Despite what you see from our General Assembly and Governor, most people in North Carolina are informed, tolerant and kind. The 2010 election turned both houses Republican, many of them from the more rural conservative areas. Frustrated citizens blindly (and stupidly) voted for anyone not the incumbent without regard to whether or not they were doing a good job. These ill-informed unhappy voters voted only for the inexperienced newcomers. Boosted by huge funding from conservative Political Action Committees, the tone of the General Assembly changed dramatically. Another thing forgotten by these dissatisfied voters was the 2010 census. The census led to gerrymandered districts that twice have been deemed illegal by the court system. The new districts dilute the votes from the more liberal cities, practically assuring election of conservatives. Many churches are providing lists of candidates they consider sufficiently "Christian" to serve in the General Assembly. (The word is in quotes because these people are far from Christian and the tenants of Christianity.) As a result Asheville in not in the mountain district. Asheville, likely the best known mountain city in the entire State. One district cut a narrow and irregular swath all the way from our border with Virginia south to our border with South Carolina. Even members of the legislature smugly admit that the new voter registration laws are intended to disenfranchise Democrat voters.
The General Assembly has taken our State backward. In the name of "religious liberty" they want to return to the days when it was perfectly fine to discriminate against anyone different from themselves. In fact, one new law specifically forbids local communities or counties from passing legislation designed to protect any group from discrimination.
These political cartoon speak for themselves. Please note the cartoonist of each.
They don't even listen to God Almighty!
And so our State is losing revenue by individuals and companies who will not come here because of the new law. Sadly, many of our legislators think that this affects only the cities in North Carolina. And everyone knows those liberal hotbeds are wicked. They are too uninformed to realize what they are doing to our State, not just to our cities. Their response to PayPal pulling out plans to add 400 NC jobs? "Cancel your PayPal account. That'll show them." Our own Governor announced that the other States who are forbidding all but the most essential travel to NC are simply trying to make us look bad. Sorry, guv. You and the General Assembly have already done that worse than anyone else could possibly do.
Yesterday Governor McCrory announced an Executive Order regarding the infamous HB 2. Surprisingly enough, the order extends protection to State employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The order affects only State employees and none other. The bathroom clause remained unchanged. And the law still prohibits cities from developing their own anti-discrimination ordinances. So with the stroke of his pen, the Governor managed to infuriate those on both sides of the issue.
A new billboard by the roadside in Polk County
Makes me so sad
I believe it's only a matter of time before this onerous law is changed. But it will take years to undo the damage it has caused. Just as I never imagined a Presidential campaign like this one, I never imagined my State turning so vindictively red.
9 comments:
It's definitely ruining our poor reputation, which was already dealing with "red neck" and "hillbilly"...tourists aren't inclined to want to visit our beautiful state, nor to move here for retirement. I'm really sad about it.
You're right Barbara - we're from NC & always intended to move back if we were ever able to retire. Not so interested now. So very very sad. Although I have a lot of friends fighting the good fight (if you've seen the story about the Hillsborough UCC church's rainbow flags being burned - the pastor is our great friend who was part of our wedding).
Many friends of mine retired to NC from Florida Power and Light. I almost did also. I know they are appalled. Lets hope good folks like you and the many others in your state who have good sense, will use the voting booth to set that beautiful state back on the path of tolerance and compassion and turn blue. In the mean time--way to go Bruce and Carolyn.
I can't imagine what it must be like to live in a state that is run this way and passes such crazy legislation. I hope all the good, kind, thoughtful folks rise up in your beautiful state and take the state back from such wackiness.
the combination of redrawing districts plus voting out any incumbents has ill effects wherever it is happening. It's happened in many areas of California, too. People who don't really understand governance get upset at incumbents as a group, vote them out, and vote in people who are ill equipped to govern. Look at Washington DC! The Tea Party people have single handedly brought congress to a halt.
I feel badly for the people that will be affected by the boycott, but in many instances an economic embargo, so to speak, is the only way to get attention. It worked in South Africa, after all. Not so much in Cuba. Let's hope it works in NC. It IS a lovely state and I know many fine people (including you) who live there.
Thanks for your comments, everyone.
Tara - You are exactly right. The only thing to get the Assembly members attention will be financial. Having passed the law in one day with no input whatsoever from citizens, they clearly don't care about anything else. It's all about money.
The awful influence of big money. Art Pope in NC--Koch Brothers everywhere. All that has SO perverted democracy. I am so saddened to be alive during the time our country is being torn apart in the name of what?
I agree so whole-heartedly. A professional conference that my husband is very involved in is supposed to have their annual meeting in Raleigh. They're trying to find businesses who are opposed to the new discriminatory laws to patronize. He's not yet sure how easy it will be to get that info about hotels, caterers, etc...
The ruling of the Court of Appeals is probably going to allow McC a way out of this hole he's dug.
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