Inspired by the rocky economy, at least one cartoonist has already drawn trick-or-treaters dressed as stock market reports and scaring the daylights out of adults.

With financial conditions dire around the globe, it puzzles me why anyone would really want to be president or hold any other high office in government. It will take a miracle to brighten the economy right away.

North Carolina has a law that requires a balanced budget. Critics of state government have been especially harsh in recent years. And I agree that some state leaders are poor examples of the quality of leadership the state has come to expect.

The latest horror story is a projected revenue shortfall in the $2 billion category. News stories last week indicated that gubernatorial candidates Beverly Perdue and Pat McCrory were already preparing contingency plans. They know the winner must be a jump ahead of this budget nightmare before taking office. (more…)