Family Policy – 2013 Legislative Session Review
DOWNLOAD ENTIRE ARTICLE (with images and votes) With a flurry of activity, the North Carolina General Assembly wrapped up the first part of its 2013-2014 legislative biennium on July 26, 2013, bringing to a close a sometimes frantic session that included many important pro-family policy initiatives. This session was historic in that it marked the […]
Breeding Addiction for Profit
DOWNLOAD ENTIRE ARTICLE (with images and endnotes) The Social and Economic Harms of Casino Gambling Increasingly across the United States, the gambling industry is seeking to expand its reach through “regional casinos” that bring Las Vegas-style gambling to Main Street—creating easy access and temptation for citizens to gamble closer to home, often several times a […]
Freedom and Responsibility
DOWNLOAD ENTIRE ARTICLE (with images and endnotes) The success of the great American experiment depends upon a virtuous and educated citizenry. This dependence is necessitated by the myriad of responsibilities that are associated with liberty. As George Bernard Shaw said, “Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.” This fundamental relationship between liberty […]
With Charity Toward None
DOWNLOAD ENTIRE ARTICLE (with images and endnotes) I’m here for friends, gambling and drinking . . . But it’s also for a good cause,” says Johnny Zeros, who shows up just about every night at Maverick’s Poker Palace and Saloon in Port Huron, Michigan. From Mr. Zeros’ description, Maverick’s sounds like a “kindler, gentler,” […]
With Charity Toward None
“I’m here for friends, gambling and drinking… But it’s also for a good cause,” says Johnny Zeros, who shows up just about every night at Maverick’s Poker Palace and Saloon in Port Huron, Michigan. From Mr. Zeros’ description, Maverick’s sounds like a “kindler, gentler,” version of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in western North Carolina, or perhaps […]
AT ISSUE: Strengthen and Protect
The year 2012 promises to be big for North Carolina, and this issue of Family North Carolina reflects that fact. Before the main event—the November General Election—North Carolinians must go to the polls in the primary, currently scheduled for May 8th. Aside from making their voices heard on which candidates they would prefer in the […]
Gambling With Families
In 2005, then Lieutenant Governor, Beverly Perdue, cast the deciding vote in the Senate that allowed the State to enter the lottery business. This was the capstone of a 23-year effort by the gambling industry to obtain a lottery in our state. After the lottery began operation, the General Assembly banned video poker and later […]
We Told You So
What are the four words in public policy that we never want to say? You guessed it, the words, “We told you so.” The state lottery is a good example. We spent years compiling research on gambling based on the experience of states that had adopted a lottery long before the 2005 General Assembly voted […]
Playing to Lose
Gambling is a business based on people losing money. Warren Buffett, widely regarded as one of the most successful investors in the world, has described gambling as “a tax on ignorance.” Increasingly, across the country, state governments have legalized gambling on lotteries and in casinos without much thought to the negative impacts. Thirty years ago, […]
General Assembly Preview
On Wednesday May 16, legislators return to Raleigh to convene the traditional 2012 Short Session of the General Assembly, just one week after North Carolinians will head to the polls to cast their ballots in the May 8 Primary Election. In many ways, the events of May 8 will serve to set the stage and […]