Last weekend, Mr. Ed Credle, one of Pamlico County's most good and faithful servants, passed away. The county has lost a wonderful gentleman who served our community well.
Ed did not seek the limelight, he merely sought to serve. Over the years, Mr. Credle served as a town commissioner, but most memorably, he served on the Pamlico County Board of Elections.
I don't have a list of the exact years that Ed served the voters of Pamlico County. His terms were not entirely consecutive, but they add up to about two decades.
He was an inspiration to me and a source of valuable perspective on election matters. He will be sorely missed.
Ed Credle will be laid to rest this coming Saturday at the Missionary Baptist Church in Mesic.
The finest tribute any of our citizens can pay to the memory of Ed Credle is to vote in the 2012 election.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Seventy Years Ago: Brisbane, Australia
The convoy carrying the 27th Air Depot Group docked at Brisbane, Australia September 24, 1942. Brisbane is in Southern Queensland. They established a temporary headquarters west of Ipswich at Amberly airfield.
Destination: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Facilities at the destination: nonexistent. The roughly 900 men of the Group would have to build the facilities themselves. With inadequate tools.
For the next three months, the Air Depot Group unloaded and sorted out their equipment and continued training for their mission. One of the tasks: obtain heavy equipment to use in building their own warehouses, hangars and campsites.
It would be early December before the group arrived at Port Moresby.
Destination: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Facilities at the destination: nonexistent. The roughly 900 men of the Group would have to build the facilities themselves. With inadequate tools.
For the next three months, the Air Depot Group unloaded and sorted out their equipment and continued training for their mission. One of the tasks: obtain heavy equipment to use in building their own warehouses, hangars and campsites.
It would be early December before the group arrived at Port Moresby.
Fascism
I had a conversation last evening with a Korean War veteran. The veteran shared a thought from an earlier time: "If Fascism comes here, it will arrive wrapped in the American flag."
A thought worth pondering.
I think it will also wear the armor of hate.
The conversation also calls to mind an earlier comment I posted about democracy.
A thought worth pondering.
I think it will also wear the armor of hate.
The conversation also calls to mind an earlier comment I posted about democracy.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Middle Class
- Facebook Comments:
RT: He's not a liberal, but he's a fan of President Obama. Hard to square those two. ... I do agree with Governor Romney that there is a dependent class... they work hard, they want better lives for their kids, all that is true. But they are becoming dependent on government more and more. And with that dependence comes control. ... As to President Obama, I believe his understanding of America is much less realistic than his opponent's. - RT: I must confess I'm not an expert on Romney's statements about what constitutes the middle class. There isn't an official definiition after all... Cf Obama's promises about never raising taxes on people earning under $250k a year (a promise he broke in April 2009). I understand if you may not want to give Romney credit for any intelligence... but let's be realistic. He has been governor of a state... he campaigns every day to real Americans... his campaign team no doubt makes sure he knows the price of a gallon of milk.
- DC: For what it's worth - 2% of American households have income above $250,000. Is that the middle?
- David Cox That's a really good question, and I don't have a succinct answer. I'm not sure that income is a useful dividing line. It is possible to divide the population into income by quintiles (20% units). Any household with income above 250K is way up in the top 10% of the top quintile. Working class doesn't work because of the historic association of that term with blue collar, factory workers, tradesmen and craftsmen. What is lacking is a term that collects people with common economic interests in the present world, namely everyone who works for salary or wages. It seems clear to me that wealthy individuals look down on anyone who lives on a paycheck. How about "Polloi?"
- RT: I dispute the premise that "wealthy individuals look down..." If you were saying something like that about blacks or women or whatever, we would be calling you a racist, sexist, etc. And if you cannot define "middle class" then surely you don't quarrel with someone else's definition, whatever it might be, right ;-) ?
- David Cox Why must I define "middle class?" It isn't a term I use, because I'm not sure it has any clear or useful meaning. I know what "quintile" and "quartile" mean and am comfortable using them to convey information about income. "Class" itself is a word that also fails to convey precise meaning. It once meant something reasonably useful, though not precise. "Upper class" conveyed a set of attitudes, education and speech as well as a certain degree of wealth. "Lower class" also conveyed something about the people thought to be included. In some circles, it was a synonym for "trailer trash." "Middle Class" was presumably somewhere in between, ordinary people as it were. In my experience that set of terms never fit southern society very well. Oh, yes, people also spoke of "Southern Aristocrats." There was a certain manner of speaking - at least among the women. A kind of soft Southern drawl with genteel accents. They had been to finishing school and knew how to prepare tea. To be in this category when I was growing up in Mississippi usually meant that sometime in the distant past, an ancestor had owned a plantation. Southern aristocrats didn't come from business. Faulkner captured the distinction perfectly in his stories of the Compsons (aristocrats increasingly down on their luck) and the despised but up and coming Snopeses. Oh, yes, there were also "yeoman farmers." Those were the ones who had never had slaves. Out of all that melange, I fail to see the usefulness of "middle class" as a category. If you find it useful, by all means use it.
As for "looking down on" that may not have precisely conveyed my point. I read postings from right wing sources talking about the "lucky duckies" who pay no income taxes. I watched the Republican convention. The message I keep hearing is one of disdain for people who work for salary or wages, rather than living on earnings from stocks and bonds. I don't think that is true of all wealthy people. I don't think it is only wealthy people who think along those lines. But it seems to me there exists a rentier class (bad word - how about "category") that does not esteem mechanics, plumbers, schoolteachers, engineers, or other folks who make and do stuff in the service of others. What to call them? I'm open to suggestions.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Seventy Years Ago: Furthest Axis Advance
There can be any number of opinions as to the REAL turning points of World War II. In the Pacific, I choose the Doolittle raid as the event that changed Japanese prospects. The Battle of Midway is another candidate for turning point. But the failure of Japan to recapture Guadalcanal and consequent pullback in New Guinea made it clear to Japan that they were now on the defensive.
The November 1942 Allied invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch), preceded by German failure to control Malta, pointed to the end of German success in North Africa.
By Mid September the Soviet Union had stalled the German advance at Stalingrad, Moscow and Leningrad.
The Winter of 42-43 proved the high water mark of the Axis advance.
When Churchill announced to Parliament in November 1942 that it was perhaps the "end of the beginning" of World War II, it was an apt description.
The November 1942 Allied invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch), preceded by German failure to control Malta, pointed to the end of German success in North Africa.
By Mid September the Soviet Union had stalled the German advance at Stalingrad, Moscow and Leningrad.
The Winter of 42-43 proved the high water mark of the Axis advance.
When Churchill announced to Parliament in November 1942 that it was perhaps the "end of the beginning" of World War II, it was an apt description.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Seventy Years Ago: Autumnal Equinox In The Pacific
As the days shortened and the nights lengthened to twelve hours plus, Japanese troop-carrying destroyers had more time to deliver reinforcements. Night concealed ships from Douglas Scout Bombers (SBD's). In daylight the SBD's were deadly to Japanese ships.
Public Officials
In the summer of 2011 I posted a comment intending to put public service into context. In this case, I was writing mostly about municipal elected officials. But the same thoughts apply to County offices as well as state and higher offices. The pay may be somewhat greater than that for town officials, but the principal is the same and I thought it worth repeating:
I sometimes sit in the peanut gallery and aim (figurative) slings and arrows at local officials.
I have no personal interest in any controversies - I just want things done right. Yes, I have opinions about WHAT should be done to improve our town. My main focus, however, is HOW things are done. I try not to be influenced by personal feelings for or against individuals involved in the process.
This isn't personal - it's business. Public business.
There's another side to the story, though. We should admire all of our fellow citizens willing to step up to the plate and compete for approval of voters for the right to perform long hours of public service, steeped in controversy, often in the face of hostility, for no pay. Of all elected public officials in this land of ours, these are the ones we should most admire.
Let all incumbents know that we appreciate what they do.
For those who have already filed as candidates in November's election, I say thank you. For those still weighing whether to run for public office, I say "do it."
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Let Us Now Praise Local Pols
I have no personal interest in any controversies - I just want things done right. Yes, I have opinions about WHAT should be done to improve our town. My main focus, however, is HOW things are done. I try not to be influenced by personal feelings for or against individuals involved in the process.
This isn't personal - it's business. Public business.
There's another side to the story, though. We should admire all of our fellow citizens willing to step up to the plate and compete for approval of voters for the right to perform long hours of public service, steeped in controversy, often in the face of hostility, for no pay. Of all elected public officials in this land of ours, these are the ones we should most admire.
Let all incumbents know that we appreciate what they do.
For those who have already filed as candidates in November's election, I say thank you. For those still weighing whether to run for public office, I say "do it."
Seventy Years Ago: Stalingrad
While about 22,000 United States Marines were fighting the Japanese on Guadalcanal, with the future of the sea lines of communication to Australia at stake, far to the West a truly titanic struggle was taking place. The bulk of Germany's army had been thrown against the Soviet Union. There were three main German thrusts: against Leningrad in the North, against Moscow and against Stalingrad.
In all three cases, even as German forces were in the suburbs or in the case of Stalingrad, fighting street to street and house to house within the city, Soviet factories in the siege area continued to produce T-34 tanks that rolled off the factory floor directly into battle.
This is where the fate of Europe was to be decided.
The scale of the battle in Stalingrad was unbelievable. Here is a partial account.
In all three cases, even as German forces were in the suburbs or in the case of Stalingrad, fighting street to street and house to house within the city, Soviet factories in the siege area continued to produce T-34 tanks that rolled off the factory floor directly into battle.
This is where the fate of Europe was to be decided.
The scale of the battle in Stalingrad was unbelievable. Here is a partial account.
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