Asheville Daily Planet July 2012

Let’s pull plug on Bele Chere

‘Prepper’ uses wits to flee Mid-Atlantic storm disaster

( or at least drastically downsize it )

— See Cecil Bothwell’s Column, Pg. 16

Cecil Bothwell

— See First-Hand Account, Pg. 9

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BCGOP fires Yelton from its leadership

By JOHN NORTH

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com

SKYLAND — The Buncombe County Republican Party voted on June 25 to remove Don Yelton from “all positions of (BCGOP) leadership,” including its executive committee, prompting a former party chairmqn — and other Yelton sympathizers — to resign from the executive committee.

The action occured during a lengthy — and stormy — closed meeting at the Skyland Fire Department.

In a brief interview a few days later, Yelton told the Daily Planet that he would challenge the decision in court and that it looks like “it’s going to Raleigh” to the state GOP to be heard under appeal.

Past BCGOP Chairman Chad Nesbitt told a Daily Planet reporter waiting outside, “I just witnessed the Democratic Party in there ...”

A furious Robert Malt, a recent BCGOP chairman, left the meeting, noting, “I resigned” from the executive commitee.” Fellow Republican Gary Shoemaker, right behind him, added, “Me, too!”

Yelton had been served with an official written notice, dated May 22 and signed by Henry D. Mitchell, BCGOP chairman, that Mitchell would seek to remove him from his party leadership positions for the following two reasons: • “Your failure and inability to perform the duties of your office due to your confrontational approach, your inability to curb your temper, your repeated distruption of meetings and your personal attacks and insults of other members — both during meetings and outside of meetings as well as other factors that render you unable to perform your duties.

• “Disloyalty to the Republican Party, including engaging in negative campaigning against Republican candidates.”

See BCGOP, Page 20

Daily Planet Staff Photo

‘Throwback’ horn band blasts away

The Vinyl Brothers Big Band, a a 10-piece “throwback” to the soul and horn rock bands of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, performed June 16 during the free, twice-monthly summer Concerts in the Park series on Town Square at Biltmore Park in Asheville. The group performed a number of hits by Chicago, Blood, Sweat and Tears — and a rip-roaring rendition of “Vehicle” by the Ides of March, delighting the crowd that gathered to hear the music.

Left is right ... and right is wrong, prof claims

Based on evidence, liberalism triumphs over conservatism, ‘seniors’ at UNCA told

By JOHN NORTH

john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com

Bob Wiley

The political philosophy of liberals and conservatives sharply differ and “both can’t be right,” so individuals must judge which holds the most merit based on “the evidence,” lecturer Bob Wiley said during the second of his Thoughtful Thurdays lectures on June 28 at UNC Asheville’s Reuter Center.

Toward the end of his two-hour talk, the professor said, “There is no contest between conservatism and liberalism, in my view ....

“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.

While Wiley said “it’d be a nice thing to think that both philosophies” include good points, they

do not.

“What is good is the Hamiltonian (liberal) philosophy and what is bad is the Jeffersonian (conservative) philosophy.”

About 22 people attended the second class in a series of three, titled “The Impact of the Two Doctrines on Government and People.” (Wiley stressed that UNCA, despite letting him lead the three classes, does not endorse his viewpoint — and that his conclusions are his personally.)

In his analysis, conservatives believe in the smallest-possible government, while liberals believe in big government with which people work cooperatively for the greatest happiness.

On a big screen, Wiley displayed the following quote he attributed to David Brooks, a columnist for The New York Times whom he described as a prominent conservative: “Without the extraordinary contributions

of liberals, the United States would be a much, much worse place than it is today.”

(Tthe Daily Planet found that Wikipedia refers to Brooks as “a moderate,” while No. 1-rated conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh totally rejects Brooks’ standing as a conservative, accusing him instead of being a media stooge for President Barack Obama, a Democrat.)

In the class, Wiley said liberalism is credited with giving the U.S. civil rights for AfricanAmericans, women’s rights, Social Security and unemployment insurance coverage, among other changes. He noted that even the aforementioned Brooks praised liberals for bring about child labor laws, Head Start and many other social programs.

Especially in the cases of civil right and women’s rights, “liberals went to the mat against some ingenious arguments” from conservatives.

See EVIDENCE, Page 6

2 —July 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

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Sultry, soulful singer sizzles

Daily Planet Staff Photo

The Shannon Whitworth Band (above) performed Americana, country and roots music on June 21 to open the 2012 Park Rhythms summer concert series — adjoining Lake Tomahawk — in Black Mountain. Whiteworth (in the forefront) features a sultry singing style. She previously was a member of the band The Biscuit Burners.

Chamber honors small-business leaders From Staff Reports

A number of individuals were honored during the annual meeting of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce on June 21 at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in downtown Asheville.

The awards and winners included the following: • Small Business Leader of the Year (15 or fewer employees): Larry Golson, Envision Eye Care.

• Small Business Leader of the Year (16 or more employees): John Miles, integritive inc.

• AYA Award (recognizing women in business): Beck Cannon, i play Inc. • Excellence in Public Service: Joyce Harrison, retired from Self-Help Credit Union.

• William A.V. Cecil Tourism Leadership Award: Steve Hill, retired site manager of Thomas Wolfe Memorial.

• Good Health Good Business Award: Mike Daugherty, BorgWarner.

• Chamber Volunteer of the Year Award: Ben Hamrick of Johnson, Price, Sprinkle, who served as vice chairman of the chamber’s finance committee.

• Impact Award (recognizing a fast-

growing company): Eric Oelschlaeger, Epsilon Inc., a 3-year-old company with more than 50 employees.

• Entrepreneur of the Year” Mike Adams, Moog Music.

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4 —July 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

McCrory touts business-friendly tack to fix N.C.

By JOHN NORTH

john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com

The state is in terrible financial condition, North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory said during an address on June 15 to the Council of Independent Business Owners in downtown Asheville.

McCrory, the former Charlotte mayor, addressed more than 100 people — mainly business-owners — during a CIBO “power lunch meeting” at Magnolia’s Raw Bar & Grille.

His opponent, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, a Democrat, last appeared at a CIBO session in December 2010. Dalton’s staff reportedly is working to confirm another meeting CIBO address soon. McCrory also had appeared previously before CIBO. The GOP candidate began his talk by stating, “Listen, these are very, very serious times. The state unemployment report for North Carolina just came out” — and it remains at 9.4 percent.

“I’m sad to report that our unemployment is still the fourth highest in the nation. The only three higher are Nevada (11.6 percent), Rhode Island (11 percent) and California (10.8 percent).”

Shaking his head, McCrory said, “This is not the North Carolina I grew up in.” He said he recalled the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, when “there was no state ahead of North Carolina” in growth and development.

“The reason I’m running for governor is to represent business. I’ve been a business leader for 30 years.”

He then told a story about a businessman who lamented, “While we were turned inward, our customers were leaving us.” He likened that firm’s dilemma with the plight

in Raleigh.

“In the past decade, leadership in Raleigh turned inward and assumed that North Carolina’s brand (name) would carry us forever.”

Instead, McCrory said the state has experienced the same “loss of customers” as did the business Pat McCrory he cited.

To its credit, he said during the past three years, the legislature is “showing leadership.” (He apparently was alluding to the state legislator — led by Democrats for more than a century — that has been led by Republicans in the past few years.)

“I met with (N.J.) Gov. (Chris) Christie recently … When he took it (the state) over, he said New Jersey had fallen off a cliff …

They now beat us (North Carolina) in unemployment.” After a pause, McCrory asserted, “North Carolina can beat New Jersey,” as it has through the years, with him at the helm.

He also said S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley “is beating us in recruiting industries — that can impact us from Wilmington to Charlotte to Asheville.” He cited efforts by governors in neighboring Tennessee and Virginia, which are leaving North Carolina behind.

McCrory reiterated that he could fix the problem as the state’s new governor.

“I know as mayor … during my 14 years

as mayor of Charlotte, I wanted to beat my competition. You don’t turn your back on your customers,” as he charged that Gov. Bev Perdue and her predecessor, both Democrats, have done.

He then noted that Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., got elected on his pledge to crackdown on corruption and push economic growth. Now, “they’re no longer known for corruption — and (economic) growth” is leading North Carolina.

“Surely, if they can do it in Louisiana, we can do it in North Carolina, where we have the mountains, the Piedmont and the coastal areas.”

McCrory added, “The new (N.C.) governor needs to make North Carolina businessfriendly.”

As for what needs to be done, he listed the following: • “North Carolina needs to get into the energy exploration business.” He said Asheville and the surrounding area depend on oil lines coming up from the GreenvilleSpartanburg, S.C., area and the region “gets hit first when there’s a big problem” elsewhere. “It’s time for action, which allows for energy exploration and energy independence. This is extremely important.”

• Regulations needs to be streamlined or reduced to encourage business growth. He said the problem with regulations “is coming from Washington.”

What’s more, McCrory said, “Our governor and her administration sat on the sidelines” and failed to take any position on the national health care legislation, while “I’ve had businesses tell me they’re growing, but they don’t want to go over 70 employees — to avoid being part of Obamacare regulations.”

• Education needs reform. “I have a passion for education,” McCrory said. Nonetheless, he lamented that, despite much spending of tax dollars, “Our dropout rate in North Carolina high schools is around 20 percent.”

Further, he asserted, “To raises taxes and pour more money into schools is wrong. We need to figure out the problem first. University system costs are going up 7 to 8 percent per year, when inflation is 2-3 percent ... When I talk to many employers,” they complain that many North Carolina college graduates are “poorly educated ... We have remedial teaching at every level” of education.

McCrory said he believes there should be two — rather than one — pathways to success for high school graduates in North Carolina, including attending college or training in a trade or vocational pursuit.

“One of the big things is we can’t find quality electricians” — and other tradesmen. “Even with an unemployment rate of 9.4 percent, we can’t find them. We’ve got to respect both pathways” — tradesmen and college graduates.

“I respect that aptitude (to do practical tasks) — and it’s desperately needed. This is the way we need to think out of the box, with regard to education.”

• The state’s tax system needs reform.

“Our tax system is well over 40 years old,” McCrory said. “We must have a bias toward those people who make, grow or innovate things ... You don’t first grow government and hope the private sector follows. We’ve gone in reverse and the math doesn’t add up.

“We need a governor with the spirit to put North Carolina first ... We’ve got the least growth in jobs of any state today,” he said.

See McCRORY, Page 5

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McCrory Continued from Page 4 During a question-and-answer session that followed, Asheville City Councilman Marc Hunt asked McCrory to “reflect on challenge” that local officials “face in dealing with Raleigh.”

“We need communications and dialogue,” McCrory said. “We need a better integration of the city’s plan with the states’s.”

As governor, McCrory said, “I will present a 25-year infrastructure transportation plan, so everyone will know and can plan” accordingly. He stressed that “there is no such plan now.”

Another concern he cited is “unfunded mandates that states put on localities ... I want to decentralize a lot of our efforts.”

McCrory also said he wants to cut the state Department of Education and “push money and decision-making” more to the local level.

A man asked, “How do you intend to fund your 25-year transportation infrastructure?”

“That’s one reason I want to get into the energy business,” McCrory replied. “The last two governorers have stolen (funds for operations) from the Highway Trust Fund.”

He said there are many state financial problems now, including North Carolina owing the federal goverment $2.3 billion or $2.4 billion for unemployment insurance ...

I need to warn you — we need to put out the short-term fires first.”

CIBO member Ellis Cannon triggered laughter from the crowd when he asked, “Governor — governor-to-be ... Voter fraud has been a bad thing ... What are the chances in North Carolina to get a voter ID” bill

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“If I’m elected governor, we’ll have the same requirements as we have to get in the Governor’s Mansion, or to buy Sudafed.”

Some in the crowd applauded.

If voter ID is required, “nobody will be disenfranchised,” McCrory asserted, adding that he was sure the other side would “do everything they can” to oppose it.

Saying that “the backbone of the U.S. economy is small businesses,” a man asked what McCrory would do to spark the formation and growth of small businesses.

“Well, my major reform would be to change the tax system,” McCrory said. “We have one of the biggest income tax systems in the U.S ... That, more than incentives, is the way to go” to promote growth.

CIBO member Mark Brooks said he had heard that “it’s not so much the regulation, but the way they’re enforced.” He asked if McCrory’s reform would include looking at enforcement.

“Actually, that’s a great question ... We’ve got a culture of intimidation” in the state government now. “The businesses are fearful of retaliatation” from the regulators.

“There’s a mentality that the bureaucrats are the bosses ... That’s wrong.

“This is going to be the No. 1 governor’s race” in the U.S., “now that Wisconsin is over ... I hope to bring (Wisc. Gov.) Scott Walker down here to help me. He’s a great, great guy. We need to change this culture” in North Carolina’s government.

As the program ended, McCrory received sustained and enthusiastic applause from the CIBO members

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A story in June’s Daily Planet on a petition by a citizens group against Asheville public radio station WCQS-FM’s license renewal was incorect in stating that “the group had charged that WCQS was not responsive to the local listernship and had violated some FCC requirements,” according to group spokesman Fred Flaxman.

“We never charged that WCQS ‘violated

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“If the FCC denies WCQS’ license renewal, it will because of the truth of that charge, which the station has never denied,” Flaxman stated.

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6 - July 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Aristotle vs. John Locke: The battle of the 2 ‘isms’ From Staff Reports “The Philosophical Origins of Liberalism and Conservatism” was the focus of a presentation by Bob Wiley in the first of a three-part lecture series titled “Today’s Politics — Left and Right or Right and Wrong?” on June 21 at UNC Asheville’s Reuter Center.

In the battle between the two “isms — liberalism and conservatism, Wiley said, “There are those who believe human improvement is possible ... Today, we call these people ‘liberals.’ There are those who want to obstruct. We call these people ‘conservatives.’”

He noted that today’s conservatives were known for years as “classical liberals,” but that the term liberal now is used in reference to those who are leftists.

He said the two opposing factions “have different views of men” based on the ideas of Greek philosopher Aristotle (384 B.C. – 322 B.C.) and British philosopher John Locke (1632-1704).

Wiley said Aristotle, whom he said launched liberalism, came from a democratic society, while Locke, whom he

said founded conservatism,“lived in an autocratic society under a pope and a king.”

About 70 people attended the first of UNCA’s new Thoughtful Thursdays lecture series.

See story beginning on Page 1 for details on the June Aristotle 28 lecture.

Wiley’s final address, “Our Founding Fathers —Whose Side Were They Really On?” will be presented at 11:30 a.m. July 12.

Wiley, who holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago and taught as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University, is now on the faculties of UNCA’s College for Seniors and Blue Ridge Community College in East Flat Rock.

He began by noting that both liberalism and conservatism claim to better serve people under their widely differing systems.

Wiley added that this issue “is very hot at

this point.”

“Both liberals and conservatives claim their views are best for everyone,” Wiley said. “Their views are so diametrically opposed that they both can’t be right.”

The professor said his lecture John Locke series would help those present to discern “what’s try and what isn’t true” in what liberals and conservatives espouse.

“Both groups claim life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” are achieved through their respective systems.

As for conservatives, Wiley said, they believe “people are most free if they are able to do what is in the best interest” of individuals “with a bare minimum of government interference.” To some degree, he added, conservatives “view government as the enemy.”

In contrast, he said liberals “believe there is a common societal interest … People must work together cooperatively” and that this is best achieved through government.

“Both … hold that their beliefs are best” for the greatest number of people and “that their vision is best.”

To that end, he quoted the late N.Y. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan as saying, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not to their own facts.”

He asked, “Can a search for truth lead one to decide which is (ideology) is true … for most of us?”

Wiley added, “There always will be skeptics who believe in the contradiction that nothing can be shown to be true.”

Aristotle, he said, believed that “the end of a political system is to maximize the happiness of all its citizens.”

Unlike Aristotle, Locke claimed man is more fully realized without government — and that the only problem is men, and their property, need to be protected from others.

Therefore, government ranks as a necessary evil, in the viewpoint of conservatives, Wiley said.

Continued from Page 1 He cited the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, RS.C., whom he said was a conservative who stood prominently against school integration.

Wiley then told of conservative icon Ronald Reagan warning that if what is now Medicare were passed, doctors would be told by the government where to live and where to practice, and that “you and I are going to spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it once was like in America when men were free.”

As those in the class laughed, Wiley said that assertion proved to be way off the mark — and that was not unusual because “Reagan made a number of strange statements.”

He then quoted — and criticized as an example of conservatives’ opposition to child labor laws — former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich for his comment, “School districts should fire ‘unionized janitors’ and pay kids to maintain their own schools instead.”

Next, he cited U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, RUtah, who said, “Federal child-labor laws violate the Constitution and shouldn’t even exist.”

Wiley said at least one liberal analyst said that human beings are intensely social animals and, therefore, Locke’s idea of an individual alone charting his own course is incorrect.

He also quoted Elizabeth Warren saying, “There is nobody out there that got rich on his own.”

Next, Wiley turned to Friedrich von Hayek and Ludwig von Mises, whom he termed the “two most influential critics” of liberalism.

He said they are from “the so-called Austrian School of Economics.”

As for Hayek (1899-1992), a 1974 Nobel Prize-winner in economics, Wiley noted that he is the author of “The Road to Serfdom,” a highly influential conservative classic. (The book has been called “a war cry against central planning,’ a system which Hayek says tends to veer toward dictatorship or totalitarianism — serfdom — as a means of coercing implementation of one’s plans.)

“In his defense,” Wiley said, “Hayek was deeply influenced by what was going on in Germany and the Soviet Union” during World War II. However, the professor said perhaps no advocate for idealized capitalism has been more influential than the late Milton Friedman, a

1976 Nobel Prize winner in economics.

Friedman, who was a member of the Chicago School of Economics, believed that the kind of economic organization that provides the maximum economic freedom is competitive capitalism, Wiley said.

In speaking of conservatives generally, the professor said they want to cut public expenditures, reduce social services, education and health, all of which they consider “bad,” while tax breaks for businesses are considered good, Wiley said.

“I advocate people siting down ... and not being doctrinaire — and look at what’s the best way” to solve problems. “Apply human reason.” He said the question to answer is: “What’s the benefit for most people?”

At that point, one male class member said, “So far, it’s been a one-sided presentation. Capitalism has brought us to where we are.”

Another man said, “People figure out what’s best for them — and go with a political philosophy” that is in accord.

However, yet another man asserted, “You’re leaving out compassion.”

A woman said, “It’s not necessarily your economic viewpoint, but your viewpoint.”

Personally speaking, she said she believes in government intervention, when problems arise.

Wiley asked, rhetorically, “The Austrians and Milton Friedman: What do they want?”

His answer was cut public expenditures, deregulation, privitization and eliminating “the public good.”

While Wiley conceded that “the efficiency of government always could be improved,” it beats the conservatives’ “supplyside, trickle-down economy.”

He then cited Hayek as saying, “If you don’t think conservatism is best for this country, prove it.”

Despite Hayek’s contention that conservatism “is best for everyone, I claim there is proof” to the contrary, Wiley said.

For instance, he said conservatism is not the best system for everyone when 1 percent of the population owns 35 percent of the nation’s assets.

Wiley also said 46.3 million Americans are now living in poverty.

“I’ve heard it said that nearly half of Americans don’t pay any income taxes.

Anybody want to trade your income for theirs?” (Nobody raised their hand.)

“That there’d be a better way than a total laissez-faire” economy, he said, “is the total bailout of the U.S. auto industry.” (Actually, the government only bailed out General Motors and Chrysler. Ford said it did not need a bailout.)

In a general swipe at today’s U.S. economy, Wiley declared, “It ain’t trickling down.”

He then cited a recent Newsweek headline, “The right was wrong.”

Wiley also said, “The tea party got it wrong ... Ironically, they still won’t admit it.” For example, he said tea party proponents complained that the government forced the taxpayers to bail out the failing car companies with no plausible chance of their turning around” financially.

In reality, the professor said the car companies repaid the government and survived due to the bailouts.

As an example of a conservative politician popular wth the tea party, Wiley cited U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., who once reportedly said, “We have a gangster government.”

He said Gingrich also “wrote off” the bailouts of the auto companies.

“The point is, we have yet to hear any of these (conservative) prognosticators say they were wrong,” Wiley said.

He contended that conservatives favored the government’s bank bailouts — “and the fact is not all of the TARP funds have been repaid.”

On the bright side, Wiley is the knowledge that “Republicans were not always so doctrinaire.”

He cited the last U.S. Sen. Jacob Javits, R-N.Y., who was “a liberal Republican ... about 50 years ago.” Wiley praised Javits for having said, “The private economy needs to be directed toward serving the national interest ....”

After a pause, the professor said, “There is no contest between conservatism and liberalism, in my view ....

“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.

He quoted Francis Fukyyama, who said, “Hayek’s argument is based upon unsupported theory, rather than facts.”

In pitting what Wiley termed “conjecture versus reality,” he asked, “So did the bailouts put us on the slippery slope to fascism or socialism? No.”

The professor added, “One can accuse today’s Republicans of many things, but consistency is not one of them.”

Further, Wiley said, “When the state of North Carolina paid off Sierra Nevada to put a brewery in this area, the Republicans were: ‘Give them the mone’ ... Banks shouldn’t, in fact, be allowed to run wild, especially since they’re gambling with taxpayers’ money.”

In a swipe at the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, Wiley said, “(Mitt) Romney would say there’s always winners and losers,.”

In the professor’s view, “it seems to me, as a nation, we should ask, ‘How much or little government regulation do we need?’” versus the doctrinaire approach of conservatives, which, he said, “can say with certainty that every government program is a one-way ticket to socialism.”

While Wiley said “it’d be a nice thing to think that both philosophies” include good points, they do not.

“What is good is the Hamiltonian philosophy and what is bad is the Jeffersonian philosophy.”

As examples of good moves by government, he cited the building of the Erie Canal, the transcontinental railroad, the land-grant universities, the interstate highway system — and “the Defense Department literally built the Internet.”

Wiley chided Hayek for making “the slipperiest of the slippery-slope arguments,” with the dividing line “leading the way (today) to Glenn Beck,” a leading conservative radio and TV personality.

“Of course, Republicans don’t see it this way. They only see what they like.” Many in the class laughed when Wiley noted that one commentator recently said about Bachmann, “She’s easily confused.”

“Republicans in recent years have grown to love social engineering — and not just in the tax code,” the professor said, adding that Grover Nordquist’s idea of freedom is: “We wish to be left alone and run our lives as we choose.”

He concluded by saying, “There’s room for criticism in what government does. But there’s also room for criticsm of what business does. There’s room for criticism of everyone.”

Wiley said the important thing is to work “together to achieve result that are deemed to be the best. We need to look pragmatically at what works best,” which he termed the liberal approach.

Evidence

Capitalism called ‘most just, fair system,’ but religionists push back From Staff Reports SKYLAND — Brian Balfour’s presentation of the Civitas Free Market Academy workshop on “The Morality of Capitalism” triggered a concerted pushback from several attendees with strong religious convictions on June 28 at the Skyland Fire Department.

After Balfour outlined a mainly secular development and foundation for capitalism, a man attending the program said he had “trouble with his derivation of capitalism from primitives societies ... Most are not classless.” He contended that Christianity made a major impact on morality and the development of capitalism.

In response, Balfour said, “What I was trying to explain was that what developed as moral behavior contributed to the survival of the tribes.”

The man persisted, “But that’s not right.

There was slavery ... And it doesn’t change much through medieval times, when the king takes over with his ‘Might makes right,’ which is a typical tribal concept. That’s not what capitalism is about,” with its “idea of individual rights ....

“I think you’ve chosen to ignore a very important concept — and that is the 10 Commandments — what is right and wrong.”

Another man told Balfour, “You’re avoiding the existence of religious morality” and instead “putting it on a secular explanation.”

In response, Balfour said bringing religious explanations into such a discussion tends to be divisive and counterproductive because people tend to respond emotionally, making it hard to have a rational discussion.

He also said that the development of morality and free enterprise “happened over long stretches of time, certainly in fits and starts.”

Afterward, Balfour told the Daily Planet in a brief interview that, “As I tried to lay out, there were certain moral codes that emerged before organized religion.”

About 35 people attended the nearly twohour free program sponsored by the Civitas Institute and hosted by Buncombe Forward, a Buncombe County conservative activist group.

The Civitas Institute, based in Raleigh, is a conservative policy think-tank.

In his presentation, Balfour addressed issues, such as “Is capitalism evil?” “The importance of making the moral case for capitalism,” “Understanding morality,” “Applying morals to economic systems,” “Free enterprise is the only moral system,” “Why the moral foundations of free enterprise work” and “Addressing specific arguments of anti-capitalists.”

He noted that the so-called “99-percent” of the Occupy movement charge that capitalism is immoral and evil. Later, Balfour said, “In a free enterprise system, it’s the 99 percent who determine who the 1 percent are.”

The workshop is designed to equip attendees with a better understanding of why the most compelling case for free enterprise is not merely economic efficiency, but rather its consistency with moral principles, he said.

In opening remarks, Balfour said of capitalism, “It is the most just, fair system for organizing our economic activities.”

He said the term “capitalism” derived from the 12th and 13th centuries, when the term “capital” started becoming popular.

“Then, in the 19th century, the term ‘capitalism’ originated as a derogatory” reference to the free market system by Karl Marx in his work, “Das Kapital.”

However, Balfour stressed that, “what we’ve had in recent years — and today — is crony capitalism.”

He added that he prefers to use the term “free enterprise,” as do many others, because

of a widespread feeling that the word “capitalism” has so many negative connotations unfairly attached to it.

He then turned to “understanding morality,” which he said “What is moral is defined as what is good and what is bad behavior.”

Balfour said experts believe emotions Brian Balfour are the coordinated response to stimuli.

“Hard-wiring of our emotions were built around our surroundings ....

“Through much of man’s history, the goal was to survive from day to day,” he noted.

“Throughout a large share of human history, mankind was comprised of small bands of hunters-gatherers ... A moral code began to evolve around the little tribes .. Those groups who adopted certain customs enhanced their ability to survive over time.”

Balfour said those “certain customs” included self-sacrifice, intentionaly helping others and providing help to identifiable beneficiaries with shared goals ­— specifically putting the survival of the group over that of the individual.

As for “magnaminous morality,” he said, “it’s very easy to praise this type of moral behavior and it is easy to observe ... for the good of the survival of the group, it’s important to share with the rest of the group.”

Balfour reiterated that “those tribes that were more likely to follow these moral codes were more likely to survive.”

As societies grew larger, Balfour said the tribal instict moral code “was not conducive in their new locale,” and its was dropped.

Under the “extended order,” the new moral code include respect for individual rights (self-ownership), refraining from harming others, free voluntary exchange and property rights — “no one has an entitlement to the property or effort of another.”

Balfour said, “Over time, these moral guides helped to codify the idea of ‘rights.’”

He then discussed applying morals to an economic system. “When you want to evaluate an economic system, you want to see how it affects people in their relationships with one another.”

The ethic of capitalism included respect for individual rights, property rights and equality before the law.

“Capitalism was the first system to embrace a moral code,” Balfour said. “Most nations were based on altruistic code of sacrificing native people for common goals.”

Up until that time, people gained weath by seizing political power, but “capitalism distinguished itself by enabling people to earn wealth” by engaging in free enterprise.

Magnaminous morality breaks down under a larger social order. Further, Balfour said, “Success in capitalism means serving others ...

In capitalism, to receive you must first give.”

He showed a film clip showing the late economist Milton Friedman leaving TV talk-show host Phil Donahue speechless when he asks him, “Tell me, have you seen a society that hasn’t run on greed? The world runs on people pursuing their self-interests.”

Balfour concluded by saying, “Free enterprise promotes happiness,” favoring earned success over learned helplessness of those opposed to capitalism.

Under “learned helpflessness,” Balfour said there is “a disconnect between your efforts and your rewards. When you get to that point, you blame others.”

Asheville Daily Planet —July 2012 — 7

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8 - July 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Deano and The Dreamers bring ‘oldies’ to life

The band Deano and The Dreamers (above) performed classic rock and soul music for 2-1/2 hours — without

a break — on the evening of June 23 outside Hendersonville’s Firehouse Subs. The concert-dance was part

Kraig Hargraves of Hendersonville gets his groove on — and appears ecstatic — during a song that accentuated funk.

of its 2nd Annual Cruze and Groove — a free twice-monthly summer series. The group, which has been together for more than two years, played mostly songs from the 1950s and ‘60s. About 70 people attended the gala, many of them dancing in the parking lot. Above from left are Steve Laughter, bass guitar

Daily Planet Staff Photos

and vocals; Dean Martin Landreth, keyboards and vocals; Chuck Stanberry, drums; and David Reid, lead guitar and vocals. Laughter is from Hendersonville; Landreth, Horse Shoe; Stanberry, Asheville; and Reid, Brevard. Also, classic cars and hot rods were proudly displayed by their owners around the dance area.

Dennis Roland of Black Mountain exhibits some impromptu Elvis Presley moves — to the crowd’s delight — during the June 23 concert-dance.

Asheville Daily Planet — July 2012 — 9

Back from West Virginia nightmare: A prepper’s saga EDITOR’S NOTE: Scott Richardson, a resident of Blowing Rock and a “prepper,” wrote this essay below on July 2. It is reprinted here with his permission.

By SCOTT RICHARDSON We are back from West Virginia — land of no power.

If I hadn’t had 1/4-tank of gas left, we would still be stuck there.

The entire state (West Virginia) is out, and no one seems to care. People are stranded up and down the interstate. There is no gas anywhere.

We saw people camping out in front of gas stations on chairs, and parking their cars under underpasses to stay cool. They had run out of gas.

Many cars are abandoned along the roads as people ran out of gas, and had no where to go. We didn’t see any emergency vehicles — no one handing out gas either.

You were pretty much stuck where you ran out of gas.

We used our Cracker Barrel map to start calling restaurants, trying to figure who had power. The one in Wytheville, Va., said there was no power north of the tunnels, but they had power, so we decided to head out there.

Our hotel had no power the entire time we were there, no AC (98 degrees) and cold showers. All the restaurants, food stores and gas stations were closed. We saw one gas station with about a mile-long line.

They soon ran out of gas.

More gas stations need to have generators. They had gas, but could not pump it.

No one took credit cards either — cash only. It was spooky.

Cellphones worked in some areas, but no data — voice only.

Several survival things I learned from this experience include the following:

down — and that the power would be back in a few hours.

5) Don’t hang around town if you think you can make it out. You are just adding to the problem.

6) AA LED flashlights came in very handy, as the hotel was totally dark. I had two flashlights in the car with extra Lithium AA batteries — $8 at the Blowing Rock Hardware Store. I’m keeping them in my luggage from now on, with two A storm devastated the Mid-Atlantic region in late June. extra AA batteries each.

Today I’m buying 1) Keep the tank half-full when travelsome more AA LED flashlights ($8) and ing — don’t let it go down to 1/4. Fill up putting extra AA Lithiums in the car and whenever you arrive at your hotel, before my suitcases. The batteries have a 12 year checking in. Have enough gas to get out shelf life, and work a very long time, espeof Dodge, if things go bad. Power outages cially on something like a LED bulb. have no warnings. Most all of the gas staWe also bought some large Sears C3 Retions had no generators. Maybe they should chargeable Lithium Batteries (the snap on have — at least the large truckstops on the tool batteries), and two emergency lights interstate. The town we were in had one (LED and Florescent) and a Weather Radio, station open Saturday morning, a mile long that all run off the same C2 19.2V batteries. of cars and they eventually ran out of gas.

Same battery my weedwacker uses. These 2) Keep at least $50-$100 in cash in the will be in the house, always fully charged. car. The gas stations can’t take credit cards • with the power out. We saw signs that said, POSTSCRIPT: Richardson wrote the “Cash Only.” following to the Daily Planet on July 3: 3) Keep food, water and snacks with you. Nothing was open. It was like a ghost This isn’t my first power outage. I spent town by Saturday.

Christmas 2009 stuck up here (Blowing 4) The car radio only had one station — Rock) for five days without power — and useless. Lack of news was a big problem.

11 days without a phone.

My police radio would have been handy.

I highly recommend a portable police No one knew how widespread this was. radio and AA batteries. This (the radio) was Most thought it was just a few local trees my only outside line of communications.

The ‘Doomsday Preppers’ headquarters for Asheville and Western North Carolina!

Green Beret military Special Ops tactical training specialist — military and civil —

Even if it was only one-way, I knew what was going on, and how far they were making their way up the mountain to rescue people.

• The manager at the hotel in Lewisburg, W.Va., said the power came on this morning (July 3) — four days later ...

Now I’m fighting with the hotel manager. They want me to pay for the night we didn’t stay there in the dark with cold showers.

We have heard of people going up from Boone to rescue people in West Virginia, bringing gas, food and water. #5

What is the difference between Social Security and SSI?

Both Social Security Dis-

ability (SSD or Title 2) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI or Title 16) are programs of the Social Security Administration (SSA). Both SSD and SSI require the same basic requirement for coveragean inability to work at any job for a period of twelve (12) months or more. SSD benefits are based on the taxes you have paid into the system before you became disabled. SSI benefits are based on financial need.

Some people who have worked very little may be eligible for both programs.

Generally, SSA will figure what program(s) you are eligible when you are determined to be disabled.

10 - July 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

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Asheville Daily Planet — July 2012 — 11

Concert review

Bee Gees saluted in stellar show

By JOHN NORTH

john@ashevilledailyplanet.com

HENDERSONVILLE — The show, “Stayin’ Alive: The Music of the Bee Gees,” thrilled the crowd with the sounds of the stellar pop group June 12-14 in the Music on the Rock concert series by the Flat Rock Playhouse at its downtown Hendersonville location.

The Bee Gees have been much in the news lately, especially as yet another member, Robin Gibb, died prematurely at age 62 on May 20, giving an ironic twist to the show’s name, “Stayin’ Alive.”

On opening night, the three singers personifying the Bee Gees included Jason Wooten, Ryan Alexander and Danny Burgos.

To my surprise, little effort was made to make the trio look like the Bee Gees. For instance, Barry’s character could have at least held a guitar, Robin’s character could have worn his signature granny sunglasses and held a tambourine; and Maurice’s could have worn a black frock coat and bolo hat — and stood behind an electronic keyboard.

Also, the trio was positioned in a bizarre triangular formation on stage, when the originals’ signature style was to stand in an egalitarian semi-circle.

Aside from the aforementioned drawbacks, the show was superb, with fine vocal performances.

The backup band featured Wilson Moss, piano and music director; Paul Babelay, drums; Casey Cramer, guitar; Grant Cuthbertson, bass; and Kyle Decker, keyboard and synthesizer.

As an added touch, a disco ball was suspended from the ceiling above the group.

With a capacity crowd of 250 in attendance, the group opened with the disco classic, “Stayin’ Alive,” to the delight of the cheering crowd.

Next, they glided into “How Deep Is Your Love,” a song the Bee Gees called their favorite. The ultraromantic lyric begins with: “I know your eyes in the morning sun. I feel you touch me in the pouring rain. And the moment that you wander far from me.

I wanna feel you in my arms again ...”

(At Robin’s recent funeral, mourners reportedly wept as his ornate white coffin entered the church to the sound of “How Deep Is Your Love.”)

The FRP’s tribute band then sang, “Tragedy,” a song that has turned out to be prescient, as two of the three members of the group died prematurely.

(Maurice is the lone surviving member of the Brothers Gibb — from which the Bee Gees derived their name. Robin Gibb died May 20 at age 62 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Robin’s twin brother and fellow group member Maurice died Jan. 12, 2003 from complications resulting from a twisted intestine.

(The three Bee Gees had a much younger brother, Andy, who was a popular solo singer. Andy died

Daily Planet Staff Photos

Providing vocals were (from left) Jason Wooten, Daniel Burgos and Ryan Appleby during opening night (June 12) of “Stayin’ Alive: The Music of the Bee Gees” at the downtown Hendersonville venue of Flat Rock Playhouse.

March 10, 1988 at age 30 as a result of an inflamRobin’s funeral, with some observers noting that Other songs in the second set included “Fanny mation of the heart muscle caused by a viral infec(Be Tender With My Love),” “Nights on Broada particularly profound line was: “I finally died, tion exacerbated by his years of cocaine abuse.) way,” “If I Can’t Have You” during which the disco which started the whole world living.”)

The performers noted that many people just know Among other songs in the first set were “You Win ball lighted up, “Boogie Child,” “This Is Where I the music of the Bee Gees during their disco era Came In,” “Immortality,” “I’ve Got to Get a MesAgain,” “Lonely Days,” “More Than a Woman,” success, but earlier they had many “Beatles-esque” “Heartbreaker” (acoustic), “Run To Me,” “It’s My sage to You” and “Islands in the Stream,” which hits with Robin singing lead. they wrote for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. The Neighborhood” and “What Kind of Fool.” The set After “How Deep Is Your Love?” the group ended with “Night Fever,” which prompted some in show ended the show with “To Love Somebody.” launched into “I Started A Joke,” performing a suAs the crowd cheered, the group almost immethe crowd to jump up and dance. perb version of the ballad. (Interestingly, “I Started After a 15-minute intermission, the show cranked diately returned for an encore, performing “You A Joke” was played as guests left the church after Should Be Dancin.’” up again with the lively “Jive Talkin’.”

Crowd members were encouraged to dance during the “Stayin’ Alive” show.

Above are the real Bee Gees, circa 2000, including (from left) Maurice, Robin and Barry Gibb.

12 - July 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Calendar

Thursday, July 5

CONCERT/DANCE, 7-9 p.m., next to Lake Tomahawk, Black Mountain. Woody Pines will perform country blues and ragtime. Okie Dokies Smokehouse 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, July 6

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 Sound Investment for dancing or listening.

Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs.

In addition, a car show will be held along South Main. Admission is free.

Saturday, July 7

STAMP/POSTCARD SHOW, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Comfort Suites, 890 Brevard Rd., Asheville. The Asheville, N.C., Stamp and Postcard Show will be held. The show concludes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 8.

Admission is free.

AUTHOR’S READING, 3 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore-Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Mystery novelist Mark de Castrique will read from his book, “The 13th Target.” Admission is free.

CONCERT, 6-8 p.m., back deck of Little Rainbow Row, downtown Flat Rock. The Summer in Flat Rock music series will feature an outdoor concert by local singersongwriter Tom Fisch. Admission is free.

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

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 July 14 and 21. Admission is free.

AMERICA CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, 1028 George Rd., Franklin. America, a folkrock duo that became a musical sensation for a decade (beginning in the early 1970s), will perform. America scored No. 1 hits with “A Horse With No Name” and “Sister Golden Hair,” and high on the charts with “Ventura Highway,” “Tin Man,” “Daisy Jane” and “Lonely People.” For tickets, which are $2733, call (866) 273-4615.

CREEDENCE SHOW/FIREWORKS, 7:30 p.m., Kidd Brewer Stadium, Appalachian State Universty, Boone. Creedence Clearwater Revisited will perform the group’s rock classics, with country star Lee Brice as a special guest. Fireworks will follow the show. Gates open at 6 p.m. For tickets, which are $35, $30 and $5, visit boxoffice@ appstate.edu.

Sunday, July 8

AUTHOR’S TALK, 3-4:30 p.m., Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. Charles Frazier, a native of Asheville who gained fame with his novel “Cold Mountain,” will speak in the Summer Author Speaker Series. “Cold Mountain” won the National Book Award for Fiction and was adapted into an awardwinning film that also was a box office hit.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Monday, July 9

TEA TIME SOCIAL, 6 p.m., Lone Star Steakhouse, Arden. The Asheville Tea Party will hold its weekly Tea Time Social. All

Pianist-composer Peter Kater (left) will perform in concert with Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai at 8 p.m. July 13 in Kimmel Arena at UNC Asheville. 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, July 10

TANGO LESSON/DANCE, 6 p.m., Eleven on Grove, Grove House Entertainment Complex, 11 Grove St., downtown Asheville.

Tango lessons will precede a dance.

GOP CANDIDATES’ DEBATE, 6-9 p.m., Opportunity House, Hwy 25 North, Hendersonville. The Henderson County Republican Men’s Club will host what is believed to be the final debate between Mark Meadows and Vance Patterson, for the 11th District GOP nomination. A “meet and greet” will be held from 6 to 6:30 p.m., followed by the debate, with questions taken from the audience.

The forum will end at 8:30, with another opportunity to meet the candidates until 9 p.m.

Admission is free.

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.

BEACH BOYS LEGACY CONCERT, 8 p.m., Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown, 125 S. Main St., Hendersonville. FRP’s Music on the Rock series will perform a legacy show, “Surfin’ USA — The Greatest Hits of The Beach Boys.” FRP said of the group, “Their sunny, feel-good music, deeply felt compositions and still-astounding experimentation have made them the quintessential American band. The wonder of The Beach Boys sound is that this is music that simply makes a listener feel good.” The show will be performed at 8 p.m. July 10-12. All tickets are $24 and may be purchased by calling the FRP box office at 693-0731.

OUTDOOR FILM SCREENING, 8:30 p.m., outside Cinebarre, Biltmore Square Mall, Asheville. The film “Superbad” will be shown for free. Cinebarre will serve as the food vendor. Admission is free.

Wednesday, July 11

DULCIMER CONCERT, 6:30 p.m., Kaplan Auditorium, Henderson County Library, downtown Hendersonville. Musicians Steve and Jean Smith will present a dulcimer concert featuring both the mountain and hammered dulciimers. Admission is free.

Thursday, July 12

CONCERT/DANCE, 7-9 p.m., next to Lake Tomahawk, Black Mountain. The band The Business will perform what is billed as “music to make you dance.” Rollin’ Stone Wood-Fired Pizza 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, July 13

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 Special Edition for dancing or listening.

Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs.

Admission is free.

CONCERT, 8 p.m., Kimmel Arena, UNC Asheville. Legendary Native American flutist R.Carlos Nakai will join internationally acclaimed pianist and composer Peter Kater in a concert. This will be the first time in over 10 years that Nakai and Kater have performed together. Nakai is billed as the world’s premier performer of the Native American flute. Originally trained in classical trumpet and music theory, Nakai was given a traditional cedar wood flute as a gift and challenged to see what he could do with it.

Since 1983, he has released over 35 albums on the Canyon label. In addition to his solo appearances throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. While well-grounded in the traditional uses of the flute, Nakai has explored new musical settings including new age, world-beat jazz and classical. For tickets at $22, $45 and $75, call 258-7900.

See CALENDAR, Page 13

Margarita Mondays — 1/2 off all Margaritas All Day Every Monday

Calendar

Continued from Page 12

Saturday, July 14

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

CONCERT, 6:30-8 p.m., Fletcher Community Park, Fletcher. The band Johnny Cox & Project Cash will perform. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs. Admission is free.

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

Sunday, July 15

ETHICAL PRESENTATION, 2-3:30 p.m., Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Rd., Asheville. A program titled “Trust Me” will be presented by Jeffrey Hutchins during the monthly meeting of the Ethical Society of Asheville. Hutchins will make the argument that trust is the cornerstone of all relationships and is one of the most important building blocks of faith. In his talk, Hutchins, author of “A Press Conference With God,” will examine the ways in which people trust and mistrust each and other, and the importance of trust in structuring our lives. He claims that trust is a critical part of opne’s future. A discussion will follow his presentation. After the meeting, there will be time for informal converations. Admission is free.

AUTHOR’S TALK, 3-4:30 p.m., Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. Wayne Caldwell, a native of Asheville whose novels are set in the North Carolina Mountains, will speak in the Summer Author Speaker Series.

Caldwell’s “Cataloochee” was followed by “Requium by Fire.” Admission is free and open to the public.

Lake Tomahawk, Black Mountain. The band Bayou Diesel will perform zydeco songs.

Welcome Table of Black Mountain 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, July 20

DOWNTOWN AFTER 5 CONCERT, 5-9 p.m., North Lexington Avenue at I-240 overpass, Asheville. Headliner band Sol Driven Train will perform with what is billed as a genre-defying mix of horns, percussion, strings and rotating vocals. The opening band is Common Foundation, performing a spirited blend of reggae, rocksteady and uptempo ska. Beer and food will be offered for sale. Admission is free.

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 Deano and the Dreamers for dancing or listening. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs. Admission is free.

Saturday, July 21

CONCERT, 7-9 p.m., Town Square, Biltmore Park, Asheville. The Caribbean Cowboys will perform in a free outdoor concert.

Admission is free.

Sunday, July 22

AUTHOR’S TALK, 3-4:30 p.m., Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. Ron Rash, whose novel “Serena” is being adapted for film by Academy Award-winning director Susanne Bier, will speak in the Summer Author Speaker Series. Rash is the Parris Distinguished Professor of Appalachian Cultural Studies at Western Carolina University.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Monday, July 23

TEA TIME SOCIAL, 6 p.m., Lone Star

Asheville Daily Planet — July 2012 - 13

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, July 24

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 “Ghostbusters” will be shown for free. Cinebarre will serve as the food vendor. Admission is free.

Wednesday, July 25

CHICAGO/DOOBIE BROTHERS CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., Kidd Brewer Stadium, Appalachian State Universty, Boone. Rock legends Chicago and The Doobie Brothers will share the stage for a night of classic rock hits spanning both artists’ extensive repertoire of chart-topping and award-winning hits.

For tickets, which are $52, $46.28, $37 and $17, visit boxoffice@appstate.edu.

GUYS AND DOLLS” MUSICAL, 8 p.m., mainstage, Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock.

FRP presents a celebration of Broadway’s

Monday, July 16

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, July 17

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 “Talladega Nights” will be shown for free. Cinebarre will serve as the food vendor. Admission is free.

Thursday, July 19

CONCERT/DANCE, 7-9 p.m., next to

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golden era with the musical “Guys and Dolls.” The show, features classic hits, such as “Luck Be a Lady,” “I’ve Never Been in Love Before” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” The show will be presened at 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays through Aug. 19, with 2 p.m. matinees on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. For tickets, which are $40, call the FRP box office at 693-0731.

Thursday, July 26

CONCERT/DANCE, 7-9 p.m., next to Lake Tomahawk, Black Mountain. The band The Honeycutters will perform Americana music.

Okie Dokies Smokehouse 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, July 27

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 Nightcrawlers for dancing or listening.

Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs.

In addition. a car show will be held along South Main. Admission is free.

Saturday, July 28

CONCERT/DANCE, 6-8 p.m., outside Firehouse Subs, 825 Spartanburg Hwy., Hendersonville. The band Sound Investment will perform during a free dance-concert.

Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs.

See CALENDAR, Page 14

14 - July 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Admission is $8 for the general public and $5 for students and seniors.

Faith Notes

Monday, July 9

Thursday, July 5

PERFORMANCE, 7:30 p.m., Stuart Auditorium, Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska. Contemporary Christian artist Andrew Peterson will perform. Peterson, who lives in Nashville, Tenn., is a singer-songwriter, fantasy novelist and illustrator and facilitator of an online literary and songwriting community. For tickets, which are $11.50 for adults and $5 for ages 5 and younger, visit www.itickets. com.

Saturday, July 7

OLD-FASHIONED COUNTRY BREAKFAST, 7:30 and 10 a.m., Carson’s Chapel, Tom’s Creek Road, Marion. An all-you-can-eat country breakfast will be offered. Meals are $6 for the general public, $4 for ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and younger.

Sunday, July 8

NEW MINISTER WELCOMING, 9:30 and 11 a.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. The Rev. Pat Veenema will make her debut as Unity’s associate minister with sermons at both regular services. A reception will follow the 11 a.m. service.

DROP-IN CLASS ON CHANGE, 7-8:30 p.m., Montford Books & More, 31 Montford Ave., Asheville. Buddhist teacher Sharon Lovick will lead a class on overcoming selfsabotaging tendencies through meditation.

Calendar

of

Continued from Page 13

AUTHOR’S TALK, 3-4:30 p.m., Reuter Center, UNC Asheville. Erica Abrams Locklear, an assistant professor of literature and language at UNCA, will speak in the Summer Author Speaker Series. Locklear is the author of “Negotiating a Perilous Empowerment: Appalachian Women’s Literacies,” which explores how mountain writers portray the identity conflicts that literacy attainment can cause for Appalachian women.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Monday, July 30

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.

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.

Wednesday, Aug. 1

FILM, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fan-

ning Bridge Rd., Mills River. The film “Reincarnation, The Story of Our Souls,” will be screened. The 65-minute film, released in 2010, is billed as telling the “whole story of our souls ... in this journey through earth incarnations and planetary sojourns as given in the Edgar Cayce readings.” Cayce expert John Van Auken will address karma, grace, soul memory, soul groups, soul mates, and how the whole process of incarnating, dying and reincarnating occurs. A love offering will be taken.

Friday, July 13

FILM, 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville.

UUCA’s Social Justice Film Night will feature “Journey of the Universe,” which runs for 56 minutes. The film tells the story of how the universe has the potential to change civilization. Its scrpt was written by Brian Swimme and Mary Tucker.

Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

Wednesday, July 18

HEALING CIRCLE, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. The Rev. Pat Veenema, the new associate minister, will discuss any questions participants bring to the healing circle. A love offering will be taken.

Wednesday, July 25

FILM, 7 p.m., Unity Center, 2041 Old

Events

Sunday, July 29

Tuesday, July 31

FIRE WALK/CLASS, 7-9 p.m., Center for Spiritual Living, 2 Science of Mind Way, Asheville. Barbara and John Waterhouse will launch their Summer Prosperity Series — “I Can Do Anything!” — with a fire walk. John Waterhouse, a certified fire walk instructor, will exhibit how the it can be used as a tool for self-empowerment. To walk on the fire, one must participate in the entire workshop and be 18 or older. Knowing in advance whether or not one will walk on fire is neither required nor encouraged. A love offering will be taken.

Fanning Bridge Rd., Mills River. “Fresh,” an underground documentary that became a massive grassroots success in 2009, will be screened. “Fresh” is billed as “the embodiment of the good-food movement.” The 72-minute film celebrates those who are re-inventing the nation’s food system. A love offering will be taken.

OUTDOOR FILM SCREENING, 8:30 p.m., outside Cinebarre, Biltmore Square Mall, Asheville. The film “The Lost Boys” will be shown for free. Cinebarre will serve as the food vendor. Admission is free.

Thursday, Aug. 2

CONCERT/DANCE, 7-9 p.m., next to Lake Tomahawk, Black Mountain. The band Jazzville will perform jazz. Rollin’ Stone WoodFired Pizza will be selling meals. Admission is free.

Friday, Aug. 3

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 saltue 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.

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Asheville Daily Planet — July 2012 — 15

Moffitt shares views, hears constituents concerns

By JOHN NORTH

john@AshevilleDailyPlanet.com

LEICESTER — State Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Buncombe, addressed his constituents, fielded questions from them and then chatted informally with anyone interested afterward during a town hall-style meeting on June 30 at the Leicester Community Center.

The soiree, which featured a free barbecue meal and live bluegrass music, drew more than 80 people on a sizzling day that set an all-time record for the heat. The band was Gordon Terry & Friends.

Besides discussing issues that were important to his constituents, he reviewed legislation that passed, that did not pass and that which is currently pending.

Moffitt was introduced by long-time local Republican Dorothea Alderfer as the freshman in the state House “named to more committee than anyone else in the General Assembly.”

In a nod to Alderfer’s compliment, Moffitt said it is a great honor to be selected to so Rep. Tim Moffitt many committees.

Referring to the short session then in progress, he quipped, “We’re almost out of session. Soon it will be six months before anything can happen to you out of Raleigh.”

The new Republican Republican majority in the state Senate and House — the first in more than a century — has “been busy. But we’re just getting started.”

He added that the legislature is “going to continue on that path,” where it has made major conservative-backed changes in the way the state — and the state government — functions.

On a light note, he asked, “What’s it like to be a legislator? You can learn a foreign language at any stage of your life,” when in politics. Moffitt then told of moving in to his office after his election and being recited a mind-numbing series of acronyms, referring to state agencies. At the end, Moffitt said he responded, “OMG” and “LOL and welcome to the NCGA,” prompting laughter from the crowd.

He added, “That’s how government works — it’s all in acronyms ... I’ve become one of them” in using acronyms.

“After 1-1/2 years (in the legislature), I’ve learned a lot in battling the bureaucracy,” with the backing of his constituents.

Among his legislative accomplishments to date, Moffitt listed the following: • Balanced the state budget two years in a row “without raising taxes.”

• Minimalized health and human services’ spending.

• Passed legislation that is positive toward property rights, including annexation reform on restraining forced annexation, “which I consider my signature piece of legislation.” When the audience applauded, Moffitt smiled and asserted, “It really turns back 53 years of law.”

• Worker’s Compensation reform, to which Moffitt added, “Government doesn’t create jobs. It creates ‘government jobs.’

What we need to do is get the government out of the way, where the private sector can create jobs.” The crowd again applauded.

• Tort reform.

At that point, Alderfer interjected, “What did you do about property rights?”

“Our properties are worth a lot less than they were four years ago,” Moffit replied, in a reference to the so-called the Great Recession.

“We passed a law in the House, where, if you’re facing eminent domain, they (the government) has to (at least) give you what you owe on the property.”

As for tax reform, Moffitt said, “We’re pursuing tax reform in 2012 ... I do think pursuing tax reform and simplying the tax code — and making it more understandable — is important.”

In concluding his talk, Moffitt asserted, “So, there’s lots going on. We’ve got a lot to do. We hope to be out of Raleigh by July 4th at the latest .. To wrap it up, any questions?”

A man asked, “Do you have enough votes to override the governor’s veto of the (state) budget?”

“I’m not sure we have enough votes,” Moffitt replied. “This veto was surprising — that it actually came up.”

Mike Fryar, a Fairview resident and candidate for county Board of Commissioners, asked about the “ETJ” — or extra-territorial jurisdiction. “Do you have to follow the rules of a city in an ETJ?” “Yes,” Moffitt replied.

“How can you get rid of it?” Fryar queried.

“It’s going to (have to) be a staged approach,” the legislator said.

A woman asked about the state’s efforts to attract Sierra Nevada and New Belgium breweries to the Asheville area.

“What I was able to do” to attract the two

Carmen Ramos-Kennedy (seated) asks Moffitt a question after his town hallstyle meeting on June 30 at the Leicester Community Center.

A woman asked about the CTS contamibreweries to the area “was to work with all of the stakeholders,” Moffitt said. “I got ev- nation status.

“Well,” Moffitt replied, “I’m not very erybody to the table to get an exception to political .... I’m more practical.” allow the large crafters, so that they could However, he then said his three CTS goals locate here. I think it’s” about 400 jobs and include “getting the building razed — we a $300 million “investment in our area.” got that one, getting the site remediated and A woman asked why Moffitt voted for getting water lines extended to 115 houses fracking. whose well water was contaminated.”

“I voted for a fracking study,” Moffitt Further, Moffitt said, “We hope to get the said, in correcting her assertion. (Hydraulic remediation done next year.” He also said fracturing or fracking is a means of natural he found “an obscure loan through the EPA gas extraction. The process involves drillto extend the 150 water lines. Hopefully, ing and injecting fluid into the ground at the polluter will pay back on this.” a high pressure in order to fracture shale Someone asked about the Asheville rocks to release natural gas.) water-sewer study, to which Moffitt replied, Asheville Tea Party member Nancy “We’ve studied it and concluded that Grace asked if Moffitt could help with the consolidation of water and sewer (in an process “to stop Obamacare’s implementaindependent regional authority) were was tion in North Carolina?”

Moffitt said there were good points to the the best way to go.”

On other matters, Moffitt said he personU.S. Supreme Court’s decision, such as “it ally “abhors politics,” but continues to won’t allow the Commerce Clause” to be serve because he believes he can help move misused. However, he conceded that the the government in a conservative direction. bad point is that “it allows ... Obamacare He noted that he was ranked the “No.1 to stand ... So their decision isn’t like it’s most conservative legislator” by the Cigoing to make new law.” vitas Institute, received a high ranking in He added, “When it comes to nullification and states rights, “ Moffitt said there is effectiveness as a legislator and “I’m on much to be done — and that he is willing to more committees than any freshman (N.C. continue to push ahead on those two issues. legislator) ever has been on.”

Badcock Furniture opens

Badcock Furniture District Manager Sheryl Smith and Store Manager Ernie Paris were all smiles during the unofficial store opening in late June in downtown Hendersonville.

Daily Planet photo

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16 - July 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

Daily Planet’s Opinion

To bee, or not to bee?

Asheville buzzes as 1st ‘bee city’

Asheville City Council made an important symbolic gesture when it voted unanimously on June 26 to make Asheville the “Inaugural Bee City, USA.” The action occurred at a council meeting during which some local beekeepers marched into council chambers, dressed in head-to-toe white coveralls and zipon veils. In addition, one individual was clad as a honeybee.

By making the move, Asheville is commiting itself to tree, landscaping and zoning policies that are friendly to bees.

Councilman Cecil Bothwell, who made the motion, deserves praise for the action. (He calls himself both a former

and future beekeeper.)

Advocates for the designation said the allowances are necessary because there has been a major decline in the population of honeybees and other pollinating insects — and that even an urban beekeeper with one or two hives, can make a difference.

Honeybees, nicknamed “the angels of agriculture,” are credited with providing one of every three bites we eat by pollinating agricultural products (along with a little help from other pollinating insects).

We salute environmentally sensirtive Asheville for proclaiming itself as the nation’s first “bee city” — and we hope it will start a nationwide bee-friendly movement.

Letters to the Editor Polarization requires tending of mind’s garden

The more individuals in a society are exposed to a thing, the greater they are conditioned and predisposed to expect and accept those things as being true.

The use of “us and them” or “you’re with us or against us” attitudes that have been promoted in politics, religions, medicine, race, gender and so on, have served to distance truth from our human family.

This fear-based logic has put us at odds with nature, our Earth and anyone outside our personal choices and homeland borders. The air we breathe will circulate around the world in just a few days time.

Damage, violence and abuse are never outside the circle of our being, another’s concern. The Great Ones throughout time have repeatedly echoed a holistic viewpoint and life practice.

Recognize the immense power of your personal intentions of loving, caring, helping and guiding yourself, children and our Earth toward a world free of inequities and the descent so widely promoted.

For adults, this requires daily tending to the garden of your mind, weeding out prior programming, clearning negative thoughts and healing broken connections.

Politics have been rigged for centuries, possibly forever; now the light is growing brighter and the obvious stands out more blatantly. Let judgment go, let it all go.

Make a PACT with yourself; patience, acceptance, compassion and trust.

Happiness is truly an inside job. Together, our new day will dawn through personal growth, mutual respect and in peace.

WILLIAM STEWART CHALK Asheville

See LETTERS, Page 17

How to save a mountain The Candid Conservative from a rock-mining firm Fairness sales pitch? Unfair

CHAPEL HILL — There were lots of reasons some people in Avery County wanted to stop a rock mining operation on the beautiful Belview mountainside.

• Tracy and her Aunt Ollie, because preliminary blasting operations had cracked the foundation of their house.

• Faye Williams, whose home adjoined the mine site, because of the unbearable noise and dust; and • Jay Leutze, a UNC-Chapel Hill law school graduate who had fled urban life to write novels in the peace and quiet of the mountains. Now he faced the prospect of constant noise from the massive rock crushing machinery that would be a part of the mine.

Not everyone in Avery County opposed the mine, as Jay learned after Tracy and Ollie persuaded him to try to stop the operation.

Louise Buchanan, postmistress in nearby Minneapolis, told Jay with pride that it was “going to be the biggest surface mine in western North Carolina. Right here in little old Dog Town!”

He learned that Paul Brown, the rock mine owner, was an influential businessman with many powerful friends.

Avery County desperately needed the jobs that the mine would provide.

The story of how Tracy, Ollie, Faye, and Jay gathered a host of allies to mount a successful effort to stop the mining operation is told in his book, “Stand Up That Mountain: The Battle to Save One Small Community in the Wilderness Along the Appalachian Trail.”

In the end, the decision that stopped the mine had little or nothing to do with the cracked foundation of Ollie Cox’s house, or the noise and dust Faye Williams feared, or the disruption of Jay Leutze’s peace and quiet.

Nor did the decision turn on the jobs and other economic benefits the mine might have brought to Avery County.

The critical fact that made it possible to stop the mine concerned the experience that hikers on the Appalachian Trail would have as they passed near by the mining site.

The rock mining operations would mar one of the most beautiful views hikers experience along the trail.

How and why the opponents of the mine

D.G. Martin used the Appalachian Trail as the linchpin in their effort to stop the mine is an important part of Leutze’s saga.

That story, by itself, is reason enough to read “Stand Up That Mountain.”

Leutze takes his readers from the creeks, coves, and courthouse of Avery County to the Raleigh offices of state government bureaucrats. Though these officials are charged with administering state laws objectively and perfectly, they are really human beings, subject to error and misjudgment and the influence of those they like and respect.

Leutze’s readers also see inside law offices.

Leutze lets them hear lawyers size up the legal strengths and weaknesses of their cases and of the judges who will hear their arguments. Finally, he lets his readers experience, as he did, the agony of defeat and the thrill of victory that come with the clash between vigorous advocates of important but different positions.

What turns this important report of a public-policy struggle into a literary masterpiece are Leutze’s storytelling talents. He introduces characters and tells things about them that make us care. He records their voices and captures the revealing ways people talk, mountain people, lawyers, bureaucrats, lawyers, and judges. He uses those characters to help him tell the story. And he opens himself, writing with passion about things that move him.

With the mountain peace and quiet for which he fought so hard now secure, Leutze can again turn his magnificent talents to writing fiction. The results will surely bring to North Carolinians another outstanding novelist they can be proud to share with the rest of the world.

• D.G. Martin hosts UNC-TV’s North Carolina Bookwatch, which airs at 9:30 p.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Sundays.

Hope and change didn’t work out for the Obama gang, so they’ve now hitched their wagon to a new sales pitch. “Fairness” is their new hook for the masses. It’s hard to argue against fairnes — it sounds so, well, fair. Unfortunately, Obama’s concept of fairness is corrupt. He’s selling fairness as a free pass from accountability — not equal opportunity. Heck, we’ve come as close to perfecting equal opportunity as any country and culture in the world and at any time in history. Pretty much anything a person is willing to work and sacrifice for, they can achieve in America. A fair America creates opportunity — not a promised outcome. That’s what Obama is promising, or better said, pretending to offer. Yes that will buy votes, just like the hollow promise of unfulfilled hope and change bought votes. It will not buy a free pass from reality. Americans and America will continue to get no better than we earn.

That’s real fair.

Measuring decline

History repeatedly demonstrates cultures in decline do three things – swap responsibility for entitlement, focus on trivia, and replace contribution with pleasure. America evidences all three. The left’s persistently devoted to entitlement over responsibility and that message successfully elected an unprepared personality as President. In terms of trivia, look no further than our enthusiasm for sports. For time-out from reality, what better place to go? Challenging our sports devotion is sacrilege, but our culture’s dedication to games as a distraction remains a dangerous trivial pursuit. There’s very little difference in Rome’s coliseums and our own. Aborting 50 million children reveals convenience overruling conscience and an action to feel good versus one to do something good. Can we reverse our decline? Sure. Will we?

Probably not. Certainly not with growing majority’s devotion to entitlement, trivia, and pleasure.

Liberalism as a religion

North Carolina’s conservatives had a major recent success. Their citizens affirmed a Constitutional amendment supporting marriage as between a man and a women. Ironically the left has responded

Carl Mumpower in what could only be described as a very divisive, hateful, and bigoted manner.

Those citizens supporting the amendment for religious reasons have been especially singled out. First the left pretended the Bible is not clear about homosexuality as a sin and marriage as being between a man and a woman. Sorry Mr. and Mrs. Liberal, you don’t have to buy what the Bible says, but don’t try to deceive us about what it does say. Another tactic was condemning spiritually guided voters for bringing religion to the poll. Who is the left kidding? They do it all the time. Liberalism is a religion as surely as Christianity – they just elect to invest their leap of faith in big government instead of God. Time will tell who’s chosen most wisely.

Conservatism lite

Political opportunists do two things well – reading voters and practicing the art of pleasing and appeasing. Like the guy he’s running against, Mitt Romney is a political opportunist. He’s demonstrated a willingness to cuddle up to a dead possum if it will help him get where he wants to go. Former NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani, oblivious to what he was saying, actually endorsed Mitt’s opportunistic flip-flopping as prudent and necessary to seduce voters.

Rudi should be embarrassed. No matter what title a politician embraces, he or she is defined by walk, not talk. Well, OK, we’ve got a Republican Presidential candidate with spotty conservative credentials. What else is new? He’s still so infinitely more experienced, capable, and mature than Obama that celebration remains in order.

Anyway, the real work will begins once he wins – that’s when we must press for a match between talk and walk. .• Carl Mumpower, a former member of Asheville City Council, may be contacted at drmumpower@thecandidconservative.com

Asheville Daily Planet — April 2011 — 17

On the left

Bele not ‘shared;’ downshift urged

Each July we are treated to a new round of hype about the city’s Bele Chere festival, following overdrawn late-winter suspense concerning announcement of the talent line-up.

On alternate years we are either instructed about its supposed benefits to the local economy or entertained with speculation about the origin of the name in either Scotland or a francophone ad agency.

There seems to be general agreement amongst festival pundits that “Bele” means “good.”

Hmm. Not so fast.

Good for whom?

The street fest was born in a time when Asheville’s downtown had all but collapsed in subjugation to the shopping mall. Plywood vied with plate glass on storefronts, and there were virtual if not actual tumbleweeds rolling down the streets on weekend evenings.

Bele Chere offered a reason for the WNC community to populate our downtown, if only for a few days, to generate revenue for local entrepreneurs, and hopefully resurge possiblities for the dying downtown business district.

It worked. (Along with pioneering and heroic effort from early urban adopters like Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, just now celebrating its 30th year downtown, the visionary efforts of Julian Price, and commitment from many civic-minded citizens.

Along with a resurgent interest in downtown living that has created booms in many cities across the country as “white flight” reversed gears.)

In the middle years, it seemed that parking would limit downtown’s success, but today we are faced with almost insurmountable pedestrian congestion. You can’t hurry anywhere, on foot, downtown, on a summer weekend evening—that is, unless you take your life in your hands by walking in the street.

Meanwhile, Bele Chere has swelled and then slightly retreated—now roped in to a somewhat smaller footprint than it enveloped in its money-draining vastness just after the turn of the century. Along the way it grew far beyond a local celebration to highlight Asheville’s glories and became just one more stop on the summer festival circuit for out-of-town vendors of crafts, middling art, non-designer fashions, cheap plastic crap, wretched fried pastries, and mega-corporate beer.

As a reporter in the mid-oughts, I heard constant complaints from downtown businesses that Bele Chere had become a serious imposition on their trade. Brickand-mortar restaurants did little business with the turkey-leg-chewing, funnel-cakechomping crowds. Galleries lost out to traveling artists. Local music venues lost their audiences to the abundant “free” street performances. And many local shops missed regular customers who simply could not access downtown while the mayhem endured.

The complaints have only grown in the several years since.

And duly noted: the general timber of the masses which amass for Bele Chere each July are not, by and large, people who typically shop, work or vacation in Asheville.

So we have become something of an attractive nuisance, luring out-of-state vendors

Cecil Bothwell to lure out-of-town customers, to purchase non-local trinkets and enjoy non-local talent, little of which accrues to the benefit of Asheville’s citizenry. And merde! We continue to sign contracts with mega-corporate breweries, when we are Beer City U.S.A. and home to some of the finest craft brews in the world.

Adding insult to injury, the itinerant vendors are essentially unaccountable in terms of sales tax, which is charged, reported and paid by all reputable local businesses.

Seems like kind of a free ride.

It’s great that our city management has managed to render the formerly moneylosing blow-out into a break-even proposition, but, frankly, I don’t think that’s reason enough to continue.

It’s time to pull the plug on Bele Chere.

Or, at least, shift gears.

How about a dedicatedly local, one-day festival? Local musicians, local artists, local crafters, local businesses and local brew? How about a footprint the size of our new Pack Square park? How about one stage, that brandy-new ornament facing the most popular summer destination in town: Splashville?

Let’s stop punishing downtown businessowners with a festival that sucks all the air out of their trade during what could be a highly profitable summer weekend in the premier tourist city in the Southeast.

Let’s stop inconveniencing our burgeoning downtown resident population. And let’s actually share the “bele” that we have created in Asheville.

All things must pass. Let’s take a pass on Bele Chere.

• Cecil Bothwell is a member of Asheville’s City Council and a Buncombe County resident for more than 30 years.

Letters to the Editor Continued from Page 16

A ‘kangaroo court’ in Dodge City?

Monday’s (June 25th’s) BCGOP Exec Comm meeting was not about Don Yelton’s words and deeds against his party.

It was about a man who is fed up with members of his party dictating what he can do and say. It was about a group of people making judgment against one man, a man who dared to speak out against what is going on in the Buncombe County Republican Party.

Don Yelton has given thousands of dollars and thousands of hours of his time to the BCGOP over many years. He deserved better than this.

When we walked into the BCGOP Exec Comm meeting Monday night, we could see that persuasion would be pointless.

People’s minds were made up. People talked in hushed tones. The mood was more like a lynching than a trial. The crowd behaved like frightened ranchers in a 1950s cowboy TV show. They were animated and looking for the sheriff, played by Henry Mitchell (the BCGOP’s chairman), to conduct this lynching.

We listened to an audio recording of a TV show where Don Yelton spoke truth to power. The “proof” that Don deserved to be lynched was his interview of a young man, who wanted to run for office as an independent. Don apparently was asking his listeners if they would want to help the fellow get enough signatures to be on the ballot as an independent in the general election. The fellow did not get on the ballot, therefore cannot challenge a Republican candidate.

Don Yelton’s only offense was calling out the hypocrisy of Henry Mitchell to a group of Henry’s peers. Don dared to challenge the bizarre actions of the county chair on a public TV show.

Former party chairs Chad Nesbiit and Robert Malt appealed to the mob to not split the party over this issue in this election year. In the end, Don Yelton was expelled from the BCGOP Exec Comm.

The people of the BCGOP better wake up. We Republicans don’t need lynchers, we need workers in this election year.

Does this action or any of the other bizarro actions taken by this Exec Comm make us stronger or weaker?

Who were all of those people who “confirmed” themselves as precinct chairs

Monday night?

We didn’t know half of the people that were there. It was a stacked kangaroo court against Don Yelton.

Where have the campaign workers gone?

Who is manning the Victory Headquarters?

Who is working on the governor’s race, U.S. Congressional races, State Legislative races, County Commissioner races and the School Board races.

Don Yelton Kathie Lack, Linda Humphries, Diana Kantor, Dorothea Alderfer, Ed Osada — and several others — are all gone from the Exec Comm.

This is what happens when the incompetent try to control the competent.

Atlas shrugged Monday night at the Skyland Fire Department.

We shall not put anymore effort into supporting a party that is dysfunctional and predatory. Robert and Gary resigned from the BCGOP Exec Comm after Don’s lynching. Dorothea resigned in April. More folks will follow.

We will be spending our time, money and energy on getting good conservative candidates elected to local offices.

This is our last word about the BCGOP. As far as we are concerned, Henry Mitchell and the BCGOP Exec Comm, by their actions, have made themselves irrelevant.

Buncombe Forward will be interviewing volunteers for the upcoming general election.

Gary M. Shoemaker Board Member, Buncombe Forward Robert Malt Executive Director, Buncombe Forward Dorothea Alderfer Board Member, Buncombe Forward Gary Slattery Board Member, Buncombe Forward Asheville See LETTERS, Page 18

18 - July 2012 - Asheville Daily Plane

Roberts’ decision proves prognosticator wrong Two months ago in this space, I wrote: “I hear it said that Chief Justice John Roberts loves the Supreme Court and doesn’t want partisanship to be his legacy. I hear he’ll work to bring some kind of happy ending to the Obamacare case. Yeah, sure. Dig it: this is a partisan, activist Court. It has been partisan since Bush v. Gore. These birds aren’t going to give Barack Obama a ‘victory.’ It will be 5-4, to overturn.”

I was wrong, of course — no — double wrong. Roberts does love the court, and Obamacare was upheld as constitutional.

So what did I learn from this error in judgment?

I learned, again in my long life, that it’s a mistake to judge someone as being beyond redemption.

I judged John Roberts by his partisan, contrary-to-all-human-experience vote in Citizens United v. FEC. I painted him with the same brush as his four conservative colleagues in the 5-4

Lee Ballard decision that said, to paraphrase, corporations can speak, so they’re entitled to First Amendment protections. The decision also said that since donors will be disclosed, everything will be self-policing. Of course, the biggest donors aren’t being disclosed.

Analysts say Roberts wanted to see Obamacare upheld and looked for a way to do so. It is said he may have switched his vote in the process. He likely saw Obamacare as good for America. If that’s the case, then he voted not as a Republican partisan, but as an American — a statesman. He chose to do the right thing.

There are abundant instances in our

history of Supreme Court justices who changed. In the May column, I wrote of two examples: • “The New Deal only happened because Justice Owen Roberts changed his opinion on such as Social Security and minimum wage.”

• “One of the dissenters [in the Dred Scott Decision], John McLean of New Jersey, started out on the court as a gung-ho Jacksonian, but by Dred Scott, he was an abolitionist.”

Is this an ice-breaker event for Roberts, a time when he packs up his partisan robes and looks for wisdom, or will he backslide into partisanship?

Time will tell. Enough that he made history last month by being a Justice for justice. (“Partisanship” is different from “ideology.” Every thinking person has something of an ideology. The Republican majority showed Republican partisanship in Bush v. Gore and Citizens United v.

Letters to the Editor

Continued from Page 17

Supreme Court decision termed a ‘call to action’

The 2,700-page ObamaCare monstrosity will add $17 trillion in unfunded mandates.

The cost is more than twice the unfunded obligations for Social Security.

It adds further to our debt burden when we are currently borrowing forty cents out of every dollar we spend. If not repealed, it will cause every American person’s health costs to massively rise and it expands the power and overreach of the federal bureaucracy into our lives.

It puts nameless, faceless, unelected IRS agents in charge of health care decisions.

It is already creating a shortage of doctors which means rationing. It damages our economy and is the antithesis of what our country was founded upon – personal property rights and free market principles. It’s the king imposing taxes upon his servants at his whim! It is the biggest power grad in our history.

The Supreme Court decision outlines how the courts will rule on the health care law. The court did not decide if the law is good American policy. The Supreme Court redefined a provision of the law that declares a mandate to be a tax, a tax that will increase each year without your consent.

The law makes clear there are limits to the power of Washington to act under the Commerce Clause.

However, the court gave power to the big spenders to impose a tax on the American people while pretending they are not. The mandate remains a mandate. It demands that Americans purchase a product they do not wish to purchase. Think about that when we celebrate the birth of our nation this week. Remember … ‘Taxation without representation is tyranny.’

Do we need health care reform? Yes, but reform based upon free market choices where there is choice, access, and lower costs. If we want the intrusive government out of our lives, Americans need to get back to controlling our own health care.

What can you do: Volunteer to stand at the polls. Phone bank. Put up signs. Talk to your neighbors. Take them to the polls.

Elections matter. The July 17th primary run-off matters. November matters. The court isn’t the solution. Changing leadership is.

Presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney said today (June 28): “I disagree with the Supreme Court’s

decision and I agree with the dissent.

What the court did not do on its last day in session, I will do on my first day if elected president of the United States, and that is I will act to repeal ObamaCare.”

Let’s hold him to that. But, a president can’t do it by executive authority alone. We need leadership change in the Senate and more constitutional conservatives in the House.

We need new representatives in Raleigh — dedicated to states rights and nullification — who will stand up and prevent onerous federal mandates thurst upon us.

We need YOU to get off the couch and out of your comfort zone – now! Voters have the opportunity to send a clear message to Washington.

This decision is a call to action. Between now and election day, Asheville Tea Party will be working to further educate the public regarding our constitutional heritage and what made this country great.

Our PAC will be working hard to elect those candidates who have demonstrated in word and deed that they will protect and defend those constitutional principles they swore to uphold.

Jane Bilello Chairwoman Asheville Tea Party/PAC Hendersonville

April’s opinion pages termed pleasant surprise

I do not usually spend much time reading your right-leaning newspaper, but I was pleasantly surprised by your opinion pages in April.

Lee Ballard wrote an eloquent piece on the difference between envy of the rich concern for the expanding financial inequality in our nation. He says that Rawmoney (Mitt) wants to conveniently write off the concern as envy. But the truth is more complex. Our goverment has been writing tax reduction legislation favoring the rich since the Reagen years.

At the same time, Republicans have been waging war against what they see as the most destructive force in our society: An organized work force. As a result the rich have gotten immeasurably richer, while wages have stagnated. Lee Ballard sees this trend as a negative in our society. Rawmoney sees him as a wannabe.

On the opposite page, Cecil Bothwell points out that “Entitlement” programs are actually “earned benefit” programs that have made a major and largely unrecog-

nized contribution towards a civil and just society.

Due to the baby boom bulge in our population, those same programs are under a withering attack by Republicans as “unsustainable.” Their story line is that taxation of any kind is a “redistibution of wealth.”

They believe that they have earned their money without any help and that no one else should get any either. Helping the poor is actually very bad for them.

Yeah, tell that to Jesus. And, oh yeah, the evangelical “Christians” eat this stuff up largely because Democrats have had to be the adult and support a womens right to choose while the average non-evangelical republican gets to both practice the law and rail against its inhumanity.

In the middle we find Compassionate Conservative Carl Mumpower supporting both Franklin Graham’s questioning of Obama’s Christianity and Rush Limbaugh’s verbal attack against a college student with concerns that did not match up with his own as a “prostitute” and “a slut.”

First, Dr. Mumpower educates us that deeds and not words are the real measure of a what is in a man’s heart, then he condemns Obama for listening to another man’s word, despite a lifetime of christian deeds.

I’ll bet that if Dr. Mumpower was a child of the ‘60s black preacher ... like Rev Wright, he too might have exhibited some anger at the inequalities his denonination faced for decades. And his support of Limbaugh is indefensible.

Brian Friel Asheville EDITOR’S NOTE: For the record, the Daily Planet strives to be an eclectic newspaper, presenting widely differing viewpoints in the belief that to get to the truth — which is what we are after — requires a dynamic tension of opposites.

See LETTERS, Page 19

Write a Letter to the Editor

The Asheville Daily Planet print letters to the editor, preferably less than 150 words in length. All letters must be signed and include a daytime telephone number for confirmation purposes only.

Send your opinions to Asheville Daily Planet, P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490 or e-mail them to letters@ AshevilleDailyPlanet.com.

FEC.) If I hadn’t learned a lesson by short-selling John Roberts, I’d be tempted to say the other four conservative justices have legal GPS systems that are busted and beyond repair.

Antonin Scalia, in particular, is a laugh a minute. See him rail against President Obama in the court for his actions on immigration ─ as an unrelated add-on to his dissenting opinion on the Arizona immigration laws. He’s a politician wannabe, for goodness sake.

I’m out of the predicting business for now, or I’d foresee that the court is in for a major change in Barack Obama’s second term. Let’s hope so.

• Lee Ballard lives in Mars Hill.

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New data revives battle with the EPA, Asheville man says From Staff Reports

FLETCHER— Larry Keller of Asheville provided the Asheville Tea Party with an update on his ongoing battle with the Environmental Protection Agency during the group’s weekly Tea Time meeting on June 25 at the Lone Star Restaurant.

In describing himself as “not one to sit back and watch or let this story die,” Keller noted, “I have an interesting update that will breathe new life in a saga that the EPA preferred to become a piece of history — not gonna happen.”

Specifically, Keller in a write-up stated, “I met with the police chief (William Anderson) of the Asheville Police Department this week (late June) for the purpose of getting the name(s) of an EPA representative that allegedly visited the APD after their visit with me on May 2.

“Interestingly, I came away with two pieces of evidence that portray this agency as another police force in our midst in the guise of protecting us from all the horrible things in the environment.”

To that end, Keller listed the following: • “I have the tape-recorded call from EPA Special Agent Michael Woods on May 1, requesting assistance for the investigation of Larry Keller who ‘threatened an EPA Regional Administrator’ — and that is a quote. He goes on to say that they are not sure if there will be violence. Folks ... I do own a sling shot and I am rather good with it, but my brain and my writing are my weapons.

• “I now have evidence that a second EPA representative conferred with the APD on May 31 to discuss the visit to my house (in North Asheville) on May 2. This agent was based in D.C. and flew to Asheville to CYA, as I had registered a complaint with the EPA.” Further, Keller wrote, “So this writer has been characterized as ‘belligerent’ ... a ‘suspect’ and now he threatened an EPA employee. I am in touch with (Sen.) Richard Burr’s office, so he can use what influence he has with the EPA. I will not wait a long time to break this story. Trust me — I have the tape from APD now, stored in four different places ... a tape they will regret.”

Prior to his address to the ATP, Chairwoman Jane Blevins introduced him “as a real hero and champion of our rights.”

Keller noted that his problems began

when he read comments on the nation’s energy policy by Dr. Bill Gray of the EPA. Keller said Larry Keller he wanted to challenge Gray’s stance and sent the EPA an e-mail asking that it send Gray’s e-mail address to him.

“I sent it on a Thursday or Friday — and on Monday or Tuesday, my doorbell rings,” at which point Keller said he was greeted by “the biggest policeman I ever saw,” as well as two other men who said they were EPA agents. Keller described the policeman as about 6-foot-8.

“I let them in the house. I said, ‘So guys, what do you want?’”

Among their first questions, he said, was: “Do you run a business out of your home?”

“I said my website shows I run a computer-consulting business out of my home,” Keller said.

“Agent Woods asked, ‘Have you ever sent any e-mails to anyone at the EPA?’ “I said, ‘No, I haven’t,” Keller noted. After thinking further, the Asheville man said he then amended his statement, saying he sent an e-mail asking for Gray’s e-mail address.

“Agent Woods pulled out an e-mail and asked if I sent it,” to which Keller said he replied, “Yes.” He added that the agents’ questions seemed like “a cat-and-mouse game.”

“Agent Woods said ... the e-mail you sent, don’t you think this is suspicious?”

“No,” Keller said he replied. “The truth is, I disagreed with this guy on energy policy ....”

The other agent, Keller reported, then asked him, “Have you ever been arrested?”

At that point, Keller said he was truly irked — and said, “Where’d you guys travel from? I want your business cards.”

They said they had driven from Raleigh — and that they did not have business cards with them, Keller noted.

As his wife arrived home, Keller asked them to stay, thinking his wife could serve as corroboration. However, he said that, soon, “they went down the back staircase, unlike how the came in” the front door.

“That was the incident,” he asserted.

“That’s what took place. It was probably 20 to 22 minutes.” Keller said he and his wife then sat down and immediately taperecorded their memories of the incident.

Asheville Daily Planet — July 2012 — 19

ATPAC backs candidates in GOP’s primary run-off From Staff Reports

Five candidates in the Republican primary run-off on July 17 have been endorsed by the Asheville Tea Party Political Action Committee.

The ATPAC-endorsed candidates and their offices include Mark Meadows for N.C. 11 congressional seat; Dan Forest, lieutenant governor; Ed Goodwin, secretary of state; Mike Causey, insurance commissioner; and John Tedesco, superintendent of public instruction.

The candidates were vetted by ATPAC and other Western North Carolina affiliate groups of iCaucus, ATPAC Chairwoman

Jane Bilello explained.

“These candidates have clearly demonstrated that they embrace our constitutionally conservative principles of individual rights, fiscal responsibility, limited governments and free markets,” she said.

Early voting for the primary run-off started June 28 at each county’s Board of Elections office. On July 17, Primary RunOff Day, all voting precincts will be open.

Bilello said iCaucus — a national, nonpartisan, citizen-led organization — empowers citizens to fully participate in the election process by fairly and completely vetting candidates before the primary, and then holding them accountable once elected.

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Letters to the Editor Continued from Page 18

McCrory accused of backing corporate rule

So now we know Republican candidate for governor Pat McCrory hasn’t just been the mayor of Charlotte: He also recently worked for petroleum industry lobbyists, and before that, as a career Duke Energy man.

No wonder he told a CIBO (Council of Independent Business Owners) meeting (in Asheville) that he plans to have government regulators treat business-owners as their bosses.

If McCrory wins, we can expect North Carolina’s new “bosses” will be permitted to raise residents’ energy rates as high as they want, build nuclear power plans wherever and as shoddily as they want, grab as much of our water to pump into fracking wells as they want and continue altering our climate with as much dirty coal smoke

as they want.

Whatever these businesses’ owners demand, their regulatory “employees” will be forced to rubber-stamp.

We the people, not corporate CEOs, are supposed to be our government’s bosses.

Regulations exist because public power is the only effective check-and-balance on private excess. That’s evidently why Wall Street-funded extremists who have taken control of the Republican Party are bent on dsestroying all government regulations and giving billionaires and corporations free run of the hen-house.

If we let them, we’ll be guaranteeing for ourselves and our kids a toxic, impoverished future.

STEVE RASMUSSEN Asheville

CALL 828-215-6175

20 - July 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

BCGOP

Continued from Page 1 Meanwhile, Yelton told the Daily Planet on July 5 of the recent BCGOP executive committee meeting, “It was not really a hearing, it was a lynching.”

He said he could not attend the hearing because he had to teach an environmental science class at Montreat College that night.

(He is a part-time professor of environment science in the school’s SPAS program, he noted.)

As for his next action, Yelton said, “I am appealing their decision to Raleigh, to the state Republican Party.”

His case “first and foremost” will focus on the precedure that, he said, “was done illegally ... They didn’t mail me the notice.

They delivered it to me?”

He then told of receiving a call from J.B. Howard, the Republican candidate for chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, who said he needed to talk to Yelton.

Yelton said he was at Asheville Chevrolet, where Howard soon appeared and, in Yelton’s words, “walked up, smiling and handed me an envelope and asked me to sign for it. I said I wasn’t going to sign a damned thing. He left it and walked off.”

Regarding Howard’s candidacy, Yelton asked, rhetorically, “How can you trust a candidate for Buncombe County commissioner when he represents what he did with me.”

Yelton declined to comment on “other issues” he said he will be addressing before the state GOP. As for a contention by the BCGOP that Yelton, as a member of the executive committee, had endorsed former commissioners’ candidate Kevin King, Yelton said that did not happen.

“Kevin King was not even a candidate,” he asserted. “He was trying to get qualified as a candidate. He is no longer a candidate.”

When King appeared on his TV show while still seeking to be a candidate, Yelton said, “I told him he was a good guy and that I support him.”

Yelton acknowledged that Malt and Shoemaker, both leaders of Buncombe Forward, had quit the executive committee. He also said Ed Oscata, a precinct chair for 15 years, had resigned from the committee.

“I am not a member of Buncombe Forward, but I’m friends with some of them, as they are with me,” Yelton said.

As for his long-time, close friend Nesbitt, Yelton said, “Chad made it a point not to be

BCGOP Chairman Henry D. Mitchell involved and to give Henry a chance to do his thing” as party chairman. “He (Nesbitt) did make it a point that he felt the party was headed in the wrong direction,” after the decision was made to fire Yelton.

Following is the text of a letter Yelton sent via registered mail, return receipt requested, sent on July 5 to Robin Hayes, chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party in Raleigh: Dear Chairman Hayes: I am writing this letter to officially notify you and anyone else concerned that I am appealing the decision made illegally by the Buncombe County Executive Committee.

Please answer the following as I prepare my defense: 1. When and where will the meeting occur?

2. Who will be required to be present?

3. What number is required for the committee to make a ruling? Is it 2/3 of the committee or a majority, or 2/3 of those that show up?

4. What is the ruling document, the County Structure or the State Plan of Organization?

5. If there is conflict in the plans which plan takes precedence?

6. If neither structure nor plan addresses an issue does Robert’s Rules of Order become the guiding document?

7. May I bring corroborating witnesses

Carolina Stompers stage protest of president’s 100th round of golf

From Staff Reports The Carolina Stompers, a local conservative activist group, staged a 75-minute protest against President Barack Obama early on the evening of June 20 in front of the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville.

Specifically, the protest was against what the group claimed was Obama’s obsession with playing golf, since being elected president. Also, the site was chosen because the National Democratic Convention Committee was meeting in the civic center.

“Americans are struggling with high gas prices and the highest unemployment since the Great Depression— and Obama just completed his 100th rounds of golf while this was going on,” Stompers’ spokesman Chad Nesbitt told the Daily Planet as the protest wound down. About eight Stompers participated in the protest, Nesbitt said.

The president has “had over 75 vacations, including two here in Asheville, in 3-1/2 years as president, all of which was paid for by the taxpayers,” Nesbitt claimed.

“And we’re here to show the absurdity of it,” he said.

and if so, how many?

Please answer these questions as soon as possible as the answers are germain to my defense. I have also copied David Sawyer, Neil Moore and Kim Canady. Thank you for your attention to this.

Respectively, James “Don” Yelton Meanwhile, Brenda Fryar, a member of the BCGOP executive committee who brought the charges against Yelton, said immediately after the decision was made to fire him that “if you’re going to make comments, make sure they’re truthful — and not just assumptions.”

In separate remarks, Shoemaker said after Yelton’s ejection, that he and Malt are “going to focus our efforts on getting conservatives elected. We’ve got better things to do with our lives” than deal with the BCGOP executive committee.

BCGOP Chairman Henry Mitchell had not comment after the stormy hearing, and he referred the Daily Planet to party Communications Director Nathan West for comments.

Regarding Yelton, West said, “He was removed from the official duties of the executive committee” from June 25 until March 2013.

While the vast majority of those present favored Yelton’s removal, West admitted that “11 or 12 votes were consistently proDon.” As for the tenor of the hearing, West said, “It was tense. It was stressful with the tension. It really has brought to light the 11 or 12 votes who consistently voted for Don really haven’t been here till now.”

He added that “it’s really unfortunate that

we” had to remove Yelton.

As the closed meeting wrapped up, West said Malt walked to the center of the room and said that, “in light of what’s gone on tonight,” he was quitting the committee. Others expressed the same sentiment.

“Then there was a group (of Malt opponents) who applauded as they walked out,” Regarding Nesbitt’s departure, West said, “I’ve only seen Chad two or three times at the most since he stepped down” as party chairman.

“Henry ran the meeting and allowed Chad to speak,” West said. He confirmed that Malt resigned as a precinct chair, while Shoemaker resigned as a precinct vice chair.

Each side was given 12 minutes to present its case. The BCGOP used just six minutes to play an audio of Yelton’s show, while Yelton’s backers used their 12 minutes.

In the audio, West said, Yelton “took a shot at Nathan Ramsey and some other members of the executive commitee. (Yelton has repeatedly alleged that Ramsey did not get anything done for conservatives during his eight years as chairman of the Buncombe Board of Commissioners.)

“Chad presented their side. He said he was ashamed of the Republican Party ... The only thing he threatened was lawsuits — and that’s pretty common for them,” West said.

On a separate question about 81-year-old Dorothea Alderfer’s removal as the party’s parliamentarian and her replacement with an alleged disbarred attorney, West said, “While the timing might have been bad, Dorothea was a member of the executive commitee” and asking executive committee members to “hand out literature for Buncombe Forward candidates.”

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Romney-supporter Chad Nesbitt protests President Obama, astride a golf cart he named Golf Cart One.

Asheville Daily Planet — July 2012 — 21

Son, girlfriend need to talk after motherly shove

I am in my 20s and, for eight months, have been seeing a girl who might very well be “the one.” The problem is she wants to meet my mother, who is beyond controlling. She plays a game with girls I date, which I call “the 20 questions of doom.” Her questions start out normal, but by question 10, she’ll ask stuff like “Have you ever seen my son in the nude, and if not, do you have plans to?” She’ll also say very negative things about me.

Also, I’m a dark-skinned black person, and my girlfriend is biracial, and my mother doesn’t want me dating a lightskinned girl because she wants grandkids who resemble her. I want to keep this girl, but she is growing impatient with my not letting her meet my mom, and is beginning to think I’m ashamed of her.

— Stuck Moms say the darndest things: “So, dear … how much do you owe in student loans and have you seen my son’s winkie?”

Any girl meeting her boyfriend’s mother for the first time expects a few uncomfortable questions -- but on her politics and reproductive plans. People who don’t have saboteurs for parents can find it hard to understand that somebody’s mother could be their relationship’s worst enemy. You, on the other hand, are already dreading your mother’s hospitality: “Son, shall we have coffee and dessert now and push your little friend into the woodchipper later?”

Talk to your girlfriend, but not about meeting the middle-aged mean girl also known as your mother. Open up to her about the painful relationship you have with your mother and how hurtful it’s been that she has tried to drive away every woman in your life. (Some animals eat their young. Some eat their young’s girlfriends.)

Evoking your girlfriend’s sympathy is the first step in shrinking her hurt feelings. (For best results, avoid mentioning that Mom’ll think she’s from the wrong side of the Crayola box.)

You can’t control your mother’s behavior, but you can control who she gets to meet. This would be a good time to reconsider the definition of family. Maybe family means people who act like family whether they’re blood relatives or not, and maybe you should bring your girlfriend around to meet those people — your dearest friends and maybe an aunt and uncle who are fond of you. Chances are, what ultimately matters to her is not meeting your mother but believing you think she’s important enough to introduce. Show her (and keep showing her) that you’re proud of her and that she’s loved and appreciated, and she should stop sulking. In fact, she might even start joking about what it would be like, being invited over for a nice quiet dinner of sacrificial lamb -- or, as your mother might put it to her: “Let me just show my son to his chair, dear, and then I’ll show you to your spit.”

Catty girlfriend driving woman over the edge

After I got a new boyfriend, a friend started making frequent passive-aggressive jabs at me. Lamenting her datelessness, she sniffed, “At least I’m not one of those people who need to jump from relationship to relationship,” knowing full well that I got into my current relationship a month after ending my previous one. There are reasons I can’t just boot her from my life, so is there a way to get her to stop? If I called her out, she’d just deny it.

— Dissed

The Advice Goddess

Amy Alkon

Close friends tend to leave stuff lying around in each other’s life — but stuff leading to questions like “Hey, did you forget your phone on my coffee table?” not “Hey, did you leave your knife between my T4 and T5 vertabrae?” You probably can’t change her way of seeing all you have through the prism of all she doesn’t. (Really, she couldn’t be happier for you -- that is, unless you fell down the stairs.) Where you went wrong is in letting that first nasty comment wriggle past you, which was like making it a little bed out of shredded newspaper so it could give birth to a whole litter of them. Since the direct approach would likely lead to snarly denials and ill will, shut her down by consistently jabbing back, but in a jokey tone — “Oh, you mean like my relationship…” — and she should get all sputtery…no, that’s not…no…she didn’t, blah, blah, blah. By calling her out indirectly, you two can maintain the polite fiction that she hasn’t been going all mean drunk on you and maybe get back to some semblance of friendship as it’s supposed to be: that when a friend alerts you that you have something in your teeth, it’s because she wants you to look good, not because her shoelace is caught.

Thrilla In vanilla: man’s infatuation irks woman

My best friend is a guy. We have tons in common and have conversations that are lively, honest, and deep. He’s basically everything I’ve ever wanted in my future husband, but he has an infatuation for Filipina women half his age. I’m 37, his age, and Caucasian. His plan is to find and marry a girl from the Philippines. In fact, he is so stuck on marrying a Filipina that he is learning to speak Tagalog and travels to the Philippines twice a year but has yet to have anything work out. I maintain hope that he’ll eventually develop the attraction to me that I have for him and that compatibility will trump looks, because he often tells me how much he appreciates me.

Am I fooling myself, or could he outgrow his Filipina fetish?

— Boring American Woman If people could override their physical attractions, strip clubs could hire homely but very kind women to bare only their souls.

For the price of a lap dance, they’d tell a man all about their work easing the suffering of cancer patients or nursing stray dogs back to health. Afterward, he’d go home to his hot but mean wife and do his marital duty -- while fantasizing about Martha getting little Buster to a really good home.

Whenever you start looking at your friend through future-husband-colored glasses, remind yourself that the guy’s learning Tagalog, and not because he calls the cable company and they say, “Press one for Tagalog.” Lust is a powerful and automatic biochemical reaction driven by sex hormones in the brain. One study by Dr. Ingrid R. Olson suggests that we appraise whom we find hot in 13 milliseconds or less -- approximately 25 to 30 times faster than an eye blink. And unfortunately, we can’t rejigger whom we lust after — any more than we can convince ourselves that something that smells like Dumpster really

smells like lily of the valley.

You need to stop focusing on how you click with this guy. I also really click with my friend Debbie, but when I look at her and feel longing, it’s to ask her where she got her barrette. This means we’re wellmatched as friends and hair accessory shoppers but nothing more. What you need is a guy with a you fetish -- one who thinks you’re the hottest thing since he leaned back, trying to look cool for you, and burned his hand on the party host’s stove.

To find that man, banish your Filipina-phile from your mind as anything more than a friend with a thing for women who aren’t you. If that’s hard to do, stop hanging out with him so much until it stops being hard.

Save for meeting a fairy godmother in the supermarket and having her transform you into a 4-foot-11, 18-year-old hottie from Manila, there’s only one way you’ll ever make this guy fall for you, and that’s by installing a tripwire.

Getting into your genes

I’m 27 and passionately in love with a 24-year-old woman I just started dating. I said something in passing about not knowing whether I want kids, and she said, “If I’m not pregnant within two years by you, I’ll get pregnant by somebody else.” Shocked, I asked who.

Her answer: “Preferably a friend, but it doesn’t really matter.” My jaw dropped.

I wonder whether I even matter or I am just being used.

— Disturbed You were probably picturing yourself as more of a sex machine than a sperm

dispenser. (If there’s a movie of your relationship in your mind, it’s the kind that gets blocked by Net Nanny software. In hers, Julie Andrews and the von Trapp children are bounding through the meadows in their clothes made out of curtains.)

The fact that her romantic role model seems to be the speeding bullet doesn’t mean that she isn’t into you or that she’s using you. In fact, her honesty suggests otherwise. (She didn’t let you get all attached only to tell you to either dad up or get out.) But, numerous studies splashed across the media show that single parenting disadvantages kids economically, emotionally, in school performance, and in their later relationships, and troublingly, all she can think about is the tumbleweed blowing around her empty womb.

If you know you don’t want kids, now’s the time to leave. If you aren’t sure, you can stick around and try to figure it out, but the giant ticking uterus hanging over your head may warp the course of getting to know her. After all, it’s kind of a romance-killer to be hearing “It had to be you…” while you know she’s thinking, “Then again, the UPS guy looks like he has a healthy sperm count.”

• Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com)

Amy Alkon’s just-published book: “I SEE RUDE PEOPLE: One woman’s battle to beat some manners into impolite society” (McGraw-Hill, $16.95).

22 - July 2012 - Asheville Daily Planet

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