By John Hood Raleigh, NC – Most federal, state, and local policymakers are saying the right things about housing. Our leaders say they want to make it easier for young people to purchase homes and older people to keep them.…
By John Hood Raleigh, NC – Having spent nearly 40 years analyzing and writing about North Carolina politics and public policy, I often find myself placing today’s challenges and controversies into historical context. For example, did Republican lawmakers just draw…
By John Hood Raleigh, NC – Most North Carolinians think our country is on the wrong track. That’s what 55% of respondents said in the latest High Point University survey, with 54% of likely voters offering the same critique in…
By John Hood Raleigh, NC – Nonviolent protests have a venerable history in North Carolina and beyond. Violent protests — that is, riots — have an ignominious one. A broadly recognized distinction? You might think so. Alas, you’d be wrong.…
By John Hood Raleigh, NC – In places where the regulatory climate makes it easier to build new homes, it’s easier for people to find housing at affordable prices. No, really, please bear with me. I know my proposition sounds…
North Carolinians start new year with optimism. That’s understandable. Despite our many challenges, North Carolinians live in a beautiful state that’s generally well-governed and boasts one of the strongest economies in the country.
By John Hood North Carolinians make a familiar choice Raleigh, NC – To describe North Carolina as one of America’s chief political battlegrounds is a well-worn cliché. I’ve certainly done my part to wear it out. In past columns I’ve…
By John Hood Raleigh, NC – North Carolina voters will be asked this fall to remove a troubling ambiguity in the state constitution. An overwhelming, bipartisan majority of state legislators — 40 of 50 senators, 104 of 120 representatives —…
By John Hood Raleigh, NC – I think the North Carolina General Assembly deserves loads of credit for making our tax code friendlier to growth, investment, and freedom. In one respect, however, the state still imposes too heavy a load.…
By John Hood Raleigh, NC – The General Assembly ought to enact big pay increases for educators in North Carolina’s public schools. In the context of soaring prices, strong revenue collections, tight labor markets, and persistent vacancies in key teaching…