Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Stepping aside: Demands on commissioners too great for person with job
It is unfortunate that the demands on members of governing bodies are so great that many qualified people are prohibited from serving. The resignation of Ken Gerrard from the Wayne County Board of Commissioners brings this to mind. Gerrard resigned...Published: Mar 31, 2004 11:25 AM Full Editorial
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Clean house: Loose policies at ports authority
A report from the state auditor’s office indicates not only that there were some loose financial rules in the State Ports Authority, but also that there was loose oversight by the citizen board that governs the authority. The report released...Published: Mar 30, 2004 11:23 AM Full Editorial
Monday, March 29, 2004
Progress? Merger brings reduction in mental-health funding
North Carolina’s Division of Mental Health urges local mental health agencies that serve small populations to merge with others. That is because a single multi-county mental health department can serve a number of counties more efficiently. Merging the departments does...Published: Mar 29, 2004 11:22 AM Full Editorial
Sunday, March 28, 2004
Blame: Put perspective on finger-pointing
Richard Clarke, former U.S. counterterrorism director, has caused a lot of doubt and confusion with his accusations that the Bush administration was soft on terrorism before 9/11. It helps to look at what actually happened during the years that...Published: Mar 28, 2004 12:28 AM Full Editorial
Friday, March 26, 2004
Over at last: It was a long election but it was a civil one
The News-Argus often has appealing pictures on its front page, but few are nicer than the one that appeared Wednesday. That is the one that showed Danny Roseborough giving Jackie Warrick a congratulatory handshake after Warrick won Tuesday’s City Council...Published: Mar 26, 2004 11:09 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Untapped: U.S. has abundant energy resources
There are predictions that gasoline prices could go to a national average of $2 this summer. Even higher in some areas. No matter what the reasons or excuses — valid or concocted — might be, it’s bad news for all...Published: Mar 25, 2004 12:18 PM Full Editorial
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Irony: Who isn’t giving witnesses a choice?
It’s ironic that Judge James M. Honeycutt is the one who ends up the closest to violating the Constitution over invoking God’s name in a courtroom. Honeycutt is a District Court judge in Lexington who has asked court officials to...Published: Mar 24, 2004 12:45 PM Full Editorial
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
About time: Just salivating for that new festival
There’s the Daffodil Festival in Fremont. That’s good. And of course Mount Olive’s Pickle Festival. We wouldn’t want to do without that. We’ve got Pikeville’s Independence Day festivities, and the Garden Spot Festival at LaGrange. Great festivities. And there’s Mule...Published: Mar 23, 2004 11:47 AM Full Editorial
Monday, March 22, 2004
Salute: Elks’ banquet deserves support
Goldsboro Elks Lodge 139 is to be congratulated for the planning that has gone into the Law Enforcement Appreciation Banquet to be held at the Lodge home Saturday, March 27. Special congratulations should go particularly to past Exalted Ruler Dennis...Published: Mar 22, 2004 11:00 AM Full Editorial
Sunday, March 21, 2004
The Navy’s needs some adjustment
The U.S. Navy might need some serious attitude adjustment. What some perceive as its high-handedness in dealing with the public has been a concern among some eastern North Carolina residents and some elected officials in recent years. It was evidenced...Published: Mar 21, 2004 12:09 AM Full Editorial
Friday, March 19, 2004
Near treason: Keep the campaign within our borders
Sen. John Kerry insists that he has heard from leaders of foreign countries who support his campaign for president against President Bush. The Bush campaign has challenged Kerry to name those foreign leaders but Kerry refuses, saying the leaders asked...Published: Mar 19, 2004 12:31 PM Full Editorial
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Spain: Osama bin Laden wins an election
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council in Washington gave a good description of what caused Spain’s voters to throw out the government of Jose Maria Aznar. It was, he said, “a rapid deflation of courage” among the voters. Since...Published: Mar 18, 2004 11:55 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Send her home: Woman is jailed for refusing surgery
Now let’s get this clear: If a woman makes a premeditated decision to kill her unborn child through a late-term, or partial-birth, abortion, that’s all right. A woman can make choices about their own body, so says the law. But...Published: Mar 17, 2004 12:01 PM Full Editorial
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Haiti: A large commitment of troops may be unwise
Watching the heartbreak of Haiti’s hunger and violence on television, it is clear that rich nations like the United States must step in — at least to relieve the hunger. Whether we should get involved in the violence is problematic....Published: Mar 16, 2004 12:35 PM Full Editorial
Monday, March 15, 2004
Attack ads? Bush is merely returning fire
All of a sudden the national media are getting exercised about President George W. Bush’s starting “attack ads” this “early” in the campaign. But the talking heads are assuring listeners that Sen. John Kerry will not be turning the other...Published: Mar 15, 2004 12:39 PM Full Editorial
Saturday, March 13, 2004
Not guilty: NAFTA isn’t responsible for all it gets blamed for
“I’m not going to vote Republican anymore because NAFTA caused big corporations to send jobs overseas.” You hear that so often that you’d almost believe it made sense. But it doesn’t. In the first place, NAFTA is not a Republican...Published: Mar 13, 2004 11:45 PM Full Editorial
Friday, March 12, 2004
Thieves: They’re becoming terribly brazen
On a recent night, a Grantham couple thought they heard a vehicle drive into their yard. It was around 2:30 a.m. They decided, in the silence that followed, that perhaps they had been mistaken. Then the noise re-occurred. There definitely...Published: Mar 12, 2004 12:09 PM Full Editorial
Thursday, March 11, 2004
Waffling: Kerry supported war — no he didn’t — yes he did ...
Republicans are trying to convince voters that John Kerry waffles on the issues. That is, that he will take either side on the same question, depending on what his audience wants to hear. Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts, will be...Published: Mar 11, 2004 11:15 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Greenspan: His ideas are worth our consideration
Alan Greenspan suggested that Social Security be protected through three steps: Making President Bush’s tax cuts permanent, cutting government spending, and reducing the amount of benefits that future retirees are promised. It didn’t take long for the politicians to start...Published: Mar 10, 2004 12:46 PM Full Editorial
Tuesday, March 9, 2004
Fox News: Fair and balanced? That’s a stretch.
This newspaper in the past has praised Fox News as a refreshing change of pace from the liberal extremist nightly reports from such talking heads as Dan Rather and Peter Jennings. But contrary to its slogan, Fox News is not...Published: Mar 9, 2004 10:11 AM Full Editorial
Monday, March 8, 2004
Unseen help: What the federal prison means to Wayne County
Nestled away on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, where most folks seldom go, Goldsboro’s Federal Prison Camp is a hidden asset to Wayne County. It’s what industrial developers would call a clean industry. It provides 88 good jobs. Its budget,...Published: Mar 8, 2004 10:59 AM Full Editorial
Sunday, March 7, 2004
New City Hall: First look at plan brings good feelings
That first indication of what Goldsboro’s City Hall may ultimately look like was mighty encouraging. A design has been drafted by the architects Partin & Hobbs and shown to the City Council. A rendering of the exterior has appeared on...Published: Mar 7, 2004 12:27 AM Full Editorial
Friday, March 5, 2004
Travesties: Some new rules needed in criminal justice system
North Carolina needs a law requiring prosecutors to open their files to defense lawyers in all cases involving felonies. Such a law has been proposed by Tony Rand, the Fayetteville Democrat who is the Senate majority leader. Some prosecutors already...Published: Mar 5, 2004 11:54 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, March 4, 2004
Mrs. Phipps: Is four years in prison really necessary for her?
What happened in a federal court Tuesday was deeply distressing to any Tar Heel with even a modicum of tenderness in his heart, regardless of politics. Meg Scott Phipps, the newest light in the brilliant Scott family of Alamance County,...Published: Mar 4, 2004 11:33 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
Victory: Getting ready for the inevitable
This story is personal. If it is too personal, I’m sorry. It is sad, too. But in the end it is a story of victory. Tracy Hardin of Gastonia died three hours before this was written. She was 32 and...Published: Mar 3, 2004 11:56 AM Full Editorial
Tuesday, March 2, 2004
Outsourcing: Let’s try it the other way around
A Bush administration economic expert commented recently on the beneficial effects of today’s international trade agreements. On balance and over the long haul, she suggested, it would be a good thing to buy from abroad goods formerly produced domestically. The...Published: Mar 2, 2004 11:45 AM Full Editorial
Monday, March 1, 2004
Favoritism? Court says it’s okay to ban aid for future preachers
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that states can discriminate against people studying for the clergy when awarding state-paid scholarships. On first blush, the ruling sounds discriminatory. The states — in this case, Washington state — can help someone...Published: Mar 1, 2004 1:06 PM Full Editorial