A Brazillion Reasons to Print, Borrow, & Tax

Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) is in the limelight for announcing a $1,907,418 award from the Department of Homeland Security to assist, in some vague way, fire departments in North Carolina that are not directly affiliated with a hospital.

Sister Susie, Brother John, Martin Luther, Phil ‘n’ Don, Brother Michael, Auntie Gin

To increase revenue, Cherokee County has hired Tax Management Associates to audit all local businesses. TMA will be paid a 35% commission on additional taxes, penalties, and interest it can cause the county to collect. At least one business owner is considering requiring more than a knock on the door before he lets the snooper in to look for money.

Like Flowers in the Frost, They’ll Be Back

Occupy Asheville was ousted last night. Members of council voted unanimously to sign a resolution supporting a Constitutional amendment that would ban corporate personhood. The resolution was intended to make the campers next to city hall feel they had not weathered the winter outdoors in vain. Then, it was time to tell the campers to get out by noon this Friday. Rather than issuing an eviction notice, the city converted undesignated city-owned greenspace into parks where the citywide 10:00 p.m. curfew would apply. It then created two free speech zones where people could protest at all hours. The city did not equate tents with speech, so another ordinance banned camping, or participating in any activities that might lead a police officer to conclude one was camping, within the city limits.

Occupants spoke against the move, saying it would hurt homeless people. One citizen objected to council bowing to public input from persons from Portland; Washington, DC; Oakland; and New York. He had lived in Asheville 83 years, and he wanted council to be considerate of those who pay property taxes and vote in city elections.

Don’t Like a Business? Convene Your Own Board Meeting

Greenpeace does not approve of Progress Energy sustaining demand for coal to be carved out of mountains. The eco-anarchist group wants 1/3 of the company’s fuel to come from renewable sources by 2030. To better direct the company, Greenpeace convened its own board meeting tonight in downtown Asheville to solicit public opinion.

Yes, anarchy is afoot. The problem is, nobody in authority seems to remember their role was supposed to be to protect people from the whims of anybody who cares to have an opinion.