Carolina Journal Radio Marks Episode No. 400

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Carolina Journal Radio has been documenting, dissecting, and analyzing politics and public policy for nearly eight years. In this 400th edition of Carolina Journal Radio, you'll hear highlights from some of the well-known guests who've shared their thoughts and insights on the program. They include Steve Forbes, P.J. O'Rourke, Bill Kristol, Walter Williams, Peggy Noonan, and Ed Meese. Next, North Carolina is not alone in facing major structural problems with its state budget. John Locke Foundation President John Hood recently analyzed the budget crises confronting state leaders across the country for an article in the new issue of National Affairs. Hood shares highlights from that piece. North Carolina and the nation have been struggling with a slumping economy for well over two years. Mark Vitner, managing director and senior economist at Wells Fargo in Charlotte, recently shared his 2011 economic projections with the N.C. Bankers Association. Vitner says there's plenty of bad news for North Carolina, but the outlook shows some signs of improvement. Next, even small-government conservatives usually concede that taxpayers should pay for public safety, a core function of government. But Edward Stringham, professor of capitalism and free enterprise studies at Fayetteville State University, says society would benefit by relying much more heavily on private law enforcement options. Next, federal health care reform was supposed to solve many of the problems associated with the American health care system. But as Joe Coletti, JLF Director of Health Care Services, explains, the nearly year-old law has produced many unintended consequences. Coletti focuses on the impact of a newly created federal high-risk pool.