Friday, March 11, 2011

Waiting for Superman?

If you knew our children were in danger, and you had the power to act, would you? Do you think American education is all that it should be? Join us for a viewing of Davis Guggenheim’s (“An Inconvenient Truth”) film “Waiting for Superman” on Monday, March 28, in the Cashiers Albert-Carlton Library at 5:30 pm. This is a real-life documentary into the lives of five unforgettable kids and the heart-breaking situations they and thousands more face every day because of a failed public educational system. Will Superman arrive in time to save the kids from a system that only serves the teachers’ unions and the politicians who are indebted to them?

As the story ends, it is actually only the beginning, for the real hero is YOU! Remember: to these kids and thousands more across America, you are Superman! You have the power to change things and to make a difference. Will you join us in fighting for the children in America whose futures are being squandered?

Bruce Gardner Beverly Elliott
bruce@teaforeducation.com beverly@teaforeducation.com
828-506-5007 828-400-5556

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Making a Line in the Sand

I just got back from the Tea Party counter-protest to the SEIU (Service Employee International Union) rally at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta this past afternoon (Wednesday February 23, 2011) and wanted to give a short report on the 'festivities.'

We got to Atlanta in plenty of time to see small groups of red and blue-shirted people making their way to the state capitol. As it turned out these people were various union members who had been bussed in from other states to take part in this rally.

The group that I was to meet up with, Restore the Constitution--III percenters, were supposed to assemble in front of Trinity United Methodist Church just down the street from the capitol. As I had thought (and planned for) to bring the usual 'accouterments' to this rally I had come prepared. The state of Georgia's laws are a bit different than NC's and a citizen is legally allowed to carry 'accouterments' (firearms) to political protests.

After waiting at the assembly point for a couple of minutes for the rest of the RTC'ers to show up I was approached by a Georgia State Trooper and we had a friendly and courteous conversation about the carrying of certain 'accouterments' close to the state capitol. I agreed with his (Trooper Ogle’s) rationale and decided for the time being to return the 'accouterments' to my vehicle for safe keeping. Later on I retrieved my 'accouterments' from my vehicle and carried them openly on the streets of Atlanta a couple of blocks away from the capitol at a smaller protest by RTC’ers in defense of our Constitution. This smaller protest was successful, although we were watched closely (observe and report) by Fulton County Deputies and Atlanta Police from across the street. Several passers-by came up to us and thanked us for standing up for the Constitution and our inalienable rights.

The several Tea Parties of Atlanta (South Atlanta Tea Party being one of them) met on a corner across from the state capitol. There were approximately 70 – 100 freedom-minded men and women, many of whom had fashioned innovative and colorful signs with pointed messages supporting the governor of Wisconsin and condemning unions for their greediness.

Sad to say that the anti-freedom forces numbered approximately 250 people, had professionally made signs, were well organized, and had been taught their ‘lines’ by community organizers quite well. It would seem from their behavior that they are determined to bring down the republic by any means necessary.

Despite this, the Tea Parties, the 9-12 groups, and the RTC’ers made up in enthusiasm what we lacked in numbers. I was proud to be a part of this group standing up for our freedoms and the republic in which we live. What I re-learned from the experience was that it is important to draw a ‘line in the sand’ and defend it or else it is all over with us as “these United States of America.”
Cross-posted at: https://www.teapartypatriots.org/

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Choose Wisely

[This column is in response to a story which ran recently (Jan.29, 2011) in the Tuckaseegee Reader (www.tuckreader.com), “Asheville political, religious leaders rally for sexual equality”]

Oh what a perfect world it would be if only we were all the same and we were all ‘equal.’ I don't think so. Neither should you.
Totally homogeneous societies tend to become closed. Such closed societies tend to become closed systems. Closed systems tend to self-destruct—usually violently.
The opposite of such closed systems are systems that or so 'open' that they fly apart, also usually violently--such as the way our society seems to be self-destructing from within.
The middle road; a society that encourages some homogenization through a 'melting pot' (such as the way that we used to be before ‘social correctness’), establishes lofty national ideals, and also encourages personal freedom and responsibility, more efficient and smaller, constitutional-based government, and a respect for, and following of the socio-political agreements that our society is founded upon (Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and the Bill of Rights) is much more stable and just, and survives for a much longer period of history.
Yet each generation gets to choose whether it prefers freedom and the rule of law, a moderate amount of homogenization and reasonable social norms; or, safety and 'celebrating our diversity', no social norms, and eventually totalitarianism.
Do you really believe that socially, politically, economically, and historically that there is such a thing as a “free lunch?” Choose wisely, now.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Green Energy Park Produces Private-Sector Jobs

I thoroughly agree that it is past time to “wake up, get Jackson County moving.” For too long we have relied upon the national and state governments to provide leadership and direction for us in Jackson County and Western North Carolina. It is past time that we came together and charted our own economic future. One of the leaders in this economic renaissance is Timm Muth, the Director of Jackson County’s Green Energy Park (JCGEP).
Commissioners, I appreciate your taking a look at various county departments for efficiency, effectiveness, and fiscal responsibility. It is important for our county representatives to promote open, honest, accountable, and fiscally responsible government at all levels. Otherwise, we might as well hold out a tin cup to Washington D.C. and Raleigh and be grateful for the pennies that we do get back from the dollars that we send them.
Muth appeared before you on January 3 of this year asking for a replacement to his departing assistant. You asked him some pointed questions and made the excellent suggestion that he produce a cost-benefit analysis study so as to better show you how the JCGEP benefits all of Jackson County.
I went to the JCGEP a few days before your January 18 meeting and had Muth show me what he has done, what he is doing, and what he wants to do with his operation. Frankly gentlemen, the benefits of the JCGEP for the county are impressive. Capturing methane gas from the old Dillsboro landfill and using it to create viable, tax-paying, private-sector jobs is no small feat.
According to a study just recently released by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (www.p2pays.org/ref/53.52107.pdf) there are currently over 15,000 private sector jobs that have been created to recycle valuable materials here in North Carolina. These private sector jobs, which have been promoted by operations such as the JCGEP, have increased by 4.8% since 2008. The total annual payroll for these recycling jobs in North Carolina is $395 million. There are numerous other benefits created from these public-private partnerships.
What Muth has done at the JCGEP not only is currently paying economic dividends for the investment that our county is contributing, it also has the strong probability of promoting many more private-sector jobs, tourism dollars, and tax monies to return to the citizens of Jackson County.
In the coming weeks and months we’ll be talking more about the JCGEP and the unique, positive benefits that it creates for Jackson County. In the mean time I would urge all of you commissioners to call Timm Muth, invest a little of your time going to the JCGEP, and find out the many positive benefits generated there. Remember gentlemen that these benefits that you will see are not in the future, but they are occurring right here and now in Jackson County.