The failure to raise all boats!

As I drive around Wake County and its neighboring counties I see

the growth thanks to an improving economy and a location which
appears to have endless opportunities and numerous amenities!

But, I also see beyond Wake county's horizon where the prospects
are not much better than a decade earlier.  

These communities have not "kept up", with income, better skilled workforce, or business opportunities. There seems to be little prospect of  these poorer, mostly rural counties to join the ones

thriving as they are in our most desirous state. 

I'm sure what I see is not limited to NC. Across the country the 

same "recipe" is being applied, developers targeting prime areas 

and ignoring most others.

States are aware of the problem, but unwittingly are doing exactly
what has created this problem, an economic divide. Among our 100
counties, the only a small percentage are doing well, while the majority continue to struggle.

To combat this problem politicians offer manufactured govt.
solutions which rarely work for the long term in poorer counties.

Struggling counties use incentives to make them more appealing
based on the belief  this will  entice developers. Unfortunately,
any such enticements are rarely worth the cost as developers 

need to see near term benefit or they will abandon these areas.

No matter how many incentives are offered, demand to live and
work in the counties with the greatest opportunities will remain. 

Developers will continue to squeeze in as many businesses and
homes as they are allowed.  And, judging by the permits approved,
the "traffic signal" to control development is stuck on green!

Consider Cary, a town of 150,000, now 125,000 more than when
I moved here twenty-five years ago.  The projection is to grow to
200,000 within 3-4 years!  Yet, town govt. seems little concerned
beyond adding staff to provide services!

While Cary and other towns focus on their responsibilities to keep

tax rates low by allowing excessive growth they are also sucking
the "oxygen" from so many towns on life support!

Wake, Durham and Chatham counties would be wise to limit further

development and prioritize amenities for current residents.  There is
little need to build more schools for "growth". With a moratorium on development  counties can focus and invest to improve education for
150,000 students rather than spend money to build new schools for the next 50,000!

This is a very hard sell. Developers have no incentive to build in area where they will not  maximize their investment.

But, counties "incentives" must be for more than greater revenue, its about the quality of life for all North Carolinians, not only those who reside in the high demand regions.

The evidence is clear.  Cary today would be unrecognizable to residents living here twenty five years ago while hundreds of small towns across the state look today as they did then.

Town officials in prosperous communities agree development should continue as it has been the past fifty never.  But, they must recognize what they do locally hurts countless communities across the state.

To aid small communities will take more than targeted tax breaks and incentives. It will take a cooperative effort of rich and poor counties to ensure development in prosperous communities don't hurt poorer ones.  

Replies appreciated, to:   ajbruno14@gmail.com

Congratulations! You've been accepted to.......

Receiving an acceptance letter from a university
is a highlight for every graduating senior and
a proud moment for parents.

Unfortunately, most parents and students have no
idea of the climate at many universities across
the country, its never mentioned in promotional
literature.


Universities describe the outstanding programs
to prepare students for careers of their choice,
and provide a wide range of offerings that allows
them to broaden their horizons beyond the rigors
of career preparation.

Every aspect of university living is described,
albeit one, the 'cultural climate' , often an
inhibiting factor students and parents have the
right to know about, but never do, until they
arrive on campus.

This is not about ideological education which
parents have learned to accept, the price they
are willing to pay so their children will get
a diploma that open doors throughout their lives.

This concern should go much deeper, it borders
on anarchy, shutting down schools unless they
comply with demands.

Its time questions need to be raised.

Shouldn't universities be required to provide
applicants information on what occurs on campus
beyond the boundaries of education?

Shouldn't students learn that some have free
speech while others are muzzled?

Parents who pay tens of thousands of dollars in
tuition have the right know of the protests and
sit-ins by students meant to disrupt their child's
education until contrived demands are met,

What was once a rare occurrence has become routine
at universities large and small whether they are
highly acclaimed or run of the mill.


Such protests are not spontaneous, there is a
commonality. The same issues raised at Dartmouth
were also voiced in Univ. of Minn. Spontaneity is
the last word to describe what is going on!

The concern needs to go beyond the demands of
protesting students, it should also apply to the
"adults", the ones who produce appealing college
literature and cash the tuition checks!

Rather than clearly defining the boundaries of
behavior and defend administration policies most
university presidents admit fault for whatever
criticism protesters have, apologize and, in the
case of the University of Missouri, resign!

So much seems to be unraveling at institutions
around us, much we ignore. But when the toxicity
touches our children directly we must protest too!

Its also time university presidents display backbones.


Replies welcome   ajbruno14 gmail

Non-Profits putting its "thumb" on the scale of American governance.

Not much thought is given to the subject of non-profits, but the public

needs to understand the power this "industry" has.

In good times or bad the American people have always given generously 

to charities. This abundance of giving has also "given" birth to an 

entire industry, tax exempt non-profits!

Federal and state tax laws allow exemption for qualifying organizations, 

resulting in more than 1,500,000 non profits ranging from education,

environment, health care and even sports! 

Every group committed to advancing its cause organize as a non-profit

to receive favorable treatment by the government. This is troubling 

since the largest non-profits use its considerable "muscle" to wield

political power!

Most well known are the Red Cross, National Rifle Assoc. and Planned 

Parenthood. Less known are the National Football League, Harvard 

University, United Auto Workers the PGA and US Chambers of Commerce,

they also reside in the safe tax haven non-profit status provides.

But, having tax exempt status is not enough for these already well-

healed organizations. 

However, they want more, in the form of political clout which is why
most have offices in Washington, DC, in the shadow of Congress, making
it convenient to visit legislators who will do their bidding for more
favorable treatment  which provides a tremendous edge that individuals
will never have.

The only true access for citizens occurs on the 2nd Tuesday of November,
Election Day!

Most may not view this as a concern since they believe non-profits are

self-less, doing what govt does not or will not do!

Its easy to defend the good work of the Red Cross, Catholic  Charities
and many hospitals. But when we view the non-profit "industry" as the
behemoth it actually is, totaling more than $1 trillion, we should be
concerned.

Lastly, is problem which reared its disturbing head recently when we 

learned some organizations were refused non-profit status based on 

political decisions rather than failure to meet qualifications.

Upon investigation the refusal was a pattern found at the IRS, which 

determines eligibility. This being true puts our nation in perilous 

political waters!

What can be done to end the abuse of power and the corruptibility which 

comes with influence? 

"Means test" may be a partial solution. Eligibility for non-profit
status should be set by size. Let the 'big fish' swim on their own.

Continue to allow tax exempt status to the thousands of small
organization spread across our nation, but end the financial benefit
for major non-profits who use their financial muscle to influence
Congress. Let them use their influence once a year, as we do, on
Election Day!

Replies welcome  ajbruno14 gmail 

A migrant does not a "refugee" make!!!!

Whether people are for or against the migration of Syrians to the US,

most label these migrants as "refugees". I contend this is incorrect. 

Refugees do not normally seek asylum as these Syrians want to do. I can 

think of no group who 'select' where they want to go, preferring to go 

thousands of miles away from the most suitable alternative homeland,

nearby nations where language, religion and custom are more fitting. 

Something is odd about this and should not warrant  the  "crisis" label.

Nor, its suspect that only now the 'crisis' is occurring even though the 

Syrian civil war/uprising is more than three years old. Why now, and why

at this point in time is transportation at the ready to provide passage 

from the Arab world to Europe and beyond? This too is not what I would

label a "crisis".

Its also suspect Arab states have refused to do what Europe and the US is 

offering, accept these Syrians. Apparently, these states don't view this 

as the humanitarian crisis as Europe and the US insists it is.

These are points which need to be understood, for once they are, we will 

see exactly what this is, a manufactured crisis  to accommodate hundreds 

of thousands of Syrians who have no desire to remain in Syria and an Arab 

world which refuses to welcome them. 

 

And for those who attempt to throw a "guilt trip" on anyone who says the 

Syrians should not come here; rather them impugn us, appreciate the reasons 

for our position.  This is the farthest from a 'guilt trip' any American can

have, as our country has done more in the name of humanity than all other

nations, including the largest, China! 

No country has taken in as many immigrants as we have.  Illegals now residing

in the US tally up to anywhere between 10 and 20 million. Haven't the American

people done enough? This is not said to self-congratulate ourselves, merely an acknowledgement what we have done.

Welcome to pass along....

Scalia's Voice of Reason needs to be Heeded!

Justice Antonin Scalia is no stranger to public criticism for remarks that make those in some quarters uncomfortable. 

Most recently he came under fire for daring to bring to light a problem in higher education universities are reluctant to seek an answer to, why a high percentage of Black students fail at the university level. 

As is Scalia style, he goes right to the heart of the problem, when he suggests African American students might fare better in a "slower-track school" rather than more competitive colleges.

Scalia's remark came when the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case about race-based admissions, on practices at the University of Texas. He questioned whether some minority students are hurt by the policy because it helped them gain admittance to schools where they might not be able to academically compete.

"There are those who contend that it does not benefit African Americans to get them into the University of Texas where they do not do well, as opposed to having them go to a less-advanced school, a slower-track school where they do well," Scalia said referencing an amicus brief.

Civil rights lawyers and critics naturally jumped on Scalia as he touched upon something the university system purposefully does not have, equal admittance standards for all applicants! 

Such shortsighted "best intentions" have given birth to an educational calamity for Black students, with statistics  showing a high percentage of them perform poorly.

"Right sizing" all, not just Blacks, students needs to drive the admission process.  Relaxing the standards for any applicant, whether he is a minority or a child of privilege, does neither the student or university any good.

Scalia's point is cemented by the higher percentage of Blacks who drop out.  He doesn't point blame as civil rights attorneys want us to believe.  

But, there is blame, and falls on poor performing schools providing inferior K-12 education.  This has created problems universities must wrestle with, relaxed standards, remedial education, and less than the best instruction.

Universities should be concerned about the failure of any group struggling through the college experience, but rather than attack the "messenger" let's understand the "message" and take positive action!

Replies welcome   ajbruno14 gmail 

Congratulations, You've been accepted!

Receiving an acceptance letter from a university is a highlight for every 

graduating senior and a proud moment for parents.

Unfortunately, most parents and students have no idea of the climate 

at many universities across the country, as its not mentioned in 

promotional literature.

Universities will describe the outstanding programs to prepare

students for careers of their choice, providing a wide range of 

offerings that allows students to broaden their horizons beyond 

the rigors of career preparation.

Every aspect of university living is described, albeit one, the 'cultural 

climate' , often an inhibiting factor students and parents have the

right to know about., but never do, until they arrive on campus.

This is not about ideological education which parents have learned

to accept, the price they pay so their children will get a diploma that

hopefully  will open doors throughout their lives.  

This goes much deeper, it borders on anarchy, shutting down schools

unless they comply to demands.

Its time questions need to be raised.

Shouldn't universities be required to provide information on what 

occurs on campus beyond the boundaries of education? 

Shouldn't students learn that some have free speech while others 

are muzzled?

Don't  parents who pay tens of thousands of dollars in tuition have the 

right know of  the protests and sit-ins by students meant to disrupt

their child's education until contrived demands are met? 

What was once a rare occurrence has become routine at universities 

large and small whether they are highly acclaimed or run of the mill.  

Also, such protests are not spontaneous, there is a commonality.

The same problems found at Dartmouth were found in Univ. of Minn.

Spontaneity is the last word to describe what is going on!

Why bring this up now?  Perhaps, because what is going on across 

the country is happening in my backyard, at UNC-Chapel Hill!

The concern needs to go beyond the demands of protesting students,

it should also apply to the "adults", the ones who produce  appealing

college literature and cash the tuition checks!

Rather than clearly defining the boundaries of behavior and defend

administration policies most university presidents admit fault for 

whatever criticism protesters have, apologize and, in the case of the 

University of Missouri, resign!

So much seems to be unraveling at institutions around us, much we 

ignore. But when the toxicity touches our children directly we must

protest as well!

Its also time for university presidents to display a backbone.

Replies to ajbruno14@gmail.com

When is migration an invasion?

The most recent crisis is the one of Syrian "refugees" seeking to escape an ongoing civil war. As so often happens Western nations are the first to offer help. But, are the people leaving Syria really refugees? Or is something else happening and the West is either too blind or gullible to see. This exodus began over three months ago as migrants came in waves, with spontaneity, traveling across the Mediterranean in boats readily available, welcomed in Turkey, and refusing to stop in Greece and Hungary, until they reached their desired destinations, countries with the strongest economies and best quality of living. Being choosy came easy to them. There was little if any skepticism why this exodus occurs now, when the civil war has been going on for more than three years. Were boats not available sooner to take them to Europe? Looking deeper we may find this was more than an exodus, it may be something more. Those who question this migration are called heartless, a successful tactic of those who do not want to have a serious discussion. This is why so many European and American politicians were quick to offer legal refugee status and welcoming tens of thousands with more to come. No leader dared question what was going on, or wondered if this was a spontaneous migration or a well orchestrated one? The nations eager to accept the million or more Syrians should have first considered some troubling factors obvious to all who bothered to look. Begin with the makeup of the migrants arriving in Europe. More than 80% are young men. This is unusually odd on a couple of counts. First, women and children usually receive preference escaping war zones. I am unaware if there was ever a 'refugee' crisis where at least half the people were women and young children. Also, why didn't able bodied young Syrian men stay to fight? A second point, why would such a mass exodus want to travel so far from their homeland? It makes sense to leave a war torn nation, but not to travel more than more than 3000 miles to Western Europe when stable Arab states are much closer. A third point, the Arab states have a population of nearly 350 million, a shade under Western Europe, and can easily take in the millions from Syria. Yet not one is offering refugee status. Questions need to asked and suitably answered before Western nations go forward with this migration. I am sure these points were never seriously discussed, not in Washington, not in Europe and most disappointingly, not in the media. Whatever the urgency to bring 1-3 million migrants to Western nations, when governments act hastily unpleasant surprises are not far behind.