Charlotte: NC's ugly stepchild (Raleigh, Wilmington: to buy, construction, plantations)

[LLN]

We in New Bern would like to thank all you hard working, tax paying folks for the incredible bridge complex over the Neuse and Trent Rivers. We also would thank you for the INTERSTATE highway between Wilson and Goldsboro (which is MT most of the time), not to mention all those miles of interstate quality pavement on US-70, 64, and 264 heading down east.

In fact, we even have a couple mil of state money to convert a 4 lane street into a 2 lane street with trees in the middle. (Pitiful idea, but being done)

Don't like it, huh?

Well just think what will happen if we ever get a Democratic Governor from New Bern.

Ruh Roh!

lln

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

Ani, does this go all the way back to colonial times? I know that the eastern part of the state was settled differently than the rest.

It's a similar situation with tax money in NJ, although the majority does live in the north. It was the reason that the southern counties had a secession question on the ballots back in the 80s & the only reason that it didn't succeed is that Trenton took it off the ballots.

Yes, absolutely. This is NOT a new problem. The eastern part of this state has VERY different concerns than the western part. If you look at the last 300 years here in this state, you will see the evolution of the divisions. Let's start w/ tobacco . . . used to be the eastern part of the state held the power b/c that is where the money was. This is a long and tangled history and to understand what is going on w/ CLT getting the short end of the stick w/ $$$ for projects . . . you have to go back decades and follow the leadership in the General Assembly as well as what alliances there are b/n county party bosses and state legislators and state department heads. It is NOT a simple situation and it does not strictly follow party lines. Western counties sending DEM reps to the GA are still penalized b/c of SENIORITY.

[stmaarten]

Originally Posted by TheEmissary

stmaarten - I see Charlotteans as being a bunch of weenies when it comes to dealing with Raleigh. Too much money and power is sent back or ceded to Raleigh. After having lived outside of Raleigh, I'm very familar with the attitude of people in the Raleigh area towards Charlotte. It's not too good! It was described for me by a local Raleigh grand dame, kind of in the same way as the famous Bette Davis quote "What A Dump". Before I ever came for a visit, my impressions of Charlotte after talking with Raleigh people was that it was like Newark, only bigger, with more humidity. And that was from a couple of Raleigh guys that had actually been to Newark!

I'd like to be in charge of the money that Charlotte sends to Raleigh. I'll take the job for only 10% of Gloria Pace King's "meager" compensation! LOL. I'll do the accounting like the NJ Garbage Removal industry as follows:

$1 for Charlotte $1 for Raleigh
$1, $2 for Charlotte $2 for Raleigh
$1, $2, $3 for Charlotte $3 for Raleigh

etc.

Then you give those guys who want that Fayetteville Beltway a "Jersey Style vacation". You take them out on the "Queen C" about 25 miles off of Wilmington, chum the water and push them overboard. They'd get to meet "Big Pu$$y" and get to "sleep with the fishes". Oops! So sorry Fayetteville - good luck with that new election!

See, citizens of Charlotte - With a little "creative accounting" and a "push" in the right direction, you could have that last section of 485 done in no time at all!

Watch it Em, your "Jersey" is showing!
Funny post!

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by LLN

We in New Bern would like to thank all you hard working, tax paying folks for the incredible bridge complex over the Neuse and Trent Rivers. We also would thank you for the INTERSTATE highway between Wilson and Goldsboro (which is MT most of the time), not to mention all those miles of interstate quality pavement on US-70, 64, and 264 heading down east.

In fact, we even have a couple mil of state money to convert a 4 lane street into a 2 lane street with trees in the middle. (Pitiful idea, but being done)

Don't like it, huh?

Well just think what will happen if we ever get a Democratic Governor from New Bern.

Ruh Roh!

lln

ROFL!!! I was born near New Bern and know the politics well, LOL.

It doesn't matter where the GOV is from as far as being from an eastern county. It is the senior leadership in the General Assembly, all DEMs, combined w/ a DEM Gov from ANYWHERE in the state.

Y'all will still be sitting pretty as long as eastern DEMS control the committees that control the purse strings!!!!

You might as well enjoy it . . . the spoils of crony-ism . . .

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by jstn

So...do you think SC would claim us if we succeed from NC?

Don't know. They were the first to secede and we were reluctant in NC so were the second to last, I believe . . . wh/ didn't please our Southern cousins. They might let us back into the fold, HEE HEE HEE.

[SunnyKayak]

We will be ok Nick Mackey will pull Charlotte through

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

We will be ok Nick Mackey will pull Charlotte through

OMG!!!! I just spewed coffee on my keyboard!!!

Yep, thank God for Our Fearless Leader, Nick Mackey. He sho nuff is gonna do us proud. Maybe he can figure out how to put the charges for that last stretch of 485 on a credit card - and default on it - the way he paid for his law school education.

[TheEmissary]

Originally Posted by anifani821

OMG!!!! I just spewed coffee on my keyboard!!!

Yep, thank God for Our Fearless Leader, Nick Mackey. He sho nuff is gonna do us proud. Maybe he can figure out how to put the charges for that last stretch of 485 on a credit card - and default on it - the way he paid for his law school education.

Or better yet, he could marry good ol' Gloria and she could pay for 485 out of her "retirement fund". What a dynamic duo that would be!

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by TheEmissary

Or better yet, he could marry good ol' Gloria and she could pay for 485 out of her "retirement fund". What a dynamic duo that would be!

Ooooohhhh . . . what a thought. I would like to run both of them out of town. Con artists. Both of them.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Yes, absolutely. This is NOT a new problem. The eastern part of this state has VERY different concerns than the western part. If you look at the last 300 years here in this state, you will see the evolution of the divisions. Let's start w/ tobacco . . . used to be the eastern part of the state held the power b/c that is where the money was. This is a long and tangled history and to understand what is going on w/ CLT getting the short end of the stick w/ $$$ for projects . . . you have to go back decades and follow the leadership in the General Assembly as well as what alliances there are b/n county party bosses and state legislators and state department heads. It is NOT a simple situation and it does not strictly follow party lines. Western counties sending DEM reps to the GA are still penalized b/c of SENIORITY.

Thanks, Ani. I'm no expert on NC history, but from what I've picked up connected to my ancestors' early arrival from PA, & helping a friend track his, coming from NJ, PA (some from the area that became DE), MD, & VA, as well as some other people, I have a bit of an idea of who came down the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road, & in some cases why. It wasn't like the group who settled the coastal areas, for the most part.

I know what you mean about the money. I've read that the monied aristocrats in the east were the ones who pushed through the secession vote in 1861, but from everything that I've read, it seems that there was already a divide. That's why I asked. (not trying to stir up anything based on my historical references, just looking for the source of the problem)