NOT ALL “REALTORS” SAY NO TO LAND TRANSFER TAX

Since having received a real estate license I have been disappointed in all the media hype about the “realtors” that do not support the land transfer tax “because it hurts their businesses”. Not all of those realtors, or those that hold real estate licenses around here, feel the same way as the group calling themselves the CitizensForABetterOrangeCounty, or other groups that oppose the land transfer tax.

Believe me, I have been in several group meetings of realtors and have heard the push for NOT passing the land transfer tax for all of the reasons that they state is the case. But I do not agree.

We already have a form of a land transfer tax. Any time any property is sold around here, just take the sales price, divide by $500, and you have the “tax” that the seller has to pay when they sell their home. The land transfer tax is simply an addition to this particular tax—we already do it. So we either tax at a higher rate for everyone, EVERY year on their property taxes and hear the same issues all over again….that people are being priced out of their homes due to taxes. And they are! (especially seniors on a fixed income) Orange County has one of the highest property tax rates in the state….Or we tax a CERTAIN sale at a CERTAIN point in time. We ADD to the “excise tax/revenue stamp” on the already existing land transfer tax (where you divide the sale price by 500 and pay that). This amount is born by the SELLER, not the buyer.

I just saw a television ad on MSNBC that said “Stop the Home Tax! It’s a Bad Idea” with a picture of a family walking into their home and the voice over saying people are “already hurting”. I argue those people will be walking AWAY and OUT of their homes potentially if county property taxes will have to rise significantly.

It is a buyer’s market now, to be sure. Sellers have to do what they can to sell their homes, and that frequently means sales price reductions. But the sellers will have the higher equity in their homes than they would have had living in another county. Homes have continued to appreciate here very nicely, BECAUSE of how nice it is to live here and the quality of the schools. What do the citizens in the county get in return from the land transfer tax revenue? An Orange County that is going to REMAIN a great place to live, with well- funded schools and parks and a healthier economic picture for the county. And if our area remains this way, then home values will continue to rise and their homes equity will continue to rise.

Who has a real estate license, in elective office, and is supportive of the land transfer tax? Me….Mark Chilton. Moses Carey actually has a real estate license and he, along with other Orange County Commissioners, voted to spend 100K on an educational campaign to learn more about the tax.

Please do not lump all those with real estate licenses into the same category as those espousing “SAY NO TO THE HOME TAX.”

We don’t always agree.

KEEPING BUSY

Just an update about what I’m doing these days. Serving as a member of the Town Council is very rewarding. I am very glad that I am doing it. However, the time involved in serving is demanding on one’s work life, family life, and any other life that you might have. I have sacrificed and have chosen to do this and am happy about it. As you can read from an earlier post prior to the most recent election, I said you CAN serve on town council and work and have a family, etc. But I’ve discovered after 2 1/2 years, FOR ME, something had to give. Why? I still have young children that demand my attention, and I want to give it to them.

My career is the one that has taken the nose dive. For ten years I have been an associate dentist (not one who owns their own practice like most dentists do). This past year, I suffered the plight of being a part time worker that ended up being “laid off” (because the office had 1.5 dentists and only had enough patients for 1 dentist— the part timer had to go). This hasn’t been the first time this has happened in my dental career. A solid, long term PART TIME position in dentistry, I am convinced, just doesn’t exist. It actually isn’t that easy right now to get a full time position within 15 miles of here, much less a part time job. Chapel Hill is lucky that it has more than enough dentists to treat the population, but not good news for a dentist who would want to work part time in a market already flooded with dentists. I tried several times to work for UNC Dental School as faculty, full or part time, and was told that I did not have enough teaching experience, so others more qualified ended up with those positions. I never loved dentistry so much as to want to open my own practice, either.

So I ended up rethinking what I wanted to do. I would need a flexible job that would allow me to attend necessary town council meetings occurring night and day, and allow me to be home with my kids after school. So over Christmas break and while not working, I decided to take a real estate course— and have found this to offer the flexibility that I need, but at the same time enjoy a profession that allows me to work in town and help people in a much different way. I would love to help people who come into town find the perfect place to live, because I love Chapel Hill and would love to help others find out all of the great things about being here. Since I serve as board member of the Land Trust, I would also hope to help this group out with its real estate challenges in the near future. Advising the group in matching buyers to affordable homes would be very rewarding—-and their selling those units quite a challenge. Knowing the real estate market intricately will help me currently in serving as a board member. At this point in time, I have recently affiliated with Prudential Carolinas Realty on Franklin Street, and aim to work part time. Two of my very good friends work there as brokers, and our kids have been in school together at Seawell over the years.

Life is a balance and life is short. You have to weigh the pros and cons of your choices and decide what is best for your family and your professional life. I can’t think of a more crazy time to get into the field of real estate locally and nationally. Locally, there is the issue of the land transfer tax that many real estate brokers speak very strongly against. Nationally, the real estate market has simply crashed (locally not so bad). On the issue of the land transfer tax, I am simply FOR that. How could I be for that and handle that when so many in the field are against? I would simply say to my clients as a part of my professional advice that this tax exists when you sell; it will cost you this much; and it is for the purpose of strengthening and expanding our top ranked school system, etc., etc., which has made this one of the most desirable places to live in the state, if not the country.

Despite all of these changes and challenges, I’ll still maintain my dental license and work a day or two a week, but my primary emphasis now will be on the job that provides me the flexibility that I need. We’ll see how it goes.

I do not intend this post to be a debate about the land transfer tax; this is a county commissioner issue more so than it is town council. This is a post about ME and my opinions ONLY. Let’s let that issue work itself out in another venue. Thanks.

A Somber Day in Chapel Hill

I cannot express in words how deeply saddened I am about the loss of Eve Carson, student body president of UNC-Chapel Hill. The day was strange. I had been wondering about the identity of the woman who had been found slain on Hillcrest the day before, and when I heard that it was Eve Carson, it was so shocking that it sent chills. I could not and still cannot believe it. Obviously I am so saddened for her. I also think like a parent does. Simply put, it is a parent’s worst nightmare. They undoubtedly were so proud of her and all of her accomplishments to the University and the community and they loved her dearly. This act is surreal to me—-senseless, outrageous. How could it happen to her/how could it happen here? We all seek to understand, and I hope that the person that committed this crime is found out very quickly! It seems like writing about this is an understatement to how I feel. I am deeply, deeply saddened. Even though Eve’s life was short, she contributed to her community more than many people do in a life time. She was not selfish, and lived her life to the absolute fullest.

I can tell you our police department is working feverishly on solving this crime. Our police chief, Brian Curran is new in his position but not new to the police force or to Chapel Hill. He has done an absolute stellar job in all respects. I spoke with him recently about my memories of the jogger who was senselessly shot on Estes Drive over a decade ago (whose killer is up for parole soon). These events will never, never go away in our minds. But my feeling about Eve and what she stood for would be to keep on going and work hard for others. That seemed to be what she was all about. No one can bring her physically back, but we can keep her memory alive and carry out the work she was engaged in on campus and the community, and realize the essence of her and what she stood for at UNC and in Chapel Hill will last forever. It was a somber day in Chapel Hill and still is.

MID TERM REPORT

Two years in of a four year term, I feel inclined to provide a mid term report of what I’ve done, what’s in progress, and what I hope for the next two years. Also, a sense of what is like to be on the council! as a newcomer two years ago. So here we go.

What I ran on (not all inclusive):

Neighborhood Protection: During these two years I’ve worked hard to make sure that development has not adversely impacted neighborhoods. I continue to study what’s happening for Carolina North and advocated for the Town to participate in the Chancellor’s Leadership Advisory Committee a while ago. The participation allowed the Town to make its case for the policy of the Horace Williams Citizens Committee report, which is our guide and policy for neighborhood protection here. Also, I found it important for the Town in good faith to participate in the early process, to lay a foundation for hopefully good communication between town/gown as this project moves forward.

Additionally on neighborhood protection, I served as the council liasion to the Northern Area Task Force that provided detailed recommendations on how development should proceed in the northern area of Chapel Hill, with a primary goal of neighborhood protection in light of a great deal of forthcoming development. We met on Thursday nights and two Saturday mornings through the summer of 2007, on a tight schedule, to provide the necessary work for the council given a moratorium in place. Examples:

• Advocating to avoid cut through traffic for future mixed use developments on roads through neighborhoods such as through Northwoods.
• How to make existing neighborhoods walkable/bicycle/transit friendly to future and existing commercial, etc.
• Ensuring existing town services are not strained by the additional growth—that we have planned well in advance for the infrastructure to support future development in these areas.

Wireless Initiative: In Chapel Hill, we have the ability to bridge the digital divide and provide today’s ACCESS TO INFORMATION and EDUCATION that only the privileged have historically had (historically meaning the last 10 years of widespread subscriptions to internet providers). Unless you can pay over $50/month to Time Warner or BellSouth, etc. and own a computer with a wireless card, you will find it difficult to find information that can provide you with educational opportunities, instant news in the community, job opportunities, ability to pay bills online, etc. The benefit to government, which saves taxpayers money, is evident from other cities that have ubiquitous wireless coverage.

I have pushed this issue publicly and behind the scenes to try and get the community covered with wireless access. I have attended national meetings learning from other cities on how they’ve done it, and I have engaged with the School of Government and the University on the pros/cons of deploying a citywide network, and have had a great deal of support. Thankfully the town was on the brinking edge of replacing its fiberoptic traffic signal system, which means we will lay fiber along our traffic fiber to carry other forms of mass communication (i.e. wireless, video, or whatever we want, etc) and can have the ability to provide a “backbone” of hard infrastructure that lays the groundwork for town and community control of mass communication. Other cities would be very envious of our position, for they often have to do all of the backbone work by themselves and after the fact….fiber to the home, business, etc. can be expensive. Other cities are often indebted to some corporation in some form or fashion to provide the fiberoptic backbone.

I led a public forum on exploring wireless and have relegated the future work of this goal to the council on communications, which is the natural committee to continue studying and engaging in this important endeavor.

Remember when Alexander Bell invented the telephone? Remember when cellphones became all the rage? It’s time that not just VOICES, but INFORMATION becomes wireless and frees up people to access that information wherever they go.

Protection of Our Environment: As you can see from the previous post I am concerned about Duke Energy’s indiscriminate use of herbicides on trees in its easements, and how that affects our environment. This is an environmental quality issue, but also a safety issue because large swathes of dead trees are just waiting to catch fire in today’s drought. Duke Energy’s landscape management rep told me a couple of months ago that they had no plans to do anything to the large tree swaths that were herbicided and killed…..eventually they would fall down. Not only is this not aesthetically pleasing, but it could be a public danger for threat of fires. The corporate bottom line must not EVER infringe on the health, safety and welfare of our citizens.

I serve on the Triange J of Govt’s Regional Appearance Committee. I will help bring forward a program to Orange County that will allow champion trees, historic trees, etc. to be nominated for a special award that officially classifies them as such and places them on a GIS map for future protection! Wake County has had the Capital Trees Program become a great success…..not only are trees preserved and nominated for awards, but city ordinances for tree protection have evolved in the county to incorporate the protection of trees awarded by this program. This is very exciting! and hopefully awareness will be raised of the value that large trees have in our community for now and forever. They are worth preserving and we should make every effort to do so. The goal is for development to protect important trees and not proceed with mass cutting that makes development easier. Why cut down a 50 year old medium size beautiful tree and replace with a spriglet to ease the trucks moving through to create the development? It doesn’t make sense. The history and value of trees is as important as the history and value of stream beds.

The recent drought has really had the whole area concerned about our water supply and future demand. I think the council should be very careful in considering what future growth could do to our supply, and work closely with OWASA in its projections. Water supply is a basic need that must not be dwindled at the expense of dense development. Although density in some sections of town is desirable (like along major corridors), we must ensure the level of density and the pace of such development does not impact us adversely. UNC is one of the major users of our supply and we should make sure they continue to try to reduce their demand with efforts like their new water reclamation system.

Transit: As you know, council meets most often during the budget season. As our budget year approaches, transit is on my mind. We really need to think about expanding our services such that everyone in town can access a bus stop at 1/4 mile from their home. We should also expand our service to nights and weekends. Our EZ rider service needs an overhaul! and we must make sure that our citizens that use this service are finding it as convenient as ever. Hybrid buses are doing an excellent job, and I want to see future replacements of our buses to be in the hybrid form (if possible). Our Library here in town needs a more consistent and frequent route, and this is a priority as we expand it (a priority for me!). Additionally, I look forward to working with the results of our Long Range Transit Plan to decide how transit can be expanded in the future.

Our downtown is on the verge of becoming great. We should support the ongoing work of our Downtown Partnership in addressing the “real change for spare change” initiative. Additionally, as I said two years ago, it is very important to keep the Kidzu Museum downtown and we should support their efforts in finding a new locale downtown as their lease expires. Holiday free parking at our lots should be advertised more in advance next year and businesses be given a flier/poster to advertise this inside their establishments. A citizen wrote me with a great idea I’d like to institute for downtown: each council member should be assigned 8 or 9 businesses (downtown) to keep in touch with routinely to understand real-time concerns and help such businesses feel valued in our town. Downtown businesses are not all the council cares about, but they need our support right now while the perception and reality of parking difficulties exists. Perhaps we could rotate such assignments to businesses out of downtown, too. I think good contact and communication between businesses and the council is essential for a vibrant, sustainable economy.

Support Existing or New Business: I’d like to see the Chamber of Commerce and the Visitors Bureau work with the Town Council to let us know when new business is thinking about coming to our area so that we may have the opportunity to contact them and let them know that Chapel Hill is an excellent place to work and live. Such communication and formulating a good relationship from the start can show our support and work to rid some people’s perception that Chapel Hill is a difficult place to do business. Those in Chapel Hill that live here know that our property tax burden is great, and relief can be found by increasing our commercial tax base.

Town Gown Issues: Here we go. Carolina North is coming, whether we like it or not. Since the Town does not own the land and the University as owner wants to develop it, it is important to realize that it’s in the Town’s best interest (and the U’s) to make sure the development is good for everyone. The key is communication. The more the University and the Town can talk about the issues confronting us both, the better the outcome. I see no value in an adversarial relationship in which one side distrusts the other’s motives, for we all must live together and live with the results long term. A healthy tension is good, but it must not become negative—a reasonable and workable process engaged by the Town staff and policymakers (council); and University staff and decision makers (trustees/chancellor) will yield a mutually beneficial project longterm.

To Sum Up: I’ve left out a great amount of detail that you can always catch on the video streamlining of our council meetings. There is so much that we have all done over the last two years, and so much more work to be done in the next couple. And how has it been for me the last two years? What is it like to be on the council? One thing I’ve realized first hand (that I sort of suspected anyway), is that it takes a long time to get something done (usually). But the end result is that there have been many people studying the issue, public hearings/forums talking about the issue, staff time spent, etc. that we end up with a policy or decision that truly represents what the Town wants now and in the future and we feel good about that.

The council is a very unique dedicated group of individuals that really has worked now for years and years together—so the newcomer feels a little bit “green” and a bit unaccepted at first. But there is mutual respect on behalf of all of the council members and one quickly gets over that.

One of the things that I have despised in my professional career in dentistry is the “old boys network.” I don’t think we necessarily have that on the council, maybe we do, but I feel strongly that more women should run for political office. I am also hoping that some day soon a member of our Hispanic or Asian community should happen to run for office, or anyone from another culture/country. Diversity of ideas and experiences enhances our democratic process.

I’ve discovered that this council position is a perfect fit for me. I have to know what’s going on and feel strongly it is my responsibility to make sure that what happens in town is the best for every neighbor who has chosen this great place to live. I’ve been amazed at the professionalism and dedication of our town staff, to include our police, fire, public works, transit workers, etc. The people that make this town “tick” have my utmost respect and gratitude. If I could only pay them more! I’ll continue to work hard each budget year for our town employees…..without them, and without their commitment to many years with this town, we would not be the Chapel Hill we are today.

I’m not afraid of challenges that come forward and the pressures of the job. They do exist. I feel like the greatest challenge in the next 2 years is Carolina North and town/gown relations. But we have so much else we need to work on in town, that I also know that we must have a good balance and not be consumed by Carolina North. We need to pay attention to redevelopment in town and what exactly Transit Oriented Development means for development along our transit corridors. We need to pay close attention to the Orange Community Land Trust model and how the town can ensure the long term success of this important organization. We need to continue the work on our Downtown in a variety of ways (beginning with receipt of our upcoming economic development report by our EDD); streetscape enhancements; oversee Lot 5 development, etc. Our transit system will be challenged by future denser growth, and at the same time we all desire increased service on nights/weekends and to points of interest such as our Library. I think all future bus purchases should be hybrids but realize that costs could be prohibitive (hopefully not). Speaking of energy efficiency, we should continue to ensure that buildings are LEED silver at the minimum, and our whole town should strive for meeting the energy reduction goals set forth in our Carbon Reduction Project (CRED).

Serving on the council has been challenging, but the work can be very satisfying. The hard part is knowing that you will absolutely not make everyone happy with the decisions you make. Many times there are two good ways of doing things, but you have to choose the better one in your opinion. The bottom line is that we get elected to work hard on behalf of those who live here, and I try to do that using my best judgement. The first two years have been a pleasure and I look forward to at least another two.

Large Amounts of Herbicide in Your Backyard?

Driven along Whitfield Road just outside of town limits lately? If so, you’ve probably noticed the large swath of rusty brown dead trees under the powerlines. You don’t have to drive outside of Town, however, to see that Duke Energy has apparently been getting rid of trees underneath powerlines by use of herbicides. According to current federal law trees must be kept clear of transmission lines, but how these power companies choose to keep the trees clear is a matter of concern. In certain sections of Chapel Hill’s Parkside neighborhood, in particular, rusty brown dead trees are within feet of people’s homes. What kind of herbicide is being used? How much? Is it harmful to humans and animals? What are the stormwater runoff implications? I know the Town is very careful in its own use of weed control and herbicides and we have strict guidelines that we use. What is Duke Energy doing on their easements within town limits? How often must they use the herbicide?

According to the Duke Energy website, “In the Carolinas, herbicide treatments are performed on vegetation when it is still very small, such as after the rights of way has been mowed and the root systems of the brush have had a chance to resprout. A follow-up treatment is applied in order to control any of the brush that might have been missed on the initial treatment. This will allow the compatible vegetation to effectively grow in the rights of way. Herbicide treatments are applied across the width of the rights of way. Tree pruning occurs on trees along the sides. Any mature trees found within the rights of way are also either removed or pruned.” Herbicide is being placed on trees that are several feet tall all along the right of way on the outside and within, mature and small. Take a look for yourself. Drive along Weaver Dairy Extension and look at the swath of trees under the powerlines midway along the road. The website also lists a myriad of herbicides they use claiming they are environmentally friendly.

The town did address a citizen petition back in 2002 with the issue of herbicides and easements. Duke Energy’s Scott Gardner emailed the Town with the following:

“Regarding the issue of prohibiting the use of herbicides in utility easements, we believe the town has the right to prohibit the use of herbicides on town property if they so desire, but would be pre-empting State law to attempt to prohibit the use of herbicides on private property in Chapel Hill. Our annual mailing to customers informing them of our use of herbicides and their right to request that none be used on their property is in compliance with State law and has been approved by the NC Pesticide Board.”

A phone call in to Duke Energy today had the following result: I was directed to the website and was informed of their FAQ section where decisions were whether to prune or use herbicide (referenced above). The woman (Ms. Jackson) stated that mature trees are probably succumbing to beetles, etc. because the herbicide would not kill such large trees. (Please drive along Weaver Dairy and look for yourself. This is no beetle infestation.) I asked her if I had the right to tell Duke Energy not to place herbicide near my home, and she said “no” I did not have that right. I thanked her for helping me to the extent that she could.

I have personally not received an annual mailing from Duke Energy, but maybe they don’t do those anymore due to a beefed up customer service website. My opinion: the use of large amounts of herbicide by Duke Energy near homes, (it must be a lot of it to kill such large trees!) is a questionable practice worth exploring further. I’m sure they have their own reasons. Placing herbicides may be their right, but it is not right to potentially negatively affect the health of our citizens. What impact does this herbicide have on our water quality and what other negative health effects are possible for animals or humans living near the treatments? I also want to make sure they’re discouraged from killing off large trees with herbicide—especially on the outsides of their easement—because it surely must take a greater quantity or concentration. They should live up to what they put on their website. Stay tuned.

START OUT ON THE RIGHT FOOT

I am not sure that we are starting out on the right foot with Carolina North’s approval process. Without getting into the detail of the Innovation Center’s location change, or when it was first shown to the “community” in a University sponsored meeting, what is most bothersome are references made to the LAC by Bruce Runberg and now Mark Crowell  (the latter in a letter to the Chapel Hill News.) They both have said “This project was also identified as likely moving toward a special-use-permit…..LAC members raised no objections to the center during these deliberations.”

When I first argued pretty strongly a long time ago that the Town should go ahead and participate as a member in the Leadership Advisory Committee in order to open the doors of communication early in this process, I also made the point that whatever the Town says or doesn’t say in this committee is not anything that can be used against the Town; is not something qualifying as the Town’s official position (without full council discussion); or is BINDING in any way. We have to remember this was a University committee, and it was the Town’s choice to participate. 

 It is disappointing that the University’s representatives are starting up what I hoped would not happen: whatever was not said or not complained about is determined to be OK because there was no stated objection (by the LAC).  Was the LAC only ammunition to use as they come forward with their proposals?  Bruce Runberg had apparently gone back to “check the minutes” of the LAC meeting sometime before he officially came before the council last week.    Because the LAC did not raise objection to this is absolutely not a statement by the community that it is okay to proceed. What else will the University do next?   At an NRG forum a few weeks ago, someone in the audience asked the Town panel present “do you trust the University?”   I thought it an excellent question, but it required a complex answer.   I said something to the tune of “we’ll have to see through the process.”   The process has started, but with what happened last week, I’d have to answer that question a little differently.   I hope we can get a better start next time around, as I look forward to making Carolina North a good project for both the University and the Town.  

THE POLITICAL SIGNS

Somewhere about the date Sept. 22, those running for town council in Chapel Hill may legally place their campaign signs.  I’m really curious to see what they’re going to look like this year.   Will the incumbents use their signs from last time?  Will candidates start the process on Sept. 22 or wait till closer to the election?   How important are signs in an election?

Less Trees for more Advertising

I was appalled to learn that the Senate passed a bill (35-12) to cut down more trees in North Carolina for billboard companies to allow motorists to view their billboards longer.   In exchange for being able to cut 375 feet of trees away from their advertising billboards versus the current standard 250 feet, they will have stiffer fines to pay for exceeding this limit.  However, in the past year to date, at least 50 cases of illegal tree cutting around billboards has occurred.   It sounds like to me that the billboard companies have simply gotten their way.  If you don’t pass it such that we can have that extra swath of trees to cut down, illegal cutting will occur (not to say it’s the billboard company—but who else? might do this?  Committed drivers who can’t stand the blocked view that they take it upon themselves to cut the trees away because they can’t see how long it takes to get to the next gas station?).  The billboard companies must say “We need passengers to see our ads longer.  Studies show that the longer someone sees an ad, the more likely they’ll remember.”   Personally as a passenger along I-40 or any other NC highway, I would like to remember the beautiful landscape that we cherish in North Carolina.  It’s not just the beautiful wildflowers as a part of that state project, but the trees that adorn our landscape as well.  I think our trees are a major selling point for our state….not the ads on the billboards that are frankly ugly, and not worth spending the extra few seconds for viewing with the extra 125 feet. 

Enough Negative Press

With today’s news about a suscipicious package at the John Edwards’ campaign office containing wrist watches beeping frantically all at once, recent press about haircuts and an interview from his “that guy” hairstylist, and rumblings about his nonprofit and campaign funds, I have about had it.  I have continually tried to take these negative stories and place them in context with what is happening out there in the real world, and with other presidential candidates.   These are weak attempts to attack the candidate that was first in getting out the real issues facing America today.  Edwards was FIRST on his ideas for reforming our health care system, and continues to be the leader on this issue.  He presents detail and a realistic scenario for all to have health insurance.  

   Today, according to his website and MoveOn.org, Edwards again comes in FIRST on an important issue:  “Today, MoveOn.org Political Action announced that Senator John Edwards won their poll asking which candidate has the best position to halt global warming. Edwards has detailed an aggressive plan to fight global warming and create a new energy economy in our country. This Friday in Iowa, Edwards will outline his ‘Green Collar Jobs’ initiative to train workers to participate in the new energy economy. Edwards won the poll in a landslide receiving 33 percent of the vote from more than 100,000 MoveOn members. The next closest candidates received 15 percent of the vote.”

It distresses me that really unimportant negative press about grooming, etc. detracts from the REAL campaign.  I wonder if Ann Coulter is up to the package today…..someone like her is.  We don’t need that sort of nasty negative attacking that does nothing for someone who is really trying to make a difference.  

I will support whomever is the democratic candidate for President of the United States.  I can freely have negative comments about any of the candidates (Hillary and the corporate ties that bind  (see the recent NATION);  Obama’s relative political inexperience)….but I respect the candidate that speaks from true conviction and rises above all the banal and sophomoric rhetoric. 

On a National Note

With the release of Michael Moore’s new film, “Sicko”, attention may be given to the Democratic Presidential candidates and their healthcare platforms.  Media coverage of the Presidential candidates’ platforms have left much to be desired.  Can you name the only Democratic Presidential candidate with no intention of offering a universal health care plan in a first term? (Answer: Hillary Clinton.)  Can you name the only candidate to offer a detailed truly universal health care plan that offers choice of providers? (Answer: John Edwards.)  It’s not surprising most readers don’t know this.  A recent poll shows more Americans can name the last “American Idol” winner than Chief Justice Roberts. This is not surprising given the way in which the print and televised media cover news.  There is a lot of scrutiny for the messenger (Edwards) rather than addressing the message.  Let’s face it; our next president will be rich by any standard.  As a barometer, Mitt Romney’s worth ten times more than Edwards.  Somehow, suggesting thinking about the less fortunate (Edwards) gets more media scrutiny than proposing to give yourself a huge tax-cut (Romney). In “Sicko”, Senator Clinton is revealed to be the largest Democratic recipient of Health Care Industry dollars.  This may or may not affect her ability to reform healthcare but it’s disturbing that more Americans know about the hygiene and living habits of candidates than who is bankrolling their candidacies and what their actual policy proposals are. Edwards is not the Washington DC establishment choice.  In a way, Edwards should be happy that he is an outsider.  Congress is about as popular as the plague, with Republicans puzzled by the President’s Immigration (“Amnesty”) plan and Democrats upset that their party folded on Iraq.  Campaigning, as an outsider and an “advocate” for the American people that Congress forgot could be a good strategy if the media ever talks about actual policy. I have no doubt that FDR could not be elected president today with today’s media.  He came from old wealth on both sides of his family, he liked to sail, he was paralyzed from the waist down, and he talked a lot about the poor creating the greatest anti-poverty program of all time – social security.