NC Coastal Conservative Conference – Day Two

Attendees heard from a number of speakers during the morning session, including:

• Dallas Woodhouse, NC State Director of Americans for Prosperity. Woodhouse said, “I think I am the only lobbyist in Raleigh who doesn’t have their hand out asking for something.  I have my hand up saying, ’stop!’”
• Rev. Tony McGhee. McGhee said that “greatness needs no change” and added that we as conservatives “want to conserve liberty, limited government and a free enterprise economy.”  He also read excerpts from George Washington’s farewell address, President Lincoln’s inaugural address and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I have a Dream” speech.  McGhee referred to King as “another great Republican.”
• Cathy Heath of StopNCAnnexation. Heath discussed the recent annexation hearings in Wilmington and said that most issues are “about special interests vs. taxpayers.”
• Joe Miller of Cape Fear Fair Tax. Miller asked attendees to raise their hands if they knew all of the codes in the IRS Tax Code.  Not surprisingly, no one raised their hands.

In my opinion, the best speaker of the morning was Abby Alger, an intern with the John Locke Foundation.  Alger spoke on behalf of young conservatives and very clearly articulated her beliefs.

Alger talked about the youth vote and about the importance of utilizing technology.  In terms of technology, she said we have to meet people where they are, emphasizing that more and more people “hang out” online on sites like Facebook.

Alger also addressed three key items:  (1) Getting information; (2) Spreading information; and (3) Doing something.

In terms of getting information, she said the it doesn’t take much digging — a quick Google search — to find out what local, state and national governments are doing.  She emphasized the importance of arming yourself with information.  She also said, “It takes very few people to make something happen and to make a public official run scared.”

In terms of spreading information, Alger said that our schools tend to teach people that government is the solution to our problems, and that we must counteract that teaching.  She emphasized that the mainstream media will not do us any favors, therefore we must utilize technology and the Internet to disseminate information.

Alger stressed the importance of actually doing something.  She said we should think of it as building our own activist army and encouraged attendees to talk to those around them and encourage them to take action.