If you need to register to vote in next month's municipal elections, today is the last day.
Unless you live in Alliance, Bayboro or Oriental. Those three towns have absentee and one-stop voting, starting next week on the 20th. Residents of those three towns can register and vote the same day during one-stop. One-stop takes place at the County Board of Elections office at the court house in Bayboro. For details, call Lisa Bennett at 745-4821.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Mosquito Matters
The mosquito truck just drove by the house. I think I saw a flock of mosquitoes cavorting in the fog.
Do you suppose they have learned to eat the anti-mosquito stuff when they run out of human blood?
Do you suppose they have learned to eat the anti-mosquito stuff when they run out of human blood?
Layaway: Pay Now (And More), Get Later
Some time back, I mentioned the layaway programs of the thirties as a precursor of "buy now, pay later," the extension of consumer credit to those with modest incomes. Today's New York Times has an article putting layaway in its historical context. The article explains why Wal-Mart's recent announcement that they are reinstituting layaway is not good news for consumers.
Some economists are describing the recent economic downturn as a "balance sheet recession." This means that people are spending less not only because they are unemployed or underemployed (as last Friday's jobs report shows), but also because wages are declining, along with the value of the most valuable household asset, the home itself. So banks and corporations are rolling in dough, but won't lend to consumers. And consumers, in turn, are desperately trying to pay down debt instead of incurring new obligations.
So Wall Street's excesses are hurting Main Street and indeed contributing to the reduction in aggregate demand that is contracting the whole economy. No wonder demonstrators have decided to occupy Wall Street.
Some economists are describing the recent economic downturn as a "balance sheet recession." This means that people are spending less not only because they are unemployed or underemployed (as last Friday's jobs report shows), but also because wages are declining, along with the value of the most valuable household asset, the home itself. So banks and corporations are rolling in dough, but won't lend to consumers. And consumers, in turn, are desperately trying to pay down debt instead of incurring new obligations.
So Wall Street's excesses are hurting Main Street and indeed contributing to the reduction in aggregate demand that is contracting the whole economy. No wonder demonstrators have decided to occupy Wall Street.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Voter Registration for Municipal Elections
Just a reminder: voter registration books in Pamlico County close this Friday, October 14 for municipal elections. Voters in three towns, however, will be able to register and vote during "one-stop" early voting, which begins October 20 and continues until 1:00 P.M. Saturday, November 5. Election day is November 8th.
Voters in municipalities that have opted to provide absentee voting (which includes "one-stop" or early voting at the court house in Bayboro) are allowed to register as well as vote during one-stop.. This applies to voters from Alliance, Bayboro and Oriental.
Voters who have been temporarily displaced by hurricane Irene need not change their registration, so long as they intend to return to the same abode.
Don't forget: there are no unimportant elections.
Voters in municipalities that have opted to provide absentee voting (which includes "one-stop" or early voting at the court house in Bayboro) are allowed to register as well as vote during one-stop.. This applies to voters from Alliance, Bayboro and Oriental.
Voters who have been temporarily displaced by hurricane Irene need not change their registration, so long as they intend to return to the same abode.
Don't forget: there are no unimportant elections.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Voter Fraud?
I want to share an editorial in today's New York Times entitled "The Myth of Voter Fraud."
As the article points out, there are almost no occurrences of voter fraud in the United States. The George W. Bush administration unleashed their Justice Department to vigorously pursue voter fraud, even to the point of firing their own appointed US Attorneys who were unable to find evidence of such fraud.
There are instances of mistakes, but the numbers are so small that if the government were run like a business, the owners would spend no money trying to reduce the vanishingly small numbers further.
But that isn't the real agenda.
As the article points out, there are almost no occurrences of voter fraud in the United States. The George W. Bush administration unleashed their Justice Department to vigorously pursue voter fraud, even to the point of firing their own appointed US Attorneys who were unable to find evidence of such fraud.
There are instances of mistakes, but the numbers are so small that if the government were run like a business, the owners would spend no money trying to reduce the vanishingly small numbers further.
But that isn't the real agenda.
Wake County Board of Education Elections
Interesting article in today's News and Observer: "Wake Voters Should Check Districts."
Tomorrow is the election in Wake County for the board of elections. The problem is that board of elections districts have been redrawn to reflect results of the 2010 census. Usually, the Board of Elections would have sent voter cards to registered voters notifying them of their new districts.
The Wake County Board of Elections asked the Board of Commissioners to appropriate sufficient funds to do the mail out, but the County Commissioners declined.
Part of the problem is that there would have to be another mailing, in any event, after redistricting is completed for state offices and the US Congress. No one knows how long that will take.
So many Wake County voters may show up tomorrow at the wrong polling place.
Fortunately, we have no such problems in Pamlico County.
Tomorrow is the election in Wake County for the board of elections. The problem is that board of elections districts have been redrawn to reflect results of the 2010 census. Usually, the Board of Elections would have sent voter cards to registered voters notifying them of their new districts.
The Wake County Board of Elections asked the Board of Commissioners to appropriate sufficient funds to do the mail out, but the County Commissioners declined.
Part of the problem is that there would have to be another mailing, in any event, after redistricting is completed for state offices and the US Congress. No one knows how long that will take.
So many Wake County voters may show up tomorrow at the wrong polling place.
Fortunately, we have no such problems in Pamlico County.
Double Ten: China's Revolution
Today is the one hundredth anniversary of the beginning of the uprising that overthrew the Manchu Dynasty and established China as a republic under Sun Yat-sen.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) celebrates "Double Ten" as China's national day, as do many overseas Chinese in other countries. The event truly was crucial to China's eventual modernization and its transformation from a source of luxury goods (silk, tea and porcelain) to a modern industrial nation.
There were many obstacles and detours along the way, including the Opium Wars with England (1838-1842 and 1856-1860), the Tai Ping Rebellion (1850-1864), the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and the Boxer Rebellion (1898). These events led to the partition and control of China (at least the trading centers) by Western and eventually Japanese imperialist powers.
One of the goals of the 1911 uprising was for China to eventually reestablish control of her own territory and people.
It took a long time, but few can dispute that China has finally achieved that goal.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) celebrates "Double Ten" as China's national day, as do many overseas Chinese in other countries. The event truly was crucial to China's eventual modernization and its transformation from a source of luxury goods (silk, tea and porcelain) to a modern industrial nation.
There were many obstacles and detours along the way, including the Opium Wars with England (1838-1842 and 1856-1860), the Tai Ping Rebellion (1850-1864), the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and the Boxer Rebellion (1898). These events led to the partition and control of China (at least the trading centers) by Western and eventually Japanese imperialist powers.
One of the goals of the 1911 uprising was for China to eventually reestablish control of her own territory and people.
It took a long time, but few can dispute that China has finally achieved that goal.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Re Shoring
For a long time now American manufacturers have been moving their operations off shore. Many have moved to China.
It seems fair to ask whether these manufacturers are American at all. Most of us would at least hope that American businesses would do everything in their power to continue operating from American soil and contributing to American prosperity.
I have talked about this with an industrial designer who visits Oriental from time to time. He and I share the view that many manufacturers have moved offshore for very minor benefits.
Last Thursday's Financial Times reports that the trend may be reversing itself. Some factories whose products in recent years were entirely manufactured in China are now moving back to the US.
Among the factors supporting such a move: US producers are becoming more competitive; US-based factories can respond more quickly to customer desires; products are freed from shipping delays; customs issues do not arise.
FT calls the process "re-shoring." I would have thought "on-shoring" (opposite of "off-shoring") would be more appropriate.
This might be good news. One reason China works so hard to control their currency exchange rate is to try to prevent companies from returning to the US. But China's labor costs are rising.
It seems fair to ask whether these manufacturers are American at all. Most of us would at least hope that American businesses would do everything in their power to continue operating from American soil and contributing to American prosperity.
I have talked about this with an industrial designer who visits Oriental from time to time. He and I share the view that many manufacturers have moved offshore for very minor benefits.
Last Thursday's Financial Times reports that the trend may be reversing itself. Some factories whose products in recent years were entirely manufactured in China are now moving back to the US.
Among the factors supporting such a move: US producers are becoming more competitive; US-based factories can respond more quickly to customer desires; products are freed from shipping delays; customs issues do not arise.
FT calls the process "re-shoring." I would have thought "on-shoring" (opposite of "off-shoring") would be more appropriate.
This might be good news. One reason China works so hard to control their currency exchange rate is to try to prevent companies from returning to the US. But China's labor costs are rising.
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