Posts by Carter Wrenn
Pirates of the Pamlico?
Here’s another unusual footnote from eastern North Carolina. After ten years – and $1.2 million of taxpayers’ money – government officials still haven’t proved a shipwreck buried in the mud in Beaufort Inlet belonged to Blackbeard the pirate. The problem, they say, is lack of money. Now, how much would it be worth to prove…
Read MoreMental Health?
Here’s a really outrageous story. The head of the northeastern North Carolina Regional Mental Health Agency’s salary is: $319,000 a year (Charlotte Observer, 06-03-07). Plus a $1000 a month car allowance. Of course, the Governor only makes a fraction of that – as does the head of the much bigger Mecklenburg County Mental Health Agency…
Read MorePolitics and Immigration
There are three sides in the debate on immigration. The liberals. The conservatives. And what I will call Wall Street. The crux of the difference between liberals and conservatives is assimilation. Liberals believe immigration is humanitarian and immigrants will assimilate like the Irish, Italians, and Germans assimilated. Millions of new immigrants won’t reject our culture,…
Read MoreAn Odd Tale
The New York Times (06-02-07) reports the Internet has boomeranged on the pornography industry. It was initially a boost. But no more. With the World Wide Web awash in cheap, free, amateur pornography and x-rated DVDs traditional old-line pornographers’ profits are nose-diving. In an antiseptic financial analysis the Times reports when it comes to pornography…
Read MorePolitical Immolation and Immigration
President Bush was already giving whoever has the distinction of being the most unpopular president in history a run for his money. Now, as if the war in Iraq isn’t a big enough challenge, he’s leading the campaign to legalize 12 million illegal immigrants, which polls show 70% of Americans oppose. More to the point,…
Read MoreAnother Lottery Scandal?
It’s probably not another blockbuster scandal. But a tiny black cloud just floated over the Lottery Commission’s horizon. The Charlotte Observer (5-19-07) reports that the firm hired to conduct one of the lottery audits is not registered to do business in the state and was not investigated by state officials before beginning the work. It…
Read MoreNone of the Above
Here in North Carolina the Democrats poll (Public Policy Polling) shows President Bush’s popularity continues to be low (News and Observer, 5-21-07). President Bush Job Approval Approve – 41% Disapprove – 52% And, if anything, the numbers in the Republican (Civitas Institute) poll are worse. Approve – 39% Disapprove – 57% The good news is…
Read MoreA Political Grab
The Democrats want to give North Carolina’s Electoral College votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote nationwide. Instead of to the candidate who wins North Carolina. The Republicans of course are up in arms, making the Electoral College sound as sacrosanct as the College of Cardinals. Is the Democratic plan partisan? Yes. Does…
Read MoreClueless?
North Carolinians need look no further than Wednesday’s action by a state House Committee to confirm that the representatives are clueless about public dissatisfaction with the legislature. – Winston-Salem Journal May 21, 2007 Last week the State Board of Elections said Representative Thomas Wright had failed to report $220,000 in campaign donations. And that he…
Read MoreJohn Edwards Makes $285,000
Whatever fig leaf of credibility John Edwards had left is in tatters. Consider this report from a California blog. Edwards charges $55,000 to speak to UC Davis students about poverty. Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards, who recently proposed an educational policy that urged “every financial barrier” be removed for American kids who want to go…
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