October 2013 archives

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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Caveat emptor: Now, the commodity in the most short supply is ... trust

There have been a whole lot of people apologizing for the mess that has become the Affordable Care Act. Words like "sincere," "deserve better" and "accountable" have come out of more than a few mouths in Washington this week....

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Red flags fly: If they can't handle a website, do you want them in health care?

Now, after name-calling, horrified commentary from Democrats and calls that those who suggested a delay for the implementation of the individual mandate of Obamacare were fascists, there is at long last ... a delay. It is a no-brainer, really. If...

Friday, October 25, 2013

Blame: If you follow the logic, wrong people tagged with shutdown

Follow our logic. After congressional hearings Thursday on the debacle that has become the Obamacare website, many leading Democrats spoke out about how now, there should be a delay in the implementation and fines associated with the individual mandate....

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Sad story: Teachers' deaths suggest there's a lesson to explore

Everybody always talks about progress. And in the process, especially lately, that definition means dropping old values for new, progressive ones. And sad to say, they are sometimes the wrong ones. It wasn't a lack of values that created...

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Role models: Students show initiative and will to make their own choices

It isn't just that they are praying, although that is nice. It isn't just that they organized this group themselves and make sure it happens every day -- on their own. What makes the prayer circle that some of...

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

It's a bust: Website 'glitches' cause for delay

It doesn't take much space to say it: The Republicans were right. Although you might disagree with the method -- and perhaps quibble about the after effects -- the bottom line is that those who called for a delay...

Monday, October 21, 2013

Warning sign: The entitlement program is broken, and we will all pay the price

It was a scary commentary on the extent to which greed and dishonesty have taken over the food stamp entitlement program. But it should not have been that much of a surprise to anyone who has made a trip to...

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Apathy: More than anything else, this is biggest threat to the nation

You have heard people talking -- we're sure. They lament how high school students don't seem to know anything about their country or how their government works. And they laugh at the adults -- of voting age -- who...

Friday, October 18, 2013

Starting over: Congress should take break, then get back to work

Someone needed to push the reset button. So while there might be some people who are upset that after 16 days of shutdown and bickering, many members of Congress are heading home for a few days off, it is...

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Information you should know...

U.S. Senate •Sen. Richard Burr, 217 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510. Washington office phone: 202-224-3154. Website: http://burr.senate.gov /public/index.cfm?FuseAction =Contact.ContactForm •Sen. Kay Hagan, 521 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510. Washington office phone: 202-224-6342. Website: hagan.senate. gov/contact/contact.cfm...

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Bullying: Stopping the problem starts with parents, schools

It's true. No one generation has a corner on the solution to the problem of bullying. Although adults might like to romanticize their own childhoods, bullying existed then, too. But there is a problem in today's schools -- and...

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

$625M error: Obamacare website debacle harbinger of mess-ups to come

Looking for that one drop-dead piece of evidence to use in arguments with those who are still standing behind the refusal of the Obama Administration to delay or to alter the rollout of the Affordable Care Act? Try this...

Monday, October 14, 2013

Real courage: Nobel Peace Prize should honor those who are really ... heroes

The world paused this past week when Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year-old Pakistani girl who stood up to the Taliban to demand an education, was passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize. The award went instead to a group that...

Friday, October 11, 2013

Fish for kids: Haven't eaten dinner yet? Head on down to fish fry

The Wayne County Shriners don't spend a ton of time telling the world what they do for sick children across the country. But if you have heard one of the stories from one of the families whom they have...

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Tour de Wayne: Tourism money could be boon to local economy

The news that a tennis tournament is coming to Goldsboro -- and the continued possibility of developing even more sports tourism in the area -- are bits of non-traditional good news that might get overlooked. If the city can continue...

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

On film: Kardashians' story sad comment on effects of 'fame'

They aren't really famous for anything -- other than a seemingly continuous number of controversies, sad stories and gossipy celebrity connections. Oh, and of course, their reality shows. The Kardashians are a wonder -- and a sad commentary on...

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Answers: It's time to hear truth about DHHS systems

We probably don't need to tell you this, but just in case, here it goes. The problems with the Medicaid billing system -- as well as the delays in simple things like signing someone up for food stamps --...

Monday, October 7, 2013

Future focused: Investment decisions suggest eye for a stronger county

You can't sit on your laurels these days. If you want to be part of the economic development future in North Carolina, you have to make your community one that people notice. And while marketing campaigns are lovely and...

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Freedom 101: A citizen's duty should include a real knowledge of the country

The latest "situation" in Washington -- combined with some recent man on the street interviews in the national media -- suggest a crisis that many have lamented in the past, but that might just have reached critical proportion. It can...

Friday, October 4, 2013

One weekend left: There's still plenty to see at your county fair

When an event is run well, few people talk about the nuts and bolts. They tell their friends about how much fun they had and all that there was to see and do. But few of them acknowledge, or...

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Perspective: Bus crash story a chance to pause amid news of budget battle

You can't read the story about the people who lost their lives in Wednesday's horrible bus crash without thinking about what really matters in life. Your heart hurts for the families who must now deal with the pain of...

On the horizon: This is only the first of budget battles to come

Don't look now, but even if the federal government shutdown is resolved this evening, there is more trouble ahead. You see, this is not the only contentious debate that is scheduled to hit Congress in the next couple of...

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Yea or nay: How many Americans really care about government shutdown?

They might be irritated at the politics-as-usual battle in Washington over budgets and Obamacare, but most Americans probably aren't losing too much sleep over whether the federal government shuts down -- if they even notice. And while some of...