• John Locke Update

    Liberty Bled Dry: The Legacy of Phlebotonomics

    posted September 20, 2012 by Jon Sanders
    View in your browser. How did George Washington die? What felled the mighty general? What brought down the first president of the United States, the New…
  • John Locke Update

    Cherish the many things in life above politics

    posted September 16, 2012 by Jon Sanders
    View in your browser. In the heat of a presidential contest, the ambient air quality for invasive politics goes all the way up to maroon (readers…
  • John Locke Update

    African hair braiding in the Wild, Wild West

    posted August 15, 2012 by Jon Sanders
    View in your browser. Three cheers for things that are refreshing: a cool drink on a hot day, a luxurious nap, and a jolt of common sense…
  • John Locke Update

    Keep your head in the sand and reach for the stars

    posted August 6, 2012 by Jon Sanders
    View in your browser. North Carolina’s film tax incentive program is in the news again. The Fayetteville Observer recently carried a puff piece about how "Stars…
  • Research Report

    Carolina Cronyism: Introduction, Overview, and Reforms

    posted July 17, 2012 by Jon Sanders
    Cronyism is an umbrella term covering a host of government activities by which an industry or even a single firm or speculator is given favors and support that they could not attain in market competition. This report explains what opens government to cronyism, gives a brief rundown of recent examples of cronyism in North Carolina, and offers several possible reforms.
  • Research Report

    N.C.’s Film Tax Incentives: Good Old-Fashioned Corporate Welfare

    posted July 17, 2012 by Jon Sanders
    Once a popular off-Hollywood venue for filmmakers before state film tax incentives, North Carolina is now one of the leaders in a race to the bottom among other states and nations in giveaways to movie production companies. The incentives show that state leaders know that lower taxes and regulations attract industry. So why play favorites with industries? Why not just lower taxes and regulations altogether?