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Notes From the Editor
Matthew Horsley, Electronic Media Team Leader
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Important: Don't forward this newsletter with the "Forward" button in your email. Until I can work out the problem of our email service's software change, the recipients of forwarded MTC email can unsubscribe you from the mailing list. Instead, scroll to the bottom and follow the directions in the red box.
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Our readers gave a great response to our first newsletter survey, which closed on the 1st. Thank you! I’m still processing the data and will personally respond to those who expressed interest in helping, had questions or made comments that require dialog.
The purpose of the survey was to give feedback to help me and the contributors to improve our newsletter. However, as is often the case with such exercises, there were responses that afforded me some unanticipated insights and perspectives. The deeper ones I’ll comment on, next month, but here are a few answers to some basic questions.
Q1: Why did you ask about the size of the text?
A1: With the legion of devices, operating systems (OS), email readers and Internet browsers (like Explorer and Firefox), what I see on my machine will look different on others (maybe yours). By telling me what you see, I know if I need to adjust the font (text) size. As it is, 92% of you can easily read what we’ve been using. If you’re one of the 8% and need help adjusting the setting of your device, contact me.
Q2: Why did you start putting articles on the Website and put only the first few lines in the newsletter?
A2: There are four reasons for this change:
1. To increase your ability to participate – On the Website’s blogs, you can instantly comment on a specific article. Intelligent, respectful disagreement or support is necessary to improve critical thinking and wisdom.
2. To familiarize readers with our Website – When you want to know about a group or its positions, what do you do? You go to its Website. We’re building ours so that interested outsiders can learn about Constitutional issues that will make or break America. We want people to think because that is at the heart of the philosophy on which liberty is built. So, the articles that we put on the Website are those that have relevance to others. Articles (like this one) that are intended only for newsletter readers are not on the Website.
3. To make it easier for you to use the Website more frequently. Our Website is our 24-hour communicator with the world (literally). The more you use it, the more you are likely to participate. The more you tell others about it (for example, “If you don’t know where you stand, politically, there’s a great, unbiased test on the Moore Tea Citizens Website that will tell you, even if you’re a Marxist!”), the more hits it will get and the more activists we can inspire. The more you browse it and provide me with feedback, the better it will become.
4. To shorten the newsletter so it’s easier to browse. Longer articles will be truncated and linked.
Q3: Why don’t you include more information about this (thing)?
A3: “You” is us (you, I and other activists). There is a small, core group who faithfully contribute articles on the individual issues they are following each month. With more contributors, we can cover more issues with greater depth. If you want to see regular updates on a particular issue about which you’re passionate, submit an article. More rowers make the boat go faster! This is your newsletter as much as it is mine. MTC doesn’t have the resources of Heritage Action, yet, but if you start contributing, maybe we will. To contribute (a lot or a wee bit), go to our Volunteer page.
Thank you, again, for taking the survey and writing your candid comments. –Matt
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The Political Ecosystem
Miriam Chu, MTC Chair
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As a young person, all things living and dynamic were my obsession. Biology would have been my college major of choice, but somehow I found myself railroaded into fine art. Living organisms and the way they relate to each other and interact with their environment is still a major fascination for me.
So, when I recently became aware of that immensely complex and entangled ecosystem known as politics, I was very desirous to understand how it worked. Three years later...
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Legislative Update
Peggy Smetana, Legislative Team Chair
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The NC Academics Standards Review Commission Failed
Action Item
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The ASRC has failed to come up with recommendations to replace Common Core.
A draft report of the math standards recommended adopting Minnesota's plan, a proven, tested system, which is considered among the best in the nation. However, when the Commission voted on Dec. 18, it voted down the plan and wasted 15 months of work. The ASRC's final report adopted a weak, watered- down substitute.
The ASRC caved to outside groups and education officials and stood by Common Core. The NCAE celebrated. June Atkinson, the Secretary of the Dept. of Public Instruction, has continued to defend Common Core. Over the last year Atkinson served as President of one of the two Washington, DC trade organizations who hold the copyright on the standards.
Tammy Covil, Co-Chair, refused to sign the final report and issued a damning dissent opinion.
The ASRC has not fulfilled the job given to it by the General Assembly in 2014. Senator Jerry Tillman, Co-chair of the Education Committee, was at the Commission final hearing and will not let this rest. Tell him that you support him and that Common Core must be expunged. 919-733-5870. Call Rep. Jamie Boles, 919-733-5903, and Rep. Allen McNeill, 919-715-4946, and tell them to take all measures possible to adopt proven, tested standards and kill Common Core, its untested methods and its get-rich-quick scheme for certain favored companies.
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Update: Affiliated Political Committees
Miriam Chu
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We all remember the brouhaha at the end of the last legislative session over HB373 and the Lewis amendment, which created Affiliated Political Committees. We also remember being told that they would never, ever be used. Well how quickly things change! The new legislative session has not even begun and already they are coming to life! (See article by Brant Clifton: #ncga: It’s Getting’ All Affiliated Up In Here, Yo.)
Down here in Moore County we were saying, "So, you're going to just keep holding that loaded gun to our heads and you never, ever intend to pull the trigger? Really?? Yeah, right!.”
The leadership in Raleigh has been calling this an "insurance policy.” As this unwraps, taking out an insurance policy is one thing, but I would now more seriously equate this "insurance policy" to a man who is uncertain that his marriage will work out, going out and getting a girlfriend, "just in case,” thereby pretty much assuring the destruction of his marital relationship.
This is a massive incumbent protection racket, and involvement by these Affiliated Political Committees in primary races is now assured. The House and Senate Caucuses will determine who is worthy of receiving financial help during the primaries, promising the continuation of the Good Old Boy, Establishment, In-Crowd, Ruling Class in Raleigh.
Be certain to learn where your Senator and Congressman stand on this issue and make your campaign donations and vote accordingly. We have been marginalized again and it is way past time for mandatory term limits.
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Justice May Be Slow, but It Has Won!
Peggy Smetana
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U.S. District Judge James Fox directed the government to reimburse Lyndon McLellan, a convenience store owner in Fairmont, NC, more than $20,000 in legal fees and expenses.
The IRS had seized $107,000 from McLellan's bank account in 2014, accusing him of “structuring" violations. Structuring involves making consistent cash deposits or withdrawals of just under $10,000 into or out of a bank account to avoid federal reporting requirements of cash of $10,000 or more. Laws against structuring were intended to.....
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Connect NC Bond Initiative
Miriam Chu
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On the March 15th ballot will be a bond referendum titled "Connect NC.” This was originally intended to be a transportation infrastructure bond, but has been gutted and refilled with a grab bag of goodies from the Christmas wish lists of our State Legislators.
Most of the largesse will go to UNC facilities across the state; none of the earmarked projects appear to be dire emergencies, and all should have been addressed within the normal budget making process.
The Connect NC bond is a $2 Billion pork barrel give away, that will cost NC $100 million in annual principal payments plus additional hundreds of millions in interest over its 20-year life.
We encourage everyone to vote "NO" to this list of luxury items at a time when we are struggling to pay teachers and care for our veterans.
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Ruling Class Republicans Picking Winners and Losers, Again
Peggy Smetana
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A quick glance at Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy's Daily Schedule for 2/1 showed they talked about:
- Fair Investment Opportunities for Professional Experts Act
- SEC Small Business Advocate Act of 2016
- Small Business Capital Formation Enhancement Act
Do we really need all these laws? Are they even constitutional (i.e., lawful)?
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Want to share the newsletter? Don't forward it. Scroll to the bottom for directions.
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Programs
Neil Oakley, Programs Team Chair
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Monthly Dinner Program
February 15
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This is our last meeting prior to the March primary and we have another great lineup of speakers. Former head of the North Carolina Division of Employment Security and a current candidate for State Treasurer,
Dale Folwell, will speak on how the State of North Carolina retired its unemployment debt to the federal government. You'll also have a chance to meet several other candidates, including
John Zumwalt.
Additionally, Nick Picerno, current Chairman of the Moore County Board of Commissioners (who will not run for reelection), will educate us about the proposed
0.25% sales tax increase
and the giant
Connect NC bond
, both of which will be on the primary ballot this March.
Finally, we'll be taking a
straw primary poll
. Your ballot of choice (Republican, Libertarian and Democrat) is available for download on our Dinner Program page. Fill yours out and bring them with you!
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Finally! A Forum that Will Include All the Candidates
For
the US House of Representatives, NC District 2
February 27
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The 2nd NC District Republican Party has announced it will conduct a Candidates Forum on Feb 27 (Sa), 2:00 pm, at the Wicker Center Hall in Sanford, NC, and that it expects all five candidates to attend.
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Conservative Leadership Conference
March 4–5
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The Conservative Leadership Conference will at the Embassy Suites Hotel – Cary. Confirmed speakers include Allen West, Dinesh D'Souza, David Limbaugh, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, and many others. The good folks at Civitas look forward to seeing you at the conference!
Note on venue change from Raleigh to Cary:
If you booked a hotel through
www.civitasclc.com
,
your room has been transferred to the new hotel. If you booked a hotel room by calling the Marriott Crabtree Valley directly, call (919) 834-2099 to reserve a room at the Embassy Suites with Civitas' special rate.
Address other questions to Angela Hight at
angela.hight@nccivitas.org.
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Key Dates In the Primary Period
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This year, there are a number of date changes in the election process. Note them and take action accordingly!
- January 25, 2016 – Absentee voting begins
- February 19, 2016 – Last day to register to vote in the primary
- March 3, 2016 – Early voting begins
- March 8, 2016 – Last day to submit absentee ballot requests to your county board of elections
- March 12, 2016 – Last day of early voting
- March 15, 2016 – Election Day (primary); polls open 6:30 am – 7:30 pm
Also, all absentee ballots must be returned to your county board of elections by 5 pm on this date OR be postmarked by this date and received by your county board of elections no later than March 18, 2016.
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For other events, such as the first
Conservative Convention
and
CVA's
Defend Freedom Tour
, see the
Calendar Page.
If there is an event missing,
be an activist
and use the form at the bottom of the page to tell the Webmaster about it.
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What Is Missing From Candidates Speeches?
Peggy Smetana
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I hear candidates speaking about what they will do if they are President. I think something is missing from the rhetoric. Abraham Lincoln's rhetoric rang of it: "It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us." John Kennedy's said: "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
Where are the words stirring Americans to take individual responsibility, to take personal charge of our own lives, to work for the good of ourselves and our families, and our nation?
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Why I Support Bernie Sanders for President
Wild Bill Donovan
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Yes, Bernie is way over the edge, but at least he isn’t the abject, hypocritical, completely corrupt, blatant liar that Hillary is! She should probably be in jail but at the very least, nobody should vote for her, EVER. Feel the Bern, Baby!
OK, I don’t really want a (second) Marxist in the White House, so bear with me....
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Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour... If at my convenience I might break them, what would be their worth?
~ Charlotte Brontë
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Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses
.
~ Confucius
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A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.
~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
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The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
~ Bob Marley
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Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
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Support the businesses that
support Moore Tea Citizens
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Soon broadcasting in FM, too!
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Want to share the newsletter?
Copy this link and paste it into an email, tweet, fb post, etc. — http://conta.cc/1QZjhvl
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MooreTeaCitizens@gmail.com | www.MooreTeaCitizens.com or www.MTeaC.com
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