October 2008 archives

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Friday, October 31, 2008

Waste, again: Easley travel bill just another scary revelation

And you thought Mary Easley's new salary at the University of North Carolina system was shocking. The revelation by the state auditor that the governor's wife turned in an astronomical bill for trips she took as part of a cultural...

Thursday, October 30, 2008

It's about trust: There are true concerns about Superior Court race

Both candidates running for Superior Court judge have the training they need to sit on the bench and make good decisions based on the rule of law. A vote for Judge Jerry Braswell or challenger, attorney Arnold Jones, won't...

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Debate matters: Protect diverse voices, multiple opinions

If this election season has proven one point, it would be how important it is to have many voices, multiple opinions and the possibility of expressing them. One of the concerns that has been circulating recently is that Democrats...

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Hagan who? Democratic candidate almost invisible in Wayne County

Sometimes the most telling moments of a battle are the last days. And sometimes the best measure of a representative's intentions is where he or she chooses to fight.And in the race for one of North Carolina's U.S. Senate seats,...

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Redistribution: Siphoning rewards of success kills incentive to achieve

It is not just about the money, but, for now, let's let it be about the money and only the money. Imagine that you have an idea -- a plan for a business. You mortgage your house, scrimp, save...

Friday, October 24, 2008

Yes, go vote: Despite what polls say, the race is not over yet

It's not over until the last vote has been counted. That advice could not be any truer, especially this year, this election. It might seem like the polls are saying there is no reason to cast your vote, that...

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Never too early: BRAC is not ever going to go away completely

It might seem like a very long time ago that Wayne County held its breath as it waited for the results of the Base Closure and Realignment Commission. It is hard to remember all the hard work that went...

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Sad world: There is no room for 'childhood' anymore

Two men in two weeks -- and two sets of accusations that there has been improper behavior involving children.That news is enough to make any parent think twice about letting his children out of his sight.It just isn't easy these...

Monday, October 20, 2008

Gas price squeeze: Beginning to look fishy that prices are still higher

We might not have liked hearing the explanation, but many North Carolina drivers understood that slow supplies in the Gulf were taking their toll on prices and availability of gas. So, when distributors said they were doing the best...

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Crises among us: A united community can ease so much adversity

Looking at your bank balance -- and your retirement account -- couldn't have been easy this past week -- or the week before that for that matter. In fact, watching the market shoot up, then down, then up, then...

Friday, October 17, 2008

Joe's adventure: Want to know why people stay out of the political process ...

He didn't know he would become a celebrity when he asked Sen. Barack Obama a question about taxes on the campaign trail. But now, just days later, Joe the Plumber -- also known as Samuel J. Wurzelbacher -- has...

Thursday, October 16, 2008

First voters: One-stop voting is a theory that doesn't work in practice

There were lines at the One-Stop voting centers this morning in Wayne County. The idea is, you can walk into the door of the polling place and register to vote and make your choices that very day. The goal,...

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Listen, really: Forget hype. Ignore pundits. Analyze on your own.

Let's face it. Most of us would rather have three teeth pulled than listen to yet another presidential debate, especially since there really hasn't been a debate yet -- just an assemblage of candidate statements woven around a moderator....

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Tired of listening? Share your questions for commissioners, school board

The best part of Election Day is that the voters get to tell politicians what they think of them. The worst part is that before the vote actually occurs, there are plenty of speeches, forums, automated phone calls and...

Monday, October 13, 2008

Think about it: A few facts to remember about mortgage crisis

The important thing to remember as you look to figure out who to put in charge of revamping the U.S. financial system is that there is plenty of blame to go around. Each party points to the other as...

Saturday, October 11, 2008

The real reward: True academic success isn't bestowed -- it must be earned

Goldsboro resident Emily Westbrook -- and others like her who are disturbed by the Wayne County School District's discussion concerning the awarding -- or not awarding -- of zeroes -- are dead-on right. In the real world, no matter how...

Friday, October 10, 2008

Responsible vote: Voting shouldn't be easy

The furor over voter registration improprieties and the housing group ACORN has caused rumblings in both the Republican and Democratic parties. The accusations have been scary -- from pressure to vote to some people being told to commit fraud....

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Common sense: Here comes the drama. Try leadership instead.

There is no need for more congressional hearings. Television time can go back to what is really important -- how we are going to fix this economy. There won't be any need to listen to blowhard politicians who just...

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

United they stand: Agreement is a positive sign that boards mean business

They could have argued for another couple of weeks and planned 15 more meetings on what to do about school facilities in Wayne County. They could have stomped their feet and placed blame. Instead, this week, the county commissioners and...

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Debate? Really? Real discussion will come after televised exchange

Tonight Americans will gather around their televisions to try -- once again -- to figure out who would make the best new president of the United States. The second debate between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain is scheduled...

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Palin's appeal: Pundits don't get what ordinary Americans find refreshing

The political pundits seem puzzled by the allure of Gov. Sarah Palin. And you can almost understand their confusion. Thursday's vice presidential debate certainly did not make anyone want to rush out and buy a Gov. Sarah Palin or Sen....

Friday, October 3, 2008

Catch the fair: There is still a night and a day to see your county's fair

There's a reason the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair is ranked as one of the best in the state. And it is not because of the rides, the food or the displays -- although all of those are reasons to spend...

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Where's the gov.? Easley's latest 'no show' par for the course during tenure

Did you wonder why Gov. Mike Easley was not present for the opening of a telecommunications center in Goldsboro? Was it because he had more pressing engagements somewhere else? No. Was it because he had a personal emergency that made...

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Greed's results: Corporate America not only place to start cleanup

Greed has become a watchword in American society -- and not just for those in the higher tax brackets either. One of the less-often-discussed aspects of the current economic crisis is that many people took on more debt than they...