Regulatory closet gets summer cleaning
Over the decades, state agencies and local governments have adopted a range of criminal penalties for offenses that, whatever their adverse social effects may be, don’t necessarily merit criminal prosecution.
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Category: Opinion
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N.C. sells liquor through 170 independent, political boards: What could go wrong?
It has begun. Or, probably more accurately, a local and statewide crusade to prevent privatization of North Carolina’s liquor business is intensifying. Even though legislative efforts to move toward a system of private licensure are relatively nascent, and a leader in…
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SCOTUS showing subtleties of jurisprudence
We tend to think of U.S. Supreme Court justices as ideological, their views and actions mapping neatly onto the conventional liberal-to-conservative continuum of American politics. Their decisions are thought to conform to the party of the president who nominated them. The current conservative bloc is Chief Justice John Roberts…
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Trade wars hurt Carolina workers
Lots of North Carolinians design, produce, process, transport, or market exports — and neither political posturing nor “tough” talk can replace the income they lose as other countries hike tariffs in response to ours.
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Duke Energy is right on gas
If your goal is to reduce carbon emissions in electricity generation, the primary tools available are to replace coal with lower-emitting natural gas and to expand nuclear.
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On school safety, smarter strategies for preventing harm
A new school year is weeks away, bringing new strategies for keeping kids safe. Topping the list: A smartphone app leveraging the eyes, ears, and savvy of students. Called Say Something, the app enables students to submit anonymous tips about threats on social media or at school.
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No kidding, North Carolina taxes illegal drugs
“Hey! Did you pay taxes on those drugs, mister? Probably not, right?” Unless you are buying your marijuana from a dispensary in a state where it’s legal, you probably aren’t paying taxes on your illicit substances. If not, you are likely committing two crimes: possession of a controlled substance and…
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Courts should judge, not legislate
Judges shouldn’t be afraid to strike down unconstitutional laws, but when they try to act as policymakers they subvert constitutional government rather than defend it.
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School funds should follow child
The core concept behind school-funding reform is unassailable: one-size-fits-all thinking is ill-suited to the complex and critical enterprise of educating young people.
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Cooper has taken extreme positions
Heeding the most progressive Furies of his party, Cooper has put himself in a position of declaring that a popular vote of the people to enact voter ID is a violation of democratic principle.