I had a friend from the North ask me recently how I liked living in Guilford County. I replied that the only good thing was that traffic is not as bad as most major cities. Here are some things I don't like:
Our airport is the slowest in the nation.
Our schools keep getting worse and costing more.
Our taxes are skyrocketing.
Our county commissioners vacation in Hawaii while they almost double their own salaries.
Our air quality is one of the worst in the nation.
Both sides continue to stir the racial pot, promoting tension.
Our Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a double oxymoron.
And the Democratic Party is in charge.
He said, "Things could be worse; the Democrats could be running the nation."
Charlie Liebert
Greensboro
Comments (16)
Democrats, Republicans...what's the difference?
Posted by Paul Elledge | July 24, 2005 5:09 AM
Charlie, I have friends from the north who comment daily about life in guilford co. Most of them want to tell me "how they did things back in new yaak" or "baaastan", as if we are about a century and a half behind the times."Traffic is not as bad as in most major cities", you need to take a cruise down wendover ave. on any given weekday morning.
I agree with the rest of your list.
Posted by Yard Dog | July 24, 2005 7:30 AM
Charlie,
You about covered it. You could have also mentioned that the sports scene in Greensboro is practically non-existent as well. The ACC Basketball Tournament doesn't come to town but every few years, and it's barren the rest of the time.
Posted by Dean Wormer | July 24, 2005 7:33 AM
Yard Dog, NC is not a century and a half behind the times - only about 20 years - literally. North Carolidiots don't like change - even for the better. That's why your DOT wastes lots and lots of your money. That's why Skippy and Co are allowed to waste your money. That's why the govenor is allowed to waste money. That's why the Mexicans are taking over. There is absolutely no accountability here, just taxes.
Posted by JC | July 24, 2005 10:49 AM
What a bunch of whiners, starting with Liebert.
If it's so terrible here, why don't you leave?
There is much to like about living in Greensboro. And of course there is much room for improvement.
But to go through the day with such relentless negativity about your home -- it seems sad.
Posted by Home Boy | July 24, 2005 1:05 PM
JC, the airport is slow,but if you reserve now you may be home by xmas anyway. Pepole I know who has fled the north list the same complaints you do about us Carolidiots as for their flight.
Posted by yard dog | July 24, 2005 1:21 PM
JC, you need to tread carefully when calling North Carolina folks idiots. There are still a few who know where the tar bucket and the feathers are hidden. I have discoverd the NC folks don't mind change, they just don't need and bunch of Yankees or half-backs telling them how to change. It's a short drive to I-95 and last time I looked it ran both ways. In fact closer to I-81 and it will certainly merge with 95 or 75/85. So for those who seem to think NC folks are idiots or just want to change things
here, the maps are marked plainly.
I found that by living around the world and across the US, that it is better to acclimate. Usually that requires listining and hearing to the local folks, making friends, and blending in. Worked for over 20 yrs for me.
I'm an ole southern boy from across the mountian but proud to call NC, in the mountains, home.
Posted by mrproduce | July 24, 2005 2:02 PM
Take this letter with a grain of salt as it comes from a guy who is adamant that the earth is about 6000 years old and that the Dinosaurs died out only a few thousand years ago.
Posted by Grayson County | July 24, 2005 3:07 PM
I have to defend our little airport...you can easily catch a flight from here to Raleigh or Charlotte and then on to the rest of the country.
Posted by Luke Jerrold | July 24, 2005 6:22 PM
You're right Luke, if you don't mind paying out the wazoo. It's actually cheaper to have someone drive you to Charlotte. We have the same problem here in the Mountians. From Asheville you can't get there from here or here from there for that matter.
Had to fly the grandson back to Dallas, Tx last week. Cost from Asheville, with change in Atlanta was over $450. From Atlanta direct it was $225and change. Cost to drive to Atlanta and return, slightly over $24 for gas. Of course now if I take into consideration what my wife spent shopping at the fabric shop on the way home, I could have taken him to Texas cheaper.
Given the size of G'boro, I could never figure out why it cost so much to fly from there and why they did not have any more direct flights to anywhere. Looks as if it has not changed much in the last couple years.
Posted by mrproduce | July 24, 2005 11:29 PM
JC
Delta's ready when you are! I'll even bet there would be some of us "North Carolidiots" who would contribute to the purchase of your one-way ticket outta here. Last I checked, no one is begging you to stay.
Posted by bunny | July 25, 2005 12:54 PM
When I was younger, I couldn't wait to get out of here. I thought there was nothing to do and everything was backwards. Well, I've had the opportunity to live in the North in several places. I thank God that I was able to come home!
We're certainly not perfect, but neither is any other place. One of the great things about our Country is the fact you can live wherever you choose. Apparantly those of you who mean mouth us must like it enough to stay. Nobody's keeping you here.
Posted by n4cersh | July 25, 2005 3:03 PM
Charlie - MOVE ................north
Posted by yellowdog | July 25, 2005 4:30 PM
Don't forget! Greensboro is also 40th out of 40 cities in Fortune magazine's "Best Cities for Singles".
Posted by Kehaar | July 27, 2005 9:24 AM
It's easy to get a driver's lisence here.
Posted by yellowdog | July 27, 2005 3:51 PM
May sound sappy, but I believe it is true -- any place to live is as good as you make it.
Regards to all.
Posted by Tony Ledford | July 27, 2005 4:56 PM