Tonight's meeting was about residential Types and Densities. Bill Grimes of Studio Cascade addressed the attendees about the process and past workshops that have taken place during the past year. He stated that the overriding planning principle is walkability to services that they need. It isn't feasible for walkability to be universal.
Bill went over the aspects of the past workshops
WS 1) Evaluation of walkability and walkable centers
WS 2) Corridor and Core Management and Development
WS 3) Policy Alternatives
WS 4) Applying Zoning Districts to Cores and Corridors
The Advisory Committe has been looking into
Industrial Districts - Reduction of industrial land in the community. We have more than we need.
Revitalization Areas - Brownfield assessments mostly in areas along the railroad tracks. Classic Industrial area. much of it is environmentally challenged
Residential Districts and Densities - Lowest (Single Family Housing/1 unit per acre) to highest (High Rise Apartments)
***Bill stated that we have been looking at policy and land use direction in the abstract, but a principle objective in this process is to update the zoning map to tie the Land Development Code will reflect and embody the concepts that the comprehensive plan is promoting.
The idea of this meeting is to manage the zoning map so that it is consistent with what the community wants. The existing zoning map and the Hickory by Choice land use map are totally inconsistent. The HBC map shows 15+ pod developments while the actual zoning map does not show that this has occurred. The commercial centers have become elongated strips.
Bill went over what happened at the October Workshop. The issue of commercial development with a where and how context.
The Land Development Code will be simplified
Residential Districts - Looking to have 3 or 4 types
Mixed-Use Development - Retail and Residence mixed often in the same building. Community Commercial designed to serve significant portions of Hickory and Neighborhood Commercial looking to serve a 1/2 mile radius around the center.
Commercial Use - Right now there are around 100 possible uses. This will be simplified to administer and understand.
Residential Character - People live here because they like the area. What they are really trying to nail down is what makes the neighborhoods work and how do we keep the characteristics in place.
Residential Zoning Districts (Simplified)
Low Density - Suburban - Ultra Low density = diverse housing options, buts requires abundant land. Small and Large lots are both available. Detached and attached housing can both be located here. Automobile oriented. Opportunities for common open space. Cluster subdivision principles are encouraged to maintain natural resources and recreational opportunities.
Medium Density - Variety in Type = allows accommodation of many types of housing. Area will offer smaller lot sizes. Allows for attached and detached houses. Small scale multi-family development. Increase access to commercial/retail services in addition to greater availability to cultural and civic resources.
High Density - Pedestrian District = High Rise apartments. Offer a variety of housing choices. Smaller building lots for more compact development types. Roads should be pedestrian friendly. Provisions for open space. Neighborhood services within a 1/4-mile walking distance. Larger scale multi-family residential will also be found in this area. Schools and public institutions should also be found in this area.
Mixed Use Centers (A real Challenge) - Rather dense core in the center and less dense surrounding the core. Want to have an economically viable core where citizens can walk or bike conveniently. People are worried about the character of the neighborhoods surrounding these mixed use centers. Don't want to compromise the integrity of the pleasant qualities of the neighborhoods, so they are trying to modify the transition from the core to the outlying neighborhoods.
Offers a combination of retail, commercial, and office uses with residential compatibility. Structure include residences on upper floors. Schools and other public assets found near these commercial centers. Public soaces found throughout this kind of development. Alternative transportation modes are encouraged by design, where the street network accomodates bikes, pedestrian travel and transit. Streets offer pedestrian-friendly atmosphere through curbside parking, landscaping, reduced traffic speeds, sidewalks and crosswalks.
The exercise tonight centered around where the participants would like to see residential development take place over the next 20 years. The population is expected to increase by 12,000 people during that time period, which would encompass 5,000 households.
The conceptual landuse map shows the challenges we face. The area around Highway 70 is utilized for commercial purposes, there is a lot of Industrial land, and there is also a lot of publicly held land. There is a lot of land that is off the table and can't be used for residential purposes.
A lady asked a question about the availability of plenty of commercial land? To which Bill stated that there was plenty of Industrial land available and it may not be suited to for that purpose any longer. It may be suited for professional offices and keeping with the town's economic future.
I asked about the rail corridor and if it played a role in their thought process. Did it enter into their equation about fuel prices going through the roof or did they just look at today's affordable fuel prices? Bill stated it definitely played a role, but they had to balance the market out over the 20 year horizon. Bill mentioned that the past uses around the rail corridor haven't necessarily been very clean. It can be very costly to clean up the areas that have been contaminated. so that these areas can support residential development along there. To make these areas residential, a lot of investment will likely have to go into that property. I asked if we were talking hundreds of millions of dollars? Brian Frazier answered that there have only been a half dozen Phase 1 Brownfield assessments that have taken place and there are a couple that are moving to Phase 2. The costs of the Phase 2 assessments are tens of thousands of dollars. Brian stated that they would know as soon as the Phase 2's are completed and the costs could be next to nothing up to millions of dollars. Bill stated that once targeted use becomes residential use, then the threshold goes up to the highest possible level. Brian also stated that the State can place deed restrictions on property that is severely contaminated. Right now they haven't found any that would preclude them from becoming residential, houses of worship, or playgrounds.
A question was asked about dense housing and are we going to make sure greenfield areas are designated for that property? She is worried that developers in the past haven't taken this into consideration. It's stick it in and get the most out of it and to Hell with what anyone else wants.
Bill stated that he was going to get to that.
The next question was asked about projected population growth and what is driving those numbers? It is based on population growth. He stated that he didn't know how much is jobs driven and how much is quality of life driven. These numbers came from the Western Piedmont Council of Governments.
Bill talked about the earlier question about Greenways. He stated that in the exercise he wants people to attach notes about what they would like to see done with these properties in their development.
The first group focused on areas that also have some potential for business development. The McDonald Parkway - Springs Road junction is already a small shopping area, so maybe someor moderately priced apartments or condos can come into this area along with It needs to maintain some area for parks or outdoor activities for growing families.
Along Lenoir-Rhyne and Hwy 127 mixed use would be more appropriate, because of the walkability function and the fact that less parking spaces will be necessary, available, and required. There need to be more apartments available to college students available to students who don't live on campus.
Along 29th ave NE around Lowe's grocery, the consensus more apartments (and townhouses) to expand upon already existing apartments. The highway is going to be expanded so medium density seems to be more appropriate. Industrial area will be more appropriate for apartments and more greenspace. The Springs Road area is more of a blank slate and will be easier to develop, such as the already mentioned Springs Road - McDonald parkway junction, the Kool Park - Springs Road junction, and the areas out and around Catawba Springs.
One of the ladies that was part of this group, Erin Seiling who is an Assistant Director from the Reese institute at L-R, talked about the Carolina Thread Trail and how it might be instituted as part of development in this area when it comes to the issue of walkability. This is a greenway system that works its way all the way down through Charlotte. She believe that there could be housing next to these greenways that take advantage of the walking path. higher priced single or smaller family dwellings.
The second group had similar ideas putting mixed use along the rail corridor in the Green Park area and out main Avenue to Hwy 321. Vacant space can be used for this purpose of High and Medium density to provide walkability to downtown near amenities. Medium density could go out in the Old lenoir Road area where the Y (road forks) is near Northwest Drywall near the Nursing home. medium Density would be great around the airport and there are some beautiful views out there. Along 29th ave NE, medium density. Cloninger mill would be good for low density and Downtown would be good for high density where the old warehouses are (could even be used for medium). They agreed with group 1 about the L-R are. They believe it is necessary to ensure that there is greenspace attached to any development. The group also addressed the area around CVCC and the need to expand housing options for that area near Catawba Valley Boulevard.
They stated that somewhere in the South section of the city investment must be made, but they couldn't place the dot, because it will be a risk. In addressing the demographics of this area, one needs to ask what can we do with that? Bill Grimes asked should the City Foster or Respond to facilitate development in this area? Sally Fox stated that the Police Department being located on 2nd ave SW and 4th street SW stabilized the Southwest area.
***Bill stated that Todd Hefner with the city addresses affordable housing as entry-level housing.
The third group consisted of mainly developers. They had single family focused on the Mountain View, River Road, and Star Town areas. The river down there is an underutilized area for canoeing and kayaking. They had single family placed along McDonald Parkway and one behind Cloninger Mill Road. They do have higher density along Sandy Ford and 29th ave. Over near the airport they see high density and medium density, because of the 321 corridor. And they also see availability for Medium density around the three drug stores at Mountain View. Mountain View needs to be tightened up, but they believe that is just market forces at work. There are medical services available in that area. In the Robinson Road area they would like to see some more development. In the Lenoir-Rhyne area, along 29th ave NW, and up Springs Road they see the need for medium density housing.
***Bill Grimes addressed the issue of energy costs and the cost of transportation and what was brought up about Springs Road. The strip development pattern is very land intensive and very sparsely developed commercial. This may or may not stand the test of time. At some point it may evolve into something other than what it is today. Spings Road, Hwy 127, and Tate Boulevard are hinting that something is going to change down the line. This plan is going to have to find a way to anticipate and plan for this now or help the city when it comes time to plan for its future.
Group 4 concurred with group 2 and 3 in many ways. They see opportunities available aroun CVCC. We need to proceed with what had been planned, but hasn't been built - "Just Build It."The student enrollment at CVCC is 20,000 so we need to see density in this area. Mountain View should be low density further out, but medium and high density should be incorporated here. The Lutheran Home west has been scrapped, but is prime for an alternate usage. Hwy 127 north where Belle Hollow is located should have the preapproved area behind Walgreens developed with buffer housing, between the low density housing and the Walgreen's project.
Cloninger Mill and beyond, if the infrastructure is there, then use it. Around Snow Creek Elementary further development of low density can take place all the way out to around Catawba Springs. We need to see Annexation and Consolidation of these areas take place by bringing these areas into the city boundaries and let the growth go where it is planned. The falls project, 250 units of housing are planned at the junction of Cloninger Mill and sandy Ridge Road. We are on the right course. We need to follow through. The old St. Stephens Elementary needs to be a mixed-use site with medium to high density housing. What they envision is high density, but sprinled with park and walking area and medium density.
*** Bill stated that it was great that the groups recognized that Hickory is not an island and we are influenced by what is going on around us. There is an opportunity in the outlying areas of the city to capitalize on. We need to find ways to Cluster residential uses into higher density of mixed uses in Centrallized Areas. One thing that we need to keep in mind is that a long range plan can't account for what is going to happen with transportation costs. What we must plan for is a more populated town must be better served by utilizing public transportation. We must accommodate people who choose other ways to get around than just a car. Concentrating development allows one to make walkability more viable and makes use of land more efficient. Just by default it makes public transportation more viable.
The targeted draft rollout of the HBC 2030 comprehensive plan will be in April along with the draft LDC. Hearings will take place soon thereafter. Then it will be passed off to the city. The planning commission will go over it and then pass it to the City Council hopefully for adoption shortly thereafter.
The Hound believes that we have to create our Future. I am not however saying that we need to micromanage our future. I think that many times the micromanaging issue has come from egos who are not willing to accept natural evolution, because they are vested in the original byproduct of planning. When that happens, then problems become magnified beyond any intended point.
What are the weak signals that are out there facing this community. Transportation and fuel costs, an aging populace, replacing our brand, re-assimilating towards new job skills, consolidation of the City of Hickory's boundaries into a viable community... Those are the issues that we face today, but how will the evolution of this world in 20 years effect each one of those subjects?
I like what Studio Cascade has talked about so far. I like that they aren't placing layers of gobblety-gook on what we already have. They are simplifying development so that it can be understood by everyone and thus won't be arbitrarily interpreted in the future. I truly believe that Hickory's Planning Department is utilizing Studio Cascade positively. The main objective in this plan is to not let vested interests take us off track, because this sort of forward thinking plan can be destroyed by the forces of those rooted and vested in the realities of today.
The world around us is changing. It is great to question how we as a community will change in the upcoming years, but it is not ok to create roadblocks towards change. In the end we have to have viable economic commerce in order to survive as a community. That creates jobs and thus sustainability. I love initiatives that are comprehensive in scope and take into account quality of life issues, but we will not have a good quality of life without quality, good paying jobs in this community.
I believe that I have espoused how we can move towards sustainable goals in this blog. Jumping all over quick fixes, like moving retirees in here, is not going to solve anything. The foundation for our future will come from sowing seeds. That does not mean that the outcome will be exactly as we intend today, but I like this plan, because it will give us the chance to sow positive seeds. I do believe that we will be closer to that goal, if we create this truly all encompassing plan.
Links to past meetings:
Hickory By Choice 2030 Workshop: 4th Meeting
Hickory By Choice 2030 Workshop: 3rd Meeting - (Unable to attend this meeting)
Hickory By Choice 2030 Workshop: 2nd Meeting
Why the original Hickory By Choice doesn't work
Hickory By Choice 2030 Workshop: 1st Meeting
Studio Cascade awarded contract at November 4, 2008 City Council meeting
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Working on the Hickory By Choice Workshop from 2/9/2010
Once again an interesting meeting. I think the city did an excellent job when they chose Studio Cascade. I believe that this city is definitely headed in the right direction on future development issues, as long as we follow the plan and it isn't compromised by arbitrary processes. Brian Frazier definitely is laying a solid foundation for the city's future with what Studio cascade has proposed thus far.
This meeting was about Residential (Housing) development headed into the future. I hope to have this completed by tomorrow night.
Links to past meetings:
Hickory By Choice 2030 Workshop: 4th Meeting
Hickory By Choice 2030 Workshop: 3rd Meeting - (Unable to attend this meeting)
Hickory By Choice 2030 Workshop: 2nd Meeting
Why the original Hickory By Choice doesn't work
Hickory By Choice 2030 Workshop: 1st Meeting
Studio Cascade awarded contract at November 4, 2008 City Council meeting
This meeting was about Residential (Housing) development headed into the future. I hope to have this completed by tomorrow night.
Links to past meetings:
Hickory By Choice 2030 Workshop: 4th Meeting
Hickory By Choice 2030 Workshop: 3rd Meeting - (Unable to attend this meeting)
Hickory By Choice 2030 Workshop: 2nd Meeting
Why the original Hickory By Choice doesn't work
Hickory By Choice 2030 Workshop: 1st Meeting
Studio Cascade awarded contract at November 4, 2008 City Council meeting
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
2009 Hickory Metro still losing jobs - Job Spreadsheet
The following is the job's spreadsheet ending in December 2009. This is a statistical abstract of population and employment statistics in this area. Some estimated extrapolations have had to be assumed. The numbers show the following details and a continuation of the articles:
The Relevant Issue: 34,294 JOBS lost since July 2000 in the Unifour - July 6, 2009
24,493 Jobs Lost in the Unifour since June 2000 - December 8, 2008
The past 7 months saw the workforce shrink by 1,792 people in Catawba County; of those we see that 1,022 fewer people are accounted for as unemployed, but we have actually lost 768 jobs during that period. The numbers include a rounding error based on carrying out the percentages.
This time period saw the workforce actually grow by 70 people in Caldwell County; but there were also 467 people added to the unemployment docket and there were 397 jobs lost during this period.
In Alexander County, the workforce decreased by 636 people; of those we see that 452 fewer people are accounted for as unemployed and 184 jobs were lost during that period.
This time period also saw the workforce shrink by 765 people in Burke County; of those we see that 347 fewer people are accounted for as unemployed, and 418 jobs were lost.
Carrying the four county numbers out, we see that the workforce shrunk by 3,123 people in Greater Hickory Metro; of those we see that 1,356 fewer people are accounted for as unemployed, but we have actually lost 1,767 jobs during that period.
The Hound goes by the numbers. Things aren't better and they aren't a whole lot worse. Even though the unemployment numbers are down about 1% from their peak, we still see that we have lost more jobs since the last time we checked in with May's numbers.
I have already addressed the U-6 unemployment numbers several times on this site. At first, people assumed that I was piling on the doom and gloom, but now you can see the direct effect. You can't lose jobs, have the workforce shrink, and legitimately have unemployment go down. That does not make sense. It is just the way that the government tries to put a happy face on bad numbers.
Sifting through the numbers, I think that we can see that the unemployment rates have plateaued over this 6 to 7 month time period, but I think we will soon see the next leg down. The legitimate unemployment/underemployment rate is around 25% in the metro. There is just too much negative economic momentum and really no productive capacity that can turn things around. What value do government and private service economy jobs create?
It's getting ready to be state budget time and boy isn't that going to be fun to watch. We have all of these people that have been unemployed for a year, that has been putting a real drain on the state budget -- they aren't putting money into the system, but they are surely taking it out. You know that our state is obligated towards a lot of expenses, because it accepted those Stimulus dollars from the Federal Government. Where is that money going to come from? Last year they used spit and chewing gum to put the state budget together. This year I believe they will be coming to raid the local rainy day piggy banks. Things certainly are looking to get interesting in short order.
One of the proposals to rectify the state budget is to privatize the ABC package stores. I think that will be a great idea, if they guarantee that they can't go to foreign interests. But, the windfall from this will be a one time thing. Yes, the state will continue to get licensing fees, but the big impact will be from the initial franchising.
The big picture is that the government is choking private enterprise with its capital consumption. The government and the people are going to have to become more self-reliant and frugal. I do believe that the government needs to foster and work on real infrastructure issues like energy and transportation. That could help get people back to work.
It is time for some New Deal type projects to take place to change the momentum in this country. I also believe that we have to see some tariffs on foreign goods coming from third world countries and it's time to reign in the multi-national corporations. It is time for fair trade. The monies that come from these tariffs can go towards Economic Revitalization.
The one thing that I certainly know is that we cannot continue on the path that we are on. It is past the point of sustainable or unsustainable. It is past the point of deciding whether we need to act. We Need To Act!!!
The Relevant Issue: 34,294 JOBS lost since July 2000 in the Unifour - July 6, 2009
24,493 Jobs Lost in the Unifour since June 2000 - December 8, 2008
The past 7 months saw the workforce shrink by 1,792 people in Catawba County; of those we see that 1,022 fewer people are accounted for as unemployed, but we have actually lost 768 jobs during that period. The numbers include a rounding error based on carrying out the percentages.
This time period saw the workforce actually grow by 70 people in Caldwell County; but there were also 467 people added to the unemployment docket and there were 397 jobs lost during this period.
In Alexander County, the workforce decreased by 636 people; of those we see that 452 fewer people are accounted for as unemployed and 184 jobs were lost during that period.
This time period also saw the workforce shrink by 765 people in Burke County; of those we see that 347 fewer people are accounted for as unemployed, and 418 jobs were lost.
Carrying the four county numbers out, we see that the workforce shrunk by 3,123 people in Greater Hickory Metro; of those we see that 1,356 fewer people are accounted for as unemployed, but we have actually lost 1,767 jobs during that period.
The Hound goes by the numbers. Things aren't better and they aren't a whole lot worse. Even though the unemployment numbers are down about 1% from their peak, we still see that we have lost more jobs since the last time we checked in with May's numbers.
I have already addressed the U-6 unemployment numbers several times on this site. At first, people assumed that I was piling on the doom and gloom, but now you can see the direct effect. You can't lose jobs, have the workforce shrink, and legitimately have unemployment go down. That does not make sense. It is just the way that the government tries to put a happy face on bad numbers.
Sifting through the numbers, I think that we can see that the unemployment rates have plateaued over this 6 to 7 month time period, but I think we will soon see the next leg down. The legitimate unemployment/underemployment rate is around 25% in the metro. There is just too much negative economic momentum and really no productive capacity that can turn things around. What value do government and private service economy jobs create?
It's getting ready to be state budget time and boy isn't that going to be fun to watch. We have all of these people that have been unemployed for a year, that has been putting a real drain on the state budget -- they aren't putting money into the system, but they are surely taking it out. You know that our state is obligated towards a lot of expenses, because it accepted those Stimulus dollars from the Federal Government. Where is that money going to come from? Last year they used spit and chewing gum to put the state budget together. This year I believe they will be coming to raid the local rainy day piggy banks. Things certainly are looking to get interesting in short order.
One of the proposals to rectify the state budget is to privatize the ABC package stores. I think that will be a great idea, if they guarantee that they can't go to foreign interests. But, the windfall from this will be a one time thing. Yes, the state will continue to get licensing fees, but the big impact will be from the initial franchising.
The big picture is that the government is choking private enterprise with its capital consumption. The government and the people are going to have to become more self-reliant and frugal. I do believe that the government needs to foster and work on real infrastructure issues like energy and transportation. That could help get people back to work.
It is time for some New Deal type projects to take place to change the momentum in this country. I also believe that we have to see some tariffs on foreign goods coming from third world countries and it's time to reign in the multi-national corporations. It is time for fair trade. The monies that come from these tariffs can go towards Economic Revitalization.
The one thing that I certainly know is that we cannot continue on the path that we are on. It is past the point of sustainable or unsustainable. It is past the point of deciding whether we need to act. We Need To Act!!!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
When the Super Bowl is over, let's wake up
When I was a child I was a little hyperactive and I would be into everything. My mother worked and when the baby sitter was taking care of us, I could get lost very easily. I'd wander off and play with my GI Joes in the mud puddles and things such as that. That is how my passion for sports came to be. My grandmother figured out, when I was four years old, that I would sit still and be mesmerized watching football, basketball, or baseball and I wouldn't be into everything while the games were on.
I always had this passion and even participated in some sports until we moved to Conover when I was twelve years old, but that is another story. I still loved watching sports and I was obsessed with the statistics and the who's who of it all. Although my love of all things sports has waned over the years, I still love professional football. I watch several hours of football during the 26 weeks the seasons lasts.
Now that football season will be over tonight, I can turn my passion towards other pursuits. It is time to start sowing seeds that will reap tangible benefits. It is time to start laying the groundwork towards a better future. In these tumultuous times, we will reap what we sow and if we don't lay that foundation, then we will continue to be mired in this dust bowl.
Folks, I know that I have a great deal to do with my failures. I chased trivial pursuits and I was not intellectually nimble. In the age of exponential change that is upon us, you have to be able to adapt to circumstances quickly. We all need diversions from time to time to refresh our minds, but we cannot allow these diversions to consume our lives. I am awake now. I am alert.
I know that most of the people that have visited this website stand together with me in this consciousness; to that I say Thank God. We can't afford for people to remain as lost as they are. I see all of the dependency issues and other craziness that is ripping our society apart. This is the reality of so many people. All of the denial and lost potential contributes greatly to the hemorrhaging of our economy.
People have to change. They have to gain some perspective. I watched Mark Dice on YouTube where he is talking about people boycotting the Super Bowl. He is controversial, but he does make some valid points here; and listen to the studio sportsguy brainiac. When Mark Dice says, "turn the television off and read a book," the sportsguy arrogantly shouts "I disagree!!!" Does that not sound stupid. Listen to how the sportsguy lambasts reading a book. If the sportsguy says people do need to read, but you can take a 4 hour break and watch the Super Bowl, then that is acceptable.
Stupid has become the new smart. How many times do we hear the statement, "The less I know, the better off I am." Our society has been led towards ignorance and stupidity. The general population has been fed garbage on the TV until they aren't intellectually curious about anything. Anyone who questions the standard message or propaganda is looked upon with disfavor. Think about all of the cover-ups that have been exposed in the past. If those few people had not stepped out of their comfort zone and questioned the status-quo opinion, then we would have never found out the truth.
I don't think the Super Bowl is the problem. Last year (2009) 98.7 million people watched the Super Bowl. In a nation of 300 million+ people, that means that only 1 out of 3 people watched the game. In 2008, nearly 120 million people voted in the Presidential election. That shows you that a great many people in this country aren't going to care, no matter what the subject matter is. To me, ambivalence seems more of an issue in this nation than distractions. You can't really pinpoint any cultural issues that the majority of Americans are interested in. The only general interest seems to be disinterest. People just don't seem to care about anything.
To finish this commentary, I would hope that you understand that we, the caring, are going to have to pick up the slack for the general population. In doing so, we have to be bold and let the truth out, even when we know the message won't be popular. Do not be afraid to be condemned. This is not a popularity contest. If your convictions are from the heart, then in the end you will be justly rewarded. The truth will set you free.
Let's wake up and wake some people up.
I always had this passion and even participated in some sports until we moved to Conover when I was twelve years old, but that is another story. I still loved watching sports and I was obsessed with the statistics and the who's who of it all. Although my love of all things sports has waned over the years, I still love professional football. I watch several hours of football during the 26 weeks the seasons lasts.
Now that football season will be over tonight, I can turn my passion towards other pursuits. It is time to start sowing seeds that will reap tangible benefits. It is time to start laying the groundwork towards a better future. In these tumultuous times, we will reap what we sow and if we don't lay that foundation, then we will continue to be mired in this dust bowl.
Folks, I know that I have a great deal to do with my failures. I chased trivial pursuits and I was not intellectually nimble. In the age of exponential change that is upon us, you have to be able to adapt to circumstances quickly. We all need diversions from time to time to refresh our minds, but we cannot allow these diversions to consume our lives. I am awake now. I am alert.
I know that most of the people that have visited this website stand together with me in this consciousness; to that I say Thank God. We can't afford for people to remain as lost as they are. I see all of the dependency issues and other craziness that is ripping our society apart. This is the reality of so many people. All of the denial and lost potential contributes greatly to the hemorrhaging of our economy.
People have to change. They have to gain some perspective. I watched Mark Dice on YouTube where he is talking about people boycotting the Super Bowl. He is controversial, but he does make some valid points here; and listen to the studio sportsguy brainiac. When Mark Dice says, "turn the television off and read a book," the sportsguy arrogantly shouts "I disagree!!!" Does that not sound stupid. Listen to how the sportsguy lambasts reading a book. If the sportsguy says people do need to read, but you can take a 4 hour break and watch the Super Bowl, then that is acceptable.
Stupid has become the new smart. How many times do we hear the statement, "The less I know, the better off I am." Our society has been led towards ignorance and stupidity. The general population has been fed garbage on the TV until they aren't intellectually curious about anything. Anyone who questions the standard message or propaganda is looked upon with disfavor. Think about all of the cover-ups that have been exposed in the past. If those few people had not stepped out of their comfort zone and questioned the status-quo opinion, then we would have never found out the truth.
I don't think the Super Bowl is the problem. Last year (2009) 98.7 million people watched the Super Bowl. In a nation of 300 million+ people, that means that only 1 out of 3 people watched the game. In 2008, nearly 120 million people voted in the Presidential election. That shows you that a great many people in this country aren't going to care, no matter what the subject matter is. To me, ambivalence seems more of an issue in this nation than distractions. You can't really pinpoint any cultural issues that the majority of Americans are interested in. The only general interest seems to be disinterest. People just don't seem to care about anything.
To finish this commentary, I would hope that you understand that we, the caring, are going to have to pick up the slack for the general population. In doing so, we have to be bold and let the truth out, even when we know the message won't be popular. Do not be afraid to be condemned. This is not a popularity contest. If your convictions are from the heart, then in the end you will be justly rewarded. The truth will set you free.
Let's wake up and wake some people up.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Top-Down or Bottom-Up
I just want to explain my feelings about what I am seeing with governance on the local level. Many of the people in this area, known as Hickory, walk around with a swagger exuding artificial confidence about their independence and how no one is going to tell them what to do. What I am seeing is that nothing could be further from the truth. The system of governance in our area is fully vested in a simple bureaucratic system that is crippling ingenuity and entrepreneurship.
Look around, the real mindset is that we control nothing and we don't control our own destiny, but folks we do. We put the shackles on ourselves. We are only as strong as the people of this community and the ambivalence of the general populous is what has brought us down. At this point we are down for the struggle and we are enduring this negative economic momentum, but in the end there will be no badge of honor that comes along with enduring the struggle. We are sacrificing for nothing.
You know that my philosophy is "of, by, and for the people." But as many have stated to me, "the people don't care." And I tend to agree to a certain extent, but while we can't make everyone care, we have to make more people care, because if we don't we lose -- even the people who care lose.
I was a great admirer of Ronald Reagan, because he made me feel good about my country. No politician has made me feel good about this country the way that he did. In the events following 9/11, I felt that the people in this country were coming together for a common cause, but now it seems that was a brave front which was created out of shock in the immediate aftermath of the vulnerability that was exposed from those events. That was false swagger, much like this community still displays today, because of the state of our economy.
The Reagan era came about from Jimmy Carter's leadership of malaise. I was ten years old when Carter came into office and fourteen when he left. Those years remind me a lot of what we are going through now, but this era feels worse.
We had terror then. I remember worrying about the Soviets and the menacing scowl of Leonid Brezhnev or the Iranian Hostage Crisis. I remember Gold, Silver, and Oil shooting up. Inflation was high and Interest rates were ridiculous.
But then, we felt like we had control of the government. When America tired of Vietnam, we sent a message to Lyndon Johnson that it was time to pack his bags, When Watergate happened the American people did the same to Richard Nixon, and Jimmy Carter was sent packing after four years of no control. The common thread between all of these events was the way these men had people from their own party say enough is enough and remove them from office. We don't see that today.
The Reagan era brought about a lengthy period of prosperity and comfort. The admiration that many people had for Reagan got average people to buy into the Federal government, while Reagan talked about decreasing the size and role of the government, but the results over the long haul were that government continued to grow in size and scope. And Bush 41 put the government on steroids.
What Reagan espoused was Supply-side economics, what is derogatorily referred to as trickle-down economics. I truly believe that Supply-side economics works, but I think trade policies and multi-national corporate greed have not allowed the average American to enjoy the fruits of such a policy, because the owners of the methods of production have continuously sought to cut the costs of production at all costs, no matter what. The individuals at the top of the economic food chain have done everything they can to expand their wealth, so that those at the bottom do not reap any benefits from the increased production. On the macro-economic level, I think that is what has gotten us to where we are today. That is the main reason we have seen the chasm develop between income levels.
I am certainly not a socialist. I don't believe the government should be in the business of spreading the wealth. The government created the rulebook that moved us in the direction that we saw above through its convoluted tax structure. Under the current tax, the rich hire their attorneys and accountants to walk away from tax liabilities and the poor are absolved from paying taxes and many people even get back more than they put in through the Unearned Income Credit. They call the tax structure progressive, but in the end the true middle class is taking the hit. Look at the data about the Middle Class Squeeze.
I know you are thinking what does this have to do with local governance? Well, I believe that we are living in extraordinary times and to succeed in these times we are going to have to see extraordinary leadership. If local leaders want to see ingenuity and innovation, then they are going to have to display it themselves and at the very least they cannot afford to stand in the way of it, by trying to impose their self-imposed limitations upon everyone else by telling us what we can and cannot do or what will or will not work. If you have no imagination. then you have no business limiting anyone else's. Every major technological innovation we enjoy today was thought to be impossible at one point in time.
This city is famous for picking winners and losers, not by example, but rather by friendship and favoritism - sure sounds like Washington to me. I laughed when an associate talked about one of this area's major problems being TFB's (Trust Fund Babies), but over the last few years I have been brought to the fire on this subject. No one should earn a position of prominence just because of their name or who they know, everyone should be recognized on their own merits. An Aristocracy within a Republic will only lead to the destruction of the Republic.
We have to empower our local citizenry. We can do that with the Economic and Science Fair I have proposed. We can do that with Micro-Lending. We can do that by upgrading our Information Technology infrastructure. We can do that by trying to move towards a viable public transportation infrastructure that should include a Rail connection to the proposed Highspeed Rail Eastern Seaboard line, which will adjoin us to the Raleigh-Charlotte-Atlanta Megalopolis. We must do this by helping the PEOPLE in the poorer sections of Hickory.
We have continued to see efforts to invest in the same people, the same projects, and the same efforts. Logically, you cannot change the downward direction of our economy by heading in the same direction. If trickle-down economics hasn't worked on the national level, then it isn't going to work in Hickory either. I truly believe that this city's viability rests in the strength of its middle class. I am not saying that anyone should be sold out. What I am saying is that it is time that everyone who wants to participate be invited to the party.
The first thing we need to do is change our mindset. I constantly hear what we can't do. I say Think Big. I love that new saying, "Go Big or Go Home." Quit with the piddly stuff that is only going to make your buddy happy. That creates a sense of emptiness. Think of the thrill when something major gets done and we're all in it together. We all know the difference between the two.
The writing is on the wall that the next leg down in the national economy will take place by the end of this quarter. If anyone is going to turn it around, then why not Hickory? Why can't we take the lead? Why?
Look around, the real mindset is that we control nothing and we don't control our own destiny, but folks we do. We put the shackles on ourselves. We are only as strong as the people of this community and the ambivalence of the general populous is what has brought us down. At this point we are down for the struggle and we are enduring this negative economic momentum, but in the end there will be no badge of honor that comes along with enduring the struggle. We are sacrificing for nothing.
You know that my philosophy is "of, by, and for the people." But as many have stated to me, "the people don't care." And I tend to agree to a certain extent, but while we can't make everyone care, we have to make more people care, because if we don't we lose -- even the people who care lose.
I was a great admirer of Ronald Reagan, because he made me feel good about my country. No politician has made me feel good about this country the way that he did. In the events following 9/11, I felt that the people in this country were coming together for a common cause, but now it seems that was a brave front which was created out of shock in the immediate aftermath of the vulnerability that was exposed from those events. That was false swagger, much like this community still displays today, because of the state of our economy.
The Reagan era came about from Jimmy Carter's leadership of malaise. I was ten years old when Carter came into office and fourteen when he left. Those years remind me a lot of what we are going through now, but this era feels worse.
We had terror then. I remember worrying about the Soviets and the menacing scowl of Leonid Brezhnev or the Iranian Hostage Crisis. I remember Gold, Silver, and Oil shooting up. Inflation was high and Interest rates were ridiculous.
But then, we felt like we had control of the government. When America tired of Vietnam, we sent a message to Lyndon Johnson that it was time to pack his bags, When Watergate happened the American people did the same to Richard Nixon, and Jimmy Carter was sent packing after four years of no control. The common thread between all of these events was the way these men had people from their own party say enough is enough and remove them from office. We don't see that today.
The Reagan era brought about a lengthy period of prosperity and comfort. The admiration that many people had for Reagan got average people to buy into the Federal government, while Reagan talked about decreasing the size and role of the government, but the results over the long haul were that government continued to grow in size and scope. And Bush 41 put the government on steroids.
What Reagan espoused was Supply-side economics, what is derogatorily referred to as trickle-down economics. I truly believe that Supply-side economics works, but I think trade policies and multi-national corporate greed have not allowed the average American to enjoy the fruits of such a policy, because the owners of the methods of production have continuously sought to cut the costs of production at all costs, no matter what. The individuals at the top of the economic food chain have done everything they can to expand their wealth, so that those at the bottom do not reap any benefits from the increased production. On the macro-economic level, I think that is what has gotten us to where we are today. That is the main reason we have seen the chasm develop between income levels.
I am certainly not a socialist. I don't believe the government should be in the business of spreading the wealth. The government created the rulebook that moved us in the direction that we saw above through its convoluted tax structure. Under the current tax, the rich hire their attorneys and accountants to walk away from tax liabilities and the poor are absolved from paying taxes and many people even get back more than they put in through the Unearned Income Credit. They call the tax structure progressive, but in the end the true middle class is taking the hit. Look at the data about the Middle Class Squeeze.
I know you are thinking what does this have to do with local governance? Well, I believe that we are living in extraordinary times and to succeed in these times we are going to have to see extraordinary leadership. If local leaders want to see ingenuity and innovation, then they are going to have to display it themselves and at the very least they cannot afford to stand in the way of it, by trying to impose their self-imposed limitations upon everyone else by telling us what we can and cannot do or what will or will not work. If you have no imagination. then you have no business limiting anyone else's. Every major technological innovation we enjoy today was thought to be impossible at one point in time.
This city is famous for picking winners and losers, not by example, but rather by friendship and favoritism - sure sounds like Washington to me. I laughed when an associate talked about one of this area's major problems being TFB's (Trust Fund Babies), but over the last few years I have been brought to the fire on this subject. No one should earn a position of prominence just because of their name or who they know, everyone should be recognized on their own merits. An Aristocracy within a Republic will only lead to the destruction of the Republic.
We have to empower our local citizenry. We can do that with the Economic and Science Fair I have proposed. We can do that with Micro-Lending. We can do that by upgrading our Information Technology infrastructure. We can do that by trying to move towards a viable public transportation infrastructure that should include a Rail connection to the proposed Highspeed Rail Eastern Seaboard line, which will adjoin us to the Raleigh-Charlotte-Atlanta Megalopolis. We must do this by helping the PEOPLE in the poorer sections of Hickory.
We have continued to see efforts to invest in the same people, the same projects, and the same efforts. Logically, you cannot change the downward direction of our economy by heading in the same direction. If trickle-down economics hasn't worked on the national level, then it isn't going to work in Hickory either. I truly believe that this city's viability rests in the strength of its middle class. I am not saying that anyone should be sold out. What I am saying is that it is time that everyone who wants to participate be invited to the party.The first thing we need to do is change our mindset. I constantly hear what we can't do. I say Think Big. I love that new saying, "Go Big or Go Home." Quit with the piddly stuff that is only going to make your buddy happy. That creates a sense of emptiness. Think of the thrill when something major gets done and we're all in it together. We all know the difference between the two.
The writing is on the wall that the next leg down in the national economy will take place by the end of this quarter. If anyone is going to turn it around, then why not Hickory? Why can't we take the lead? Why?
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