Cabarrus Cheap Seats

Again, I’m taking time from putting up the third post in the “Appetite for Construction” series to over this IBT mess. I’ve put up nearly 200 posts and most of the time there’s a philosophical difference (i.e. most of Cabarrus County supports public education vs. the Cabarrus Taxpayers’ Association opposing it); but this time - well it’s just folks being misinformed and rather crass at times.

I thought that local public policy debates couldn’t sink any deeper than the tripe that I saw from Harold Smith and Company - until I got this e-mail…

I’m not trying to feed your ego, it is large enough. Where do you get off accusing us of using misleading facts. FYI, no River Keepers condone the rough stuff you mention. I have met some McDowell County boys that you should meet up close and personal. It’s a long way from The Linville River to your misbegotten bedroom community of Charlotte. Could we keep it that way? You do represent cheap shots! 

The bottom line is this, the water that flows through any river in North Carolina belongs to all of the people in North Carolina. In this case, according to North Carolina state law, The water that flows through the Catawba River Basin belongs as much to someone across the state as it would to someone on its banks.

Whether or not an IBT should be approved should be based on facts and science - not emotion and politics; but that isn’t the take from the opponents. The e-mailer is no doubt emboldened by the political bloviating by some local leaders trying to score some votes. Here’s the Mayor of Hickory:

Already, the cities of Hickory and Conover have committed money to hire a lawyer with expertise in environmental cases. ‘This is not going to be cheap,’ said Conover City Manager Donald Duncan, ‘This is going to be long and drawn out.’ 

Wright said mobilizing opposition now is preferable, though. ‘The cheapest way to kill it is to kill it with public opinion.’

So much for a reasoned debate.