Politics

Politics

There are 1,058 posts filed in Politics (this is page 86 of 106).

Why we need municipal Internet

Imagine, if you will, a world where the streets in this country are privately owned by the country’s shipping companies. In our more modern example, Let’s say your particular street is owned by a company called FredEx.

Now let’s say you want to order a CD from a far-away retailer. Realizing that it owns the street in front of your house and that few other options exist, FredEx chooses to triple the shipping rate it charges to deliver your CD. And why shouldn’t it? FredEx knows it has the best delivery path available to your house, if not an outright monopoly.

Sure, you could always choose to have your CD delivered by your postman, Mo Dem, but his is a walking route so it’s painfully slow. On the other hand, you could ship your CD by the “competing” shipper, U Pay Us, but FredEx still gets its cut for its road.

What once looked like competition is anything but. You’re trapped.
Continue reading →

CAC success

I’m back from another successful East CAC meeting. It was a great meeting: actually ended somewhat on time. We’re really getting things done now and it’s a blast to see it all happening.

More later. I’m ready for bed!

Long, busy, weekend

It’s been quite a long, busy weekend. Saturday morning, we participated in the SPCA dog walk around Raleigh. After doing 3K around downtown with a tired Labrador and somewhat tired kids, Kelly took Hallie off to her friend Suzanna’s birthday while Travis and I did ten miles of biking on the greenway. T and I had a “great adventure” at the foot of Lassiter Mill Falls, practicing skipping stones into the water, before we turned back and headed home. I never realized how beautiful Crabtree Creek is there, looking east from below the falls. I was wishing I had thought to bring my camera.

Once reunited, we all headed over to our neighbor Randy’s house for his annual “Earth Day Birthday” party. Live music, beer, and steamed oysters: yum! The kids tore around while we socialized. Our whole tired lot headed for bed too soon!
Continue reading →

Late to the tea party

So, where have these tax protesters been for the past eight years? You know, when Bush went six years without vetoing a single spending bill? When Bush blew a $230 billion budget surplus in his first year and then signed us up for an extra $3,000,000,000,000 of debt? It was fine to spend money on bombs for the past eight years but once Obama got this economy dumped in his lap suddenly it’s his fault.

Sorry, teabaggers: you’re eight years too late.

Senator Cooper?

Bob Geary weighed in today on Attorney General Roy Cooper’s chances of taking Richard Burr’s Senate seat. While I agree with most of what Geary says, calling the three-time attorney general’s campaign skills “unproven” isn’t true in my view.

I’ve seen Cooper work a room. He seems so genuine – there is no hint of guile. He seems in all ways to be just who he is: a sharp, warm, friendly guy who is happy to serve our state.

Burr may be a formidable opponent or he may be a pushover, but my money will be on Roy Cooper. Cooper can win any race he chooses to enter.

Chapel Hill urged to oppose Senate broadband bill

BY DANIEL GOLDBERG : The Herald-Sun
Apr 14, 2009

CHAPEL HILL — For the second time in two years, North Carolina municipalities are being urged to push back against legislation that would make it more difficult for local governments to provide cable and broadband services.

The Chapel Hill Town Council will receive a citizen petition on Wednesday that asks for a resolution in opposition to Senate Bill 1004, the so-called “Level Playing Field” bill. Small business owner Brian Russell, the petitioner, believes that the bill essentially prevents municipalities from providing broadband services and stifles economic development.

Read more behind the Herald-Sun’s idiotic RegisterWall.

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.