Opinion
Is the Transfer Tax for Real?
We must make everyone equal – even if it is by hatchet, ax, and saw, or their taxation equivalents. No foolin'.
Opinion
What’s It Worth to Reach Your Goals?
How many resources should we devote to fixing a problem, when the technology to fix it, potentially, is 'out there,' and we could, if we chose, use it to try to make the situation better? Sometimes the solution to a problem is so relatively costly that we decide not to address the problem at all or look for a more cost-effective route. Fortunately, markets usually offer many alternative ways to accomplish the goals we are after.
Opinion
The Pro-Tax Consumer Advocate
Consumers should expect more from a state agency designed to serve their interests. The Public Staff is ignoring its duty.
Opinion
Flashback: Some Policies on the Rocks
Do we want ABC stores to succeed as businesses, by maximizing revenues and profits, or do we want them to succeed as regulators of liquor consumption, by dampening revenues and profits?
Opinion
Lindalyn’s Journal
Brace yourselves: this week’s journal provides the third entry in my legislative round-up. As the number of bills introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly soars past the 2,700 mark, several new pieces of legislation are drawing increased scrutiny from parents and educators.
Opinion
Nothing Ventured Would Be A Gain
Once down the road of government “investing” other people’s money in private business ventures, it is difficult to know where to stop.
Opinion
The Other Child-Care News
The latest findings from a prominent child-care study undercut the assumptions behind North Carolina’s expensive preschool interventions — but most of the media attention went elsewhere.
Opinion
Controlling Some Noxious Emissions
Here’s another basic rule for interpreting political debate: if those who benefit from a given action don’t shoulder a substantial share of cost of that action, but receive its benefits, it will happen much more than it should.
Opinion
Not-too-Swift detractors will face a defamation suit
A professor's proper use of satire leads to deliberate misrepresentations and potential legal action.
Opinion
Personal Freedom Gets Clubbed
The reason the smoking-ban issue is an excellent test of one’s commitment to individual freedom is that smoking does, indeed, pose significant health risks.
Opinion
Lindalyn’s Journal
Freedom fighters in our state General Assembly are continuing their quest to expand educational liberty for North Carolina’s students. Last week, I heralded attempts by state lawmakers to raise the charter school cap; this week, I’ll provide an overview of new legislation permitting tuition tax credits.
Opinion
The Incumbency- Protection Device
Because incumbents start a campaign with valuable advantages such as name recognition, challengers must often outspend incumbents to be competitive.
