The good, the bad and the invisible

The good news this election cycle is that true Progressives have a great candidate in Elaine Lite. She has called for a short moratorium on development while we formulate a substantive, development-control plan. Even better, she believes that Asheville’s citizens should decide how many people and how much development we want in our city.

All the other candidates seem to be honest, intelligent people, but they also seem to be super, superstitiously subservient to capitalism’s God of the Invisible Hand. They actually believe this God’s absurd claims that the best decisions are made by often nonlocal, giant corporations or other big property interests. They’re convinced that an invisible hand will magically transform these giant businesses’ insatiable, global self-interest into our local community’s best interests. We’re still in the Dark Ages!

In a better world, I’d also recommend voting for Bryan Freeborn. I did vote for him in the primary. Mr. Freeborn has voted against particular developments more times than any other incumbent. Sadly, voting for him may cause Ms. Lite to lose, because the betting odds are in favor of Brownie Newman and Jan Davis, and that may leave only one spot open. Ms. Lite has a more comprehensive vision, and so I’ll probably vote only for her.

The bad news is that North Carolina Democrats are almost completely denied our one-person-one-vote rights in this election cycle’s presidential race. By the time the Democratic primary reaches North Carolina, our presidential candidate will almost certainly have already been selected. In addition, in the general election, North Carolina is a solid Republican state. All N.C. electoral votes will almost certainly go to the Republican candidate.

Our votes might as well not be cast. Why doesn’t the ACLU file lawsuits in every county of every state to eliminate our primitive Electoral College system, and especially [to] change our ridiculous party primary arrangements? We’re still in the Dark Ages!

— Bill Branyon
Asheville

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5 thoughts on “The good, the bad and the invisible

  1. John Warren

    Bill’s logic against voting for Freeborn is weak and the reason that progressives loose every election. Bryan Freeborn has a solid record of leadership, team work, and being a voice for the people. If you were only going to vote for one person vote for Bryan Freeborn. But voting for one person is a waste. Vote your three votes. Freeborn, Lite, Newman.

  2. travelah

    Bill, why should a majority of the citizens voting in an election in this state not be entitled to win the election whether they be Democrats or Republicans? The reason the ACLU does not sue to eliminate the Electoral College is because it is our Constitutional method of selecting a President and Vice President. The method has served us well for over two centuries and to the surprise of some, has an admirable purpose that being to provide one safeguard against a despot assuming office. As a nation, we have never been a “one person one vote” democracy. Instead, we are a constitutional Republic with each of the States determining how that constititional mandate is implimented.

    You raised an interesting question regarding the primary system. I agree with you in that the primary system deserves an overhaul. Without going into details, I would prefer to see all primaries on the same day with nominating conventions a month later followed by the general election one month after that.

  3. mtndow

    Appointee, Freeborn has failed to demonstrate intellectual maturity and strength of principal during his internship. Brownie tried to buy my vote with a lightbulb I might need a HAZMAT permit to get rid of.
    Elaine seems a little Lite to me…

  4. Brownie is cookie dough, Bryan is toast, and Elaine is too lite for city council. Just my opinion.

    Seriously, anyone who votes for Newman or Freeborn for ANY reason was not listening during the recent partisan/nonpartisan fracas. These two BETRAYED the people of Asheville, they deserve not even one vote.

  5. Rob Close

    Agreed, Ralph. But I’d rather someone who is a bit too Lite on the issues than over-bearing and pretentious. Their #1 priority shouldn’t be job security & new holidays.

    And Freeborn supporters – I’m sick of hearing what a great leader he is, and how much he’s accomplished. The man himself can hardly speak of anything he’s done when asked directly at the town halls. At least Brownie’s webpage is full of every misc detail he’s worked on (like a clever politician).

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