In My Opinion

Why it’s important to get involved before the election
[Jul. 22, 2009] Many people I talk to question whether or not their involvement in the political process beyond voting is important and if so, why and what can they do. I want to give a little background as to what is happening around us and hopefully prompt you to get more involved and to get your friends involved. There is a political war being waged. A war between socialism and capitalism that will be won by one side or the other. A war in which capitalism and liberty is currently loosing. By Brian Bock

Chatham's trickle down poverty policies will hurt citizens
[Jun. 11, 2009] There has been much debate about the effectiveness of trickle down economics and its role in one of the longest economic expansions in American history. The Obama administration comes down against the theory claiming that it just isn't fair. He has replaced it with his own economic theory. "Trickle down poverty (TDP)". Various forms of TDP have been tried throughout the ages and in every case it has failed. By Brian Bock

Is the Pittsboro Plenty really a good idea?
[May 14, 2009] My initial take on the Plenty was that I didn't see the point but if someone wants to use it go ahead. I hate to be negative about anyone promoting local business but the more I read about it, the more I wonder if it really is a good idea. By DJ Kelly

Commissioner George Lucier repeats the same meaningless arguments without addressing the real issues
[Feb. 26, 2009] Chatham County Commissioner Lucier sent a statement to the Chatham Conservative Voice on Wednesday about withdrawing from a public forum the group was sponsoring for Thursday evening. The statement was made public yesterday. Here is a rebuttal of the argumnets made in that statement. By DJ Kelly
Also: George Lucier's statement to the CCV

School Board members fly to California while local school infrastructure crumbles
[Feb. 5, 2009] Last evening the Northwood PTSA voted to spend $5000 to bring the the football field house concessions up to code so it can be used for spring sports. The money was given to the Booster club in order to facilitate these much need repairs. This was done out of desperation. We don't like to spend PTSA funds on facility maintenance. We'd much rather spend it in the classroom or for our staff and faculty. By Meg Miller

Chatham Coalition is out of touch and out to lunch
[Oct. 16, 2008] In my opinion, what started as a wonderful and needed idea to empower the small, disconnected progressive groups around Chatham, back in the Bunkey days, has turned into a very pushy, very closed minded, out of touch organization. By Peter Theye

Examples of creative school accounting?
[Jul. 25, 2008] The following comments and questions apply to the information provided on the Chatham schools’ Capital Outlay Budget purporting to show completed and work in progress items dated 6/4/08 and the 7/15/08 request of the commissioners to reprogram budget leftover funds on 21 July 2008. By Gerald H. Totten

On Tim Russert
[Jun. 17, 2008] The unexpected death of veteran journalist Tim Russert, moderator of the nation’s most watched television news program on Sunday mornings, MEET THE PRESS, is a significant loss to the journalistic world, but a greater loss to the American public. Tim was a valiant servant and guardian of the public trust; as it is a journalist’s call to be. By Del Turner

Victimless crime? What is that?
[Mar. 27, 2008] It is astounding how our society continues to create semantically contradictory justifications to excuse abuses of power. It is even more astounding how easily we buy into the hype. What, pray tell us, constitutes a “victimless crime?” By Delcenia Turner

Best group of volunteers
[Feb. 11, 2008] I am part of the best group of volunteers. We’ve been going strong here in Pittsboro and surrounding communities since 2002 in the fight against cancer. We volunteer for the American Cancer Society and particularly for the year-round fundraising efforts through the Pittsboro Relay for Life. By Suz Clark
Also: Pittsboro Relay for Life

Council on Aging meets the needs of an aging population
[Nov. 15, 2007] The Council on Aging provides programs and services to people who would otherwise have significant needs that would result in institutionalization, which is a great cost taxpayers would shoulder. Our clients are people from all walks of life, all means of support, and the majority of them were born in Chatham County and have lived here all their lives. By Angel Dennison

The NC Boys Choir and the Individuals With Disabilities Act
[Sep. 24, 2007] My son was a participant in the North Carolina Boys Choir until last spring when the director of that group kicked him out. My son was kicked out of the choir because I confronted the director for his comments about the abilities of my son. By Dan Cahoon

Pittsboro town board thumbs its nose at the people’s mandate
[Aug. 24, 2007] What happens in Pittsboro, does not stay in Pittsboro! And what is about to happen in Pittsboro is an affront to all Chatham citizens far and wide. Please read what follows, and respond with your presence. By Pittsboro Together

Pittsboro chicken plant is vital resource for small farmers
[Aug. 13, 2007] Regarding the chicken plant in Pittsboro, if the plant that is being referred to is the JBF Processing plant on Jay Shambly road, then folks need to know a few things about poultry processing. First, this plant is an extremely rare commodity in the farming community on a nation wide level. Lack of access to processing is often the reason there are entire regions in the US where farmers can't think of raising poultry to market. By Jeannette Beranger