Comments by Gene Scarborough | Eastern NC Now

Anyone who says "CEO's don't give legislators their legislation," is not very wise when it comes to National or State legislation.

The Koch Brothers want to FRACK NC. That is the simple reason they are funding ads against Kay Hagan and also running ads that portray them as "friends of consumers." These descendants of German Nazi sympathizers are not in it for anyone but themselves and their wealth beyond accounting.

Commented: Thursday, August 28th, 2014 @ 6:44 am By: Gene Scarborough

This is an exercise in sarcasm and Conservative "mule stubbornness," in my view. Were it a logical treatise on the value of keeping things as they have been in a changing world, I would honor it or simply "agree to disagree."

H.L. Menken described Conservatives as "my contemporary ancestors." Here is a modern example of just such! The NAACP spokesman is soaring while his opponent is like a chicken scratching the dirt for stones to make his craw work --- rather than feeding his brain and body.

Since his involvement in the Belhaven Healthcare crisis, I have just begun to hear the "Round Rev." He is far more intelligent than the author of this article. I also might disagree with the Preacher, but I still have to admire his mind and ability to communicate.

As one smart Preacher once said to a Conservative opponent who wished he had the mind of the older man: "To put my mind and spirit inside of you would be like putting a grand piano in a broom closet!"

Commented: Thursday, August 28th, 2014 @ 6:19 am By: Gene Scarborough

Here is the WITN 7 report from today's hearing. The Judge has ordered no demolition nor removal of goods until an ownership decision is made. Virtually all the equipment has been removed so it is late for such expensive things now in the hands of Vidant.

Here is the link to the TV report. Tomorrow I shall share my finding in the last week.

www.witn.com

Commented: Monday, August 25th, 2014 @ 7:31 pm By: Gene Scarborough

Thanks for such great piece and pictures, Stan. When I was turning into a teenage boy, my father was the first Director of Juvenile Rehabilitation for the SBC Home Mission Board. Part of his yearly schedule was attendance at Home Missions Week at Ridgecrest. It was usually the 3rd week in August.

How well I remember us taking the trip over to Mount Mitchell and riding forever to reach the end of the road. It was too late and too chilly to walk the rest of the way. Momma had to cook supper in time for us to get to the evening worship at Ridgecrest.

I think that same night they had all the doors and windows open in the gigantic Spellman Auditorium and I almost froze to death before the service mercifully ended. It was one night in my life where some "fire and brimstone" would have been welcome.

The Nibble Nook was even univiting for ice cream that night!

Commented: Sunday, August 24th, 2014 @ 4:07 pm By: Gene Scarborough

Developments today resulted in direct contact with Vidant for a change. Right now the folks in Belhaven are not discussing anything anymore with Vidant. Vidant is circling their wagons for a pitched battle. Only the lawyers will get rich in such a battle.

The now-closed hospital will not have funds to be repaired and restored or, if it is too compromised, be rebuilt. I will have only one direction to go if I have a medical emergency = Washington or Greenville.

Their emergency rooms are already overloaded with the Hyde and Beaufort County folks having to find their medical emergency resolved outside Belhaven.

Commented: Thursday, August 21st, 2014 @ 9:07 pm By: Gene Scarborough

One correction above about filing reports with the Secretary of State. The report is not financial as I thought--rather an update of location / officers / etc. so that the corporation is easy to locate.

Any financial report is made to the NC Department of Revenue. I am trying to get in touch with them to see what Vidant shows the public about money involved in their operation.

I will do my best to keep you posted on this important story.

Commented: Wednesday, August 20th, 2014 @ 9:44 am By: Gene Scarborough

Stan~~~you have just a few more meeting with a big vote over a small one like me at the poll in Surry Township. If you current Commissioners want to be remembered fondly for doing something other than fighting over the Law Enforcement Center, simply tell our Tax Department to get real on the value of property.

I am living off 20% of what I made before the economy sent south. Most of us are in the same boat unless working for some corp throwing a small raise each year --- as long as we keep on slaving and not revolting! Being a greeter at WalMart is not enough to pay our property taxes!!!!

It is hardly a comfort to me having old equipment, well-maintained, yet having no trees to work outside a tornado or hurricane. Even then, my customers are waiting for the insurance company to cut their check. We are suffering and don't see why government does not join with us.

Commented: Tuesday, August 12th, 2014 @ 7:06 am By: Gene Scarborough

On this one, Stan, I would have to say you are about neck deep in your rut!

Commented: Tuesday, August 12th, 2014 @ 6:50 am By: Gene Scarborough

Would anyone care to define "Liberal / Conservative." The terms get thrown around rather "liberally" of late!

Commented: Monday, August 11th, 2014 @ 10:03 am By: Gene Scarborough

I DID NOT vote for the Marriage Amendment because, while I don't approve of homosexual activity, those who are bent that way still have their freedom to choose their way and be legally united. The voters of this state are easily persuaded when you pull our our Patron Saint at the last minute, Billy Graham, to say he is for it.

Sorry folks, I think for myself. If Jesus said, "Homosexuals are in sin and headed to hell," I would follow Him. He said NOTHING so I say nothing but, "Love one another as God loves you / forgive one another."

We are a divided state --- as all others --- on such a volatile matter. It is tantamount to Slavery in volatility. If our AG advocated for slavery, he would be roasted over a hot fire. On the other hand, the ones so homophobic as to hate gays, are holding them in slavery to southern prejudice (pronounced in public / while we know and tolerate them in local communities = pretense / hippocracy!

Commented: Saturday, August 9th, 2014 @ 8:03 pm By: Gene Scarborough

Stan---I can say honestly that we have different perspectives at times and are almost like twins at others! I appreciate the possibilities of far-and-wide readership as we take on the issues common to mankind.

They never really change. There is hate / there is love / all things in between. I advocate for love and forgiveness. I have had my share of enemies along the way who tried to do me great harm.

Thanks be to God, He has been with me every step of the way, my brother!!!

Commented: Saturday, August 9th, 2014 @ 7:19 pm By: Gene Scarborough

One thing I can say for sure, Stan ~~~ I am not paid clergy so I can do my best to tell it like I see it! People can't fire me from Social Security income / if a church asked me to be their Interim Pastor, I can leave at any time. No amount of money is worth lying if you know better!!!

"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

Commented: Friday, August 8th, 2014 @ 4:07 pm By: Gene Scarborough

Look, fellows --- I shoot a .270 BAR with a Sworski scope at 100 yards = 3 shots in a 3" circle. I can be deadly, if necessary.

Jesus used a whip (hurt but not deadly) and a towel to wash feet of Disciples vying for a special seat to his right at the Last Supper. In both cases, he got his message across with more love than hate!

I am doing a 3rd article on the "Biblical use of force" referred to me by John. I hope it will say some important things for us to consider in Beaufort County.

Commented: Friday, August 8th, 2014 @ 11:00 am By: Gene Scarborough

I see much wisdom in his observations and suggestions. Had he said, "Exclude ANY LOBBYIST from the process, it would be best.

What is wrong with all laws having a Term Limit of 10 years. Things always change and lawyers get rich over the confusion. Jurists go crazy trying to follow the law and be fair to the accused.

Now, with legal confusion, every Law Enforcement Officer has a 2" thick book in the back seat --- trying to offset the lawyers getting someone off.

Law is "Common Sense guidelines to help us live together and be fair."

KISS = Keep It Simple, Stupid!!!

I have read many of our NC Statutes. The newer they are, the move complex they get and longer.

My College Professor of Southern Literature imposed an 80-word limit on our assigned papers. That cut the BS and saved much time!!

How about it folks??? We are all under a Recession/Depression still. Is there a problem with all government officials joining us in the 30-40% reductions in average income for small business owners????

Corporate CEO's make millions, none less than $200K. Why should a small government not work under the same pay as small business????? Why should all state vehicles and equipment have less than 5 years of use???--many are under 3 years!

Whenever the governed are ruled by people making more than them, we have returned to England and Europe from whence our ancestors came 200+ years ago!

Commented: Friday, August 8th, 2014 @ 8:31 am By: Gene Scarborough

So do you think we need to abandon "clean energy" or keep on fracking???

Commented: Thursday, August 7th, 2014 @ 12:00 pm By: Gene Scarborough

We are still throwing epithets without serious definition, gentlemen!

I am Baptist by rearing and profession for many years. The Southern Baptist Convention was, perhaps, the most democratic religious denomination of any today. The only way to really describe it WAS: Whatever the Roman Catholics were in organization, the SBC WAS NOT!!! We both believe in the basics of the Faith, but the way we went about organizing and doing business were miles apart.

Inside this diverse group of churches, you had all the way from mountain snake-handlers to robed clergy with liturgy/split-chancel. The rules were that "if you gave to the Mission Enterprise, you had a vote at the annual meeting." We USED not to kill each over theology because we majored on missions and left the details of the faith to the individual and local church. It worked pretty well since the SBC was the largest Protestant Denomination in the US under that umbrella.

Back in the 50's and with power and steam/flame in the 60's --- things began to change. At every meeting you now had "Conservatives" pushing to rule when they had been a minority on votes / "Liberals" holding against what they perceived as barbarians at the gates of a diverse and fair organization.

Some called the Conservatives "fundamentalists" / others called the Main Line folks who understood (like me) "liberals." Then it went to Conservative-Fundamentalists / Moderate-Liberal. Nobody found a term to describe it. We all knew it was a "Battle for the Bible" as described in naive media. It kept the SBC on front pages of each State Baptist Paper with unending debate (nothing new for any Baptist) until the votes were cast in Houston, Texas, where I was present and watching, mid-70's.

A massive influx of church buses rolled up to the door. Out came masses of people flooding through the registration area and picking up ballots. There were rules which limited each church to a max of 10 Messengers, but they all got run over! Trust was the rule before that event. What Baptist Church or it's member, all knowing the rules, would intentionally violate them? How about just enough voters with ballots to give the Conservative candidate for the President a 2% edge in numbers!!!

What used to be a mission-sending organization is now a highly paid Executive organization with the Executive Committee appointed by a Conservative President (Mega Church pay) consistently in office ever since. Southeastern Seminary at Wake Forest is now a little Liberty University run with the outlook of Jerry Falwell---who was an Independent Baptist in Lynchburg, VA, saying all the SBC churches were bound for hell if attended by any type of Baptist other than "his type of Baptist."

When we stop respecting one another / when we start calling each other names in hate / we see how the SBC is no longer as big as it used to be / has nowhere near the type of professional schools with respect it used to have / is crying the blues over "what happened to our fast growth of the 60's?"

All I can say is, "God doesn't bless a mess!"

Commented: Thursday, August 7th, 2014 @ 11:18 am By: Gene Scarborough

Thanks for the help on another "designation." They are getting so plenteous these days to make people mad at one another, I lose count!

With your RINO definition, I would probable quality as as DINO!!! We both look past party to the real nature of people proven by who we know them to be. That is really hard with Madison Avenue ads puffing people into "politicians you need to elect."

Since you are on the subject and use often the conservative/liberal designations = the "L" designation you say with a sneer. How would you define each of these or any other over-used flame title?

Commented: Thursday, August 7th, 2014 @ 10:36 am By: Gene Scarborough