The challenging candidates said everything that they could say inside the box they have been put in. It is obvious that we don't have a fair electoral process in this community and it is even more obvious that there is a reason for that. The reason is that some feel a dire need to maintain the status quo in the community. Why the media participates in this is beyond me.
This day represents another fork in the road as all elections do. Moving forward, the Hickory Hound will look for another way to evolve. This day isn't about the candidates as much as it is about the people of this community. As in the past, we will be able to read where we all stand by how the electorate participates in this election. There are around 27,000 people eligible to vote in Hickory. Somewhere around 15% of eligible voters will vote. In a Presidential election it would be 3 or 4 times that number.
There is nothing to brag about with either side, but there is plenty of work left to be done going forward. If people refuse to participate in there governance, then what does that say about this community going forward? What does that portend for respected leadership?
The Hickory Hound will continue on, because it came into existence because our local media presence on issues that matter is not there. Yes I am an advocate and I take sides. The local media here takes sides too. They just don't outwardly express it.
Besides this source, there was basically no coverage of this election. It is shameful. This is where decisions are made that effect people's lives the most. People have it backwards. If you don't effect your local government, then don't expect accountability and responsibility in Washington and Raleigh. Honestly, I think the local media understands this. They just want to see the regular folks hamstrung. They don't want average people to be represented.
This is an alternative media source that has grown by leaps and bounds, but there is only so much I can do in this current format. Do I personally double efforts in pressing forward or do I pull back? My efforts have been related to seeing this community evolve and move forward. The payoff for me was to see some changes happen. I am not a sugarcoater. Never have been and never will be. I live in a world of reality. Let's see where reality leaves us at the end of the day.
Peace be with you all.
Vote Inglefield! - Why you should vote for Dr. Inglefield
No place for a working class Republican in Catawba County
Hickory Metro - 5th Most Miserable in the United States
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Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Monday, November 4, 2013
Tomorrow
Below is the new flag of Status Quo Hickory.
A friend called and said that Rudy Wright is out there telling people that Dr. Inglefield intends to raise your taxes and is lying about it when he has said time and time again he won't. Just plain old low IQ Hillbilly politics like we have seen so many times in this community.
You just can't do much with stupid, but if you know someone who has a brain ask them to think about these items.
1) Rudy is telling you point blank that he is going to raise your taxes. That means he IS going to raise your taxes. So who is going to raise your taxes?
2) Rudy says it's all about non-partisan politics until he feels threatened. I'll take a caring and compassionate Democrat any day over a pure PT Barnum politician. I used to would never vote for a Democrat, but that changed after I got to know more about Convenient Republicans. Do you automatically support someone just because they say they are a Republican?
3) He says that this election is all about beating him. Well, he is the Mayor isn't he? And the last 12 years have been fantastic, haven't they? Dr. Inglefield has espoused a platform of specific ideas. Rudy has talked about definite tax increases and hazy ideas about what the money will be spent on.
4) He says that the best and brightest serve on the Inspiring Spaces committee. I think by best and brightest he means that they have constantly contributed to his campaigns and other endeavors. Working Class people need not apply. Can people not serve without money being involved?
5) He says he is the most accessible Mayor in the U.S. Please Quantify? What does this mean? They never will. Just because someone can talk to you does not mean you are listening. Listening = money, apparently.
6) This election hinges on the oldest people in this community. Those with the least to lose. Those who have insisted that we keep spinning our wheels in the mud of the past. They won't be here to clean up the mess. Look around you. The economic picture of this community does not look rosy. It's time to get out and push the daggum car. What will it be like when the population decreases become noticeable? Have any of y'all thought about where we are headed?
7) It's getting ready to hit the fan folks and it could be economically really messy. Are you prepared?
But we keep moving forward.
Vote Inglefield! - why you should vote for Dr. Inglefield
No place for a working class Republican in Catawba County
Hickory Metro - 5th Most Miserable in the United States
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Two days to go
Remember where we were.
Think about where we are.
And where are we headed.
If you keep do'in what you're do'in.
Your gone get what you've got.
No place for a working class Republican in Catawba County
Saturday, November 2, 2013
A Change would do you Good!
The vast majority of Hickory wanted an aquatics facility. Rudy Wright said no!!!
The vast majority of Hickory didn't think we needed "the Sails". Rudy said we're going to build it anyway!!!
He wants to raise working class taxes to pay for corporate welfare
He says he's the most accessible Mayor in the U.S.
We say he's the worst listener in the World.
Enough's Enough!
The Time to move forward is NOW!
Vote Inglefield on Tuesday November 5, 2013
A Change would do you good!
The vast majority of Hickory didn't think we needed "the Sails". Rudy said we're going to build it anyway!!!
He wants to raise working class taxes to pay for corporate welfare
He says he's the most accessible Mayor in the U.S.
We say he's the worst listener in the World.
Enough's Enough!
The Time to move forward is NOW!
Vote Inglefield on Tuesday November 5, 2013
A Change would do you good!
Friday, November 1, 2013
Rudy and the City Council want to and will raise your taxes
1-cent prepared food tax - Rudy Wright - Inspiring Spaces - $80 million for Beautification
Property taxes - Property taxes WILL be raised in the next budget. It was talked about this year, but was inconvenient because of this municipal election. The increase looks to be at least 6.5 cents. It was talked about during the City Council meeting of May 21, 2013.
I appreciated Alder Sally Fox's forward honesty in asking that the property tax be raised in the current budget. She took a stand on the issue and voted against the current year's budget, because she wanted to move forward on Inspiring Spaces.This happened during the June 4, 2013 City Council Meeting. I don't agree with raising taxes for Inspiring Spaces until it goes from being ambiguous to a solid blueprint that the community agrees to. Evidence is in the slides below.
You can hear the discussion in the links below:
Entire Budget Discussion
Taxing and Spending
Sally Fox wanted to raise the property tax rate in the current budget
Then we come to the minutes of the Inspiring Spaces meeting of June 6, 2013. Go read the excerpts below. Wonder why Meg Locke and this group are working so hard to get Rudy elected? Read below and you will understand.
Ms. Locke commented that we are barely there. She stated that the committee probably did not need anybody to tell the group how to formulate a plan, or figure out what they believe is best. They could organize themselves and figure out how to some of that without quite as much direction. The bottom line is how are we going to pay for any of it?
Ms. Locke asked is staff going to recommend that we pay for it? She stated that on Tuesday night, staff didn’t recommend that we talk about raising taxes, two cents or three cents for Inspiring Spaces. She stated half of the committee is not here, she has watched it for years, if staff didn’t recommend and Council voted against raising taxes, what (money) do we have available to even talk about any projects right now? How much money is earmarked right now, before we decide the Water Park sounds great and there is no money mechanism in place? Is staff going to request a bond be passed? Is the committee going to do that?
Ms. Locke asked do we need to start raising money for the projects? One penny for the projects. She asked how much money right now do we have in the budget for Inspiring Spaces?
Mr. Stephen Shuford... Really starting to frame it out, get a sense of what should go first, what is most compelling, what is that iconic action that will give you the biggest bang for buck? Frame it out in terms that can be presented to Council.
Ms. Locke asked if Council could raise taxes then?
Mr. Mick Berry stated no, Council can only raise taxes once a year.
Ms. Locke stated that we are a year away.
Mr. Shuford stated that Ms. Locke’s concern was the cycle.
Ms. Locke replied absolutely; if that doesn’t happen then tell me how we are going to fund that? Give me some other ideas if we are a year away. For instance it is ten million dollars, they have decided on a ten million dollar project, so we are at least a year away from doing anything.
Mayor Wright stated that he can assure them, to his knowledge that they have the commitment and will of ouncil. We can’t go sell this on the basis of a piece of paper. The selling is going to be critical. If we think that we are just going to lay it out there, and people are going to say, yes, I love that. No, there are people out there who are going to say, for example, till you close the libraries don’t talk to me about spending this money. We have orty thousand people out there, not just the people in this room. We have got to get this through, we can’t let it fail. We have to include these things, demolition of old buildings, and getting shovel ready sites for job creation. If we do that we create a package that everyone can find something in there they can agree on. He stated he is for doing every one of these things; incidentally he is thinking eighty million dollars.
(Remember at the June 4 Council meeting the Mayor was against raising taxes in the current budget. Look what he says here.) Mayor Wright commented we want this to happen, Tuesday set us back some, but we are going to come through it and we are going to make this happen. The only thing that could happen detrimental is that we lose four Council Members on that side of the table to a bunch of people that say no taxes. He stated that he does not (know) what happens then.
The Hound: As you can probably see now, on Tuesday you will be voting on whether or not you want your taxes raised to allow this small group of people, who are not accountable to the people of Hickory, to determine how to spend public money as they see fit on projects that may or may not have public support. Choose wisely my friends.
Property taxes - Property taxes WILL be raised in the next budget. It was talked about this year, but was inconvenient because of this municipal election. The increase looks to be at least 6.5 cents. It was talked about during the City Council meeting of May 21, 2013.
I appreciated Alder Sally Fox's forward honesty in asking that the property tax be raised in the current budget. She took a stand on the issue and voted against the current year's budget, because she wanted to move forward on Inspiring Spaces.This happened during the June 4, 2013 City Council Meeting. I don't agree with raising taxes for Inspiring Spaces until it goes from being ambiguous to a solid blueprint that the community agrees to. Evidence is in the slides below.
You can hear the discussion in the links below:
Entire Budget Discussion
Taxing and Spending
Sally Fox wanted to raise the property tax rate in the current budget
Then we come to the minutes of the Inspiring Spaces meeting of June 6, 2013. Go read the excerpts below. Wonder why Meg Locke and this group are working so hard to get Rudy elected? Read below and you will understand.
Ms. Locke commented that we are barely there. She stated that the committee probably did not need anybody to tell the group how to formulate a plan, or figure out what they believe is best. They could organize themselves and figure out how to some of that without quite as much direction. The bottom line is how are we going to pay for any of it?
Ms. Locke asked is staff going to recommend that we pay for it? She stated that on Tuesday night, staff didn’t recommend that we talk about raising taxes, two cents or three cents for Inspiring Spaces. She stated half of the committee is not here, she has watched it for years, if staff didn’t recommend and Council voted against raising taxes, what (money) do we have available to even talk about any projects right now? How much money is earmarked right now, before we decide the Water Park sounds great and there is no money mechanism in place? Is staff going to request a bond be passed? Is the committee going to do that?
Ms. Locke asked do we need to start raising money for the projects? One penny for the projects. She asked how much money right now do we have in the budget for Inspiring Spaces?
Mr. Stephen Shuford... Really starting to frame it out, get a sense of what should go first, what is most compelling, what is that iconic action that will give you the biggest bang for buck? Frame it out in terms that can be presented to Council.
Ms. Locke asked if Council could raise taxes then?
Mr. Mick Berry stated no, Council can only raise taxes once a year.
Ms. Locke stated that we are a year away.
Mr. Shuford stated that Ms. Locke’s concern was the cycle.
Ms. Locke replied absolutely; if that doesn’t happen then tell me how we are going to fund that? Give me some other ideas if we are a year away. For instance it is ten million dollars, they have decided on a ten million dollar project, so we are at least a year away from doing anything.
Mayor Wright stated that he can assure them, to his knowledge that they have the commitment and will of ouncil. We can’t go sell this on the basis of a piece of paper. The selling is going to be critical. If we think that we are just going to lay it out there, and people are going to say, yes, I love that. No, there are people out there who are going to say, for example, till you close the libraries don’t talk to me about spending this money. We have orty thousand people out there, not just the people in this room. We have got to get this through, we can’t let it fail. We have to include these things, demolition of old buildings, and getting shovel ready sites for job creation. If we do that we create a package that everyone can find something in there they can agree on. He stated he is for doing every one of these things; incidentally he is thinking eighty million dollars.
(Remember at the June 4 Council meeting the Mayor was against raising taxes in the current budget. Look what he says here.) Mayor Wright commented we want this to happen, Tuesday set us back some, but we are going to come through it and we are going to make this happen. The only thing that could happen detrimental is that we lose four Council Members on that side of the table to a bunch of people that say no taxes. He stated that he does not (know) what happens then.
The Hound: As you can probably see now, on Tuesday you will be voting on whether or not you want your taxes raised to allow this small group of people, who are not accountable to the people of Hickory, to determine how to spend public money as they see fit on projects that may or may not have public support. Choose wisely my friends.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Ernie Masche told me last night he did not endorse Rudy Wright
Ernie told me last night that he was saying that he would work with Rudy Wright should he be reelected, but in no way should what he said be constituted as an endorsement. He said he wasn't telling anyone how they should vote and I have seen what the Rudy Crew put out. Everyone understands that Terry Revels endorsement is about National Identity Party politics. And if Terry thinks that is relevant, then they can have each other.
But with Ernie which is it? Who is playing fast and loose with the truth?
Ernie told me last week that he endorsed change. He told me that four more years of Rudy Wright would be disastrous, because of the divisiveness that surrounds Rudy. Ernie laughed when Rudy talked about Hickory's economy turning the corner at the Highland debate and fumed four nights later when Rudy talked about the local economy needing a jumpstart, he asked which is it?
The message that Rudy's crew put out certainly doesn't jibe with the Ernie Masche we all met during the primary campaign. The letter of endorsement put out by Rudy's crew would make Ernie's campaign seem completely disingenuous.
Let's hope that isn't the case.
But with Ernie which is it? Who is playing fast and loose with the truth?
Ernie told me last week that he endorsed change. He told me that four more years of Rudy Wright would be disastrous, because of the divisiveness that surrounds Rudy. Ernie laughed when Rudy talked about Hickory's economy turning the corner at the Highland debate and fumed four nights later when Rudy talked about the local economy needing a jumpstart, he asked which is it?
The message that Rudy's crew put out certainly doesn't jibe with the Ernie Masche we all met during the primary campaign. The letter of endorsement put out by Rudy's crew would make Ernie's campaign seem completely disingenuous.
Let's hope that isn't the case.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
No place for a working class Republican in Catawba County
Over the past few days, I have been forced to reflect on this campaign and the history of the Hickory Hound. What is the deal with all that has gone on and where does someone like me fit into this community. They don't want people like me to fit in, but I have never been a "They" person. I could care less about they. I care about We.
I have always been in a working class situation. My family has always labored to earn a living and we are proud people looking to make our own way. We haven't ever asked for more than what we have been afforded. I personally have never been afforded the excesses of life and I have always looked to maintain a proper budget. I haven't had vacations, new cars, dates, dining out, etc., especially over the past eight years or so.
My grandparents passed down a traditional value system to me. Work hard, be honest, sacrifice now and when you get older you will have more. Well it hasn't worked out that way. Wealthy people will look at these lamentations and say that I am bitter. No, I'm not really bitter. I am weathered. I don't covet what they have. I want my own. What I am tired of is the class warfare corporate entitlement syndrome that they focus on in dividing the middle class against the poor in this economic slide to the bottom.
When I was a kid I looked up to the wealthy and successful who it seemed had made their own way. I bought into the idea of this being the land of opportunity... the beacon on the hill... American Exceptionalism. Now, with the system we have seen set up in this nation, I see an elite wealthy who refuse to accept risk, aren't creating jobs and who feel entitled to their status in life in perpetuity.
The post World War II progress our nation enjoyed has been offshored as our American industries have been globalized. This has caused a huge erosion in the upward mobility of our middle class structure and increasing wealth disparity between the wealth structures in our nation.
What has been left behind is a casino type economic system. A paper system not built upon productive value, but built upon speculative paper assets. People think because they have accrued some wealth that they understand Economics, when what I have seen is that for the most part nothing could be further from the truth. The wealthy have for the most part soiled their bed; destroyed the viability of their ecosystem in this looking out for Numero Uno Economic Environment that has been created.
It is more than obvious that the middle class economic structure needs to be shored up in this nation. The wealthy illiterate are never going to understand that in the "Looking out for Numero Uno" economic system, because they already have theirs and they want yours. They look at it all as a zero sum game. It seems that the Powers That Be around here and across this nation are no longer interested in growing the pie.
The reason why I became a Republican was because I thought that they better understood realistic, common sense economics. Too all, but the most blindly loyal, it is obvious that is no longer the case. That doesn't mean that the Democrats understand economics better. As I have said, this isn't a zero sum game. Supply side economics could have worked, in theory, but it did not because there was no incentive to allow the assets to flow to the bottom. The economic and tax structure created barriers that have slowed the ability of the poor and middle class to economically progress and the wealth that the upper class accrued has been sent out of the country through the race to the bottom labor model. Things are going to get worse around here, because we have fully embraced the above model of an economic structure.
The reality: get in your car and ride around here. People are leaving. They have no incentive to stay and the political class is pushing for more of the same. The Powers That Be seem to think they don't need a working class/middle class in this community. Please look at all of the houses for sell. Open your eyes. Why are people leaving, because they can't afford to stick around here. Life moves forward, but this community is not moving forward.
You can continue to funnel government resources to the wealthy to build buildings, but those buildings are going to lose value faster than a new car as you drive it off the lot, because we have eroding population and income bases in this community. As more houses come on the market through simple supply and demand we see that the price point equilibrium is going to fall. That means the value of all property is going to fall in this community... diminishing prospects and diminishing returns. Sell it today, because it's going to be worth even less tomorrow.
The Powers that Be in our community are not going to listen to me, because I'm a nobody. You go to any meeting around here and it isn't about gathering facts and ideas and formulating a plan; the first question is who are you and the second is who do you represent. What we have is a go along to get along system... s social system. They already have all their plans. The meetings are windows dressing and hobnobbing events. That is not the foundation of the American system, but no one seems to understand that and even less no one seems to care, because no one says anything about it. It is all about Groupthink. Making these people feel important and like they played a role in the process.
Go to a meeting and it is the corporates and the government. If you are a middle class person they will glad hand you and then see that you are dismissed. You are treated like a visitor. You are there to see them in action; there to see the egos in action. You are there as a useful idiot. Just think if you didn't have a vote! And that would be these people's fantasy world.
If you aren't hugged up to the structure, doesn't it make you sick!
I have always been in a working class situation. My family has always labored to earn a living and we are proud people looking to make our own way. We haven't ever asked for more than what we have been afforded. I personally have never been afforded the excesses of life and I have always looked to maintain a proper budget. I haven't had vacations, new cars, dates, dining out, etc., especially over the past eight years or so.
My grandparents passed down a traditional value system to me. Work hard, be honest, sacrifice now and when you get older you will have more. Well it hasn't worked out that way. Wealthy people will look at these lamentations and say that I am bitter. No, I'm not really bitter. I am weathered. I don't covet what they have. I want my own. What I am tired of is the class warfare corporate entitlement syndrome that they focus on in dividing the middle class against the poor in this economic slide to the bottom.
When I was a kid I looked up to the wealthy and successful who it seemed had made their own way. I bought into the idea of this being the land of opportunity... the beacon on the hill... American Exceptionalism. Now, with the system we have seen set up in this nation, I see an elite wealthy who refuse to accept risk, aren't creating jobs and who feel entitled to their status in life in perpetuity.
The post World War II progress our nation enjoyed has been offshored as our American industries have been globalized. This has caused a huge erosion in the upward mobility of our middle class structure and increasing wealth disparity between the wealth structures in our nation.
What has been left behind is a casino type economic system. A paper system not built upon productive value, but built upon speculative paper assets. People think because they have accrued some wealth that they understand Economics, when what I have seen is that for the most part nothing could be further from the truth. The wealthy have for the most part soiled their bed; destroyed the viability of their ecosystem in this looking out for Numero Uno Economic Environment that has been created.
It is more than obvious that the middle class economic structure needs to be shored up in this nation. The wealthy illiterate are never going to understand that in the "Looking out for Numero Uno" economic system, because they already have theirs and they want yours. They look at it all as a zero sum game. It seems that the Powers That Be around here and across this nation are no longer interested in growing the pie.
The reason why I became a Republican was because I thought that they better understood realistic, common sense economics. Too all, but the most blindly loyal, it is obvious that is no longer the case. That doesn't mean that the Democrats understand economics better. As I have said, this isn't a zero sum game. Supply side economics could have worked, in theory, but it did not because there was no incentive to allow the assets to flow to the bottom. The economic and tax structure created barriers that have slowed the ability of the poor and middle class to economically progress and the wealth that the upper class accrued has been sent out of the country through the race to the bottom labor model. Things are going to get worse around here, because we have fully embraced the above model of an economic structure.
The reality: get in your car and ride around here. People are leaving. They have no incentive to stay and the political class is pushing for more of the same. The Powers That Be seem to think they don't need a working class/middle class in this community. Please look at all of the houses for sell. Open your eyes. Why are people leaving, because they can't afford to stick around here. Life moves forward, but this community is not moving forward.
You can continue to funnel government resources to the wealthy to build buildings, but those buildings are going to lose value faster than a new car as you drive it off the lot, because we have eroding population and income bases in this community. As more houses come on the market through simple supply and demand we see that the price point equilibrium is going to fall. That means the value of all property is going to fall in this community... diminishing prospects and diminishing returns. Sell it today, because it's going to be worth even less tomorrow.
The Powers that Be in our community are not going to listen to me, because I'm a nobody. You go to any meeting around here and it isn't about gathering facts and ideas and formulating a plan; the first question is who are you and the second is who do you represent. What we have is a go along to get along system... s social system. They already have all their plans. The meetings are windows dressing and hobnobbing events. That is not the foundation of the American system, but no one seems to understand that and even less no one seems to care, because no one says anything about it. It is all about Groupthink. Making these people feel important and like they played a role in the process.
Go to a meeting and it is the corporates and the government. If you are a middle class person they will glad hand you and then see that you are dismissed. You are treated like a visitor. You are there to see them in action; there to see the egos in action. You are there as a useful idiot. Just think if you didn't have a vote! And that would be these people's fantasy world.
If you aren't hugged up to the structure, doesn't it make you sick!
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