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Liberty
Were Covid Dissenters Just Lucky?
My previous post discussed a critical omission from Emily Oster’s wish for a Covid “amnesty”: there’s no repentance, not even an apology. Oster wrote that those who got it right “had…
Liberty
$1.99 for a Gallon of Gas? A Sheetz Offer for Thanksgiving
Certain Sheetz gas stations are planning on offering $1.99 per gallon of gas this Thanksgiving holiday for its unleaded 88 blend, which contains 15% ethanol. This lower price will help…
Education
On This Day in NC | November 21, 1789
On this day, North Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution. North Carolina was the only state to have two ratification conventions. In 1788, the Hillsborough convention decided neither to reject nor approve the Constitution. Why?…
Liberty
If You Want a Covid “Amnesty,” Then Repent of Totalitarianism
My latest piece for the American Institute for Economic Research discusses a critical shortcoming in Emily Oster’s October 31 essay in The Atlantic calling for a “pandemic amnesty.” Covid bullies…
Law & Public Safety
Policy Pizza: The Judicial System
The courts have an incredible impact on the work of public policy think tank and Mitch Kokai keeps track of the important cases working their way through North Carolina’s court…
Liberty
Why the ‘Red Wave’ Failed, What the Latest Civitas Poll Reveals
Despite numerous media reports predicting a “red wave” for the 2022 midterms, it failed to materialize for several reasons, according to the latest Civitas Poll results. Many still report feeling like the…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
October Jobs Report Finds Accelerating Unemployment and Shrinking Labor Force Participation
North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased for the third consecutive month in October, according to the latest release from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to…
Elections & Public Integrity
What to Expect in the November 18th County Canvasses
County canvases are when the county boards of elections make their official tabulation of all votes in an election. By law, it starts at 11:00 AM, ten days after an…
Elections & Public Integrity
Testimony Against Limiting Inspections of Election System Vendor Information
The following is my brief statement at a November 17 meeting of the Rules Review Commission. It was against part of 08 NCAC 04 .0308, which proposed new rules from…
Liberty
Threat of Recession Looms Amid Growing Layoffs at Fortune 500 Companies
There’s a lot of talk about a looming recession, and that reality seems more definitive as several Fortune 500 companies are planning on laying off tens of thousands of employees.…
Environment
Reports: Anywhere on Earth Is Warming Faster Than Everywhere Else on Earth
A Google search of government and news sources since 2020 using such terms as “warming faster than rest of the world” produced this extensive list.
Education
How Much Do School Districts Spend per Student?
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has released data on public school finances for 2021-22. In Fiscal Year 2021-22, the average public school in North Carolina spent about $12,345…