In the wake of this summer’s session of the North Carolina Legislature, voters across the state are expressing their dismay at the actions of the newly elected Republican majority. Legislation from this session includes: unnecessary voter ID requirements (which, according to a column by Jo Ann Groves in the Gaston Gazette, the NC Board of Elections suspects fraud at a minimal rate of 86 per 300 million votes cast), a bill outlawing Sharia law (which has never been implemented in North Carolina), allowing guns in bars (a move which guarantees the hysterical combination of booze and guns), a cap on sales tax for yachts and jets, and cutting raises for teachers. McCrory calls these new laws “vital reforms.” The result for Governor McCrory is a record drop in approval since the beginning of the session; now, only 31% of his constituency approve of the job he has done and the General Assembly’s rating is a pitiful 24%.
McCrory’s apparent lack of surprise or concern for this drop in his approval rating signifies a lack of concern about the interests of the citizens he was elected to represent. And here, I pause, first to wonder and second to stare in awe at the monolithic ignorance of this group of legislators and the Captain Ahab at their helm. This absence of consideration for the approval of his constituents implies a lack of interest in re-election, or political clout, and no interest in his obligation to the State and its population. Upon ruling out future political office and any sense of duty, we must then ask: what is their goal? The only apparent answer is private personal gains.
If McCrory does not care that he is eroding his own support system in favor of cutting taxes for the top earners in North Carolina, then he must therefore care only about the opinion of those top earners. Perhaps these moves are in fact a bid for a future position in the so-called Corporate World (as if it were something autonomous and separate). His actions indicate that his ties to the business community are more important than his duty to the electorate.
It is the question of Duty and Dignity that I would like to see addressed by our representatives. We, as a country founded on ideals yet unrealized, have an obligation to see them realized – to work for one another, for greater prosperity, and for continued prosperity, continued liberty for all. We must work to end poverty, homelessness, and unemployment. There are domestic works projects that need to be accomplished, there are almost 417,000 unemployed workers in North Carolina alone, and our government wastes billions on bailing out failing companies. It is out of a sense of duty to the people of America, to employ them in accomplishing the regular workings of our Nation, and to compensate them using money that is currently being thrown at ineffectual systems. In doing so, we may also realize greater global respect and, with an eye on leading by example – a policy of peace internationally, and prosperity domestically – we may realize American global dominance by consensus rather than Might.
The democratic process relies on representatives being held accountable for their actions by the people. When in the course of human events our governors cease to heed, cease to respect the will of those they represent, we, as Americans, whose country was born in revolution against such governors, have a duty to demand for their removal – or at the very least, to demand some accounting of their actions; McCrory has offered none.
The only thing “hysterical” are those in Chapel Hill proclaiming to the be the voice of the poor and most vulnerable in our society. At no point in the article does Mr. Ainslie address this administrations work with the Medicaid program. Decades of crony appointments, mismanagement and neglect have left the most important program, for our most vulnerable citizens in shambles.
Of course Jesse lives in the Ivory Tower that is Chapel Hill. A town and community with little diversity and more 1%ers you can shake a stick at. People were shocked to learn when low income housing is flooded, they have nowhere to go. Congrats Chapel Hill, you have insulated yourself from many of the problems facing most of North Carolina! Then again, John Edwards is still studying poor people from his UNC post and sticking his pinky out with Chapel Hill’s finest like he didn’t cheat on his dying wife.
Just another editorial by way of Chapel Hill that only speaks in ideals and not real world terms or solutions.
Bravo, Todd.
Seriously, I love the logic used above to show that Voted ID is “unnecessary.”
The same logic dictates that any bank that hasn’t been robbed OBVIOUSLY doesn’t need a safe or armed guard. And any community with low (or no) crime obviously doesn’t need police.
Brilliant.
The essential questions here are entirely justified: Who are their constituents? What masters are they serving? When a government acts in ways that cause its citizens to scratch their heads, we are wrong to conclude they are simply stupid. Instead, we should think of the old adage: “Dumb like a fox.”The current occupants of the State House and Governor’s Mansion are simply serving an agenda that either will not, or should not, bear the light of day. When the answers they propose make no sense (Voter ID laws come to mind: a solution in search of a problem), then they are answering a question that may remain obscure to us (in the case of Voter ID laws: because they cannot win elections with the thinning ranks of their natural constituents – well-to-do, aging white Males – they hope to win by denying others the right to vote and limiting the franchise of those who disagree with them). They feel a sense of duty and an allegiance, but to what? and to whom?
The idea that anyone could equate voter fraud with bank robbery is so baffling to me. Also, the pot shot about “cheating on his dying wife” is pretty classic — I’m sorry, were we discussing the ethics of representing a populace or the fact that humans can treat each other horribly? One instance implicates countless citizens; the other implicates two people in a marriage. I’m really hoping all of us living in the “Ivory Tower” and beyond (LOL I GRADUATED FROM UNC AND CAN BARELY AFFORD MY MEDICATION EACH MONTH) can figure this out.
Uhhhhh.. they aren’t being ‘equated’ — the LOGIC is being equated. If voter ID is “unnecessary” because it doesn’t happen often, then I guess we don’t need bank safes or guards because banks are robbed very often either. Get it now?
In 2011, the FBI reported over 5,000 instances of bank robbery in America, totaling almost $40 million stolen – that is 800 times the average household income in America. And, 86 per 300 million is not enough to swing a single election. Equating the logic is as baffling as equating the crime.
“” totaling almost $40 million stolen – that is 800 times the average household income in America””
^I’ll let that sentence speak for itself on relevant it is to the point, or how well Martin understands the point.
“”And, 86 per 300 million is not enough to swing a single election.””
^OOOOhhh, So now it’s OK for voter fraud as long as it doesn’t swing an election. HaHaHa!
Now I understand why you’re so baffled all the time.
If I steal just one bottle of coke from a store. Not really going to swing their profit margins. No biggie!??!? Right?
And to this “baffling logic” — So, if Fort Knox hasn’t been attacked in decades, (would that be 0 parts in 300 million, Martin?) guess we don’t need to defend it right?
If my house has never been broken into (0 parts in a million, right Martin?) I guess I should never need to lock my doors.
If a crime hasn’t committed in a small town in a few years, why even have cops!!??
Hey, there hasn’t been a car stolen in my neighborhood, EVER. Guess we don’t need to lock our cars! Might as well leave the keys in the ignition.
Hey Martin, if you’re house hasn’t been robbed, why do you have locks?! I”M BAFFLED!
I’ve never had a major injury or needed major surgery, WHY have health insurance at all!
This is so baffling!