Commentary/Opinion
Opinion: Democrats Face Headwinds On Top Issues
By John Hood RALEIGH — North Carolina remains a political background. Although Republicans have won most recent statewide contests and retained majorities in legislative seats and county commissions, they usually…
Opinion: We’re Sliding Towards Single Payer
By John Hood RALEIGH — North Carolina is about to become the 40th state to expand its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act. The bill drew huge, bipartisan majorities…
Opinion: Book Bans Are Dangerous. Curating Age-Appropriate School Material Is Not.
By David Larson Opinion Editor, Carolina Journal Book bans have been a real problem in history, typically by totalitarian governments — whether Marxist, fascist, theocratic, or otherwise. But parents who…
You Decide: Where’s The Job Market Headed?
By Mike Walden Jobs are a crucial part – some would say “the” crucial part — of the economy. People take jobs to earn money. They spend the money on…
Opinion: Average Teacher Pay Critics Need Remedial Math Instruction
By Mitch Kokai John Locke Foundation A recent headline in a major N.C. newspaper declared “Average N.C. teacher pay is nearly $58,000, state says. But educators argue many earn less.” Any person…
Opinion: Gov Cooper Should End Duplicative And Historically Racist Gun Policies
By Jordan SteinGun Owners of America One of the most discriminatory laws on North Carolina’s books is the pistol purchase permit system, which was first implemented in 1919. To summarize,…
Opinion: Let’s Build More Housing
By Jordan Roberts John Locke Foundation The American dream of owning a home is falling out of reach for many in our state. Home prices continue to rise in North…
Opinion: Partisan Elections Are The Best Kind
By John Hood RALEIGH — When I returned home to North Carolina from the nation’s capital in 1989 and subsequently registered to vote, I opted not to join a political…
You Decide: Will North Carolina Be The New Leader In Energy?
By Mike Walden Although there are debates about the speed and details, it is clear that an energy transition is taking place. Not unlike the transition from animal-powered energy to…
Opinion: Don’t Let Roads Become Racetrack
By John Hood RALEIGH — During the early stage of the COVID crisis in 2020, my daily commute got super easy. Then it got scary hard. While my staff and…
Opinion: Progressives Made A Faulty Prediction
By John Hood RALEIGH — My progressive friends are frustrated. They should be. After more than a decade of conservative governance, North Carolina has implemented many policies the Left disdains…
Opinion: Get Off The Voter ID Merry-Go-Round
By John Hood RALEIGH — North Carolinians want their election laws to include a photo ID requirement. They’ve made this clear many times. In 2018, a large majority of voters…
