The North Carolina General Assemby has been extremely busy making laws to address issues we do not have and defying scientific evidence. Take religion, for example. The Assembly has decreed that NC has a right to establish a state religion if so desired. According to the "logic," only the Federal Government is prohibited from establishing religion but individual states are not specifically prohibited from doing so. And if not specifically prohibited then it must be allowed. No one suggests establishing a state religion...only that a state COULD if it wanted to.
And a new bill states that NC does not follow Sharia law. (We needed that bill to attach limits on abortion rights.)
And in case you thought you might order a TESLA electric car, we have a law prohibiting direct sales of automobiles except through a dealership. And since TESLA does not have dealerships, you'll have to spend your hundred thousand dollars (or more) to get another car or get your TESLA out of state.
In one of its first acts, the NC General Assembly voted to deny the results of a scientific study indicating the rising sea levels along the Atlantic Ocean. The reason? It would be bad for business development along the NC coast.
Our General Assembly has mandated that the school curriculum (beginning in seventh grade) MUST include teaching that one cause of pre-term birth is previous abortion. This, despite findings to the contrary from the Centers for Disease Control and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. So science be damned!
And we have a new bill that allows complete secrecy in chemicals used for fracking shale. The companies do not have to disclose what toxins they may be pumping through the lines, and possibly leaking into the ground water. Earlier the General Assembly voted that companies may pollute the ground water UP TO THE PROPERTY LINE without consequences.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a house bill stating the earth is flat and both the sun and moon revolve around it.
After the 2010 census, the General Assembly gerrymandered districts so that many of our citizens are not really represented in voting districts that are divided so as to favor one party over another. And in response to the findings of NO VOTER FRAUD in NC, our General Assembly wants to shorten the early vote, not allowed early voting on Sundays, and require photo identification prior to voting. To prevent a problem that does not exist? Or to disenfranchise some voters.
But the true passion of the old farts representatives in the General Assemby seems to be to deny a woman's right to make the most difficult decision of her life. But let's call it something else. Here are the names of some of the bills:
- Women's Right to Know
- Insurance and Health Care Conscience Protection
- Family Faith and Freedom Protection Act
The effect of these bills, if passed into law will CLOSE every reproductive health center providing abortions in the entire State except for one provider in Asheville, NC. Regardless of your personal feelings, the State should not make this choice for women. I am old enough to remember when abortions were not legal and I know the consequences this can have.
So heck. Maybe I'm the one who is wrong. Perhaps the world really is flat. And at the rate we are going, our ship of State will soon sail off the edge.
A fellow Tarheel has written a song that pretty much sums up my own feelings about our General Assembly. You can find it here. (Apologies upfront to anyone offended by the eff word. But sometimes it is the only one that works.)
My State is changing in ways I do not like, but I will hang on until the end. Despite what is happening in Raleigh, most of the people are good people with good intentions. I only hope that the voters will recognize what is going on and get rid of the worst offenders. To steal a movie line: WE'RE MAD AS HELL AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE.
10 comments:
Religious or ideological fanaticism, whatever these zealots are espousing, it is sad to see....
The gamesmanship of politics infuriates me. Our vote and what we want means nothing. Common sense is gone. Stupidity rules the legislature.
I am absolutely shocked by this new direction in NC politics. Pretty scary stuff. It really is in your hands, and the hands of those who want open elections, a woman's right to choose, and real science taught in the schools. I wish you luck.
For such a beautiful state, you really have some scary political minds. I am stunned by some of those proposals. I think the sound of mind need to revolt. I do hope folks like you will be heard in the voting booth. I tend to contact my representatives to death here.
Sometimes the eff word IS the only one that works. I weep for my beloved Old North State. The inmates are running the assylum, to risk an insensitive comment. Yes, I know how to spell asylum. Much love to my dear friends who are standing up and speaking out! We Tar Heels by bith are doing likewise as we can here in our adopted state of OH.
hum, sounds just like wisconsin.....
thoughtful post and you are right, get to the polls and VOTE (unless this becomes illegal too...) :)
xoxo
I have a cousin who attended the Moral Monday demonstration yesterday - so proud of her! I wish I still lived in the Raleigh area so I could go to one too! When I did live there I worked with a rape crisis center - I'll bet we could have made a racket!
Fine post -- and the F word is completely appropriate for what these bastards are doing. They are an embarrassment and a dangerous one.
Sounds like a sci-fi movie to me. What the hey? I think my head might explode trying to digest this....
Good grief! And I thought the Utah legislature was backward. Yours sounds practically medieval. Good luck to all reasoning minds in your state in getting a trip on the nutcases.
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