Asheville Daily Planet August 2012 by John North

UNCA prof makes case for switching to electric vehicles ... immediately

— See Story, Pg. 10

Proponent touts potential jobs from fracking in N.C.

— See Story, Pg. 9

Dave Erb

Kyle Hall

ILLE V E H AS ASHEVILLEʼS GREATEST NEWSPAPER

August 2012

Vol. 8, No. 9

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Topless rally to make return despite outcry

Opponents plan to strike back with silent protest in organizer’s Ala. city By JOHN NORTH

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com

Daily Planet Staff Photo

Zydeco band makes splash at lake concert

The band Bayou Diesel, billed as the only working cajun, zydeco, Louisiana-style dance band in the Asheville-Western North Carolina area, performed July 19 in the Park Rhythms concert series at Lake Tomahawk in Black Mountain. Joining his father John Mullholland (left) on the zydeco rubboard is 5-year-old Magnus. Others band members visible above are drummer Ben Bjorlie and accordion-player Steve B. Another photo from the concert appears on Page 3.

Under the banner of equality, women will be baring their breasts during the second annual topless rally this summer in downtown Asheville, according to the the website GoTopless.org. The website lists Asheville as one of the nine U.S. cities that will have a topless rally on Aug. 26, which it notes is Women’s Equality Day. According to the website, Asheville’s rally will begin at 1 p.m. in Pack Square downtown. However, the City of Asheville’s events calendar shows the event permitted from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in Pritchard Park. Meanwhile, local conservative activists Carl Mumpower and Chad Nesbitt are once again mounting vigorous opposition to what they consider a sexual performance, possibly involving female minors who may be participants, or other minors who might observe the topless women. (Asheville police said no minors were involved last year.) In addition to various activities, including a photo contest on Mumpower’s anti-topless rally website GoBrainless.com, Mumpower and Nesbitt are planning to bring a number of Asheville men to Huntsville, Ala., where Jeff Johnson, the topless rally promoter lives and works, to convene as four to six four-man prayer groups in the downtown as well as outside his Over the Rainbow Pediatrics. “These groups will be conducting silent prayers on various street corners in both locations,” Mumpower and Nesbitt stated in an e-mail to Leah Ray of the Huntsville Police Department. “We may have information handouts explaining our reasons for being there, but we will not be carrying signs, speaking or conducting other, more disruptive, forms of protest.” See TOPLESS, Page 15

Tea partiers out of synch with Founding Fathers, prof says

By JOHN NORTH

john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com

In his final lecture — “Our Founding Fathers: Whose Side Were They Really On” — in a three-part Thoughtful Thursday series at UNC Asheville’s Reuter Center, Bob Wiley began by noting, “Today, we’re going to explore the tea partiers claim that the Founding Fathers would have been on their side.” Addressing about 45 attendees of his July 12 presentation at the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement at UNCA, Wiley, a lecturer, repeated the disclaimer from his two previous lectures — that UNCA does not endorse his conclusions. He then asserted, “Today’s tea partiers claim they are on the same side as the Founding Fathers,” citing their backing of the Constitution combined with their belief in God. “Four thousand four hundred words — and God is not in one of them ... God is simply not in the Constitution.” He then asked, rhetorically, “How did they (the Founding Fathers) feel about God?” In answer, Wiley said they saw

Thomas Jefferson

Alexander Hamilton

enigma as laws of nature and nature’s God, as expounded by Jewish-Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677), who saw God and nature as synonomous.

Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton “sparred over the wording of the Constitution,” he noted. In a reference to earlier claims by the tea party movement, Wiley said, “No special group should claim ownership of the Constitution” — and that reality should “not be tampered with for partisan purposes.” He added that, “on the other hand, the Founding Fathers were quite clear on what they” intended in the Constitution. For instance, Wiley cited the phrase, “We hold these truths to be self-evident ...” that “among these (rights) are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness ...” “While they claimed these rights came from God, they didn’t count on God to establish those rights,” Wiley said. “They depended on ... not God, to defend these rights ... but rather Congress — and that’s a very important distinction ... Government is instituted by man ... It’s government’s responsibility that its citizens are able to pursue happiness — not God’s.” Wiley emphasized that, “unfortunately, the Founding Fathers never really spelled out exactly what they meant by ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’” See FOUNDING FATHERS, Page 22

2 —August 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Getting it right

A review of a Bee Gees’ tribute show presented by Flat Rock Playhouse on its Hendersonville stage — appearing in last month’s edition of the Daily Planet — incorrectly stated that Maurice Gibb is the one surviving member of the Brothers Gibb group. The review should have said — as it did in another Barry Gibb reference — that Barry Gibb is the sole survivor of the Bee Gees.

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Daily Planet Staff Photos

Common Foundation rocks at July Downtown After Five

The Asheville band Common Foundation (above) was the opener for the July 20 Downtown After Five monthly celebration on North Lexington Avenue. To the left, two young women sway to the music. The band — outfitted with a big-band-style horn section — played a blend of reggae, rocksteady and uptempo ska. The group moved back and forth from soulful instrumentals to jazz-influenced solos. Later, the headliner band Sol Driven Train, based in Charleston, S.C., performed roots rock. The next DA5 on Aug. 17 will feature headliner Simplified and opener Shane Pruitt Band. The music begins about 5:15 p.m.

Trader Joe’s announces plan to open in Asheville From Staff Reports Trader Joe’s, a specialty grocery store chain that is widely regarded as “hip,” announced on July 12 that it will be opening a 13,000-square-foot store on Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville sometime in 2013. The site would put it between a bustling 19,000-square-foot Greenlife Grocery — an established natural foods market owned by Whole Foods and located at 70 Merrimon Avenue — and a future 45,000-squarefoot Harris Teeter grocery store, for which site work is progressing, Harris Teeter plans to open its store — just northwest of the intersection of Merrimon Avenue and Chestnut Street — in 2013. The three groceries would be in a row along Merrimon, just north of downtown. If the Trader Joe’s project proceeds, the area will have the highest concentration of grocery stores of any in the Asheville area, prompting some media pundits to joke about the area needing to be renamed “Grocery Aisle,” or some other related name. The site for Trader Joe’s is now occuppied by several small private businesses that have been given 120 day’s notice to vacated their rented premises. The notice, at least briefly, reportedly triggered an outcry from Carreta’s officials, lamenting that their dreams had been trashed. Besides La Carreta Mexican restaurant, businesses given notice included N.Y.

Fashion and a Benjamin Moore store. Plans call for a new, one-story, retail store at 120 Merrimon Ave., according to a commercial permit application filed with the city. CAP Asheville, a Greenville, S.C.based company, filed for the permit. A Facebook group, “Bring Trader Joe’s to Asheville,” has been around for years and reportedly has more than 60,000 fans. The California-based chain, which is privately held, runs more than 350 stores across the United States, with its nearest locations in Greenville, S.C., Knoxville, Tenn., and Charlotte. Other Trader Joe’s stores in North Carolina are located in Raleigh, Cary and Chapel Hill.

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Asheville Daily Planet — August 2012 - 3

Daily Planet Staff Photo

Taking care of business

The Asheville-based band The Business performed at Park Rhythms concert series on July 12 at Lake Tomahawk in Black Mountain. It was a soggy night, but the band gave its all to the delight of a small-but-loyal crowd.

Democrat declines to endorse Obama, but later clarifies stance Democratic congressional candidate Patsy Keever in mid-July said that, while she will vote for President Barack Obama, she will not endorse him. She became one of a number of North Carolina Democrat congressional candidates who have said they would not be endorsing Obama. The next day, July 11, after an uproar from her suporters that was publicized in the news media, Keever issued what she termed a clarification of her stance, noting she would endorse the president.

“I never refused to endorse him” and “of course I endorse the president,” she said on Twitter and Facebook. Meanwhile, the Asheville Citizen-Times stood by its original story Patsy Keever in which it quoted Keever as saying, “I am a Democrat, and I will vote for President Obama, but I’m not willing to hand him, or any president, my vote in Congress.”

City official wins top honor

Sam Powers, Asheville’s director of economic development, recently was named the 2012 Economic Developer of the Year during the annual banquet of the N.C. Economic Development Association in Raleigh. Regarding the award, Powers said that it was not about him, but about the city’s partnerships with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Buncombe County, the Tourism Development Authority and other agencies. The award gives significant recognition of the community’s ability to work

together. In the past year, Powers has overseen renovations — and a name change — for the Civic Center. He also helped to recruit two new manufacturers Sam Powers for Asheville, including an auto parts-maker and a major brewery. Among other successes, Powers was a key negotiator with Lionsgate Productions to film “The Hunger Games” at North Folk Reservoir.

0% APR available to highly qualiﬁed buyers with approved credit through Volkswagen Credit. See dealer for offer details. Offer ends 08/31/2012.)

Kicking up their heels

Daily Planet Staff Photo

Young children appear mesmerized by two female dancers performing an exhibition during intermission of a concert featuring the band Bayou Diesel at the Park Rhythms concert series on July 19 at Lake Tomahawk in Black Mountain. The women (from left) — Diana McCall and Christine Garvin — are members of Black Mountain-based Jazzy Chorus Girls.

4 —August 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Rogers pitches his candidacy as team-builder By JOHN NORTH

john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com

When he was introduced, Hayden Rogers, the 11th District Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress, received light applause from members of the Council of Independent Business Owners during its July 13 meeting in West Asheville. “I really appreciate what your organization does in creating a dialogue between (the) private and public” sectors, Rogers told about 60 attendees of the breakfast issues meeting in the food court at Biltmore Square Mall. Noting that he most recently has served as U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler’s chief of staff and, before, his campaign manager. Rogers said that when Shuler decided not to seek re-election, he decided to seek his party’s nomination for the seat. With a note of irony, Rogers said “the district has changed a little bit,” in an obvious reference to the GOP-dominated state General Assembly’s redistricting, which — some political observers have said — has made the 11th District more favorable to a Republican getting elected. Rogers noted that he grew up in Graham County and received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Princeton University. He ran a small business for a while and, after that, “I had the good fortune of running the campaigns for Heath Shuler ... I was his chief of staff until February 2012,” when he announced his candidacy to succeed Shuler. “The question I hear most often is: ‘Why are you running? You know how messed up things are?’” Rogers said he tells the cynics that he has learned much — and “I had the good fortune to work for a consensus-builder (Shuler), who

was willing to cross aisles” to hammer out compromises with Republicans. “With those challenges (mentioned by the naysayers) come tremendous opportunities,” he said. Morever, Rogers is seeking the office becaise he wants to be in a Hayden Rogers position to “help our people,” with health care, defense and other issues. “I want to be part of that ... To seize the opportunity to find common goals ... If we know what our goals are, we can get there together ... If you can’t agree where you’re going, hell, any path will take you there. “I truly believe to be a successful candidate for either party, you’ve got to be willing” to work out compromises. “For the politicos in the room, I’m willing to be independent.” During a question-and-answer session, someone asked, “I know what Mr. Shuler’s positions are on unionism. What are your positions on unionism and health-care reform?” “I do support North Carolina’s status as a Right-to-Work state,” Rogers replied. “I also support the right of workers to organize.” Further, he said, “We (North Carolina) have the lowest rate of union participation in the United States ... As for health care, Heath Shuler voted against it twice ... I would not have voted for that (Obamacare),” either, he said in a reference to Obamacare. However, Rogers said that

“I think we (both political parties) need to work together” to devise a better health care bill. A man asked, “Small business is the backbone of the American economy — what iniatives do you have” to spark the private sector, particularly in regard to banks’ unwillingness to make loans to small businesses?” “I think from an education and training standpoint,” much can be done to upgrade America’s workforce to make the businesses more competitive and successful,” Rogers said. “We have to be able to follow the needs” of the private sector and “our process (in government) is messier, primarily because it’s public.” Rogers added, “As far as the lending of capital ... I’ll admit I don’t know all of the answers.” However, he said that, in such cases, he would promise to study the issue further and return with an answer. He also cautioned the CIBO members to be wary of anyone who claims to have all of the answers. “Frankly, we’ve got so many problems,” anyone claiming to have answers for everything would be suspect. CIBO member Mac Swicegood queried, “How do you perceive the discharge of all the troops being absorbed back into society?” “Most of those jobs (for returning veterans) are public-service jobs,” Rogers answered. “But those programs can only do so much” when so many veterans are returning and seeking jobs. “So,” Swicegood persisted, “they (the government) really don’t have a plan?” “As you’re well aware,” Rogers told Swicegood, “we’ve got lots of federal and state jobs,” but ““we have to rebuild this ... I don’t think there’s a silver bullet.” Another questioner asked, “Would you be in favor of extending the Bush tax cuts? What’s your position on how to deal with So-

cial Security?” Regarding the Bush tax cuts, Rogers said, “I do not support increasing taxes in a recession. I just think that’s something that’s counterintuitive.” However, he noted, “The last two decades, we’ve let things get out of hand” with the government running into the red. Regarding Social Security, Rogers said it is running at a $47 billion deficit. He attributed the system’s problems to a combination of aging baby-boomers and other factors. He said that Social Security was launched with a five workers to one retiree ratio, and now that ration is about 4:1. To solve Social Security’s huge budget deficit, Rogers spoke of looking at changing the $800,000 income cap and increasing the age of recipients “by six or seven months.” Afterward, Rogers told the Daily Planet in a brief interview that one of his role models in politics is former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga. So what is Rogers’ view of economic reality? “I believc everyone deserves an opportunity, through education, primarily,” Rogers replied. “It (education) is the equalizer. It’s an access issue ....” In a separate interview afterward, Swicegood, who has built a reputation for asking some of the toughest questions of CIBO’s guest speakers, said of Rogers to the Daily Planet, “He was as honest as he could be ... I think he’s a consevative Democrat.” Meanwhile, Rogers said earlier in July that he would skip the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte and would not be endorsing President Barack Obama. He will face Republican runoff winner Mark Meadows. For another story on CIBO’s July 13 meeting, see Page 5

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Lighting, regionalism questioned From Staff Reports

Proposed changes to Asheville’s outdoor lighting ordinance were explained to the Council of Independence Business Owners, — prompting a torrent of questions later — during a July 13 breakfast meeting at Biltmore Square Mall’s food court in West Asheville. About 50 people attended. In addition, two program spokeswomen explained where GROWNC money — for economic and governmental projects — goes, when it reaches Western North Carolina. CIBO also heard from 11th District Democratic congressional candidate Hayden Rogers on his reasons for running for office. (A story on Rogers’ talk appears on Page 4.) Making the outdoor lighting ordinance presentation — featuring “how we got to where we are now” — was Shannon Tuch, assistant director of the city Planning Department. “We started updating the (city) lighting ordinance several years ago,” Tuch said. “In 2008, we move the standards to be under the UDO (Unified Development Ordinance).” “So a lot of people feel like we have new outdoor lighting standards, but that’s not the case.” She said the city in January announced plans recently “to change to all (3,643) LED lights” in its outdoor fixtures. Tuch told of city meetings with several represenentatives, including one from Progress Energy and “a citizen with a dark-skies bent to him — and he is an expert on outdoor lighting ... We ultimately decided to use LEDs only for the city’s LED lights” and not require others to use them. She said the city finally has reached the point where it can present the draft ordinance on outdoor lighting. That move was prompted by a desire for energy efficiency and, “at the same time, we were getting some complaints on lighting.” Tuch noted “the most dramatic change in the draft ordinanance” is that “we are moving forward prohibiting floodlights ... Now that Buncombe County has moved ahead on floodlights, we felt it was a good time for us to proceed, too.” With a laugh, she said that Progress Energy was positive on the aforementioned changed because “they’re not big fans of floodlights,” either. In summary, she said the lighting ordinance was motivated by the city’s desire for energy efficiency, improved language

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Erica Allison (left) and Meg Nealon address CIBO.

the long-term and the short-term” in areas such as housing, transportation, land use, health and natural resources. Allison, who lives in Hendersonville, said her role is public outreach and strategy. “We notice you all (small business-owners) are missing from this process ... We want to make sure we’re offering options to you.” She asked the CIBO members to specify “what we can do to make it easier for you to have a more successful business ... We’re here today to let us hear what you’ve got to say and if you want to have a meeting” with Allison. N.C. House candidate Nathan Ramsey said, “This sounds like a very noble effort, but the problem is you don’t really have a goal in mind ... I think regionalism is great ... but a lot of folks (local governing bodies) have regionalism” in their plans, but “if it comes down to reality, they want local control.” Nealon responded that “everything we’re doing in this process is set up on a certain combination of goals in a regional effort ... So we have a set of goals ... As for regionalism, you make a good point. We see concurrent processes doing the same thing.”

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in the ordinance and a ban on floodlights. During a question-and-answer session, CIBO member Mac Swicegood said the ordinance “was bad timing for the business community,” given the ailing economy. The city had to define LED lighting and no other changes were made in the ordinance — “the one exception was the ban on floodlights,” Tuch replied. Another CIBO member asked if Shannon Tuch existing floodlights are exempt from the ordinance. “They’re basically ‘grandfathered’ in,” Tuch answered. A man asked, “What is the cost for LED lighting versus traditional lighting?” The submittal requirements to the city — and attendant costs — do not change, Tuch said. “Of course, LED lights might be more expensive in the front end ... We’re not requiring the LEDs, except in the case of streetlights. It’s totally voluntary.” She noted that the developer “usually” pays the cost for streetlights anyway. Overall, Tuch said, “I don’t think the cost should be very different.” Swicegood then interjected, “The one I’ve not heard about is the consumer ... I still don’t believe they were involved in the process of drawing up the ordinance. Tuch responded, “That’s what we did in 2008.” She said of the draft ordinance, “there were no substantial changes,” except for the banning of future floodlights. Meanwhile, the GROWNC presentation was made by Erica Allison and Meg Nealon. “It’s a regional initiative to set up a set of action steps” to boost the area’s economy, Nealon explained. She added, “The $7.6 million in money is coming from HUD (the federal department of Housing and Urban Development).” A portion of that funding is being used by the Land of the Sky Regional Council, which “is the entity that is adminstering the grant.” Nealon noted that she and Allison were hired to analyze “a lot of data ... so we can identify opportunities ahead”. for WNC. “We’re looking for the best things we can do in

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6 - August 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

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Daily Planet Staff Photos

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (left) enjoys a laugh with North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCory on July 19 in Asheville.

Jeb Bush revs up crowd in stumping for McCrory From Staff Reports

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush drew a crowd when he flew into Asheville on July 19 to stump for North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory during a women’s brunch fundraiser at the Double Tree by Hilton in Biltmore Village With an audience of about 200 people packing a ballroom, the two men, as planned, gave brief speeches, and then spent the bulk of their time fielding questions from the audience. The event was sponsored the Women for McCrory Coalition. McCrory said, “It’m very honored to be here with Gov. Bush .. I very much believe it will be the states, and the private sector” that will be pull the nation out of the recession. He said the state has “lost a little of the luster of our brand name” under Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue. Specifically, McCrory noted that North Carolina has the fourth-highest unemployment in the nation, topped only by Rhode Island, California and Nevada. McCrory noted Bush “is my role model.” Bush quipped, “I’m that old?” In extolling what he termed Bush’s stellar

record as governor, McCrory said, “I’m going to steal and borrow his idea ... He’s not only a role model, but becoming a good friend.” Bush said McCrory has the ability to be a great success as governor. “With him, and the great people of North Carolina, you’ll succeed” in turning the state around. However, he asserted, “I know Pat (as governor) will need a new president of the United States,” prompting cheers from the partisan audience. “This is a country where people dream and risk all they have,” which Bush said that is just what McCrory is doing — and deserves the support of North Carolina’s voters. Bush got a standing ovation from the crowd. During a question-and-answer period, a woman asked McCrory about Obamacare and the state’s efforts to set up for it. “I’m going to work with President Romney to repeal Obamacare” McCrory replied, triggering applause from the audience. Bush was cheered, too, when he added that “I hope an alternative will be offered to Obamacare” when it is repealed. “Doubling the Medicare program would not be the best way to handle this.”

Angela N. Moore (left) and Claire Jones Webb pose for a picture with Jeb Bush before the July 13 program in Asheville. Moore is secretary of the 11th District Republican Party and said she has worked on a number of campaigns.

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Asheville Daily Planet —August 2012 — 7

Obama’s Performance Review

• We are in the worst economic recovery since WWII. Forty-one straight months with unemployment above 8%. Unemployed and those looking for fulltime work is 14.9%. That is 23.6 million Americans! • Obama is not a uniter nor is he post-racial. The country is more divided now than any other time in modern history. • Obama is prohibiting free exercise of religion by mandating churches provide services that go against their teaching & religious consciences.

Daily Planet Staff Photo

Three first-time candidates for seats on the Buncombe Board of Education, who have been endorsed by Buncombe Forward, are (from left) Jerry Green, Dan Hale and Amy Churchill.

Buncombe Forward backs 3 school board candidates From Staff Reports

Buncombe Forward, a conservative polical action committee, endorsed three candidates who filed for seats on the Buncombe County Board of Education on July 20. The trio, which pledged to reform the “dysfunctional county school system and start putting our kids first,” includes Jerry Green, Dan Hale and Amy Church, Buncombe Forward noted in an announcement. BF Executive Director Robert Malt, who accompanied the candidates to the filing, said his group stands for fiscal responsibility, educational freedom, free markets and common-sense environmental policy. “We have heard from many parents who are very unhappy with the current dysfunctional school board,” he noted in a statement. “Among other things, the current board has consistently worked against transparency and accountability, has been fiscally irresponsible, has been unresponsive to parents’ concerns and has engaged in questionable hiring practices. Special-interest influence and a general lack of oversight have left our children at the back of the bus.” He added that the trio of BF-endorsed candidates “have pledged to reform the current dysfunctional county school system, and start putting our kids first.” Green, 66, is a recent retiree after 34 years as principal at Black Mountain Primary School. He is vying for the at-large seat on the board held by Dusty Pless. “He was one of the most beloved, respected and effective principals in the Buncombe County school system in recent memory,” Malt noted. “As principal, he made it a practice to know the name of each of his students, and hold everyone to high stanards.” Green also has advanced training in accounting and many years of experience in school administration. He and his wife Ivy live in Asheville. In an interview with the Daily Planet, Green said, “I’ve been in the school system for nearly 45 years. Because of that, I think I can make it better. I think we have a good system and I think it can be better.” To that end, he would like second languages taught “down to the primary level.” Hale, 42, who owns a building and remodeling business in Black Mountain, is a candidate for the Owen district seat held by Chip Craig. “Dan’s commitment to Black Mountain’s schools has been demonstrated by his dedication of time and interest, and he

has pledged to exhibit this same care and dedication as a member of the Buncombe County School Board,” Malt said. Hale and his wife Yvonne are the partents of two daughters who attend Black Mountain Primary, in the first and third grades. He is the president and owner of Winterpast Inc. in Black Mountain. Hale told the Daily Planet that his main reason for wanting a seat on the school board is his two daughters. “I’d like to help the schools to be better for learning ... It’s sad they’d run out of basics — pencils, paper ... Bottom line, I’m just looking to support the teachers, so they can do a better job.” Churchill, 41, a respiratory therapist in Mission Hospital, is seeking the Roberson distrct seat held by Steve Sizemore. She and her husband Ben live in Arden with their daughter, who will enter the sixth grade at Koontz Intermediate School. “For several years, Amy has been actively working to improve the schools in the T.C. Roberson District,” Malt noted. “She is fully committed to making sure Buncombe County Schools challnge our students with high academic standards, and provide abundant options for advanced academic achievement,” the BF chief said. Churchill told the Daily Planet that she is running for a board seat because “I care about my daughter’s education.” She said she would like to “raise the bar on the quality of education — to get all they’re entitled to ... to get a quality education.” When pressed to be more specific, Churchill said, “It (the education system) could be better. In other countries, they teach at a higher level. Here, they teach to the middle level. “I do think it’s important for them to hear” the voices of parents. “I’d be a representative to the Roberson district — and not so much the Central Office.” Churchill said she would give Buncombe schools a grade of a “B,” noting that the current school board “is like anything else — people who are for the status quo.” She added, “When I talk to my fellow parents, they’d like to see more opportunities ... They’d like to improve what we have, instead of adding more buildings and unnecessary people.” Churchill said she knows Reynolds district school board member Lisa Baldwin, who often challenges the status quo and casts her votes in the opposite direction of the majority. “I respect her very much. I think she’s on the right track. I think she’s the (lone) voice of the parents” on the board now.

• Obama’s economic policies are not working. The threat of higher taxes, higher government spending, increased regulatory burden, and healthcare reform keeps American businesses from hiring additional workers. Business owners will not hire unless they see long term profitable benefits. Obama’s stimulus will NOT create long term profitable benefits. • The National deficit is $1.3 trillion and the debt is over $16 trillion. Obama did not take the recommendations of his own deficit-reduction commission of over a year ago. By September, the debt increase will be the biggest of any president in US history. • ObamaTax (aka ObamaCare): Will be the largest tax increase in U.S. history. Twenty-one new taxes, 14 of which will be on people making LESS than $250,000. • Government dependency is increasing significantly. The poverty rate is climbing, family incomes are down and Federal disability and food stamp enrollment has exploded. Social Security disability benefits are rising faster than jobs. • Obama has encouraged Communist China to take a major role in North American oil production, while wasting our tax dollars on energy technology that is not ready for commercialization. • America’s free market system has been the greatest economic system known to mankind. It has provided prosperity for Americans and has contributed to the advancement of civilization throughout the world. Free markets like ours must go through business cycles. They expand and contract and, if allowed to, they will expand again. Obama has taken this contracting phase to demonize the entire system as “getting us into this mess.” Obama says his way is better and is working. Unfortunately, history has proven Obama’s way wrong.

Fire Obama or accept more of the same. Paid by: Venture Investments, LLC

8 - August 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Justice Roberts ripped for Obamacare ruling By JOHN NORTH

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com

Conservative Justice John Roberts’ surprising switch to join his liberal United States Supreme Court brethren in a recent ruling that narrowly upheld the key part of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) amounts to intellectual dishonesty, political compromise and judicial activism, according to an expert on the Constitution. At least that is the view of Robert A. Levy, who discussed “Understanding the Constitutional Ramifications of the Supreme Court’s Health Care Decision” — and fielded questions from an audience of about 55 people — on July 22 at Asheville’s Jewish Community Center. “The Roberts’ opinion came as a complete surprise to everyone,” said Levy, who lives part-time at nearby Biltmore Lake and serves as chairman of the board of the Cato Institute. He suggested that Roberts’ switch was prompted by a focus on team-building and other concerns, instead of the law. Further, Levy asserted, “This was, I think, a judicial activist decision .. What’s bad is Roberts exercised intellectual dishonesty ... The case was “a political compromise.” Roberts’ ruling upheld the key component of the health care law — the individual mandate that all Americans must buy health care insurance — by choosing to interpret the statute to say that “it is not a penalty, but a tax,” he charged. Levy, who also on the boards of the Institute for Justice, the Federalist Society and the George Mason University School of Law, lectures on constitutional issues at many of the nation’s law schools. In introducing Levy, the JCC’s Edward Fidelman cautioned the crowd that “this is not a political rally — and we’re not going to get into partisan politics” during Levy’s presentation. With a broad smile, Levy began by noting that “this is not a lecture on health care policy ... This is a lecture on the United States Constitution.” He also noted that “I am a libertarian ... I chair the board of the Cato Instutute, which is the foremost libertarian think tank in the United States.” Levy emphasized that “I’m not talking about libertarianism as a political party, but as a philosophy.” (His reference was to a card-carrying member of the Libertarian Party versus someone like him, who espouses libertarian ideas.) Levy said libertarians are “very liberal on social issues and very conservative on fiscal issues ... People ask if we’re inconsistent ... I say, ‘no,’ liberals and conservatives are inconsistent.’” The crowd laughed at his quip. “Conservatives and libertarians tend to agree on a constrained view of federal authority in the Constitution,” he said. However, conservatives and libertarians often disagree on social issues. For instance, he said, “Conservatives believe the war on drugs is very important to prosecute,” while “libertarians say there is no such authority on drug prosecution in the Constitution.” He said conservative-libertarian is contingent on somewhat of a tradeoff between national security and civil liberties. Turning to the Constitution, Levy said the 11th Amendment involves the enumeration of cetain rights in the Constitution, but, he stressed, it “doesn’t mean all the rights we have.” Regarding the 10th Amendment, he said it also includes “all the rights we had before the Constitution was approved ... For libertarians, these rights would include gambling and the recreational use of drug, among others. He then discussed the right to the pursuit of happiness. “It’s a negative right because it only imposes on you “the right of ‘leave

me alone.’” Conversely, examples of “positive rights,“ Levy said, include “the pursuit of happiness” and welfare, among others. “The liberal view of big government embraces positive rights — imposing obligations on other people,” he asserted. “Since I’ve been hard on conservatives, I’ll also be an equal opportunity enforcer and criticize liberals, too.” Levy then asked — rhetorically — “Why doesn’t the liberal distrust big government” in the same way the Robert Levy liberal distrusts big business? While the defense and justice departments “are charged with clear responsibilities of keeping us safe from enemies, both foreign and domestic ... liberals have selective indignation about big government when it comes to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency crafting laws.” In sharp contrast to liberals, Levy said libertarians view the powers of government “very, very narrowly — and the rights of individuals, very broadly.” Regarding Obamacare and the Supreme Court decision, Levy said, “I think it’s not unfair to say Justice (John) Roberts — in a single decision — gave us a course in how constitutional law is not supposed to work.” He said the base question was: “‘Why was it necessary for Obamacare to require every American to have insurance?’” The answer, he noted, is that “in order to cover pre-existing conditions, everyone would need to participate. Levy pointed out, “The government has never required everyone to buy a product or service ... before Roberts’ decision.” He said the effect of Obamacare is that

“it’s forcing people to engage in commerce ... We need to understand the scope of the Commerce Clause. The clause concerns buying and selling goods and services — an economic activity .... “The mandate actually requires people to buy the product (health care) ... The litmus test (on the commerce clause) is economic activity.” However, Levy said Obamacare proponents “had a fallback argument of the Necessary and Proper Clause,” which says Congress can make laws that are necessary for carrying out its other powers. (“The minimum coverage provision is … necessary to achieve Congress’s concededly valid objective of reforming the interstate market in health insurance,” the Justice Department said in its first Supreme Court brief on the merits of the mandate.) He added that the Social Security requirements say Congress has the power to promote the general welfare. Levy then cited the big argument between Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, two of the Founding Fathers, over the term “general welfare” in the Constitution. Madison contended that “if we give Congress the power to provide for the general welfare, then everything will be declared in the interest of general welfare” and “not the welfare of what Madison called ‘factors.’” Levy said “factors” today are called “special interests.” He added, “Hamilton won (the argument) — and that leaves us where we are today.” “The purpose of a tax is to raise revenue,” Levy said. “Only legal acts can be taxed ... Congress removed the word ‘tax’ in Obam-

acare and substituted the word ‘penalty.’” Levy asked, “What’s the constitutional authority for this legislation?” Roberts said that he agreed that the charge — under Obamacare — for failing to purchase health insurance is a penalty and not a tax, Levy said. “That’s how he avoided the injunction. Then he reversed himself. Then he concluded the penalty is not a penalty, but a tax — for constitutional purposes.” “Roberts, joined by the other four liberals” on the Supreme Court, “said that Obamacare in authorized under the taxing power.” From his point of view, Levy said the better aspects of the ruling include new limits on the Commerce Clause, new limits on spending and limits on the Nnecessary and Proper Clause. He also said that, as a libertarian, he would rather see the Supreme Court expand power under the tax clause, which is what happened with Roberts’ decision, than under the Commerce Clause, because the former is harder to sustain and easier to overturn. Specifically, Levy said, “taxes are potentially toxic,” “there is a point where taxes cross some threshold” and “taxes impose a monetary burden.” Rhetorically, he asked, “Can you repeal Obamacare? The answer is ‘maybe’ ... because as a tax, it can be addressed by the budget reconciliation process ....” During a question-and-answer session, a man asked, “Has Roberts changed his mind” since making his ruling? It is not unusual for a Supreme Court justice to change his mind after a decision, upon learning more about a matter, Levy replied. “What is unusual is to do something for political reasons ... I have no evidence that that occurred. But the outcome might suggest that.” On another question, Levy said, “The immediate polls taken after the decision ... showed the courts’ approval has gone ever lower.”

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Asheville Daily Planet — August 2012 — 9

Collapse coming? Survival guru tailor tips to Carolinians First in a series of three stories By JOHN NORTH john@ashevilledailyplanet.com

FORT MILL, S.C. — A societal meltdown is very possible from a multitude of possible threats — and Americans need to prepare for the repercussions, James Wesley, Rawles said during his July 14 keynote address in a one-hour teleconference at Charlotte PrepCon. Rawles, who spoke — as usual — from an undisclosed location (that he has said in the past only is west of the Rockies), began by noting that he would be tailoring his comments for “folks in North and South Carolina. “The main thing I want to get across is that you’re systematic in your preparations,” Rawles told the crowd of about 500 people at The Pointe Arts & Rec Center, adjoining the Charlotte Knights Stadium. “I recognize that not everyone has the opportunity to buy — and move out to — a place in the hinterlands, so I stress that you ‘prep’ right where you are,” if one’s financies are limited. Rawles — a former U.S. Army Military Intelligence officer — is a New York Times best-selling survivalist-fiction author, blogger and survival retreat consultant. His recent top-selling fiction works are “Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse” and “Survivors: A Novel of the Coming Collapse.” His top nonfiction work is “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: Tactics, Techniques and Technologies for Uncertain Times.” A conservative Christian, Rawles is the editor of SurvivalBlog.com, a blog on survival and preparedness topics. He is an outspoken proponent of family preparedness, especially regarding food storage and advocated relocating to lightly populated rural “retreat” areas. Rawles also stresses the value of silver and other tangibles for barter, recognition of moral absolutes, being well-armed and Christian charity. He also is outspokenly

anti-racist. Rawles has decried what he terms the survivalist m o v e m e n t ’s incorrect farright “lunatic fringe” media image, which he contends has been based on the actions of a few radical individuals. Instead, he foJames Wesley, Rawles cuses on family preparedness and personal freedom. The one-day conference featured a number of speakers, who appeared “live,” including Vince Coakley, Rich Davis, Scott Hunt, David Kobler and Steve Nolan. In addition, breakout sessions were held on various preparedeness topics. Several “preppers” from Western North Carolina counties of Buncombe, Henderson and Haywood attended. In wrapping up his brief address, Rawles said, “Rather than turning this into an hourlong lecture, I’d rather turn this into a question-and-answer session.” “When is your new book coming out?” he was asked. “My next book will be ‘Founders’ and it will be released Sept. 4-5,” Rawles replied. “Most of ‘Founders’ is set in Kentucky, Tennessee and Montana. I do have another sequel planned ....” Next, he was asked, “What keeps you up in the middle of the night?” “I think the biggest threat we face right now is an economic collapse, which could be triggered by any number of things,” Rawles said. “The odds are that anybody who has (U.S.) dollars will lose them with a currency collapse within five years.” Rawles was queried on any knowledge

he had of “the situation in Argentina a few years ago.” “The situation in Argentina was a debtbased crisis,” he replied. “We could see bank accounts frozen” in the U.S., as was the case in Argentina, if America continues on its present course. “If companies can’t borrow, there’ll be massive layoffs,” Rawles predicted. “Yes, this country could get a lot like Argentina.” “What are the top three things someone could do to get started in prepping?” he was asked. “Food storage ... Get a survival group together,” Rawles answered. If one has “unlimited resources, stock up the best you can. Tailor your prepping to your situation.” To that end, he suggested those need further details visit his SurvivalBlog.com. “How is it best to talk to your spouse about your need to prep?” someone asked. “I think the most important practice is to pray to God for the words to use,” he said. “Hand them a book like ‘One Second After,’” a best-selling novel — about the impact on locals of an electro-magnetic pulse — by William Forstchen, a history professor at Montreat College near Black Mountain, N.C. “By handing them a piece of fiction, they’ll sit down and read that before they would read a survival manual,” Rawles noted. He also suggested sharing with a skeptical spouse the novel “Lucifer’s Hammer,” a postapocalyptic science fiction novel by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, first published in 1977. Next, Rawles was asked “how best to find other like-minded people” without giving up one’s operational security. Rawles laughed and said, “I recommend people keep a low profile, so they don’t come off as something out of National Geographic’s ‘Doomsday Preppers” television series. “You might ask people if something like the derecho storm that hit the United States recently could happen again ... It’s a matter of approaching them in a diplomatic way, so you don’t get perceived” as part of the lunatic fringe. “Buy a T-shirt with a preparedness theme and wear it when you go out to the rifle range, a

gun show or other public events” — and make connections with those who approach you, Rawles advised. “What are some of the most overlooked items of preppers?” Rawles was asked. “I’d say the most overlooked is power,” he replied. “They’ll buy food, decent first aid supplies and a generator for their home,” instead of setting up a portable — or alternative — power system. “You must have a minimum of two marine batteries ... The other item is nightvision scopes. Most of my readers own weapons, but less than five percent own nightvision equipment ... As a result, you’re at a disadvantage for half of every day.” Someone asked, “In an emergency, what should someone have on hand for bartering?” “There’s a huge list of bartering items on my website,” Rawles replied. “But just off the top of my head — 1-lb. cannisters of iodized salt in quantity, 50-lb. salt blocks ... Salt will be craved for preserving foods. Also, it will be critical in attracting deer” to kill and eat. Other barter items he recommended storing included .22 hollow-point ammo, small containers of canned food, one-gallon cans of kerosene and 2-cycle mixing oil for 2-cycle engines (such as chainsaws). Given that “we all understand the need for operational security, but we also know you believe in charity,” Rawles was asked to comment on the dilemma. “I think Christian charity is our responsibility,” Rawles said. “We shouldn’t ignore it. But we must temper that with taking care of our family. “ Rawles suggested that one “make it known to the church that a limited amount of food will be made available through the church, but have your name remain anonymous” to avoid unwelcome visitors to one’s home. “Your first priority is to provide for your family,” then one’s friends and finally, one’s church family, Rawles said. “You need to be very careful because of our grid goes down, we have no idea when it will be up again ... My basic philosophy is to give till it hurts.” To be continued next month

Fracking proponent touts job possibilities, energy freedom for N.C.

From Staff Reports

ARDEN — Seeking to unleash all energy barriers in North Carolina, including hydraulic fracturing (aka “fracking”), Americans for Prosperity was successful in its massive campaign to urge state lawmakers to pass SB 820, AFP spokesman Kyle Hall said in a July 23 address. Hall, the AFP’s North Carolina field coordinator, gave his presentation to about 20 Asheville Tea Party members and guests at Lone Star Steakhouse. The King, N.C., resident and graduate of UNC Chapel Hill has been involved in conservative causes ranging from the Young America’s Foundation, to being named “Outstanding Teenage Republican in the Nation” by the National Teenage Republicans organization. Besides discussing fracking, Hall also reviewed the specifics of SB 820, and addressed what he said are the leftists’ arguments against it. He also discussed the AFP and ways to get involved and why it is imperative to start advocating for economic freedom at once. AFP bills itself as a nonprofit, nonpartisan grassroots organization committed to economic freedom, he said. AFP says it advocates for lowering taxes, cutting wasteful government spending, ending crippling government regulations and protecting the patient-doctor relationship. He began by asking the gathering, “How many of you feel you’ve lived the American dream?” Most hands were raised. Hall then asked, “How many of you feel your children will live the American dream?” One hand was raised. Nodding, Hall said the American dream is threatened because of the national debt. He said debt amounts to $100 bills stacked 7 feet high over 15 football fields, from sideline to sideline and end zone to end zone. “How many of you have heard of the French dream, the Chinese dream, the Brazilian dream?” he asked. No hands were raised.

“Well, we’ve had an American dream,” Hall asserted, with a note of pride. “Liberty’s a great thing. No matter what anyone says, people aren’t dying to get into other countries” — only into the U.S., he said. “Our ancestors risked everything to come here.” In contrast to mainstream, free enterprise-loving Americans, he said the left constantly seeks to create a utopian society in the U.S., rather than one that is merit-based. “It’s not worked elsewhere and it’s not going to work in America. Kyle Hall “They call us (conservatives) hatemongers ... The left believes in finding equality of outcomes. We believe in finding equality of opportunity through free-enterprise capitalism.” After a pause, Hall asserted, “Here’s the problem. Our generation and those right before us didn’t sacrifice quite as much as our Founding Fathers did.” As a result, “today, the United States is ranked as the 10th freest economy in the world,” Hall lamented. “Ten years ago, it (the U.S.) was rated the third” freest country. (According to the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, the country with the freest economy is Hong Kong, followed by Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Canada, Chile, Mauritius, Ireland, and the U.S. — in 10th place.) Next, he began discussing fracking, noting that the process “was just recently approved in North Carolina.” He said AFP’s lobbying efforts were a big part of the success of SB 820, the Clean Energy and Economic Security Act. Hall asserted that fracking has created “thousands of jobs” in states like North Dakota and Pennsylvania — and now North Carolina can prosper from the economic benefits of the process. He then showed a short film titled “Safe Oil and Gas

Exploration.” Afterward, he noted that, “as you can see, the groundwater is completedly protected by the steel tubing.” Wastewater from fracking is 90 percent water, 9.5 percent sand and 0.5 percent table salt and other elements, Hall said. The AFP spokesman then took a jab at the documentary “Gasland,” which he said, “the liberals are so excited about.” The film won an Academy Award, Hall noted, “which doesn’t say much about the Academy Awards.” If fracking takes place in North Carolina, he said it would “most likely” occur in Lee, Harnett and Chatham counties. “Sanford is the only major city in the area — and it sure could use the jobs.” The bill was passed in both chambers of the state General Assembly, after which Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed it, Hall recounted. “Then the Senate voted to override,” narrowly supported by the House. “The bill will begin the building and regulatory process for fracking,” he said. Given the present low natural gas prices, “demand for natural gas would have to be very high” to justify fracking in North Carolina. “The United States is abundant in natural gas,” Hall noted, adding that “Ohio, West Virginia and New York then Saudi Arabi has in total energy resources.” Meanwhile, with U.S. joblessness remaining high, North Dakota, where fracking is practiced, has the lowest unemployment rate, with a housing shortage. As a result, new workers are “living in their cars at Walmarkt parking lots, or in tent cities. “Truck drivers (in North Dakota) are earning six-figure salaries” and “McDonald’s employees are earning $15 per hour.” Hall emphasized that “North Dakota has created hundreds of thousands of jobs from fracking ... This could happen in North Carolina, too.” In closing, he asked, “Now is fracking the best solution to get America on the road to energy independence? No, but it is a way ... for now.”

10 - August 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Time to buy electric cars, prof says From Staff Reports

A UNC Asheville professor unveiled his case for buying an electric car now during a July 19 presentation in Robinson Hall. Dave Erb, a member of the mechatronic engineering faculty at UNCA, gave a presentation titled “Making a Case for the DG PV EV: Electric Vehicles and the Power Grid.” Erb has worked on developing electric and hybrid electric vehicles for more than two decades. He has devised vehicles powered by gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, alcohol and natural gas, as well as electricity. An experienced electric vehicle racer, he is vice chair of the City of Asheville Transit Commission. His presentation — addressing three questions — lasted about an hour, followed by an 60-minute question and answer session. About 50 people attended. His questions included the following: • Why is it that most knowledgeable automotive people with a long view are now saying electrified power trains are the future? He said that issue is no longer an argument. • Why does it make good sense to get energy for those vehicles from photovoltaic panels that are grid-tied? • What is the effect of that photovoltaic supply and EV demand on the grid? “Those are the questions, but the way I kicked off the discussion was the four steps I think we need to take” to get away from petroleum-fueled vehicles, he told the Daily Planet in an interview in late July. “Basically, transportation is going to

change. We’re too dependent on petroleum ....” Next, he addressed four steps that have to be taken “for the most access for the least dollars,” noting that they need to be taken simultaneously “and now.” The four steps include the following: • Reduce veDave Erb hicle miles traveled, meaning “drive less as individuals,” Erb said. • Employ vehicles productively, with more load per trip, such as carpooling. He also advocated switching vehicles to suit the task “we’re asking them to perform.” • Improve vehicle technology. “It will happen,” Erb said. “Powertrain electrification is needed, but it won’t show up until customers demand them.” • Get electricity from a sustainable source. “I’m going to be pushing a photovoltaic source,” he said, noting that “a 200watt solar panel, a little smaller than a 4 (foot) by 8 (foot) sheet of plywood, would out 600 watt hours on the grid per day.” So what would Erb think about concerns about individual freedom from those who might abhor giving up their vehicles and riding in a carpool or public transporation? the Daily Planet asked. “This is a choice they have to make,” Erb replied. Calling it an adolescent concern, he said, “I don’t value independence that

much. As an adult, the best things in life are interdependent.” Otherwise, the professor said, “I would argue that it’s taking of at a tremendous rate ... Hybrids came on the market about 12-13 years ago. “Plug-in electrics — PEVs — they’re being adapted at roughly double the rate ... It’s completely supply-constrained because the car companies don’t want to screw up on this, so it’s supply-constrained.” Within two months, he expects Nissan and GM to unveil new models of electric cars. Erb noted that recently there was a fire problem with the Volt, hurting demand temporarily, until the problem was resolved. “If they had followed battery protocol, that wouldn’t have happened,” he said. He lambasted “Neal Cavuto on Fox News” for saying “this is stupid and the cars (the Volts) blow up ... You’re going to be stranded after 30 minutes.” Feeling that some in the media are inexplicably opposed to the PEVs and EVs, Erb said it makes him wonder as “I’m sure Chevy dealers advertise on Fox” and other networks. As for why someone would want to derail the effort to popularize the EVs, he said, “A lot of folks have a vested interest” in its failure to maintain the status quo. “We live in a funny time ... in history. It seems like every technology gets assigned to a political party,” such as EVs and photovoltaic panels being favored by Democrats and liberals — and “oil, gas, coal and nuclear” favored by Republicans and conservatives. “I think the technological merits of

electric cars and photovoltaic panels are undeniable,” Erb said. Asked about the desirability by some Americans to be off-the-grid, the professor told the Daily Planet that “I’m a big fan of the grid,” personally. “I actually view the grid as a really good thing.” He added that “that’s a lot of effort and wasted resources to be off-grid.” Erb closed his UNCA presentation with five comments, including the following: • It is just not open to argument technologically that the presence of more EVs on the grid will “enhance grid reliability in the long run. The presence of large amounts of grid-tied voltaics will enhance the grid. • PVs and EVs will make good investments. • Cars are not financially rational calculations on a balance sheet. “They are red-hot emotional statements,” Erb said. “If someone says a hybrid or EV will never pay for itself, I’d say no car will ever pay for itself.” (Erb’s two cars include a 2006 Honda Civic hybrid and a 1990 Mazia Miata. He also rides a bike, rides a bus and walks to work at UNCA.) • The U.S. is in a situation wherein one can make a financial argument for running photovoltaics into a house in Asheville today, “but one must have the (financial) wherewithal.” “EVs are now available where anything you can do with a gas car you can do with an EV,” he noted. • Some people in Asheville recognize the potential for EVs and PVs “and they’re going to make money off of it,” Erb said.

Asheville Daily Planet — August 2012 — 11

Daily Planet Staff Photo

Chick-fil-A sees show of support

About 50 people were still lined up at Chick-fil-A on Tunnel Road in Asheville at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 1 to show their support for company Company President Dan Cathy’s stance against gay marriage. Similar crowd scenes were reported at the eatery’s locations across the nation, following former Ark. Gov. and Baptist minister Mike Huckabee’s call — on his Fox News show — to declare Aug. 1 “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” to support a business “whose executives are willing to take a stand for the godly values.” Protesters also showed up.

Daily Planet Staff Photo

Badcock Furniture cuts ribbon

Badcock Furniture Store Manager Ernie Parris and Hendersonville Mayor Barbara Volk wield a huge pair of scissors to snip the ribbon on Aug 2 during the grand opening of Backcock Home Furniture & More in downtown Hendersonville. They are surrounded by Badcock officials and employees. Dave Gonyea, Badcock’s vice president of retail operations, said, “We’re glad to be back here.” The mayor, in turn, welcomed the company and said the city is “delighted to have you back.”

Talk show takes a look at hot topic

Long-time local radio talk-show host Matt Mittan (right), with producer Agnes Cheek in the background, interviews two guests on a hot topic at WZGM-AM (1350) at the station’s studio in downtown Asheville on July 23. The guests (from left) are Elhanan Glaer, chief advisor of Knesset Forum on International Relations; and Sherlock Bally, executive director of 19 countries for Christian Allies Council of Knesset. They were discussing the plight of Israel and the Middle East, Muslims and American Christians’ support of Israel.

Daily Planet Staff Photo

Bele Chere attracts a crowd

A lively street group (above) drew a crowd on the afternoon of July 29 —Family Day and the last day at the annual Bele Chere festival in downtown Asheville. Thousands of people attended the annual celebration of fun, food, arts and entertainment. Asheville police reported no major incidents, although there were 24 arrests for intoxicated and disruptive behavior on July 27 and 28. A number of the street preachers reportedly encountered some festival-goers who objected to their fire-and-brimstone style.

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12 - August 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Calendar

Clinch Mountain Boys, a top bluegrass group, will perform in concert. For tickets, which are $14-$17, call (866) 273-4615. OUTDOOR FILM, 8:30 p.m., Wedge Brewing, 125-B Roberts St., River Arts District, Asheville. The film “O’ Brother, Where Art Thou?” will be shown outside for free. Attendees are urged to bring a lawnchair and a blanket. Admission is free.

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Please submit items to the Calendar of Events by noon on the third Wednesday of each month, via e-mail, at calendar@ashevilledailyplanet. com, or fax to 252-6567, or mail c/o The Daily Planet, P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 288148490. Submissions will be accepted and printed at the discretion of the editor, space permitting. To place an ad for an event, call 252-6565.

Monday, Aug. 13

Friday, Aug. 3

CONCERT/DANCE, 7-9 p.m., outside Visitors Information Center, 201 S. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. The Music on Main Street series will present the band The Crew for dancing or listening. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs. In addition, a car show will be held along South Main. Admission is free. ABBA LEGACY CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin. The Music of ABBA will present a rock ‘n’ roll-pop tribute concert in a salute to the legacy of the countless hits by the iconic Swedish group. Hits will include “Mama Mia,” “Dancing Queen” and “SOS.” For tickets, which are $22-28, call (866) 273-4615. “GUYS AND DOLLS” SHOW, 8 p.m., Flat Rock Playhouse, 2661 Greenville Hwy., Flat Rock. The musical “Guys and Dolls” will be presented at 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. most Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The show runs through Aug. 19. For tickets, call 693-0731.

Saturday, Aug. 4

GREEN PARTY MEETING, 10 a.m.-noon, upstairs, The Fortune Building, 729 Haywood Rd., Asheville. The Buncombe County Green Party will hold a business meeting. Admission is free and open to the public. HOPS FESTIVAL, 1-7 p.m., Echoview Fiber Mill, 76 Jupiter Rd., Weaverville. The gala will feature lunch, live music and a tasting glass for beer samples. Attendees are asked to follow signs to Mount Sheba Baptist Church, where a shuttle bus to the festival will be provided. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for ages 20 and younger. SOCK HOP, 6-9 p.m., outside Mike’s On Main, downtown Hendersonville. A side street will be roped off for dancing to live music provided by Tom Brown One-Man Band. Admission is free. BEACH BALL, 6-10 p.m., Hendersonville Elks Lodge, 546 N. Justice St., Hendersonville. The Four Seasons Rotary Club will present the Beach Ball, featuring a low-country boil dinner and a dance to the music of the Caribbean Cowboys. A cash bar for beer and wine also will be available, as well as a raffle for a beach vacation. For tickets, which are $30, visit www.fourseasonsrotary. org. CONCERT, 7-9 p.m., Town Square, Biltmore Park, Asheville. Billy Jonas will perform in a free outdoor concert. Admission is free. NATALIE GRANT CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin. Contemporary Christian vocalist Grant will represent the heartbeat of her newest musical offering, “Love Revolution.” For tickets, which are $10-$16, call (866) 273-4615.

Sunday, Aug. 5

CONCERT, 7-9 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. The UUCA’s Mountain Spirit Coffeehouse will feature a performance by David Roth. A $15 donation is suggested for adults and $10 for those ages 14 and younger.

Monday, Aug. 6

Flat Rock Playhouse director Vincent Marinia talks with “Guys and Dolls” cast members (from left) Bethany Anderson, Carly Barnette, Katie Chung, Katie Hagen, Catharine Kay, Lesley McKinnell and Tessa Mossey. The classic musical-comedy runs through Aug. 19 in Flat Rock. held at 7:30, followed by intermediate lessons at 8 every Monday. The lessons are free. After the lessons, an open dance will be held. CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m.,Grey Eagle. 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville. A contra dance is held weekly. Admission is $6.

Tuesday, Aug. 7

TANGO LESSON/DANCE, 6 p.m., Eleven on Grove, Grove House Entertainment Complex, 11 Grove St., downtown Asheville. Tango lessons will precede a dance. SWING LESSON/DANCE, 6:30 p.m., Club Eleven, Grove House Entertainment Complex, 11 Grove St., downtown Asheville. A lesson will be followed by a dance. SHAG DANCE, 7-10 p.m., The Hangar, Clarion Inn Airport, 550 Airport Road, Fletcher. The Mountain Shag Club’s weekly dance will feature a DJ. At 6:30 p.m., free lessons will be offered by Paul and Debbie Peterson. Admission is $5 OUTDOOR FILM SCREENING, 8:30 p.m., outside Cinebarre, Biltmore Square Mall, Asheville. The film “Across the Universe” will be shown for free. Cinebarre will serve as the food vendor. Admission is free.

Thursday, Aug. 9

CONCERT/DANCE, 7-9 p.m., next to Lake Tomahawk, Black Mountain. The band Alma de Candla will perform salsa to conclude the season’s Park Rhythms concert series. The Red Radish will be selling meals. Admission is free. CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m., Bryson Gym, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. A contra dance is held weekly, preceded by beginner’s lessons at

7:30 p.m. Admission is $6.

Friday, Aug. 10

CONCERT/DANCE, 7-9 p.m., outside Visitors Information Center, 201 S. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. The Music on Main Street series will present the band The Flying Saucers for dancing or listening. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs. Admission is free. RAY PRICE CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin. Country music legend Ray Price will perform in concert. For tickets, which are $18-$26, call (866) 273-4615.

Saturday, Aug. 11

RIVERFEST, 1-7 p.m., French Broad River Park, Asheville. The gala will feature a kids parade and activities. The Anything That Floats Parade of wacky rafts, live music including three popular local acts, foodtrucks and arts and crafts. CONCERT/DANCE, 6-8 p.m., outside Firehouse Subs, 825 Spartanburg Hwy., Hendersonville. Dino and The Dreamers will perform during a free dance-concert. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs. SHINDIG ON THE GREEN, 7-10 p.m., Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. Shindig features traditional music and dance performances on stage, as well as informal jam sessions around the park. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs. Shindig continues on Aug. 18 and 25 and Sept. 1. Admission is free. RALPH STANLEY CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin. Ralph Stanley and His

TEA TIME SOCIAL, 6 p.m., Lone Star Steakhouse, Arden. The Asheville Tea Party will hold its weekly Tea Time Social. All interested are invited to attend. WEST COAST SWING CLASSES, 7:30 and 8 p.m., The Hangar, Clarion Hotel, Fletcher. Free beginners’ lessons for West Coast Swing will be held at 7:30, followed by intermediate lessons at 8 every Monday. The lessons are free. After the lessons, an open dance will be held. CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m.,Grey Eagle. 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville. A contra dance is held weekly. Admission is $6.

Tuesday, Aug. 14

Thursday, Aug. 16

CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m., Bryson Gym, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. A contra dance is held weekly, preceded by beginner’s lessons at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6.

Friday, Aug. 17

CONCERT, 5:15 p.m., North Lexington Avenue near I-240 overpass, downtown Asheville. Downtown After Five will feature opener Shane Pruitt Band, followed by headliner Simplified. The SPB combines the musical traditions of Delta blues, gospel and Southern rock, Simplified bills itself as exploring elements of rock, reggae rock, island vibe rock and root. CONCERT/DANCE, 7-9 p.m., outside Visitors Information Center, 201 S. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. The Music on Main Street series will conclude the season with the band Tuxedo Junction for dancing or listening. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs. In addition, a car show will be held along South Main. Admission is free.

See CALENDAR, Page 13

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Asheville Daily Planet — August 2012 - 13

Calendar

Continued from Page 12

Saturday, Aug. 18

CONCERT, 7-9 p.m., Town Square, Biltmore Park, Asheville. The Blue Dragon will perform in a free outdoor concert. Admission is free.

Sunday, Aug. 19

LAKESIDE CONCERT, 5-7 p.m., next to the lake, Blue Ridge Community College, East Flat Rock. The band Trade Routes will perform in the season finale of the Music by the Lake series. Attendees are urged to bring picnic dinners and lawnchairs. Admission is free.

Monday, Aug. 20

Tuesday, Aug. 21

Thursday, Aug. 23

THE CIVIL WAR: THE AMERICAN MUSICAL, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin. “The Civil War: The American Musical,” a two-act theatrical presentation, will be performed by The Overlook Theatre Co. For tickets, which are $15 for adults and $10 for students, call (866) 273-4615. CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m., Bryson Gym, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. A contra dance is held weekly, preceded by beginner’s lessons at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6.

The Temptations Review, starring Dennis Edwards, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. followed by a dance. SHAG DANCE, 7-10 p.m., The Hangar, Clarion Inn Airport, 550 Airport Road, Fletcher. The Mountain Shag Club’s weekly dance will feature a DJ. At 6:30 p.m., free lessons will be offered by Paul and Debbie Peterson. Admission is $5.

Thursday, Aug. 30

TRAVIS TRITT CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., The Foundation Performing Arts Center, Isothermal Community College, 286 ICC Loop Road, Spindale. Honky-tonk country star Travis Tritt will perform in concert. For tickets, which are $44 and $49, call (828) 286-9990 or visit www. FoundationShows.org. CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m., Bryson Gym, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. A contra dance is held weekly, preceded by beginner’s lessons at

7:30 p.m. Admission is $6.

Friday, Aug. 31

TEMPTATIONS REVIEW CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin. The Temptations Review, led by Dennis Edwards, a former lead singer of The Temptations, will present a salute to The Temptations. For tickets, which are $2933, call (866) 273-4615.

Saturday, Sept. 1

APPLE FESTIVAL, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Main Street, downtown Hendersonville. The 66th North Carolina Apple Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 1-2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 2, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 3 and from 10 a.m.5 p.m. Sept. 4. The King Apple Parade will be

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CONCERT/DANCE, 6-8 p.m., outside Firehouse Subs, 825 Spartanburg Hwy., Hendersonville. Tom Brown One-Man Band will perform during a free dance-concert. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs.

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Grammy Award-winning, country music singer Travis Tritt will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at Isothermal Community College in Spindale. held from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 3. The festival will feature a street fair, arts and crafts, entertainment, children’s activities, a parade and food. CONCERT, 7-9 p.m., Town Square, Biltmore Park, Asheville. The Kat Williams Trio will perform in a free outdoor concert. Admission is free. RUSS TAFF/BUDDY GREENE CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin. Vocalist Russ Taff and singer-songwriter Buddy Green will perform Christian music. For tickets, which are $15-17, call (866) 273-4615.

See CALENDAR, Page 14

14 - August 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Faith Notes Send us your faith notes

Please submit items to the Faith Notes by noon on the third Wednesday of each month, via email, at spirituality@ashevilledailyplanet.com, or fax to 252-6567, or mail c/o The Daily Planet, P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490. Submissions will be accepted and printed at the discretion of the editor, space permitting. To place an ad for a faith event, call 252-6565.

Friday, Aug. 3

SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM, 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville. The UUCA monthly social justice film “In Transition 2.0” will be screened. It is billed as “an inspirational immersion in ‘the transition movement,” gathering stories from around the world of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” The film runs 65 minutes. A discussion will follow. Admission is free.

Saturday, Aug. 4

COUNTRY BREAKFAST, 7:30-10 a.m., Carson’s Chapel, Tom’s Creek Road, Marion. An old-fashioned country breakfast will be served. Meals are $6 for adults, $4 for children 6-12 and free for ages 5 and younger.

Sunday, Aug. 5

PERFORMANCE, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 74 Academy St., Candler. The Zambian Vocal Group will perform during the morning worship service and in the evening. CONCERT, 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 63 N. Main St., Weaverville. Hannah Sorrells, a violinist-vocalist, will perform. CAMP MEETING, 7 p.m., Words of Life Tabernacle, 815 Glenn Bridge Rd., Arden. A camp meeting will begin at 7 nightly through the week and at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays.

Wednesday, Aug. 8

BIBLE STUDY CLASS, 5:45 p.m., Mills River Presbyterian Church, 10 Presbyterian Church Rd., Mills River. The church is hosting “Galilee in Jesus’ Day,” the finale of three one-hour summer Bible study classes led by Dr. Gene Scruggs. DISCUSSION CIRCLE, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. A “Chat With Pat” will feature the Rev. Pat Veenema, Unity’s new associate minister, in a discussion of questions that are brought to the circle.

Saturday, Aug. 11

HOMECOMING PERFORMANCE, 10:30 a.m., New

Calendar

Continued from Page 13

VARIETY COMPETITION, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin. A variety competition, “Who’s Got Talent,” will feature local singers, dancers, musicians, variety acts and more. For tickets, which are $7 for adults, call (866) 2734615. CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m., Bryson Gym, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. A contra dance is held weekly, preceded by beginner’s lessons at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6.

Saturday, Sept. 8

OUTDOOR FILM, 8:30 p.m., Wedge Brewing, 125-B Roberts St., River Arts District, Asheville. The film “E.T.” will be shown outside for free. Attendees are urged to bring a lawnchair and a blanket. Admission is free.

BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL, 4 p.m., Blue Ridge Mountain Club, Blowing Rock. Celebrated beachmusic bands Chairmen of the Board and The Embers will play beneath the starry skies of the 6,212-acre community. The Embers will open the

Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. Laurel Reinhardt and Bonnie Cooper will present “Transformation Through Play,” featuring The Transformation Game, which was developed in Findhorn, Scotland, by Joy Drake and Kathy Tyler. The game is now played worldwide. It is billed as “a mirror and feedback machine.” A love offering will be taken.

Wednesday, Aug. 22

DISCUSSION CIRCLE, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. A “Chat With Pat” will feature the Rev. Pat Veenema, Unity’s new associate minister,

in a discussion of questions that are brought to the circle.

Wednesday, Aug. 28

UNDERSTANDING WOMEN PROGRAM, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. The program “Understanding Women” (for men only) will be presented by Terri Crosby. She will address questions, such as: “Who are these creatures, anyway?” and “What makes them tick?” She will compare women with men for two hours, endeavoring to be both enlightening and entertaining. She noted in advance that “it is my belief that both men and women have it right.” A love offering will be taken.

Tuesday, Aug. 14

WOMEN’S GATHERING, 6:30-9 p.m., Creatures Café, 81 Patton Ave., Asheville. A women’s gathering, “Tapestry: All Women, Many Threads, One Story,” will be held. All women are invited to come together to be refreshed, meet new friends and be encouraged.

Wednesday, Aug. 15

DISCUSSION CIRCLE, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. A “Chat With Pat” will feature the Rev. Pat Veenema, Unity’s new associate minister, in a discussion of questions that are brought to the circle. DAMANHUR PRESENTATION, 7-9 p.m., Earthaven Ecovillage, 5 Concensus Circle, Black Mountain. A talk and presentation of Damanhur — the Italian center for spiritual, artistic and community development — will be presented. A second talk will be given at 7 p.m. Aug. 17 at The Sacred Embodiment Center, 41 Carolina Lane, Asheville. Each presentation is $10 and includes a 35-minute video. A question-and-answer session will follow. Ti register or learn more, visit www.earthriverproductions. com, or contact 664-0515, or e-mail morgan@earthriverproductions.com.

Saturday, Aug. 18

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS LECTURES, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., The Sacred Embodiment Center, 41 Carolina Lane, Asheville. Lectures will be presented from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 18-19 at TSEC on “Ancient Civilizations of Humankind: The History of Galactic and Pre-Atlantean Civilizations.” The cost is $200. To register or learn more, visit www.earthriver productions.com. DINNER/AUCTIONS, 4:30-6 p.m., New Life Community Church, 1417 Riverside Dr., Asheville. An ABCCM Sharing Affair event will be held, featuring a dinner and silent auction. Admission is $20 per person or $35 per couple. A live auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. For reservations, call Cheryl Wilson at 259-5300, ext. 1911.

Sunday, Aug. 19

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Savannah Baptist Church, off West Main Street, Sylva. The Porter Family will perform at the homecoming service. BENEFIT BAKE SALE/COOKOUT, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., front lawn, United Methodist Church, Church and Main streets, Black Mountain. Hand in Hand (Valley Churches Helping Valley Schools) will hold a bake sale and cookout during the Sourwood Festival. The menu will include hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, baked beans, chips, drinks and dessert. Proceeds will benefit students in the Owen school district. CELEBRATION OF MINISTER, 5 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 Sixth Avenue West, Hendersonville. The GLC congregation will celebrate the Rev. Edgar “Trex” Trexler’s 50 years of ordained ministry. The evening will feature a barbecue dinner and entertainment. Tickets, which are $15 and must be purchased in advance, are available by calling 693-4890. AUGUST SUPPER, 5-7 p.m., Calvary Episcopal Church, 2840 Hendersonville Rd., Fletcher. An August supper will be offered at $8 for adults and $5 for ages 10 and younger. A Country Store also will be open.

concert at 6 p.m., followed by the Chairmen at 8 p.m. Food and beverages will be sold on-site, but attendees may bring their own picnic meals and refreshments. Tickets, at $28 per person, are available by calling the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce at (828) 295-7851.

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Asheville Daily Planet — August 2012 — 15

Topless

Continued from Page 1 Their e-mail – a copy which Mumpower and Nesbitt sent to the Daily Planet – references “our permit application for a protest on Wednesday, August 15, 2012” at two locations in Huntsville. “We are coming to bring visibility, the most positive way we know, to a gentleman ... in your community who manages a pediatric practice, moonlights as a clown for children and is the front man for topless activities and an upcoming topless rally in Asheville, N.C.,” the e-mail states. The e-mail ends with a reference to “Topless, shameless and lawless — Asheville’s sexual performance street party is coming back ... Yes, that’s right. Asheville’s August 26th topless “rally” permit was submitted by a clown ... The same clown who brought and escorted topless women (was one of those a transvestite?) to our Bele Chere festival this past weekend (July 27-29).” Mumpower is a former member of City Council, while Nesbitt is the past chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party. Last August, organizers held their first Asheville topless rally at Pack Square, drawing dozens of women who bared their breasts, as well as an estimated 2,000 mostly male onlookers — many of whom gawked, shot photographs with their cellphones, and cheered on the women as they removed their tops. The event prompted a counter-protest a few weeks later. The nationwide rallies are intended to highlight inequality in the laws that allow men to go topless, but not women. However, it is legal in North Carolina for women to bare their breasts in public. “So aside from guaranteeing a spectacle, we’re not sure what the rally will accomplish,” the Asheville Citizen-Times noted in a July 10 editorial about the upcoming event. Mumpower has said that he will do everything he can to voice his opposing to the upcoming rally. “I plan to do my creative best to draw as much negative attention to the degradation of our culture as I can,” Mumpower told the AC-T in July. “Every responsible media outlet and every responsible person in a position of power in this city was in total denial about what this was.” With his website GoBrainless.org, Mumpower is promoting a photo contest

GoTopless issues statement on battle with conservatives

Last year’s topless rally leader Livienne Love (with sign) has moved back to California and is no longer associated with GoTopless Asheville. during the topless rally. He said the goal is to deter what he believes will be inappropriate and illegal activity — and to capture evidence to show elected officials and police, if that does not happen. “I believe the event degrades women,” Mumpower said. “But what I’m really fighting is the abuse of children and sexual performance in our public spaces.” He also said that Asheville was the only smaller city among those scheduled for a topless rally because the group knows it can get by with it here. Meanwhile, GoTopless.org notes on its website that women may participate in the rally without baring their breasts. “During the protests, women will have the choice of going fully topless, or wear red tape or something else to hide their (infamous!) nipples. They are also completely welcome to come and support this cause while being fully dressed, if they prefer.” (See adjoining statement from GoTopless for details on its stance on its opponents.)

GoTopless vows to hold Asheville demonstration as conservatives attempt to block it ASHEVILLE, N.C., July 31 – With local conservatives attempting to block an upcoming August 26 demonstration by women’s rights organization GoTopless in Asheville, N.C., GoTopless today released a statement declaring its resolve to continue fighting for gender equality under the Constitution, including the right to freely and legally go publicly topless as men do. “We plan to hold our scheduled event in Asheville,” said GoTopless President and Spokesperson Nadine Gary. “It’s especially important that our message be heard there because some local politicians are making false accusations against our organization for their own purposes.” She said Asheville conservatives, led by Carl Mumpower and Chad Nesbitt, recently sent a draft resolution to city officials in hopes of thwarting the August 26 event. “Their resolution stated that last year’s GoTopless rally included, among other things, activities involving sexual performances, fondling of breasts, direct participation by underage minors, and exposure of minors to sexual acts. “These are absurd accusations and they are completely false.” Mumpower is using the accusations as a political springboard, according to Gary. “To further his political ambitions, he’s taking our event grossly out of context,” she said. “Our upcoming demonstration is

just that, a demonstration, and further, it’s a demonstration of something that is perfectly legal in Asheville. In fact, the right to go topless should be acknowledged as a woman’s constitutional rights across the United States.” She said walking topless in the streets of Asheville has nothing to do with sexuality. “It is Mr. Mumpower and the other opposing conservatives who are trying to turn our event into something blatantly sexual when it’s not,” Gary said. “This is exactly the point we’re trying to make by having the demonstration. Women are currently forced to hide their breasts because men like Mr. Mumpower can’t look at them without thinking of something sexual. Well, we’re sorry, Mr. Mumpower, but we won’t hide our breasts because of your sexual hang ups.” GoTopless is an offshoot of the International Raelian Movement (rael.org), a worldwide champion of human rights. “Our aim is to highlight women’s constitutional rights, since men already have the right to go shirtless in public,” Gary said. “The entire point of our demonstrations is to emphasize the principle of gender equality. If women have to wear a top, so should men. The Constitution says nothing whatsoever about gender distinctions for clothing.” Gary said many people across the country already support the GoTopless cause. “Centuries of patriarchal, top-down religious education have trained women to be subservient to men, to be only child bearers and homemakers and to remain chaste,” Gary said. “We must remember that it was less than 100 years ago that women finally won the right to vote in this country. “Today, their emancipation is expanding to all aspects of life. Those who don’t want these rights for themselves can always turn them down. They can decide not vote, or decide not to do some of the jobs men do, and they can decide not to go topless. But neither they nor anyone else should try to impose these personal decisions on other women. That’s simply unconstitutional.”

We’ve always been the gold standard in Western North Carolina” law enforcement. “We’ve always been a cut above.” McDonald noted that he finished his career about two years ago, with no aspiration ... Through Henderson Sheriff a funny chain of Charlie McDonald events, I’m here today” as Henderson’s sheriff. “I’m in awe of the majority of the people who make up the (Henderson) sheriff’s department.” McDonald succeeds Rick Davis as sheriff. Davis was granted a medical retirement in February by the county Board of Commissioners, amid concerns about his bipolar condition and alleged scandal involving an insurance settlement to a female employee. McDonald began his new post on March 8 and “what I’ve realized lately — you can change the leadership all you want, but if

you don’t change how you do the basics, you’ll get the same old product.” Under his leadership, McDonald said he plans to emphasize training and improve the promotion process. “Personnel is an area where we could always use more people,” he said. Further, McDonald noted, “We’re looking at the budget very hard. We’re looking at strategic planning ... That’s it in a nutshell.” During a question-and-answer session, Kauffman noted that, particularly in Asheville, “street crime appears to be on the rise.” He asked McDonald to address that assertion. “We are up 50 percent — on property crimes ... mainly metal thefts ... The breaking-and-enterings are drug-related.” mostly. “With the county commissioners, we’ve enacted an ordinance on buying and selling metal,” which, he said, appears to be having an impact by cutting crime. Kauffman said, “You mentioned drugs — meth labs. Has it moved to the pain-pill world?” “Yes, to all of that,” the sheriff replied.

“A meth lab could be a couple of CocaCola bottles and a can of Draino.” McDonald added that “we import a lot of our meth ... from Mexico. In all honesty, drugs are tearing up the fabric of our society.” Kauffman also asked about the situation with illegal immigration in Henderson. Noting that Henderson has highly developed agri-business, McDonald said, “the fact of the matter is we’re actually dependent on migrant labor” to maintain and harvest the crops. However, he added that despite the county’s dependency on migrant lable, “the fact of the matter is we don’t need to import criminals.” Former HCTP Chairman Bill O’Connor asked, “Tell us about your career.” “I got into law enforcement, not out of altruism, but because it was exciting and fun,” McDonald said. “I later developed compassion.” The sheriff said he received tactical and firearms training after 9/11, and was sent to New Mexico for training with the air marshalls. Generally speaking, McDonald said, “It (his career) was a lot of fun ... I enjoyed it ... I’m glad to be back!”

Livienne Love, who was a leader of last year’s topless rally in Asheville, was contacted via e-mail by the Daily Planet on Aug. 2 for her comments about the status of this year’s event, but she wrote back the following: “I’m no longer involved with GoTopless Asheville. I’ve moved back to California. I will forward your message on to the head of the organization, so that she can help you.” Later Aug. 3, the Daily Planet received an e-mail from Kasyo Perrier of For GoTopless, who wrote, “Thank you for your request. Here is our statement on Asheville:

Daily Planet Staff Photo

New sheriff shares goals, fields questions

From Staff Reports

HENDERSONVILLE — The Hendersonville TEA Party featured a talk by new Henderson County Sheriff Charlie McDonald during its July 17 dinner meeting at Bay Breeze Seafood. McDonald was introduced by HCTP Chairman Don Kauffman, who noted earlier that the group stands for “free markets, fiscal responsibility and limited constitutional government. After complaining about an abysmally low voter turnout that day for a primary runoff election, he cheered up and announced, “There’s a new sheriff in town!” The sheriff smiled and asserted, “I did vote today,” prompting much laughter from the audience of nearly 50 people. “I think I appreciate being invited here tonight,” he quipped, triggering even more chuckles. McDonald reviewed his law enforcement career, noting that he “gravitated toward the narcotics side of law enforcement ... I got to do a lot of neat training.” He added, “I’m very proud of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department.

16 - August 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Daily Planet’s Opinion

Costly primary runoffs need to be reformed now

One of the most obvious — and fixable — problems in North Carolina is its ultra-costly primary runoff procedure that fewer than 10 states use. The situation became starkly clear on July 17, when only 3.6 percent of registered voters statewide cast ballots in runoffs that cost taxpayers about $7.5 million. In four precincts in the state, nobody cast a vote, while several recorded only one or two votes. In Buncombe County, only 2.9 percent of the registered voters bothered to cast ballots. Buncombe’s runoff cost will be about $150,000, elections officials said. Under state law, runoff primaries are held when no candidate in the first primary wins 40 percent of the vote — and the sec-

ond-place finisher demands a second vote. In yet another reflection of our increasingly dumbed-down culture, turnout in North Carolina runoffs usually runs between 2.5 and 8 percent. While runoffs used to be held four weeks after the early May primary, a federal lawsuit delayed the runoff date into mid-July, further reducing interest. One solution would be simply to declare the leading vote-getter in the first primary the nominee. Better yet, we favor instant runoff voting, wherein voters choose a first and second choice. If no candidate meets the 40 percent pinnacle, the second-choice votes are counted and the winner declared. — saving maybe $7.5 million in hard times.

Carolina in my mind in Nantucket

CHAPEL HILL — “Carolina in My Mind.” It was the closing hymn at my niece’s wedding a few days ago. Just before the benediction an a capella group stood up in the rear of the church and sang: “In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina Can’t you see the sunshine Can’t you just feel the moonshine…” “What is the big deal?” I can hear you asking, and thinking that might be a very nice way to end a North Carolina ceremony. But the bride grew up in Connecticut and the groom in New Jersey. And the wedding took place in a beautiful old Congregational Church in Massachusetts on Nantucket Island. It was all New England, a long way from North Carolina. “Ain’t it just like a friend of mine To hit me from behind And I’m goin’ to Carolina in my mind.” James Taylor’s classic song has been popular throughout the country, but it means much more to North Carolinians. It is our unofficial state song and tied to our geography. In his book, “Grounded Globalism: How the U.S. South Embraces the World,” UNC-Chapel Hill Professor Jim Peacock uses “Carolina in My Mind” to illustrate the special role of home and place in Southern culture. Recently, Peacock inspired an on-line magazine called “SouthWritLarge,” a quarterly that explores the culture of the changing South. Coincidently, a few minutes before the wedding began, I got an email from one of the magazine’s editors, Samia Seregelden, an author who grew up in Egypt and now lives in Chapel Hill. She invited me to write a short piece for an upcoming issue. Her message was on my mind when I took my seat in the church and took a look at the wedding program and saw Ramy Mohamed Seragelden on the list of groomsmen. I immediately emailed Samia, “Any connection?” She wrote back, “My son.” Ramy, though proud of his Egyptian heritage, grew up in Chapel Hill and is also proud of his North Carolina heritage. So, was “Carolina in My Mind” in his honor? Not exactly. It was for the bride and groom. More about that later. The song was not the only North Carolina connection on Nantucket. Walking along

D.G. Martin the town’s Main Street the day before the wedding, I noticed a sign for the Cromartie Gallery. I remembered James Cromartie, who grew up in Charlotte and graduated from East Carolina. His mother, Doris, was a powerhouse in Democratic politics. I remembered his popular paintings of the North Carolina Capitol and Pinehurst No. 2 golf course. Cromartie earned national attention for his paintings and prints of the Smithsonian, U.S. Capitol, White House, and Supreme Court buildings. His gallery in Nantucket features scenes of seascapes, boats, beaches, and weathered buildings. His style is unapologetically local and realistic. Nelson Rockefeller was one of his early sponsors. More recently, when the Republican presidential hopefuls gave statements about their interest in the arts, a summary reported that Newt Gingrich “loves hardedge realist painter James H. Cromartie, calling the artist’s painting of the Capitol building ‘an exceptional and truly beautiful work of art.’” Forty years ago, Cromartie took his brand of Carolina sunshine and moonshine up North, just like James Taylor did. The North was where the action was and where you had to go to make it big. Back at the church, the bride and groom were gathering around their friends. Although they grew up in the North, they came to North Carolina for higher education (Davidson, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Duke), and they met because they stayed to work in the state’s financial industry. Forty years after Cromartie had to leave home to find success, talented young people, like the bride and groom, from all over the country are coming to North Carolina to prepare for success. And even if they leave us, Carolina is always coming back “in My Mind,” even in a big white church in Nantucket. • D.G. Martin hosts UNC-TV’s North Carolina Bookwatch, which airs at 9:30 p.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Sundays.

Letters to the Editor

Party and founder of the CaroliOpponent of topless rally publican na Stompers, a conservative activist group. questions liberals’ motives Citizens, not corporations, As the gotopless.org people come back should count in elections to Asheville, did liberal cartoonist David Cohen really mean to suggest (in the Asheville Citizen-Times) using a “gun” to impair mine and Carl Mumpower’s efforts to hold the group accountable? We two gobrainless.org guys have enough trouble trying to stop Asheville City Council from embarrasising our great city with another public sexual performance street party for the titillation of Buncombe’s 316 registered sex offenders and cowardly male onlookers. Surely the left can find a better way to impair two lonely conservatives trying to keep our head above water in a cesspool of sin. CHAD NESBITT Asheville • EDITOR’S NOTE: Nesbitt is the past chairman of the Buncombe County Re-

Voter fraud will not be corrected by photo IDs, but only controlled when campaign finance reform becomes standard and only when massive amounts of unlimited campaign millions from megacorporations and America’s wealthiest citizens are strictly regulated. The administration, Congress and Supreme Court have sold out our country to the highest bidders, even foreign corporations. One part of this dramatic sell out is Duke’s ironic role in the American Legislative Exchange Council, which is the infamous corporate bill mill that connects very conservative state lawmakers with lobbyists and representatives of companies like Koch Industries, Phillip Morris, Pfizer. See LETTERS, Page 17

The Candid Conservative

Liberalism? It’s an easy sale

Liberalism is winning in America because it’s an easy sale. The promise of something for nothing, freedom from accountability, and unearned entitlement is music to the ears of any vulnerable person. Unfortunately, most everyone experiences hardship, so we’re all susceptible to the false hope of the liberal message. That’s how the left selfishly kidnaps so many of your young, disadvantaged, and vulnerable citizens. Selling conservatism is selling reality and reality is hard. So is the cliff that liberals inevitably walk over, but that’s down the road pain. Conservatism is about the right now pain of choosing to live in the real world. If you’re a conservative trying to influence others, remember that your love and example are you most powerful teaching tools. A sincere desire to engage, encourage and equip your fellow man also helps. Selling conservatism is hard because life is hard. But remember, you’re selling reliable values that’ll last a lifetime.

Downgrading our culture

Nestled in the mountains of North Carolina is a bastion of liberalism called Asheville. For a conservative, it’s what’s known as a target rich environment. We’ve got it all – dominant liberal media, a Chamber of Commerce pushing the motto “Anyway You Like It”, an ultra-liberal city council, a politically paralyzed police force, a passive faith-based community, and a city full of left-minded souls indifferent to reality. Case in point, a planned repeat of last year’s sexual performance street party billed as a topless protest. We had women doing stripteases on the city fountain in view of the police department and children. Social services, city and police administrators, and the media ignored the law and more. Gotopless.org, a group ironically formed by a man, is coming back. If you’re a potential visitor with a family, values, or a conscience, you might want to reconsider. If you’re looking to further downgrade our culture come on – you’ll feel right at home in Asheville.

Jeb Bush and extremism

Jeb Bush has taken Republicans to task for being too extreme. It’s his belief neither his father nor Ronald Reagan could be nominated today. Jeb’s half right. His dad, currently being heralded as a paragon of virtue,

Carl Mumpower was a fence sitter, political opportunist, and weak one-term President. Remember his famous and inaccurate declaration, “Read my lips – no new taxes?” Ronald Reagan, on the other hand, would be the right’s goto-guy. Mitt Romney is middle-of-the-road mush compared to the real Ronald Reagan. The fact is there is only one kind of real Republican – the kind that stands for responsibility, reality, reason, and right. Check out the Republican Party’s stated values. Are those real or not Jeb? Right wing America isn’t about extreme anything. America’s just fallen so far in the ditch that the road to reason looks extreme. Conservatives should ignore you and the Bush family legacy of country club conservatism.

Romney: Being presidential

Mitt Romney recently showed us why he’ll be the right choice for president this November. Not only did he say “yes” to an invite to Houston convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, but he didn’t waffle or pander when he took the stage. Romney was booed when he told his NAACP audience he was going to repeal ObamaCare, but he still didn’t back down. In a later presentation to another group he had the audacity to suggest if voters’ interest rests on free stuff, they should vote for Obama because Romney was not going to pretend anything was free. That’s a guy with a courage button. The NAACP is a fraternity that has nothing to do with the advancement of people of color – everything to do with advancing cronies and keeping black Americans as mascots for the Democratic Party. Romney went into a den of iniquity and came out with his character and principles intact. That’s presidential. • Carl Mumpower, a former member of Asheville City Council, may be contacted at drmumpower@thecandidconservative.com

Asheville Daily Planet — August 2012— 17

On the left

Why the BID is bad for Asheville

A small group of Asheville citizens are intent on creating a Business Improvement District. They cite the Downtown Master Plan which includes a general proposal for such an entity, and they’ve been working on the idea for years. They had hoped to put it into operation at the beginning of the current fiscal year (July 1). You can search online for more details, but in brief, the plan entails an additional 7 cent tax on all properties in the Central Business District (up from 42 cents — a 17 percent increase). The tax will be paid on every commercial building, all equipment and vehicles owned by businesses, on residences and resident’s vehicles. They’ll also collect tax money from fire districts across the county, and they’ve asked for hundreds of thousands in additional tax dollars from Buncombe County and the City of Asheville. Funds would be used to clean sidewalks, hire guides or guards, and be used to promote downtown in some fashion — one assumes advertising. There will be a paid staff and a board composed of downtown property owners, with representation determined by wealth. BID advocates believe downtown is not safe and express a need for uniformed docents who will ensure citizen safety. City Council put them off until September, suggesting that the general public and Council needed more information. Council members expressed differing objections to the plan or the information we were provided. For my part, I flatly oppose the idea and will not vote for it in anything like its proposed outline. There are so many things wrong with the idea that, when discussing the matter with constituents, I hardly know where to start. So first, this. I am royally ticked off at the yammering about downtown safety. BID proponents seem intent on telling the world that Asheville is a dangerous place to visit, that tourists can expect to be accosted or beat up or, who knows? Raped? This is a lie. Check the stats. Asheville is a very safe city. Sure there are incidents, but not only are we safer than most cities, we are safer than Asheville used to be. BID proponents are doing all of us a huge disservice when they bandy their fearmongering. Next, I firmly oppose handing over tax money to a non-elected board. Asheville has had dismal success with tsuch plans in the past. The Pack Square Conservancy initially promised that no tax money would be used to refurb the park, but in fact about half the money ended up coming from federal, county and city taxpayers. Then it stiffed the City for $2 million it had promised to repay.. It is disbanding and sticking you, the taxpayer, with the bill. Furthermore, it promised that the new park would be endowed with enough money to pay for visitor center staff and maintenance. Wrong. You the taxpayer have been stuck with $300,000 per year in continuing costs for staff and maintenance. Major fail.

Cecil Bothwell Go back a few more years to the Grove Arcade. It’s a gorgeous building and I’m glad it was restored. But the nonprofit board that was supposed to repay the city $1.5 million convinced a majority on Council (not me) to fake it. As re-written, it now appears that the City is being repaid, but it’s a lie. We are crediting the Arcade for repayment by counting the property taxes paid by businesses as loan payments. But the loan repayment was supposed to be IN ADDITION to property taxes. Both the Conservancy and the Arcade projects involved some of the very people who are pushing the BID. I will never vote to place significant tax receipts directly into the hands of another non-elected body. Businesses are supposed to keep their own sidewalks clean and clear, be it trash or snow. Responsible owners (viz. theFlat Iron Building) do just that. (Perhaps suggesting stronger enforcement of current rules?) To honor the editor’s word limit I’ll stop here, only adding that the uptick in business predicted by advocates is a chimera. Perhaps a BID would have boosted downtown Asheville in 1970. BIDs have helped other failing cities. But there is no proof that a BID benefits a city as vibrant as Asheville. Streets and sidewalks are jammed. We’re famous. We top multiple “best” lists. How is a 17 percent tax increase on downtown property going to make life better? It won’t. The BID is a bad idea whose time is long past. Visit http://thebidisbad. com • Cecil Bothwell, a member of Asheville’s City Council, has been a Buncombe County resident for more than 30 years.

LETTERS The Asheville Daily Planet invites Letters to the Editor of 200 words or less. Please include your name, mailing address, daytime telephone number and e-mail address. For more information, call (828) 252-6565. Send mail to: Letters, Asheville Daily Planet P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, NC 28814 Send e-mail to: letters@ashevilledailyplanet.com

Letters to the Editor

Continued from Page 16 ALEC’s agenda spans across big-business priorities, creating template state laws that serve to deny climate change science, privatize schools, protect shooters with “castle doctrine” legislation and disenfranchise voters through voter ID laws. Citizens must unite to amend the Constitution recognizing that only human beings, not corporations, are granted rights guaranteed to “We the People.” We must join in regulating corporations under federal law (not only states like Delaware) so they must serve the public good and be subject to having their compacts terminated should they not comply. Also we must strive for publicly funded elections so citizens influence elections, replacing corporations. On Saturday, July 28, at Bele Chere, 22 Move to Amend of Buncombe County’s volunteers wearing sandwich boards were at Bele Chere collecting nearly 700 signatures on petitions calling for a Constitutional amendment ending the “Personhood” of corporations. We want North Carolina to be the seventh state to request that Congress start acting to pass such an amendment. Lew Patrie Asheville • EDITOR’S NOTE: Patrie is a member of Move to Amend of Buncombe County.

Mayor Bellamy, council enabling Raelism sex cult Why has Mayor Bellamy, City Council

enabled a sex cult known as Raelism into Asheville? They took zero blame for last year’s nightmare. Now we are “Trashville, Cesspool of Sin.” The Raelism cult advocates adultery, infidelity, we well as homosexual, bisexual, hransgender lifestyles for all. In other words, hHedonism is good. Hedonism on steroids is better. They want human cloning, one-world government. Their philosophies link to fascism. They want our children taught sex beginning at age 5. Switzerland kicked this cult out of their country over concerns of pedophilia risks to children. GoTopless.Org, the front group for this sex cult, advocates against God, monogamy, marriage, family, capitalism. They utilize brainwashing. Their mission: dethrone God, destroy our standards of decency and morality. Thanks to our mayor and City Council, our safe, family-friendly reputation is destroyed, Our women and children are endangered and degraded. With everything we know about this cult, our mayor and leadership are knowingly, and purposely, acting against our community’s best interests . Please educate yourself. https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raelism, www.GoBrainless.org Demand Mayor/City council empower law enforcement to remove this threat . Nancy Grace Arden See LETTERS, Page 18

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18 - August 2012 - Asheville Daily Plane

From the right

Professor Wiley is left AND wrong

By Ron Kauffman

Chairman, Henderson County TEA Party

While I’m not a professor, if I were, Professor (Robert) Wiley would get an “F” for his assessment of the Right (in a story in July’s Asheville Daily Planet). How can he take something as vast as the basis of our nation’s political philosophy, and so easily divide it into areas that can be categorically 100 percent right or wrong? If as Professor Wiley says, “Liberals advocate a mix, pragmatically choosing private or public, not on a doctrinaire basis, but on the basis of which more equitably works best for the most people,” how can he explain how a law that lacks American support — almost 70 percent against Obamacare — and allow it to stand? Does Professor Wiley truly believe that there can be as he says, “…no good point…” in having an opposing view from the Right? I have an anecdotal newsflash for Professor Wiley. Most people do not work willingly or cooperatively for the greatest happiness under the auspices of big government. His suggestion that they do fails to work well even in countries like China. Yet, he’d be happy to see America devolve into another China. I do agree that Conservatives don’t always have things totally correct. That’s a concession the Professor would never make about the Left. But we on the Right do believe in personal responsibility, the dignity of work and freedom. We support the right to go into an unfettered marketplace with an idea, and to succeed or fail by giving one’s best effort. The responsibility of the

government for personal success does not include guaranties of equal outcomes or fairness. Recall if you will that President Bill Clinton signed a bipartisan piece of legislation into law that reformed welfare. Clinton, with support from the Right, empowered people to get off welfare because even he knew that keeping people dependent upon handouts from the government would promote the enslavement of those people. Clinton also accepted the conservative idea that requiring welfare recipients to learn, earn and contribute toward what they received in the way of government handouts, would encourage them to work rather than remain idle and grow obsolete. The Left wants to increase the numbers of those who believe that riding for free in America’s bandwagon is their right. What the Left fails to understand is that fewer working people pulling that wagon creates an unsustainable recipe for a governmentcentric nation, more like Communist China. Conservatives believe in offering a hand up, while liberals encourage more people to seek a government handout. Who would have ever imagined the federal government would run Spanish language promotional ads encouraging people to have Food Stamp enrollment parties to increase the number of people dependent upon the government? Only the liberal Left. Conservatives believe that government does have a limited role to play. But that role is not to increase its own power or control over the lives of its citizens. Most of what the government has accomplished was done with too much taxpayer money, at too high a cost. They’ve created too much bureaucracy, too much waste, and

Letters to the Editor

Continued from Page 17

Daily Planet commended for ‘Left is right ....’ article

I’d like to commend you and thank you for the article “Left is right ... and right is wrong, prof claims” in the current edition of The Daily Planet. I expected the article to be exceedingly biased and, basically, an editorial opinion piece. I was pleased to find that it was byand-large a factual report of the professor’s talk and contained lots of “red meat” in the form of quotes from his lecture. I must tell you, when I saw that the first sentence in your article contained a grammatical error (“the political philosophy of liberals and conservatives sharply differ ...”) I wasn’t expecting much - but in the context of the fact that The Daily Planet is a grammatical disaster, I reckon that’s probably the fault of the typesetter? In any case, the article was well written and very informative. If you haven’t guessed, in my opinion the professor made his case very well, and my reaction to your story is that he’s probably right about most of the things you report him as saying. In the interest of fair play, I’d like to offer you a small observation if your goal in writing for The Daily Planet is to win new converts to conservatism (as opposed to just preaching to the choir). David Brooks IS recognized by the political middle, and by reputable political scientists, as a Conservative and, incidentally, one with real credentials to prove it. Quoting Wikipedia (Dear God!) as a source from which to discredit

him is ..... uh, gee, rather amateurish. Furthermore, holding up Rush Limmbaugh and Glenn Beck as good examples of Conservatism kind of makes your critics’ case for them. The criteria for the wisdom of Rush Limbaugh is that he’s the “number 1 rated talk show host”?!? Egad, man. By that standard, Jessica Simpson qualifies as an equal font of widsom! There are entire books devoted to the factual lies, distortions, misrepresentations, and outrigjht nonsense that are the regular fare of those two guys. Sure, they’re “popular” among uneducated angry people who have no polisci knowledge whatsoever - but they don’t bear up under even the slightest scrutiny when fact-based discourse is the standard. BTW — I note that your description of “his analysis” (first page, second galley) is not in quotes — meaning it’s not what he said but, rather, the words you are putting in his mouth You state that “his analysis” is that “liberals believe in big government’. To be frank with you - no, they don’t. That’s the dumbed-down Rush Limbaugh straw-man version of “what liberals believe”. Liberals believe - as the professor stated - in government that works best for the most people, whatever size that entails. A predetermined “size” is not the determinant, functionality and effectiveness are. That’s the Founders definition of a government of “We The People.” One more offer: to give yourself an honest test of your own leanings and understanding, go to politicalcompass.net and take their test (be brutally honest about what you really think about the questions they ask you). They will respond with an

too many unenforceable and counter-productive regulations. There is far too little measurable success to justify the expenditure of the taxpayer’s money. Conservatives, Professor Wiley, are actually fairly easy to understand. They want smaller government, fiscal responsibility, and the right to conduct business and their lives with an absolute minimum of interference from the government. We on the Right believe that free markets lead to economic growth, expansion, innovation and prosperity for those who work within its system. We don’t need or want the government to dictate how we should live our lives or increase centralized control in the name of fairness or equality. Historically, the government’s solutions to most problems were as bad as the original problem. Perhaps Nobel AwardWinning Economist Milton Friedman said it best, “If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5-years there’d be a shortage of sand.” It’s not a question of whether it is the left or right that is 100% correct, nor is it a question of fairness or equality, as that leads to where Obama is taking us, into class warfare in America. Today’s challenge is about our survival as a free and freedom-loving nation. We Conservatives on the Right want more people at all levels doing the right things and doing things right – not left or right, just correctly. We are working toward a return to local and national leadership of, by and for the people, by individuals from all economic strata and backgrounds, whom we can simply refer to as Americans.

assessment of where you — really — are on the map of political philosophies. You may bve surprised to see where real political science puts your frame of reference. [*Over two-thirds of the current total national debt is from the last three Republican administrations - more than twice as much as all other presidents combined, according to data from treasurydirect.gov*] JON DANA Asheville

Why so much space given to talk touting liberalism?

I had to smile the DailyPlanet gave almost FIVE FEET of column space to Professor Bob Wiley’s lecture to 60 seniors, 40 seeming to avoid his second class. Your article reports he actually quoted the nutty Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts . . . wait for it . . . as a reliable liberal source! Indian Country Web site reported in a June 20, 2012 article that Cherokee Indians had driven to meet with Warren about her alleged Cherokee background, but refused to meet with them. One opined, “Elizabeth Warren calls herself a Native American and calls herself a Cherokee, but she doesn’t really seem to care about us.” I could write about a minority not wanting government involved in their lives for liberals vs. conservatives, but allowed only 150 words for the other side of the story — a strand of spaghetti would have trouble making it into your pub. (149) Gary Kallback Weaverville

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Asheville Daily Planet — August 2012 — 19

Commentary

Social conservatives’ record shows they obstruct progress The 19th Amendment — the one that gave women the right to vote — was passed by Congress in June 1919. Fourteen months later, enough states had voted “yes” to make it part of the Constitution. But along the way...Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Maryland and Delaware voted “no.” Let me repeat that: these Southern and Border States voted against giving women the right to vote. (North Carolina and Florida apparently didn’t vote on the amendment in this time period.) With 90 years of hindsight, what they did seems ridiculous, ignorant. But not at the time. These states were ─ and mostly still are ─ conservative, and that means, as Webster says, they have “a disposition to preserve what is established.” I was raised in Georgia in the ‘40s and ‘50s. I remember constant opposition to everything that was “liberal” ─ playing cards, modern dancing, lipstick, movies, Sunday retail, women in men’s clothes or with “bobbed” hair. And in another category altogether, something that was not threatened pre-1954, segregation of the races. I went away as a missionary, experienced other cultures, and came to see my native culture more objectively. It was sadly a culture living in fear. In 1919-1920, liberals were threatening to topple the world as Southerners had known it. They were changing the role of women. Time and again, social conservatives fought last-ditch battles against change. Desegregation in the 1960s almost reached the fever pitch of 1861. And they always lost ─ sometimes from outside pressure, sometimes from within as their own people accepted change (like divorce, working mothers). This battle over the 19th Amendment gives us powerful clues toward understanding today’s social conservatism. First and foremost, they hate and fear “liberals” ─ a faceless force that brings disruptive ideas. Second, social conservatives change their targets as American society leaves them behind. They’ve stood, figuratively speaking, in one schoolhouse door after another. Third, socially conservative positions aren’t open to debate. They aren’t the

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Lee Ballard product of weighing competing ideas in search of truth. On the contrary, most social conservatives feel themselves engaged in spiritual warfare. They anchor their social views in Scripture and fight for absolute right against absolute wrong. This is historic social conservatism. In the 19th century, Southern preachers found abundant support for slavery in the Bible, as in Ephesians 6:5, where slaves are told to obey their masters as if they were obeying Christ. (Interestingly, abolitionists argued more from the American principles of liberty and equality than from the Bible.) Those opposing the vote for women might well have quoted First Timothy 2:11 (“Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.”) I remember the biblical arguments I heard as a kid in support of segregation. What will be said 90 years from now about the battles that today’s social conservatives are waging – opposition to evolution, homosexuality, stem cell research and the “morning after” pill? I think I know. Don’t you? • Lee Ballard lives in Mars Hill.

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20 - August 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Bitter homes and gardens — marriage remake mandated

If your wife says another man’s name while making love, what does that mean? It was her ex’s name -- my stepson’s dad. She apologized, saying it was only because she remembered needing to call him about problems their son’s having at school. Although I don’t think she’s cheating, I can’t say I believe her excuse, as she compares me negatively with previous men in her life. Had I blurted out another woman’s name, she never would’ve forgiven me. She has lots of anger and a very suspicious nature. She goes through my phone and constantly checks up on me. I know she’s had men cheat on her, but I’ve given her no reason to doubt me. Her response when I try to have a healthy discussion about this or anything is either “whatever” or calling me names and starting a fullblown argument, then suggesting we shouldn’t be together. That’s the last thing I want for our kids. — Upset There you are, trying your best to give your wife an orgasmatastical time in bed, and not only does she belt out another man’s name, she decides to get a head start on her to-do list. (Apparently, what you thought was her sex face is also her “Did I schedule that parent-teacher conference?” face.) Chances are, your wife’s explanation, that this was just a brain burp, is the truth. And people’s minds do wander during sex — especially when it’s not exactly their first time with a particular partner. They just don’t usually let on that they’re talking dirty but staring up at the crown molding and resisting the impulse to reach for the telescoping feather duster. Although every relationship gives rise to wounds, slights and things you wish you could unhear, how you respond depends largely on what your “base” is — personally and as a couple. If you’re emotionally secure and your relationship is loving, you can shrug off a whole lot — maybe even tease your wife about her sexual faux pas by yelling out your own name in bed or moaning your to-do list: “Ohhh … when you do that to me, it makes me think about calling to change our health insurance to a PPO.” When you get married, it isn’t just to a woman and all her annoying inlaws; you also marry all her unresolved issues. Your wife’s insecurity makes her feel vulnerable, but instead of expressing her fears and giving you the chance to allay them, she takes the emotionally “safe” way out — attacking you. Her motto: “Don’t go to bed mad. Stay up and scream about what a worthless worm your husband is.” Tell your wife that you need to remake your marriage to save it — because you love her and for your kids’ sake. Because she fights dirty and you seem unable to stand up to her, you should bring in a therapist as a referee. What you can do yourselves is make a pact to never treat each other like you’ve forgotten you love each other. For backup, the way couples have a “safe word” in sex, you can agree to call “Empathy!” if the poo-flinging gets out of hand — your signal to stop and call up some

The Advice Goddess

Amy Alkon

compassion for what the other person must be feeling. It won’t teleport you into instant maturity. But, because it’s really hard to be a hugger and a hater at the same time, it should remind you that “till death do us part” is supposed to be a really romantic promise, not a battle cry.

Senior momentum: old dudes hitting on her

Since I’ve been online dating, I’ve noticed a shocking trend: old men hitting me up for dates. I’m 24, and my profile states that I’m seeking men ages 24 through 35. Yet men my father’s age — and a few close to my grandfather’s — have “winked” at me and asked me out. Gross. Men this old never approach me in “real life.” Why do they do it online? — Icked Out When you’re 24, an “older man” is probably 36, not somebody who used to enjoy “long walks on the beach” but now enjoys long walks to the salad bar. (If you listen closely, you can hear his pacemaker.) An old dude who hits on you may have a distorted sense of his attractiveness (charming at any age). He may think that if he can just get you out on a date, his timeless sex appeal will make you go deaf when the waitress offers him the senior citizen discount. And who knows …maybe you’re looking for a sugar grandpa. Doesn’t hurt to ask! Well, not nearly as much as if the old coot were doing it while looking down your cleavage at Starbucks: “Hey, baby, I could tell you stories about the days before voicemail.” Online, however, you and the other 3,126 young chickies he hits on will probably just delete him. But, there’s always that chance that one will be drunk, crazy or desperate enough (in his mind, smart, insightful and adventurous enough) to meet him and see that he looks not a day over 40 … in the right light. (Unfortunately, the right light would be near-pitch darkness 20 years ago.) • (c) 2012, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol. com (advicegoddess.com). Weekly radio show: blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon

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Asheville Daily Planet — August 2012 — 21

Meadows celebrates primary runoff win

fail to see the prudence of sending a congressman form Western North Carolina who has been part of the Washington machine that has offered little hope, placed blame and preferred to apologize for America’s greatness instead of standing with pride in defending the American dream.” In other runoff races, Republican winners included Dan Forrest for lieutenant governor; Mike Causey for insurance commissioner; Ed Goodwin for secretary of state; and John Tedesco for school superintendent. In addition, Democrat John Brooks won his party’s nomination for labor commissioner.

From Staff Reports

FLETCHER — Republican 11th District congressional candidate Mark Meadows and his supporters gathered on the evening of July 17 at the Hampton Inn & Suites to celebrate his primary runoff victory.. The lobby and other adjoining rooms reserved for the occasion were jammed with dozens of congratulatory well-wishers. In the primary, Meadows won 38 percent of the vote, trailed by Vance Patterson. In the primary runnoff, Meadows solidly clinched the GOP nomination by capturing 76 percent of the votes. He won 17,427 votes versus Patterson’s 5,408 votes. Meadows, a real-estate investor and businessman living in Cashiers, will face Hayden Rogers, the former chief of staff to Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville. Rogers said in a statement on July 18, “Both of the candidates in the 11th District Republican runoff election have run very lengthy and hard-fought campaigns, and I congratulate Mr. Meadows on his victory. However, there is a profound difference between who we are; our background, leadership ability and vision for Western North Carolina and this great nation. I am eager to illustrate those differences to the people of the 11th District and look forward to a spirited and informative campaign.” In previous statements, Meadows said he

Daily Planet Staff Photo

Mark and Debbie Meadows (left) gather with their children to celebrate his runoff primary victory on July 17 July at the Hampton Inn & Suites at Fletcher. believes the major distinguishing difference “Hayden Rogers has been a part of Congress between him and Rogers is that Meadows that has offered few results, and ever fewer has a fresh perspective on Congress, while concrete decisions that would create jobs ... I

Moffitt gives legislative update at picnic

From Staff Reports

LEICESTER — Rep. Tim Moffitt, RBuncombe, provided a state legislative update during a July 9 picnic meeting by Citizens for Change at Brick Methodist Church. Besides Moffitt, a number of local candidates attended the soirée by the nonpartisan political group, including Mike Fryar, running for district 2 commissioner; Pat Cothran, running for register of deeds; Christina Kelly Merrill, running for district 2 commissioner; and Joe Belcher, running for district 3 county commissioners. Moffitt began his address by noting that “I’m looking forward to sitting in the House with Nathan Ramsey,” a former chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners who is seeking the N.C. House 115 seat. On a separate topic, Moffitt, who is seeking re-election, said, “An interesting thing about serving in the legislature — you spend at least four days a week in Raleigh.” He noted that “on the Fourth of July, we finished up our (short) session ... We had three veto overrides” — all on July 2 — “and they were all substantial overrides. The biggest override was on the (state) budget — that was the second one we did. ‘The first override was of the Racial Justice Act — a good idea, but impossible to implement ... The third one is fracking,” which, he joked, “hasn’t gotten much publicity.” On a more serious note, Moffitt asked if everyone present knows what fracking is — to which the crowd responded, “Yes.” (Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, is a technology used to produce natural gas.) “We’ve been doing it (fracking) for decades, so the reporting that we legalized fracking is amusing,” Moffitt said in taking a shot at the news media. He added that in North Carolina, only Lee, Moore and Chatham counties “are possible for fracking.” “So the mystery to me — and I’m more practical than political — is I couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about” in the media and among environmental groups. Noting that contamination of the ground-

Can I work while receiving Social Security beneﬁts? Social Security (SS)

Daily Planet Staff Photo

Candidates attending a July 9 picnic meeting of Citizens for Change in Leicester included (from left) Mike Fryar, Pat Cothran, Christina Kelly Merrill, Joe Belcher and Rep. Tim Moffitt, who was the meeting’s keynote speaker and is seeking re-election in House District 116. water system is an important consideration to him, Moffit noted that much publicity has been given to his major role in helping in the clean up of environmental problems at Chemtronics in Swannanoa and CTS in South Asheville. Yet, WLOS-TV in Asheville reported — on its news segment — the following: “Fracking legalized in North Carolina.” Grimacing, Mofitt said, “That concerned me. That was incorrectly reported.” In further venting his fury at the media, Moffitt said much has been made about a Democrat hitting the wrong button on a vote and the Republicans declining to let the Democrat recast the vote. According to state law, Moffitt noted, “you can’t change your vote if its changes the outcome. That’s the rules.” In the past, he said “voting changing happened, but not with any frequency.” During a question-and-answer session that followed, someone asked for Moffitt’s views on offshore drilling. “That’s more of a federal issue,” Moffitt

replied. “Are we going to get voter ID?” a woman asked. “Not this time,” Moffitt answered. “If Republicans” can achieve an override, “it would be passed.” However, at this point, he said a deal has not been achieved for an override. Another woman asked Moffitt if he was amazed or surprised in his experiences after taking the job as a state congressman. “The first thing that stood out was how much politics goes on,” Moffitt replied. “The second thing was I had no idea we have so many people in the state who are dependent on our tax dollars for their survival. So there’s significant competition for your tax dollars in Raleigh.” In speaking generally of his impact in Raleigh, Moffitt noted that “I was ranked No. 1 — by Civitas (Institute) — most conservative of 120” legislators in Raleigh. He also said he was rated as 40th out of 120 legislators in effectiveness in the legislature — “the highest ever by a freshman and the highest in from WNC in a long time.”

law requires that you report any income or beneﬁts while you are receiving checks. While you generally can’t work and be disabled at the same time, SS law permits you to make some efforts to work without jeopardizing your eligibility. If you fail to report any earnings made while trying to work, your SS check could be terminated. The law on making work attempts is complicated and changes on a regular basis. You should consult a qualiﬁed lawyer before deciding how you approach this issue.

22 - August 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Founding Fathers

Continued from Page 1 Wiley also noted that the Constitution talks about promoting “the general welfare. “To those who feel the general welfare only refers to the taxing power of Congress, I’d suggest they think again.” He said of the general welfare, “Could it even have included a singlepayer health system?” If Congress “can supply money for the general welfare,” such as education or regulation, “all could be called, if the Congress pleases, provisions of the general welfare,” Wiley said. He then defined “life,” “liberty” and “the pursuit of happiness,” based on his study of the Founding Fathers. Regarding “life,” he said it could mean “the proper role of government,” such as providing medical services.” “Liberty,” the prof noted, has its limits and “certainly nobody has the liberty to do whatever they want to do.” For example, he said nobody has the liberty to rob a bank. As for “happiness,” he said, “there are those who would say one cannot be happy without some leisure ... One could say education is critical to our being happy.” At that point, Wiley said, “Traditionally, the Founding Fathers have been associated with the ideas of John Locke.” However, the professor said Locke’s view “was quite narrow — more freedom from government than anything. “It’s my contention that the Founding Fathers” progressed beyond Locke in their thinking ... Locke once wrote that government has no other end than to protect or preserve property. He was wrong.’’ Wiley said that both Founding Fathers Ben Franklin and Jefferson felt government had a more expansive role. He listed two Franklin quotations that could be interpreted as advocating income distribution. Wiley also quoted Noah Webster, who said in 1787, “A general and tolerably equal distribution of property is the whole basis of natural freedom ... the very soul of a Republic.” He presented a quotation from the Cumberland Gazette in 1786 that “equality of property is the life of a Republican government ....”

A man in the class interjected, “That’s socialism.” A woman triggered laughter when she responded, “Does that mean Republicans are scoundrels?” Continuing, Wiley quoted Jefferson as writing in 1776, “Every an without property is entitled to 50 acres of public land upon reaching adulthood ....” The professor said, “Going through all of this (the writings of the Founding Fathers), I was surprised — and it’s consistent.” Wiley said that, while it might be comforting to libertarians to believe the Founding Fathers shared their conservative views, based on the evidence, it simply was not true. “(John) Adams, Jefferson and (James) Madison understood that tyranny could arrive from the accumulation of too much welath and influence, as from too much political power.” Bob Wiley He quoted Adams as saying, in 1792, that “The republica would be well-served by laws that reduce extreme wealth ... and raise extreme indigence toward a state of comfort.” Regarding the aforementioned Adams’ statement, Wiley said, “Government redistribution of wealth? You bet. Some of our Founding Fathers though it was a good idea.” A woman in the class interjected, “We’re seeing just one point of view. Are you saying all the Founding Fathers agreed? We’re not seeing the other point of view. I could pull out quotes (of the Founding Fathers) with the opposite view.” In response, Wiley said, “It’s up to you to draw your own conclusion. There was no unanimity of opinion there.” A man prompted laughter when he quipped, “Did they (the Founding Fathers) believe in trickle-down economics?” Another man said, “It’s important to take these statements in context.” He also said that Wiley’s explanation of the Founding Father’s interpretation of “happiness” was off-base because they were writing about “the pursuit of happiness” in the Constitution.

Someone asked, “despite what everyone just said, what ended up being in the Constitution?” Shaking his head, Wiley asserted, “All I’m trying to do” is show that if someone tries “to claim that all of these guys (the Founding Fathers) were on your side, you’re on shaky ground.” For instance, he said the Founding Fathers were talking about taking “an active role in the welfare” of the people. A man triggered laughter when he asked, mischieviously, “Are you saying they were all Democrats back then?” Staying on topic, Wiley asserted, “The tea party’s claim that they (the Founding Fathers) were all on their side ... I’m trying to say they weren’t.” He added that various Founding Fathers believed in the redistribution of wealth and a graduated income tax — “even Thomas Jefferson.” Based on his research findings on the Founding Fathers, Wiley said, “I don’t know if you’re surprised; I was surprised.” He championed Hamilton over Jefferson repeatedly, noting that the former favors big government, while Jefferson favored the smallest-possible government. He then gave an example of a fictional headline: “Congress passes government-run health insurance,” adding that “the year: 1798.” The headline he made up actually summarizes the strange-but-true story about the first govnerment-run health care system.in the U.S. — a policy for sailors in the maritime service. “In those days, legislation was short, to the point and did a lot of interesting things,” Wiley said. “This governmentprovided health care system was not optional. If a sailor want to work, he had to pay up ... This was not the only in United States history” that this occurred. A man interjected, “People weren’t required to pay this tax, but only if they wanted to work as a sailor in the maritime.” Wiley agreed, noting that he was just trying to note that “this was the first step in a U.S. government-run health system.” Further, he asserted, “The moral of the story is that the political right wing has to stop making the claim that the Founding Fathers” were in harmony with their viewpoint. After a break, Wiley said, “OK, as we’ve seen, Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers said many things that would cause today’s tea partiers to blanch.”

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Asheville Daily Planet — August 2012 — 23

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24 - August 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet