An interesting comparison between  government in the “good old days” (State of Colorado/City of Denver) and today (Henderson County, N.C.) is in order.  

As they used to ask us in school, when kids did essay exams... Compare and contrast the following:

The Moffat Tunnel in Colorado is one of the longest railroad tunnels in North America at over 6 miles, dug through solid rock at over 9,000 feet, with crude construction equipment compared with what we have today.  

About 800 men worked around the clock and bored the tunnel in just 3-1/2 years, moving 1.5 million tons of rock. It took five years to complete the tunnel, beginning in 1923 and opening in February 1928. Twenty-eight men lost their lives in the endeavor. We can give thanks to the brave men who built that enormous tunnel, which has made the railroad route safer and more efficient for over 100 years. 

Let’s flash forward to our New America, right in our own backyard, where a local county commission is loaded with contractors (as reported in Asheville Daily Planet).

Highland Lake Road in Flat Rock has undergone some paving, road-widening and tree removal. The project is nearly at the five-year mark — and counting. The road remains closed to through-traffic (still working on a culvert at Highland Lake) and is a major west/east connector to Upward Road and I-26 from Greenville Highway. The project is about 1-mile long. As far as I am aware, no solid-rock tunnels have been involved.

Government back in the early 20th century was growing rapidly by the year, but the people still demanded and got basic efficiencies from government contractors and builders because public officials in those days at least pretended to have the moral authority to spend tax dollars wisely. That gave governments some  justification for a reasonable level of taxation.

Today, government at every level is completely out of control, except for creating jobs and maintaining exorbitant pay and benefits for “public servants” that their employer (i.e. taxpayers) can only dream of. The average yearly pay and benefits for federal “workers” is $144,000.

Mr. (William G. “Bill”) Lapsley (chairman of the Henderson County Board of Commissioners) — are you listening?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Branson’s reference in his letter to a story reported in the Hendersonville Daily Planet about a “commission filled with contractors” more specifically relates to the Henderson County Planning Board, during a late February meeting, when then-member Bruce Hatfield condemned the county’s growth and blamed the planning board members for harboring “a vested interest” for endorsing it. 

“If that’s what you want, that’s fine, but not on my vote,” Hatfield, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and president of the local Republican Men’s Club, said, according to the Hendersonville Lightning. “We need to get people on these boards that have no vested interest...

“I like these guys, but you ask what their jobs are. Jim (Miller Jr.) just recused himself. He’s a grader. Hunter’s (Hunter Marks) a land planner. Jared (Ownbey) is a surveyor.”

After Hatfield’s assertion, other Planning Board members — some angrily — denied there is a conflict-of-interest in their board decisions... and Hatfield, later, was not reappointed to the Planning Board.

Could it be that ‘No Kings’ crowd is hypocritical in failing to protest governor?

Last week (June 14), left-wing activists held a “No Kings” rally, warning about authoritarian overreach and unchecked executive power. 

Their message might have seemed compelling — if it weren’t so disconnected from what’s actually happening in Raleigh.

Governor Josh Stein, who previously served as North Carolina’s attorney general, has made it clear he’s willing to ignore laws he doesn’t like. 

As attorney general, he signaled he would not support enforcement of HB 40, the state’s anti-rioting law. 

Now, as governor, he’s vetoed two immigration enforcement bills —S B 153 and HB 318 — which were designed to help law enforcement cooperate with ICE and keep dangerous individuals from slipping through the cracks.

This month (June), he also joined a letter from the Democratic Governors Association condemning President Trump for deploying the National Guard to restore order following violent anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles. 

Back here in North Carolina, he issued a statement praising “peaceful protest,” but, again, refused to support meaningful enforcement against violent behavior.

So I ask the “No Kings” crowd: Were you protesting Governor Stein?

He’s the one overriding the will of the legislature.

He’s the one encouraging selective enforcement.

He’s the one deciding which laws matter and which don’t.

North Carolinians should look past the slogans and ask the real question:

Who’s wearing the crown now?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Fulton is founder and president of the First Tuesday Conservatives.

Climate change poses great threats

President Donald Trump calls climate change the “green new scam.”

To counter this misinformation, I encourage reading “The Scientific Guide to Global Warming Skepticism.”  

It’s available online and provides an excellent summary of the lines of evidence that have led 200 science academies throughout the world, including the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, to conclude that climate change is human-caused.

For example, satellites detect less heat escaping the top of the atmosphere in the wavelengths absorbed by greenhouse gases, and surface observations measure more heat being returned to the earth in those same wavelengths.

Consider that the Israel Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Sciences of the Islamic Republic of Iran agree on this issue.

If one is serious about examining the issue of human-induced climate change, the place to start is understanding why scientists believe it.

Climate change poses great threats, such as more extreme heat waves, sea level rise, and the ravaging of the world’s coral reefs.

Conservatives would be unlikely to tolerate this level of risk with regard to national defense or financial markets.

Prudence dictates that we also hedge against the risk of disastrous climate change.

Springsteen and his music ‘great?’ Only in the dreams of a twisted Dem

The HEADLINE SCREAMS:  “Bruce Springsteen (AKA “BS”) kicked Trump’s (AKA “DJT”) fat (expletive deleted “ED”).  

I apologize to the Clowns of America (COM) for the implied defamation of clowns’ character. 

Neither “BS” nor (Jake) Pickering, the bickering bickerer extraordinaire (AKA “PBB”), has the guts to face President Trump, much less kick his ED. 

BS’ music was/is nothing but eardrum destruction noise, at least to people of Trump’s generation. The devil went down to Georgia, looking for a soul to steal. He (devil) had already gotten all of them in California, including PBB’s soul.

Charlie Daniel went down to Georgia to teach the devil a lesson or two. And, boy, did he. BS would be no match for Charlie Daniel.

PBB must consider himself a GOAT (GREATEST of all TIME). Surprisingly, I agree. 

He, and his DINO (DEMOCATS IN NAME ONLY) cohort are, beyond a shadow of doubt, the GOAT prevaricators, the GOAT power-grabbers, the GOAT cheaters, and the GOATest of GOATS at stealing elections.  

They revived  the campaign of a failed, corrupt politician, a member of a family crime syndicate, the Capo, a son. They then, reportedly, stole the presidency. 

Covering up the sharp downward spiral of his cognitive abilities, and his physical decline, of the thought to be president, they ran the country, putting America in such a perilous position that, had our enemies known, might have dared attacking us. Non-elected individuals (Jill & Hunter Biden, etc.) were running our country. Is this not treasonous? Should they not be held accountable?

The Trump haters of which “PBB the GOAT DUMB A**e*”  with the aide of their GOAT DINO’s  were expousing socialism for America.  Americans are to smart to buy such taradiddle.

To keep the public and insane people safe,  KOOKS were once institutionalized, treated and released only when deemed safe to do so. However,  our unhinged judiciary ruled it was inhumane to do so.  

The same (DINO) unhinged judges decided that it was “cruel & unusual punishment to MAKE “THUGS” work for their upkeep. “How do you like them apples? ruling it unconstitutional. 

WHY WOULD THEY DO SUCH A THING?  

I can only think of one reason — the judiciary panicked, fearing they would be next. 

A full day’s work, and a cold drink of water would do most of the unhinged DINO GOAT judges in.  

“CONFLICTS OF INTEREST CHARGES SHOULD BE BROUGHT  ON THEM FOR VOTING ON AN ISSUE OF VITAL INTEREST TO THEM.  THEY FEARED EVEN THE THOUGHT OF BEING MADE TO WORK FULL DAYS AND WEEKS.

PBB — referring to DJT as a “fat ED” — is ludricrous. For his height, DJT appears to be fit.  

After intense and prolonged study of PBB’s photo, his jowls/hocks are indistinguishable and probably interchangeable. Either way it would make a half-ton hog look like a piglet... Side by side, one would need a microscope to see Trump.

Imitating Trump on stage?  

Not possible.   

PBB reads and believes his own gibberish. He says; “There is a big, beautiful wave on the way next year....... see conservatives whine and cry.....”!!!!  

Yes, conservatives will regret having opposition in primaries only, but BAT BLIND GOATS, such as PBB, assure conservatives increasing influence at all levels of government.

The winners laugh and tell dirty jokes — the losers say, “Deal, dammit, deal.”