Dependent Farmers

I was browsing through a copy of an anarchist’s cookbook today. It stressed the importance of direct action and tried to explain to youth how silly it is to turn to representative government anytime one wanted something done – like growing vegetables. By way of contrast, an article in the Asheville Citizen-Times illustrates how dependent farmers have become on government. The assumption is that mother nature is not dependable, but government is. Farmers therefore must be subsidized, and in return, they must do a bunch of weird stuff that impedes productivity. The article reads like a parody of a science fiction piece over-exaggerating a communist bureaucracy.

Fight Fire with Fire

I’m supposing the logic is that Prince’s elevator is already broken down, so it’s time to, “oh, no, let’s go – crazy.” Americans for Prosperity, with a little help from their friends at the John Locke Foundation, will drum up emotions to try to save this free country from government-knows-best healthcare. Below is a tour schedule for Patients’ First rallies North Carolina. Yes, I believe one will be coming near you.

AFP’s Patients-First Bus Tour
(August 3 – 8, 2009)

Sunday, August 2, 2009
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Raleigh Open House
200 West Morgan Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
Join Americans for Prosperity and the John Locke Foundation for a special open house as the Patients First “Express” gets ready to hit the road. Bring the kids and help make “Hands off My Health Care” Signs. Get the latest information on the health care battle!

Monday, August 3, 2009
Greensboro Rally/Press Conference
9:00 am
Shoney’s
603 S. Regional Road
Greensboro, NC 27409

Winston-Salem Rally/Press Conference with Congresswoman Virginia Foxx
11:30 am
Golden Corral
180 Hanes Mall Circle
Winston-Salem, NC 27103

Hickory Rally/Press Conference
3:00 pm
Blue Ridge Harley-Davidson
2002 13th Avenue Drive, SE
Hickory, NC 28602
Note: Blue Ridge Harley-Davidson is located in Hickory, North Carolina, just off Interstate 40, Exit 125. Follow signs to Metro Convention Center.

Asheville Rally/Press Conference
5:30 pm
Ingles Market #24
863 Brevard Road
Asheville, NC 28806

Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Hendersonville Rally/Press Conference
8:00 am
Jackson Park
801 Glover Street
Hendersonville, NC 28792

Shelby Rally/Press Conference
11:00 am
Bridges Barbecue Lodge
2000 East Dixon Boulevard
Shelby, NC 28152

Lincolnton Rally/Press Conference
1:00 pm
Courthouse Area
100 West Main Street
Lincolnton, NC 28092

Gastonia Rally/Press Conference
3:30 pm
Harley-Davidson, Inc.
2830 East Franklin Boulevard
Gastonia, NC 28056

Charlotte Rally/Press Conference with Mayor Pat McCrory
6:00 pm
Government Center Plaza
600 East Fourth Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Concord Rally/Press Conference
8:30 am
Pat Roger’s Speedway Harley
10049 Weddington Road
Concord, NC 28027

Kannapolis Rally/Press Conference
10:00 am
Veteran’s Park Gazebo
North Main & 1st Street
Kannapolis, NC 28083

Salisbury Rally/Press Conference
11:30 am
Dan Nicholas Park Shelter #2
6800 Bringle Ferry Road
Salisbury, NC 28146

Lexington Rally/Press Conference
1:00 pm
Direct Furniture Outlet
37 Parkway Plaza
Lexington, NC 27292

High Point Rally/Press Conference with Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory
2:30 pm
Harley-Davidson of High Point
2001 Brentwood Street
High Point, NC 27263

Burlington Rally/Press Conference
5:30 pm
Davis’ Harley-Davidson
2215 W Hanford Road
Burlington, NC 27215

Thursday, August 6, 2009
Benson Rally/Press Conference
8:00 am
Benson Singing Grove
Main Street
Benson, NC 27504

Dunn Rally/Press Conference
9:30 am
Western Sizzling near I-95
1810 West Cumberland Street
Dunn, NC 28334

Lillington Rally/Press Conference
11:00 am
Congressman Bob Etheridge’s Office
Lillington District Office
609 North First Street
Lillington, NC 27546
Note: We will stop by and say hello to the folks in Congressman Bob Etheridge’s office. We will ask Congressman Bob Etheridge to keep his hands off our health care.

Sanford Rally/Press Conference
12:30 pm
Piggly Wiggly
2412 South Horner Boulevard
Sanford, NC 27330

Southern Pines and Aberdeen Rally/Press Conference
3:00 pm
Empty Lot beside Steve Jones Honda
11049 Highway 15 501 North
Aberdeen, NC 28315
Note: The empty lot is across Highway 15 501 North from the Verizon Store and Cookout Restaurant, and TJ Maxx. It is next door to Steve Jones Honda.

Fayetteville Rally/Press Conference
5:00 pm
The Climbing Place
436 West Russell Street
Fayetteville , NC 28301

Shallotte/Brunswick County Rally/Press Conference
8:00 pm
Rourk Garden
4912 Main Street
Shallotte , NC 28470
**Join us for this special event in Brunswick County**

Friday, August 7, 2009
Wilmington Rally/Press Conference with Special Live Broadcast of Big Talker FM with Curtis Wright
6:00 am – 10:30 am
Chick-Fil-A at Monkey Junction
5106 South College Road
Wilmington , NC 28412

Jacksonville Rally/Press Conference
12:00 pm
Marina Café
110 South Marine Boulevard
Jacksonville , NC 28540

New Bern Rally/Press Conference
3:00
Harley Davidson
1613 US Highway 70 East
New Bern, NC 28560

Moorehead City/Beaufort Rally/Press Conference with Special Live Broadcast of “Viewpoints Radio” with Lockwood Phillips
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Captain Bill’s Waterfront Restaurant
701 Evans Street
Morehead City , NC 28557

Saturday, August 8, 2009
Little Washington Rally/Press Conference
9:00 am
Waterfront Park / Stewart Parkway off Main Street
City Parking Lot
Washington , NC 27889

Greenville Rally/Press Conference with Special Live Broadcast of “Talk of the Town” with Henry Hinton
11:00 am
WTIB 94.3
408 W. Arlington Boulevard
Greenville , NC 27834

Wilson Rally/Press Conference
1:30 pm
Bill Ellis Barbecue
3007 Downing Street
Wilson, NC 27893

Raleigh Rally/Press Conference – Special Conclusion of the NC Patients First Bus Tour
3:30 pm
Brigg’s Hardware
2533 Atlantic Avenue
Raleigh , NC 27604-1568

News in Perspective

David Morgan, editor of the WNC Tribune newspapers, called my attention to this opportunity to get interesting, newsworthy information at the national level.

Might The State Outfit Us in Spandex, Too?

The Civitas Institute did a hilarious writeup on House Bill 1623. The state, remember, has no money and must raise $1.5 billion or so in taxes and lay off teachers.

And yet, there is enough for what Civitas is calling a Star Trek facility. $1.7 million will be spent, but it is as yet unclear whether the funds will pay for anything but land acquisition and master planning for the Star Fleet Academy Complex.

Of course to accomplish these great things the state will be partnering with a corporation formed in December 2008 and headquartered in an architectural office in Greensboro, NC that advertises its vision as “. . . to become the international leader in the development of Science Fiction based Educational mixed-use urban renewal and regional redevelopment projects.”

The argument, of course, is that the center will create 1000 jobs. It is also unknown whether these are day-labor jobs for construction or fulltime positions for researchers.

The sad thing is, Civitas is not the entity responsible for the hilarity. The bill, which is less than a page long, additionally states:

The Star Fleet Academy Complex is predicated on the Star Trek concept subject to the approval of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) of the Star Trek Brand. CBS has granted to the project organizers, Scientific and Economic Development, Inc., the rights to market and develop a public/private partnership to support the project using the Star Trek Brand.

Ho Hum

This is not news. Please, tell me who is not getting newly-printed money.

Allegory

The following unsigned commentary was printed in the latest issue of the Buncombe County Republican Women’s Club newsletter. It pertained to the fun Congress is having:

It’s like being at Disney World – the Teacups look great, bright colors and lots of spin – however you never do them two times in a row and people are throwing up. Hopefully America is tired of the Teacups. . . . Those riding the Teacups are fighting to control the spin and can’t look up to see themselves or who they are affecting.

Feelings, Woe Woe Woe!

If you thought the last post was strange, there is a political advert in the hard copy of the Mountain Xpress this week for Hugs for Healthcare. There also is an editorial from a New Yorker encouraging readers to vote for a guy for city council because he used to serve him dinner, and he liked to talk about beer. So much for cause and effect.

Madness from the Crazy-O Ranch

Perhaps you also received an email from community organizer Mitch Stewart today. Recipients were asked to let the president’s men deduct $1 a day from their credit cards until healthcare reform was approved by Congress. At first, it would appear Ross Perot’s Republican Dirty Tricks Committee was working overtime trying to make Obama look bad. Unfortunately, it seems the president wants people to volunteer to suffer from deprivation until he gets his way. That way, liberty-loving conservatives may be viewed as villains for inflicting hardship on the bleeding hearts.

Saith the invite:

Opponents of change are doing everything they can to slow the pace of health insurance reform. So we’re launching our “Dollar-a-Day” campaign to fight back. A huge response will show the insurance companies and their allies in Congress that their delay tactics will only make our movement stronger.

Your donation will help us to keep training volunteers, hiring organizers, running ads, organizing local events, bringing constituent voices straight to Congress, and make sure real-life stories are heard louder than the lobbyists’ spin.

Does this dirty pool set a precedent for democracy? Will the day come when citizens will have to put up cash for a minimum number of bills until they are signed into law?

Legislators Question Whether Revenue Equates to Safety

The Asheville Citizen-Times seems to think there is hope for Senator Charles Albertson’s bill to eliminate safety inspections for automobiles. The concept is based on data indicating the elimination of safety inspections in two other states had no impact on automobile safety. Actually, most people probably realize that the racket is more about raising revenue for the state than saving lives.

Divide & Conquer

The Buncombe County GOP is about to have its fourth chair in four years. Tim Johnson is stepping down, as did his predecessors, due to infighting in the local party. (Incidentally, several prominent Buncombe County Republicans were Democrats about five years ago.) Johnson will be replaced by friend-of-the-friendless Robert Malt. I only say that because the competent genius (Can I say that, moderator?) has done a great job of defending the Constitution in these parts.