personally attest to this, having worked under and around different structures in the past. Either way, it is my hope that the town officials continue to work for progress, accountability, and in the best interest of the citizens of Selma.

One thing probably not adequately explained is that the new chief's position does not pay $55,000 per year. That was the amount budgeted for the position. The position pays in the $44,000 to $46,000 range. An employee always costs more to hire and pay than just the salary, so the budget for the position, to include benefits and costs of having an employee come to $55,000. I only surmised this by reading the position description, seeing the salary, knowing the public information on that job, and having a basic understanding of economics.

Keep in mind that Selma officials do take decisions that affect those outside the town's jurisdiction. The fire department does serve the fire district, which includes areas outside the town limits. Those who live in the fire district do not have a vote or say in how the town runs its fire department, and rightly so, since it is a town department. However, there needs to be due consideration to all decisions taken and whom they affect.

The planning ordinances affect up to one mile outside the town in what is called the extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ). I personally take issue with the town being able to regulate those who live outside the town, are not town citizens or tax payers, and tell them what they can or can not do with their own properties. I doubly take exception to any town here in the county being able to extend that reach of power to two miles. However, that is another subject for another day.

Another way that town officials affect those outside of the town is with annexation. The town will be considering a voluntary annexation request. I am all for voluntary annexation. When it is against the will of property owners, with minor exception, I take umbrage and make an issue of it. This has been and will again be a hot button issue.

The town's elected officials have turned around budget woes, have begun to work on some hot potato (or potatoe, if you are Dan Quayle) issues, and have garnered regional attention as a result. By Friday afternoon, we will find out who will perhaps be carrying the baton of local government in Selma, as well as other municipalities here in Johnston County. Keep reading this newspaper and column for more.

Column for July 12, 2007

I'm from the government and here to help

This column marks the completion of one full year of writing for "The Selma News" and "The Wilson's Mills News". I am grateful for the opportunity to have been able to share my opinions and information with you. I thank each and every one of you for reading my column, and I want to take the time to thank the staff of "The Selma News" and "The Wilson's Mills News" for the opportunity as well as their support. I have heard a lot of praise from some of my readers, disagreement from some, and even harsh criticism from others. No matter what, I am glad that all of you are reading. For those of you who have said that they agree with me 85% of the time, rest assured that I am working on getting that other 15%.

That having been said, I want you to know how your various levels of government are allegedly helping you. Sure, that is a popular topic with me, but as Forrest Gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does". He prefaced that statement by saying, "My momma always says that..." His momma and my mother have a lot in common, because she said the same thing often.

At the 4th of July celebration held right in Uptown Selma, did you know that the county's health inspector limited your choice of food vendors? One local business, Edelweiss Bakery, paid the requisite fee to have a vendor's booth at the local festival. There were other food vendors as well. Steve Reed, the owner of Edelweiss, spent a bunch of money in supplies, staff pay, and booth equipment. Just down the street was a church group selling chicken, as we often see at these events. The Edelweiss booth was almost shut down, limiting them to selling only chips and beverages. The reason? There was not some sort of guard in place and netting on his booth. There was also no such protections on the church booth, yet they were allowed to continue to operate and serve food.

What is the paradigm at work here? Edelweiss prepared its food in a kitchen that is inspected and graded by health inspectors on a regular basis. The food was put into bins and transported fifty yards down the street to their tent for retail. Apparently, that was not good enough. The non profit food sellers did not need to undergo any such inspection or permitting. I was told that the reason for the difference was that Edelweiss is a business and the other group is a non profit organization. That tells me that it is fine to possibly get food poisoning, as long as it is at a not for profit booth. I am not saying that you stand a better chance of getting food poisoning at a church plate sale than at a restaurant. I am merely pointing out the stupidity in the regulations. The truth be told, it is for profit with either group. The only difference is what sort of corporation the proceeds will be supporting.

If you do get food poisoning at a local outdoor festival and are on Medicaid, you can rest assured that the rest of us will probably be paying higher property and sales taxes to support your medical care. Medicaid funding is an unfunded mandate by the state that is placed on the backs of local governments. Some local governments spend as much as 30% of their budget on Medicaid. Two thirds of homeowners in the state will end up paying higher tax rates to help fund the growing Medicaid costs. Many of these costs are incurred as a result of supplying medical care to illegal aliens, but that is another discussion for another day. I have been reading news articles that some state law makers want to fund Medicaid more at the state level with a property transfer tax and higher sales taxes.

The governmental efforts to allegedly keep our food supply safe and provide health care services are obviously unfairly handled and funded. I decry the stupidity and inequity of government agency regulatory enforcement as well as forcing those of us who bear the burden of taxation to pay for the health care of others.

Column for July 5, 2007

A few observations while in Manhattan

Having spent two decades in North Carolina, I have heard it stated often, "That's how we have always done it", or "It's a tradition". Some traditions are good. Others are worth re-evaluation. Nothing helps you consider the world you live in like going somewhere else and experiencing different cultures and regions. My wife and I recently returned from a trip to Manhattan. During this trip, I had plenty of things to contemplate as I saw how different things are and can be.

The first thing that struck me on my trip was the use of the railroad that runs right through our small town. What totally amazes me is that for a ticket price of over $100 each person for each leg of the trip, Amtrak loses money each and every year. You and I are paying the U.S. government for Amtrak to operate at a loss. One would think that if nothing else, the rip off prices of second rate food served in the cafe car would make up for any losses of operation. If you like paying $15 for a couple of sodas and two prepackaged sandwiches that you can find in convenience stores, then Amtrak is for you. If airlines and bus companies can operate at a profit, why can't Amtrak make a profit? Perhaps it is time to sell off that asset and let private industry take over.

New York City has been cleaned up quite a bit, from what I have read. The subways, cabs, Times Square, and the streets were, for the most part, clean. The train station and subway stations all seemed to be much better than I had heard about for years. This gives me hope for what we can do in this small town. Selma has a reputation for being a drug haven. When I got back from my trip, I found local media with coverage of drug busts by our own CSI Selma. I type that in a respectful and affectionate manner, by the way. I have great appreciation for the work that is being done by Chief Bowen and his staff.

While taking a tour of downtown Manhattan, I found the history amazing. Entire districts of the town such as the garment district were dying and slated for demolition. Today, that area is a thriving business community. We spent a lot of time in Times Square which was once occupied with a lot of pornographic theaters. Today, it is thriving with family oriented businesses. More New Yorkers come out and visit their own city than they once did. The city streets are cleaner and safer than they have been in a century. This means more tax revenue for the city, increased services, and a better quality of life. A better reputation attracts more visitors.

Another thing I noticed while walking around the city was the diversity of businesses. There were many restaurants, specialty shops, clothing stores, department stores, convenience stores, bakeries, souvenir shops, etc. If that diversity can revitalize their city, on a smaller scale, it can only help us. I have stated before that making Selma an antique shopping destination is not really a sustainable long term plan. I have nothing against antique shops nor shop owners, as those who know me realize. But diversity of our business district will attract more locals to spend more time and money right here in our own economy, attract more residents, and thereby build up our own tax base.

Another thing I noticed was the amount of languages spoken. Just while on top of The Empire State Building, I heard German, French, Italian, Hindi, Swedish, some African dialects, Arabic, and some other languages that I could not distinguish. I also noticed that the primary language for business and cross cultural communication was English. Many cab drivers were either African (true "African-Americans", in my opinion, and not just some catch phrase) or from the Middle East. Every one spoke good English, knowing that they must assimilate to effectively operate. I wish that the primary population of immigrants that come here would take a serious cue from these people who embody the spirit of becoming Americans.

I have already cut down this column quite a bit in order to fit within my allotted space and have so much more to tell. Alas, I have to wind down for this week. I will wrap up by saying that if New York can do it, we can make Selma truly A Charming Place to Be.

Column for June 28, 2007

Propaganda often needs translation

I just read an open letter propaganda piece that was written by a Vice Chair of the Johnston County Democratic Party in favor of our Congressman, Bob Etheridge. As I find with most Democrat perspectives, there is translation needed in order to comprehend what is actually being said. I am including the propaganda my common sense, paragraph by paragraph, real world translation. Keep in mind that I am a registered independent, not a Republican. I just happen to be rather conservative in my admittedly biased yet accurate translations.

"Bob Etheridge…has stood consistently for [Johnston County] values and for programs that benefit our citizens."

Democrat translation: He stands for liberal, Democrat values and that is how everyone should vote. If you don't, you are a retard. He has stood to take money away from those who are productive members of society and give it to those who wish to suckle off the government teat with no accountability or requirement of repayment or even labor in order to obtain our tax money.

"He supported legislation that would require greater fiscal responsibility from the federal government and that would help to stem the outrageous deficit being left for our grandchildren by this administration."

Democrat translation: Bush is a moron. Forget our Democrats in Congress supported the spending. We don't want the facts to stand in the way. Even Republicans do agree that under the Bush administration, spending is out of control and we fully intend to take full political advantage of that every chance we get. We really don't have much else to claim in our favor other than the situation in Iraq. This now gives us two weapons in our arsenal.

"Bob Etheridge strongly supported passage of an increase in the minimum wage urgently needed by many of our hardworking citizens."

Democrat translation: Forget the fact that nobody is really supporting a family on minimum wage. We like the fact that labor unions have wages that are indexed to the minimum wage and labor unions are huge Democrat supporters. It may be true that only underachieving losers will remain in minimum wage jobs, but we like to control business and industry. Obviously, evil corporations are to blame for the low wages. We may have unprecedented economic growth at the current minimum wage and nobody at McDonald's starts out at that lowest wage because the market dictates otherwise. However, we as Democrats do not trust evil corporations to treat workers fairly. We will not let the fact that the majority of businesses that pay minimum wage are small, family owned companies that may be struggling to make ends meet and that workers may be laid off as a result of a higher wage scale. That does not matter, since we feel good about sincerely pretending to care.

"He has proposed and supported legislation that would make this country more energy-independent by using alternative sources of energy and advances in technology that would create much-needed new jobs."

Democrat translation: He has no scientific background, but we as Democrats feel really good about appearing to actually do something. We realize that Al Gore is a crackpot who is pushing junk science as fact. We buy into it anyway, since it gives us a way to take more money away from evil corporations and the American tax payers. This is a way of exerting more control over everyone's lives, property, and help keep us in power by looking like we actually care.

"And Bob Etheridge has supported legislation that would build a partnership of state and federal resources to assist local education systems with the building of enough new schools to accommodate rapid growth."

Democrat translation: We don't care that the Constitution does not allow the federal government to spend money on education. A previous paragraph may have just praised Etheridge for stemming the tide of government spending, but this increase in government spending is for a good cause. After all, what better cause is there than being "for the children"? Everybody should realize that a government school system is not really an indoctrination system or really a part of the Communist Manifesto. If you believe that they are, you must be for freedom, actual accountability for tax money being spent, and must be some whack job. You can not possibly think that you would know how to better raise and educate your own children than a bloated bureaucracy that wields taxation power over you to teach values that contradict your own.