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Tar Holes
Author: clintster    Date: 07/17/2014 12:27:26

Over the past few years much has been made of the North Carolina state government and its efforts to turn a once-proud state into West Somalia. Granted, there have been no end of crazy laws and bans going on across the nation (witness the Virginia lege banning flags on sticks in the capitol building), but when it comes to pure, unadulterated legislative ridiculousness, the Old North State has them all beat, hands down


So what is the General Assembly up to in North Carolina? Well...

    Just this week, the state senate passed a bill that would allow counties to raise sales taxes to fund infrastructure or education, but not both. Even though a recent report from the American Society of Civil Engineers has stated that one in nine bridges are structurally unsound, and despite the constant need to improve education, the GA has decreed that counties can choose good roads OR good schools.

    Meanwhile, after seven years the state government is about to release a report on water-quality standards that it is federally required to do every three years. This is not the most worrisome thing about the report, though. That belongs to the fact that the report will do nothing to address the possible water toxicity of fracking chemicals. North Carolina is expected to open the state to fracking in 2015, and for many mountain residents with no job prospects and no unemployment aid coming from the state government, they may have to poison their own land so they can feed their families.

    If you're a teacher, of course, you have no need to worry. You have a job and it's secure, right? WRONG! The GA passed a law this spring that not only eliminates tenure for teachers, but also eliminates pay raises for teachers who earn advanced degrees. For some reason, however, this did not seem to placate teachers who are already having to sweat out performance reviews and buy supplies not only for themselves, but for their students as well:


In April, the Wake County Public School System – the largest in North Carolina with about 150,000 – said more than 600 teachers had left since the beginning of the school year, an increase of 41 percent over the same period the year before.


    But fear not, North Carolinians! The GA has got your back on the important issues. They passed a bill that allows students to pray in school and mention God in school assignments. This is a move that is sure to compensate for the budget cuts and mass exodus of teachers who selfishly want to make more money to provide for themselves and their families. Also, they are planning on issuing "Choose Life" license plates, even though such plates have been ruled unconstitutional twice.


(Would this be a good time to mention that State House speaker Thom Tillis is the Republican nominee to unseat US Senator Kay Hagen? I think it is.)

All of this is merely the tip of the iceberg of the riciculousness that has beset North Carolina over the past two years. I grew up in NC, and I love the state like no other. However, seeing what is going on there, I think I can stand not being there as long as ALEC and the Koch brothers wield their kingmaking scepters over the flunkies that are trying to put the state in last place in so many national standards. Maybe the electorate will wake up this year and in 2016, but I'm not overly optimistic.
 

37 comments (Latest Comment: 07/18/2014 00:59:15 by Raine)
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Comments:

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Comment by Mondobubba on 07/17/2014 13:08:58
Comment by Scoopster on 07/17/2014 13:19:49
Mornin' all..

Comment by wickedpam on 07/17/2014 13:23:18
Morning

Comment by clintster on 07/17/2014 13:30:56
Blog is up. Come 'n git it!

Comment by clintster on 07/17/2014 13:31:47
Quote by Mondobubba:
Oh, Atlanta!


Oh yes. We're filling the "sleazy geek" quotient.

Comment by Scoopster on 07/17/2014 13:36:37
Sigh.. so I see a shared post pop up on Facebook about the Israel/Palestine mess and someone comments saying..
I've been paying attention to the fact that your messages and quotes of other peoples' once - you lean on more and more on one side of the middle east equation. This makes me very sorry, because leaning on one side only makes it very difficult to conversate with each other fairly. Can we return to less biased conversations?

I felt compelled to say that when the Knesset's military campaign stops being so one-sided then so will our comments about it.

Comment by TriSec on 07/17/2014 13:39:24
Hi all! trisec with a quick blow-through from camp!

Comment by Raine on 07/17/2014 13:41:48
Clint! You Rock! Thank you again. I am about 1o minutes from BWI headed north!

Comment by Scoopster on 07/17/2014 13:50:18
Quote by TriSec:
Hi all! trisec with a quick blow-through from camp!

Hey Tri! Did you get a chance to read my proposition?

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/17/2014 13:54:51
Quote by clintster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Oh, Atlanta!


Oh yes. We're filling the "sleazy geek" quotient.



There is a t**ty bar for every taste.

Comment by BobR on 07/17/2014 14:29:17
Quote by Raine:
Clint! You Rock! Thank you again. I am about 1o minutes from BWI headed north!



Comment by Mondobubba on 07/17/2014 14:46:53
Old Line State, Clint. Because I am a helper.

Comment by clintster on 07/17/2014 14:59:05
Quote by Mondobubba:
Old Line State, Clint. Because I am a helper.


Actually OLS is Maryland's state nickname, because of the Mason-Dixon Line. ONS is incorporated into the title of the official state song of NC. ;)

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/17/2014 15:09:05
Quote by clintster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Old Line State, Clint. Because I am a helper.


Actually OLS is Maryland's state nickname, because of the Mason-Dixon Line. ONS is incorporated into the title of the official state song of NC. ;)



Mondo regrets his embarressing error. Nothing to see here. :whistles:

Comment by wickedpam on 07/17/2014 15:33:24
Hey Raine & MOndo - what's that new stuff you guys found for your sinuses and allergies?

Comment by Raine on 07/17/2014 15:36:29
Quote by wickedpam:
Hey Raine & MOndo - what's that new stuff you guys found for your sinuses and allergies?
NASACORT! IT really helps alot.


Comment by Scoopster on 07/17/2014 15:39:28
BBC reporting that a Malaysian Airlines plane has crashed near the Ukraine-Russia border. Was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

1) Another MA plane? They're not having a good year.
2) I reeeeeeally hope it wasn't shot down by one of the fighting factions over there.

Comment by wickedpam on 07/17/2014 15:43:52
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Hey Raine & MOndo - what's that new stuff you guys found for your sinuses and allergies?
NASACORT! IT really helps alot.



thanks

Comment by Raine on 07/17/2014 15:56:37
Quote by Scoopster:
BBC reporting that a Malaysian Airlines plane has crashed near the Ukraine-Russia border. Was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

1) Another MA plane? They're not having a good year.
2) I reeeeeeally hope it wasn't shot down by one of the fighting factions over there.
ABC has a live stream. I just saw this. JEebus


Comment by Scoopster on 07/17/2014 15:57:22
Quote by Scoopster:
BBC reporting that a Malaysian Airlines plane has crashed near the Ukraine-Russia border. Was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

1) Another MA plane? They're not having a good year.
2) I reeeeeeally hope it wasn't shot down by one of the fighting factions over there.

Ah crap.. it was hit by a missile.

Comment by Raine on 07/17/2014 15:58:11
People are reporting it was shot down.

Comment by Raine on 07/17/2014 15:58:39
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Scoopster:
BBC reporting that a Malaysian Airlines plane has crashed near the Ukraine-Russia border. Was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

1) Another MA plane? They're not having a good year.
2) I reeeeeeally hope it wasn't shot down by one of the fighting factions over there.

Ah crap.. it was hit by a missile.
vWhose missle? do we know yet?


Comment by Scoopster on 07/17/2014 15:59:05
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Scoopster:
BBC reporting that a Malaysian Airlines plane has crashed near the Ukraine-Russia border. Was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

1) Another MA plane? They're not having a good year.
2) I reeeeeeally hope it wasn't shot down by one of the fighting factions over there.

Ah crap.. it was hit by a missile.
vWhose missle? do we know yet?

Unconfirmed reports say it was the anti-Ukranian rebels.

Comment by BobR on 07/17/2014 16:01:53
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Scoopster:
BBC reporting that a Malaysian Airlines plane has crashed near the Ukraine-Russia border. Was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

1) Another MA plane? They're not having a good year.
2) I reeeeeeally hope it wasn't shot down by one of the fighting factions over there.

Ah crap.. it was hit by a missile.
vWhose missle? do we know yet?

Unconfirmed reports say it was the anti-Ukranian rebels.

That is going to bring some severe hellfire to rain down on them. This is way outside the lines.

Comment by Raine on 07/17/2014 16:05:05
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Scoopster:
BBC reporting that a Malaysian Airlines plane has crashed near the Ukraine-Russia border. Was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

1) Another MA plane? They're not having a good year.
2) I reeeeeeally hope it wasn't shot down by one of the fighting factions over there.

Ah crap.. it was hit by a missile.
vWhose missle? do we know yet?

Unconfirmed reports say it was the anti-Ukranian rebels.
The same rebels that Putinhas allegedly supported?

I hope that fucker is shitting his pants today,




Comment by Scoopster on 07/17/2014 16:17:38
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Scoopster:
BBC reporting that a Malaysian Airlines plane has crashed near the Ukraine-Russia border. Was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

1) Another MA plane? They're not having a good year.
2) I reeeeeeally hope it wasn't shot down by one of the fighting factions over there.

Ah crap.. it was hit by a missile.
vWhose missle? do we know yet?

Unconfirmed reports say it was the anti-Ukranian rebels.
The same rebels that Putin has allegedly supported?

I hope that fucker is shitting his pants today

Yep the same one.. Ukraine doesn't have this kind of surface-to-air missile system. Of course, Moscow is denying fault, but hey when you have a bunch of patsies fighting a war of attrition for you..

UGH MSNBC WHY DO YOU PUT ON THIS OLD GASBAG JOHN MCCAIN?!!?!?!?

Comment by Raine on 07/17/2014 16:23:30
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Scoopster:
BBC reporting that a Malaysian Airlines plane has crashed near the Ukraine-Russia border. Was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

1) Another MA plane? They're not having a good year.
2) I reeeeeeally hope it wasn't shot down by one of the fighting factions over there.

Ah crap.. it was hit by a missile.
vWhose missle? do we know yet?

Unconfirmed reports say it was the anti-Ukranian rebels.
The same rebels that Putin has allegedly supported?

I hope that fucker is shitting his pants today

Yep the same one.. Ukraine doesn't have this kind of surface-to-air missile system. Of course, Moscow is denying fault, but hey when you have a bunch of patsies fighting a war of attrition for you..

UGH MSNBC WHY DO YOU PUT ON THIS OLD GASBAG JOHN MCCAIN?!!?!?!?
JEebus, I am so glad I am on the train right now.




Comment by wickedpam on 07/17/2014 16:48:44
and there goes Thom being all peppy and upbeat

Comment by Scoopster on 07/17/2014 17:48:16
Looks like I'm leaving early today.

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/17/2014 18:38:56
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Hey Raine & MOndo - what's that new stuff you guys found for your sinuses and allergies?
NASACORT! IT really helps alot.



What she said.


Comment by Mondobubba on 07/17/2014 18:39:29
Comment by Scoopster on 07/17/2014 19:37:27
Ahhh.. being home two hours early feels good.

Comment by livingonli on 07/17/2014 19:49:02
And I'm getting my rear brakes fixed up today. Good thing my roomie knows stuff about cars which saves me a lot of money compared to what I had to get my brakes replaced on the Saturn a few years ago.

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/17/2014 20:05:47
Quote by Scoopster:
Ahhh.. being home two hours early feels good.



Ahh, zip it Scoop.

Comment by Raine on 07/18/2014 00:57:13
Quote by livingonli:
And I'm getting my rear brakes fixed up today. Good thing my roomie knows stuff about cars which saves me a lot of money compared to what I had to get my brakes replaced on the Saturn a few years ago.
Ok that is very awesome!


Comment by Raine on 07/18/2014 00:58:40
I arrived in my first destination of the weekend. Fairlawn NJ. HAnging with on of my very few BF's from High school. Tomorrow we head of to the finger lakes ( no jokes) for a mini reunion!

Comment by Raine on 07/18/2014 00:59:15
Well done, Florida, WELL DONE!


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