John Hood's Syndicated Weekly Column | 2008 Archive

The proposed Employee Free Choice Act would deprive millions of American workers of their freedom of choice – proving, in case anyone ever doubted it, that there is no truth-in-labeling rule in politics.

Here’s how fiscal mathematics in Raleigh works. When given a choice between excessive and exorbitant, you don’t split the difference. You add them.

What the environmental activists envision is a future North Carolina where power bills are so high that demand will flatten or even fall.

If participants in North Carolina political debate truly wish to serve the public, they will say what they mean and mean what they say.

Failing to enact needed legislation to address an important issue is bad. But enacting the wrong legislation is worse.

North Carolina posted some of the largest test-score gains in the nation during the early to 1990s, before the state invested heavily in preschool programs.

The next time you see a newspaper or television station refer to “undocumented workers” you may properly conclude that it is no longer practicing news journalism.

Remember the old commercial for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups? There’s a collision that gets someone’s chocolate in someone else’s peanut butter. Then they marvel at “two great tastes that taste great together.”

There’s a good reason to question the wisdom of placing a state transportation bond on the November ballot. But you won’t find it voiced in most of the legislative and public debate.

I’m in favor of competitive, frequent, high-profile elections. They are essential elements of constitutional self-government in a free society.

Next time, the political class won’t make the mistake of asking North Carolina voters whether they think their local taxes are too low.

It’s their business if they choose, Peter Pan-like, not to grow up. But they should keep their hands out of the wallets of the grownups.

If I gave you a list of 12 major industrialized countries and asked you where the highest share of medical bills was paid directly by patients rather than by third parties, would you say the United States?

There are many similarities between former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney and current state senator and gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith.

Perdue’s campaign for governor more closely resembles that of Hillary Clinton, emphasizing experience and readiness to lead over Obama’s themes of novelty and change.

To get a sense of how Bob Orr fits into the 2008 race for North Carolina governor, take a look at what Cabarrus County blogger and Republican activist Justin Thibault discovered in the course of picking his preferred candidate.

For Graham, a straightforward “yes” or “no” isn’t just a way to answer a question. It’s a way to reinforce his political persona.

Ask Richard Moore a question about virtually any issue, and the response will likely include a statistic or two, or twelve.

He’s bright, persuasive, confident, and comfortable talking about key issues. But Pat McCrory's most-valuable asset is that he’s not from Raleigh.

RALEIGH – I don’t know precisely when the infection started, but it’s been evident for years that North Carolina’s political class suffers from a disease one might call the Quicken Pox.

RALEIGH – There’s a winning conservative message on education policy in North Carolina – though it remains to be seen if any of the candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor, superintendent of public instruction, or other relevant state offices will prove to be willing and able to make the case for reform.

When faced with a problem, the political class tends to react simplistically. Pass a law! Raise a tax! Give away other people’s money!

I’ve talked to many conservatives in the past few weeks about their preferences in the race for the 2008 presidential nomination. The Democratic one, I mean.

If you thought Medicaid was simply a welfare program designed to provide free in-kind services to poor people, let me put something on the top of your reading list.

Look for education to be at or near the top of the list of debated issues – and for the candidates to assert with great passion answers to the usual, wrong questions.

Pat McCrory may just be the mayor of one North Carolina city, but he’s already demonstrated statewide influence – by moving the Republicans’ primary date from May to June.

RALEIGH – Imagine that a special North Carolina committee asked you to estimate the costs and benefits of adopting state regulations to combat climate change.

The worst possible reason for vote for an incumbent legislator or member of Congress is the argument from seniority. Unfortunately, we can expect to hear it repeatedly in 2008, as in all electoral cycles.

The presidential-primary system is absurd. It starts way too early. It’s out of balance and unfair. But that doesn’t mean it ought to be radically changed.