Politics

Politics

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Ty Harrell sponsors anti-municipal Internet bill

ty_harrellNow that Time Warner Cable feels secure enough in its near-monopoly of high-speed Internet access to greatly raise its rates, it has turned its attention to strengthening its monopoly by effectively blocking any N.C. city from providing alternatives.

N.C. Rep. Ty Harrell of Wake County has sponsored just such a bill, known as House Bill 1252. Just when high-speed Internet users stuck with Time Warner Cable (or its partners such as Earthlink) were dreaming of one day having what our neighbors in Wilson have, Time Warner Cable seeks to take that away.

I know Ty and consider him a friend, so it makes it all the more distressing to know he’s sponsoring this. Please contact Ty and other representatives and let them know how you feel.

Also, if you can attend Wednesday morning’s N.C. Science and Technology committee meeting, please do so. And add the Save North Carolina’s Broadband site to your daily reads!

Meeting break

It’s Crunch Week for me. The third week of the month is like that. Here’s my agenda for the week:

  • Monday 5:30 – 6:30 Gather and deliver donations to neighbor in need
  • Monday 7:00 PM – 9:45 PM – Conduct monthly East CAC meeting
  • Tuesday – off
  • Wednesday 5:30 PM – 8:45 PM Raleigh CAC meeting/workshop
  • Thursday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Parks board meeting
  • Thursday 6:30 PM – 8 PM Comprehensive Plan hearing
  • Friday 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM volunteer at the Rhine

What a crazy life, but a satisfying one.

CAC

I conducted another CAC meeting last night and came home buzzing. There were 42 fired-up neighbors there: one of the largest CAC meetings I’ve seen anywhere. I’m continually amazed at how passionate people are about their neighborhood. It’s like a jolt of electricity to me to be in that room.

I may one day stumble into political office but I can’t imagine I’ll ever have as much fun as I’m having now as a CAC leader.

Salvia

How could a pediatrician-turned-lawmaker be so ignorant about drugs? Laurinburg Democrat Bill Purcell compares salvia to meth as if the two are remotely similar: a plant versus a caustic mixture of chemicals (including drain cleaner) – with drastically different effects.

Think the good folks of Laurinburg are running around crazed, knocking over convenience stores to get money for more salvia? Think again: even he admits there’s no problem with salvia.

Hey Rep. Purcell: that budget shortfall? Remember that? That’s the problem you should be trying to solve. How about putting the celebrity bills aside and getting back to fixing our state’s real problems.

Obama: “I screwed up”

What refreshing words to hear our President say: “I screwed up.” In the past eight years full of colossal screwups, I never heard that other guy ever admit he made a mistake. I am happy to hear President Obama taking responsibility for his actions. The buck finally stops at the White House desk again.

I am also happy to help Obama see the error of his ways, such as his apparently continuing the policy of kidnapping … er, rendition as my buddy Scott pointed out (fortunately it looks like the L.A. Times “got punked” in the words of Harper’s Scott Horton. Salon pointed me to some analysis of these claims by Harper’s and the Washington Monthly).

Community involvement

Just got back from a Raleigh CAC meeting that was delightfully fun and also a bit contentious. I’ve been to a handful of them now and this one by far was the most productive. There are still individual concerns about the body and how it’s supposed to work, though. It’s totally herding cats.

I’m finding myself stretched pretty thin with all I’ve got going on. I’m glad I still have a job, though. For as long as it lasts, at least. There really is no such thing as “safe” anymore.

Snowbama

Snowbama. That’s what area folks are calling yesterday’s snow-and-inauguration mashup.

I thought the inauguration was fitting, and was glad Prez O didn’t promise the moon and the stars. I was also thrilled to see that he and Michelle hopped out of their limo to walk the parade route, a la Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. One of the first signs of problems with George W. Bush’s term for me was the tank of a Cadillac he rode in during his inauguration. While admittedly Bush likely didn’t have any say about the car, something about that rubbed me the wrong way.

Anyway, time for Prez O to get to work. And what a daunting job it is.

Community involvement

I conducted another meeting of the East CAC this evening. It was one of those meetings that sent me home feeling great. I get a rush out of being with a group of people passionate about their neighborhood.

It’s no small amount of work supporting my neighbors through the CAC, but it sure is a blast to see how much it’s appreciated.