Put Government on a Diet »
In a recent article (free registration may be required), a Charlotte car dealership has apparently run afoul of the building code for too much advertising. The company's infraction? Flying four 3-foot by 5-foot American flags on the roof of the dealership. The flags flying on antennas of cars for sale? They have to go too.
It's about time that government pulled their head out and realized that there is a line that you just don't cross. The public good isn't a constantly changing thing that you can legislate to death in order to provide for ever-more bloated layers of bureaucracy. It's got to stop somewhere. Might as well be here.
Christopher Cole is running for an at-large seat on the city council. Mr. Cole seems to be a true Libertarian, interested in slimming down government and getting it out of the places it doesn't belong.
Paul Eich beat out Lynn Wheeler for a spot in the Republican primary. He opposes the arena, is skeptical of the transit plan, and makes the point that he was not chosen by Pat McCrory to run for an at-large seat. Mr. Eich is recycling campaign materials from his last run for office and says he isn't raising or spending a dime. He also has three degrees from MIT.
J. Parks Helms is not the county commissioner of the similar name, though it appears he's banking on the value of name recognition to land himself an at-large seat. While that's probably a morally questionable ploy, if the uneducated populace falls for it, it really isn't his problem, is it? Mr. Helms is a Democrat who opposes some of the larger intrusions of city government, notably the arena and the transit plan.
Regardless of whether you agree or not, get out and vote. Even if you don't like a particular party, use your vote wisely within your party. If you like this sort of behavior by the government, cast your vote for people who will extend (and expand) it to the point of insanity. If you don't like it, let them know that too. But by all means, let your voice be heard. Vote on November 4th.
