Commentary/Opinion
When War First Came To Fayetteville
By John Hood RALEIGH — A couple of weeks ago, I was privileged to speak at a ceremony honoring those who fought at the first major southern engagement in the…
Social Disconnection Is Everyone’s Problem
By John Hood RALEIGH — I have a large and loving family, many cherished friends and colleagues, daily opportunities for meaningful work and enjoyable play, and countless other blessings. Still,…
You Decide: Will Tariffs 2.0 Be Different Than 1.0?
By Mike Walden Tariffs continue to be an ongoing issue in the country, receiving much attention. Recently, there was a Supreme Court decision that some of the tariffs imposed by…
State Shouldn’t Rest On Its Laurels
By John Hood RALEIGH — Over the most-recent 12-month period, North Carolina’s economy expanded by an inflation-adjusted 3%. Among the 50 states, only South Carolina (3.5%) posted a significantly faster…
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…
