Jefferson proven correct in warning on central bank

When the USA was born, the Founding Fathers deliberately did not create a central bank, with Thomas Jefferson even warning that a central bank is “more dangerous and powerful than any standing foreign army.”

However, in 1913, a clandestine group led by J.P. Morgan pushed through a bill creating our central bank, the Federal Reserve. Many years later, it was revealed that creeping competition in the banking sector was the reason for this plot. 

Many have argued the merits of our central bank - whether this was a good or bad thing. But lets examine only indisputable facts during the last 13 years. 

Rates have been kept artificially low since the dot-com meltdown in 2001. Currently at zero percent. Who have been the winners and losers due to the actions of our central bank?

The losers surely would include senior citizens, who responsibly planned for their retirement only to find that no safe investment will pay them any interest on their life’s savings. A million in a bank today would net the retiree only $10,000 (taxable!) per year; hardly a livable wage.  

Other losers include the working poor who are paying more for every commodity — including gas, rent and food — due to a “cheaper” dollar.

The winners clearly are the Wall Street Banksters who get free money from the Fed and loan it to us at 7 or 8 percent (or 18 percent as in the credit card biz!).

The real estate developers who are seeing the roots of another boom of epic proportions — especially in the big cities.  

And the Multi-National corporations who are not only making all-time high profits on the back of our cheap US dollar, but are sitting on the largest stockpiles of cash in recorded history.

Other BIG winners are the politicians who can borrow and spend trillions to make themselves look good, at the expense of future generations of Americans. All thanks to the financial chicanery of the Federal Reserve’s accounting system. 

These are the facts. Yet, the new Fed chair, if confirmed, signaled that much more needs to be done. The ‘economy’ isn’t doing well enough.  For whom? This country is being looted by the rich and powerful - and both parties are to blame.

If any more damage is done to the working poor and our Senior citizens, then I agree with the Founding fathers over the current crop of Politicians.

Jefferson’s warning is becoming even more prophetic. 

Steven Chase

Boone, N.C., and Miami, Fla.

Asheville elections have consequences

Elections are over, and we have a new mayor and City Council. So what’s on the horizon, and where do we go from here?

Well, based on recent history, we can definitely look forward to increased traffic, population growth, limited parking and an overcrowded downtown — also known as “smart growth” to our local politicians.

Since the economy has stabilized, the developers have returned with a vengeance, marking out their territory. Airport Road has already become a strip mall, and Sierra Nevada is building a Disney World-type brewery nearby.

And if the idea of Trader Joe’s, Harris Teeter and Greenlife all bunched together makes you warm and fuzzy, then you will love the McGibbon Group (that wants to add two more hotels) and Mr. Tony Fraga (who wants his “legacy” to be a 14-story edifice across the street from the Grove Arcade). Boy, do they have a downtown for you. And our local politicians — who have yet to see a developer or development that didn’t make them swoon — have basically given the city over to these interests.

Asheville Redux. I keep waiting for Asheville to elect officials who “get it,” who come with a new paradigm and who understand you can’t develop your way to sustainability. I keep waiting for officials who understand that if you come to Asheville to build or develop, you need to come with a living-wage model. You know, stuff like that.

So far, with rare exception, all I’ve seen are acquiescent politicians who can’t see beyond the next election ... “Makes me wanna holla throw up both my hands.”

God I used to love this city ...

 Jesse Junior

Arden

Wisler’s bus service goal lauded as sorely needed

Congratulations to Gwen Wisler on her election to the City Council. Her goal to provide bus service on Sundays is commendable and sorely needed for the homeless and poor people who must find rides to service jobs who are often bilked by neighbors who offer them rides at exorbitant prices. Sunday service ought to be a priority this term for Gordon Smith, who has theoretically been the point person on the Council for the homeless. 

I speak as the former president of the Asheville Homeless Network and current secretary. We need Sunday bus service now, not when it is financially feasible.

John Spitzberg

Asheville

EDITOR’S NOTE: Spitzberg is past president of Asheville Homeless Network and Veterans for Peace, Chapter 099.

Time to fight the power to protect future of earth 

The time is getting short when we as a nation, as a people, arrive at where we have been heading.

“The 2012 passage of the National Defense Authorization Act has allowed the military to detain indefinitely without any trial any U.S. citizen that the government labels a terrorist or an accessory to terrorism, while President Obama’s signing of the National Defense Resources Preparedness Executive Order has authorized widespread federal and military control of the national economy and resources during “emergency and non-emergency conditions.”

When interpreting this far-reaching quote, begin with the worst case, fascism, military control the population ... for their own safety... after being convinced by a complicit media and a few staged false-flag events, convinced that any protection is required and our family will be safe.

Now ask someone you know who lived under these assumptions in the past, if they would TRUST? The promoters and propagators of fear of neighbor and friend seek to fracture unity and self-dependence, the health and prosperity of community and love. WE are the people, it’s our breath and our life, damn if we pay for it with our taxes.

The foolishness must stop. A corporation is not a person. Our earth is not for sale to the highest bidder, the original people throughout the world deserve their peace without threat of multinational consquest through absurd international treaties like GATT and the next abortion, TTP now aminig to gut any local rule.

We are being used, people, and if you have children... what will you tell them when they realize...?

The Occupy Wall Street movement has morphed many ways, providing relief for Sandy victims even before national groups arrived, collecting almost $500,000 to fund a medical bill “Rolling Jubilee,” retiring and forgiving more than $14.7 million of crushing debt to over 2,600 patients, our people, spending pennies for dollars.

Here is our power, here is our hope, not from those who bring us war and tragedy for power and greed.

The rule of corporation multinationals has been supported and institutionalized, defended cruelly and by abhorrent aggressive means by our CIA hit squads for decades.

This is their mission, not America, but corporate interests. Kermit Roosevelt led the first mission for his oil buddies back in the ‘30s (the the OSS).

Our current soldiers have been abused for the same ends. It is time for this oligarchy to be dismanted peacefully and thoroughy, no longer allowed to abuse the gifts of our home, our Earth and our people.

We live in one nest called Earth. Stand with us, the children of tomorrow, and be a true human spirit.

Be now; it is time. Determine what impact your decisions truly have and change what you choose to, what you can,  for a kinder tomorrow. Namaste.

WILLIAM STEWART CHALK

 Asheville

GOP accused of trashing Don Yelton, ‘soldier for all’

Those of the Republican Party leadership and those who were offended by the remarks made by Honorable Don Yelton on a nationally televised program in which he remarked about whites and lazy black folks as it relates to voter registration should have instead applauded him for having the courage to say what many black and white folks feel.

Unfortunately, Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show” is hardly worth anyone’s time and attention and certainly should not have been given the credibility it was.

I am personally offended that anyone would deem Don Yelton as anything but a brilliant, hard working soldier for all the people of the City of Asheville, Buncombe County, the State of North Carolina, and especially the Republican Party that he has served so honorably.

And I will stand by his side against anyone who calls down this man that I have leaned on so many times to help the underprivileged and me to understand issues that affect their lives.

No sugar-coating is the realm of truth that Don operates from. He is a philanthropist of huge proportions who has helped the Red, Yellow, and Black folks of this community in ways that are immeasurable.

It is ludicrous for anyone to insinuate that having to secure an ID is somehow a racist act or discriminatory towards black people or any people. Moreover, by calling the voter ID law racist, the left is claiming that race is connected with ID possession. 

The left believes and promotes the stereotype that races other than white are more likely not to own a photo ID. But there are no statistics to prove what race has more ID. And in Georgia and Indiana where ID’s were recently required, voter registration has gone up dramatically.

Actually, it is in fact highly racist to accuse anyone of any color or background as somehow not being smart enough to get an ID in three years. Talk about being racist! It is the liberal left that should be ashamed of themselves.

The shame is that the Republican Party does not have more folks in their midst who will stand up and say what they think versus being cowards to political correctness. And they would do the Party and themselves proud if they rescinded the resignation of Don and tried to find a way for him to run on a National or State ticket.

Having said the above, should this Party not treat Don in a more kindly manner, I will leave it, and encourage other Blacks to do the same.

 H.K. Edgerton

 Asheville

Democrats (not Franklin Graham) blamed for woes

Recently my favorite columnist, John Boyle, wrote an article (in the Asheville Citizen-Times) titled, “Is Franklin Graham sullying Billy’s legacy?” 

Boyle wrote, “What troubles me with the Graham empire is the direction in which Franklin Graham has taken it and the way he at times appears to be using his father to promote a conservative political agenda, such as the full-page newspaper ads touting traditional marriage during the Amendment One argument.” 

I beg to differ. The Billy Graham Association has never changed in its direction. It has always been about leading people to the word of God. Boyle must have forgotten that it was the Democrats at their national convention, in Billy Graham’s home town of Charlotte, that booed God and wanted the word God stricken from their platform.

Boyle must have forgotten that it is the Democrats that believe in abortion of which Billy Graham is against. Boyle must have forgotten it is the Democrats that push the gay agenda which is against the word of God.

The direction of the Billy Graham Association has never changed. What has changed is the direction of the Democratic Party.

Chad Nesbitt

Asheville