Amnesty for Property Crime

We must have amnesty now! People cannot be illegal! The FBI reports that there were over 7 MILLION property crimes committed last year. We cannot simply lock these people up, there's too many of them. And, as McCain says, if we try and punish them all, there will be riots in the streets like France! So the only solution is to completely forgive them of all their wrongdoing because doing anything else would be mean.

There were also over 500,000 robberies last year. Surely you right-wing wackos aren't suggesting we punish all those people? Where would we find the jail space for them all? How would that be fair? And that's only part of over 1.2 million violent crimes. We cannot tell these people that they're criminals when they're only trying to put food on their tables. Johnny Lightning may have accepted money for murdering Billy, but without that money, Johnny's family would have had no food. Surely you cannot condemn Johnny for just trying to do the work that no one else will do?

We must immediately develop, with a bipartisan Senate, a comprehensive plan to enable all these wonderful, perfect people who happen to have done something that's not approved of (like rape) a way to a normal life. We need to give them more because we're just not giving enough yet. And we cannot, under any circumstances, punish them because they're just doing the jobs (like arson) that no one else will do.

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Charlotte Coliseum Implosion

A guest editorial by Don Reid:

“ONLY MEMORIES REMAIN” is the Observer’s headline in their news story this morning about the demolition of our coliseum on Tyvola Road. In this story and in stories over the last several days, pleasant memories were recounted of stars, performances and events that have occurred since the arena was opened in 1988. Notably absent from these ‘pleasant memories’ was a series of events, beginning in the mid ‘90’s, when the welfare of the taxpayers was bludgeoned by the politicians and the heavy hand of the uptown power structure, resulting in Sunday’s demolition…..the biggest waste of taxpayer dollars in Charlotte’s history.

Despite the tremendous success of the Hornets, who played to sell-out crowds for several years, owner George Shinn realized that long term success depended on an arena better suited to NBA standards, mainly the need for more sky boxes. In 1993, he made an offer to buy the arena, update it and insure that the Hornets would be a permanent fixture in Charlotte. His offer contained the following: “……..the Charlotte Hornets would be interested in purchasing the coliseum from the city.” Further the offer stated, “ Clearly the positives to the city would be the elimination of the bond obligation, securing cash for the city, placing a valuable piece of property on the tax rolls and securing the Hornets as a permanent fixture in the community.” The offer continues, “The Hornets will be prepared to pay market value for the building as determined by an appraisal, based on either an income approach or cost of replacement. In addition to the purchase of the building, we would provide a dozen dates a year for community uses at no charge. On civic events, such as high school graduations, we would waive the parking charges and staff cost.” At that time, Shinn estimated the value to be $60-65 million. I, as a member of the city council, tried to get the Mayor or city manager to place this on the council agenda for discussion. Both refused! Now, of course, we know why. Already the uptown power structure had decided that a new uptown arena would better suit their purposes, regardless of the cost and benefit to the citizens. Over the next 3 or 4 years Shinn continued his efforts to buy the arena, to no avail. Charlotte Motor Speedway President Bruton Smith also tried to by the arena.

George Shinn finally took his Hornets and moved to New Orleans. The real truth is that he was driven out of town by the uptown crowd because Shinn refused to be their ‘boy.’ Yes Shinn made some mistakes; yes he had some personal problems, but Bob Johnson is no ‘box of chocolates’ himself. He became a billionaire with his BET Network, which to this day fills the airways, hearts, minds and souls of our children with the most vile language, crude shows and vulgar rap music, which in comparison makes Shinn look like a saint. Also compared to the miserly attitude of Johnson, Shinn is a big spending philanthropist.

And in your book of COLISEUM MEMORIES, don’t forget the referendum on the arena and the arts projects, a cobbled proposal by the politicians and uptown crowd, who hoped that by offering something to everyone, they could fool us into approving the uptown arena. Proving that you can’t fool the people all the time, they lost, 57 percent to 43 percent. Yet within 6 months, ignoring the will of the people, our Mayor and council had approved a new uptown arena deal, called by one prominent attorney, the most egregious, one sided contract he had ever seen. Complete control of your arena was given to the Bobcats!! The Observer called the deal, ‘essentially sound’, and urged the council to approve the contract. And with one of the weakest, illogical rationalizations ever had this to say, “What about the defeat of an uptown facilities referendum last year? The question on the ballot was whether voters wanted the specific projects and terms then offered. They didn’t. That vote did not and should not preclude a return to arena questions in different form. This time the project is different. The terms are different.”

Yes MEMORIES remain, and I hope the people of Charlotte will not forget that you cannot trust the politicians, bureaucrats and uptown crowd when it comes to spending taxpayer money. Also, donÂ’t forget that the Observer has and will support every big spending scheme these folks bring forward.

Keep all this in mind, as our ‘REPEAL THE TRANSIT TAX” effort moves forward. More spending on light rail must be stopped. The politicians, bureaucrats and special interests will stop at nothing to keep their big spending plans in place. Their fear and smear campaign has already begun, but the facts are on our side. They ignored us on the arena vote. Not this time!!!

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Fallen Sword

So, you find that you have too much time on your hands and not enough playing of games to fill that time? And perhaps you like killing things (at least in a simulated manner), but simply aren't finding enough places to do so. Well, if you're looking for an on-line RPG (without actual role-playing) with lots of killing, I think I've found what you're looking for: Fallen Sword.

It's entirely web-based and written in php -- and it is very well done. They boast over 500,000 players, so apparently I'm rather late to the game. But hey, if you're looking for an excellent RPG-game simulation, check this one out. I'll warn you -- if you get into such games, this one will suck away quite a bit of your time...

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Tolerance = Death

We must be more tolerant. We're told this every day by socialist and communist supporters around the world -- from ABC News to the Academics to the Democrat Party. Over and over we're told that if we dare to criticize anyone for, well, anything, then we're simply intolerant and unaccepting of someone else's "lifestyle" or choices. The only way to live in such a world as these utopians envision is to be dead. Just ask Younis Masih.

Younis said that it was bad to rape young girls. For that, he will die.

And if you disagree with that proposition, you're simply intolerant and unaccepting of the Muslim religion. He had been charged in Pakistan and has been sentenced to death because of his actions. Oh, and if anyone else provides any legal assitance to Younis? They will die also. If you provide any security assistance to him -- dead. Once again, if you disagree, with these various death sentences, you're intolerant.

Know what? I'm intolerant of any religion that wants to kill people for saying that young girls shouldn't be raped. I guess if I lived in Pakistan, I'd be killed, too. Good thing we don't subscribe to Islam in America...yet...

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Doctors Wrong on Life

He fell into a coma. Doctors also found cancer in his brain and said he would not live.

Despite doctors' advice that he would not live, his wife never gave up hope and took care of him at home.

Can you believe it? Doctors, despite their own illusions, aren't God. And they're not always right. Imagine that.

Now I'm not bashing all doctors here -- I'm just pointing out the part of this story that seems to get a little overlooked. If this woman had listened to her doctors, she would have killed her husband years ago. Good thing she didn't listen to them, huh?

Also of note in the story is the part that today's American Democrat party seems to be completely ignoring:

He said Grzebski was shocked to see the streets and shops in the town. "He remembered shelves filled with mustard and vinegar only" under communism."

"He was so amazed to see the colorful streets, the goods," she said. "He says the world is prettier now" than it was 19 years ago, when Poland was still under communist rule.

But that is the world that the Democrat candidate for president desire when they talk of "fairness," $40,000+ minimum wages, and "free healthcare" for all. But they don't care, because as president, THEY will have all their needs met by the peons -- no matter how bad things get for the working class.

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News Notes

A few news stories this weekend caught my attention, and none seemed enough for an entire post -- so I just decided to combine all their stupidity in one post. So here we go!

1. Toothpaste from China deadly . Did you catch this one? The reports that say that Chinese-made toothpaste contains diethylene glycol -- which happens to be an ingredient in antifreeze. But know what I found most interesting? Not the poison-related factor, but the list of companies that use Chinese-made toothpaste:

Cooldent Fluoride, Cooldent Spearmint, Cooldent ICE, Dr. Cool, Everfresh Toothpaste, Superdent Toothpaste, Clean Rite Toothpaste, Oralmax Extreme, Oral Bright Fresh Spearmint Flavor, Bright Max Peppermint Flavor and ShiR Fresh Mint Fluoride Paste.

Wow. That's a lot of Chinese-made toothpaste. I find it amazing that companies actually spend less to produce toothpaste in China and ship it to America than they would to produce it in America. Could that be related to the massive costs associated with hiring people in America -- Like exorbitant minimum-wage laws; restrictive workplace laws; medical insurance requirements; and massive liability insurance requirements? I'm just asking.

2. 28th arrest for Drunk Driving. This fellow got arrested for drunk driving in New Mexico for the 28th time. I'm sure everyone was quick to condemn him. After all, he's just a drunk -- and DUI is worse than murder in today's society. So, what was his BAC on any of those charges? Sorry, they're not saying. Could it have been .08? It's certainly likely. And what's the increased odds of someone that blows .08 to injure someone? None. Sorry MADD wackos, there's simply no increased risk at .08. To actually reach a point where the increase of danger to others, you need to be up near .17 or above. That's facts, no matter what MADD, who wants prohibition, says. Know how many accidents this man caused in his 28 arrests? ZERO. He was never actually a danger to anyone.

3. Employer Dress Codes Illegal. Oh, you didn't see that headline this weekend? It was there, but you might have seen it worded differently. But that's what the judge says. If you want to wear any clothes that you want to work, it doesn't matter what the workplace says you must wear. According to a federal judge, an employer simply is not allowed to dictate any dress code of any employee -- all you have to do is claim it's your religion to wear your underpants on the outside of your clothes and no workplace can fire you for doing it. Seriously.

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Compulsory school attendance age

A liberal trend I've seen crossing the nation, and slowly catching on here in North Carolina, is to raise the compulsory age of attendance for school. In other words, take people who cannot handle school for one reason or another, and force them to continue to attend school against their will. And this idea to force them to attend will have one major effect -- it will lower the average ability of students so those who might have excelled will be forced to be dumber and less educated. But not only that, it will cost HUGE piles of money -- which is why liberals and the education people like it. Keep in mind as you read on -- the PRIMARY purpose of government education is to spend money and employ people, NOT to educate students.

RALEIGH – Raising the mandatory school attendance age could cost North Carolina nearly $9 million a year, with no positive impact on the state’s graduation or dropout rates. That’s the main finding in a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report.

“North Carolina’s low graduation rate and high dropout rate have little to do with the mandatory – or compulsory – attendance age,” said report author Terry Stoops, JLF Education Policy Analyst. “Legislation aimed at increasing the compulsory attendance age to 17 or 18 would do little to solve North Carolina’s graduation and dropout crisis.”

The N.C. House voted May 24 to create a task force that would study raising the compulsory school attendance age. House Bill 1790 calls for a plan to boost the compulsory age to 18 and to increase the N.C. graduation rate to 100 percent. The Senate has not yet considered the bill.

North Carolina is one of 26 states that set 16 as the maximum age for compulsory school attendance, Stoops said. Other states set the maximum age at 17 or 18. “Data from the states show there is no apparent relationship between the maximum compulsory age and graduation rates,” he said. “In fact, four of the five states with the highest graduation rates match North Carolina in setting the maximum compulsory age at 16.”

There’s also no data to tie a higher compulsory age to lower dropout rates, Stoops said. “One of the two lowest dropout rates belongs to New Jersey, which has a compulsory attendance age of 16,” he said. “On the other hand, Louisiana has the highest dropout rate in the nation and a compulsory attendance age of 18.”

Research from Cornell University also raises questions about raising the compulsory school attendance age, Stoops said. “The research analyzed dropout and graduation rates before and after four states raised their compulsory attendance age,” he said. “None of the states increased its graduation rate. Two of the four states showed no improvement in dropout data attributable to the higher attendance age.”

The Ivy League research also noted that investments in teachers, facilities, and transportation would go to waste, Stoops said. “The chief researcher concluded ‘raising the compulsory school attendance age would not be a cost-effective mandate in terms of achieving its intended goals.’”

Raising North Carolina’s compulsory attendance age to 17 would cost $8.46 million a year in education services for an estimated 942 students, Stoops said. “Add in the estimated legal costs for additional truancy cases, and a compulsory attendance age of 17 would cost North Carolina taxpayers approximately $8.8 million a year.”

North Carolina should seek other ways to boost graduation rates and cut dropout rates, Stoops said. “Efforts to reach out to students at risk of dropping out must begin in the elementary and middle school grades,” he said. “School systems and law enforcement officials should also begin earnestly enforcing existing truancy laws. There is very little to be gained by raising the compulsory attendance age and forcing unruly or indifferent students to stay longer in schools that are not meeting their needs.”

Terry Stoops Spotlight report, "Raise the Bar, Not the Age: Why raising the compulsory school age wonÂ’t reduce dropouts," is available at the JLF web site. For more information, please contact Stoops at (919) 828-3876 or tstoops@johnlocke.org. To arrange an interview, contact Mitch Kokai at (919) 306-8736 or mkokai@johnlocke.org.

(Linked to Carnival of the Carolinas.

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Weekend Hunting Fun

Feel the need to go quail hunting? You can without all the mess, online! Whee.

Hat tip to VW Bug.

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Offensive American Flag

The royalty that calls itself the government in Raleigh, NC, has once again made a royal proclamation. They have decided that this:

is dirty and offensive; while this:

is not.
Once again -- dirty and offensive:

and clean and approved:

Only a truly insane and ultra-controlling (liberal Democrat) government could even attempt to make that claim with a straight face. I mean, it's not like people and businesses are trying to show their support for America during a time of war or anything...

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Friday Feast #146

Here's how it works:

Each Friday when you visit this meme, you will find 5 enticing courses for your mind to gobble up:

Appetizer
- a quick, tasty morsel to get you started

Soup
- smooth and warm to soothe your mind

Salad
- a nutritious blend of "veggies"

Main Course
- a hearty portion that is sure to satisfy

Dessert
- light concoction for your sweet tooth

And now for this week's fare:

Appetizer: Name something you think is “the best.”

America's Democrats tell me that Socialism is "the best" -- much better than freedom. However, I disagree. I think that freedom is "the best."

Soup: On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 highest), how stressed are you today?

Zero. Really. Whatever it is, it's really not that important. And I know that man is not in control, anyway. If you're stressed, relax -- I know how the story ends, and it's a good ending. Good WILL overcome evil in the end -- despite man's best efforts to the contrary.

Salad: What kind of cleanser do you use to wash your face?

What is this thing you call "cleanser?" Did you miss the picture up there at the top? Hello, I'm an OGRE!

Main Course: Tonight is a blue moon! What is something that you believe only happens “once in a blue moon.”

Oh, that's too easy. Should I take the easy one? Why not? Something that only happens once in a blue moon is... that the moon turns blue. Oh come on, you HAD to see that one coming!

Dessert: When was the last time it rained where you live?

mmmMMMmm...dessert. I like desserts in the desert... like where I am now! I think it's been at least two or three weeks since we've seen ANY rain here at all. Yes, it is pretty much the end of the world. Global warming, drought conditions, etc. Much stuff is dying. Water limitations are just around the corner...well, for people, not for the cities or for any businesses, just for the average Joe who actually PAYS for their water...

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Philadelphia Demands Man-Boy Anal Sex

The City of Philadelphia has come out with open opposition to NOT having man-boy anal sex in public buildings. They have voted to kick out an organization that doesn't openly support man-boy anal sex from all public buildings. I guess the "City of Brotherly Love" takes it's motto seriously. They claim it's "discrimination" to openly say that man-boy anal sex is wrong.

I was once asked by someone if I discriminated. I said that I discriminated all the time -- against actions. For example, I discriminate against rapists. I discriminate against those who murder innocent people. And yes, I discriminate against any male who wants to have anal sex with a boy. But according to the City of Philadelphia, that makes me "abhorrent" and "at opposition with the city's principles." I'm glad to be on the right side of this one; but I'm amazed that the City of Philadelphia can openly support man-boy anal sex in public buildings.

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Demolition of Charlotte Coliseum

Over the north door of St. Paul's Cathedral in London is written in Latin: "If you would see his monument look around," referring to the great architectural work of Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723)

If you're looking for a monument to the misguided political leadership of Charlotte , then go to the intersection of Tyvola Road and Paul Buck Boulevard, Sunday morning and watch as the perfectly fine 465,000 square-foot Charlotte Coliseum is imploded in 10 seconds by 550 pounds of explosives. This exercise in waste of taxpayer assets is brought to you by the elected officials and bureaucrats who run the City of Charlotte.

The Tyvola Coliseum and surrounding acreage were originally created in the late 1980's with $86 million, principle and interest of taxpayer funds. The property was sold in recent years by the City to an Atlanta developer for approximately $25 million. As a condition of the sale, the City made the buyer promise not to use the Coliseum as an arena; and that is why it is being demolished.

In a 2001 referendum ~ 57 percent of over 100,000 Charlotte Voters, rejected building a new arena uptown. They seemed happy with the existing one on Tyvola. Despite the vote, City leadership went ahead anyway and built an arena now operating uptown at 333 E. Trade Street. This project cost the taxpayers over $430 million, in principle and interest. The chief beneficiaries were the owners of the Charlotte Bobcats Basketball Team and the National Basketball Association. The uptown building has several thousand fewer seats than the Tyvola Coliseum does and the available parking, ingress and egress are far inferior to what was available at Tyvola.

This same Charlotte political leadership, which has brought about the demolition of the Tyvola Coliseum, is now carping that the taxpayers should not repeal, by referendum this November, the half-cent transit sales tax. But this tax is only part of the financing for a scheduled multi-billion dollar, multi-corridor mass transit plan, including a light rail system, which according to many transportation experts is doomed to failure.

Though S.C.A.T will have more to say about the referendum in the coming months, remember this: You cannot trust the political leaders of Charlotte to make sound judgments about spending your tax dollars. The Charlotte area has many needs, including funds for schools and resources to reduce our high rate of violent crime.

If the transit sales tax is not repealed, you can count on City leaders spending every dime and much more, on an extravagant system, which will have little, if any impact on traffic congestion and pollution. Just think of the waste in evidence this Sunday, as the cloud of dust goes up on Tyvola Road.

SCAT- SENSIBLE CHARLOTTE AREA TRANSPORTATION
Contacts: Co-Chairmen
Don Reid ~ 704-523-8851 or 828-664-0475 Reidassociates@bellsouth.net
Jim Puckett ~ 704-363-1379 JHpucket@bellsouth.net
Tom Ashcraft, Advisor

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