Posted on 02/09/2006 10:02:35 PM PST by Congressman Billybob
I am running. For Congress in the 11th District of North Carolina in 2006. Here’s why:
Many times I’ve urged my readers to visit the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. This is one of the most beautiful places in the nation, and the world. Millions of people agree; the Great Smokies are the third most popular park destination in the US.
There is a power, a majesty, a soothing effect, in the mountains, the forests, the streams, the waterfalls. There is truth in the Bible verse, carved in the oak altar of First Presbyterian Church, Highlands, North Carolina, “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”
As the place is special, so are the people. You’ve read my columns about Frank and Verna Cook, and Dusty Rhodes. These were “good people.” In many parts of the nation, cynicism has taken over. It’s become faintly negative to say “He’s a good man,” meaning he’s dull and ordinary. Or, “She’s a good woman,” meaning she has no spark or style.
Not so in Western Carolina. These are hard-working people who are proud of their heritage, fiercely protective of their families, and loyal to a fault. Both the place and the people made me claim as my home town this place in the mountains that I first saw in 1948. The war had ended, my father was able to buy a car and bring the family to visit my grandparents in the home they’d bought in 1923.
That turn-of-the-century farmhouse, now lovingly restored is now my home. But I honored the past. The roof is still tin; the house is still heated with wood fireplaces.
The first question about running for Congress should be, what are the needs of the District? For the 11th District, those can be boiled down to two words: jobs and education.
The economy here divides roughly into thirds: manufacturing, agriculture and tourism. All are under pressure. In manufacturing, whole factories – especially in textiles – have been packed up and shipped outside the US, leaving behind vacant buildings, asphalt parking lots dotted with grass, and thousands of able workers without jobs. Federal, state and local cooperation is needed to stem the bleeding of existing jobs, and attract new companies into this area of relatively low costs, excellent climate, and most of all, reliable employees.
In agriculture, more fields are lying fallow; barns are falling to rack and ruin. The soil, the climate, and the skills of the farmers remain excellent. Monetary and trade policies set in Washington are destroying the ability of those farmers to grow and market their crops, and support their families.
The healthiest part of the local economy is tourism, which continues to grow. With that, however, comes two problems. In summer, the roads are jammed; Winnebagos are nose to tailpipe across the Great Smokies. Air pollution is now a serious concern. There are ways to get more tourists, but fewer cars. Some will involve interstate cooperation with Tennessee, on the far side of the Smokies. But this can be done.
And, in both jobs and education, there are unique needs for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, most of whom live here. As a sovereign tribe, the Cherokee expect and deserve special attention from Congress.
In the long run, no issue is more important than education. Here, and across the nation, we preserve what we have only if we pass on to the next generation our knowledge, skills, language and culture. It’s no secret that American education has been steadily dumbed down since 1976. Our public schools are better than most US public schools. But in the grip of the “edukashun” unions, even our schools are graduating more and more students who cannot read their diplomas.
There has to be competition in education. Parents know what is best for their children. If parents decide that vouchers, charter schools, or home schooling will help their children, governments, including Congress, should back up the parents. The future of the District, and America, rides on this.
Lastly, what are my qualifications as a candidate?
I’ve had some extraordinary successes, in the Supreme Court, in my books and articles, and in teaching. I’ve also had some spectacular failures. In my first press conference I’ll lay all that on the table. As with Abraham Lincoln, this will be a “warts and all” campaign.
Frankly, I don’t trust a man or woman who claims a record of only successes. Either he is a liar, concealing the negative factors. Or worse, that candidate has never felt the lash of failure, and when he does, he may be paralyzed, unable to act. I am a battle-hardened veteran. I neither freeze nor run when the guns start firing.
The last asset I offer is my thirty-three years of working with thousands of state legislators, some Members of Congress and Senators, and occasional presidential candidates. I’ve learned much from all those men and women. I place that at the service of the good folks of Western Carolina.
This is my 500th column. It seemed appropriate to use that milestone to make this announcement.
About the Author: John Armor is candidate for Congress in the 11th District of North Carolina. John_Armor@aya.yale.edu
The response of Taylor's office to this article was the worst possible choice. By e-mail, his Press Secretary threatened a law suit against the paper. The Editor promptly shared that threat with all other media in NC. That's discussed here:
Finally, one of Taylor's minions saw fit to attack me personally, in print. No competent incumbent should even mention the name of his opponent, much less attack him.
So, it's been a favorable two weeks. I look forward to the interest and support of my colleagues on FR.
John / Billybob
Sorry if i missed it, but are you running as a Republican and challenging Taylor in the primary?
John,
Godspeed your candidacy and those of other statesmen!
"By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice."
Proverbs 8:15
Good luck, 'warts and all'.
Illegal and legal 3rd world immigration is the critical issue facing our country that will determine whether our Western European culture survives or be driven to extinction. It will also determine our children's and their childrens future.
Absolutely.
BTTT, if I could vote over there I would vote for You...
Hey, I'm not far from you.
Best of luck!
(Why did you choose to announce at 1am on a thursday night/friday morning??? Oh right... time zones!)
Go John, go! You're going to be very busy, but try and keep us posted.
Good luck Mr. Armor. If I was still living in Murphy, I'd vote for you. However, I ran just across the border into Georgia a few years back.
(I mean just. I'm probably a hundred yards or less from North Carolina.)
You'll be in my prayers, may it be GODS WILL!
I wish you luck. Very good writeup explaining your candidacy.
I have driven and hiked your Blue Ridge Mountains with my service dog - as we have many other places in the US we visited. I must agree with you about it's beauty.
And the RV's are as bad as Alaskas' during the summer.
I wish you well in your effort. Wish I could vote for you but must be content to vote against F'stein, Boxer and Lee.
Yes, I'll keep my friends at FR posted.
Godspeed and Good Luck!
I'd vote for ya if I weren't in Arizona (currently in exile from Minnesota).
My prayers are for you personally, as I understand politics can get quite personal and nasty...illegitimi non carborundum.
Cheers!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.