So what you're saying is: when we slip into our Birkenstocks, sip our fair trade coffee and turn on WUNC radio and hear that Womble Carlyle has generously supported programming on that station, we shouldn't feel quite as warm and fuzzy about them as we used to.

Money, its a hit.
Dont give me that do goody good bullshit.

What pisses me off about this is that it is my tax dollars that are being used to pay for this. If Bilgewater is paid by government contract, that's my money. So when they hire someone to lobby in my state, they're using my money a second time, to convince my elected officials that the incredibly stupid, illegal activities they are doing in my government's name is a good thing to have located in my state.

This is reprehensible. Too bad there's not a "do good goody" law firm willing to take on Womble Carlyle and Blackwater and legally whip their asses and send them packing. After everything they've done - let them find another state to take them.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi

I lifted (and cleaned this up) from another thread. It's important:

Linda asked: "Can NC tell Blackwater to stop operating within our state? What would it take?"

Max responded:

Yes! Blackwater can have its corporate charter revoked by the AD of the State for fraud or other acts that are harmful to the citizens. It could be considered a private Army on foreign soil without the permission of the State of North Carolina ... believe it or not? One could file a compliant with the AD of North Carolina, but chances are the AD and his staff would hide under a table and not touch it for a century.

Linda asked: "Is it something that citizens could theoretically put forward to our Governor (present or future) by ballot or petition?"

The present Governor wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole. However in the Governor debates, The media could ask the candidates what they they think of the Corporation which would put all of them on hot seat ... which wouldn't happen in a million years since I have floated the idea by the mainstream media and they look like a deer caught in headlights when responding ... by the way, some of them agree with me and thought it was excellent question to put forth in the debates, but none said they had the guts to do it ...

(Note to readers: Please put this question in the hopper for the LG Debates.)

Linda asked: "Can Democrats put this on our platform at our Conventions, and if we did, would there be any point in doing it?

Yes! Democrats can enter it on the platform or submit resolutions at the State Convention or District Conventions ... chances are that it would past if enough progressives push it ... I think it would float and it is excellent way to keep things stirred up and get press ... Heck! Some of the Lt Governor candiates should go on record with this issue since they are courting the progressive faction in the party ... they have nothing to lose on this issue and can beat up on the Republicans with it in the General election as a state corporation gone wild with federal funds like the OFL Navy landing sites.

Linda asked: "Would it be a gesture "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing"?"

Naw! Politics have changed ... what was considered loony or nuts in the past on a issue is now the norm ... Look at BlueNC, you got everybody in the state reading this site daily with comments from candidates from all over the place and the mainstream media checking to see if they get nailed or whacked or some of them getting information they couldn't find anywhere else ... think about it ... you got a libertarian Governor candidate who hangs here in a Superman suit and a Republican libertarian Candiate who feels like he has finally found a home to express himself without getting beat up by nutcase Republicans ... A bunch of serious Congressional Candidates who post here and remember it was BlueNC that got Larry going and of course me your outstanding conspiracy theorist who blames everything on Alien Lizards and the drinking water from the local Nuke plant in west Cary .These are revolutionary times and sound and fury gets attention now ... I like the idea on setting up a anti-Blackwater booth at the State convention with the anti-war Vets which would go over big ...

__________________________

That, my friends, is a blueprint for action.

The attack on this should be through local governments where there is community leverage. Businesses could give a damn about being associated with a murdering mercenary army, but city councils and public bodies . . . that's the right point of entry. To my knowledge.

NOTE TO WCSR: This is a good time to start your counter-attack. You should immediately plan for a PR blitz with elected officials in Cary, for example. I suggest you tell them the mean old liberals are upset because you're also representing criminal warmongers. Also point out that they'll likely be getting petitions from citizens asking them to fire you, and that it may be a news story too. Promise them it'll just be a flash-in-the-pan, though. Tell them the opposition isn't organized. Reassure them, just stay the course. Just because they're being represented by men who are also representing Blackwater and Erik Prince, what's the big deal. It's just the business of influence. The benefits exceed the cost of the moral ambiguity.

NOTE TO BLUENC READERS: Contact me if you're interested in a local effort like the one described above. Or better yet, just do it.

City of Wilson
Town of Cary
YMCAs
Charlotte Mecklenburg Hospital Authority
Triangle Transit Authority

I was hoping not to tangle again QUITE so soon, but I have to disagree with criticizing a law firm because one of their clients is someone or something I find objectionable.

To me, this criticism is tantamount to saying that there is no possible legitimate point of view that someone with whom I disagree could hold -- and that's just too far to go for me. I'm not about to get into defending Blackwater, but the idea that no one can be a good person and represent their perspective at the General Assembly or a court of law is shortsighted.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke

It's bad enough that we have Blackwater USA headquartered in our state. Now to have to contend with having their legal representation being right down the road from us in Winston-Salem. It impresses upon me the need to organize some sort of visible opposition, if only to get WCSR to consider the ramifications of doing business with these goons.

If you haven't already, check out Jeremy Scahill's Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army for a full panorama of Erik Prince & Co's global influence.

and provides a link to the Blackwater Blog. This will come in handy.

If so, come on in . . . the water's fine. You can join the conversation here too.