Yesterday Paul Krugman (and friends) debated with Newt Gingrich (and friends) in Toronto. In some respects it sounds like a case of "rounding up the usual suspects." Still, I wish I had seen it live.
Here is Krugman's own report of the event, augmented by comments from some who did watch and even some who attended.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Do We Glorify War?
President George W. Bush often claimed that America "does not glorify war."
Television stations and cable networks across the land spent last weekend proving the opposite.
Memorial Day had its start as "Decoration Day." A day to decorate the graves of those who fell in the American Civil War. The only decorating that goes on these days is when elected officials ceremonially place wreaths on symbolic graves. Our population, for the most part, has no knowledge and understanding of the everyday sacrifices of military families. Even less are they connected with the anguish of the families of deceased soldiers, sailors and airmen.
Decoration Day was a day in which survivors could share their anguish, even as they decorated the graves. This was not a march of triumph.
Armistice Day (as I choose to continue calling November 11th) was a celebration. Not a celebration of victory, but of the end of a conflict that ended the world as Europeans and Americans had known it in 1914.
Each time, we promise never to forget. We have finally learned our lesson.
But our learning process never keeps pace with our forgetting tendencies.
Especially when the sacrifices have been made by someone else.
Television stations and cable networks across the land spent last weekend proving the opposite.
Memorial Day had its start as "Decoration Day." A day to decorate the graves of those who fell in the American Civil War. The only decorating that goes on these days is when elected officials ceremonially place wreaths on symbolic graves. Our population, for the most part, has no knowledge and understanding of the everyday sacrifices of military families. Even less are they connected with the anguish of the families of deceased soldiers, sailors and airmen.
Decoration Day was a day in which survivors could share their anguish, even as they decorated the graves. This was not a march of triumph.
Armistice Day (as I choose to continue calling November 11th) was a celebration. Not a celebration of victory, but of the end of a conflict that ended the world as Europeans and Americans had known it in 1914.
Each time, we promise never to forget. We have finally learned our lesson.
But our learning process never keeps pace with our forgetting tendencies.
Especially when the sacrifices have been made by someone else.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Germany Beginning To Accept Need For Economic Stimulus
News from Germany is that the German government has decided they have to do something to have an economic stimulus in the periphery of the Euro zone. Spiegel On Line has some details.
Nothing in the report suggests that the program will be big enough to do much good.
It still looks to me like the Euro has been a bad idea, poorly executed. There is not an adequate mechanism to move funds from prosperous to less prosperous areas. The distress in the periphery was not caused by government spending, but by banks. In many cases, German banks.
This is not going to work, but it may drag out for a long time as the European Central Bank tries a series of what will prove to be inadequate measures.
I could be wrong - but I don't think so.
Nothing in the report suggests that the program will be big enough to do much good.
It still looks to me like the Euro has been a bad idea, poorly executed. There is not an adequate mechanism to move funds from prosperous to less prosperous areas. The distress in the periphery was not caused by government spending, but by banks. In many cases, German banks.
This is not going to work, but it may drag out for a long time as the European Central Bank tries a series of what will prove to be inadequate measures.
I could be wrong - but I don't think so.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Memorial Day 2013
We attended the Memorial Day ceremony at Bayboro this morning.
It is always a rewarding experience to talk to older veterans. But I have noticed some developments in recent years worth pondering.
The first thing that stands out is the age of attendees. They tend to be older and older each year. As if the whole enterprise of recognizing and remembering veterans has less and less connection to our youth.
In a way, that's not surprising. There was a time when we were all in this together. Seventy years ago, war and rumors of war affected the entire population.
Now fewer and fewer people are involved in the sacrifices and inconveniences of war.
On the one hand, that's a good thing. Fewer casualties.
On the other hand, military service has long since ceased to be a shared experience - a common effort for the good of the nation. There would be benefits in recapturing the idea of common effort for the common good.
It is always a rewarding experience to talk to older veterans. But I have noticed some developments in recent years worth pondering.
The first thing that stands out is the age of attendees. They tend to be older and older each year. As if the whole enterprise of recognizing and remembering veterans has less and less connection to our youth.
In a way, that's not surprising. There was a time when we were all in this together. Seventy years ago, war and rumors of war affected the entire population.
Now fewer and fewer people are involved in the sacrifices and inconveniences of war.
On the one hand, that's a good thing. Fewer casualties.
On the other hand, military service has long since ceased to be a shared experience - a common effort for the good of the nation. There would be benefits in recapturing the idea of common effort for the common good.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Global Water Shortage?
The past couple of weeks, one of the topics at Oriental Town Hall has been budgeting and planning the management of the Town's water system. Last Friday, at one point, Town commissioners gathered around the table redesigning the water treatment plant.
It might be better to turn that task over to experts.
In the meantime, we need to deal with the reality facing mankind: we are running out of potable water and water for irrigation. Here's the bad news.
A little over two centuries ago, economist Robert Malthus examined the problem of constant population growth and limited resources. He is best remembered from pointing out that population grows geometrically, while food production grows arithmetically. In the intervening two centuries, food production has increased at a more rapid rate than Malthus predicted, especially in the 20th Century.
Nevertheless, other factors of production essential to population growth may assume a limiting function.
It looks like water may soon play that role.
It might be better to turn that task over to experts.
In the meantime, we need to deal with the reality facing mankind: we are running out of potable water and water for irrigation. Here's the bad news.
A little over two centuries ago, economist Robert Malthus examined the problem of constant population growth and limited resources. He is best remembered from pointing out that population grows geometrically, while food production grows arithmetically. In the intervening two centuries, food production has increased at a more rapid rate than Malthus predicted, especially in the 20th Century.
Nevertheless, other factors of production essential to population growth may assume a limiting function.
It looks like water may soon play that role.
Elections In North Carolina: Twenty Years Of Progress
Today's News and Observer prints an informative article about the outgoing Executive Director of the State Board of Elections, Mr. Gary Bartlett.
In his two decades as Executive Director, Mr. Bartlett has moved the North Carolina system of elections from a chaotic system where each of the 100 counties did its own thing to a system with uniform equipment and procedures across the state. Bartlett's focus has always been on the voter. "Respect for the process starts with respect for the voters," he has written."Partisan influences must take a back seat to the very basic premise that individuals who are qualified and eligible to vote must be given the opportunity to cast a ballot and have their ballot counted."
During his tenure, North Carolina has moved to head of the pack of states operating fair and effective voting systems.
It has been my pleasure over the past three years to work with Mr. Bartlett. He has served the state of North Carolina and its voters well and faithfully.
In his two decades as Executive Director, Mr. Bartlett has moved the North Carolina system of elections from a chaotic system where each of the 100 counties did its own thing to a system with uniform equipment and procedures across the state. Bartlett's focus has always been on the voter. "Respect for the process starts with respect for the voters," he has written."Partisan influences must take a back seat to the very basic premise that individuals who are qualified and eligible to vote must be given the opportunity to cast a ballot and have their ballot counted."
During his tenure, North Carolina has moved to head of the pack of states operating fair and effective voting systems.
It has been my pleasure over the past three years to work with Mr. Bartlett. He has served the state of North Carolina and its voters well and faithfully.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Seventy Years Ago: May 24, 1942: Admiral Doenitz Removes Submarine Force And Concedes Battle Of The Atlantic
By 1943, expansion of Allied antisubmarine force, improvement of Air operations against submarines, including aircraft operating from small escort carriers, were making life difficult for German submarines. Admiral Doenitz, the German submarine commander, explained his withdrawal of the force by improvements in Allied ASW weapons and organization. Here is his report.
Doenitz' list is incomplete. How did the Allied ASW forces know where to look for German submarines? It's a big ocean out there.
The Allies knew where to look because of their great successes in communications intelligence. They intercepted and decrypted German orders to submarines, even orders encrypted by Germany's latest Enigma machines. When Germany began changing their communications keys several times a day, cryptanalysts kept up.
They tracked submarines using the extensive Allied High Frequency Direction Finding network ("Huff-Duff"), even when the submarines began compressing the messages and sending them in "burst" transmissions.
The war was fought and won not only on the high seas and in the air, but more significantly in the back rooms of headquarters, using the black arts of cryptanalysis.
Doenitz' list is incomplete. How did the Allied ASW forces know where to look for German submarines? It's a big ocean out there.
The Allies knew where to look because of their great successes in communications intelligence. They intercepted and decrypted German orders to submarines, even orders encrypted by Germany's latest Enigma machines. When Germany began changing their communications keys several times a day, cryptanalysts kept up.
They tracked submarines using the extensive Allied High Frequency Direction Finding network ("Huff-Duff"), even when the submarines began compressing the messages and sending them in "burst" transmissions.
The war was fought and won not only on the high seas and in the air, but more significantly in the back rooms of headquarters, using the black arts of cryptanalysis.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Seventy Years Ago: May 23, 1943, Secret Weapons Test
May 23, 1943, the US Army tested a new secret weapon: incendiary bats.
Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry exposed the whole story in a column printed in 1990. I would simply copy and post the relevant portion about the bat project as blogger Brad DeLong did, but I read the Miami Herald's warning about copyright. What might be called the bloodthirsty copyright notice. So I followed their instructions and put a link to the entire column here.
I recommend you pay no attention to the part of the column about air dropped trout and go right to the interesting part about incendiary bats. Hey, there was a war on.
Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry exposed the whole story in a column printed in 1990. I would simply copy and post the relevant portion about the bat project as blogger Brad DeLong did, but I read the Miami Herald's warning about copyright. What might be called the bloodthirsty copyright notice. So I followed their instructions and put a link to the entire column here.
I recommend you pay no attention to the part of the column about air dropped trout and go right to the interesting part about incendiary bats. Hey, there was a war on.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Oriental Water Treatment Plant
Yesterday morning the Town Board and a number of citizens visited Oriental's water treatment plant. The Town Manager gave a briefing on new regulatory requirements including increased testing.
The tour began with an outside tour and explanation of the major components of the plant. Many questions were raised both by the commissioners and the citizens attending.
Following the outside briefing, attendees went inside the water treatment plant to view its condition and to receive information on maintenance and repair that needs to be accomplished.
First impressions: too much deferred maintenance.
The tour began with an outside tour and explanation of the major components of the plant. Many questions were raised both by the commissioners and the citizens attending.
Following the outside briefing, attendees went inside the water treatment plant to view its condition and to receive information on maintenance and repair that needs to be accomplished.
First impressions: too much deferred maintenance.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Tornadoes In Oklahoma
The people of Oklahoma, my home state, are strong, patient and persistent. They live in tornado country. After every big tornado comes through, they pick up the pieces and start over again.
Tornadoes aren't like hurricanes. No weather service can predict the path of a tornado, how big it will be, how long it will be on the ground. No house of mere wood and brick can withstand a tornado as strong as the one that struck Moore, Oklahoma yesterday.
It has been always thus.
That's why, when I was a child in rural parts of the state, every farm, every large building, every school, had a storm shelter.
I once attended a two-room, four grade school, a large white-painted frame building with an out house in the back. We had a storm shelter.
Another school I attended, East of Oklahoma City, held eight grades in six classrooms, and had an underground storm shelter big enough for all the students, the teachers and the residents of about a dozen nearby houses.
It was good to know which of your neighbors had storm shelters.
When the weather was right for tornadoes (and we could tell) we would stand outside and watch the gathering clouds, especially those of a greenish hue with tendrils reaching down toward the ground. As the clouds approached, we would debate whether to go to the school and seek shelter.
I remember photographs in the Daily Oklahoman in 1947 when a massive tornado destroyed the town of Woodward, west of Oklahoma City. The town rebuilt.
I was living in Tulsa in 1999 when the last big twister hit Moore and damaged other towns all along the Turnpike between Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
That being said, while admiring the pluck of the people, I am appalled at the indifference of their elected leaders.
Why did the two elementary schools in Moore that Monday's tornado decimated not have storm shelters?
This is inexcusable.
Sixty-five years ago, Oklahomans knew how to protect their school children.
This is not the sort of thing a state's leaders should forget.
Tornadoes aren't like hurricanes. No weather service can predict the path of a tornado, how big it will be, how long it will be on the ground. No house of mere wood and brick can withstand a tornado as strong as the one that struck Moore, Oklahoma yesterday.
It has been always thus.
That's why, when I was a child in rural parts of the state, every farm, every large building, every school, had a storm shelter.
I once attended a two-room, four grade school, a large white-painted frame building with an out house in the back. We had a storm shelter.
Another school I attended, East of Oklahoma City, held eight grades in six classrooms, and had an underground storm shelter big enough for all the students, the teachers and the residents of about a dozen nearby houses.
It was good to know which of your neighbors had storm shelters.
When the weather was right for tornadoes (and we could tell) we would stand outside and watch the gathering clouds, especially those of a greenish hue with tendrils reaching down toward the ground. As the clouds approached, we would debate whether to go to the school and seek shelter.
I remember photographs in the Daily Oklahoman in 1947 when a massive tornado destroyed the town of Woodward, west of Oklahoma City. The town rebuilt.
I was living in Tulsa in 1999 when the last big twister hit Moore and damaged other towns all along the Turnpike between Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
That being said, while admiring the pluck of the people, I am appalled at the indifference of their elected leaders.
Why did the two elementary schools in Moore that Monday's tornado decimated not have storm shelters?
This is inexcusable.
Sixty-five years ago, Oklahomans knew how to protect their school children.
This is not the sort of thing a state's leaders should forget.
Monday, May 20, 2013
More On Robots And Humans
Norbert Wiener, a mathematician at MIT six decades ago, wrote down what we need to know about what he called "the new machine age." In other words, the world of robots.
He wrote an essay to be published in the New York Times, but the essay never saw the light of day. Now, six decades later, at least a portion of it has been found and is published here.
He wrote an essay to be published in the New York Times, but the essay never saw the light of day. Now, six decades later, at least a portion of it has been found and is published here.
In a burst of clarity, Wiener foretold the likely effect of computerization by comparing the computer to a genie. "These new machines have a great capacity for upsetting the present basis
of industry," Wiener explained, "and of reducing the economic value of the routine factory
employee to a point at which he is not worth hiring at any price. If we
combine our machine-potentials of a factory with the valuation of human
beings on which our present factory system is based, we are in for an
industrial revolution of unmitigated cruelty."
He described what must be done to avoid this cruelty. "We must be willing," he emphasized, "to deal in facts rather than in fashionable
ideologies if we wish to get through this period unharmed. Not even the
brightest picture of an age in which man is the master, and in which we
all have an excess of mechanical services will make up for the pains of
transition, if we are not both humane and intelligent."
"Finally," he warned, "the machines will do what we ask them to do and not what we
ought to ask them to do. In the discussion of the relation between man
and powerful agencies controlled by man, the gnomic wisdom of the folk
tales [that is, of genies and bottles}, has a value far beyond the books of our sociologists."
We should let that be a warning to all.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Robotics, Offshoring And Economics: Another Take
Interesting dialogue in today's New York Times. Worth reading all of the comments. Pay special attention to the cartoon that illustrates the article.
Seventy Years Ago: May 19, 1943 - Battle of The Atlantic Turning Point
By May 19, 1942, the Allies had begun to turn the tide in the Battle of the Atlantic. German submarines were achieving less and less in their effort to interrupt the flow of goods from America to England. Not only had Allied equipment and procedures improved to the point that escort ships were able to defend against submarines more effectively, aircraft were able to detect and attack submarines at greater distance from land.
Here is an account of one successful effort against submarine wolf packs.
A key element in increased Allied success was the effective use of communications intelligence, including code breaking and high frequency direction finding. By this time, all of the technical means of detecting and tracking submarines had improved to the point that German submarine operations had become very hazardous.
A significant organizational change occurred on May 20, with formation of the U.S. 10th Fleet, essentially a paper organization headquartered in Washington, DC.
Tenth Fleet's mission was to destroy enemy submarines, protect coastal merchant shipping, centralize control and routing of convoys, and to coordinate and supervise all USN anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training, anti-submarine intelligence, and coordination with Allied nations. The fleet was active from May 1943 to June 1945.
Tenth Fleet had no ships of its own, but used Commander-in-Chief Atlantic's ships operationally; CinCLANT issued orders to escort groups originating in the United States and organized and operated hunter-killer groups built around the growing fleet of small Escort Aircraft Carriers. Tenth Fleet never put to sea, had no ships, and never had more than about 50 people in its organization. The fleet was disbanded after the surrender of Germany.
Here is an account of one successful effort against submarine wolf packs.
A key element in increased Allied success was the effective use of communications intelligence, including code breaking and high frequency direction finding. By this time, all of the technical means of detecting and tracking submarines had improved to the point that German submarine operations had become very hazardous.
A significant organizational change occurred on May 20, with formation of the U.S. 10th Fleet, essentially a paper organization headquartered in Washington, DC.
Tenth Fleet's mission was to destroy enemy submarines, protect coastal merchant shipping, centralize control and routing of convoys, and to coordinate and supervise all USN anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training, anti-submarine intelligence, and coordination with Allied nations. The fleet was active from May 1943 to June 1945.
Tenth Fleet had no ships of its own, but used Commander-in-Chief Atlantic's ships operationally; CinCLANT issued orders to escort groups originating in the United States and organized and operated hunter-killer groups built around the growing fleet of small Escort Aircraft Carriers. Tenth Fleet never put to sea, had no ships, and never had more than about 50 people in its organization. The fleet was disbanded after the surrender of Germany.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Seventy Years Ago: May 17, 1943 In Europe
May 17, 1943, the B-17 Memphis Belle completed twenty-five missions over Europe. They were the first US bomber to complete that number of missions. It was unusual enough that the Army made a documentary featuring Memphis Belle.
Here is a very interesting summary on Brad DeLong's blog.
Here is a very interesting summary on Brad DeLong's blog.
Town Manager Steps Down Early
Picked off of Town Dock this morning:
"Oriental’s Town Manager Bob Maxbauer is stepping down June 30, six
months earlier than previously scheduled. Mayor Bill Sage made the
announcement yesterday afternoon after a closed door session at the
Board’s budget meeting. Sage said Maxbauer planned to run for a seat on
the Town Board this November.
At the budget meeting, there were strong indications Maxbauer was also seeking future employment with the Town once his $56,000-a-year stint at Manager ends. Maxbauer spoke at length about a “dire need” for repairs at the Town’s water plant and presented himself as the licensed employee who could renovate the plant with the Town’s Public Works staff, as well as operate it. As such, he asked the Board to allocate $160,000 for Public Works salaries next fiscal year — instead of the $120,000 the Board has pencilled in."
"Maxbauer claimed it would cost the Town less for him to rebuild the water plant using public works employees than for the Town to hire an outside contractor. (Maxbauer made a similar pitch to the Board a year ago about the Town Hall project, which he oversaw and which ended up costing more than was allocated.) At the budget meeting, there was no mention of putting the water plant renovation job out for bid."
"More on the story coming…"
Very interesting.
"Saturday May 18, 2013
At the budget meeting, there were strong indications Maxbauer was also seeking future employment with the Town once his $56,000-a-year stint at Manager ends. Maxbauer spoke at length about a “dire need” for repairs at the Town’s water plant and presented himself as the licensed employee who could renovate the plant with the Town’s Public Works staff, as well as operate it. As such, he asked the Board to allocate $160,000 for Public Works salaries next fiscal year — instead of the $120,000 the Board has pencilled in."
"Maxbauer claimed it would cost the Town less for him to rebuild the water plant using public works employees than for the Town to hire an outside contractor. (Maxbauer made a similar pitch to the Board a year ago about the Town Hall project, which he oversaw and which ended up costing more than was allocated.) At the budget meeting, there was no mention of putting the water plant renovation job out for bid."
"More on the story coming…"
Very interesting.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Oriental NC Town Board Meeting May 17 2013
Strange goings on today at the Oriental Town Board budget meeting, or at least according to a usually reliable source. I'm up in Apex for the weekend, so I can't verify. But keep your eyes and ears open. Will explain when I get confirmation.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Subleties Of Language
I suppose I have to make allowances for changes in meaning as time goes by. But I don't have to like it. Some usages are just lazy and imprecise language.
Some of my pet peeves:
1. Use of "less" in place of "fewer," as in "he had less choices;"
2. Use of "political" when what is really meant is "partisan;"
3. Use of "investment" to describe the purchase of stocks or bonds. This is one of those words that leads to bad policy. "Investment" is what companies do when they buy new equipment or otherwise improve their ability to make stuff or provide services. When people buy stocks or bonds on the market, their money doesn't increase the enterprise's capability one whit. What they are doing is "speculation."
4. Use of "it's" as the possessive. No! It's the contraction for "it is."
I have more such peeves.
Some of my pet peeves:
1. Use of "less" in place of "fewer," as in "he had less choices;"
2. Use of "political" when what is really meant is "partisan;"
3. Use of "investment" to describe the purchase of stocks or bonds. This is one of those words that leads to bad policy. "Investment" is what companies do when they buy new equipment or otherwise improve their ability to make stuff or provide services. When people buy stocks or bonds on the market, their money doesn't increase the enterprise's capability one whit. What they are doing is "speculation."
4. Use of "it's" as the possessive. No! It's the contraction for "it is."
I have more such peeves.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Robotics And Economics, Take Two
A couple of years ago, I posted my thoughts about Robotics and Economics. My concern at that time was that economists, as they have historically done, were discounting the possibility that future technology might replace many human jobs with machines.
The conventional answer to that concern is that, since the Luddites, human workers have resisted being replaced by machines, but other jobs have always arisen to replace those taken by machines. But it seemed to me possible that this might not continue to be true.
Not long after my post, even Paul Krugman began to think such thoughts.
Now Kevin Drum takes the argument a step further and explains why the digital revolution won't be a replay of the industrial revolution. This is serious stuff.
I strongly believe that in the short to medium run we can put many people back to work using economic stimulus to generate aggregate demand. But this may not be enough to rebuild the hollowed out loss of jobs in the middle and even upper part of the income scale. We could try to rebuild unions, change the tax structure to correct the recent redistribution of income from workers to the wealthy. But if we hope to have jobs and income for most people and general prosperity for all, now is the time (if it is not already too late) to think through the problem.
In another article, Kevin Drum offers more detail about the coming robot revolution. The article raises Lenin's old question: "who - whom." In other words, who will be in charge - humans or robots? That question has interested science fiction writers since Czech writer Karel Capek raised it in his drama, "Rossum's Universal Robots." Similar questions were raised in his novel, "War With The Newts." It is time to take a serious look at the problem.
Economist Karl Smith, writing in Forbes Magazine, takes a look at inequality in the robotic future.
A thought that comes to mind is that while we think about robots, we might seriously examine population control. "Zero Growth" is too modest a goal.
The conventional answer to that concern is that, since the Luddites, human workers have resisted being replaced by machines, but other jobs have always arisen to replace those taken by machines. But it seemed to me possible that this might not continue to be true.
Not long after my post, even Paul Krugman began to think such thoughts.
Now Kevin Drum takes the argument a step further and explains why the digital revolution won't be a replay of the industrial revolution. This is serious stuff.
I strongly believe that in the short to medium run we can put many people back to work using economic stimulus to generate aggregate demand. But this may not be enough to rebuild the hollowed out loss of jobs in the middle and even upper part of the income scale. We could try to rebuild unions, change the tax structure to correct the recent redistribution of income from workers to the wealthy. But if we hope to have jobs and income for most people and general prosperity for all, now is the time (if it is not already too late) to think through the problem.
In another article, Kevin Drum offers more detail about the coming robot revolution. The article raises Lenin's old question: "who - whom." In other words, who will be in charge - humans or robots? That question has interested science fiction writers since Czech writer Karel Capek raised it in his drama, "Rossum's Universal Robots." Similar questions were raised in his novel, "War With The Newts." It is time to take a serious look at the problem.
Economist Karl Smith, writing in Forbes Magazine, takes a look at inequality in the robotic future.
A thought that comes to mind is that while we think about robots, we might seriously examine population control. "Zero Growth" is too modest a goal.
Oriental Town Hall Records Problems
I have mentioned earlier that Oriental Town Hall has still not posted on their web site any minutes of Town Board meetings since last November. There are also problems with some of the minutes I have inspected relating to closed meetings.
And that's not all. The page on the Town's web site posting the Town's Charter and Amendments isn't complete. The site displays the 1991 Act Setting a Referendum on changes to the charter, but displays no information as to the result of the referendum. That leaves citizens in the dark as to the basis for our present Town government. Furthermore, there was an amendment to the Charter by Ordinance that changed the form of government to a Council-Manager system. That ordinance should also be displayed. It isn't.
This is not rocket science.
And that's not all. The page on the Town's web site posting the Town's Charter and Amendments isn't complete. The site displays the 1991 Act Setting a Referendum on changes to the charter, but displays no information as to the result of the referendum. That leaves citizens in the dark as to the basis for our present Town government. Furthermore, there was an amendment to the Charter by Ordinance that changed the form of government to a Council-Manager system. That ordinance should also be displayed. It isn't.
This is not rocket science.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
They Said You Can't Fight City Hall: Yes, You Can
You might not necessarily win, even if you are right. But it is possible to fight City Hall.
It would be better to persuade City Hall to do the right thing in the first place. I didn't succeed at that. This is an example of the kind of thing I've been writing for the past year and a half.
I lost at the first level of Superior Court. The Judge dismissed my complaint. But I have the right to appeal and have filed my notice of appeal. I have also filed a new complaint about the Town's action closing South Avenue.
I don't know if this qualifies as "David v. Goliath," or a lesser struggle. I suspect it is the latter.
In any event, it isn't just my struggle. I have consulted with a couple of dozen very knowledgeable citizens at each step of the way.
It will be long and expensive to try to stop the Town's sale or barter of public rights of way and to protect public access to North Carolina's Public Trust Waters. Just yesterday I spent more than $220 ordering a verbatim transcript of the hearing on the Town's motions to dismiss.
Anyone wanting to contribute to the protection of streets leading to the water can contribute to: ONC Protect Streets, P.O. Box 236, Oriental, NC 28571.
We could easily be at it for another year or more.
It would be better to persuade City Hall to do the right thing in the first place. I didn't succeed at that. This is an example of the kind of thing I've been writing for the past year and a half.
I lost at the first level of Superior Court. The Judge dismissed my complaint. But I have the right to appeal and have filed my notice of appeal. I have also filed a new complaint about the Town's action closing South Avenue.
I don't know if this qualifies as "David v. Goliath," or a lesser struggle. I suspect it is the latter.
In any event, it isn't just my struggle. I have consulted with a couple of dozen very knowledgeable citizens at each step of the way.
It will be long and expensive to try to stop the Town's sale or barter of public rights of way and to protect public access to North Carolina's Public Trust Waters. Just yesterday I spent more than $220 ordering a verbatim transcript of the hearing on the Town's motions to dismiss.
Anyone wanting to contribute to the protection of streets leading to the water can contribute to: ONC Protect Streets, P.O. Box 236, Oriental, NC 28571.
We could easily be at it for another year or more.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
To The Fed: Go For Employment!
Economist Gavyn Davis has some good advice for the Fed: don't look at unemployment; look at employment! Maximize that.
From economist Mark Thoma's blog:
"Gavyn Davies argues the Fed is targeting the wrong thing (unemployment instead of employment):
From economist Mark Thoma's blog:
"Gavyn Davies argues the Fed is targeting the wrong thing (unemployment instead of employment):
...the Fed has a headache. Its forward guidance on unemployment is in danger of giving misleading signals about the need for tightening, and it probably needs to be changed. ...
The difficulty is that unemployment is declining towards the announced threshold in part because large numbers of people have left the labour force altogether as the recession has dragged on, and this probably means that the official unemployment rate is no longer acting as a consistent measuring rod for the amount of slack in the labour market.
The upshot is that the Fed will probably want to keep short rates at zero until unemployment has dropped a long way below 6.5 per cent...
[I]t is a distortion which the Fed cannot afford to ignore. Its mandate requires that it should aim for “maximum employment”, not “minimum unemployment on the official statistics”, which is what it risks doing under its current forward guidance. ...If the Fed is going to make a mistake -- ease too long or tighten too soon -- you can probably guess which mistake I think is worse."
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Nikolai Leskov: New Collection
One of nineteenth century Russia's most interesting and idiosyncratic writers, Nikolai Leskov, is newly available in an English language translation of seventeen or so of his stories. A review of the book is in today's Sunday Book Review Section of the New York Times.
I was pleased to learn that the collection includes a translation of Leskov's most famous story, "Lady MacBeth of the Mtsensk District."
The story, a somewhat lurid love story that turns out badly, is best known from its adaptation to opera form by the composer Dmitri Shostakovitch and first performed in Leningrad in 1934. It played to rave critical reviews until Stalin attended in early 1936, whereupon the opera became loudly condemned by the Communist Party and denounced in the party's newspaper Pravda.
Not only was the opera withdrawn, not to be performed again for some three decades, Shostakovitch's Fourth Symphony, then in final rehearsals, was also withdrawn. This controversy nearly destroyed Shostakovitch's career.
I have a copy of Leskov's collected works in Russian, and once attempted a translation of Lady Macbeth.
I put it in the "too hard" file.
I look forward to reading it in someone else's translation.
I was pleased to learn that the collection includes a translation of Leskov's most famous story, "Lady MacBeth of the Mtsensk District."
The story, a somewhat lurid love story that turns out badly, is best known from its adaptation to opera form by the composer Dmitri Shostakovitch and first performed in Leningrad in 1934. It played to rave critical reviews until Stalin attended in early 1936, whereupon the opera became loudly condemned by the Communist Party and denounced in the party's newspaper Pravda.
Not only was the opera withdrawn, not to be performed again for some three decades, Shostakovitch's Fourth Symphony, then in final rehearsals, was also withdrawn. This controversy nearly destroyed Shostakovitch's career.
I have a copy of Leskov's collected works in Russian, and once attempted a translation of Lady Macbeth.
I put it in the "too hard" file.
I look forward to reading it in someone else's translation.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Why Did The Soviet Union Fall Apart?
Over the past two decades, several inaccurate narratives have dominated public discourse about the former Soviet Union's demise.
The first narrative is that President Reagan ordered Mikhail Gorbachov to "tear down this wall" and the Berlin Wall came down. Kind of like Joshua's trumpet.
The second narrative is that the Soviet Union fell apart because of the failure of Central Planning, also known as the "Command Economy."
Both narratives appeal to widespread prejudices rather than objective evaluation of both the accomplishments and the failures of the Soviet system. Contributing to both successes and failures was the complexity of the "nationality question" during both the Soviet period and during the preexisting Russian Empire.
Following the Russian Civil War and the Polish invasion of Russia, Lenin introduced his "New Economic Policy" (NEP). NEP allowed a considerable amount of free enterprise, including farming. It apparently worked pretty well. But the leadership became rightfully concerned about increasing turmoil in Europe and began the collectivization campaign at least in part to support the Soviet Union's ability to mobilize its natural resources for war. Any examination of Soviet economic policy during that period has to address such questions as whether NEP could plausibly have prepared for war with Germany.
As for the larger issue of the Command Economy, economic historian Brad DeLong recently posted an essay of his from seventeen years ago, examining the corporation as a command economy. This is a good corrective to analyses that draw large distinctions between Western industry and Soviet Central Planning.
Many years ago, I attended a lecture by Alexander Kerensky, the second Prime Minister of the Russian Provisional Government of 1917, which was overthrown by the Bolshevik Revolution of October. Kerensky contended that the Soviet Union's economy was not a Socialist one, but an example of what he called "State Capitalism." He autographed a copy of his book, which is still in my library. It may be worth rereading.
It is time to take another look at the issues presented by seventy-five years of Soviet history.
The first narrative is that President Reagan ordered Mikhail Gorbachov to "tear down this wall" and the Berlin Wall came down. Kind of like Joshua's trumpet.
The second narrative is that the Soviet Union fell apart because of the failure of Central Planning, also known as the "Command Economy."
Both narratives appeal to widespread prejudices rather than objective evaluation of both the accomplishments and the failures of the Soviet system. Contributing to both successes and failures was the complexity of the "nationality question" during both the Soviet period and during the preexisting Russian Empire.
Following the Russian Civil War and the Polish invasion of Russia, Lenin introduced his "New Economic Policy" (NEP). NEP allowed a considerable amount of free enterprise, including farming. It apparently worked pretty well. But the leadership became rightfully concerned about increasing turmoil in Europe and began the collectivization campaign at least in part to support the Soviet Union's ability to mobilize its natural resources for war. Any examination of Soviet economic policy during that period has to address such questions as whether NEP could plausibly have prepared for war with Germany.
As for the larger issue of the Command Economy, economic historian Brad DeLong recently posted an essay of his from seventeen years ago, examining the corporation as a command economy. This is a good corrective to analyses that draw large distinctions between Western industry and Soviet Central Planning.
Many years ago, I attended a lecture by Alexander Kerensky, the second Prime Minister of the Russian Provisional Government of 1917, which was overthrown by the Bolshevik Revolution of October. Kerensky contended that the Soviet Union's economy was not a Socialist one, but an example of what he called "State Capitalism." He autographed a copy of his book, which is still in my library. It may be worth rereading.
It is time to take another look at the issues presented by seventy-five years of Soviet history.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Is Scientific Ignorance Catching?
So Congressman Boehner declares the idea that CO2 is a carcinogen is "almost ludicrous."
Almost?
Just who ever said it was a carcinogen?
To even utter such an idea as a straw man requires an inconceivable depth of ignorance.
Almost?
Just who ever said it was a carcinogen?
To even utter such an idea as a straw man requires an inconceivable depth of ignorance.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Soak The Poor - Enrich The Rich
Who benefits - who pays?
North Carolina's Republican legislature thinks the poor aren't poor enough and the rich aren't rich enough.
If you aren't in the top 10%, Republicans don't know anyone like you and certainly don't care about anyone like you. And it isn't just taxes.
But their tax plan is bad enough.
Economist Jared Bernstein spent today in North Carolina trying to talk sense about taxes and expenditures.
Lowering taxes on the rich and raising taxes on the poor - which is what a shift from income taxes to sales taxes will do, is just a very bad idea. As bad an idea as the sequester.
But it helps the rich, to whom Republicans pander.
Here is a graph of the share of income spent on taxes by income group:
Remember the old song about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer?
Here's Bernstein's summary of the problem. Increasing sales taxes will take a proportionately bigger bite out of the lowest three quintiles than of the top 20%. Decreasing income tax will have almost no benefit for the bottom 20% but the top 1% will rake in the dough.
North Carolina's Republican legislature thinks the poor aren't poor enough and the rich aren't rich enough.
If you aren't in the top 10%, Republicans don't know anyone like you and certainly don't care about anyone like you. And it isn't just taxes.
But their tax plan is bad enough.
Economist Jared Bernstein spent today in North Carolina trying to talk sense about taxes and expenditures.
Lowering taxes on the rich and raising taxes on the poor - which is what a shift from income taxes to sales taxes will do, is just a very bad idea. As bad an idea as the sequester.
But it helps the rich, to whom Republicans pander.
Here is a graph of the share of income spent on taxes by income group:
Remember the old song about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer?
Here's Bernstein's summary of the problem. Increasing sales taxes will take a proportionately bigger bite out of the lowest three quintiles than of the top 20%. Decreasing income tax will have almost no benefit for the bottom 20% but the top 1% will rake in the dough.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Speak Softly And Carry A Big Stick
We had a great weekend attending our grandson's graduation from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.
Forrest Cox went to Michigan to play Lacrosse as a long-stick defense man. Thus carrying a big stick. Injury interfered. He focused instead on studying public policy at the nation's oldest public policy educational institution, now the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
Forrest has an imposing physical presence. He also has a quiet demeanor and remarkable skill at getting people to work together. He does, indeed, speak softly. And persuasively.
The future is in good hands.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Hitting The Road Again, With A Jaunty Step Of Hope
We're about to hit the road again - back home to Oriental.
Graduation ceremonies, in my experience, are seldom inspirational. But here in Ann Arbor, we were inspired.
New thoughts. Eloquent young people. Not committed to their own enrichment, but to making the world a better place.
All is not lost, after all.
More Later.
Graduation ceremonies, in my experience, are seldom inspirational. But here in Ann Arbor, we were inspired.
New thoughts. Eloquent young people. Not committed to their own enrichment, but to making the world a better place.
All is not lost, after all.
More Later.
Friday, May 3, 2013
It's A Busy Day Here In Ann Arbor
Not quiet at all. We've been on the run from morning to night attending various graduation celebrations of our grandson. Turns out, he has accomplished a lot during his four years on campus. Has left his mark.
We're very proud of him.
The stories will come later. Have to get some sleep so we can get up and attend the next event not long after oh dark hundred.
We're very proud of him.
The stories will come later. Have to get some sleep so we can get up and attend the next event not long after oh dark hundred.
Other States
Lovely drive through Southwest Virginia. Great visit with old friends. Just one thing. I was struck by the signs that say "speed limit enforced by aircraft." I had visions of a World War I SPAD with machine gun on the cowling bringing speeders to justice.
Maybe that isn't what the sign means.
Beautiful drive yesterday through West Virginia and Ohio. Arrived in Michigan around sunset. Our first time in Michigan. Still have five more states to visit to cover all fifty states of the Union.
Maybe that isn't what the sign means.
Beautiful drive yesterday through West Virginia and Ohio. Arrived in Michigan around sunset. Our first time in Michigan. Still have five more states to visit to cover all fifty states of the Union.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
About To Hit The Road
Tomorrow morning, we are leaving for Ann Arbor, Michigan to attend our youngest grandson's graduation from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
Blog posts may be a bit intermittent.
Public Policy seems to run in our family. We're pretty pleased that the younger generation is carrying on the tradition.
Blog posts may be a bit intermittent.
Public Policy seems to run in our family. We're pretty pleased that the younger generation is carrying on the tradition.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Cox v. Town Of Oriental
Sometime in the next two days, I will file a notice of appeal of the judge's dismissal of my complaint against the Town of Oriental. The complaint concerned Avenue A and the Town's contract to exchange two dedicated and accepted rights of way for a parcel of real estate. In other words, I opposed the Town Board's desire to sell or barter an asset they only hold in trust for the public.
So far the Town says it has spent $30,000 for the motion to dismiss.
What was really at issue? The Town wants to be free to sell or otherwise dispose of the newly-acquired waterfront property whenever they see fit, for whatever reason.
In other words, they want the right to flip the real estate, including any of the Town's rights of way. No irrevocable dedication. "Don't tie our hands."
The Court of Appeals will not uphold the Town's position.
For those who think I am making this up after the fact, I refer to my blog post of last June 14, before the July 3 public hearing. "What Do I Really Think?" the post asked.
I think the Town's position jeopardizes all of our rights of way, especially those leading to the water.
This is not just my fight. It is the fight of everyone who values public access to the water.
The effort to continue the appeal will take more money and effort. If possible, we need to hire an attorney. In the meantime, there are filing deadlines for the appeal process.
I have established a bank account in the name of: ONC Protect Streets. I am accepting donations. Mail contributions to ONC Protect Streets, P.O. Box 236, Oriental, NC 28571. All unused contributions will be returned.
This is about Oriental's future.
So far the Town says it has spent $30,000 for the motion to dismiss.
What was really at issue? The Town wants to be free to sell or otherwise dispose of the newly-acquired waterfront property whenever they see fit, for whatever reason.
In other words, they want the right to flip the real estate, including any of the Town's rights of way. No irrevocable dedication. "Don't tie our hands."
The Court of Appeals will not uphold the Town's position.
For those who think I am making this up after the fact, I refer to my blog post of last June 14, before the July 3 public hearing. "What Do I Really Think?" the post asked.
I think the Town's position jeopardizes all of our rights of way, especially those leading to the water.
This is not just my fight. It is the fight of everyone who values public access to the water.
The effort to continue the appeal will take more money and effort. If possible, we need to hire an attorney. In the meantime, there are filing deadlines for the appeal process.
I have established a bank account in the name of: ONC Protect Streets. I am accepting donations. Mail contributions to ONC Protect Streets, P.O. Box 236, Oriental, NC 28571. All unused contributions will be returned.
This is about Oriental's future.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Wisdom From The Great Depression
Next year, the University of California Press is bringing out a new edition of the late economist Charles Kindleberger's influential and illuminating book analyzing the great depression.
In World in Depression, 1929-1939, published in 1973, Kindleberger examined the history of international trade, finance and macroeconomics during the heart of the Great Depression. Anyone with an interest in such matters should welcome the new edition.
Kindleberger would doubtless, were he alive today, notice the alarming parallels between the decade about which he wrote and our own times. The similarities are not reassuring.
Economic historians Brad DeLong and Barry Eichengreen have written a new preface to the book. DeLong has posted the it on his blog here. The new introduction is well worth reading in its own right. Anyone reading the it who also follows international events cannot help but be concerned.
As one might expect of economists, the new preface focuses on economic processes.
I could not help but reflect, however, on the interaction between the political world of 1929-1939 and the economic world. Kindleberger focuses on the lack of international economic leadership. There was at least an equal failure of leadership in the sphere of international political relations.
I hope we are not in for a rerun.
Read the new preface!
In World in Depression, 1929-1939, published in 1973, Kindleberger examined the history of international trade, finance and macroeconomics during the heart of the Great Depression. Anyone with an interest in such matters should welcome the new edition.
Kindleberger would doubtless, were he alive today, notice the alarming parallels between the decade about which he wrote and our own times. The similarities are not reassuring.
Economic historians Brad DeLong and Barry Eichengreen have written a new preface to the book. DeLong has posted the it on his blog here. The new introduction is well worth reading in its own right. Anyone reading the it who also follows international events cannot help but be concerned.
As one might expect of economists, the new preface focuses on economic processes.
I could not help but reflect, however, on the interaction between the political world of 1929-1939 and the economic world. Kindleberger focuses on the lack of international economic leadership. There was at least an equal failure of leadership in the sphere of international political relations.
I hope we are not in for a rerun.
Read the new preface!
Wage Stagnation And The Sequester: It Would Help To Be Noticed
Economist Mark Thoma has an interesting observation about the relative weight of impacts of the sequester: "If wage stagnation and growing inequality," he says, "somehow caused flight delays
and other inconveniences for those who are doing okay -- the people with
the most political power -- maybe we'd put more effort into doing
something about it."
Here's what economist Jared Bernstein has to say about the issue.
Here's what economist Jared Bernstein has to say about the issue.
The Roman Numeral Gap!
Following up on my earlier post on the cursive gap and the legislature's drive to require that students memorize multiplication tables, another yawning gap in education just occurred to me. The Roman Numeral Gap!
There was a time when normal students could read the roman numerals that appeared in movie titles. This was an accepted part of everyone's education.
Now students can't even read the Super Bowl numbers.
Surely the General Assembly can adopt measures to correct this yawning gap in our childrens' education.
Other shortcomings needing attention:
Diagramming sentences;
Greek alphabet;
Latin for everyone;
Courses in rhetoric;
Analytical geometry.
There was a time when normal students could read the roman numerals that appeared in movie titles. This was an accepted part of everyone's education.
Now students can't even read the Super Bowl numbers.
Surely the General Assembly can adopt measures to correct this yawning gap in our childrens' education.
Other shortcomings needing attention:
Diagramming sentences;
Greek alphabet;
Latin for everyone;
Courses in rhetoric;
Analytical geometry.
The Penmanship Gap!
I learned from this morning's News and Observer that both houses of the General Assembly have courageously tackled one of our most urgent educational crises - the disappearance of cursive writing. Not to mention multiplication tables.
I was first exposed to the discipline of cursive writing in 1945. Our rural school district assigned a handwriting teacher to visit each elementary school a couple of times a week to put students through the agony of handwriting exercises. Are there any qualified handwriting teachers out there now in this day and age?
Maybe we should put out a call for retired handwriting instructors.
So far as I can tell from the articles, the legislators have not addressed one of the most important issues - what penmanship style must be used. Surely we need to adopt a standard. Should cursive be taught in the Spencerian style? That style is elegant and has a distinguished history. Should cursive be taught by the Palmer method? That method is somewhat simpler and faster. Then there are Getty-Dubay, Barchowsky Fluent Handwriting, Icelandic (Italic), Zaner-Bloser, and D’Nealian methods. Shouldn't the General Assembly specify a standard?
The General Assembly really needs to develop a more complete systemic approach to our penmanship gap. For example, we seem to have a crisis in penmanship that spans many years. In view of the importance of correcting that gap, maybe we need to task our Community College system with developing continuing education courses in penmanship.
There must also be a program of incentives. Here are some ideas:
1. Require applicants for driver's licenses to fill out forms in cursive;
2. DMV only issue licenses to applicants with legible forms;
3. Require legible cursive in unemployment insurance applications;
4. Empower all local, county and state officials to reject any form not completed in legible cursive writing;
5. I'm sure you can come up with other ideas.
We may have to exempt written doctor's prescriptions from the legibility requirement.
I was first exposed to the discipline of cursive writing in 1945. Our rural school district assigned a handwriting teacher to visit each elementary school a couple of times a week to put students through the agony of handwriting exercises. Are there any qualified handwriting teachers out there now in this day and age?
Maybe we should put out a call for retired handwriting instructors.
So far as I can tell from the articles, the legislators have not addressed one of the most important issues - what penmanship style must be used. Surely we need to adopt a standard. Should cursive be taught in the Spencerian style? That style is elegant and has a distinguished history. Should cursive be taught by the Palmer method? That method is somewhat simpler and faster. Then there are Getty-Dubay, Barchowsky Fluent Handwriting, Icelandic (Italic), Zaner-Bloser, and D’Nealian methods. Shouldn't the General Assembly specify a standard?
The General Assembly really needs to develop a more complete systemic approach to our penmanship gap. For example, we seem to have a crisis in penmanship that spans many years. In view of the importance of correcting that gap, maybe we need to task our Community College system with developing continuing education courses in penmanship.
There must also be a program of incentives. Here are some ideas:
1. Require applicants for driver's licenses to fill out forms in cursive;
2. DMV only issue licenses to applicants with legible forms;
3. Require legible cursive in unemployment insurance applications;
4. Empower all local, county and state officials to reject any form not completed in legible cursive writing;
5. I'm sure you can come up with other ideas.
We may have to exempt written doctor's prescriptions from the legibility requirement.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Krugman Is Right - But It May Not Make A Difference
Business Insider has a well-written article summarizing the intellectual triumph of those economists like Paul Krugman and Brad DeLong who advocated more economic stimulus instead of more austerity.
Readers of my blog know I have agreed with that assessment all along. But I have to take issue with part of the BI article. "Over the course of this debate," the article emphasized, "evidence has gradually piled up that, however well-intentioned they might be, the "Austerians" were wrong."
Readers of my blog know I have agreed with that assessment all along. But I have to take issue with part of the BI article. "Over the course of this debate," the article emphasized, "evidence has gradually piled up that, however well-intentioned they might be, the "Austerians" were wrong."
More On The Sequester Disaster
Here's an analysis of the sequester published by the Center for Economic and Policy Research.
Now Here's My Plan:
When in a difficult situation ("sticky wicket"), it's always best to plan ahead.
My favorite graphic depiction of the planning process is in this Shel Silverstein cartoon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nowplansilverstein.jpg
Professional planners will get the point.
My favorite graphic depiction of the planning process is in this Shel Silverstein cartoon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nowplansilverstein.jpg
Professional planners will get the point.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The Sequester Is A Really, Really Bad Idea
I don't care who thought it up. The sequester was a bad idea. The obsession with debt instead of joblessness that led to the sequester was foolishness of a high order.
Unless the Congress comes to its senses, the damage that is being done will persist.
The only good thing we can say is that the US isn't acting as foolishly as Europe.
Paul Krugman explains. He shouldn't have to.
For at least four years, the U.S. political class has failed in economic leadership. In steering the ship of state, they persist in putting the rudder over in the wrong direction.
The problem is jobs, not debt.
At least the United States hasn't entered another dip in the recession.
Yet.
Unless the Congress comes to its senses, the damage that is being done will persist.
The only good thing we can say is that the US isn't acting as foolishly as Europe.
Paul Krugman explains. He shouldn't have to.
For at least four years, the U.S. political class has failed in economic leadership. In steering the ship of state, they persist in putting the rudder over in the wrong direction.
The problem is jobs, not debt.
At least the United States hasn't entered another dip in the recession.
Yet.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Cox v. Town Of Oriental: I Have Not Struck My Colors
I have been asked recently whether I will appeal Judge Alford's dismissal of my complaint against the Town.
The answer is: Appeal is one of several measures under consideration.
Plainly, to go forward with any options will realistically require retention of counsel. I have already received a number of contributions to the effort and will need more.
I have opened a bank account in the name "ONC Protect Streets" to accept deposits for legal expenses to support the effort.
Anyone wishing to contribute can send donations to ONC Protect Streets at 409 Academy Street, Oriental, NC 28571.
I am also working on a web site to provide background information and to explain how important the effort is to protect public access to public trust waters.
It's all about the water.
The answer is: Appeal is one of several measures under consideration.
Plainly, to go forward with any options will realistically require retention of counsel. I have already received a number of contributions to the effort and will need more.
I have opened a bank account in the name "ONC Protect Streets" to accept deposits for legal expenses to support the effort.
Anyone wishing to contribute can send donations to ONC Protect Streets at 409 Academy Street, Oriental, NC 28571.
I am also working on a web site to provide background information and to explain how important the effort is to protect public access to public trust waters.
It's all about the water.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Oriental North Carolina Public Records
Last week Mayor Sage advised citizens that the "best, most efficient and quickest way for anyone to obtain public information or documents" is to visit the Town's web site.
Maybe.
I have visited the web site frequently in recent months. I looked again today. There are no minutes of Town Board meetings since last November. Minutes are adopted by the Town Board at every monthly meeting, most recently at the meeting of April 2 for minutes of March meetings.
December, January, February and March minutes are not posted on the Town's web site.
And that's not all.
Minutes for 2010 are in a bad way.
Some minutes refer to closed session minutes for which there appear to be no corresponding open session minutes.
What else? I have just begun to look.
I'm sure it's just an oversight.
Maybe.
I have visited the web site frequently in recent months. I looked again today. There are no minutes of Town Board meetings since last November. Minutes are adopted by the Town Board at every monthly meeting, most recently at the meeting of April 2 for minutes of March meetings.
December, January, February and March minutes are not posted on the Town's web site.
And that's not all.
Minutes for 2010 are in a bad way.
Some minutes refer to closed session minutes for which there appear to be no corresponding open session minutes.
What else? I have just begun to look.
I'm sure it's just an oversight.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Sit Down And Shut Up! - Just Who's In Charge Here, Anyhow?
NC Senator Tommy Tucker earlier in the week admonished a North Carolina Publisher "I am the senator. You are the citizen. You need to be quiet."
Democracy is messy. It doesn't always achieve the best result. But one thing is clear: elected officials work for the citizen, not the other way 'round.
Shame on Tommy Tucker. And shame on citizens who don't stand up and make themselves heard. It isn't enough to just vote at election time.
The principle is, you can't have Democracy without elections, but you can have elections without Democracy. We have seen that in our time, around the world.
As Chris Fitsimon of NC Policy Watch explains, "Tucker's berating of a citizen he is supposed to be representing wasn't all that surprising. That's the way the General Assembly, especially the Senate, is run these days.... The folks in charge not only want to make sure you know they are in charge, they want your obedience, not your questions or doubts and certainly not your disagreements."
Closer to home, last Wednesday, Oriental mayor Bill Sage wrote an article appearing in the Pamlico News: "Oriental Town Board and Public Participation." The key message: "The town board's meetings are for the purpose of its conduct of official town business with which the board is charged with responsibility by its charter and by state law. It is an opportunity for the public to observe the work of the mayor and commissioners."
In other words, to the public: "sit down and shut up."
Incredibly, at a number of recent meetings, that has been the message to commissioners as well. Issues of public finance have been deemed unsuitable for discussion in public. "Schedule a private meeting to discuss your questions with the Town Manager," the mayor directed the board. Questions raised by a citizen concerning number of employees were not answered. The questions were not even answered when asked by a commissioner.
Sage's article does not come right out and say so, but the rest of the message seems to be: "input from the public is neither required nor desired."
Who knows - the Town's Governing Body might actually learn something from the citizens and be diverted from its preordained course.
Democracy is messy. It doesn't always achieve the best result. But one thing is clear: elected officials work for the citizen, not the other way 'round.
Shame on Tommy Tucker. And shame on citizens who don't stand up and make themselves heard. It isn't enough to just vote at election time.
The principle is, you can't have Democracy without elections, but you can have elections without Democracy. We have seen that in our time, around the world.
As Chris Fitsimon of NC Policy Watch explains, "Tucker's berating of a citizen he is supposed to be representing wasn't all that surprising. That's the way the General Assembly, especially the Senate, is run these days.... The folks in charge not only want to make sure you know they are in charge, they want your obedience, not your questions or doubts and certainly not your disagreements."
Closer to home, last Wednesday, Oriental mayor Bill Sage wrote an article appearing in the Pamlico News: "Oriental Town Board and Public Participation." The key message: "The town board's meetings are for the purpose of its conduct of official town business with which the board is charged with responsibility by its charter and by state law. It is an opportunity for the public to observe the work of the mayor and commissioners."
In other words, to the public: "sit down and shut up."
Incredibly, at a number of recent meetings, that has been the message to commissioners as well. Issues of public finance have been deemed unsuitable for discussion in public. "Schedule a private meeting to discuss your questions with the Town Manager," the mayor directed the board. Questions raised by a citizen concerning number of employees were not answered. The questions were not even answered when asked by a commissioner.
Sage's article does not come right out and say so, but the rest of the message seems to be: "input from the public is neither required nor desired."
Who knows - the Town's Governing Body might actually learn something from the citizens and be diverted from its preordained course.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Seventy Years Ago: Isoroku Yamamoto
April 18, 1943, a squadron of US Army P-38 twin engine fighters took off from Guadalcanal on a 1,000 mile round-trip flight to shoot down a Japanese aircraft taking a very important person to Bougainville. The very important person was Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander of the Japanese Fleet.
Four days earlier, US Navy communications intelligence personnel intercepted a series of messages encoded in the Japanese naval operating code, JN-25. It proved to be a series of communications giving Admiral Yamamoto's precise itinerary for a command inspection tour. The purpose of the tour was to enhance Japanese morale for their next planned offensive operations.
US planners considered what aircraft to assign to the mission. The only aircraft with enough range was the P-38. Eighteen P-38's were assigned to the mission, code-named Vengeance. The planned time of intercept was 09:35.
The four P-38's designated to intercept Yamamoto arrived at 09:34 just as Yamamoto's flight of two Japanese twin-engined aircraft began their descent. The interceptors shot down both aircraft. Yamamoto, in the lead aircraft, perished. Yamamoto's deputy, in the second aircraft, survived.
The mission was an assassination. The assassination succeeded. Today we would call it a "targeted killing."
Did it shorten the war or make the next two years of warfare easier? Probably not.
Four days earlier, US Navy communications intelligence personnel intercepted a series of messages encoded in the Japanese naval operating code, JN-25. It proved to be a series of communications giving Admiral Yamamoto's precise itinerary for a command inspection tour. The purpose of the tour was to enhance Japanese morale for their next planned offensive operations.
US planners considered what aircraft to assign to the mission. The only aircraft with enough range was the P-38. Eighteen P-38's were assigned to the mission, code-named Vengeance. The planned time of intercept was 09:35.
The four P-38's designated to intercept Yamamoto arrived at 09:34 just as Yamamoto's flight of two Japanese twin-engined aircraft began their descent. The interceptors shot down both aircraft. Yamamoto, in the lead aircraft, perished. Yamamoto's deputy, in the second aircraft, survived.
The mission was an assassination. The assassination succeeded. Today we would call it a "targeted killing."
Did it shorten the war or make the next two years of warfare easier? Probably not.
John le Carre: Interview And Portrait
There are no heroes in John le Carre's novels. At least no heroic ones. Just human beings. Survivors, for the most part, dissembling when necessary. Faithful to the truth when convenient.
Today's New York Times Magazine on line publishes an interview and portrait of le Carre by Dwight Garner.
I won't try to summarize. The whole article is well worth reading.
After The Spy Who Came In From The Cold appeared as a movie, I read the book. Complex characters. Moral ambiguity. Le Carre's world wasn't divided into "good guys" and "bad guy," but his novels exude an old fashioned morality where personal loyalties override patriotism. And there is no treason more invidious than the violation of that loyalty.
I was hooked on le Carre's books with that first reading.
Today's New York Times Magazine on line publishes an interview and portrait of le Carre by Dwight Garner.
I won't try to summarize. The whole article is well worth reading.
After The Spy Who Came In From The Cold appeared as a movie, I read the book. Complex characters. Moral ambiguity. Le Carre's world wasn't divided into "good guys" and "bad guy," but his novels exude an old fashioned morality where personal loyalties override patriotism. And there is no treason more invidious than the violation of that loyalty.
I was hooked on le Carre's books with that first reading.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Messing With The Wrong City
Dennis Lehane, writing in today's New York Times, explains in detail why Boston won't be terrorized.
"Trust me," he says, "we won’t be giving up any civil liberties to keep ourselves safe because of this. We won’t cancel next year’s marathon. We won’t drive to New Hampshire and stockpile weapons. When the authorities find the weak and terminally maladjusted culprit or culprits, we’ll roll our eyes at whatever backward ideology they embrace and move on with our lives."
That's what it means to not be terrorized.
"Trust me," he says, "we won’t be giving up any civil liberties to keep ourselves safe because of this. We won’t cancel next year’s marathon. We won’t drive to New Hampshire and stockpile weapons. When the authorities find the weak and terminally maladjusted culprit or culprits, we’ll roll our eyes at whatever backward ideology they embrace and move on with our lives."
That's what it means to not be terrorized.
Lehane continues: "The little man or men who did this will, I have faith, be arrested,
jailed and forgotten. Whatever hate movement they belong to will
ultimately go the way of the anarchist assassination movements of the
early 20th century or the Symbionese Liberation Army of the 1970s."
"Boston took a punch on Monday," Lehane closes " — that left it
staggering for a bit. Flesh proved vulnerable, as flesh is wont to do,
but the spirit merely trembled before recasting itself into something
stronger than any bomb or rage."
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
We're Really In This Together
It's hard to watch the scenes from Boston. Hard to imagine why. What one or more people wanted to accomplish by setting the bombs. Them against everyone else.
But in Boston we see the antidote at work: people rushing into the face of danger to help others. People who don't stop to think about it - they know: we're all in this together!
Think about it! It isn't rational. It's human!
Thank God for humans!
But in Boston we see the antidote at work: people rushing into the face of danger to help others. People who don't stop to think about it - they know: we're all in this together!
Think about it! It isn't rational. It's human!
Thank God for humans!
Monday, April 15, 2013
What Is To Be Done?
A lovely day for a marathon. A lovely place for a race.
When Donald Rumsfeld explained that "the purpose of terrorists is to terrorize," he failed to identify where the words came from. They are the words of Lenin.
If Lenin is right, the best response to terrorists is to refuse to be terrorized.
I think that's what the people of Boston will do.
Patriot's Day, 2013.
When Donald Rumsfeld explained that "the purpose of terrorists is to terrorize," he failed to identify where the words came from. They are the words of Lenin.
If Lenin is right, the best response to terrorists is to refuse to be terrorized.
I think that's what the people of Boston will do.
Patriot's Day, 2013.
April Is The Cruelest Month
Who Benefits - Who Pays?
As I have said before, this is the central question of politics. It is also a central question of economics. The issue is not "is the system fair?" it is "does the system work for the prosperity of everyone?"
The answer right now is "no."
In fact, that has been the answer for about four decades.
Economist Joe Stiglitz has some ideas about how to make it better.
The central purpose of our national economy should not be to make the already wealthy wealthier or to replicate Downton Abbey.
The answer right now is "no."
In fact, that has been the answer for about four decades.
Economist Joe Stiglitz has some ideas about how to make it better.
The central purpose of our national economy should not be to make the already wealthy wealthier or to replicate Downton Abbey.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Seventy Years Ago: Jefferson Memorial
President Franklin Roosevelt had a few words to say about Thomas Jefferson at the opening of the Jefferson Memorial, April 13, 1943. The full statement is here.
Roosevelt on Jefferson:
"He faced the fact that men who will not fight for liberty can lose it. We, too, have faced that fact.
"He lived in a world in which freedom of conscience and freedom of mind were battles still to be fought through—not principles already accepted of all men. We, too, have lived in such a world.
"He loved peace and loved liberty—yet on more than one occasion he was forced to choose between them. We, too, have been compelled to make that choice.
"Jefferson was no dreamer-for half a century he led his State and his Nation in fact and in deed. I like to think that this was so because he thought in terms of the morrow as well as the day—and this was why he was hated or feared by those who thought in terms of the day and the yesterday.
"The words which we have chosen for this Memorial speak Jefferson's noblest and most urgent meaning; and we are proud indeed to understand it and share it:
"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."
Roosevelt on Jefferson:
"He faced the fact that men who will not fight for liberty can lose it. We, too, have faced that fact.
"He lived in a world in which freedom of conscience and freedom of mind were battles still to be fought through—not principles already accepted of all men. We, too, have lived in such a world.
"He loved peace and loved liberty—yet on more than one occasion he was forced to choose between them. We, too, have been compelled to make that choice.
"Jefferson was no dreamer-for half a century he led his State and his Nation in fact and in deed. I like to think that this was so because he thought in terms of the morrow as well as the day—and this was why he was hated or feared by those who thought in terms of the day and the yesterday.
"The words which we have chosen for this Memorial speak Jefferson's noblest and most urgent meaning; and we are proud indeed to understand it and share it:
"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."
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