Capitalism is improved when it includes social responsibility To the Editor,
In his column “Capitalism shouldn’t be hindered,” my friend Dr. Eric Dent took on some of the common complaints about capitalism. He explained clearly the advantages of market signals in free-market capitalism even in extraordinary situations. In closing he included Winston Churchill’s quote about democracy, that it “is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”
Dent concluded, “The same is tr...
Commissioners nix bold action, throw the citizens only a bone To the Editor,
The process used by the commissioners to reach their decision to drop health care and reduce discretionary funds provides the citizens a glimpse into their decision-making process. Let’s analyze the process and assess its effectiveness as a tool to provide best outcomes for the constituency.
Their process can be characterized as passive, taking approximately 10 months; lacked public discussion; and was hidden behind a promi...
Federal courts might be best path for Lumbee recognition To the Editor,
Why should all the citizens of Robeson County area care about Lumbee federal recognition?
U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson said, “Granting the Lumbee federal recognition is critically necessary to creating jobs and revitalizing a region plagued by chronically high unemployment and slow economic recovery.”
However, Lumbee attorney Arlinda Locklear, warned, “the committee makeups in both the House and Senate, as well as the general...
Residential homes a better investment than a sand mine To the Editor,
The Philadelphus community has an appeal against the Robeson County commissioners based on their decision to grant a conditional-use permit to a company from Charlotte. This is the same company that presented itself to Red Springs with a plan for an upscale residential development that ended with a sand pit. The company fell short on its ability to prove financing as well as a benefit to the community.
When the company pres...
Democratic chairman way off on number of black Republicans To the Editor:
County Democratic Party Chairman John McNeill said he was “appalled that with … 23,000 Republicans in Robeson,” the GOP could not find one black nominee for the Board of Elections. Really?
Forget the fact that the Republican Board of Elections member recently nominated the black Democratic member for chairman. McNeill clearly used the same calculator they use for campaign reports.
There are not 23,000 Republicans in Robes...
School board is ignoring own policies in decision to transfer To the Editor:
Many words were written on the plan to transfer Tanglewood and Rowland Norment’s fourth-graders to Carroll Middle. Apparently, the board has not followed its own policies.
According to Policy Code 1005, the desired organizational structure of the school system should have elementary schools with grades kindergarten through 5, and if the current facility doesn’t permit this structure, the board “will develop a long-range pla...
Schools find money for barbecue, but students go without books To the Editor,
As the Public Schools of Robeson County approaches the end of the school year, I wanted to share a couple of items with the public.
I know that teachers, teacher assistants, students, administrators and families have gone above and beyond in supporting education in Robeson County. Classrooms have been without books. Labs have been without needed resources. Paychecks have been without increases. But all over our area, the pe...
Hunt defends school spending, says children getting supplies To the Editor,
Even during lean times, students in the Public Schools of Robeson County are not lacking for resources. For this year, the district schools were allotted $1,684,510 for materials such as books, printing, supplies and technology. Information about book shortages is incorrect. We spent more than $1 million on new math books this year.
This school allotment does not include the $5,853,200 in Title 1 money. This funding is expe...
Don’t dismantle public schools through the use of vouchers To the Editor,
Sponsors of House Bill 944, the school voucher bill, proposed certain changes during the bill’s first committee hearing last week. Changes include lowering the income required for eligibility, decreasing the total amount of money awarded, and increasing public accountability. Let us not forget that the voucher concept itself is flawed. Siphoning funds from public schools will not generate the savings it claims to, but will in...
Accountability, integrity absent in board’s decision on transfers To the Editor,
Tanglewood words of the week: “Accountability and Integrity.” The decision made by seven Robeson County school board members to transfer third-graders to Carroll Middle School lacks both.
Admittedly, it’s been quite a while since my last math course, but for seven board members, their math just doesn’t add up. After months of secrecy regarding possible transfers, this decision was made at a private retreat. I’m not sure wha...
Group asks commissioners to pay county employees equally To the Editor,
Citizens for Integrity in Government is asking the county commissioners to re-direct Tony Normand’s efforts and study the compensation of county employee across all levels. If pay and benefits of our county employees are not the fourth highest in the state as compared with their counterparts across the state, the CIG requests the county commissioners authorize pay increases in the upcoming budget to increase their compensatio...
Presenter corrects errors in story on Orange Ribbon event To the Editor,
I would like to correct three errors that were in a story that was published concerning the Orange Ribbon luncheon by Palmer Prevention, during which I made a presentation.
I am a clinical therapist who holds a master’s degree in social work along with credentials from the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board and the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board.
I never stated that ba...
Poll’s numbers on leadership in Robeson Co. are powerful To the Editor,
Although The Robesonian understandably places a disclaimer that its polls are not scientific, no one can ignore the recent overwhelming one-sided response to the question of whether the county was headed in the right direction under its current leadership.
For those interested in scientific polling, you can really make accurate predictions based on small sample sizes of large populations. Big swings like the last poll make ...
Pilot thankful for help during Lumberton stop To the Editor,
On March 27, I had the pleasure of coming to the Lumberton airport on a trip to Florida with my daughter, a teacher in Philadelphia. I was greeted by a very pleasant person who fueled our airplane, afforded us the use of a crew car, and directed us to a fine restaurant.
On our return to the airport, we discovered that the battery had failed on our airplane, which would have most likely left us stranded until the next day wh...
Beware of the bouncing red ball If you are driving along and suddenly see a big red rubber ball come bouncing out into the street, you might want to put your foot on the brake pedal, because a small child may well come running out into the street after it.
We all understand that an inexperienced young child who has his mind fixed on one thing may ignore other things that are too dangerous to be ignored. Unfortunately, too much of what is said and done in politics is based...
Protecting our children is cheaper than incarceration To the Editor, There was a time when constituents held their leaders accountable for their decisions. Ideally, leadership reflects individuals that display attributes such as preparation and integrity. What does our leadership reflect? Community values? Trust and credibility? If not, then why are those persons in leadership? Which of our leaders are responsible for the non-voting, non-taxpaying children? Is it the church? Local government, e...
