Friday, August 30, 2013

Old men try to turn back clock

This is specific to North Carolina but applies across the U.S.

Asheville Citizen-Times

What we’ve been witnessing at the General Assembly in Raleigh the past few months is the futile attempt by fearful, old, white men to hang onto the power and control to which they assume they’re entitled. These extremists imagine that if they can push women, gays, blacks and Latinos back to the status these groups held before the mid-20th century, they can hang onto their perch at the top of the pecking order.

Now don’t get me wrong; I have nothing against old white men. In fact, I am one. But I do take issue with any group, regardless of skin color, sex or age, that abuses its power in a deceitful and un-American attempt to keep others from experiencing the fruits of liberty — equal rights for all, the unfettered opportunity to vote, a quality education for all our children, clean air and water for every citizen. ...

I could go on.

If you look at the data, it’s clear that the demographic shift taking place in our nation will be the death knell of this Caucasian paternalism. [...]
Soon, please.

Thus, no matter how forcefully the Tea Party (née GOP) shamefully endeavors to suppress the vote, strip women of their rights, push people of color to the back of the bus and keep our children from developing the skills they need in the 21st century, the appalling efforts of our state legislators are doomed to failure in the long run.

I'm hoping it's the last gasp of the throwback mentality but I know it isn't.

It’s obvious from their strident protestations that most of these right-wing zealots imagine they are doing God’s work (though it’s quite clear they are actually following the marching orders of ALEC, the Koch Brothers and Art Pope).
...

So we North Carolinians who are deeply concerned about our state’s current backward direction have choices to make: We can sit around for a decade or two while the old guys pass from the scene; or we can stand up for our values and vote the instigators of the most abhorrent state legislation in the nation out of office.
I wish there was a faster way, but that's how we do it, people.

"2010 NEVER AGAIN!"

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Once upon a time, not too long ago, N.C. was a stand-out among Southern states. It was progressive, educated, reasonably fair, and had good roads and schools. Somebody must have put stupid pills in the water supply to enable this bunch of venal and malicious prostitutesw (they are obviously for sale) to be voted in.

Jay in N.C.


*Yeah, yeah. i know you folks don't like LeJeune, Fort Bragg and surrounding areas but as an Army brat I've never seen a military town that wasn't abusive and I thought it was de rigeur to dislike your posting. :)

Gordon said...

Lejeune was a helluva lot better than Vietnam would have been. We also called NC "North Khakilackey". :-)