Wednesday, May 26, 2021

So much freedom owed to so few

1 million of us have died
defending our freedom
Have you ever served in the military? Has anyone in your immediate family served in the military? Has anyone you know or worked with ever served in the military? 

A high percentage of the 557 million Americans who have ever lived in the United States since its founding have never served in uniform protecting our nation’s freedom, so don’t feel bad if you have not served. 

Since the mandatory draft was abolished in 1973 by President Nixon, the only people who have served in the military are those who have volunteered on their own volition rather than having been forced to do so by law. 

Read more at:
"So much freedom owed to so few" North State Journal 5.26.21









Do You Want Better People to Run for Public Office?
Support the Institute for the Public Trust Today


Visit The Institute for the Public Trust to contribute today

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

The Most Hellish Tyranny

Poor Barry Goldwater.

Had the Arizona senator left out two searingly memorable lines in his presidential nomination acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in 1964 — “I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! Let me also remind you that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!” — his speech would be universally remembered as the launch pad for the near half-century run of conservative dominance in American politics.

Instead, those two lines in his speech are remembered as the frozen O-rings that led to the explosive electoral disaster Republicans suffered in the fall to LBJ and congressional Democrats.

Read more at: https://nsjonline.com/article/2021/05/hill-the-most-hellish-tyranny/

Do You Want Better People to Run for Public Office?
Support the Institute for the Public Trust Today


Visit The Institute for the Public Trust to contribute today

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Pay North Carolina State Legislators $100,000

Raise the pay of all N.C. state senators and representatives to $100,000 annually, and leave it at that.

Make the pay raise effective January 2025. There would be two intervening elections in 2022 and 2024 where voters can decide if their state senator or representative is worth sending back to Raleigh and paying them $100,000 per year from then on.

Would you run for the NCGA if you thought you would only be paid $13,951 and endure all the insults you would get from news media and on Twitter?

Read more at: North State Journal 

NOTE: you may get 3 of these postings today since I am still in a transition to a new email distribution service...I apologize for crowding your inbox)

Do You Want Better People to Run for Public Office?
Support the Institute for the Public Trust Today


Visit The Institute for the Public Trust to contribute today

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Amtrak has got the disappearing railroad blues

Americans love the idea and nostalgia of trains. They just don’t ever buy a ticket and get on a train to go somewhere.

Singer-songwriters love the romance of riding the rails with hobos. Arlo Guthrie’s “City of New Orleans” is a paean to days gone by, which painted a poignant scene of an America left far behind. 

“Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders, three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail” sounds like a typical passenger load on many Amtrak routes today.

(to read more, go to:  https://nsjonline.com/article/2021/05/hill-amtraks-got-the-disappearing-railroad-blues/ )

*this is a test of the new format I will be using soon to distribute articles through the North State Journal. If you do not wish to continue subscribing, please email me at headhill@gmail.com and just say "unsubscribe"

Do You Want Better People to Run for Public Office?
Support the Institute for the Public Trust Today


Visit The Institute for the Public Trust to contribute today