Opinion | 2011 Archive

Return to full 2011 archive | Show / Hide Summaries

January

Jan. 31st — A New Party Leader Rises
David Parker has a tough job ahead of him. One thing Democrats could do to help him succeed would be to avoid fashioning unrealistic expectations about his role.

Jan. 28th — Learning How to Gain a Credential
You don’t have to sit in ivy-covered buildings to get the benefits of a college education.

Jan. 28th — Perdue Picks Poker Over Liquor
I had an admittedly unorthodox reaction to Gov. Beverly Perdue’s announcement last week that she would not propose privatizing North Carolina’s government-run liquor stores.

Jan. 27th — Slow Down on State Bankruptcy
With state governments facing big budget deficits again in 2011, national pundits and policymakers have been talking about various ways that Washington can “help.”

Jan. 26th — No Time for Rhetorical Games
If you are going to use the lingo of investment, folks, you have to apply the concept properly.

Jan. 25th — State Economic Woes Continue
North Carolina may have exited the Great Recession in 2009 according to the usual technical definitions, but our “recovery” has been a puny one.

Jan. 24th — Perdue Picks Poker Over Liquor
I want to maximize the freedom of North Carolinians, not maximize the size and power of North Carolina government. Perdue and I have different goals here.

Jan. 21th — Perdue Has a Choice to Make
The human being with the greatest power to determine the governor’s political fate is Beverly Perdue herself.

Jan. 21th — Strong, Loving Family Encouraged Rice To Shine
The former secretary of state's memoir demonstrates the power of devoted parents.

Jan. 20th — Perdue Will Make The Choice
Perdue’s approach sounds fiscally conservative. That’s why she is getting cautious praise from Republicans and panicky criticism from some Democrats and left-wing activists.

Jan. 20th — 2011 General Assembly Is More Momentous Than You May Think
RALEIGH -- Republicans have not held this much legislative power in North Carolina for more than 140 years.

Jan. 19th — A Gap in Budget Reporting
Does North Carolina have one of the biggest state budget deficits in the country? It depends on whom you ask, when you ask, and how you word the question.

Jan. 18th — A Letter to the Republicans
You ran for office to serve, not to be served. Everyone is susceptible to the temptations of perpetual incumbency.

Jan. 17th — A Letter to the Democrats
You are about to walk a mile, or perhaps several hundred miles, in the Republicans’ shoes. And they are about to try yours on for size.

Jan. 14th — Time to Restore Debt Limits
As Republicans prepare to take control of the North Carolina General Assembly for the first time in more than a century, there may be a lot of talk about amending the state constitution.

Jan. 14th — East Carolina University’s Dental School: Built on a False Assumption?
At a time the state is scrambling for dollars, why launch an expensive, redundant new program?

Jan. 13th — Not Such a Bright Idea
Within the next couple of years, if the light-bulb bill isn’t repealed, it is going to prove to be extremely unpopular.

Jan. 13th — The ABCs of Privatization
There's no legitimate reason for the state to maintain a monopoly on alcohol sales and distribution.

Jan. 12th — Flashback: Working At Cross-Purposes
When government works at cross-purposes, it’s unlikely to achieve its purposes – and likely to make its citizens cross.

Jan. 11th — Time to Restore Debt Limits
I’d like to see which state lawmakers come out against the right of North Carolina voters to decide the fate of bond packages.

Jan. 10th — Africa's Lesson for NC
North Carolina won’t become a better place to live or work by trying to change the fundamental character of North Carolinians.

Jan. 7th — No More Marc Basnights
I won’t begrudge Marc Basnight his laudatory send-off and peaceful retirement. But let’s not go through all this again, okay?

Jan. 6th — No More Marc Basnights
I won’t begrudge Marc Basnight his laudatory send-off and peaceful retirement. But let’s not go through all this again, okay?

Jan. 6th — Outdoor Smoking Bans: Personal Preferences Over Freedom
While a public health argument "reasonably" can be made for restricting smoking in enclosed spaces, so long as property rights are respected, no such argument exists in outdoor areas.

Jan. 5th — Back to the Stack
Successful attempts to balance budgets rely almost entirely on reducing government expenditures, while unsuccessful ones rely heavily on tax increases.

Jan. 4th — Welcome to the Journal
It is a new year in North Carolina politics. You can count on Carolina Journal to tell you all about it.

[^] [+/-]

 

December 2011 | November 2011 | October 2011 | September 2011 | August 2011
July 2011 | June 2011 | May 2011 | April 2011 | March 2011
February 2011 | January 2011

1990 Archive | 1999 Archive | 2000 Archive
2001 Archive | 2002 Archive | 2003 Archive
2004 Archive | 2005 Archive | 2006 Archive
2007 Archive | 2008 Archive | 2009 Archive
2010 Archive | 2011 Archive | 2012 Archive
2013 Archive