Weekly Briefing Archive

All North Carolinians are a little less free in the wake of a state Supreme Court decision

During the early days of the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin famously told his fellow patriots that “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

The right’s cynical and offensive attacks on religious freedom

It’s beginning to look like there isn’t anything that members of the right-wing noise machine won’t say - no innuendo they won’t happily spread; no former taboo they won’t happily breach - in their determined effort to do whatever it takes to derail the Obama Presidency, paralyze the American government and help Republicans to electoral success this fall. In the modern world of 21st Century political hardball as practiced by the Fox News right, no lie is too big to utter, no tiny shred of an argument too flimsy to feature in a screaming headline.

Election results from 16 years ago provide a sobering reminder for North Carolinians

“Throw the bums out!” This is a familiar rallying cry for angry voters when economic times get tough. Some analysts think the election this fall could be such an election: an event in which people vote for (or stay home for) change - any change, however reactionary or incoherent.

Debate over public structures captures the essence of the ideological divide

“Pay me now or pay me later.” For decades, a Madison Avenue ad campaign featuring a car mechanic repeating this phrase did a great job of selling automobile oil filters to Americans. In addition to being catchy, the main reason it worked so well was that it spoke to a common sense understanding possessed by most reasonably intelligent people with at least bit of little life experience. Consumers knew intuitively that doing things “on the cheap” was no way to take care of important possessions.

Initial claims demonstrate why the law was so badly needed

Most Americans get their mental picture of the criminal justice system from their television sets. Bombarded as we are by an endless stream of police shows and courtroom dramas, we can’t help but use such images in order to envision what goes on in the real world. Add in a dash of reality TV - usually from a high profile murder case with lots of expensive consultants and trial lawyers - and the package upon which most people base their opinions is pretty much complete.

Damage from the Bush era tax cuts on the rich continues to mount

It’s often said that those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it. A potentially helpful variation of this adage for the present might go something like this: “Those who cannot remember the past (even from just a few years ago) are doomed to be snookered by ideologues selling the snake oil of trickledown economics.”

Wake School Board majority continues to change its story

It’s hard to say what’s more maddening about the narrow Wake County School Board majority - the things that it has actually done or the way it has gone about doing them.

The 2010 session is over and lawmakers did pretty much what they said they’d do

Members of the General Assembly headed home this past Saturday morning. In all likelihood, they will not return to Raleigh, except to attend various meetings and study commissions, until next January.

Last minute amendment undermines important environmental review process

It never ceases to amaze just how far elected officials will go, often quite sincerely, in providing “incentives” to big, profitable corporations. There’s just something so alluring about the prospect of that ribbon- cutting ceremony and the opportunity to at least create the impression that you’re doing something about employment and economic development, that it seems there’s scarcely any rule or principle that isn’t subject to repeal or compromise.

State budget choices show progressives just how far they have to go

State lawmakers are scheduled to hold final votes today and tomorrow on this year’s budget bill. Though better in many ways than it might have been - especially during the current economic hard times - the budget still imposes a number of painful and regressive cuts on a system of services and structures that was already inadequate. Progressive must do and demand much more if they expect lawmakers to likewise.

Wake schools debate takes new and positive turn

It’s a funny thing about history and politics: Sometimes movements for change and progress crop up in the places you would least expect them. Consider Wake County, North Carolina, for example. It’s hardly the kind of place that you would expect to be a hotbed of controversy or dissent.

Proposed ethics laws may be a hassle for some, but they’re absolutely essential

State lawmakers are debating a list of new ethics bills that would promote greater accountability and more sunshine in state government. While some insiders view the proposals warily as imposing new and burdensome bureaucracy, the truth in many instances involving modern government is that additional bureaucracy can be a very good thing –especially if it promotes honesty and public confidence.

Why congressional inaction is endangering the recovery

One of the biggest problems confronting state budget writers at present is the current state of inertia in Congress. Unless federal lawmakers get moving and renew crucial programs to extend unemployment insurance, COBRA subsidies and aid to the states, North Carolina’s fiscal situation (as well as its nascent economic recovery) could be plunged into crisis once more.

Why progressive policy solutions lead to more freedom for North Carolinians

There have been a lot of attempts by conservative groups in recent years to hijack the “freedom” label. Now is the time for thoughtful North Carolinians to reject these clumsy and simplistic arguments. The truth of the matter is that poverty, environmental degradation and the excesses of corporations pose just as much of a threat to freedom as taxes and government bureaucracy.

A mix of increased efficiency, spending cuts, and reform-minded tax changes is still the best bet for North Carolina

State lawmakers are barreling ahead with the 2010 short session and their plans to have a budget in place before June 30. Let’s hope that this speedy approach doesn’t cause them to lose sight of last year’s proven formula for coping with large budget deficits - namely, a balanced combination of increased efficiency, smart and targeted spending cuts and reform-minded tax hikes.