Growth Patterns Show Danger Of Income Tax
The article originally appeared in the Durham Herald Sun. Why do you work? When reading that question, any one of several answers likely jumped into your mind. But one answer that I’m willing to bet occurred to none of you is: I work to pay taxes. That noncontroversial assumption goes hand in hand with another [...]
Raleigh Ventures Show How Businesses Work
Andrew Leager, the owner of Boylan Bridge Brewpub and the Special Projects woodworking shop, both in Raleigh, is just one of many business owners in North Carolina facing regulation from all levels of government. He recently discussed both of his business endeavors and how government is involved. Leager started his business based on a principle [...]
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Shortsighted Government Regulations Harm Optometry Business
An Optometrist’s Journey Dr. Jay Bailey owns Professional Eye Associates in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is a family-owned and -operated business where Bailey has accrued 23 years of experience in both practicing optometry and running his own business. Since 1987, Bailey has been committed to following his passion of helping others overcome debilitating vision deficits [...]
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Civitas Poll Sheds Light on Economic Crisis
The experts say the recession ended in 2009; the people in North Carolina say it’s still going on. Moreover, by a large margin they expect it to drag on for two years or more. That’s one finding from our July Civitas Poll which, along with others, reveals widespread pessimism about the economic outlook. We asked [...]
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What the Tax-Free Weekend Can Teach Us
Did you venture out to purchase school supplies for your aspiring young scholar during our state’s tax-free weekend? Or, perhaps your child’s school days have long passed and you simply wanted to acquire a new computer without incurring a sales tax. Either way, North Carolina recently held its annual sales tax holiday, during which the [...]
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Why We Should Eliminate the Minimum Wage
The growth of teenage unemployment has ominous implications for the future — but there is a solution, if we are willing to face economic reality. According to a host of sources, joblessness among young people is growing. For example, the Christian Science Monitor said that the unemployment rate for African-Americans in the 16-19 year-old range [...]
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Raleigh Businessman Gives the President A Sign
The founder of the iconic lunch haven Snoopy’s in Raleigh was so infuriated by President Obama saying he hadn’t built the business by himself he put up a sign to answer the President. Watch the video here...
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NC Needs a Reality Check
If you check out Forbes Magazine’s List of the Best Places for Business and Careers, you will find a slideshow of silver skyscrapers hailing the prosperity of Raleigh and other North Carolina metro areas – but failing to show economic reality elsewhere in the Tar Heel State. The magazine touts Raleigh as No. 2 in [...]
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Debt Crisis Hits Home
Picture this: a family of four is sitting down at the dinner table enjoying a delicious meal together. Mom asks, “How was school?” A child asks, “What did you do at work today, Dad?” The hungry teenager hastily requests, “Would you pass the potatoes, please?” The family seems happy; all material needs and desires are [...]
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UNC Center Focuses on Partisanship, not Poverty
An organization founded by ex-Sen. John Edwards was meant to fight poverty, but many clues suggest it instead focuses more on fighting partisan battles– and avoiding scrutiny by North Carolina taxpayers. The Center on Work, Poverty, and Opportunity at the UNC School of Law was founded in 2005 as a sort of halfway house for [...]
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How to Get NC’s Economy On Track
This article originally appeared in the Charlotte Business Journal. North Carolina can improve its dismal 9.4% unemployment rate – currently fourth worst in the nation. To understand what that takes, however, requires an understanding of what makes a state’s economy thrive relative to those of other states. States that thrive are the ones with the [...]
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When is a job not really a ‘created’ one?
This article first appeared in the Fayetteville Observer on June 21. It’s easy to understand why Jane would be so excited about the new economic development project in her town. She is unemployed. Luckily, Jane’s husband still has his job, but his income is not enough to support them and their two young children. Jane [...]
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Lawmakers Eye Tougher Penalties for Unemployment Fraud
(RALEIGH) – Some state legislators point to a case in Scotland County that cost a businessman thousands of dollars and affected his firm’s unemployment credit rating as a prime example of why the penalty for unemployment fraud should be increased from a misdemeanor to a felony. In 2011 Gerri Clark, 41, was charged with over [...]
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Held back by Red Tape 3: Policy Options for North Carolina
How can we modify licensing in North Carolina? While it is doubtful that North Carolina will do away with occupational licensing in its entirety, common-sense reforms can alleviate many of the burdens that licensing places on our economy: 1) Eliminate occupational privilege licensing. Occupational privilege licensing serves no regulatory purpose. It is simply another $40 [...]
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Held Back by Red Tape 2: Fines and Missed Dreams
Steve Cooksey of Gaston County, thought he was just helping diabetics. David N. Cox of Raleigh thought he was helping his neighbors. But both North Carolinians found that they had run afoul of one of the most widespread yet least-discussed barriers to creating jobs and pursing one’s dreams: occupational licensing. Doing unlicensed business, or even [...]
Weekly Newsletter
@NCCivitas
- Paging Karl Marx: Civitas Bad Bill features idea of a state-owned bank. http://t.co/1ciI7BkDii #consnc #ncpol #ncga
- Senate approves budget plan with party line vote, moves to House http://t.co/GE7pANBwXe #consnc #ncga #ncpol
- Students from local private academy accepted to internationally recognized school http://t.co/okuI6nhTkA #consNC #ncpol #nctcot
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