Apr 10 2008
Potential Shuler Opponents Debate in Flat Rock
FLAT ROCK — The $600 million “Road to Nowhere” could be back if the Republicans running for the 11th congressional district have their way.
At a debate at Flat Rock today, Highlands attorney John Armor, retired Army Col. Spence Campbell of Hendersonville and Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower described the 34-mile road through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as a broken promise. Campbell and Mumpower said it should be built.
Well, that’s just wonderful. Right out of the gate you have your stunning example of today’s “conservatism,” a $600 million crap on the taxpayers of the United States of America.
“That’s a hard question,” Campbell said. “It’s a hard question because it’s two different issues for a conservative to deal with.”
The road would add to the federal deficit, “which a lot of us conservatives think is the principal economic issue we need to deal with,” he said.
“On the other hand, the government made a promise in 1942 I think it was that they were going to build that road. They didn’t do it. In this case I think the government’s promise trumps what the county commission wants to do” by taking the settlement.
It’s not a hard question for a fiscally responsible conservative to deal with, Mr. Campbell. The country is over $9 trillion in debt. You don’t go and spend $600 million on a useless road that will not yield a positive economic return from the initial investment, promise be damned. Who from 1942 is still alive that this promise was even made to? I think the statute of limitations has passed. Move on.
These guys know better. They are avoiding the truth because they don’t want to alienate any voters. Being a leader means having to tell people what they don’t want to hear sometimes.
What this snippet does not say, is John Armor’s (my) answer to that question. I said, in plain English, that Thomas Jefferson’s theory of government applies here.
Decisions should be made at the lowest possible level, closest to the people who have to live with the consequences. Therefore, I would support the decision of the people of Swain County, as shown by the actions of their elected representatives.
Swain has now decided that the federal government’s failure should be dealt with by a payment in lieu of the road. I support their decision.
John Armor
“a useless road that will not yield a positive economic return from the initial investment”
Hm, I think you may be confusing this with the infamous “road to nowhere” in Alaska?