McCloy: Of all the things we need: a new face on the $50

By: Kevin McCloy | Morganton News Herald
Published: March 07, 2010

Morganton, NC --

In the news this week was the report that our North Carolina 10th District congressman, Rep. Patrick McHenry, introduced legislation on Tuesday that proposes to replace the image of Ulysses S. Grant on the $50 bill with that of Ronald Reagan.
I am so glad to hear that amidst a deepening national budget crisis, record deficits, a bitterly fought debate on health insurance reform, a recession that still hasn't eased for the vast majority of working families and two wars, our representative to Congress has the time to devote to such significant legislation. Because, as we all know, it's important that we recognize Ronald Reagan in this time of national crisis.
Forget the fact that in December 2009 the unemployment rate in Burke County was 14.2 percent and the average unemployment for the 10th Congressional District was 14.3 percent (one of the highest in the state) with some of the counties Mr. McHenry represents having as high as a 16.9 percent unemployment rate. Forget the fact that regardless of where you stand on the health insurance debate, there is consensus across the ideological spectrum that our current system of paying for health care is rapidly failing. Forget the fact that our previous administration saddled us with two unresolved wars that have outlasted every other war in U.S. history. Forget the fact that we went from a budget surplus in 1999 to an almost $10-trillion deficit in the last 10 years. Forget the fact that Burke County schools face such a severe budget shortfall that there is a real threat of being taken over by either the state or federal government for failure to meet its fiduciary responsibilities. Let us forget all these facts, because Mr. McHenry is focused on the true needs of his constituency and the nation — he wants to make sure that Reagan is honored on the $50 bill.
I'm not sure that's what we all really need right now.
All sarcasm aside, is this what we really want our representative doing for us in Congress at his $174,000 salary? I don't expect him to secure jobs for all of us. I don't expect him to single-handedly solve the health insurance debate. I don't expect him to single-handedly get our sons and daughters out of Iraq and Afghanistan. However, I do expect to hear what his ideas are on these issues other than, "Nobama!" I do expect to see him address these issues, particularly when it comes to employment. I have heard nothing from him on these issues.
Instead, what I see from Mr. McHenry is a constant stream of building up his national conservative credentials. I believe he has larger plans than serving the people of the N.C. 10th District. I believe that he is using our conservative nature here in the foothills and mountains to launch himself higher in the political stratosphere. To put it bluntly, he is using us, not serving us.
If we reelect McHenry in November, we will get more of the same. And two years from now he'll probably introduce a bill to put George W. Bush's face on the $100 bill.

McCloy: Of all the things we need: a new face on the $50

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