Mr. Levy, When you sanctify Bush Jr's "character" in going to Congress before the Iraq war you forget to mention that he and several of his cabinet heads lied, yes outright lied, to the Congress and the American people about the threat that Iraq represented and used fabricated "intelligence" and examples about that threat, or lack of it. Additionally, they engaged in character assassination of anyone disagreeing with them. This was certainly an unethical use of power and likely illegal as well. When Mr Bush dressed up in military regalia (something no president has done since Washington during wartime) to land on an aircraft carrier and announce "mission accomplished" we'd suffered about 300 KIAs. Eight years and 15 times more KIAs, 26,000 wounded, and over 100,000 Iraqi dead we are only now getting out in an orderly fashion. I was in northern Iraq when W pulled that carrier landing stunt and can tell you when we saw it on CNN we were befuddled. Mr Bush took advantage of a scared American public and a weak and highly partisan (Republican) Congress to sneak in something that had nothing at all to do with 9/11 and ultimately distracted and diverted resources from the relevant war in Afghanistan. If Congress had had the guts then to demand better information and protect their Constitutional role we'd not have the complications and debate over what todo in Afghanistan that we have today. Don't dare put W's actions in Iraq up as an example of risk and character.
A great piece by Mr Squire. The far right's obsession with not raising taxes sounds okay in a time when many want to blame govt for our own excesses and refusals to make tough decisons. On top of that we vote in members of Congress that are against most things and for little. Angry reaction will solve nothing. We have to pay our way. In these times greater investments in education, infrastructure, and new technologies will pay off in the long run. We benefited for 50 years from depression-era programs that were largely derided then and since. We need to get away from electing angry men who want to tear down, dismiss, and disenfranchise.America has been great when we've reached far, invested heavily, and elected younger men and women who are not afraid of new things.
It should be considered but so should the hazards and those could be substantial. There's a timely article in the NYTs today at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/science/earth/17gas.html?_r=1&hp that is worth reading. Thus far in NC we've been careful about taking such leaps and those states that haven't have had the problems described in this article. Many in Moore County rely on wells and some of our towns do as well. The question is will DENR be given appropriate oversight powers?
I'm amazed the county has time to entertain something so frivilous at a time when our schools are in trouble, we don't have enough water to support forthcoming development, and we're losing farmland at an alarming rate.
Beating the anti-union drum is a distraction. Here in the south with the worst education attainment and highest drop-out rates we don't have teachers' unions!!! So, since schools and school systems are locally managed we're better off focusing on what we can do in our community and our state. I say our state because, despite the veil of "local control" the state pays the bills. As for "bloated" pensions, take that out as well. Teachers' pensions are not high for the decades it takes to get anything decent. Discipline is in the eye of the beholder. As a parent who's served on a school board and on 2 school advisory committees I can say I've not heard of students "get(ting) away with throwing their free cafeteria food at each other." Please give me dates and schools in Moore County where this has been a recurring problem. Nice try getting the code words "free lunch" in there. The two real problems are lack of parental involvement and funding. Our schools are not adequately funded to prepare students for math, science, and technology. Wasn't the lottery supposed to fix that? Because teacher pay is low we don't attract and keep the brightest. If we made it more lucrative we could make it more competitive and measure results better. See where I'm going? Adults are dishonest about the basics: Parental responsibilities and funding. Let's start having a serious dialog about these three things.
AmericanModerator 1 year, 10 months ago
Wartime Requires Political Bravery
Mr. Levy, When you sanctify Bush Jr's "character" in going to Congress before the Iraq war you forget to mention that he and several of his cabinet heads lied, yes outright lied, to the Congress and the American people about the threat that Iraq represented and used fabricated "intelligence" and examples about that threat, or lack of it. Additionally, they engaged in character assassination of anyone disagreeing with them. This was certainly an unethical use of power and likely illegal as well. When Mr Bush dressed up in military regalia (something no president has done since Washington during wartime) to land on an aircraft carrier and announce "mission accomplished" we'd suffered about 300 KIAs. Eight years and 15 times more KIAs, 26,000 wounded, and over 100,000 Iraqi dead we are only now getting out in an orderly fashion. I was in northern Iraq when W pulled that carrier landing stunt and can tell you when we saw it on CNN we were befuddled. Mr Bush took advantage of a scared American public and a weak and highly partisan (Republican) Congress to sneak in something that had nothing at all to do with 9/11 and ultimately distracted and diverted resources from the relevant war in Afghanistan. If Congress had had the guts then to demand better information and protect their Constitutional role we'd not have the complications and debate over what todo in Afghanistan that we have today. Don't dare put W's actions in Iraq up as an example of risk and character.
AmericanModerator 1 year, 10 months ago
No-Tax Pledge Puts Lawmakers in Untenable Position
A great piece by Mr Squire. The far right's obsession with not raising taxes sounds okay in a time when many want to blame govt for our own excesses and refusals to make tough decisons. On top of that we vote in members of Congress that are against most things and for little. Angry reaction will solve nothing. We have to pay our way. In these times greater investments in education, infrastructure, and new technologies will pay off in the long run. We benefited for 50 years from depression-era programs that were largely derided then and since. We need to get away from electing angry men who want to tear down, dismiss, and disenfranchise.America has been great when we've reached far, invested heavily, and elected younger men and women who are not afraid of new things.
AmericanModerator 1 year, 10 months ago
The Trouble With Easley And Edwards
Who cares? Neither is in office and neither will run for public office again.
AmericanModerator 2 years, 1 month ago
Bills Push for Gas Drilling
It should be considered but so should the hazards and those could be substantial. There's a timely article in the NYTs today at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/science/earth/17gas.html?_r=1&hp that is worth reading. Thus far in NC we've been careful about taking such leaps and those states that haven't have had the problems described in this article. Many in Moore County rely on wells and some of our towns do as well. The question is will DENR be given appropriate oversight powers?
AmericanModerator 2 years, 1 month ago
Remote Control Planes Generate Controversy
I'm amazed the county has time to entertain something so frivilous at a time when our schools are in trouble, we don't have enough water to support forthcoming development, and we're losing farmland at an alarming rate.
AmericanModerator 2 years, 1 month ago
Take Back Our System of Education
Beating the anti-union drum is a distraction. Here in the south with the worst education attainment and highest drop-out rates we don't have teachers' unions!!! So, since schools and school systems are locally managed we're better off focusing on what we can do in our community and our state. I say our state because, despite the veil of "local control" the state pays the bills. As for "bloated" pensions, take that out as well. Teachers' pensions are not high for the decades it takes to get anything decent. Discipline is in the eye of the beholder. As a parent who's served on a school board and on 2 school advisory committees I can say I've not heard of students "get(ting) away with throwing their free cafeteria food at each other." Please give me dates and schools in Moore County where this has been a recurring problem. Nice try getting the code words "free lunch" in there. The two real problems are lack of parental involvement and funding. Our schools are not adequately funded to prepare students for math, science, and technology. Wasn't the lottery supposed to fix that? Because teacher pay is low we don't attract and keep the brightest. If we made it more lucrative we could make it more competitive and measure results better. See where I'm going? Adults are dishonest about the basics: Parental responsibilities and funding. Let's start having a serious dialog about these three things.