There’s little dispute that our current economic mess was triggered by government policies designed to prop up the real estate and housing construction industry. Such policies coerced mortgage lenders into scrapping traditional underwriting standards, resulting in a major uptick in payment defaults and foreclosures. Most rational human beings would learn a lesson from this tale, and [...]
Monthly Archives: November 2009
- Nov24
Health care’s new lesson
What did the drama surrounding new mammogram policies teach us about Obamacare? That, “the political left supports such medical rationing even as it disavows that any such thing is happening” says the WSJ’s opinion headliner. The article traces the “political duck-and-cover” following last week’s new health policy that said women could wait untill age 50 for mammograms. [...]
- Nov23
And the winner is…
The winner of the inaugural Bad Bill of the Year tournament is — SB 848. This bill would allow illegal immigrants access to community colleges and the university system, sponsored by Sen. Charlie Albertson (D-Duplin). It cruised to victory over the other finalist, HB 120 — public financing of municipal elections — by a 63%-37% [...]
- Nov23
Look at These Numbers!
In 34 short days North Carolina voter registration changes look like this: Democrats +623 Republicans +750 Libertarians +225 Unaffiliateds +5188
- Nov23
More Economic Ignorance from the N&O
In this short commentary in the N&O, the editors continue to mindlessly recommend a larger government role in America’s economy. They observe that teen unemployment stands at remarkably high rates (as is to be expected in a recession), and their recommendation is, of course, more government! President Obama plans a White House “Forum on Jobs” [...]
- Nov20
Education stimulus funds: Who are they helping?
Today’s fun fact: Federal stimulus money to K-12 public schools in the United States totals $68 billion. That’s $68 billion over and above what the feds normally spend on public education. What are Americans getting for the extra spending? Not much. That’s the conclusion reached by Chester Finn and Frederick Hess in an insightful National Review [...]
- Nov20
$100 Million for One Vote
ABC News reporter Johnathan Karl sheds light on a provision in the Senate health care bill revealing how our rulers in DC “debate” legislation: What does it take to get a wavering senator to vote for health care reform? Here’s a case study. On page 432 of the Reid bill, there is a section increasing federal Medicaid [...]
- Nov20
Inside the ACORN Videos
Do you think we have seen the last of the undercover videos exposing ACORN’s true nature? Not by a long shot. Check out this interview from ReasonTV with Biggovernment.com editor Mike Flynn. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw-5IhF9zBI&feature=player_embedded One of the revelations in the interview is that Biggovernment.com has several more videos that have yet to be released. They also [...]
- Nov20
N.C.’s Unemployment Rate Climbed to 11% in Oct.
New data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statisticsshows that North Carolina’s unemployment rate climbed to 11% in Oct., up from 10.8% in the previous month. The 11% places NC with the nation’s 8th highest unemployment rate – topping the list is Michigan at 15.1%. The national rate stands at 10.2%
- Nov19
Track the Stimulus Money
For those curious about where the NC’s federal stimulus money is being spent, check out stimuluswatch.org.2.0 to follow the money. The site documents the more than 1,700 items (mostly grants) being funded by the federal stimulus bill – The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The site is interactive, allowing visitors to rank and comment on projects. [...]