Playing political games
Playing political games every two, four, or six years may shift the board, but is rarely creates a stability that will move us forward toward the more perfect union once envisioned. Read More
Balanced Debate For The Old North State.
My Spin by Tom Campbell
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Mother Nature vs. Father ProfitWe have gone about climate change as a hobby, one in which Father Profit takes precedent over Mother Nature. But we know it's not nice to fool Mother Nature. Read More |
HPU Poll: Nearly half of North Carolinians give Governor a positive approval rating
More than two-thirds of those polled say the US is on the wrong track and only 21 percent approve of the job the Congress is doing. Read More
Household debt increases by the largest amount since 2007
Americans are not easing their spending, even as inflation outpaces wage growth. Unfortunately, inflation causes people to spend more money to consume the same basket of goods. Read More
A legislature answerable to no one?
What recourse is there for anyone who might contend the state isn't meeting its Constitutional obligation or that the legislature is responsible? Read More
Judges not legislators: State Supreme Court’s legitimacy depends on continued respect for precedent
Since Republicans swept statewide court races in the midterm election there is widespread speculation that it will lead to dramatic reversals in some important constitutional jurisprudence. Read More
States should take lead on welfare
Large swaths of the federal budget represent an illegal use of the tax and spending powers granted to Congress by Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution. Read More
Is economics about more than inflation and jobs?
Some psychologists say humans are naturally wired to focus more on potential bad outcomes than on good ones, which explains the current concerns about inflation and recession. Read More
Mark Robinson is not fascinating
Perhaps Robinson’s race is what inspires some commentators to marvel at our lieutenant governor. Read More
Most pundits miss key points of N.C. redistricting dispute
On December 7th the US Supreme Court will hear arguments on what has been touted as a major landmark case of legislative authority. Read More
Growing & Distinct: The Unaffiliated Voter as Unmoored Voter
Unaffiliated voters are not just shadow partisans but are distinct from the two parties. Read More
Celebration tempered with caution as Respect for Marriage Act passes U.S. Senate, state level anti-LGBTQ bills loom
NC Senators Burr and Tillis were two of only twelve Republican Senators to vote in favor, but marriage equality might be an issue in the 2023 legislature. Read More
One of our state's great storytellers has died
From journeying down the heart of our state on the river to telling of intrigue during WW II, Philip Gerard was entertaining and provocative. Read More
A great big missed opportunity
We hope that Ted Budd will represent us as a humble servant. His past record leaves a lot of room for doubt. Read More
Gas-tax hike is a non-starter
Get ready for it: Everyone wants more and better roads on which to drive. But nobody wants to pay more for them. Read More
Why the 'red wave' failed, what the latest Civitas poll reveals
The Democrats successfully pitched the American public a vision that resonated. Republicans failed to do the same. Read More
GOP bragging rings hollow without Medicaid expansion
If Senate leadership wants to take credit for all the advances the state has made they must also accept responsibility for the devastation many families have endured because they couldn't get the health care they needed. Read More
Divided government and 2024
Divided government may leave Democrats in the strongest position they’ve held since 2008. Read More
Cooper's veto is no longer safe
The midterm election gave Republicans a supermajority in the Senate and a "functional supermajority" in the NC House. Read More
State Supreme Court’s legitimacy depends on continued respect for precedent
North Carolinians have a right to expect that the justices will act like justices – not legislators. Read More
If inflation subsides does that mean everything is ok?
Lowering inflation does not mean that prices will be lowered. What matters for your standard of living is the purchasing power of your salary. Read More
North Carolinians prefer Cyber Monday over Black Friday
Over 50% of those polled said they would not shop Black Friday this year. 41% said they would spend about the same sum of money as last year. Read More
Confidence in public education has decreased since pandemic
The growing dissatisfaction with public schools was most acute among Republicans and Independents. Read More
Carolina leaders should heed Cicero
Should Cicero be our state's official philosopher? Read More
A humble ending on the mighty Mississippi
A wonderful trip was sadly interrupted. Read More
Acting like we own the joint
The Thanksgiving table has to be navigated carefully these days. It is also a place where adult children often reveal their teenage mischief to their parents. Read More
