New lessons from old wars
At the end of a two-day conference about World War I at UNC-Chapel Hill, I asked a leading military historian what approach he would recommend to the United States to deal with the challenge of ISIS... Read More
NC Spin Articles
Workers gain from freedom
When governors and state legislatures make their economies freer — through tax relief, regulatory relief, and labor-market reforms — who stands to benefit? According to labor unions and other left... Read More
NC Medicaid program still broken
Editorial by Wilmington Star-News, September 13, 2014. North Carolina taxpayers have spent more than $7.2 million on consultants for the department that administers Medicaid and other human services... Read More
Better pay for a better NC legislature
The General Assembly has managed to make just about everybody mad since Republicans took control in 2011. A PPP poll in June showed only 18 percent of voters approve of the legislature’s performance... Read More
Campaign ad dodges facts, raises financing issues
I always want my students to start with facts, and the fact is Thom Tillis is terrible for education in North Carolina.” That’s the beginning of a pointed TV ad featuring Chapel Hill teacher... Read More
McCrory praises Wos' brilliance
by Chris Fitzsimon, NC Policy Watch and NC SPIN panelist, September 12, 2014. Long-embattled DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos was on the hot seat again this week, facing questions from state lawmakers about... Read More
Holey budget, Batman
North Carolina’s budget year is a mere two months old and already there are annoyances that could be signs of huge problems in a few months. Total general fund revenues are $200.4 million short... Read More
Over-the-counter birth control proposal a meaningless political ploy
by Melissa Reed, Planned Parenthood, published in News and Observer, September 12, 2014. Politicians trying to take away no-copay birth control have a huge image problem on their hands. It turns out... Read More
Fewer NC students aspire to teach
No one could talk Gary McDermott out of teaching. The 29-year-old is drawn to the profession and he's determined to stick with it. "Some people say they wouldn't recommend this to anyone. But I try... Read More
Another maddening misstatement by the governor
Governor Pat McCrory is starting 2014 the way he spent much of 2013—by apparently making up facts to defend his unpopular policies. WRAL-TV reports that McCrory told Tom Campbell of NC SPIN this... Read More
