Desperate for sunlight

We attended a house party for Heath Shuler the other night.

Shuler is running for Congress, hoping to unseat incumbent Congressmen Charles Taylor, who represents some 656,000 of us in the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina. It was, of course, a partisan affair where even Congressman Taylor’s name could not be spoken aloud, and images of the low character of Republicans were part of casual conversation. Too partisan for our tastes.

We don’t believe Charles Taylor is a man of low character. Nonetheless we’re certainly looking with great interest upon any and all Democrats. That includes Heath Shuler, young, inexperienced and hopeful.

Political analysts are predicting Tip O’Neill’s old maxim that, “All politics is local,” may be turned on its head this year. That is to say all politics may be national, what with the War in Iraq dominating everyone’s thoughts.

When Saddam’s statue was torn down, we rejoiced that perhaps we had set a people free. But it is apparent our national leadership let us down and should have forseen the mess we now face. The subsequent bungled management has only made things worse, costing lives and national wealth. In return, we are reaping not a safer world, but an angrier, more dangerous world. It may not be time to pull out, but that does not alleviate our great disappointment in those who took us there in the first place.

Our complaints, too many to list, include: the rising national debt, the absurd effort to deny global warming and avoid all responsibility, the DeLay/Abramoff scandals, the expanding income gap, the hijacking of faith issues to focus on private acts while public morality goes lacking.

Congressman Taylor has done much for Western North Carolina, and cannot personally be held responsible for every national tragedy. But his party has a cloud over its head, and we’re desperate for some sunlight. – JB

Good neighbors

We’d all like to be wild and free, to do anything we feel like doing. The Bible says rebellion and selfishness are in our very DNA. But is it wrong to wish we could strain out the viruses attacking modern culture, and return to a simpler time, when most folks were good neighbors? What a relief it would be not to have so many humans around, their very presence creating boundaries to our world.

Wouldn’t it be nice if, as one letter writer stated a few weeks ago, we only had to listen to “our people”? They understand us. They’re the best.

But history is one long tale of human cultures clashing, at times violently. Polk simmers in a cold war, an Iron Curtain preventing neighborly discussion. Nothing highlights that unfortunate wall like a good old zoning debate.

Some 1,000 petitioners, a couple hundred in person, put the screws to board chairman Harry Denton last week, some outright asking him to choose “our people” over “them.” By doing so, they disrespected the chairman’s position as a representative of all – and his own conscience. Denton knows everyone wants the same thing – good neighbors.

Anti-zoning petitioners abhor government intrusion. They worry about the cost of living, and regular folks having a home they can still afford. Much is changing, they know, but they believe zoning has no answers. Good neighbors, in their view, simply do not attempt to control others.
Now no one thinks zoning is a perfect answer for a complex, imperfect world. But zoning proponents believe good neighbors band together and bind certain community standards into law. Good neighbors do not take profits at the expense of all others, stealing forever mountain views, polluting streams, putting up flashing, neon signs. Good neighbors do not build roads that ambulances cannot climb. Anti-zoners mistrust standards, prefer to cross their fingers and leave all to chance. Good luck with that.

But so be it. Enough with wars, hot and cold. — JB

Value of America’s freedoms

Following are excerpts from a speech given by John L. Johnson at a patriotism assembly before 2400 students at Irmo High School, Columbia, S.C.

We all must realize the value of America's freedoms. Our young citizens more than ever need a renewed appreciation of these freedoms that we take for granted each day.

Many young people all over the world know of our freedoms.

Several years ago, while serving as a Judge of Probate Court in a small South Carolina County, I was invited to join a group of Judges from across the country on a legal study tour of the Peoples Republic of China. When I mentioned this invitation to my family, my youngest son, who was a senior in high school, asked if he might go with us.

The U.S. State Department, which was cosponsoring the trip, soon approved his request... so off to China we went, 19 Judges and one young American high school senior.

During the day, we sat in their courtrooms listening to cases and studying their laws. Meanwhile, my son John and our China guide visited high schools and elementary schools. John was introduced to many classrooms and conversed with students, telling about his growing up in America and exchanging school studies with young Chinese students.

He told them how as a senior, he could drive an old car to school each day. He mentioned a dog named "Blue" that would often ride with him in the countryside. He told them of the Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains and the Statue of Liberty; and the many faces of America. Suddenly, John had become a young ambassador for America. The students wanted to know more.

In the hotels we stayed, there was a young boy assigned to each room. They were called "bell hops." If there was anything needed, we would simply pick up a small hand bell nearby and ring it. Seeming, out of nowhere one of these young men would appear and ask how he could be of service.

In the evening, John would sit outside our room, surrounded by several of these young bell hops talking. I would call to him to remind him of a busy schedule the next day. His reply was always: "Give me a few more minutes, Dad." These young men would listen, in silence, but wonder out loud, "what country is this that could give a young person so many freedoms."

Soon our visit to this vast country of China was ending. As we were boarding our bus that would carry us to the Shanghai Airport for the long flight back to America, the young man in charge of the bell hops (the bell captain) came up to me and in broken English he said: "Judge Johnson, I appreciate making acquaintance with you and son John and I want to wish you long and good life. I enjoyed learning more about America."

I quickly replied, "Chang, someday you will be able to visit America and perhaps see our schools and…”

He politely interrupted, "No, no Judge Johnson, it’s good to know there is a country where young man can have a dog and can ride in beautiful countryside. It’s good to learn about a Rocky Mountain and a Grand Canyon and Liberty Statue... but I never get to come to country America."

He bowed his head and slowly walked away.

Of all the conversations I had with various judges and court personnel while in China, none can I recall as easily as my brief conversation with the young bell captain. He was talking about our country and its many freedoms.

We all must realize the value of America's freedoms. Young citizens more than ever need a renewed appreciation of freedoms that we seemingly take for granted each day.

In the harbor of New York city the statue of Liberty stands tall with an arm holding high a brightly lit torch to be seen by all who cherish freedom. We must keep this torch ablaze so that it can reach the far corners of this earth and be seen by all… even a young Chinese bell captain in faraway Shanghai.

And now the task of safeguarding our freedoms is passed on to you, the future leaders of our country. I challenge each of you to help rekindle the spirit of patriotism and the appreciation of America's freedoms.

For your efforts in this endeavor, may God bless you in a special way, and may God continue to bless America.

Mr. Johnson is the recipient of a Heritage Award from the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge. He is Vice-Commander of Post 250 American Legion, and lives in Tryon.

Boomers: Not old, not young

Their big number – 76 million – is not the only striking statistic about the Baby Boomer generation, the youngsters to whom local developers expect to sell all these new lots.

This generation is “unique among the 7,000 or so generations of humans who have ever inhabited the earth,” according to researchers quoted in the New York Times Sunday. What they are finding is this: “Human bodies are simply not breaking down the way they did before.”

The generation just now reaching retirement is taller, is living longer, is staving off chronic illness for an additional ten to 25 years, and is experiencing less disability.

Research is surmising that, since much of our body is complete before birth, the sort of health we can expect in our middle age was to a great extent determined in our
fetal life, and in our first two years after birth. Those “middle-aged” today are the first generation to grow up with childhood vaccines and antibiotics.

In 1900, 13 percent of people who lived to age 65 could expect to see 85. Today, nearly half of 65-year-olds can expect to live that long. Fifty-year-olds today are in a new place: not old, not young.

The steadily improving health of recent generations is showing up in population after population, in country after country, across the world, even now being seen in developing nations. In contrast, health records show “almost everyone of the Civil War generation was plagued by life-sapping illnesses, suffering for decades.” The average man was 5 foot 7 and 147 pounds. We are “so big and healthy” nowadays, grandpa wouldn’t recognize us.

In fact, the picture of humans today is so different from what it was in the past that scientists say they too “are startled.”

Thermal Belt business and political leaders would do well to consider the lifestyles, as well as the numbers soon to be arriving here. Old age for this retirement wave will not be anything like the old age we’ve known. — JB

Keeping track of our ‘fair share’

The process of seeing that everyone pays his fair share in Polk County has begun again.

The county commissioners last week hired contractors to “relist and remeasure” every house, every building, down to each porch, deck and garage. All 16,500 parcels and their “improvements” will be photographed and assessed in time to assign updated tax values in January, 2009.

The state requires property revaluations at least once every eight years. Polk County’s last revaluation was in 2001. Of course, additions, modifications, tear downs and new subdivisions are valued for tax purposes whenever they occur. A new building or newly subdivided lot in 2005, however, is assessed at 2001 rates, to be fair.

True market values are rising more quickly in recent years. Polk County Tax Assessor Kathleen Gregory figures the county’s assessed values, which were 100% of true market in 2001, were already down to 68.4% of true market value last year, four years later. That the 1993 revaluation took seven years to fall from 100% to 68% shows the accelerating pace of rising values in Polk County.

Nonetheless, in theory, if all of us were equally assessed in 2001, each of us would still be paying his “fair share” today. The problem is that there are “pockets,” neighborhoods and individual properties, where values have risen relatively more quickly since 2001. More frequent revaluations would keep a closer watch on everyone’s “fair share.”

Any way you slice it, Polk’s revenue is up. New assessed values in 2005 were: construction, $24 million; partially completed construction, $12 million; subdivisions, $71 million. Total increased tax billing: $731,000 (over half of that from Bright’s Creek.) The county took no tax increase in its budget this year. Available fund balance is a healthy 29.8% of the budget, at $5.5 million, and debt, at $27.5 million, is 20% of the total debt limit Polk County is allowed by the Local Government Commission. – JB

Wackier and wackier

The arguments just get wackier and wackier.

The majority of commissioners now seem ready to consider Multiple Use (MU) zoning for Cooper’s Gap and White Oak. The planning board had tried to sell a new Family Farming (FF) plan. But it appears they didn’t make the sale to the guys who actually make decisions. Family Farming was just a nice name, intended to calm. Very little actual difference. The majority feels the county staff already administers MU in Green Creek, and it has worked fine for eight years. That’s reasonable.

In response, two planning board members resigned, making vague, oh-so-scary charges about “a special agenda… lurking in the shadows, taking away the freedoms we’ve expected our entire life.” Wow!

Planner Lionel Gilbert, who kind of supported Family Farm, in an odd way, now throws this bomb.Yet in the very next breath he says “action necessary to protect our communities is some 15 years late” and could provide “long-lasting positive effects for neighbors, family.”

Bob Jarvis, who also resigned, states his avowed support for zoning, yet he assails “the process,” absurdly characterized as “cramming down the throat.” Never mind that people have been debating the need to protect these mountains for decades. Brave souls are finally taking steps, but for Mr. Jarvis, like Goldilocks, it’s just not quite right.

Then there’s the desperate politics. Commissioner Tom Pack never has liked the holdover board members. Protecting ridgelines, what’s reasonable, factual, none of that really matters. Beating Jack. That matters. To do it, Pack now pressures swing vote commissioner Harry Denton, presuming to shame him for “not listening to the will of the people.” Fact is, there is no sure way of knowing “the will of the people.”
That Mr. Pack claims some special knowledge is just arrogance. In the end, there are only reason and conscience. Use them. – JB