Opinion

The Lateral-Entry Boondoggle

When it comes to public education, government claims immunity from its own laws. Antitrust laws protect consumers’ rights and prohibit monopoly control over services and commodities, and for good reason.

The Artifice of the Deal

To learn something important about today’s public-policy debate, consider the following proposed compromise and how politics would probably collapse it.

Lindalyn’s Journal

Recent data underscore what American taxpayers know all too well: at virtually every level – federal, state, and local – education expenditures are skyrocketing. Federal education spending jumped from $15 billion in 2000 to $25 billion in 2005.

Raise the bar, not the age

RALEIGH — Wayward legislators, school system officials, and public school advocacy groups, in particular, say that an increase in the attendance age would compel students to stay in school. Yet this notion is not informed by research that shows otherwise.

Horse Feathers!

Why would you pay someone more for a service that you don't use, than for one that you do? Ordinarily, it doesn't happen that way. When customers choose not to engage the services of a musician, handyman, or babysitter, they don't expect to pay a premium above what it would cost to actually have them work. In telecommunications, customer preferences should be allowed to guide the choice of communications services.

Dr. Karen Y. Palasek

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Coalition of the Billing

The spending-lobby cartel is what it is — a coalition of groups tossing out an opening bid for the taxpayers' business. The bid should be rejected.

Flashback: On Cantankerous Carolina

With our country facing a host of challenges and controversies, I would like to see North Carolina play its unique, cantankerous role in the national debate again.

So, it

The lead story in the Sunday, May 27, print version of The News & Observer wasn't written by an N&O reporter or the Associated Press, nor any other supposedly impartial wire service. It was written by a left-liberal organization.

Jon Ham

Get Rid of the Rat, Not the House

Lawmakers should not rush toward the wrong solutions for constituents' problems.

A Logical Definition of a Tax

No one is forced to buy cigarettes or alcohol, but if you choose to do so, you must pay excise tax -- and everyone, properly, calls it a tax.

Lindalyn’s Journal

This week, K-12 education dominated both airwaves and print media, meaning even the most diehard education junkies got their news fix. Here’s a quick run-down on some of the high (and low) points.