To usher in a Marxist revolution and overthrow the capitalist system, Gramsci argued, first the communists had to take control of the cultural institutions and in turn dictate the prevailing ideology of society.
Do campaign contributions from special interest groups influence judicial candidates when they reach the bench? If you ask North Carolina progressives, the answer will be: it depends. Their answer will depend on whichever answer helps advance their cause at the moment. This has become clear in the recent debate over whether state Supreme Court Justice...
Racism in America is “ordinary, not aberrational” and “the usual way society does business,” according to critical race theorists. If this is true, how do they prove it? With critical race theory influencing how our children are taught and treated in schools, the answer to this question is vital. Merely asking for evidence or reasoned...
Brian Balfour, senior vice president of research at the John Locke Foundation, discusses the history of Critical Race Theory. Learn more here: “Critical Race Theory primer.”
Brian Balfour, senior vice president of research at the John Locke Foundation, criticizes an Oxfam America report ranking North Carolina as the worst state for workers. Learn more here: “Is North Carolina the worst place to work in America?”
Economic laws are not subject to a vote. They can’t be wished away because you don’t like certain realities they reveal. They don’t bend to accommodate your feelings or the politician’s will. These harsh realities must be kept in mind when anticipating the results of public policy. For instance, there’s no surer way to make...
Brian Balfour, senior vice president of research at the John Locke Foundation, discusses problems associated with the ability-to-pay principle in taxation. Learn more here: “Why the ‘ability to pay principle’ to justify progressive taxation fails.”
Brian Balfour, senior vice president of research at the John Locke Foundation, discusses misguided ideas for helping N.C. workers. Learn more here: “Progressive recommendations would harm, not help, hourly workers.”
Imagine Ted wants to start his own company to, say, build and sell televisions. Ted rents the land and factory, hires workers, and acquires the capital goods and other inputs as necessary. Months later, he starts putting his televisions up for sale. To make a profit, of course, Ted needs to sell the sets at...
Brian Balfour, senior vice president of research at the John Locke Foundation, discusses a recent attack on proposed N.C. tax cuts. Learn more here: “How not to argue against tax cuts.”
Brian Balfour, senior vice president of research at the John Locke Foundation, explains why nuclear energy and natural gas would work better than wind and solar energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more here: “It’s not even close: Nuclear and natural gas are far better at achieving emissions goals than wind or solar.”
Brian Balfour, senior vice president of research at the John Locke Foundation, assesses key pieces of the N.C. Senate’s 2021-23 budget. Learn more here: “Senate budget plan leverages surplus revenue for tax cuts, infrastructure investments.”