It Is Illegal To Feed The Homeless In Cities All Over The United States - The Economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder - August 26th, 2013 - What would you do if a police officer threatened to arrest you for trying to share a sandwich with a desperately hungry homeless woman that really needed it? Such a notion sounds absolutely bizarre, but this is actually happening in major cities all over the United States. More than 50 large U.S. cities have adopted "anti-camping" or "anti-food sharing" laws in recent years, and in many of these cities the police are strictly enforcing these laws. Sometimes the goal appears to be to get the homeless people to go away. Apparently the heartless politicians that are passing these laws believe that if the homeless can't get any more free food and if they keep getting thrown into prison for "illegal camping" they will eventually decide to go somewhere else where they won't be hassled so much. This is yet another example of how heartless our society is becoming. The middle class is being absolutely shredded and poverty is absolutely exploding, but meanwhile the hearts of many Americans are growing very cold. If this continues, what is the future of America going to look like? An organization called Love Wins Ministries made national headlines recently when police in Raleigh, North Carolina threatened to arrest them if they distributed sausage biscuits and coffee to homeless people living in the heart of the city. Love Wins Ministries had been doing this for years, but now it is apparently illegal. The following is from someone who was actually there...
Dr. Paul Craig Roberts speaks on King World News in a September 1, 2013 interview about Syria and Obama being out on the limb that Great Britain has cut off. Obama has no cover and any action could be considered a war crime. This would terminate influence in the world. The World economy is in a downturn. Considering real inflation, the U.S. has seen no growth in the past 5 years. Going forward, we will see further deterioration leading to near-term political crises. 72% of Job Creation has been part-time jobs. The real deficit is larger than admitted. The Treasury has run out of tricks. The real danger is that the world is seeing no end to America's monetary problems. This will lead to countries bailing out of the dollar. It is now harder than ever to deal with. The Congress will not solve this. There will be issues with the value of the dollar. There is no place to unload troubled mortgages. This will lead to a shock as interest rates rise. The country is facing a series of shocks. No one trusts the government anymore. The President and his advisors are isolated on the world stage. The Government is isolated, because they refuse to tell the truth. This destroys confidence in the government and the economy. The most likely effect is a very dismal economic year in 2014. This will lead to a stock market crash. Supply Side economics will not solve this problem. There is no Economic School of thought that can solve the current economic troubles. We are too far down the road. The only jobs being created are cheap service industry jobs.
We are going to see a collapse of the dollar, because the jobs have been moved offshore and investments have been turned into a gambling casino. The U.S. was successful in the past because of its internal market. The U.S. no longer has a viable internal market. We have destroyed our Financial System. The toll will fall on the West. It will be moved to the side. We will become 2nd and 3rd world countries. Our labor force is already a 3rd World workforce; the way India's was 30 years ago.
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North Carolina's Republican tax experiment - CNN Money - Jeanne Sahadi - August 8, 2013 - Tax reform is still all talk, talk, talk in Washington. And many expect real action could take years.
But not in North Carolina. The state has taken a very big first step in overhauling its tax code -- enacting its first major reform in 80 years. eates a modified flat tax system, with a single income tax rate, an increased standard deduction and fewer tax breaks, as well as the elimination of the personal exemption and a $50,000 deduction for small business owners. It also repeals the state's estate tax. "It's fairly radical in relation to other states," said Kathleen Thies, senior state tax analyst for the tax publisher CCH. The overhaul has been lauded by Republicans, who dominate the state's legislature. They see the changes as a way to attract more business to North Carolina and create jobs. The big hope: The new economic activity will compensate for the estimated $2.4 billion revenue loss over the next five years as a result of the reforms. But the overhaul -- which represents a scaled back version of earlier proposals -- has been heavily criticized by many, mostly liberals. They contend its tax cuts will disproportionately benefit the rich and the revenue loss will cut into government services. Starting in 2014, the individual income tax rate will be 5.8%, and then it will fall to 5.75% in 2015. Those rates are down from the 6%, 7% and 7.75% rates currently in effect. The standard deduction, meanwhile, will more than double -- to $7,500 for singles, from $3,000; and to $15,000 for married couples filing jointly, from $6,000.
The corporate income tax will also be reduced in 2014 to 6% from 6.9%. It will drop to 5% in 2015. And if revenue growth targets are met, the rate could go as low as 3% thereafter.
Americans falling out of love...with driving - CNBC - Paul A. Eisenstein, CNBC Contributor - August 30, 2013 - Fewer people at work, fewer people driving. It's a simple equation and one that a lot of experts pointed to as explanation for the notable drop in the total miles U.S. motorists clocked during the depths of the recession. So, how to explain the fact that even as the economy finally is showing real signs of recovery the number of miles driven continues to decline. That report from the Federal Highway Administration is just the latest indication that Americans may be falling out of love with their automobiles. In its report released this week, the agency said the number of vehicle miles traveled-VMT in the lingo of the transportation world-continued dropping during the first half of 2013. If the past were prologue, the numbers would have rebounded at least slightly to reflect the national rise in employment and income...
Biotech Center lays off seven, cuts programs to address 27 percent budget reduction - WRAL Techwire (Raleigh) - August 27, 2013 - The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has laid off seven employees and announced cuts to several of its programs as part of a plan to bring expenses in line with a 27 percent budget cut. The layoffs bring the Biotech Center’s headcount to 69, down from 76. The layoffs came across programs, support services and regional offices. The state budget slashed the Biotech Center’s appropriation from $17.2 million to $12.6 million, forcing the center to make cuts. In addition to the layoffs, the Biotech Center is ending the Education and Training program; cutting research grants programs by closing the Multidisciplinary Research Grants and trimming the Institutional Development Grants, Biotechnology Research Grants and Collaborative Funding Grants; trimming community and economic development programs by ending the Regional Development Grants and reducing the Biotechnology Meeting Grants, Presidential Initiative Awards and Economic Development Awards; and ending the Industrial Fellowship Program and reducing the Small Business Research Loans. “It is difficult to shutter programs that are significant to our life science community,” Biotech Center Executive Director Norris Tolson said in a statement. “Each of these programs had outstanding success metrics, leveraging additional investment and jobs. However, with limited resources, and with the legislature’s direction in the budget resolution, changes must be made."
Awards already made in the programs that were cut or reduced will be honored by the Biotech Center.
Biotech Center staffing levels could be reduced further through a voluntary separation program that was announced last month. That program gave veteran Biotech Center staffers the chance to volunteer to leave the center with a severance package. While the sign-up period ended Aug. 15, separation decisions will not be finalized until Sept. 30.
Sturm Ruger to open new gun factory in N.C. town, add 473 jobs - Winston - Salem Business journal - katie Arcieri - August 13, 2013 - It wasn't exactly a secret, but Connecticut-based Sturm Ruger & Co. made it official Tuesday. After considering several other locations for an expansion, the gun maker announced it will open a plant in Mayodan, creating 473 jobs by the end of 2017 and investing $26 million. The 220,000-square-foot manufacturing and engineering facility will be the company’s (NYSE: RGR) third manufacturing facility. It will be located in a former Unifi plant at 271 Cardwell Road. The Rockingham County facility, scheduled to be fully operational by January, is considered a much needed push for a county that has an unemployment rate that hovers at about 10 percent. The new Mayodan positions, which range from production workers to manufacturing engineers, will have an average annual compensation that will exceed $45,000, plus benefits. That’s 36 percent higher than the average annual wage of $33,007 in Rockingham County. The first few hires have already been selected by Ruger and will travel to New Hampshire for training. Ruger has a work force of more than 2,200 people across plants in New Hampshire and Arizona and at its headquarters in Connecticut. Ruger is in the midst of extensive growth, having already created 900 jobs over the last five years. Ruger is eligible for up to $9.46 million upon the creation of 473 new jobs through a state Job Development Investment Grant. The Golden Leaf Foundation also awarded a $2 million grant to the Rockingham County Partnership for Economic and Tourism Development, which will use the money to purchase equipment that will be leased to Ruger.
What To Expect During The Next Stage Of Collapse - Alt-Market.com - Brandon Smith - August 29, 2013 - For years now at Alt-Market (and Neithercorp.us) I have carefully outlined the most likely path of collapse to take place within the U.S., and a vital part of that analysis included economic destabilization caused by a loss of the dollar's world reserve status and petro-status. I have also always made clear that this fiscal crisis event would not occur in the midst of a political vacuum. The central banks and international financiers that created our ongoing and developing disaster are NOT going to allow the destruction of the American economy, the dollar, or global markets without a cover event designed to hide their culpability. They need something big. Something so big that the average citizen is overwhelmed with fear and confusion. A smoke and mirrors magic trick so raw and soul shattering it leaves the very population of the Earth mesmerized and helpless to understand the root of the nightmare before them. The elites need a fabricated Apocalypse.. ... As I have said many times before, a fight is coming. There is no way
around it. But this fight must be fought intelligently, and we must
never forget who the REAL enemy is. If a revolution ensues and
Obama loses control, the establishment could simply trigger a Neo-Con or
military coup in order to placate the masses and fool
Constitutionalists into believing they have been saved. Useless
solutions will be presented to the people, including new leadership
composed of more old guard elitists, a disastrous Constitutional
Convention, or limited secession (which will never be honored by the
establishment anyway). The purpose of these false solutions will be to
fool you into relaxing your vigilance, distracting you from seeking
justice against globalist organizations, or, to redirect your energies
away from self sufficient communities, counties, and states, ready to
dispel aggressive establishment elements. Beware of those who
grasp too readily for leadership over you. Real leaders stand as
teachers, not oligarchs, and rarely do they take on the role without
considerable reservations. Never trust anyone who does not immediately
back their promises with tangible action. And, never forget that we
fight not just for the removal of one particular tyrant, but for
Constitutional liberty itself. One must follow the other, or there has
been no victory. Though it is depressingly difficult to see in
times like these, there is indeed good in this world. There are ideals,
and aspirations, and visions, and loves worth standing up for, worth
fighting for, and worth dying for. There is still a future worth
striving for at the end of the long night. There are dreams here, in
the hearts of men, worth realizing. We do not necessarily battle for
what humanity is, but for what we have the potential to become. The
tides of society may shift and storm, the chaos may become unbearable,
and the world may tear apart until it is unrecognizable. The agents of
dominion believe they are the only constant, but there is another. In
time, the dim pale of tyranny will always break in the light of
freedom's resolute. Get ready, honorable Liberty Movement, our work has
just begun.
Customer Loses It, Because She Can't Get Some Freakin McNuggets at McDonald's before 10:30am
Welcome to Amerika!!!
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Sunday, September 1, 2013
Saturday, August 31, 2013
The Complete "Platform for a 21st Century Hickory"
Below is the complete "Platform for a 21st Century Hickory" as created by Dr. Joseph Inglefield, Joe Brannock, and myself. We encourage others to come forward with their ideas on how to move the community forward. If candidates want to express themselves here, then we will provide a fair platform. Dr. Inglefield and Joe were accused in an advertisement in the Hickory Daily Record a couple of weeks ago of not standing for anything and doing all of this for personal political gain. When you see this detailed platform, you see that nothing could be further from the truth. These are the ideas that can move this community forward.
1) Term Limits - We need to break the cycle of having Mayors and City Council members that serve on the bench for a generation. Thank You for your service, but such a system lends itself to stagnation. We need inspiring leaders to inspire citizens. It is time for fresh new ideas. We need to encourage people to serve on the Council and then move on to seek other offices or other ways to participate in the political system and to turn over the reins to others to create more depth to the community's leadership and varied interests.
2) Independent Boards and Commissions - to lend a non-partisan perspective to the intended purpose/mission of the group. We need policies related to Nepotism and adherence to guidelines of term limits so that members of boards and commissions are not actual proxies of City Council members. We should not see business partners of Council members serving under Council members on Boards, Commissions, and Task Forces where there can be even a perception of a conflict of interest.
3) National Studies and Surveys - that rank us seriously low. Expedite processes to study how they came to their conclusions and what we need to do to correct the circumstances; including contacting those who created and implemented the study to get their thoughts on what it would take to address the negative issues. We need to look at improving every year, not regressing or responding to these scientific surveys.
4) An Agenda on Health and Wellness... The Gallup-Healthway study is a prime example of a valid scientific study that casts a negative light on Hickory. How do we address what this study finds? Dr. Jody Inglefield admits that he doesn't have all of the answers, buts says that is why we need local health professionals to weigh in, but what does stand out is the negative issues this community faces involving health.
5) We need to do what we can to help small business, start up businesses, and local Entrepreneurs move forward. This encourages entrepreneurship, which puts people to work. We will find a way to create and facilitate a microlending-entrepreneurial plan in this community. We think this is a vital mission and purpose that the city's Business Development Commission should embrace.
6) Public Information should be user-friendly, open, and accessible in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 132. We understand that when legal issues and private negotiations related to Economic Development arise that there will be a need to keep certain information secret, but as those issues are resolved that information should be immediately accessible. To the greatest extent possible, information should be available electronically online. When information is from the pre-electronic era, it should be made accessible for a minimal cost (10-cents per page) and within 5 business days of the request being made. The key is that there should not be games played with Public Information.
7) Better Dialogue with the Public - we need all Hickory governmental agencies and their staff to be open, truthful, honest, helpful and transparent. Willing to discuss and carry on open dialogues with the citizens.
8) Non-Profit Agencies applying for funding from or through the city, utilizing City Resources, whether grants or loans, must be willing to open their books and be subject to an audit (if necessary). Agencies, after a defined period (after start-up), would not be able to receive funding in consecutive years from the city.
9) We need new and better defined rules about what constitutes Conflicts of Interest and the ability to construct a Citizen Review Board to look into such matters, since there is a Circular Conflict of Interest in the relationship between the City Manager, Staff, and the Council. And the sanctions issue needs to be clearly defined also. The head of the review board would be the acting city Ombudsman and these people will rotate on and off of this board annually.
10) Empowering Neighborhood Associations to create Community Leaders - We will help to make them, Neighborhood Associations, independent by helping them achieve 501-(c)3 status so that they can have local personal agendas that are tailor made for the characteristics of their micro-community or neighborhoods. We don't want to operate neighborhoods through top-down authority. We want to sow seeds of participation in the neighborhoods from the grass roots, up and into the city's boards and commissions, and helping to create a future City Council that works in the best interests of all its citizens and takes into account every nook and cranny of Hickory.
1) Term Limits - We need to break the cycle of having Mayors and City Council members that serve on the bench for a generation. Thank You for your service, but such a system lends itself to stagnation. We need inspiring leaders to inspire citizens. It is time for fresh new ideas. We need to encourage people to serve on the Council and then move on to seek other offices or other ways to participate in the political system and to turn over the reins to others to create more depth to the community's leadership and varied interests.
2) Independent Boards and Commissions - to lend a non-partisan perspective to the intended purpose/mission of the group. We need policies related to Nepotism and adherence to guidelines of term limits so that members of boards and commissions are not actual proxies of City Council members. We should not see business partners of Council members serving under Council members on Boards, Commissions, and Task Forces where there can be even a perception of a conflict of interest.
3) National Studies and Surveys - that rank us seriously low. Expedite processes to study how they came to their conclusions and what we need to do to correct the circumstances; including contacting those who created and implemented the study to get their thoughts on what it would take to address the negative issues. We need to look at improving every year, not regressing or responding to these scientific surveys.
4) An Agenda on Health and Wellness... The Gallup-Healthway study is a prime example of a valid scientific study that casts a negative light on Hickory. How do we address what this study finds? Dr. Jody Inglefield admits that he doesn't have all of the answers, buts says that is why we need local health professionals to weigh in, but what does stand out is the negative issues this community faces involving health.
5) We need to do what we can to help small business, start up businesses, and local Entrepreneurs move forward. This encourages entrepreneurship, which puts people to work. We will find a way to create and facilitate a microlending-entrepreneurial plan in this community. We think this is a vital mission and purpose that the city's Business Development Commission should embrace.
6) Public Information should be user-friendly, open, and accessible in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 132. We understand that when legal issues and private negotiations related to Economic Development arise that there will be a need to keep certain information secret, but as those issues are resolved that information should be immediately accessible. To the greatest extent possible, information should be available electronically online. When information is from the pre-electronic era, it should be made accessible for a minimal cost (10-cents per page) and within 5 business days of the request being made. The key is that there should not be games played with Public Information.
7) Better Dialogue with the Public - we need all Hickory governmental agencies and their staff to be open, truthful, honest, helpful and transparent. Willing to discuss and carry on open dialogues with the citizens.
8) Non-Profit Agencies applying for funding from or through the city, utilizing City Resources, whether grants or loans, must be willing to open their books and be subject to an audit (if necessary). Agencies, after a defined period (after start-up), would not be able to receive funding in consecutive years from the city.
9) We need new and better defined rules about what constitutes Conflicts of Interest and the ability to construct a Citizen Review Board to look into such matters, since there is a Circular Conflict of Interest in the relationship between the City Manager, Staff, and the Council. And the sanctions issue needs to be clearly defined also. The head of the review board would be the acting city Ombudsman and these people will rotate on and off of this board annually.
10) Empowering Neighborhood Associations to create Community Leaders - We will help to make them, Neighborhood Associations, independent by helping them achieve 501-(c)3 status so that they can have local personal agendas that are tailor made for the characteristics of their micro-community or neighborhoods. We don't want to operate neighborhoods through top-down authority. We want to sow seeds of participation in the neighborhoods from the grass roots, up and into the city's boards and commissions, and helping to create a future City Council that works in the best interests of all its citizens and takes into account every nook and cranny of Hickory.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Joe Brannock Initiative "Empowering Neighborhood Associations to create Leadership"
10) Empowering Neighborhood Associations to create Community Leaders - We will help to make them, Neighborhood Associations, independent by helping them achieve 501-(c)3 status so that they can have local personal agendas that are tailor made for the characteristics of their micro-community or neighborhoods. We don't want to operate neighborhoods through top-down authority. We want to sow seeds of participation in the neighborhoods from the grass roots, up and into the city's boards and commissions, and helping to create a future City Council that works in the best interests of all its citizens and takes into account every nook and cranny of Hickory.
Last year during the referendum, Joe Brannock and I had to make our way around this community as he debated the merits of Ward specific voting. What we discovered was that the areas with the strongest neighborhood associations were the areas in which it was necessary to organize in order to achieve objectives in that specific area of Hickory. Areas whose needs were many times neglected. The associations that take the process most seriously are the Lakeland Park Association, Highland Park Association, West Hickory Association, Green Park Association, and the Concerned Citizens of Ridgeview.
The problem is that these associations currently have to go through Hickory Inc. in order to achieve their desired objectives and if the neighborhood's objectives don't fall in line with the Power Structure (Mayor, Council, City Hall, and the Establishment), then those objectives are road blocked. We would like to break down the walls.
Joe Brannock is the one who envisions a way to move forward and he explains it all below:
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - New Rules on Conflicts of Interest
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - City Funding of Non-Profit Agencies
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Better Dialogue with the Public
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Independent Boards and Commissions
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Term Limits
Last year during the referendum, Joe Brannock and I had to make our way around this community as he debated the merits of Ward specific voting. What we discovered was that the areas with the strongest neighborhood associations were the areas in which it was necessary to organize in order to achieve objectives in that specific area of Hickory. Areas whose needs were many times neglected. The associations that take the process most seriously are the Lakeland Park Association, Highland Park Association, West Hickory Association, Green Park Association, and the Concerned Citizens of Ridgeview.
The problem is that these associations currently have to go through Hickory Inc. in order to achieve their desired objectives and if the neighborhood's objectives don't fall in line with the Power Structure (Mayor, Council, City Hall, and the Establishment), then those objectives are road blocked. We would like to break down the walls.
Joe Brannock is the one who envisions a way to move forward and he explains it all below:
Hickory needs new leadership!
Young people need to get involved. New and fresh ideas need to be explored as we try to build a Hickory that can compete in the 21st century.
Too many barriers exist to nearly anyone interested in serving in an elected office. We need a place where new leadership can be molded and tested. I believe this should start at the neighborhood level.
Hickory is fortunate to already have a network of neighborhood associations scattered across the city. Some are more organized than others. Some are more active than others. And while these neighborhood associations have served our city well over the past, most have seen a decrease in involvement with their members.
While these associations do work hard to advocate for the needs of the neighborhood, the reality of achieving any of their goals is still directly reliant upon the City providing the funding. In this way, the City, to a degree, 'controls' what these associations can and can't do. The good news is this can be fixed. But how? By creating Neighborhood Non-profits.
I believe the City should partner with these associations and assist them in setting up their own 501(c)3 non-profits. This would allow the neighborhoods to expand their goals, reinvigorate their membership, and create a place that would allow citizens to become involved in a very meaningful way.
By elevating these associations to non-profit status, you expand what projects can be considered by expanding how those projects can be funded. Whereas now projects are greatly limited to what the city will fund, non-profits would have many more funding avenues available to them. With their new status, associations would be eligible to apply for state or federal grants - in their own name - as well as various state and national foundations that offer funding. But perhaps the most unique funding opportunity is right within the neighborhood itself. Local businesses located in or adjacent to these neighborhoods would have new way of giving back to the communities they serve. These businesses could now make tax-deductible investments in the local communities and help to directly meet the needs of their neighbors.
With this new influence would also come a revived interest to get involved. Attendance at neighborhood association meetings would increase, because the opportunity to be a part of something truly meaningful would exist, and a breeding ground for tomorrow's leaders would be created.
While these new Neighborhood Non-profits help serve as leadership incubators, we are still only half-way to meeting our goals of new leadership for Hickory. By coupling these revived Neighborhood Associations with a firm commitment to term limits, we bring down nearly every barrier to entry with regard to public service/elected office.
Too often qualified candidates aren't elected due to a system that overwhelmingly favors incumbents. And all too often defeated candidates simply go away. Neighborhood non-profits would help build good candidates into great candidates. Term limits would serve to entice candidates to stay involved (perhaps through a neighborhood association), knowing that eventually the opportunity would exist where their Council seat would be an open seat - leveling the playing field for everyone.
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - New Rules on Conflicts of Interest
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - City Funding of Non-Profit Agencies
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Better Dialogue with the Public
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Independent Boards and Commissions
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Term Limits
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - New Rules on Conflicts of Interest
9) We need new and better defined rules about what constitutes Conflicts of Interest and the ability to construct a Citizen Review Board to look into such matters, since there is a Circular Conflict of Interest in the relationship between the City Manager, Staff, and the Council. And the sanctions issue needs to be clearly defined also. The head of the review board would be the acting city Ombudsman and these people will rotate on and off of this board annually.
The City Council inherently receives inside information. What do you think you call the information they receive in closed chamber sessions?
Inside Information isn't necessarily a bad word. It means that you are privy to information that the outside world isn't. Once again this is where transparency comes into play. Conceptual Authoritarian governments believe in absolute control of information. Absolute Control of Information empowers the government over the people and turns people into subjects... Subjected to Authoritarian Power.
Those who control the information in an authoritarian fashion decide who they will disseminate the information to. They pick the winners and the losers. If they like you, or maybe they need your help (or a favor), then they might tell you about a project that hasn't been made public yet. One thing you can guarantee, if they don't like you or you aren't connected to the power structure, then you will be kept out of the loop.
The free flow of information is very important in a free society and this needs to be taken seriously by leaders in a Representative Democracy.
We are constantly told that the message delivered to the outside world is important and needs to be positive; and I agree. The appearance of impropriety sends a message of impropriety and thus sends a very negative message to the public. As the elected leaders of the community, the council are the top hosts of the community. Civilized people are taught that as a host you serve yourself last, after all of the guests have been served. Your job as a host is to make sure that the people you are serving are taken care of, not that they are to take care of you.
Rudy Wright basically said that he and the city council are compelled to vote on all issues and that is the law. He is wrong. If he believes there is a conflict of interest, then he can always recuse or abstain. They cannot force him to vote on an issue. An abstention automatically counts as a yes vote. This has happened before. Other legislative bodies have a provision to allow voting yes, no, or present. That way you have an option other than a yes vote or a no vote. What is wrong with voting present? When council members know that other members have conflicts, and they sit idle and don't illuminate such information, then they are accomplices to the conflict.
If you feel compelled to vote... obligated to vote on every issue.. then you are obligated to be transparent about the issue. As an elected official, the voters will pass final judgment and make the final decision, with their vote, about how one votes and whether one has had too many conflicts of interest.
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - City Funding of Non-Profit Agencies
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Better Dialogue with the Public
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Independent Boards and Commissions
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Term Limits
The City Council inherently receives inside information. What do you think you call the information they receive in closed chamber sessions?
Inside Information isn't necessarily a bad word. It means that you are privy to information that the outside world isn't. Once again this is where transparency comes into play. Conceptual Authoritarian governments believe in absolute control of information. Absolute Control of Information empowers the government over the people and turns people into subjects... Subjected to Authoritarian Power.
Those who control the information in an authoritarian fashion decide who they will disseminate the information to. They pick the winners and the losers. If they like you, or maybe they need your help (or a favor), then they might tell you about a project that hasn't been made public yet. One thing you can guarantee, if they don't like you or you aren't connected to the power structure, then you will be kept out of the loop.
The free flow of information is very important in a free society and this needs to be taken seriously by leaders in a Representative Democracy.
We are constantly told that the message delivered to the outside world is important and needs to be positive; and I agree. The appearance of impropriety sends a message of impropriety and thus sends a very negative message to the public. As the elected leaders of the community, the council are the top hosts of the community. Civilized people are taught that as a host you serve yourself last, after all of the guests have been served. Your job as a host is to make sure that the people you are serving are taken care of, not that they are to take care of you.
Rudy Wright basically said that he and the city council are compelled to vote on all issues and that is the law. He is wrong. If he believes there is a conflict of interest, then he can always recuse or abstain. They cannot force him to vote on an issue. An abstention automatically counts as a yes vote. This has happened before. Other legislative bodies have a provision to allow voting yes, no, or present. That way you have an option other than a yes vote or a no vote. What is wrong with voting present? When council members know that other members have conflicts, and they sit idle and don't illuminate such information, then they are accomplices to the conflict.
If you feel compelled to vote... obligated to vote on every issue.. then you are obligated to be transparent about the issue. As an elected official, the voters will pass final judgment and make the final decision, with their vote, about how one votes and whether one has had too many conflicts of interest.
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - City Funding of Non-Profit Agencies
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Better Dialogue with the Public
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Independent Boards and Commissions
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Term Limits
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - City Funding of Non-Profit Agencies
8) Non-Profit Agencies applying for funding from or through the city, utilizing City Resources, whether grants or loans, must be willing to open their books and be subject to an audit (if necessary). Agencies, after a defined period (after start-up), would not be able to receive funding in consecutive years from the city.
We have seen Housing and Urban Developments (HUD) grants consistently go to the same entities without other organizations given due consideration. This happens annually during a city council meeting held in June. These are Federal Government grants that are filtered through the city government and there needs to be more transparency relating to the reasoning involving the allocation of these funds. We need to know who staff didn't recommend as well as who they obviously recommended.
We have also seen allocations directly budgeted and funded from the City of Hickory to the same community organizations annually. The requests for funding take place in February of each year. Essentially, over the years, we have seen that the presentations are the same with plugged in numbers. No one is saying that these entities aren't deserving . We would all just like to hear from all organizations looking for funding and we would like to see the Public-Private funding mechanisms encouraged and expanded.
As has been stated here before. Hickory Inc. should not be in the business of picking winners and losers; choosing favorites based upon relationships and such. If the city is going to participate in the funding of non-profit endeavors, then it must expand its outreach at the same time it ensures that these agencies are not dependent upon the city for their existence.
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Better Dialogue with the Public
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Independent Boards and Commissions
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Term Limits
We have seen Housing and Urban Developments (HUD) grants consistently go to the same entities without other organizations given due consideration. This happens annually during a city council meeting held in June. These are Federal Government grants that are filtered through the city government and there needs to be more transparency relating to the reasoning involving the allocation of these funds. We need to know who staff didn't recommend as well as who they obviously recommended.
We have also seen allocations directly budgeted and funded from the City of Hickory to the same community organizations annually. The requests for funding take place in February of each year. Essentially, over the years, we have seen that the presentations are the same with plugged in numbers. No one is saying that these entities aren't deserving . We would all just like to hear from all organizations looking for funding and we would like to see the Public-Private funding mechanisms encouraged and expanded.
As has been stated here before. Hickory Inc. should not be in the business of picking winners and losers; choosing favorites based upon relationships and such. If the city is going to participate in the funding of non-profit endeavors, then it must expand its outreach at the same time it ensures that these agencies are not dependent upon the city for their existence.
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Better Dialogue with the Public
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Public Information
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Helping Small Business, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurs
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Learn from National Studies & Surveys
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Independent Boards and Commissions
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - Term Limits
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Hickory United... Political Heavyweight or a Tempest in a Teapot
The Hickory United Political Action Committee (PAC) announced their endorsements for the upcoming Hickory City Election.
Hank Guess was endorsed by his speechwriter Dr. Glenn Pinckney for the 4th Ward, Farmer's Market Hotdog salesman David Crosby endorsed Hickory Insider David Zagaroli for the 5th Ward, and Former City Councilman and Hickory United Co-Chair Phil Yount endorsed incumbent Jill Patton of the 6th Ward for a third term. Now for the big surprise of the evening... Hickory United failed to endorse any candidate running for Mayor.
Where does this leave us? Hickory United went out on a limb to endorse the incumbent from Ward 4, Sally Fox's handpicked successor for Ward 5, and as if they needed to the unopposed incumbent from Ward 6. That's right, they actually endorsed the unopposed incumbent from Ward 6.
Talk about safe bets... Could there be a more Pro Status Quo ticket than this? I guess it is too much of a gamble to endorse the current three term incumbent Mayor Rudy Wright???
Mr. Mayor are the winds of change a blowin? Is it uncomfortable out there by yourself on that limb?
There were 19 people in the room, 5 people I know personally, and 9 associated with Hickory United. So out of several hundred Robocalls, there were five people who felt compelled enough in what Hickory United had to say to attend this meeting... And there was no known media presence.
Not only is there a lack of support at the top of the ticket. They are supporting personalities for their name and not anything that they stand for. These are the people who have brought us to where we are today. They support and represent the Status Quo and that Status Quo is:
* 30,000+ Job losses over the past decade
* 10%+ Unemployment
* Lowest per Capita income in North Carolina
* A realization that a property tax increase is imminent
* The 5th most miserable place in the nation according to a Gallup-Healthway study.
Let me put this year's elections into some historical context... The United PAC fails to see reality. In this year alone, there are more candidates challenging incumbents than in the previous 10 years combined.
Stay tuned for a groundbreaking announcement coming next week!
Hank Guess was endorsed by his speechwriter Dr. Glenn Pinckney for the 4th Ward, Farmer's Market Hotdog salesman David Crosby endorsed Hickory Insider David Zagaroli for the 5th Ward, and Former City Councilman and Hickory United Co-Chair Phil Yount endorsed incumbent Jill Patton of the 6th Ward for a third term. Now for the big surprise of the evening... Hickory United failed to endorse any candidate running for Mayor.
Where does this leave us? Hickory United went out on a limb to endorse the incumbent from Ward 4, Sally Fox's handpicked successor for Ward 5, and as if they needed to the unopposed incumbent from Ward 6. That's right, they actually endorsed the unopposed incumbent from Ward 6.
Talk about safe bets... Could there be a more Pro Status Quo ticket than this? I guess it is too much of a gamble to endorse the current three term incumbent Mayor Rudy Wright???
Mr. Mayor are the winds of change a blowin? Is it uncomfortable out there by yourself on that limb?
There were 19 people in the room, 5 people I know personally, and 9 associated with Hickory United. So out of several hundred Robocalls, there were five people who felt compelled enough in what Hickory United had to say to attend this meeting... And there was no known media presence.
Not only is there a lack of support at the top of the ticket. They are supporting personalities for their name and not anything that they stand for. These are the people who have brought us to where we are today. They support and represent the Status Quo and that Status Quo is:
* 30,000+ Job losses over the past decade
* 10%+ Unemployment
* Lowest per Capita income in North Carolina
* A realization that a property tax increase is imminent
* The 5th most miserable place in the nation according to a Gallup-Healthway study.
Let me put this year's elections into some historical context... The United PAC fails to see reality. In this year alone, there are more candidates challenging incumbents than in the previous 10 years combined.
Stay tuned for a groundbreaking announcement coming next week!
Sunday, August 25, 2013
You make the call: John Miller and the United PAC
You make the call, is there a Hickory Daily Record/John Miller bias in the upcoming City Election? If this is the policy regarding the upcoming election, then how could the letter from Candidate Hank Guess run in Sunday's Hickory Daily Record:
Hank Guess's Martin Luther King Letter pandering to the African American community - August 25, 2013 in the HDR
Hank who wrote this letter for you?
Mr. Miller care to comment?
Mr. Miller served on the committee that named the structure on Union Square, only a few months after he had been hired as the Editor of the HDR. He was supposed to report on that issue in an unbiased fashion. Was he compromised in his reporting on Sails on the Square issues and subsequently the Referendum on Ward Specific Voting?
He attended at least one No Steps Backwards Coalition meeting (now known as the United PAC) and despite invitations has not attended one Citizens for Equity in Government meeting yet? What's up with John Miller? Will he be at the United PAC meeting this evening?
Prove me Wrong United PAC -- Your candidates will be Mayor Rudy Wright, 4th Ward Hank Guess, 5th Ward David Zagaroli, and like it even matters 6th Ward Jill Patton. Maintaining your interest in the status quo is the goal. Thank You former City Councilman, and Jill Patton's neighbor, Phil Yount. The fix, as usual, is in.
July 24, 2013 - 9:04pm from jmiller@hickoryrecord.com
Here’s the policy for political candidates this election cycle:
The HDR policy for political candidates’ comments during the current election cycle:
1) No letters to the editor by a candidate will be published.
2) One news release provided by a candidate will be published prior to 2013 primary or general election, no more than 500 words.
3) Comments in news stories related to their campaign will be published.
4) A Q&A with the newspaper for each candidate is planned prior the primary and general election.
5) Candidate are free to buy political advertising.
John Miller
HDR Editor
Hank Guess's Martin Luther King Letter pandering to the African American community - August 25, 2013 in the HDR
Continue to fight for what’s right
50 years ago on a hot Washington day, the conscience of America was awakened by the stirring voice of the young Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Nine years had passed since the Supreme Court had declared that the shackles of Jim Crow must fall away, but still the weight of oppression bore down on African-Americans throughout the nation. Just months earlier Alabama Gov. George Wallace had defiantly sneered, “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever!” But now this intransigence was forced to come face to face with the eternal wisdom of God’s grace and America’s founding creed.
One is hard pressed to choose a favorite line from King’s eloquent call, but for me it would have to be: “I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.” Less than a year after Dr. King’s speech the tide of justice surged when President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act and dealt a death blow to segregation throughout our nation. One man had stood up and rallied a nation to fulfill both the letter and the spirit of our nation’s founding.
As we well know, the struggle for America to preserve the liberty of all our citizens is a never-ending one.
As the City Council person for Ward 4 it is a cause that I am dedicated to and strive each day to promote. I ask every citizen to join with me in working to ensure that Dr. King’s dream remains a reality for all future generations.
I thank you for the opportunity to serve on the Hickory City Council and I look forward to continuing to work to ensure that Hickory remains a beacon for the foothills and the great state we all love. May God Bless us all.
HANK GUESS
Ward 4, Hickory City Council
Hank who wrote this letter for you?
Mr. Miller care to comment?
Mr. Miller served on the committee that named the structure on Union Square, only a few months after he had been hired as the Editor of the HDR. He was supposed to report on that issue in an unbiased fashion. Was he compromised in his reporting on Sails on the Square issues and subsequently the Referendum on Ward Specific Voting?
He attended at least one No Steps Backwards Coalition meeting (now known as the United PAC) and despite invitations has not attended one Citizens for Equity in Government meeting yet? What's up with John Miller? Will he be at the United PAC meeting this evening?
Prove me Wrong United PAC -- Your candidates will be Mayor Rudy Wright, 4th Ward Hank Guess, 5th Ward David Zagaroli, and like it even matters 6th Ward Jill Patton. Maintaining your interest in the status quo is the goal. Thank You former City Councilman, and Jill Patton's neighbor, Phil Yount. The fix, as usual, is in.
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