Thursday, January 31, 2013
Away we go: North Carolina General Assembly is now back in town
It is too early to draw a conclusion or to wonder out loud what life is going to be like with a Republican legislature in town and a governor of the same party at the helm. But what is...Published: Jan 31, 2013 10:46 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Right answer: It's what people have been saying all along -- just said better
There are certain realities that go along with any discussion of illegal immigration in America and what to do about it. First, there are already 11 million people here illegally -- and we cannot send them back. But even with...Published: Jan 30, 2013 10:46 AM Full Editorial
Monday, January 28, 2013
Proud Eagles: Scouts have made a difference in their community
To see the nearly 50 young men stand there, the event looked like any other honor ceremony that happens across the county every few months. But the 120 young men who were to be honored this weekend (some were not...Published: Jan 28, 2013 11:01 AM Full Editorial
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Between lines: There are clues to troubles in new round of statistics ... and local news.
Not every truth is revealed in large bites. Sometimes you have to pay real close attention to see the evidence that lurks behind the shroud of the politically correct. And then you get a real clue about the breadth...Published: Jan 26, 2013 11:31 PM Full Editorial
Friday, January 25, 2013
Icy caution: Slow and steady is safe
By the time you read this, you will already know whether or not ice is going to be a problem on Wayne County's roads. But just in case, here's a little reminder for those who will have to travel...Published: Jan 25, 2013 10:40 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Answers: Benghazi questions important, if truth is what we're after
Nobody really wants to talk about the horrible story that left an ambassador and three other Americans dead in Benghazi. It is uncomfortable. It is sad. And it should not have happened. And Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should be...Published: Jan 24, 2013 11:11 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
States, right? Where should the power really sit?
It has been a question for hundreds of years. Who should be in charge of deciding basic rules for living for the citizenry? The idea, as it was originally formed, was to avoid the circumstance where an overpowering federal...Published: Jan 23, 2013 11:38 AM Full Editorial
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Party's over: Festivities are at an end. And now, it is back to work.
The stars have stopped singing and the wall-to-wall media coverage is over. President Barack Obama is officially president for four more years. And while the president might believe his press -- the adoring Hollywood throngs and the Democratic leadership...Published: Jan 22, 2013 10:45 AM Full Editorial
Monday, January 21, 2013
Dream stronger: Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision one that should be shared
It took courage to stand there in the middle of the National Mall and to remind a nation and its people of what it could be, should be and would be. It was dangerous to speak out in the...Published: Jan 21, 2013 10:45 AM Full Editorial
Saturday, January 19, 2013
A voice: Protecting our rights requires more than just standing by
Not that many people speak up anymore. Maybe they are too busy. Maybe they think no one is listening. Or maybe they are so used to having a country that represents and protects certain values that they assume the...Published: Jan 19, 2013 10:40 PM Full Editorial
Friday, January 18, 2013
Voting change? Interesting idea to look at how elections are won.
It reads like sour grapes -- the Republicans' new proposal to change how electoral votes are allocated -- until you look a little closer. There has been more than one time over the last few years when someone has raised...Published: Jan 18, 2013 10:30 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Dimes add up: Keep a sharp eye out; prices are still rising.
What happened to all those grandiose plans to see the price of gasoline drop? And, have you noticed that prices are inching up at the grocery store, too? Let's face facts: If you are not vigilant these days, you...Published: Jan 17, 2013 10:39 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Their champion: For honoree Dr. David Tayloe, children are his mission
It has been said that you judge a community by how it takes care of those who are least able to take care of themselves. And if that theory applies to people, too, Dr. David Tayloe has millions of...Published: Jan 16, 2013 1:19 PM Full Editorial
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
He's a cheat: Don't let your heart hurt too much for cycling's biggest villain
So Lance Armstrong is finally admitting he took performance-enhancing drugs. Yawn. Like we all did not know that. He is likely the only person who believed that lie. But what makes this confession particularly heinous -- and the reason it...Published: Jan 15, 2013 10:14 AM Full Editorial
Monday, January 14, 2013
Battleground: Voter identification is a cause very much worth fighting
It is absolutely unbelievable that politicians let themselves get talked out of a voter identification law. In an age when you cannot do ANYTHING without some sort of photo identification, it seems beyond belief that anyone would say you should...Published: Jan 14, 2013 10:13 AM Full Editorial
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Truth isn't easy: Be afraid of politicians looking for a political fix to a social concern
Enough. No more charades. No more soundbites and made-for-television press releases. Let's get serious -- and real -- about violence, guns and the safety of this nation's citizenry. The ongoing discussion of gun control in this country -- and the...Published: Jan 12, 2013 11:12 PM Full Editorial
Friday, January 11, 2013
Talk, talk, talk: Washington is good at talking. Will it be as good at listening?
There always seems to be someone with an opinion in Washington who is not afraid to share it. The real problem comes when you realize there is a bunch of talking going on and not a whole lot of listening....Published: Jan 11, 2013 10:54 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Squeaky wheel: Eastern North Carolina needs to keep interests at forefront
You know the old saying right? The squeaky wheel gets the grease. That advice will serve the new Wayne County delegation -- as well as some of the other representatives and senators who will be taking part in the...Published: Jan 10, 2013 10:50 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Keeping peace: Delicate decision ahead on troops in Afghanistan
It seems like a simple decision: Do we or do we not keep troops in Afghanistan for a few more years? If the war is over, and the Afghans say they are ready for us to leave, shouldn't we...Published: Jan 9, 2013 11:06 AM Full Editorial
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Sanity reigns: Council member's suggestion might be sign of good first step
Don't look now, but the architect of the first steps toward an Air Force museum in Goldsboro might have seen the light. Council member Chuck Allen suggested at the city's meeting Monday that perhaps it might be time to put...Published: Jan 8, 2013 12:48 PM Full Editorial
Monday, January 7, 2013
Writing warning: Technology is taking toll on students' skills
If you have a teenager -- or a wanna-be teenager -- you know. The cell phone is the new pen and ink. In fact, it is also the new voice -- and an appropriate substitute in the minds of...Published: Jan 7, 2013 10:29 AM Full Editorial
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Sanitized: Political discourse has taken a turn for the 'say-nothing.'
Is there anyone who does not wonder every once in a while if there is any politician -- local, state, federal or, lately, international -- who can possibly be taken at his or her word? Sometimes it seems like those...Published: Jan 5, 2013 10:27 PM Full Editorial
Friday, January 4, 2013
Perspectives: Governor-elect's cabinet picks interesting governing plan
Is it possible for Republicans and Democrats to really set aside their political differences and work together in the best interest of their state? Well, we just might find out. Gov.-elect Pat McCrory is populating his cabinet posts with people...Published: Jan 4, 2013 10:41 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Not just you: There are some people who have reasons, but shots save lives
It seems that getting a flu shot should be a personal choice -- if you don't want the flu, get the shot. But the problem with ignoring the warnings and going your own way when it comes to this vaccination...Published: Jan 3, 2013 10:39 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Don't be fooled: OK, we missed the cliff, but the debt pronouncements continue
Don't heave a sigh of relief that the fiscal cliff has been avoided -- that was only Round One. Next on the list is an even tougher foe -- spending cuts and reducing the debt burden that this country is...Published: Jan 2, 2013 10:55 AM Full Editorial
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Fresh start: New Year not just time for resolutions, but for new priorities
Hindsight, predictably, is 20/20. So, as most of us contemplate the dawn of a new year, we look back with a critical eye at what could have been done better in the year just passed. And for most of...Published: Jan 1, 2013 11:30 AM Full Editorial