Last April 13, in the latest attempt to form a third political party, Americans Elect filed the requisite number of petition signatures to be listed as an official political party in North Carolina. On May 15, the party admitted that its on-line convention had failed to generate enough support under their own rules for any candidate to be nominated.
The party had been supported by high profile backers with deep pockets and had attained ballot access in more than half of the nation's fifty states. The effort to nominate a slate lasted just a bit longer than the Wright Brothers' first flight.
I have some advice for third party enthusiasts: forget about presidential elections. Start at the grass roots in one or more states that might be receptive. Go for the state legislature. The goal might be to elect enough legislators that your third party would be invited into a legislative coalition.
If you want to put an end to partisan politics, here is a Washington Post article on what won't work - and what might [but I wouldn't hold my breath].
Monday, May 21, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Jobs
"When
a great many people are unable to find
work, unemployment results."
- Calvin Coolidge
In some respects, Calvin Coolidge was more progressive than many Tea Party Republicans and their economist lackeys. These folks latterly have attributed unemployment not to the inability of workers to find jobs, but to their interest in taking a vacation. And Republicans in the Congress and in state legislatures have done their best to make it even harder for people who work for a living to find jobs.
- Calvin Coolidge
In some respects, Calvin Coolidge was more progressive than many Tea Party Republicans and their economist lackeys. These folks latterly have attributed unemployment not to the inability of workers to find jobs, but to their interest in taking a vacation. And Republicans in the Congress and in state legislatures have done their best to make it even harder for people who work for a living to find jobs.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
South Avenue Public Comments
There has been some reaction from citizens of the town about the town board's action to approve the proposed contract for a land swap. Today's Town Dock has three letters from citizens.
A lot of questions have been raised, not only by the general public, but also by members of the Parks and Rec committee.
I learned last week that the contract was finalized by attorney Scott Davis representing the town and attorney Steve Weeks representing Chris Fulcher. Steve Weeks is a competent attorney who aggressively protects his clients' interests. He is the attorney who saved the town's bacon when Scott Davis lost the suit against Mr. Lacy Henry over South Avenue at summary judgment - before ever getting to trial.
The best advice Scott Davis ever gave the town, back in 2002 when the town asked him to represent us in the suit against Lacy Henry over South Avenue, was to retain a litigator. He was right.
But Scott Davis not only isn't a litigator, he has not proven much of a negotiator and has not always provided the town with competent legal representation.
However the present negotiation is resolved, I think it is past time for the Town to retain a different lawyer or firm as town attorney.
A lot of questions have been raised, not only by the general public, but also by members of the Parks and Rec committee.
I learned last week that the contract was finalized by attorney Scott Davis representing the town and attorney Steve Weeks representing Chris Fulcher. Steve Weeks is a competent attorney who aggressively protects his clients' interests. He is the attorney who saved the town's bacon when Scott Davis lost the suit against Mr. Lacy Henry over South Avenue at summary judgment - before ever getting to trial.
The best advice Scott Davis ever gave the town, back in 2002 when the town asked him to represent us in the suit against Lacy Henry over South Avenue, was to retain a litigator. He was right.
But Scott Davis not only isn't a litigator, he has not proven much of a negotiator and has not always provided the town with competent legal representation.
However the present negotiation is resolved, I think it is past time for the Town to retain a different lawyer or firm as town attorney.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Political Conventions
Since I am a member of the Pamlico County Board of Elections, I am prohibited from publicly advocating or opposing the election of any candidate or ballot measure appearing on the ballot. But I am specifically allowed to be a delegate to party conventions.
This coming weekend, I will serve as a delegate to my party's district convention. Later, there will be a state convention, and finally the week of September 3, the Democratic Party will hold its national convention at Charlotte.
People sometimes ask what my party stands for. I know no better source than the speech delivered by William Jennings Bryan 116 years ago at the Democratic Party Convention of 1896. The issues haven't changed, though details may differ. Here are some excerpts:
"When you come before us and tell us that we shall disturb your business interests, we reply that you have disturbed our business interests by your action. We say to you that you have made too limited in its application the definition of a businessman. The man who is employed for wages is as much a businessman as his employer. The attorney in a country town is as much a businessman as the corporation counsel in a great metropolis. The merchant at the crossroads store is as much a businessman as the merchant of New York. The farmer who goes forth in the morning and toils all day, begins in the spring and toils all summer, and by the application of brain and muscle to the natural resources of this country creates wealth, is as much a businessman as the man who goes upon the Board of Trade and bets upon the price of grain. The miners who go 1,000 feet into the earth or climb 2,000 feet upon the cliffs and bring forth from their hiding places the precious metals to be poured in the channels of trade are as much businessmen as the few financial magnates who in a backroom corner the money of the world.We come to speak for this broader class of businessmen....
"What we need is an Andrew Jackson to stand as Jackson stood, against the encroachments of aggregated wealth....
"Those who are opposed to this proposition tell us that the issue of paper money is a function of the bank and that the government ought to go out of the banking business. I stand with Jefferson rather than with them, and tell them, as he did, that the issue of money is a function of the government and that the banks should go out of the governing business....
"My friends, it is simply a question that we shall decide upon which side shall the Democratic Party fight. Upon the side of the idle holders of idle capital, or upon the side of the struggling masses? That is the question that the party must answer first; and then it must be answered by each individual hereafter. The sympathies of the Democratic Party, as described by the platform, are on the side of the struggling masses, who have ever been the foundation of the Democratic Party....
"There are two ideas of government. There are those who believe that if you just legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous, that their prosperity will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous their prosperity will find its way up and through every class that rests upon it.
"If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard as a good thing, we shall fight them to the uttermost, having behind us the producing masses of the nation and the world. Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."
OK, the rhetoric is a bit over the top by modern standards, but the underlying struggle is pretty much the same:
Trickle-down economics or rising tide economics?
YOYO's or WITTS?
This coming weekend, I will serve as a delegate to my party's district convention. Later, there will be a state convention, and finally the week of September 3, the Democratic Party will hold its national convention at Charlotte.
People sometimes ask what my party stands for. I know no better source than the speech delivered by William Jennings Bryan 116 years ago at the Democratic Party Convention of 1896. The issues haven't changed, though details may differ. Here are some excerpts:
"When you come before us and tell us that we shall disturb your business interests, we reply that you have disturbed our business interests by your action. We say to you that you have made too limited in its application the definition of a businessman. The man who is employed for wages is as much a businessman as his employer. The attorney in a country town is as much a businessman as the corporation counsel in a great metropolis. The merchant at the crossroads store is as much a businessman as the merchant of New York. The farmer who goes forth in the morning and toils all day, begins in the spring and toils all summer, and by the application of brain and muscle to the natural resources of this country creates wealth, is as much a businessman as the man who goes upon the Board of Trade and bets upon the price of grain. The miners who go 1,000 feet into the earth or climb 2,000 feet upon the cliffs and bring forth from their hiding places the precious metals to be poured in the channels of trade are as much businessmen as the few financial magnates who in a backroom corner the money of the world.We come to speak for this broader class of businessmen....
"What we need is an Andrew Jackson to stand as Jackson stood, against the encroachments of aggregated wealth....
"Those who are opposed to this proposition tell us that the issue of paper money is a function of the bank and that the government ought to go out of the banking business. I stand with Jefferson rather than with them, and tell them, as he did, that the issue of money is a function of the government and that the banks should go out of the governing business....
"My friends, it is simply a question that we shall decide upon which side shall the Democratic Party fight. Upon the side of the idle holders of idle capital, or upon the side of the struggling masses? That is the question that the party must answer first; and then it must be answered by each individual hereafter. The sympathies of the Democratic Party, as described by the platform, are on the side of the struggling masses, who have ever been the foundation of the Democratic Party....
"There are two ideas of government. There are those who believe that if you just legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous, that their prosperity will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous their prosperity will find its way up and through every class that rests upon it.
"If they dare to come out in the open field and defend the gold standard as a good thing, we shall fight them to the uttermost, having behind us the producing masses of the nation and the world. Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."
OK, the rhetoric is a bit over the top by modern standards, but the underlying struggle is pretty much the same:
Trickle-down economics or rising tide economics?
YOYO's or WITTS?
Thursday, May 17, 2012
South Avenue Contract
We attended this morning's special meeting of the town board concerning the proposed contract to close certain town rights of way (Avenue A and part of South Avenue plus other historic bits and pieces) in return for Chris Fulcher donating a portion of his waterfront property.
This meeting was the first significant opportunity for many members of the public to express their views. I think it's fair to say that most attendees were opposed to the contract in its present form. Those who spoke during the public comment period asked a number of questions about the legality and the advisability of the proposal. Several speakers (I was one) expressed doubt that the town had received competent legal representation.
Several speakers questioned whether the town had a complete picture of what it can build on the site in view of DENR and CAMA regulations. Some questioned whether touted advantages of the deal (an almost-completed pier and two historic structures) were going to be an asset or a liability. There was widespread disbelief that the parcel the town would receive is wide enough. Various speakers wondered whether Mr. Fulcher might block navigation by private boats.
Some speakers had researched restrictions on the existing town right of way for South Avenue and asserted that there are ways to obtain legislative approval to build some of the desired structures.
Several speakers objected to the assertions that "these rights of way are of no value" that supporters of the proposal have made. I offered the view that, "in coastal North Carolina, nothing is more valuable to the public than public access to the water."
After public comments were heard, the board deliberated and by a vote of 4-1 approved proceeding with the contract. (Warren Johnson voted "no").
At an afternoon continuation of the meeting, the board voted 4-0 to hold public hearings on street closures at the regular meeting of July 3.
This meeting was the first significant opportunity for many members of the public to express their views. I think it's fair to say that most attendees were opposed to the contract in its present form. Those who spoke during the public comment period asked a number of questions about the legality and the advisability of the proposal. Several speakers (I was one) expressed doubt that the town had received competent legal representation.
Several speakers questioned whether the town had a complete picture of what it can build on the site in view of DENR and CAMA regulations. Some questioned whether touted advantages of the deal (an almost-completed pier and two historic structures) were going to be an asset or a liability. There was widespread disbelief that the parcel the town would receive is wide enough. Various speakers wondered whether Mr. Fulcher might block navigation by private boats.
Some speakers had researched restrictions on the existing town right of way for South Avenue and asserted that there are ways to obtain legislative approval to build some of the desired structures.
Several speakers objected to the assertions that "these rights of way are of no value" that supporters of the proposal have made. I offered the view that, "in coastal North Carolina, nothing is more valuable to the public than public access to the water."
After public comments were heard, the board deliberated and by a vote of 4-1 approved proceeding with the contract. (Warren Johnson voted "no").
At an afternoon continuation of the meeting, the board voted 4-0 to hold public hearings on street closures at the regular meeting of July 3.
White Births In Minority
In the twelve-month period ending last July, according to the US Census Bureau, there were fewer white babies born in America than those of non white minorities.
Demographers had long expected this to occur, but weren't certain when.
I looked outside this morning. The sky has not yet fallen.
Demographers had long expected this to occur, but weren't certain when.
I looked outside this morning. The sky has not yet fallen.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
On Line Education
Occasionally Tom Friedman of the New York Times offers an interesting tidbit in his column. Today's tidbit is a reference to a very interesting new company offering high quality on-line education courses. The name of the company is Coursera.
It is worthwhile checking out Coursera's web site and at least looking at the syllabus of some of the course offerings. I saw several tempting courses. One course of particular interest to a wide range of people might be "Health Policy And The Affordable Care Act."
Check out Coursera's site.
It is worthwhile checking out Coursera's web site and at least looking at the syllabus of some of the course offerings. I saw several tempting courses. One course of particular interest to a wide range of people might be "Health Policy And The Affordable Care Act."
Check out Coursera's site.
In Extremis: Greece and Germany
In the ancient past (when I was learning the nautical rules of the road) we were taught that certain ships had the "right of way" when there was risk of collision while other ships were "burdened."
That terminology is no longer used, but the principal is much the same.
How do you know if there is risk of collision? If the other ship is CBDR - that is, on a constant bearing and decreasing range.
It was the duty of the ship having the right of way to maintain course and speed. It was the duty of the burdened vessel to maneuver to avoid collision.
What if both ships insist that they have the right of way and maintain course and speed? At some point, after sounding warning blasts on the ship's whistle, the ships become so close to each other that the only way to avoid collision is for both ships to act.
That situation was known as being "in extremis."
Greece and the European Central Bank have been on a collision course and now are in extremis. At least if the object is to keep Greece in the Eurozone, both vessels must put the helm over and take up a new course.
But no one is at the helm in Greece nor will anyone take the helm for at least a month. Nor is it apparent who is at the helm of the ECB, but it still looks like Germany has the conn.
Europe may be in for a humongous collision.
It's at least time to check out the life vests and life boats.
That terminology is no longer used, but the principal is much the same.
How do you know if there is risk of collision? If the other ship is CBDR - that is, on a constant bearing and decreasing range.
It was the duty of the ship having the right of way to maintain course and speed. It was the duty of the burdened vessel to maneuver to avoid collision.
What if both ships insist that they have the right of way and maintain course and speed? At some point, after sounding warning blasts on the ship's whistle, the ships become so close to each other that the only way to avoid collision is for both ships to act.
That situation was known as being "in extremis."
Greece and the European Central Bank have been on a collision course and now are in extremis. At least if the object is to keep Greece in the Eurozone, both vessels must put the helm over and take up a new course.
But no one is at the helm in Greece nor will anyone take the helm for at least a month. Nor is it apparent who is at the helm of the ECB, but it still looks like Germany has the conn.
Europe may be in for a humongous collision.
It's at least time to check out the life vests and life boats.
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