The annual precinct meetings for the Buncombe County Democratic Party are scheduled to take place on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m., where delegates to the April 18 Buncombe County Democratic Convention will be selected. A current list of the meeting locations is available on the party’s Web site, along with references for writing a resolution for presentation. In case of inclement weather or lack of a quorum, the make-up date is Tuesday, March 3, at 7 p.m.
On the Republican side of the party scale, the 11th District Republican Party is assisting the newly minted Young Republicans of Buncombe County with a kickoff meeting at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 2, at the Greenlife Community Center, 70 Merrimon Ave. Voting membership is open to registered Republicans in the county, ages 18 to 40, but Kristopher Cox, regional chair of the Young Republicans, is encouraging any Republicans from across Western North Carolina to attend Monday’s meeting to “celebrate our beliefs.” For more information, contact Cox at (828) 458-7166.
— Nelda Holder, associate editor
I’m urging Democrats to take the following resolution to their precinct meetings. For further discussion of the issue, go to: http://cecilbothwell.wordpress.com
***
RESOLUTION Pertaining to
THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
and
BUNCOMBE COUNTY
RESOLUTION to Fund Residential Energy Efficiency Projects Through State & County Low-interest or No-interest Long-term Loans.
WHEREAS, President Obama has made “harnessing the power of clean, renewable energy” and “saving billions of dollars on our energy bills” top priorities of his administration,
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina currently offers tax rebates and credits to home owners to install renewable energy and green energy systems,
WHEREAS, many home owners do not generate enough taxable income to take advantage of said tax rebates and credits,
WHEREAS, current installation costs of renewable energy and green energy retrofit systems are too expensive for many home owners to make necessary investments without assistance;
WHEREAS, conservation of energy provides both individual and societal benefits through reduced monthly expenses and reduced impact on the global climate;
WHEREAS, installation of renewable energy conservation systems and efficiency improvements would generate thousands of new jobs in the State of North Carolina;
WHEREAS, state and municipal governments wield considerable borrowing power and high bond ratings;
WHEREAS, states and municipalities across the country have already created loan programs for alternate energy;
BE IT RESOLVED, that the state of North Carolina and the County of Buncombe should provide no interest or low interest, long-term loans for renewable energy and green energy systems projects for home owners.
“If voting really changed anything, they’d make it illegal” –Emma Goldman
NOTICE: The Young Republicans meeting has been rescheduled to March 11 at 7 p.m., North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave.
Cecil, and I think it only fair that the Democrat Party offer to pick up the tab for the interest associated with your free money giveaway.
The plan adopted in other municipalities doesn’t give away your money, it permits voters to pay into a fund.
In the end it benefits everyone because it helps wash special interest money out of the system.
From the Democracy North Carolina Web site:
Will this increase my taxes?
There is no need to raise taxes to finance the Voter-Owned Elections Act. Funding the election system is a part of good government just like the cost of processing election returns, “motor voter,” voting machines, voter-education expenses, etc. None of the states that have implemented Clean, Voter-Owned Elections have used a tax increase to finance the program.
Will this take money away from other needed programs, like education?
No. In fact, many appropriations decisions now are skewed to favor those who have money to “invest” in campaigns. Unfair tax breaks result in less money being available for programs like education and health care. If we devote 0.1% of the state budget for a Voter-Owned program, we will improve how the other 99.9% is spent.
Hold on, Cecil. If the funds are coming out of the general fund, the revenue is coming from tax payers. If we are already in a deficit situation, starting a new program can only occur three ways. We go further in debt (along with the interest costs associated with that which I suggest the Democrat Party pay). We can cut spending somewhere else or we can raise taxes. There is no such thing as free money. Additionally, funding interest free loans for people to add economic value to their investment does nothing to “wash special interest money” out of any system. It is simply another taking of revenue from people and giving it to a special interest group who had lobbied for the funds, namely yourself and other like minded souls.
Now the notion that across the board tax cuts are unfair or result in a loss of revenue is unfounded. Nothing could be more fair than an across the board cut to everybody who pays taxes (you know about those people, the top 50% of the country who pay for everything already). On top of that, reductions in marginal tax rates have proven to be revenue neutral meaning that they spur investment and economic growth.
I think you should rethink your notions and begin approaching these issues with more facts and substance rather than the questionable leftist ideology that does nothing but take more from those already paying for everything.
and why are we “already in a deficit”, lil t?
I think you should rethink your notions and begin approaching these issues with more facts and substance rather than the questionable pseudo-con ideology that does nothing but take more from those already paying for everything.