Quote :

"My fear is that when you add up all the poor people that depend on welfare, and all the old people who depend on social security, and all the veterans who depend on the VA, and all the government employees who depend on their paycheck, and then add in all the people who depend on the patient protection and affordable care act for health coverage... that the sum will be 51% or greater of the electorate. Then, we have a problem. No Republican will ever win another election."

you've obviously put some real thought into the issue, but this is where you lost me

to assume that 51% of the electorate is only going to vote one way because of the assistance that they get is absolutely ridiculous

4/24/2013 10:42:26 AM

many poor people are too lazy to vote

4/24/2013 10:42:59 AM

Plenty of poor rednecks receiving gov't. assistance vote Republican...have you been to eastern NC?

4/24/2013 12:45:38 PM

http://www.wral.com/committee-passes-measure-to-allow-guns-on-college-campus-in-bars-and-restaurants/12376349/

NC Republicans pass bill to allow guns in BARS, this is fucking brilliant, allow firearms in a place where drunk people are likely to get in fights.

4/24/2013 10:07:35 PM

YOU THINK A GUN IS GONNA STOP BAS RUTTEN?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coeuVy84znQ

4/24/2013 10:14:19 PM

^^ having any alcohol in your system makes it illegal to conceal a handgun even if you have a concealed handgun permit so it is not a big deal to allow people with CHPs to carry in places that serve alcohol (since they can't drink at all to be able to legally conceal a handgun). It is a proven fact that concealed handgun permit holders commit far less crimes than the average citizen.

[Edited on April 24, 2013 at 10:22 PM. Reason : .]

4/24/2013 10:21:55 PM

[Edited on April 24, 2013 at 10:42 PM. Reason : .]

4/24/2013 10:42:15 PM

Sweet

I don't see the campus portion surviving, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is in there to allow compromise to get at least restaurant carry passed

[Edited on April 24, 2013 at 11:26 PM. Reason : lkj]

4/24/2013 11:24:55 PM

Quote :

"How do we get X people off of welfare and into the economy?"

Oh, that's easy: eliminate welfare.

4/25/2013 2:25:10 AM

Reading through this thread makes my head hurt.

Do you people honestly think Republicans are out to get the poor? If anything, Republicans want personal responsibility.

4/25/2013 6:59:01 AM

And because of their misunderstanding that poor people are poor because of personal responsibility, and all that poor people need to not be poor is a swift kick in the ass, they are out to get programs that help poor people. Yes.

4/25/2013 7:08:18 AM

We understand that not everyone is in the condition they are in due to circumstances they could control. Just need to figure out a way to lift em up out of their condition without giving them a crutch to always lean on.

There's a problem when I go into the grocery store, see someone pay for $300 worth of groceries with food stamps, and then go get into a brand new nissan maxima. If you can afford a nissan maxima, then you can afford to make cuts in your budget for groceries! Shit, I'm not poor, and I'm looking at cutting my data plan off to make some room in the budget for the new edition to the family.

I'm not saying poor people shouldn't have nice things. I'm saying if they need food stamps, then they need to make better budgetary choices. I don't want to subsidize for them to drive a car nicer than mine.

4/25/2013 7:44:46 AM

"But you cant expect them to have your level of financial understanding, because well, theyre poor."

Liberals treat it like a disability and therefore its taboo to talk about it in such ways.

4/25/2013 7:48:14 AM

It's not like they would all of a sudden get jobs if welfare ended. You think the bums on Hillsborough St are bad now? Wait until they are aggressive/violent because they are starving and there are like 100x more of them

[Edited on April 25, 2013 at 7:59 AM. Reason : .]

4/25/2013 7:54:45 AM

Those obviously arent the ones hes referring to.

Those would be the folks that actually need help.

Those would be the folks that would get more help than they do now if other people werent gaming the system.

But as long as they all vote a certain way they will keep getting whatever at our expense. Its truly unfair to us and unfortunate to those actually hurting.

4/25/2013 8:05:31 AM

The funny thing is nobody goes after corporate welfare. Nobody goes after Wall St and the big banks who caused many of our economic problems in recent years (Hell HSBC was even let off the hook for money laundering for drug cartels and groups affiliated with terrorism). All of the pain has to be endured by the middle and working classes. Somehow to suggest otherwise is suddenly "class warfare" and wanting a "free handout" etc. This austerity is nicely branded as "personal responsibility" and helping the "job creators" when in reality that is a bunch of bullshit. Trickle down is a myth and has not worked. It is pretty easy to see when you look at statistics on income disparity.

4/25/2013 8:18:38 AM

Well, at this point that isnt just Republicans.

4/25/2013 8:23:50 AM

^ Very true. The entire system is fucked because it is essentially plutocracy at this point.

4/25/2013 8:28:11 AM

I agree. Few things are more infuriating than liberals on my FB feed (for example) that still somehow think Democrats are the champions of the poor.

If they happen to be PERSONALLY then thats great, do whatever you can to help your local community, but dont delude yourself into thinking you actually voted for something different than "evil republicans."

It might have been true many years ago I suppose.

4/25/2013 8:52:22 AM

Quote :

"Those would be the folks that would get more help than they do now if other people werent gaming the system."

Well you can continue to put in bureaucracy to reduce instances like that, but at some point you reach a scenario where it costs society more to prevent a dumbass from spending their entire month's worth of benefits on a Maxima payment than those gaming the system costs us.

Or you cut benefits, and your violent bum quotient increases. And then it just depends on our tolerance level for that.

4/25/2013 9:18:18 AM

More horseshit with Senate Bill 612: http://www.wral.com/environmental-rollback-heads-for-senate-vote/12380514/

I'm no longer a resident of NC and this still makes me

4/25/2013 5:18:32 PM

Quote :

"Do you people honestly think Republicans are out to get the poor? If anything, Republicans want personal responsibility. "

This is what people actually believe.

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

4/25/2013 5:20:13 PM

Quote :

"RALEIGH -- North Carolina installment loan companies could charge higher interest rates on most borrowers and new late fees in legislation tentatively approved by the state Senate. The chamber voted 39-9 Thursday for legislation sought by the consumer finance industry. Leaders say the industry hasn't had interest rate and loan amount caps changed in 30 years and need help to improve profits. The bill also contains protections for young military members seeking the loans. The chamber defeated an amendment that would have barred all armed forces members from getting the loans. Bill supporters say the industry provides a needed form of credit to working people. Opponents said the interest rates remain too high and benefits big corporations that do business in the state. A final Senate vote is expected next week. "

God forbid predatory finance companies not earn adequate profits.

5/2/2013 6:41:32 PM

you clearly do not know what a predatory finance company is

5/2/2013 6:45:12 PM

Quote :

"Leaders say the industry hasn't had interest rate and loan amount caps changed in 30 years and need help to improve profits."

Interest rates on pretty much everything are at the lowest they have been in 30 years.

5/2/2013 6:48:22 PM

libs....LOL

5/2/2013 6:52:05 PM

Quote :

"NC Republicans pass bill to allow guns in BARS, this is fucking brilliant, allow firearms in a place where drunk people are likely to get in fights. "

5/2/2013 7:00:56 PM

Republican18

5/2/2013 7:13:41 PM

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/05/02/2866320/senate-favors-consumer-finance.html

Quote :

"Opponents countered the companies are prospering while charging rates and fees so steep that many consumers get caught in an unrelenting cycle of debt. They also contend the difference between the companies’ cost of capital and the rates they charge consumers has probably never been greater given the record low interest rates that prevail for credit-worthy borrowers. "

Quote :

"The original bill presented to the Senate proposed reducing the maximum rate permitted for small-dollar loans but raised rates for most loans. It called for a 30 percent interest rate on loans of up to $5,000; a 24 percent interest rate for the next $5,000 (that is, a $10,000 loan would carry a 30 percent interest rate for the first $5,000 and 24 percent for the remainder); and 18 percent for loan amounts between $10,000 and $15,000. However, Sen. Rick Gunn, a Burlington Republican and one of the primary sponsors, introduced an amendment to reduce the rate on loans of between $10, 000 and $15,000 to a flat 18 percent – eliminating the original bill’s stepped approach that would have included higher rates for the first $10,000. The amendment passed unanimously."

These poor companies will go out of business if they cant charge 30% interest.

5/3/2013 1:32:07 PM

from tsb

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/05/02/2866836/fracking-giant-halliburton-nixes.html#storylink=cpy

Quote :

""After more than six months of congenial meetings, the N.C. Mining & Energy Commission was set to approve its first fracking rule Friday, perhaps the most important of all the safety rules the commission will write to protect the public and safeguard the environment. The standard spells out which chemicals fracking operators have to publicly disclose when drilling natural gas wells in North Carolina. But commissioners learned Thursday the proposal they had approved in committee in March is on ice. The problem: Fracking giant Halliburton has told North Carolina’s environmental regulators the rule goes too far. The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources is working to get the rule changed. The developments raise questions about the independence and integrity of the Mining & Energy Commission, a panel created by the state legislature last year to create safety rules for shale gas exploration.""

5/3/2013 1:46:51 PM

NC Republicans introduce bill to allow leaking garbage trucks on city streets.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/05/06/2875187/garbage-truck-bill-just-adds-to.html

5/6/2013 6:36:44 PM

Sheesh. They sure know how to set the bar high and encourage creativity and quality...

5/6/2013 7:36:19 PM

Keep it coming old boys

Quote :

"A Republican-controlled committee in the North Carolina General Assembly approved a bill on Tuesday that would require teenagers to present a notarized parental consent form in order to access sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment, mental health counseling, pregnancy care or substance abuse treatment. Teenagers without a parent or guardian would be required to stand before a judge and request a judicial bypass in order to obtain those health services."

5/7/2013 10:35:14 PM

^What teenager doesn't have a notary on call for STD issues?

5/7/2013 10:51:41 PM

.....because the courthouses in NC are not overburdened enough. The GOP is FUCKING BRILLIANT at solving problems with government waste and bureaucracy.

5/7/2013 11:12:59 PM

I'm almost at a loss for words now with the brilliance spewing from the NCGA...

It's literally as if they know this was a fluke and they won't be in power for long, so let's try to pass as many pieces of absolutely wasteful, regressive, nonsensical legislation before we get voted back out of office again.

5/8/2013 12:49:55 AM

http://www.wral.com/teen-medical-ban-heads-to-house-floor/12421471/


ahahahahaha

Party of small government.

5/8/2013 1:08:15 AM

this is some genius level shit.

5/8/2013 10:34:49 AM

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/05/14/2892036/nc-senate-bill-repeals-jordan.html

5/14/2013 1:13:09 PM

^ that was the least informative piece of journalism i've ever read.

the tl;dr is

-there's a bill to repeal a law meant to combat buildup of harmful nutrients in jordan lake.
-a GOP senator says that studies show its notworking, and the measures are wasting money.
-The Sierra Club is against repealing the law
-The DENR secretary says the bill violates federal laws

and that tl;dr is as detailed as the n&o link.

5/14/2013 1:46:42 PM

There's not a lot else to report. It just was passed by Senate Environment Committee less than an hour before the story was written.

5/14/2013 1:48:39 PM

sure there are.

what are the measures in question that are being done?
how much is being spent?
What are the harmful nutrients in question, and why are they bad?
what is the study being cited that shows it's not working?
What federal laws does the bill allegedly violate?

to start. those are things i'd like to know.

5/14/2013 2:39:13 PM

Sounds like you're looking for more than a news article, you're looking for a bunch of science. this article was just a blurb to tell the readers what happened in the GA today. there's plenty of places you can look at the stuff you want, you could start at DENR's Jordan Lake page.

what are the measures in question that are being done?
there is a rule that puts regulations on how many nutrients wastewater treatment plants can dump into water, regulations on develoeprs for treating stormwater from running of their site, etc.

how much is being spent?
it all depends on how you ask. and it's my understanding that most of the Jordan regulations haven't even been enacted yet.

What are the harmful nutrients in question, and why are they bad?
Mainly nitrogen and phosporus. They lead to excessive growth of algae, which can lead to lots of different problems. One is additional treatment before it can be used to drink. And harming wildlife.

what is the study being cited that shows it's not working?
I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't one, or they were incorrectly citing a study. Like I said earlier, I'm pretty sure most of the requirements haven't even been activated yet.

What federal laws does the bill allegedly violate?
Probably the Clean Water Act


[Edited on May 14, 2013 at 2:50 PM. Reason : ]

5/14/2013 2:47:42 PM

Quote :

"Probably the Clean Water Act"

Well once they start dumping fracking fluids into Jordan Lake it won't matter since fracking is exempt....

5/14/2013 3:03:27 PM

Cary's going to be drinking swill!

5/14/2013 3:05:18 PM

^^^

nah, not really, just high level stuff like what you posted (thanks, btw). I'm more just attacking the NandO because they suck.

5/14/2013 3:09:51 PM

Move to rollback outdoor smoking bans in public places:
http://www.wral.com/smoking-ban-rollback-wins-first-vote/12444677/

Quote :

"The legislation would not even allow for the designation of smoking or non-smoking areas in public places, a fact that concerned several members of the Senate Agriculture Committee at Tuesday's meeting. "

Quote :

"Rep. Bill Cook, R-Beaufort, asked for any scientific evidence showing that secondhand smoke outdoors is dangerous. Committee staff said they didn't know of any such study."

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2007/may9/smoking-050907.html (cursory search, haven't read actual study)

Regardless, the GA has been really into declaring that municipalities can't make laws/restrictions/whatever on certain things more stringent than the state.

They don't want the state to be bossed around by the federal government, but the NCGA seems to be fine bullying local governments.

[Edited on May 14, 2013 at 3:20 PM. Reason : more]

5/14/2013 3:17:26 PM

I want to ask Rep. Bill Cook, R-Beaufort where is the scientific study that says to base sea-level projections on historical data...

5/14/2013 4:22:51 PM

LOL NC. YAY VIRGINIA

5/14/2013 6:25:16 PM

Quote :

"WE LOVE THE FREE MARKET!!"

Quote :

"YOU CAN'T SELL CARS WITHOUT DEALERSHIPS! THAT'S UNFAIR!!"

5/14/2013 6:28:59 PM