Political Digression Thread -- Save UP! Move the politically focused stuff here

[DMann]

good idea

[rancenc]

Lynn Wheeler was very influential in ensuring that the current arena was moved uptown from the Tyvola Road area back in the early part of the century.

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/charlotte-legend-lynn-wheeler-dies-80/JGGGWMAAGFD6NGJGOGEBMKLUFA/

[DMann]

Lynn Wheeler was indeed a pistol!

[davidclt]

Things got beyond weird at the public forum at the Matthews Town Meeting last night. I am a supporter of free speech and believe they have a right to say anything they want but I do not believe speech should be without consequence (just because you can say something, doesn't mean you should). Matthews needs to do a better job verifying the identities of those speaking in the Zoom call. It's beyond disturbing that there are people who express these not just completely disgusting but conspiracy laden views (it's breathtaking that people believe this BS). Truly there is no limit to the depths we will plumb in our hatred of our fellow humans.

 

Edited February 27 by davidclt
Clarity, construction

[kayman]

https://www.americanprogress.org/article/reforming-the-governance-of-metropolitan-planning-organizations/

This is an article that covers the importance of metropolitan planning organizations (MPO), central city representation, overall MPO policy board governance. This is why all of us need to be aware of the why Charlotte's urban area MPO is uber important to our transportation planning process, lobbying efforts for more non-highway transportation investments, and the overall political process for us all. This is why our metropolitan area has 5 MPOs instead of 1 large MPO like most of our peer regions. 

https://crtpo.org/resources/related-information/charlotte-regional-alliance-for-transportation-craft/

Edited March 11 by kayman

[LKN704]

North Carolina's y'all-Qaeda is back making national headlines again:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/14/politics/kfile-gop-nominee-north-carolina-public-schools-michele-morrow-executing-democrats/index.html

 

[videtur quam contuor]

Because of prior contributions to state candidates I receive invitations to social events which are a masquerade for collection of donation checks. I even attend an event and donate every few years. My donations are usually independent of any event. The extensive list of co-sponsors I see on my invitations have numerous individuals and couples whose names I recognize. This means the donors and invitees are in my generation (+/-).  

My question is:

What is the new generation of political supporters? Does this generation exist? Who are they? Who are the "New Money" in Charlotte? Are Gen X and Z opting out of political action? (By action I mean close to maximum contributions.) Does "new money"contribute only to PAC rather than candidate? My birth conditions make me unable to assess the participation of these younger generations. All responses appreciated without judging.

 

[rancenc]

9 hours ago, LKN704 said:

North Carolina's y'all-Qaeda is back making national headlines again:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/14/politics/kfile-gop-nominee-north-carolina-public-schools-michele-morrow-executing-democrats/index.html

 

Unfortunately she is one of the many "whack jobs" that are not even native North Carolinians....a product of youthful upbringing in New York state.

https://www.morrow4nc.com/meet-michele

[LKN704]

2 hours ago, videtur quam contuor said:

Because of prior contributions to state candidates I receive invitations to social events which are a masquerade for collection of donation checks. I even attend an event and donate every few years. My donations are usually independent of any event. The extensive list of co-sponsors I see on my invitations have numerous individuals and couples whose names I recognize. This means the donors and invitees are in my generation (+/-).  

My question is:

What is the new generation of political supporters? Does this generation exist? Who are they? Who are the "New Money" in Charlotte? Are Gen X and Z opting out of political action? (By action I mean close to maximum contributions.) Does "new money"contribute only to PAC rather than candidate? My birth conditions make me unable to assess the participation of these younger generations. All responses appreciated without judging.

 

I don’t work anywhere close to the electoral process (foreign policy/national security is my claim to fame ) but I do meet people frequently who have experience in the electoral process. It’s extremely unusual for younger millennials and Generation Z to contribute financially/donate to the political process – sans for a “unicorn” candidate in a particular electoral district (Greg Casar in Austin and Katie Porter in California both come to mind). 

Frankly I don’t feel comfortable enough about conservative politics to comment on it, but I do know that the GOP loves to prop up their younger right-wing cohort and insert them onto the national stage – look at how Charlie Kirk was a keynote speaker during the 2020 RNC. 

The Democratic establishment/DNC (whom I now refer to as Blue Maga because that’s how they have been acting) are genuinely fearful of their younger left-wing cohorts. Kirk’s counterpart on the left would be someone like a Hasan Piker or Ana Kasparian – you have a greater chance of winning the Mega Millions than seeing the DNC invite either of those two to be keynote speaker at a convention. 

Hence, I wouldn’t be surprised to see younger conservative contribute more financially to the electoral process, as they feel more valued and are welcomed to the political process. 

I hear from Progressive-leaning younger millennials and folks from Generation Z from varying demographics and varying geographic locations that they are genuinely unsure how to vote in November 2024. I feel their pain – I am one of them.  I’m obviously going to vote for Biden as someone who sees politics firsthand, but it’s easy to understand their frustration, especially if they don’t live in Washington or follow politics. 

I had an interesting text back and forth with an old classmate who lives in Missouri now – I didn’t even know they cared about politics. This is directly she said:

“High profile blue congress members regularly have fundraisers hosted by lobbying firms representing insurance companies. Why keep voting for the same Democrats who are pro-status quo and will block any moves towards universal healthcare? Why vote at all if that is your only option?”

All of this makes the “Uncommitted” vote in Michigan so interesting. While it was easy to predict that large number of those votes came from the Arab American community, an even greater percentage per capita came from younger voters around U-M and MSU. 

Biden has a huge problem with younger voters. It isn’t just Palestine. It isn’t just the environment. It isn’t just student debt. There’s a huge messaging problem and basically zero engagement. It’s almost like he isn’t counting on them to show up for him in November – the irony of that is he cannot win without progressives and younger voters. 

Some isn’t a messaging problem, but a problem with himself. His policies on some issues are decades old and will not change. 

For example, a lot of people will say “Vote Biden as Trump is deeply Islamophobic and will be worse on Palestine blah blah blah.” Biden is incredibly chummy with Bibi and broke with both Hillary Clinton’s (when she was then Secretary of State) and Obama’s back numerous times on Israel/Palestine – this is noteworthy as the infamous neoliberal Henry Kissinger a**kissing queen that Clinton is has made disgusting statements over the past couple of months…it’s telling that she is even more moderate on the conflict than Biden…I can only imagine what Biden thinks privately.  

I don’t think his age is a problem per se with younger voters but rather his cognitive ability. Bernie Sanders is older and with it. Chuck Grassley is almost ten years older and also appears much more with it.  

Whew - that was a lot. I hope these musings peak your interest!

Edited March 16 by LKN704

[Jakeupps]

On 3/15/2024 at 5:46 PM, videtur quam contuor said:

Because of prior contributions to state candidates I receive invitations to social events which are a masquerade for collection of donation checks. I even attend an event and donate every few years. My donations are usually independent of any event. The extensive list of co-sponsors I see on my invitations have numerous individuals and couples whose names I recognize. This means the donors and invitees are in my generation (+/-).  

My question is:

What is the new generation of political supporters? Does this generation exist? Who are they? Who are the "New Money" in Charlotte? Are Gen X and Z opting out of political action? (By action I mean close to maximum contributions.) Does "new money"contribute only to PAC rather than candidate? My birth conditions make me unable to assess the participation of these younger generations. All responses appreciated without judging.

 

I'm a millenial voter who was raised in a red household, moved towards moderate in college, and in the past 8 years moved into full fully blue voter.  This year has been the first time in my life that I have donated to any political organization. Since I'm just learning and dipping my toe in the water I have donated to a couple of campaigns directly, Carolina Forward (PAC), and the DGA.  Trying to make ends meet doesn't leave me much time to attend any kind of event or rally, but maybe that will change with time.

I really liked the post by @LKN704.  It has a lot of insight I've read about in passing, but don't personally know anyone that feels quite as strongly on those issues. I'm guessing cause I haven't been progressive most of my life and probably just don't know a lot of folks who fall in that category. Most of the people I speak to my age grumble about democrat fiscal policy, but very strongly feel that now is not the time to focus on that and that the social issues are far too important to vote red for the foreseeable future. People I know tend to like Biden, as I do. He is far from perfect, but he is an effective politician and has accompished more than any of his predecessors in my lifetime. I've really been pleasantly surprised. And yes, he has missed the mark with younger voters and I think it is fair of them to voice their displeasure.

The one big thing I realized in the past 8 years or so is that there is no perfect candidate. Political parties who represent you will often fail as they are forced to compromise on decision making. But if you want your values you have a chance to succeed, you need your team to win.  And then need to win over, and over, and over again. If you are able to obtain long term success as a party, eventually the scales will naturally tip in your favor. Look at what happened with SCOTUS. Prolonged winning produces wins for the base. So that's how I try to view it when it comes to satiating the desires of progressive voters. But patience is hard, and I'm sure younger voters want more wins now.

As for the "new money", it ain't coming from me unfortunately. Hopefully there are other young people with deeper pockets who are putting their dollars to work.

[videtur quam contuor]

Thank you for your contribution to this discussion. Just what I wanted to know.

 

Donors may contribute up to 6400$ per election in each cycle. Therefor, a primary election allows 6400$ per donor/per candidate and then the general election another 6400$. This information is from the Jeff Jackson donor response team. A couple/married or otherwise may double this. It is per person. One need not be a registered voter.  This is a donation directly to the candidate. PAC donations are different. Numbers change with time. Several years ago the numbers were less (smaller).

https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/candidate-taking-receipts/who-can-and-cant-contribute/

[kayman]

I'm ambivalent about the Presidential race as Biden will likely prevail in the end. NC will either go barely blue like magneta Georgia or barely by an even smaller margin for Trump than 2020 or 2016.

I'm focused on state-level races this time.  This is going to be a very close election for NC Governor along with all NC Council of State offices from Lt. Governor to Attorney General to NC Commissioners. Jeff Jackson will likely be the future NC AG & eventual governor, but he's one politico and can't save the state alone.

I like NCDP Chair Anderson Clayton, her spank, and dedication to regalvanize the base towards us Millennial and GenZ voters regardless of political geography.  The problem with the NCDP establishment and its inability to embrace electing younger non-white leadership in many key rapidly growing and racially diverse counties like Mecklenburg.  The current Mecklenburg County Democratic Party chair is Drew Comer, a white guy from LKN area and Davidson grad, who doesn't seem to respect nor embrace the large black voter base in the county. I've seen it with my own two eyes to know what is wrong.  What's worse is there isn't a Hispanic/ Latino caucus of the MCDP.  The African American Caucus of MCDP is weak nor respected by the bigger county nor state party either. 

The NCDP takes the growing racial diversity that are black, South Asian, and Spanish-speaking brown/racially mixed individuals that don't live in the Triangle or typical spots like Asheville, Fayetteville, or the rural black counties in East/Northeastern NC for granted.  Basically, they are dropping the ball on racial diversity of Metro Charlotte counties.  

It shows in recent election results with the much lower turnout percentage amongst black, younger, and overall non-white eligible voters in our metro counties than those aforementioned other progressive urban counties like Wake, Durham, Orange in the Triangle, Buncombe, Cumberland, or New Hanover. The demographic and polling of said local eligible voters who are 9 out of 10 newcomers.

Many of said newcomers in those very counties in our region like Mecklenburg, Cabarrus and Gaston affirming their awareness of the racial bias and anti-LGBTQ legislative agendas of the NCGOP.  However, the problem is the NCDP nor local counties Democratic parties doesn't even try to regularly engage nor do consistent outreach to them.  We are the true bellwether of statewide election wins for any NC Democratic statewide candidates.

Edited March 27 by kayman

[Richhamleigh, DC]

Yikes.

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/bankruptcy-documents-detail-gop-nc-governor-nominee-mark/story?id=108763847

[rancenc]

Higher revenues in the state coffers!

https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-tax-collections-forecast-legislature-c08745d988735661d14cf310754d4a36

[rancenc]

Looks like the idea of more legalized gambling and casual marijuana legalization is going to come around for debate  in the near future!

https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/casinos-budget-shortfall-nc/

[kayman]

4 hours ago, rancenc said:

Looks like the idea of more legalized gambling and casual marijuana legalization is going to come around for debate  in the near future!

https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/casinos-budget-shortfall-nc/

I say go on and give them both. Casinos work for Mississippi, who actually has local home rule governance in all 82 counties. Through economic development fun the casinos, it works at helping these rural and impoverished counties to fund basic public welfare services and fund their public local education districts in Tunica and Neshoba counties. It should help all 3 rural counties with economic development and leisurely tourism revenue. 

At this point, North Carolina should have long legalized and regulated via taxation casual usage of marijuana or cannabis. We ought to take a note from our peers to the north Virginia, DC, and Maryland and go on and follow suit.  It would help as well. 

[kayman]

Quote

The University of North Carolina System's Board of Governors plans to vote next month on a new policy targeting diversity and inclusion efforts at state universities and eliminate positions related to diversity and inclusion.

A committee approved the new policy at a Wednesday meeting without discussion. If approved by the full 24-member board next month, it would repeal and replace the system’s existing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policy, which was adopted in 2019.

https://www.wral.com/story/unc-system-may-eliminate-diversity-goals-and-jobs-at-17-campuses-across-the-state/21383986/

No local media outlet in the Charlotte DMA has covered this story. WBTV, Channel 9, WCNC, WCCB, & Fox 46 should all be covering this story as it will negatively impact UNCC & Appalachian State recruitment efforts of outside and non-white prospective students at both rapidly growing public universities.

This is a very bad idea and shows that too many bigoted individuals in the GOP-led NC General Assembly are attempting to undo years of positive good will and inclusive reputation of the UNC System. 

As a black person, this will directly hurt the UNC System HBCUs such as NC A&T, NC Central,  Winston-Salem State, Elizabeth City State, and Fayetteville State universities. They seem to not understand that would eliminate programs that help first-generation of college graduates from black families available at these said HBCUs and UNCC, which has a large black student body. Many of whom have limited resources due to them being the first in their families to pursue higher education degrees and come from often-time meager means. 

The full UNC Board of Governors vote on this will occur on Thursday, May 23rd.

Edited Tuesday at 01:44 AM by kayman

[Windsurfer]

12 minutes ago, kayman said:

I say go on and give them both. Casinos work for Mississippi, who actually has local home rule governance in all 82 counties. Through economic development fun the casinos, it works at helping these rural and impoverished counties to fund basic public welfare services and fund their public local education districts in Tunica and Neshoba counties. It should help all 3 rural counties with economic development and leisurely tourism revenue. 

At this point, North Carolina should have long legalized and regulated via taxation casual usage of marijuana or cannabis. We ought to take a note from our peers to the north Virginia, DC, and Maryland and go on and follow suit.  It would help as well. 

Having lived in Oregon now for about three years, I can tell you legalization and taxing isn't working out as well as everyone here expected.  Despite all the chatter about how legalizing would end or minimize illegal trafficking and crime....turns out the opposite has happened. The cartels are now operating, almost in the open, in Southern Oregon. Landowners are now complaining about having leased their land out to folks they thought were above board, but turned out to be other.

You may argue that marijuana is not a gateway, but I can see it already in my kid's middle school. So sad to hear about pre-teens now smoking it. ( It has become a family thing up here now I guess).  Google fentenyl use in Portland if you want to become depressed.  Folks are moving on up to bigger things.

Keep your standards high. It's hard to go back.

[LKN704]

I hate to break it to you but kids were smoking weed in my junior high school in New York in the early 2000s and in my brother's middle school in Mooresville...irrespective of drug policy in either jurisdiction. 

Edited Monday at 09:43 PM by LKN704

[kayman]

8 minutes ago, Windsurfer said:

Having lived in Oregon now for about three years, I can tell you legalization and taxing isn't working out as well as everyone here expected.  Despite all the chatter about how legalizing would end or minimize illegal trafficking and crime....turns out the opposite has happened. The cartels are now operating, almost in the open, in Southern Oregon. Landowners are now complaining about having leased their land out to folks they thought were above board, but turned out to be other.

You may argue that marijuana is not a gateway, but I can see it already in my kid's middle school. So sad to hear about pre-teens now smoking it. ( It has become a family thing up here now I guess).  Google fentenyl use in Portland if you want to become depressed.  Folks are moving on up to bigger things.

Keep your standards high. It's hard to go back.

I get it, but our peer states of VA, DC, & MD have shown it is the tax revenue would be beneficial if regulated by the state's coffers. We can't stop recreational marijuana usage rather regulate & tax it. Also, it is easier rather than criminalize people with felonies for non-violent offenses who use it for medicinal or mental health anxiety reasons. 

The issues in Southern Oregon sound like the state not doing its job of regulating applicants and operators rather than the marijuana legalization itself.  Also, it sounds like tax evasion is occuring which illegal but some the state of Oregon should 

Fentenyl and marijuana are two different substances. Fentenyl is a kin to cocaine and other opioids which used as a recreational chemical substance is highly addictive. Whereas, marijuana has yet to show any negative addictive effects except people's reflex recactions are slower while high on via consumption or smoking it similarly to alcohol consumption. 

 

[kermit]

3 hours ago, kayman said:

…it will negatively impact UNCC & Appalachian State recruitment efforts of outside and non-white prospective student at both rapidly growing public universities.

not trying to be dismissive of the DEI stuff at all but it is clear that the politicization of the UNC system has already done significant damage to our reputation. The most recent example I have is I was involved in 3 faculty searches this year. We interviewed a total of 10 candidates on campus, only one of our first choices accepted our offers. 4 others turned us down. Most cited the political climate of NC and the UNC System as the reason why. I have been involved in lots of faculty searches over the past 20+ years at UNCC and this volume of rejection is unprecedented.

The strongest economic development engine the state has ever had is just limping along. The tide has clearly turned.

Edited Tuesday at 12:56 AM by kermit

[kayman]

3 hours ago, kermit said:

not trying to be dismissive of this at all but it is clear that the politicization of the UNC system has already done significant damage to our reputation. The most recent example I have is I was involved in 3 faculty searches this year. We interviewed a total of 10 candidates on campus, only one of our first choices accepted our offers. 4 others turned us down. Most cited the political climate of NC and the UNC System as the reason why. I have been involved in lots of faculty searches over the past 20+ years at UNCC and this volume of rejection is unprecedented.

The strongest economic development engine the state has ever had is just limping along. The tide has clearly turned.

Yep,  I've heard similar things as well. The Nikole Hannah-Jones recruitment situation and fallout exposed  the UNC System weaknesses. It has gotten worse especially when it comes with the system’s reputation.  I'm from Alabama and the UNC System doesn't want to get the negative rep that the UA System has to non-sports collegiate athlete recruits. There are severe consequences for such biased perspectives of the NCGOP political puppets controlling the UNC System as of late. 

Edited Tuesday at 01:46 AM by kayman

[Windsurfer]

1 hour ago, LKN704 said:

I hate to break it to you but kids were smoking weed in my junior high school in New York in the early 2000s and in my brother's middle school in Mooresville...irrespective of drug policy in either jurisdiction. 

And, I hate to break it to you, there were kids in CMS in the early 70s smoking it too.   It's a matter of degree, isn't it. It's one thing to know some 'cool kids' doing it out in the woods while skipping class, but another when your kid tells you the teacher has to repeat herself over and over because half the kids are high.  Great. 

[Windsurfer]

2 hours ago, kayman said:

I get it, but our peer states of VA, DC, & MD have shown it is the tax revenue would be beneficial if regulated by the state's coffers. We can't stop recreational marijuana usage rather regulate & tax it. Also, it is easier rather than criminalize people with felonies for non-violent offenses who use it for medicinal or mental health anxiety reasons. 

The issues in Southern Oregon sound like the state not doing its job of regulating applicants and operators rather than the marijuana legalization itself.  Also, it sounds like tax evasion is occuring which illegal but some the state of Oregon should 

Fentenyl and marijuana are two different substances. Fentenyl is a kin to cocaine and other opioids which used as a recreational chemical substance is highly addictive. Whereas, marijuana has yet to show any negative addictive effects except people's reflex recactions are slower while high on via consumption or smoking it similarly to alcohol consumption. 

 

  All I'm saying is that Oregon had all the same arguments. Now schools are at a shortfall for money and the quality of education is dropping.  The goal posts have been moved.  FWIW, I'm not for criminalization  either, but Oregon has just re-criminalized small personal use of drugs.  There is no panacea.

As far as no negative effects, google "IQ + adolescents + marijuana".  Moreover, when the teacher has to repeat herself over and over because half the class is high then a lot of valuable learning time is wasted.  Use among under-aged kids has soared since it became legal.   Is this what we really want? https://www.washington.edu/news/2020/07/20/legal-marijuana-may-be-slowing-reductions-in-teen-marijuana-use-study-says/

Edited Monday at 11:52 PM by Windsurfer

[LKN704]

17 minutes ago, Windsurfer said:

And, I hate to break it to you, there were kids in CMS in the early 70s smoking it too.   It's a matter of degree, isn't it. It's one thing to know some 'cool kids' doing it out in the woods while skipping class, but another when your kid tells you the teacher has to repeat herself over and over because half the kids are high.  Great. 

How does your child know what being high looks like? How does your child know they don't have some sort of mental disability?  Did a school administrator/teacher tell you that half of the kids in your kid's class were high? Just trying to understanding the logic behind your claims...

I'm glad we are at the stage of society where "My kid says half the class can't focus or pay attention at all so those kids all must be high! Blame drug legalization!"

Next week we are going to hear about how half the kids in class wore tie dye one day so they must all be LGBT+...must be an inevitable response to gay marriage. 

Edited Monday at 11:56 PM by LKN704