CAUTION and Occupy Charlotte Join in Opposition to Chiquita Deal
When two organizations with generally different viewpoints on the nations political situation can agree on a local issue, it says something.
The President of CAUTION, a Charlotte based Tea Party organization, and a spokesperson for Occupy Charlotte announced today that their respective organizations stand in opposition to a proposed incentive package for Chiquita Brands International that will be voted on by the Charlotte City Council during their December 12 meeting at the Government Center.
The membership of both organizations voted unanimously at their most recent meetings to oppose the use of taxpayer money for the benefit of any one particular company.
“Our belief is that it is wrong for the government to essentially pick and choose winners and losers,” said Dennis Peterson, President of CAUTION (Common Americans United to Inspire Our Nation). He continued, “There are a lot of hardworking entrepreneurs struggling to survive in this economy that have already decided to call Charlotte home. To tell them that they must continue to pay the high taxes and fees of Charlotte while others are granted the benefit of millions of dollars in grants to lessen their cost of doing business is simply wrong. It’s crony capitalism.”
Jason Bargert, spokesman for the local Occupy Charlotte Movement, agreed. “Economic development should not be a lottery where those with power and influence are able to rig the game to their benefit. Government should not be taking from the poor and giving to the rich, which is essentially what this deal with Chiquita does.”
Both organizations are encouraging their membership to voice their opposition in person to the newly elected City Council during Monday night’s Council meeting.
Great that these two populist movements understand their common interests. Hopefully they will find more common ground in realizing crony capitalism and abusive government are two sides of the same coin.
Will the Occupiers have to take a bath?
The Occupy movement need also understand that the city is taking from both the Rich AN D the Poor and everyone in between to give to Chaquita. Not fair indeed! Less fair to the Rich who pay the lion’s share of the taxes.
You can join CAUTION tonight at Dilworth Neighborhood Grille from 5:30 to 6:45 or meet them at the Government Center at 7:00. To sign up to speak, call the City Clerks office at 704-336-2248 before 3pm or visit this website to sign up online.
http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/CityClerk/CouncilRelated/Pages/Speak%20at%20a%20council%20meeting.aspx
“Our belief is that it is wrong for the government to essentially pick and choose winners and losers,” said Dennis Peterson, President of CAUTION
Why don’t you start with Obama and work your way down and include lemon socialism in your Book of Whiners….
Can you say, “Solyndra”?
“I knew you could”….
Crony capitalism/socialism isn’t confined to one political party – it is a tool of the ruling class http://spectator.org/archives/2010/07/16/americas-ruling-class-and-the
Many in our group “welcomed” the POTUS when he came to Charlotte in April of 2010 to tout his “Green Energy” initiatives at Celgard.
CAUTION’s membership is opposed to all forms of corporate welfare (including lemons like Solyndra).
Whenever the Government decides to pick winners and losers…
They always pick losers.
Whenever the Government decides to pick winners and losers…WE are the losers…
If you come on down for the Chiquita event, stick around and watch the seeds of consolidating power with “a consolidation study” – for the low price of $150,000 (although promised to be “private contributions”), you too can have less representation.
Are these groups talking about “government” or Democrats?…
Just to be clear and all….
We talked about government in general.
“Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”
The reason I asked was because it was Democrats in SC who got all bent out of shape Haley wouldn’t back the Amazon deal….
I just didn’t see where either of these groups were calling out Obamacrats.
What does CAUTION say about the proposed RED LINE to Lowes headquarters?
I’m not sure I can speak for 100% of our members – but, I am certain that a majority of our members are opposed to the Red Line.
MTC lacks the requisite funding to complete the project and economic development claims have proven to be dubious at best (have you driven down South Blvd lately?)
The three CAUTION members that ran for Charlotte City Council (myself, Jay Privette, and Ed Toney) were all vocal opponents of not just the Red Line – but also the Blue Line Extension and the Streetcar.
Just like MI-Connection, the taxpayers will be subsidizing the RED Line. Could we possibly occupy the tracks and stop this monster? Another lane from just south of exit 23 to just north of exit 36 along with a more efficient bus system will go a long way to improving our transportation system.
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