I have read the ridiculousness about how I and others in this community hate Hickory. Apparently there are over 2,100 people in Hickory that made the statement last week that they hate Hickory, if you listen to the Status Quo.
As I have already stated and others have stated, last week was an encouraging election. In the past, those with favored status walk away with 65%+ of the vote. Last week, the figure head of the status quo won, but struggled with barely 55% of the vote. This win came against a person who was basically labeled as a Communist.
There have been whisper campaigns going on in this community for years. Lies and innuendo are standard operating procedure and plausible dependability is the fall back. Fear is the energy these people feed off of.
All I have done... All we have done is shine a light on practices that we feel have had a negative effect on this community. If we hated this community and didn't give a darn about this community, then why would we be trying to get it on solid ground.
Like I have said, we are gaining ground and we are encouraged. We continue on with the mission. Last week was an opportunity to make a difference and we tried and to a certain degree we failed. Remember what they say about winners never quitting.
The only people who really lost last week were the majority of people in Hickory. We have not created, brought forward, or caused the bitterness in this community. The Status Quoers want to trash Dr. Inglefield when he has invested more money and paid more taxes in this community than the great majority of them as individuals. Have you ever read about any of the Inglefield's benevolent gestures? Have you ever heard them brag about all they do in this community? And many of those organizations they invested in worked against their interests over the last several months.
Ask people that know me if I am the rude, crude, and obnoxious person that some want to paint me as. I was brought up to be a gentleman, to have manners, and to help others when I can... and that is what I do. That is what my friends do. We want to move this community forward.
Do you know what the difference is between the wealthy and the poor in this community???... Money.
It certainly isn't class.... I have seen as many rich people who have displayed a lack of class as poor people. It certainly isn't education or intelligence.... I have seen as many rich people who have displayed a lack of education and intelligence as poor people in this community. It certainly isn't work effort. I have seen as many
lazy rich people as
lazy poor people in this community. I have seen as many rich people sidle up to the government trough as I have poor people.
Isn't it time that some of the people in this community display their appreciation for their good fortune in life? You can't take it with you when you leave God's Green Earth. I just can't for the life of me figure out what the deal is with all the greed we see in society today.
I have looked back to what I have written over the past five years. The information on this site is not compartmentalized like so many other resources. I am not interested in creating a brand. That never lasts and that is the reason why those who attempt to keep having to do it over and over and over again.
The real story of this community will come from its DNA. And your DNA are the ingredients that make up your being, as in an individual or as a unit such as a community. We need better ingredients in this community. That does not come from inanimate objects. That comes from people. Marketplaces are not infrastructure or buildings. Marketplaces are people. You ever seen those ghost cities in China? Plenty of buildings... plenty of busy work... no people.... therefore no marketplace.
Until we begin heavily investing in the people of the community, all of the people in the community, then anything we do is going to fall flat on its @**. And that isn't all about money...
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- November 10, 2013
US consumer sentiment unexpectedly falls in November - Reuters through CNBC - November 8, 2013 - .S. consumer sentiment unexpectedly dipped in November to a near two-year low as lower-income households worried about their job prospects and financial outlooks and negative views of the government lingered, a survey released on Friday showed. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's preliminary reading on the overall index of consumer sentiment fell to 72.0 in November, its lowest since December 2011. That was lower than both October's final reading of 73.2 and the 74.5 economists had expected this month. Lower-income households in particular worried about their future financial state. That was a contrast to richer households—those with incomes above $75,000—which felt more optimistic as stock prices increases boosted net wealth gains.
US Rents Rise To New All-Time High; Homeownership Rate Stuck At 18 Year Low - Zero Hedge - Tyler Durden - November 5, 2013 - One quarter ago, when we performed our regular update on trends in US homeownership and rents, we said that "The American Homeownership Dream is officially dead. Long live the New Normal American Dream: Renting." What happened since then is that the American Dream briefly became a full-blown nightmare when in Q3 mortgage rates exploded, pummeling the affordability of housing, and ground any new mortgage-funded transactions to a complete halt (don't believe us - just ask the tens of thousands of mortgage brokers let go by the TBTF banks in the past 6 months). Which is why it was not at all surprising to find that the just updated Q3 homeownership rate has remained stuck at 65.1%: the lowest since 1995.
How Federal Reserve and banking policy is accelerating income disparity: Financial obligations ratio soars for renters while declining for homeowners. Problem is, we have less homeowners.
- Dr. Housing Bubble
How China Can Cause The Death Of The Dollar And The Entire U.S. Financial System - The Economic Collapse Blog -Michael Snyder - November 7th, 2013 - The death of the dollar is coming, and it will probably be China that pulls the trigger. What you are about to read is understood by only a very small fraction of all Americans. Right now, the U.S. dollar is the de facto reserve currency of the planet. Most global trade is conducted in U.S. dollars, and almost all oil is sold for U.S. dollars. More than 60 percent of all global foreign exchange reserves are held in U.S. dollars, and far more U.S. dollars are actually used outside of the United States than inside of it. As will be described below, this has given the United States some tremendous economic advantages, and most Americans have no idea how much their current standard of living depends on the dollar remaining the reserve currency of the world. Unfortunately, thanks to reckless money printing by the Federal Reserve and the reckless accumulation of debt by the federal government, the status of the dollar as the reserve currency of the world is now in great jeopardy. As I mentioned above, nations all over the globe use U.S. dollars to trade with one another. This has created tremendous demand for U.S. dollars and has kept the value of the dollar up. It also means that Americans can import things that they need much more inexpensively than they otherwise would be able to. The largest exporting nations such as Saudi Arabia (oil) and China (cheap plastic trinkets at Wal-Mart) end up with massive piles of U.S. dollars... But it wouldn't be just the federal government that would suffer. Just consider what higher rates would do to the real estate market.
About a year ago, the rate on 30 year mortgages was sitting at 3.31 percent. The monthly payment on a 30 year, $300,000 mortgage at that rate is $1315.52. If the 30 year rate rises to 8 percent, the monthly payment on a 30 year, $300,000 mortgage would be $2201.29. Does 8 percent sound crazy to you? It shouldn't. 8 percent was considered to be normal back in the year 2000. Are you starting to get the picture?
Which America Do You Live In? – 21 Hard To Believe Facts About “Wealthy America” And “Poor America” - The Economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder, on November 6th, 2013
The United States has More People in Jail than High School Teachers and Engineers - A Lightning War for Liberty - November 8, 2013 - America has become a gigantic gulag over the past few decades and most of its citizens don’t know, or just don’t care. One of the primary causes of the over incarceration in the U.S. is the absurd, tragic failure that is the “war on drugs”, and indeed nearly half of the folks in prison are there for drug related offenses. Making matters worse is a rapidly growing private prison system, which adds a profit motive to the equation. Recently, I wrote an extensive rant against the private prison system and provided details on how it works in: A Deep Look into the Shady World of the Private Prison Industry. Now here are some of the sad facts. There are 1.57 million people in federal and state prison (does not even include county and local jail) according to the Department of Justice. That’s above the nation’s 1.53 million engineers and 1.05 million high school teachers.
America Has More Prisoners Than High School Teachers - Huffington Post - Saki Knafo - November 5, 2013
How America Was Lost — Paul Craig Roberts - November 7, 2013 - It is totally and completely obvious that the wars have nothing to do with protecting Americans from terrorism. If anything, the wars stir up and create terrorists. The wars create hatred of America that never previously existed. Despite this, America is free of terrorists attacks except for the ones orchestrated by the FBI. What the fabricated “terror threat” has done is to create a thorough-going domestic police state that is unaccountable. Americans need to understand that they have lost their country. The rest of the world needs to recognize that Washington is not merely the most complete police state since Stalinism, but also a threat to the entire world. The hubris and arrogance of Washington, combined with Washington’s huge supply of weapons of mass destruction, make Washington the greatest threat that has ever existed to all life on the planet. Washington is the enemy of all humanity.
Catherine Austin Fitts Interview about current Economic Circumstances
Catherine Austin Fitts (Wikipedia) - is the president of Solari, Inc., the publisher of The Solari Report, managing member of Solari Investment Advisory Services, LLC., and managing member of Sea Lane Advisory Services, LLC.
Catherine Fitts is a reoccurring guest on the overnight radio program Coast to Coast AM.[1]
US Rents Rise To New All-Time High; Homeownership Rate Stuck At 18 Year Low - Zero Hedge - Tyler Durden - November 5, 2013 - One quarter ago, when we performed our regular update on trends in US homeownership and rents, we said that "The American Homeownership Dream is officially dead. Long live the New Normal American Dream: Renting." What happened since then is that the American Dream briefly became a full-blown nightmare when in Q3 mortgage rates exploded, pummeling the affordability of housing, and ground any new mortgage-funded transactions to a complete halt (don't believe us - just ask the tens of thousands of mortgage brokers let go by the TBTF banks in the past 6 months). Which is why it was not at all surprising to find that the just updated Q3 homeownership rate has remained stuck at 65.1%: the lowest since 1995.
How Federal Reserve and banking policy is accelerating income disparity: Financial obligations ratio soars for renters while declining for homeowners. Problem is, we have less homeowners.
- Dr. Housing Bubble
How China Can Cause The Death Of The Dollar And The Entire U.S. Financial System - The Economic Collapse Blog -Michael Snyder - November 7th, 2013 - The death of the dollar is coming, and it will probably be China that pulls the trigger. What you are about to read is understood by only a very small fraction of all Americans. Right now, the U.S. dollar is the de facto reserve currency of the planet. Most global trade is conducted in U.S. dollars, and almost all oil is sold for U.S. dollars. More than 60 percent of all global foreign exchange reserves are held in U.S. dollars, and far more U.S. dollars are actually used outside of the United States than inside of it. As will be described below, this has given the United States some tremendous economic advantages, and most Americans have no idea how much their current standard of living depends on the dollar remaining the reserve currency of the world. Unfortunately, thanks to reckless money printing by the Federal Reserve and the reckless accumulation of debt by the federal government, the status of the dollar as the reserve currency of the world is now in great jeopardy. As I mentioned above, nations all over the globe use U.S. dollars to trade with one another. This has created tremendous demand for U.S. dollars and has kept the value of the dollar up. It also means that Americans can import things that they need much more inexpensively than they otherwise would be able to. The largest exporting nations such as Saudi Arabia (oil) and China (cheap plastic trinkets at Wal-Mart) end up with massive piles of U.S. dollars... But it wouldn't be just the federal government that would suffer. Just consider what higher rates would do to the real estate market.
About a year ago, the rate on 30 year mortgages was sitting at 3.31 percent. The monthly payment on a 30 year, $300,000 mortgage at that rate is $1315.52. If the 30 year rate rises to 8 percent, the monthly payment on a 30 year, $300,000 mortgage would be $2201.29. Does 8 percent sound crazy to you? It shouldn't. 8 percent was considered to be normal back in the year 2000. Are you starting to get the picture?
Which America Do You Live In? – 21 Hard To Believe Facts About “Wealthy America” And “Poor America” - The Economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder, on November 6th, 2013
The United States has More People in Jail than High School Teachers and Engineers - A Lightning War for Liberty - November 8, 2013 - America has become a gigantic gulag over the past few decades and most of its citizens don’t know, or just don’t care. One of the primary causes of the over incarceration in the U.S. is the absurd, tragic failure that is the “war on drugs”, and indeed nearly half of the folks in prison are there for drug related offenses. Making matters worse is a rapidly growing private prison system, which adds a profit motive to the equation. Recently, I wrote an extensive rant against the private prison system and provided details on how it works in: A Deep Look into the Shady World of the Private Prison Industry. Now here are some of the sad facts. There are 1.57 million people in federal and state prison (does not even include county and local jail) according to the Department of Justice. That’s above the nation’s 1.53 million engineers and 1.05 million high school teachers.
America Has More Prisoners Than High School Teachers - Huffington Post - Saki Knafo - November 5, 2013
How America Was Lost — Paul Craig Roberts - November 7, 2013 - It is totally and completely obvious that the wars have nothing to do with protecting Americans from terrorism. If anything, the wars stir up and create terrorists. The wars create hatred of America that never previously existed. Despite this, America is free of terrorists attacks except for the ones orchestrated by the FBI. What the fabricated “terror threat” has done is to create a thorough-going domestic police state that is unaccountable. Americans need to understand that they have lost their country. The rest of the world needs to recognize that Washington is not merely the most complete police state since Stalinism, but also a threat to the entire world. The hubris and arrogance of Washington, combined with Washington’s huge supply of weapons of mass destruction, make Washington the greatest threat that has ever existed to all life on the planet. Washington is the enemy of all humanity.
Catherine Austin Fitts Interview about current Economic Circumstances
Catherine Austin Fitts (Wikipedia) - is the president of Solari, Inc., the publisher of The Solari Report, managing member of Solari Investment Advisory Services, LLC., and managing member of Sea Lane Advisory Services, LLC.
Catherine Fitts is a reoccurring guest on the overnight radio program Coast to Coast AM.[1]
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Come to the Light
Romans 13
12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Sole Survivor
Wetton - Downes
When I ran from the hounds of hell
Twist my foot, I nearly fell
I was lucky I was alive
One look back I could have died
{chorus}
I was the sole survivor
Sole survivor
Sole survivor
Solitary fighter
When I saw it I was amazed
One time glory right in my gaze
I saw the sorrow, I saw the joy
Right in the darkness none could destroy
{chorus}
And from the wreckage I will arise
Cast the ashes back in their eyes
See the fire, I will defend
Just keep on burning right to the end
{chorus}
Daylight
Wetton - Downes
All of the nights when the light was low
And day seemed so far away
Darkness was endless
And I kept seeing ghosts turn in shades of gray
Wanted to see things just the way they used to be
Dont want those shadows hanging over me
Daylight, wanna see daylight
Wanna see daylight that shines all around
Daylight, I wanna see clear blue light
Wanna see daylight that shines all around
Hours and hours in towers
On the back road of tragedy
Voices are calling
And fingers come on crawling all over me
Then when I sit up and my hands begin to shake
Suddenly, there I see the dawn break
Daylight, wanna see daylight
Wanna see daylight that shines all around
Daylight, wanna see clear blue light
Wanna see daylight that shines all around
Only one thing keeping me sane
Daylight, wanna see daylight
Wanna see daylight that shines all around
Daylight, I wanna see clear blue light
I wanna see daylight that shines all around
Daylight, I wanna see clear blue light
I wanna see daylight that shines all around
Read more: Asia - Daylight Lyrics | MetroLyrics
12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Sole Survivor
Wetton - Downes
When I ran from the hounds of hell
Twist my foot, I nearly fell
I was lucky I was alive
One look back I could have died
{chorus}
I was the sole survivor
Sole survivor
Sole survivor
Solitary fighter
When I saw it I was amazed
One time glory right in my gaze
I saw the sorrow, I saw the joy
Right in the darkness none could destroy
{chorus}
And from the wreckage I will arise
Cast the ashes back in their eyes
See the fire, I will defend
Just keep on burning right to the end
{chorus}
Daylight
Wetton - Downes
All of the nights when the light was low
And day seemed so far away
Darkness was endless
And I kept seeing ghosts turn in shades of gray
Wanted to see things just the way they used to be
Dont want those shadows hanging over me
Daylight, wanna see daylight
Wanna see daylight that shines all around
Daylight, I wanna see clear blue light
Wanna see daylight that shines all around
Hours and hours in towers
On the back road of tragedy
Voices are calling
And fingers come on crawling all over me
Then when I sit up and my hands begin to shake
Suddenly, there I see the dawn break
Daylight, wanna see daylight
Wanna see daylight that shines all around
Daylight, wanna see clear blue light
Wanna see daylight that shines all around
Only one thing keeping me sane
Daylight, wanna see daylight
Wanna see daylight that shines all around
Daylight, I wanna see clear blue light
I wanna see daylight that shines all around
Daylight, I wanna see clear blue light
I wanna see daylight that shines all around
Read more: Asia - Daylight Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Friday, November 8, 2013
We won if you didn't know! - Dr. Jody Inglefield - November 7, 2013
We won if you didn't know!
The number of votes for change was much higher than expected. Typically we lose 65% to 35%, but this race was much closer at 55% to 45%. 500 votes made it a squeaker for the status quo.
Seismic Shift!! How did we get this 10% boost? It was the hard work of telephone calls, canvassing, and getting out the vote. Also, our cyber champion the Hickory Hound Thom Shell has moved the numbers with his news and analysis after years of providing the only recordings of city council meetings. Shazam!
Think about how hard everyone worked! CJane Johnson, my sister Wendy, and their relentless heroes rallied tirelessly at home and at headquarters fighting for the people of Hickory. Grassroots democracy lives in Hickory! I join our whole region in thanking my campaign staff and the voters of Hickory for their courageous efforts in helping reclaim our city for the people. The fierce grip of the old days and old ways prevailed; but the balance is shifting.
We have learned that hard work in the field makes a difference in Hickory. We can use this as we move forward. Words fail me as thanksgivings arise for everyone who stood up to help me, for everyone who lives in Hickory.
I do not list the names here due to the real possibility that they could be hurt and intimidated by the powers that are in control. You know who you are and I will be thanking you personally.
A special thanks goes to Jason, my communication director, who threw his heart into the campaign. He was an outstanding advocate for me and for my values. I greatly appreciate as well Jeff and Susan Brittain's brave endorsement. I was happy to stand with Anetia Wright in her run for city council, and Karen Hoyle her manager. I appreciate her support and willingness to stand up for Ward 4 citizens. She was the choice of her ward, but denied the right to represent them due to the at- large system that has corrupted the vote in Hickory.
Desperate signs popped up like weeds in the last week of the campaign (as my signs strangely disappeared?) at every abandoned lot and intersection in Hickory and at the polls election day. Those signs seemed to point to Rudy Wright's Tumblr site!!! (who is that masked man????!! Beware of getting on his bad side!!!) I got a real headache the last time I looked.
If you want to read about what is happening in Hickory government don't depend on the Hickory Daily Record, voice of the incumbents, or the Charlotte Observer that completely ignores the city with no reporting of any substance. The days of the press investigating and balancing the forces of government with truth finding and fair reporting are long gone. If they even hint at issues they get stomped on, like the issue of conflict of interest, at least they forced one council member out.
Don't forget it is all "insider trading," all of it. It is pay to play, just look at any city committee or commission. "Detractors" is the term that we hear as our moniker, we should wear it with pride. Yes, we don't care for cronyism, no bid contracts, refusing to produce public information, destroying public recreation facilities, and failing to report conflict of interests. How many times can you rebrand again and again? "To be, rather than to seem"(esse quam videri) is the North Carolina motto, certainly not Hickory's.
Never again will the shenanigans of Hickory Inc. go unnoticed. Join me as we move forward to continue to detract, irritate, and exacerbate our city misleaders and mismanagement. We have only just begun. Keep following the money, it is all they care about, not you.
Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support as we Move Forward.
Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph T. Inglefield III
The number of votes for change was much higher than expected. Typically we lose 65% to 35%, but this race was much closer at 55% to 45%. 500 votes made it a squeaker for the status quo.
Seismic Shift!! How did we get this 10% boost? It was the hard work of telephone calls, canvassing, and getting out the vote. Also, our cyber champion the Hickory Hound Thom Shell has moved the numbers with his news and analysis after years of providing the only recordings of city council meetings. Shazam!
Think about how hard everyone worked! CJane Johnson, my sister Wendy, and their relentless heroes rallied tirelessly at home and at headquarters fighting for the people of Hickory. Grassroots democracy lives in Hickory! I join our whole region in thanking my campaign staff and the voters of Hickory for their courageous efforts in helping reclaim our city for the people. The fierce grip of the old days and old ways prevailed; but the balance is shifting.
We have learned that hard work in the field makes a difference in Hickory. We can use this as we move forward. Words fail me as thanksgivings arise for everyone who stood up to help me, for everyone who lives in Hickory.
I do not list the names here due to the real possibility that they could be hurt and intimidated by the powers that are in control. You know who you are and I will be thanking you personally.
A special thanks goes to Jason, my communication director, who threw his heart into the campaign. He was an outstanding advocate for me and for my values. I greatly appreciate as well Jeff and Susan Brittain's brave endorsement. I was happy to stand with Anetia Wright in her run for city council, and Karen Hoyle her manager. I appreciate her support and willingness to stand up for Ward 4 citizens. She was the choice of her ward, but denied the right to represent them due to the at- large system that has corrupted the vote in Hickory.
Desperate signs popped up like weeds in the last week of the campaign (as my signs strangely disappeared?) at every abandoned lot and intersection in Hickory and at the polls election day. Those signs seemed to point to Rudy Wright's Tumblr site!!! (who is that masked man????!! Beware of getting on his bad side!!!) I got a real headache the last time I looked.
If you want to read about what is happening in Hickory government don't depend on the Hickory Daily Record, voice of the incumbents, or the Charlotte Observer that completely ignores the city with no reporting of any substance. The days of the press investigating and balancing the forces of government with truth finding and fair reporting are long gone. If they even hint at issues they get stomped on, like the issue of conflict of interest, at least they forced one council member out.
Don't forget it is all "insider trading," all of it. It is pay to play, just look at any city committee or commission. "Detractors" is the term that we hear as our moniker, we should wear it with pride. Yes, we don't care for cronyism, no bid contracts, refusing to produce public information, destroying public recreation facilities, and failing to report conflict of interests. How many times can you rebrand again and again? "To be, rather than to seem"(esse quam videri) is the North Carolina motto, certainly not Hickory's.
Never again will the shenanigans of Hickory Inc. go unnoticed. Join me as we move forward to continue to detract, irritate, and exacerbate our city misleaders and mismanagement. We have only just begun. Keep following the money, it is all they care about, not you.
Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support as we Move Forward.
Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph T. Inglefield III
Election numbers
OK, so the stats from the election are above. The maximum number of votes were in the Mayoral election. We can assume that there were about 4,774 people that voted in this election. Maybe there were a few more votes, because people might not have voted in the Mayoral race, but I doubt it.
It is obvious to see that there are many people who are uncomfortable sticking their noses into other wards elections. Based on the maximum vote count, in Ward 4 291 people didn't vote, in Ward 5 463 people didn't vote, and in Ward 6 974 people did not vote.
Dr. Inglefield did a poll back in August and the poll was pretty much dead on for both the primary and the general. In round numbers, the primary numbers showed Mayor Wright at 45%, Dr. Inglefield at 26%, Ernie Masche was right at 10%, and Terry Revels at the time was the highest of the others.
I personally feel that Ernie Masche's numbers were climbing somewhat until the HDR ran the article showing his voting record, but I don't think he was going to climb up to challenge. Ernie was in a race with the Mayor. The percentage that he was taking away from the Mayor, I guesstimate was around 10%. So Ernie could have gotten to 20%. That number would have pulled the mayor down to 35% in the primary.
Dr. Inglefield's poll also showed the Mayoral race right around 56% to 44% and that is where it ended up. I'll see if Dr. Inglefield will allow me to show that poll to the public. But, the election ended up pretty much right where it started. As I said earlier, the Status Quo has eroding support. Dr. Inglefield got less than one-third of the vote in his Senate race against Austin Allran and he got 44%+ of the vote here.
Dr. Inglefield was up against it because he was painted as the Liberal Democrat and people around here pretty much vote according to Politically Ideological labels. It doesn't matter about policy or what you truly represent. The local media did what they always do and that is quite a shame.
As elections move forward, the internet is going to play a more prominent role. People caught on that there was information available through alternative means out there. When one looks at the primary, they see that Jeff Brittain came up in the rankings. In Dr. Inglefield's poll he was less than 5% and he climbed up almost double that in the primary. Candace Harold also climbed and I feel that was due to her getting out and meeting people and also what she said in the debates. But, currently the elections are dominated by the voting of the older demographic in this community and they don't get their local news from the internet.
It was a very interesting election for everyone except those fighting tooth and nail to maintain the status quo. Everything played out pretty much as it should under the current electoral circumstances in the community. We don't know much about what the Incumbents stand for, but we are 99% certain they are going to raise your taxes. Lot of valuable lessons to be learned here. Some will learn and others.... ehh, they already know everything anyway ;).
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