Tag Archives: North Carolina

January 18, 2013 · 1:34 am

Chapter 67: Snow Days | My Southern Gothic Life

New post up on my other blog:

 

It’s snowing tonight in  the South.

At least it is here in North Carolina where I live now…

I know that doesn’t mean much to many people who live in places where snow is a common occurrence, but it is getting to be more and more rare here in the South.  It’s called Global Warming, believe it or not…

Anyway….

Snow always makes me think of Snow Days past.  Snow in the South always leads to irrational behavior.  Even for the South….

via Chapter 67: Snow Days | My Southern Gothic Life.

1 Comment

Filed under Scott's Commentary

Tagged as , , , ,

July 3, 2012 · 5:24 pm

North Carolina Defunds Planned Parenthood In Midnight Vote, Overriding Veto

I am so sick and tired of these fools in Raleigh….

North Carolina had struggled to put Jesse Helms and the pettiness and ignorance he represented behind us….

Then, people go and elect a Republican-controlled legislature that is starting to make Jesse look moderate and reasonable.

First the fools “outlawed” climate change and the related science…

Now, they are attacking North Carolina’s Women just like the national GOP tells them to do….

Sickening…

And it’s really going to be hard to defeat these idiots since they controlled redistricting….

 

North Carolina’s Republican-controlled state legislature voted Monday night to override Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue’s veto of a state budget that strips money from Planned Parenthood.

The same lawmakers overrode Perdue’s veto and moved to defund Planned Parenthood last year, but a judge blocked the provision, arguing that a state can’t single out a particular health provider. This time around, lawmakers found a way to sidestep legal challenges by not specifically naming Planned Parenthood in the budget. Instead, the bill prevents the state’s Health and Human Services department from contracting with “private providers” of family planning services — effectively, but not explicitly, singling out Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina, one of the state’s two Planned Parenthood providers, estimates that it will lose $200,000 as a result of the new budget. Because no state money is used for abortion services, the funding cuts will affect the clinic’s ability to provide affordable birth control, cancer screenings, pap smears and other services for low-income women in the state.

via North Carolina Defunds Planned Parenthood In Midnight Vote, Overriding Veto.

Leave a comment

Filed under Elections, Health Care, North Carolina, Politics

Tagged as , , , , ,

May 8, 2012 · 5:03 pm

For Those Still Trying to Figure out the Gay Marriage Issue…

Today, North Carolina is voting whether to approve Amendment One to the Constitution which says, as follows:

“Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.”

If you live in North Carolina and have not gone out to vote against this spiteful, hateful attempt to spread hate and discrimination, please DO SO NOW!

People need to understand that “marriage” is a secular, legal contract.  Religion has nothing to do with it.  I’m fine with anyone having a religious ceremony-or not- but we should not prohibit unmarried heterosexual or Gay couples from sharing the same legal protections as married people.

I’ve been with my partner for 15 years and don’t you dare try to tell me our relationship should not have the same legal recognition as straight couples.  This is the only way to protect us in the event of sickness or, god forbid, death, so that we each can care for the other and no one can interfere with our wishes.  Or contest our estates….I hate to think how complex this is for people with children.

I am grateful to all the People of Faith who have come out against this mean-spirited, petty attempt to enshrine discrimination into the North Carolina Constitution.

However, a substantial number of Fundamentalist Christians are claiming they support this hateful amendment based on “biblical” principles….

This is for them:

Leave a comment

Filed under Elections, Gay, Religion, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , ,

May 7, 2012 · 3:33 pm

Greensboro and Guilford County Voter’s Guide

Everyone in North Carolina….

Please remember to go out and vote tomorrow–especially AGAINST Amendment One!

As Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”  Of course, that includes Women, too!

For those looking for a good, Progressive voter guide, here is the best one I know of- from Replacements, LTD PAC:

More:  http://www.replacementsltdpac.org/

Leave a comment

Filed under Greensboro, North Carolina, Politics

Tagged as , , , ,

February 7, 2012 · 11:11 pm

Greensboro City Council Votes To Oppose North Carolina Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment

Sometimes, I really love the city I live in!  Frequently, in fact….

Tonight the Greensboro City Council voted 8-1 to oppose the proposed Constitutional Amendment to the NC State Constitution to ban Gay marriage and pretty much any recognition of any Gay relationship.

I’m so proud of Mayor Robbie Perkins and Councilman Zack Matheny, both Republicans by the way, for leading this effort to support Greensboro’s Gay Families.

The loan dissenter was Councilperson Trudy Wade- a local vet who will never touch our pets!

Thank you to the 8 decent people on the City Council who stood up for Equality!

From DigTriad.com:

The proposed amendment, which will appear on the May primary ballot, would state that “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized” in the state of North Carolina.

Greensboro Mayor Robbie Perkins and councilman Zack Matheny are bringing the resolution in opposition to the council.

The resolution cites the city’s policy of hiring without discrimination and the policy to offer benefits to domestic partners as reasons to oppose the amendment.

“Whereas, This amendment, if approved by voters, would be inconsistent with the City of Greensboro’s goals, commitments, and policies, negatively impacting, among other things, the City’s ability to offer domestic partner benefits and compete as an employer.”

City Councilwoman Trudy Wade intends to vote against the resolution.  She issued her own statement regarding the vote.

“The City Council resolution claims to be a reaffirmation of Greensboro’s commitment to be nondiscriminatory.  In reality, however, it is a frontal assault against the institution of marriage.”

via Greensboro City Council To Vote To Oppose North Carolina Marriage Amendment | digtriad.com.

Leave a comment

Filed under Gay, North Carolina, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , ,

February 4, 2012 · 5:16 pm

STOCK Act Opponent NC Senator Richard Burr Stands To Gain From Natural Gas Investments

It’s a real shame we couldn’t get rid of Burr when he was up for re-election a couple of years ago, but I’m afraid Elaine Marshall just wasn’t the right candidate with the right resources to run against him.

And the Democratic Senatorial Committee and Democratic National Committee weren’t much help either…

He is such a corporatist non-entity, he should have been easy pickings if we had had the right candidate with sufficient resources at the right time.

But that was also the height of the Tea Party insanity….

Burr taking positions like this and having this obvious conflicts of interest should make it much easier to retire him next time.  It truly takes guts- and stupidity- to vote AGAINST insider trading laws for Senators!

From the Huffington Post:

Sen. Richard Burr’s vocal opposition to the STOCK Act raised some eyebrows in Washington this week, and with good reason.

Burr, a North Carolina Republican who was one of just three senators to vote against the ban on congressional insider trading Thursday, owns investments in the natural gas industry that would benefit from legislation he co-sponsored offering tax credits for natural gas-fueled vehicles.

Burr has investments in the gas industry valued from $133,298 to $219,337, according to his 2010 filings. His portfolio includes $36,000 worth of stock in Chesapeake Energy Corp., the second-largest U.S. producer of natural gas. He also holds more than $25,000 in shares of Loews Corp., a holding company with subsidiaries engaged in the exploration, production, marketing and transmission of natural gas.

He was on the losing side of Thursday’s 96-3 passage of the STOCK Act, that would tighten rules for lawmakers and their aides using inside information for personal investments. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said he’ll bring the STOCK Act to the House floor next week.

Burr’s investments pose “a very clear conflict of interest,” said Craig Holman of the advocacy group Public Citizen. He said the STOCK Act “will make members of Congress much more cautious in any particular sector, including natural gas.” While the STOCK Act wouldn’t prohibit such investments, “members of Congress will have to think twice about any kind of trading activity they do,” Holman said.

via STOCK Act Opponent Richard Burr Stands To Gain From Natural Gas Investments.

Leave a comment

Filed under North Carolina, Politics

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

November 6, 2011 · 5:40 pm

Greensboro Voter Guide for the November General Election (Revised)

For my friends and neighbors in Greensboro, NC, here is the Replacements PAC Voter’s Guide.

I strongly recommend this as a guide if you are looking not just for LGBT Friendly Candidates, but for Progressive Candidates in General.

Here are the recommended Candidates.  While all the Candidates below are good and recommended, there are two, in particular, I strongly support:  Robbie Perkins for Mayor and Nancy Hoffman in District 4.    They really need to replace the respective opponents and  both would be great additions to our local government and for moving Greensboro forward.

I also strongly support former Mayer Yvonne Johnson and Wayne Abraham for two of the three At-Large seats.  For the third, I lean toward Marikay Abuzuaiter instead of  Nancy Barakat Vaughn.  I think either would be very good.

My concern is that Ms Vaughn and Mayor Johnson will probably be the top vote getters.  I hope Mr. Abraham and Ms. Abuzaiter don’t split the vote and allow one of the conservative candidates to take the third slot.  I wish Ms Vaughn had stuck with her earlier decision not to run.  Believe me, any three of these four candidates would be better than what we have with current at-large Councilman Danny Thompson…

My gut tells me, best case scenario, former Mayor Johnson, Ms Vaughn and Ms. Abuzaiter will take the 3 At Large seats.  I’m afraid Mr Abraham, who I do support, will have to try again another year.  I could be wrong….

So much depends on turnout.  The current Conservative Council and Mayor are in place because the Tea Party turned out in the last election, while the Progressives stayed home.  I truly hope that does not happen again….

In any event, please, remember to vote on Tuesday, November 8th!  Too often bad candidates win simply because more Progressive voters stay home……

2011 LGBT General Election Voter Guide

Guilford County

Greensboro Mayor (R) Robbie Perkins

Greensboro City Council At-Large (U) Nancy Barakat Vaughan

Greensboro City Council At-Large (D) Yvonne J. Johnson

Greensboro City Council At-Large (D) Wayne Abraham

Greensboro City Council Dist 1 (D) Donnell (DJ) Hardy

Greensboro City Council Dist 2 (D) Jim Kee

Greensboro City Council Dist 3 (R) Zach Matheny

Greensboro City Council Dist 4 (D) Nancy Hoffmann

Greensboro City Council Dist 5 No Endorsement

Jamestown Town Council (R) Brock Thomas

Jamestown Town Council (U) Tommy Walls

Following are other Greensboro candidates who returned surveys and are supportive of LGBT issues in varying degrees.

Marikay Abuzuaiter City Council At-Large (D) Very Supportive

Chris Lawyer City Council At-Large (R) Very Supportive

T. Dianne Bellamy Small City Council Dist 1 (D) Somewhat Supportive

Jay Ovitorre City Council Dist 3 (D) Very Supportive

Alamance County

Ossippee Town Council (U) Billy Carter

Swepsonville Town Council (D) Virginia Miller

Graham Mayor (D) Thomas Bruton

Graham City Council (U) Lee Kimrey

Graham City Council (D) Jeanette Beaudry

Randolph County

Franklinville Town Council (D) Lowell Whatley

Rockingham County

Madison Alderman (R) J. Lee Mills

Mayodan Town Council (R) Gloria Powers

2 Comments

Filed under Elections

Tagged as , , ,

October 9, 2011 · 12:59 am

Force Gay Marriage!

This ain’t the way we always heard it should be….

And, since my partner, Steve, and I have been together for almost 15 years, I can tell you it isn’t…

Well, most of it isn’t….

We are as close to married as you can be in North Carolina…

And the only reason we support Gay Marriage is to get the full legal benefits and recognition of what should be our basic rights after this much time together…

Still, I love this little Prop 8 commercial…

It’s like if my parents had been gay…..

Remember this come the May vote!

Leave a comment

Filed under Gay

Tagged as , ,

October 3, 2011 · 8:06 pm

Art Pope, Citizens United, and North Carolina Politics : The New Yorker

Very scary article in this weeks “New Yorker” about Art Pope and how he’s used his money to effect North Carolina politics….

The “Citizens United” decision by the Supreme Court last year is really hurting Democracy in America.  We are only just now starting to see how much….

Here is a brief excerpt from a very long article.  I encourage you to click the link and read it in it’s entirety.

For years, Pope, like several other farsighted conservative corporate activists, has been spending millions in an attempt to change the direction of American politics. According to an analysis of tax records by Democracy NC, a progressive government watchdog group, in the past decade Pope, his family, his family foundation, and his business have spent more than forty million dollars in this effort. Sizable as Pope’s contributions have been, they are negligible in comparison with his fortune. The Pope family foundation—of which Art Pope is the chairman and president, and one of four directors—reportedly has assets of nearly a hundred and fifty million dollars.

This wealth has enabled Pope to participate in the public arena on a scale that few individuals can match. Some have compared him to Charles and David Koch, the conservative oil-and-chemical magnates, whom Pope regards as friends; Pope has at times joined forces with them, attending some of their semi-annual secret planning summits and, through the family foundation, contributing millions to many of the same causes. Pope, in addition to being on the board of Americans for Prosperity—which David Koch founded, in 2004—served on the board of its predecessor, Citizens for a Sound Economy, which Koch co-founded, in 1984. Charles Koch recently praised the Popes, along with other donors, for providing financial support for the 2012 election effort, and tax records show that Pope has given money to at least twenty-seven groups supported by the Kochs, including organizations opposing environmental regulations, tax increases, unions, and campaign-spending limits. Pope, in fact, helped fund the legal center run by James Bopp, the lawyer who made the initial filing in the Citizens United case

More:   Art Pope, Citizens United, and North Carolina Politics : The New Yorker.

Leave a comment

Filed under North Carolina, Politics

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

October 2, 2011 · 11:29 am

Increase in Number of Unclaimed Bodies: Relatives Can’t Afford Funerals

Another sign of just how bad the economy is out there for some folks.  This is unheard of in the South.

Those of us in the middle class are generally insulated from this type of situation-but not always.  And it appears it’s happening more and more frequently to people who probably didn’t see it coming…

From the Greensboro News and Record:

GREENSBORO — The number of bodies that go unclaimed each year is rising across the country — even in the South, where traditions die hard and cousins twice-removed could once expect a family burial.

Bodies are being abandoned everywhere — from hospital morgues to the funeral home that picked up the person who died at home.

“They’re being outright unclaimed by family because family members claim they have no money,” said Clyde Gibbs, North Carolina’s chief medical examiner, whose agency has seen an increase from 45 unclaimed bodies in 2006 to 73 in 2010.

Numbers are not kept by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services or most states, although a county’s social services agency is responsible for disposing of those bodies. Agencies contract the services to local funeral homes or crematoriums. State law requires a mandatory 10-day hold on unclaimed bodies.

“Weddings and funerals are the last vestiges of tradition,” said Paul Harris, executive director of the industry-regulating N.C. Board of Funeral Service, which is getting more calls from funeral homes stuck with remains.

“I’m hard-pressed to believe our human nature doesn’t cause us to want to do something.”

More:   Relatives forced to leave the deceased : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad’s most trusted source for local news and analysis.

Leave a comment

Filed under The Economy

Tagged as , , , , ,