Comments by Gene Scarborough | Eastern North Carolina Now

What you need to realize is that LBJ was from serious Baptist country in Texas. One of the hallmarks of Baptists has been Separation of church and state --- to the point it was a part of their faith statements and historical distinctions. Bill Moyers who advised him was an ordained Baptist Minister as well.

The mega church and fundamentalism have changed it and now many pastors tell their members who they should vote for and against. This is a violation of the principle of democratic process in most Baptist churches.

If you are going to receive tax favoritism, then it is wise to make a part of it the avoidance of political activity that is partisan.

As an ordained Baptist minister I think our greatest moral opportunity is to point people to the way of Christ. From there, most are capable of figuring it out. . .

Commented: Wednesday, October 7th, 2015 @ 6:45 pm By: Gene Scarborough

Are we profiting from real estate --- OR serving the citizens with wise use of money and presence???

Commented: Tuesday, October 6th, 2015 @ 6:38 pm By: Gene Scarborough

I fail to see any reasonable approach to making America more safe from crazy people with a gun in this article. The ideal of America and the democratic process is that we can have a bloodless revolution every 4 years when people tire of excess taxation and a Legislature, either state or national, which does nothing but fuss and fight while getting rich on money they vote themselves for doing such.

The right to bear arms is focused on a State Militia as best I can tell. That does not mean "everyone has a gun and we shoot first then ask questions." It also assumes we care for people with mental issues depriving them of a conscience. All the mass shootings of late appear to have hate and mental issues at the core. Every one of those responsible have a demented look to me.

Can we not learn to be a democracy where all can vote and have a say in our future??? We have digressed to the rich electing puppets to public office and then they get off on crime and the working masses foot the bill for war.

It is my view that we have lost the ability to debate issues with wisdom --- and then find compromises which benefit the most citizens and have those people in mind as the beneficiaries of their tax payments.

I do not see the politics of Conservatism as benefiting the national or state scenes. NC has REGRESSED in education and public services in the last years of conservative majority. The same is true on the national level. What leaders say and what they actually are doing are vastly different. Most folks call it "LYING to the public and getting political favors as the result."

Can we just stop the terrorism from within?
Can we find ways to communicate and get back to the dream of "liberty and justice for ALL?"
What is the point in carrying a big gun to enforce our will on people who prefer peace and good Officers of the Peace?

Robbery with a pin and legal document is still THEFT, IN MY VIEW

Commented: Tuesday, October 6th, 2015 @ 5:51 am By: Gene Scarborough

Bubbles needs to find a boyfriend. I suggest Bobby Tony! He seems a bit feisty these days and could benefit from some good loving in the back row of some entertainment or drinking venue . . .

Commented: Monday, October 5th, 2015 @ 11:42 am By: Gene Scarborough

To TMcD --- NOPE!!!

Commented: Monday, October 5th, 2015 @ 10:58 am By: Gene Scarborough

This is a short-view analysis of why we have the Great Recession and there is not any quick relief to it. The real problem is failure to support small business competition and all the bailouts going to big banks and auto giants. NOTHING trickles down but sewage, my friend!

The recovery from the Great Depression was spurred by the Soil Bank. It offered the largest number of small businesses, the family farms, an immediate tax check if the farmer promised not to plant his acreage with crops not needed because of over-production. My granddaddy in SC immediately went and paid his debts to suppliers with his money from Uncle Sam. They ordered more goods to meet his immediate needs like clothes and food. BECAUSE government started at the bottom of the economic system with help, money began immediately to flow.

The bailouts to the big boys encountered tax and financial planners who advocated "carry your debt / keep you prices as they have been even if your production cost is paid by taxpayers / keep the books looking good for fools who want to invest in your poor management / reward those who drove you under with big bonuses and forget the assembly line workers."

As long as GREED and WAR rule America, we will fail and ultimately join the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians who lost is all to constant war and internal disgust with their rich rulers enjoying a plush life while enslavement by poverty continued.

Commented: Monday, October 5th, 2015 @ 9:43 am By: Gene Scarborough

Ted---the average Southern Baptist church member had no clue how much the new SBC hates women and gays. In NC we have a new "financial policy" which sends money back to any church which ministers to gays or has a female pastor. It is narrow and exclusionary to what used to be a welcoming of gifts for mission support.

From the snake handling Baptists in the mountains to the formal services of old coastal traditions---ALL could participate who wished. NEVER was there any exclusion over some fundamentalist definition of "who qualifies" to give . . .

Commented: Monday, October 5th, 2015 @ 8:39 am By: Gene Scarborough

Ted --- you are a typical Baptist these days = giving to something that is not what you thought it to be, but God is still working in this world of mess . . .

Commented: Sunday, October 4th, 2015 @ 12:24 pm By: Gene Scarborough

Thus far, the Republican clown show is full of smoke and mirrors. This whole thing smacks of BS for imagined criticism about imaginary issues. No President can amend the Constitution and the President is a Constitutional expert . . .

Commented: Saturday, October 3rd, 2015 @ 11:12 am By: Gene Scarborough

We live in an environment of FEAR and HATE these days---the politics of such comes home to roost in NC politics as well.

Commented: Saturday, October 3rd, 2015 @ 10:40 am By: Gene Scarborough

When we left Clarkston in 1963 to our future, mine was pre-med at Emory. ALL the freshmen I met in pre-med were willing to pay the price for their MD because it meant wealth and social prominence as well. They discussed it often.

Do you know a poor Doctor these days?
Know a poor Hospital Administrator?
Know a poor ambulance-chasing lawyer?

My wife was at the hub of the Physical Therapy Department of the Nash County Hospital. It, like our Washington Hospital, was bought by a large conglomerate. Vidant is the Corporate name here and it represents "money over care." They set about to close down any part which bleeds red ink. Wages for those who actually touch patients and keep the cleanliness standards are ridiculous compared to the highly paid CEO and other Administrators.

They operate as a 501(c)3 corporation which is "tax-exempt / non-profit" --- the same as a church and Boy Scouts or Red Cross. I fail to see the logic of having millions in escrow, yet being without profit and paying the leaders in the million dollar range! In addition --- paying no taxes!

The old Country Doctor was a vital part of any rural community. He was a spiritual adviser / medicine man / stitch er of wounds. Many did their help alongside being a barber in the early days of medicine. Each native tribe had a Medicine Man who knew how to take natural herbs and help people conquer their diseases.

The disease I see --- and which most needing an address --- is GREED over Caring for sick people. BCBS was formed by Doctors who wanted to be paid from the insurer instead of a poor patient who had nothing but chickens and pigs to trade.

The article deals with the Certificate of Need complexity. It is just another barrier to poor people helping one another. I still believe the majority of Doctors do their ministry with the Hippocratic Oath in mind over their bank account.

Commented: Monday, September 28th, 2015 @ 6:21 am By: Gene Scarborough

GOTTCHA BT!!!! You went to the "put down the Emory guy" button when I was saying that we can do better in NC if we quit the partisan battles and make use of Medicaid funds not being taken here since conservatism struck us to stupid.

I assume the same conservatism has invaded GA. How is rural healthcare being treated there? Are small hospitals having to close which should still be open in a corner of Beaufort County?

Triage is a fancy name for "doing the best for the most when limited medicine is shy of the needs." The "get rich quick" of modern medicine, pharma, lawyers suing, hospitals getting fancy, is worshiping the god of wealth, in my view . . .

Commented: Sunday, September 27th, 2015 @ 5:06 pm By: Gene Scarborough

If all were dyslexic, maybe we could figure out how to get along, buddy!

Commented: Sunday, September 27th, 2015 @ 4:32 am By: Gene Scarborough

When you have to go all the way to California to find a person to criticize, you are just looking for cases to criticize. NOW, what about NC?

Our Attorney General, Roy Cooper, who is running for Governor has distinguished himself here. He refused to be sucked into a pointless battle on a federal level over the Marriage Amendment which was ultimately bounced by the Federal Court.

He wisely advised the legislature when they insisted it be on the ballot that it was likely unconstitutional --- IT WAS!

We are smart in NC to avoid the national politics of hate and non-cooperation. Things go best when all sides are represented and good mediation gets us to things we can all applaud as "fair and balanced."

Commented: Saturday, September 26th, 2015 @ 7:25 am By: Gene Scarborough

I used to take my youth groups to Valle Crucis Episcopal School near the Mast Store in Valle Crucis and Boone. We could ski the night session at Grandfather on the cheap and enjoy such a place for a total of $120 per teenager. We had a cap on family cost and many found a special time of contemplation around the big fireplace.

The "luxury" of that adventure was Spiritual Renewal and Commitments. Maybe this could be another such adventure at group rates for many here in the Inner Banks.

Commented: Saturday, September 26th, 2015 @ 4:46 am By: Gene Scarborough

I am delighted to hear progress is being made to reopen a more aggressive emergency care center in Belhaven. Problems still remain until NC gets its head on straight over Medicaid Funds. Us citizens have paid our Federal Taxes, but political arrogance by Conservatives is showing its ugly head in NC and Beaufort County.

There is no problem good thinking and cooperation cannot solve in America. The starting point is for all to reason together and quit the partisan gamesmanship. We do not need the hate of national politics in the good relations of Beaufort County.

When wars continue without brokering a Peace, soldiers and innocent civilians die. The same is true with the benefits of Emergency Care done right. The LOVE of MONEY is the root of all evil and healthcare involves some of the most money in America these days between ornate hospitals, big pharma, excess charges, suing lawyers, and overcharging for procedures "because you can."

I give but one example: A person I know in Accra, Ghana, had to have a heart artery stint placed to save her life. The procedure is done by running a catheter up the groin artery to the place indicated and inserting a tube to open the artery and restore heart blood flow. It was developed at Emory University Medical School and prevents cracking the chest as in the past.

The TOTAL COST for the procedure and hospital was $1,500!!! Same training / same success / same reasonable cost ---- HARDLY!!!!

Commented: Saturday, September 26th, 2015 @ 4:25 am By: Gene Scarborough

This makes your theme almost the same as Aldus Huxley, Gene Roddenberry, and other fictional writers who used fiction to get through our defenses against being inquisitive and failing to "follow the crowd!"

Now, I am compelled to read --- and hope we all benefit from an "afflicted author!" I doubt your autism is anything more than an "opportunity to help us all," my friend!

Commented: Friday, September 25th, 2015 @ 7:27 am By: Gene Scarborough