Commentary/Opinion

Carolinians Thwarted Britain’s Southern Gambit
By John Hood RALEIGH — During the first few months of America’s war for independence, the British redcoats occupying the rebellious city of Boston won one major battle (for Bunker…

You Decide: What’s Wrong With The Job Market?
By Mike Walden The most recent job market report for January was received with much enthusiasm. Total jobs in the country increased by 130,000, the highest number since May 2025.…

A Retirement Nightmare – Social Security’s Annual Earnings Test
By Russel Gloor National Social Security Advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens Picture this: You’ve worked all your life in your chosen…

Imagine No Social Security
By Russell Gloor National Social Security Advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens In 1971, the iconic song writer John Lennon penned…

Opinion: NC Housing Needs Partners. Stop Running Them Out
By: R. Lee Currie, Jr. of Clayton, Former Executive Director of the North Carolina Republican Party North Carolina is facing a severe housing shortage. We have an inventory gap of…

You Decide: What’s The Best Tax?
By Mike Walden If you meet someone new and the conversation lags, one way to keep things going is to bring up the topic of taxes. Virtually everyone has an…

Social Security Matters – Why Is My Social Security Retirement Benefit So Small?
By Russell Gloor, National Social Security Advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens Dear Rusty: Can you help me understand? I have paid into Social…

Three Wishes For The Telehealth Genie
By John Hood RALEIGH — According to folklore, extraordinary beings resent being confined within ordinary spaces. In “The Fisherman and the Jinni,” one of the stories Sheherazade tells her misguided…

Keep Recent Economic News in Perspective
By John Hood RALEIGH — Here are three stories about North Carolina’s economy that made headlines last week — each undeniably newsworthy and yet each requiring more information to put…

You Decide: Can The Beat Go On?
By Mike Walden I know I am dating myself, but when I was in high school in the 1960s, one of my favorite songs was “The Beat Goes On” by…

You Decide: Which Kevin Will Win?
By Mike Walden There’s a new battle going on between two individuals named Kevin. No, they are not boxers, nor are they involved in any sport. Instead, they are competing…

Hunt’s Pragmatism Served Our State Well
By John Hood RALEIGH — North Carolina is one of America’s most contested electoral battlegrounds. It has been for generations. It is also home to one of the most successful…








