policy

State policy for retention of e-mail is being led by Franklin Freeman, Easley's senior assistant for government affairs, who doesn't know "how to cut a computer on."

A public hearing on the issue of e-mail retention was scheduled for April 3 at 9:30 a.m. in the Administration Building on Jones Street in Raleigh. Franklin Freeman, Easley's senior assistant for government affairs and hand-picked chairman of the committee, said that people who want to speak at the public hearing should not try to send him e-mail.

"I don't even know how to cut a computer on," Freeman said. "I do not communicate by e-mail. I'm still one of the old-fashioned folks who communicate by telephone or face to face."

- N&O: Committee hears of millions of e-mails trashed

--bumped, because Democrats should be ashamed. Heckuva job, Franky!. Robert P.

On Thursday February 28th, the Fayetteville Observer published an opinion article entitled "On point: Congressional vigilance is needed to ensure educational excellence." The article discussed the need for members of Congress, in particular those that represent the areas around Fort Bragg, to appropriate additional impact aid to support the burden that Fort Bragg's future growth will put on the communities around it. Although members of Congress are responsible for federal education appropriations, there must be accountability and sound policy from state and local officials as well. State and local officials decide how those appropriations are used. It is up to the constituents of these officials to hold them accountable for their education policies. If there is a valid documented fear that the entrance of new students from Fort Bragg families will harm the education system, then local and state officials need to prepare for such a situation. Setting aside funds, cutting programs, and submitting requests for additional funding are some steps that can be taken before it becomes a real problem.

Still not decided on who you might cast your ballot, or whatever, for?

Well The Real News have a few interviews with Jonathan Schell on his take on the candidates and their possible Foreign Policy Directions.

Who is Jonathan Schell, if you didn't already know:

Based in New York City, USA, Jonathan Schell is a renowned anti-nuclear activist, prolific journalist, lecturer and best-selling author. He is a frequent contributor to The Nation, The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine and Atlantic Monthly. He is also the author of The Fate of the Earth, nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Schell is a board member of IWT - The Real News.

This week's Exile on Jones Street column is about the move by fundamentalists to keep NC from requiring HPV vaccinations. The vaccine is highly effective against the virus which causes most cervical cancers. Also, an update on Rep. Price's oversight plans for the DHS, plus 'Canes in the big man's house and a quick note about how the Bonds of 2008 are shaping up.

Here's the text:

North Carolina is considering adding several more vaccinations to the list of what the state will pay for to inoculate poor and indigent children. On the list is a vaccination against HPV—Human Papillomavirus—which causes most cervical cancer. That's OK, says the N.C. Family Policy Council, a fundamentalist group that has argued against universal HPV vaccinations.

But if the state wants to take HPV prevention any further, as in requiring girls to have the vaccination before entering school, the council says they'll fight it just as other groups have done elsewhere. South Carolina is already in the midst of a push to require the vaccination, and last week Rick Perry, the Republican governor of Texas, bypassed a fight in the legislature by issuing an executive order requiring the vaccinations.

America Can Stand Down in Iraq and Win
January 31, 2007
By Marshall Adame

In a recent water cooler discussion about Iraq, I suggested that America needs to remove the primary combat forces from Iraq and concentrate on training, government capacity building and providing logistical support and material capacity to the Iraqi Provincial Governments and certain commercial enterprises which contribute to the nations commerce and infrastructure i.e., railroads, airports, ports, electricity, etc.

The provincial governments in Iraq, however married to tribal and religious traditions, are the real governments in Iraq. The central government in Baghdad is paralyzed by sectarian bickering, graft, corruption, absence of its elected members (many have left the country), infighting and strife. The welfare of the country, as a whole, is far removed from any real debates occurring at the central government level. My suggestion, that we could remove our troops, was met by what seems the standard reply to remarks like the ones I had just made. “Man, do you have any idea how much blood will be spilled if we pulled out our combat troops?” A legitimate question from anyone who does not understand the Arab mindset. My answer being “Not as much blood as is being spilled today”.