Opinion (250)
COLUMN: 'Strengthening American Democracy' by ignoring Americans' rights
Written by Thomas L. Knapp
On Jan. 23, the U.S. National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service released its "interim report" following up with hearings for public comment in February.
COLUMN: The biggest fans of the Green New Deal should be Republicans
Written by Thomas Mills
If Democrats want to see large victories in 2020, they need to steal the narrative away from their left flank. The new voice of the left wing of the party is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The 29-year-old freshman Congresswoman from the Bronx is engaging, articulate, funny and everywhere in the media. Her Green New Deal has become a rallying point for the left and a litmus test for presidential contenders.
Arguing that GOP-tiled districts had rendered elected lawmakers “usurpers” who “did not represent the people of North Carolina,” Wake County Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins has struck down two constitutional amendments approved by state voters last fall: one requiring a photo ID to vote and the other capping North Carolina’s income-tax rate at 7 percent.
COLUMN: Where there's a will, there's a way — to give your stuff away
Written by Joe Weaver
My wife reminded me that the time has come for us to write a will. I guess I had thought of the possibility that we might not be around any longer once or twice, but never really considered the fact that eventually it will happen. It's not one of those things that average people go around thinking about.
GUEST EDITORIAL: Not easy as ABC to abolish state’s liquor monopoly
Written by Wilson Times
Before you swallow restrictionists’ claim that North Carolina’s state monopoly on liquor sales is a good-government success story, ask yourself where all the bottle rockets come from.
COLUMN: Homeschoolers: Guilty until proven innocent?
Written by Kerry McDonald
My 8-year-old daughter and I recently read about the Salem Witch Trials. She had heard about Salem from a friend who visited the nearby town during its popular Halloween festivities, and she was curious about the witches. We went to the library to get some books on the topic of how 20 innocent people were put to death for “witchcraft” in 1692, with scores more accused and jailed.
COLUMN: The real emergency isn't about the wall; it's about the separation of powers
Written by Thomas L. Knapp
U.S. President Donald Trump recently declared a "national emergency" under which he intends to divert money from the U.S. Department of Defense's budget and use it to build a wall on the US-Mexico border.
No biggie, Trump said as he announced the "emergency." Happens all the time (59 other times since 1976, to be exact). Purely routine.
COLUMN: Election fraud up close and personal
Written by Thomas Mills
After months of news reports, we finally got a good look at the people in Bladen County involved in the election fraud in the 9th Congressional District. Most seemed unwitting participants in the scheme but they also indicated an effort to cover up their activities led by McCrae Dowless. So far, it’s been a fascinating look at a ploy to rig an election and testimony gave clear evidence that what they did was illegal. I had a bunch of thoughts as I watched the proceedings via twitter.
EDITORIAL: Keep Richmond County clean
Written by The Richmond Observer
Thirteen tons.
It’s not an early version of the classic Tennessee Ernie Ford tune, but how much roadside garbage has been collected in Richmond County over the past two months.
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Is it the job of government to make you happy? While it may seem like a straightforward question, there are some important subtleties packed into those few words.
COLUMN: North Carolina needs independent agency to administer elections
Written by Brian Irving
Letting Democrats and Republicans draw electoral districts, effectively selecting their constituents, erodes confidence in our elections. Why then do we place them solely in charge of running our elections as well?
COLUMN: Educational 'progress' is regressing knowledge of basic skills
Written by Joe Weaver
I was talking to my younger daughter on the telephone the other day and she was telling me how she was addressing envelopes for letters and thank you cards.
A lot of people have sent her things since she moved to Alabama and she is just now getting around to formally thanking everyone. She has thanked most everyone on social media or by text message, but she felt that a handwritten thank you would be more appropriate for some folks.
GUEST EDITORIAL: State misfires on safety and takes aim at gunowners
Written by Wilson Times
Under the guise of preventing mass shootings, North Carolina lawmakers tried to chip away at the Second Amendment this week.
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