Modern Landfills: Environmentally sound and cost-effective

One argument in favor of Cary’s recycling program is to reduce solid waste in landfills. While recycling of certain materials makes sense, for others disposal in a modern landfill is the best option both for the environment and our economy. Contrary to popular belief, modern landfills are environmentally safe, relatively small, no longer odorous and rat infested, and there is plenty of space for them near Cary. They provide a very cost-effective means of disposal of our refuse, create new open space for recreation and even provide a clean renewable energy through the extraction of landfill gases. Read more to learn about advanced technology for waste management.

Is Cary planning masssive increases to taxes and fees?

Town Manager Ben Shivar’s Budget Message from this summer included some ominous wordage: “… we will need … increased revenues through fees or taxes … in the very near future.” With debt service forecast to nearly double in the coming few years, unless the Town starts tightening its belt, dramatic increases in property taxes and utility fees can be expected. Shivar’s message hints at a 33% increase in property taxes will be needed soon. See details here.

Cary approves $17m Orwellian water meter project

In what can only be described as the stealth delivery of an early turkey, the Cary Town Council gave its final approval for a $17m program to install electronic water meters (AMR) in our homes that are capable of reporting your water usage on an hourly basis. Hello, Big Brother. Despite promises in August by Karen Mills, the project’s manager, to provide the Cary Watchmen with details for review (she didn’t), the Town staff and Council have decided to force this Orwellian system on citizens only days after Councilwoman Julie Robison assured us that AMR was “dead” due to lack of funding. The Cary Watchmen wonder why all the secrecy, and given the dire state of our economy, why now? Might this be related to the Town’s plans for massive increases in property taxes and fees? Read about the recent history of this highly questionable project here.

Somebody tell News 14 and Duke about Climate-gate

It’s been documented that the most uncovered story in the lamestream media is Climate-gate, the story about climate-change scientists fudging their numbers to make it look like there actually is global warming.

But you’d think that stories in which academic beta males whine about the Triangle turning into the desert Southwest would be pulled until this brouhaha is settled. Or, at minimum, some nod would be made editorially to the scam that’s been going on. But not at News 14 Carolina today.

“Hide the Decline”

An instant classic based on the Tommy James and the Shondells’ “Draggin’ the Line”:

Let the Investigations Begin

JLF’s Joe Coletti points out the irony of the request by 20 state legislators for a Roy Cooper investigation into Blue Cross Blue Shield. Just to shield themselves — poorly done, I might add — from the obvious political bullying they’re engaging in, the 20 acknowledge they want an investigation even if BCBS has done nothing wrong by speaking out about health care reform. Instead, the legislators write that they’re concerned about “bad public policy.”

Join the club. If that’s the standard for an investigation, then I’ll happily send in my list of programs and organizations that should be investigated for engaging in “bad public policy.”

They seem to be taking a cue from Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), who recently hinted at an IRS investigation of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops after the bishops dared to speak up for the rights of innocent children to be born, rather than eliminated with tax dollars as part of so-called “reform” in the House bill. Woolsey used a similarly lame and transparent tactic as the legislators:

The IRS is less restrictive about church involvement in efforts to influence legislation than it is about involvement in campaigns and elections.

Given the political behavior of USCCB in this case, maybe it shouldn’t be.

Pathetic. Just two more examples of the intoxicating power of government — a power too many elected officials embrace with gusto.

A 20-Pound Turkey of a Bill

How will the Senate’s health care bill impact North Carolina? Check out these comments from Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC).