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Elections 2024: The long year ahead

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Tuesday, 19 March 2024

Written by Margaret Dickson

It is halfway over now, but in some ways, it is just beginning.

We pretty much know who is going to be on our general election ballots in November, and the few races still undecided will be over shortly after a handful of runoff elections, or “second primaries,” as we call them in North Carolina. That means the time has arrived for careful thought and research into candidates—what positions they take on issues that are important to us and what kind of human beings they are—before we cast our final votes in November.

Knee-jerk reactions to candidates for whatever reasons are inappropriate, shortsighted, foolish, and, ultimately, dangerous to ourselves, our families, and everyone else.

There is little question that American democracy is on the line in November. The Harvard political scientists who wrote 2018’s stunning How Democracies Die have a new book out, Tyranny of the Minority, and if what they assert does not scare your socks off, then you are not paying attention.

Professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt argue that our nation has always been an experiment in democracy, evolving since its inception, and now reaching the point of becoming one of the few multi-racial democracies in history. This possibility, they write, has birthed an authoritarian reaction, some even say backlash, that has the potential to rip us apart at the seams. The scholars propose several governmental changes, some already embraced by other world democracies, to reform our political system. They make the case that we have done so in the past, notably after the Civil War. In true book jacket fashion, they assert that “we are at a crossroads: America will either become a multiracial democracy or cease to be a democracy at all.”

Those are terrifying words, and if nothing else, they should impel voters to look closely at political candidates at all levels, especially for our top jobs. Do the people running respect democracy and the judgment of the American people, or do they believe they alone are suitable for the positions they seek? Do they call others names? Do they see our complex nation and world in black and white terms or do they understand that there are few, if any, easy answers to the problems that face us?

Our individual lives are complicated, and issues facing our nation are both pressing and dangerous. Levitsky and Ziblatt, like millions of other Americans, see the 2024 general election as a turning point. The United States can either stand up to those who fear a multi-racial, multi-cultural democracy or we can give up on a democratic ideal in favor of some authoritarian form of government. The final stage of our toxic political polarization leaves little room for anything else.

As a Baby Boomer, the results of the 2024 elections, however they turn out, are unlikely to affect me and my generation profoundly, as we are heading for greener pastures. But elective choices made in 2024 will certainly affect the lives of my children and grandchildren, which, in fact, does scare my socks off. Millions of Americans feel the same way.

Elections do have consequences. When we enter the voting booth, we would all do well to think not about our own angers and disappointments but about the futures of those we love.

Childhood dreams damaged

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Tuesday, 12 March 2024

Written by Pitt Dickey

It was all a scam. Those ads at the back of comic books in the Way Back Times. Back when comics were a dime, then 12 cents, then 15 cents. Initially, the ads were a source of juvenile dreams. Once upon a time, I believed X-ray specs worked. The ad was awesome, featuring a leering guy with lightning coming out of his glasses. He enjoyed “a hilarious optical illusion” of seeing through a Lady Person’s clothing. The ad promised you could look at your hands to see the bones underneath the skin. What 13-year-old boy wouldn’t want to have such an amazing scientific invention? Honor House sold a pair of these wonder glasses for only $1 plus 25 cents shipping. With a name like Honor House, it had to be true. I ordered a pair. Alas, it was not true. The glasses did not allow you to look at the bones in your hands or beneath Milady’s clothing. Lightning did not zap out of your eyes when you looked through them. What a major gyp.

I blame the lack of truth on the pernicious influence of Madison Avenue. Surely a fine company like Honor House would not knowingly submit false advertising to a candid world. Don Draper had to be behind these misleading ads. As a newly minted teenager, I followed Samuel Coleridge’s theory to have a willing suspension of disbelief. I believed the ads. As Bloody Mary sang in South Pacific, “If you don’t have a dream/ How you gonna have a dream come true?” The ads were the stuff that dreams were made of.

There were many wonders advertised at the back of the comic books. For $1.50 you could get a phony arm cast complete with a sling. It looked like the real thing and would fit teenagers or adults. For a buck you could get a “Mr. Baldy Bigshot Skin Head Wig.” When you put it on “you will look several years older and get a million laughs.” Fortunately, I saved a dollar and obtained a natural skin head look courtesy of my maternal grandfather’s gene pool. You want funny? Get a pack of Onion Gum for 20 cents. It looks like normal gum but tastes like onions. Give a stick to your friends and watch the hilarity as they spit it out.

An all-time favorite that did work was the “Joy Buzzer.” You hid a secret buzzer in the palm of your hand. Then shake hands with an unsuspecting buddy. He will jump six feet in the air when the buzzer goes off, surprising him and entertaining you. Imagine the fun you could have with your own tube of $1 fake Vampire blood. “You never know when a Vampire will strike! Be ready with this realistic-looking Vampire blood and watch the girls swoon.” Like the chronically swooning Miss Pittypat Hamilton in “Gone with the Wind,” back in the ‘60s female teenage persons were more loving swoonful. Fake Vampire blood was just the thing to set them off.

Another classic gag was the tiny voice throwing instrument you hid inside your mouth. It came with instructions on how to become a ventriloquist. You can “throw your voice into trucks, behind doors, everywhere. Fool teachers, friends, and family.” What could be cooler? The ad featured a worker carrying a big box on his back with a voice coming out of the box yelling “Help! Let me out! Help!” Hours of hijinks ensue. Pro tip: This did not work.

For 50 cents you could get a real boomerang for target throwing. Guaranteed that “In case you miss, it comes right back to you, and Bingo! You are all set to fire again. More fun than a barrel of monkeys.” I could never get the boomerang to come back. I would throw it and it just hit the ground. It was considerably less fun than a barrel of monkeys. I was never quite sure how much fun a barrel of monkeys might be. Was the top on the barrel and the monkeys were confined inside?

If there was no top of the barrel, the monkeys would just climb out of the barrel leaving you to chase them down. That didn’t really seem like much fun either. Monkeys in a barrel is a pretty low bar for fun. Chasing monkeys was probably more fun than throwing a curved flat stick and then picking it off the ground.

Yelp Review: Don’t buy a boomerang.

The boomerang craze did spawn a great Australian song in 1962 called “My Boomerang Won’t Come Back” by the late great Charlie Drake. I could identify with the Mac, the hero of the song. Mac lamented “I’m a big disgrace to the Aborigine race/ My boomerang won’t come back.” Bigly sad.

Have we learned anything of use today? Once again, almost nothing. But if it saves one person fifty cents on a faulty boomerang it is worth it. As Marvin Gaye once sang: “Believe half of what you see/ Son, and none of what you hear.”

That goes double for anything contained in this column.

Floyd Properties builds dream homes in FIVE STAR locations

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Tuesday, 12 March 2024

Written by Greg Floyd

Floyd Properties is celebrating its 73rd year of building new homes and neighborhoods in the Cumberland and surrounding counties. We are very pleased to offer our customers many options to have the home of their Dreams.

These new home neighborhoods are exceptional in location, design, amenities and livability. The floor plans we are offering feature wide open living areas with the kitchen, family room and dining with no walls, creating a sense of grand and spacious living.

Our most popular homes have two story family rooms with large glass doors and multiple levels of windows. Open, expansive, boundless, splendid and even gorgeous and majestic are words we are striving for in these houses.

The kitchens have features the family chef would appreciate and bathrooms that are bright with large windows, full glass shower enclosures, rain shower heads with dramatic open ceramic showers and beautiful bathtubs with ceramic tile all around the sides. The master bedroom closets are all wood custom designed and built.

Pot fillers, electric car charging stations, farm sinks, laminate and hardwood floors, custom designer hand railings, coffered ceilings, wainscoting, dramatic upscale inside trim, chair railing, large crown molding, enlarged base moldings, larger window and door casing and entry way accents, large design created columns and archway dramatic design enhance the magnificent impact of these features in each home.

An important part of our vision is to provide our customers locations in the North, South, East and West regions of our local area. The neighborhoods we offer our homes in are as important as the homes themselves. Walking trails, fishing ponds, nature trails, parks, playground equipment, mail stations and beautiful entrances are crucial to making our neighborhoods livable, walkable, safe and outstanding places to live close to shopping, schools and recreational activities.

Saddlebrook is our Southern Pines location on a wonderful golf course at Longleaf Country Club. Fairfield Farms is located on the North side of Fayetteville at the 295 exit, Cape Fear Crossings is near Cape Fear High School next to the Carter blueberry farm, Legacy and Westhaven are located in the Jack Britt school district next to Harris Teeter on Stoney Point Road and Kingston is a new neighborhood opening in 2025 located West near the new aquatic and recreational center in Hoke County near the hospital, shopping and schools.

Call us today at 910-423-6700 to visit one of our FIVE STAR locations in and around our community.

Robertson’s leadership takes Chamber organization to new heights

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Tuesday, 12 March 2024

Written by Bill Bowman

What a difference a year makes! Every vibrant municipality needs a successful Chamber of Commerce. I have written countless articles about the amazing opportunities available in Fayetteville and Cumberland County for businesses, organizations, and entrepreneurs if only we had more competent and engaged civic, business, and governmental leadership. Effective leaders are defined by their work ethic, integrity, and active and ongoing engagement in the community.

Below I have published a letter that Brian Pearce, Chairman of the Board of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce sent to their nearly 800 members reviewing the first 12 months of the Chamber’s performance and progress. The letter congratulates overwhelmingly Nat Robertson, Fayetteville’s former mayor and current Chamber President/CEO on his achievements and overall stellar performance. This letter is the near-perfect example at the type of aggressive and dedicated leadership needed to propel businesses and the Fayetteville community into a state of profitability and respectability in the 21st century.

Dear Greater Fayetteville Chamber Members,

As we turn the pages of our collective journey, it is with immense pride and a profound sense of community spirit that we commemorate a significant milestone - the one-year anniversary of Mr. Nat Robertson's tenure as CEO of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. In the span of a year, Nat has not only embodied the values and vision that our Chamber stands for but has also propelled us toward new heights with unwavering dedication, innovative strategies, and a deep commitment to fostering business growth and prosperity in our beloved City and County.

Under Nat's leadership, our Chamber has experienced remarkable achievements and milestones. His strategic vision has paved the way for enhanced member services, expanded networking opportunities, and impactful advocacy efforts that have not only benefited our business community but also reinforced the economic foundation of Fayetteville and the area. His approachable leadership style and open-door policy have fostered a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, and shared purpose among our members, staff, and the wider community.

Nat's tenure has been marked by significant initiatives aimed at addressing the needs of our diverse membership, from small businesses to large corporations. His commitment to leveraging technology for better engagement, education programs, and promoting sustainable business practices reflects his forward-thinking approach to chamber leadership. Moreover, his efforts in strengthening partnerships with local government, educational institutions, and other stakeholders have been instrumental in creating a more business-friendly environment in our area.

As we celebrate this milestone, we also look forward to the continued journey under Nat's leadership. The roadmap ahead is filled with ambitious plans and exciting prospects that promise to elevate our Chamber and our community to even greater heights. We are confident that with Nat at the helm, supported by our dynamic team and you, our valued members, the Greater Fayetteville Chamber will continue to thrive and make a lasting impact in our region.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire Chamber staff, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to Nat Robertson for a successful year as CEO. We are incredibly grateful for your leadership, vision, and unwavering dedication to our Chamber and community. Here's to many more years of success, growth, and achievements together!

Thank you, each and every one of you, for your continued support and commitment to the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. Together, we are making a difference in Fayetteville, and it is a privilege to embark on this journey with you all.

Warmest regards,
Brian Pearce
Chairman of the Board, Greater Fayetteville Chamber

To add substance and details to Pearce's letter for a better understanding for our readers, I have taken the liberty of documenting a few of the Chamber's achievements under Robertson’s leadership that Pearce refers to.

Robertson’s success during this past year is the near-perfect example of how putting the right person, in the right place, at the right time, produces the right results.

Robertson's Chamber of Commerce achievements:

• Recruited 300+ new Chamber members.
• Organized and Executed five (5) successful and “Sold Out” Business/Community events.
• Created and staffed the Consumer Protection Division.
• Revitalized the Military and Governmental Affairs committees.
Revised ENGAGE Magazine as the Chamber's Official Business Journal.
• Created: The quarterly Non-denominational Chamber Prayer Breakfast
• Implement bi-monthly member Success Seminars and Speaker Series.
• Assembled an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and talented staff.

Looking Ahead

In Robertson’s own words, “…. I’m excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for the Chamber and the Fayetteville community. I am confident in our ability to continue making a meaningful impact for our members and the Fayetteville area. The Chamber team remains committed to delivering even more value to our members, fostering a dynamic business environment, and contributing to Fayetteville's economy and overall success.”

The successes of Nat Robertson in revitalizing the Chamber reflect the trust and leadership support he has received from the Chamber Board of Directors, his ability to recognize Fayetteville's potential, and his vision and talent for organizing and motivating a team of staffers and volunteers that also grasp the vision of supporting and nurturing healthy and dynamic businesses and organizations for the betterment of the entire Fayetteville and Cumberland County community.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.