NC Views Inaugural Post

If you've stumbled upon this blog, then welcome! Thanks for finding this, and giving it a shot. On this blog, I plan to discuss matters important to North Carolina, and how said events fit in with the US and the world. Along with North Carolina news, I will also be discussing matters which I find interesting. You can expect tidbits of my political views, and views I hold in many fields of study. Pretty much, this blog is a smorgasbord of my head, all laid out on a digital platform. So, please bear with me in the beginning months, as I am new to blogging. I look forward to sharing my thoughts with my potential audience!
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NC News & Views

To begin this news, I would like to analyze and discuss a story concerning a deeply troubling topic: opioids. The North Carolina Industrial Commission is considering new rules that would place limits on the amount of opioid prescriptions that injured workers would receive after an incident. The chairman on the NCIC, Charlton Allen, states that this is needed based on a recent study of workers compensation claims and opioid-related deaths. Allen states that in this study, more than 800 people on workers' comp died of an overdose over about four years. The study didn’t specify whether or how pain medication prescriptions contributed to the deaths. The commission is considering nine rules to limit the number of opioid prescriptions a person could receive. It would also encourage alternative treatments such as physical therapy and massage. The new rules could go into effect in May. This move is the step in the right direction. If the study is correct, this would be extremely helpful in helping curb the opioid addiction epidemic. For, most who become addicted start with a prescription from their doctor. And from there, it only gets worse. So, I commend the NCIC for really taking an initiative in trying to help the problem. But, I would also argue that the state needs to step in a really take control. In that, I mean, NC needs to start a program, that is not faith based, that would help those that need to kick addiction. Now, I say non faith based for the majority of narcotics treatment programs rely solely on faith for a cure. But, many need a logical, secular response to addiction. So, I propose that the state start a new program to federally curb addiction. In conclusion, this is a good first step, but more needs to be done. 

Now, the next piece is ironically relevant concerning the recent vote to pass the GOP tax cuts in congress. Gov. Roy Cooper isn't giving up on trying to block the latest round of income tax rate cuts approved by the Republican-controlled legislature last summer from taking effect in 2019. Cooper argues that this tax cut, just like the GOP tax cut, is a benefit for the wealthy and the corporations. I applaud Cooper for this dissent, for this a truly great move. He sees past the facade of this tax cut, and sees it's true intentions. Also, Cooper is trying to reach a bi-partisan agreement with the house. The governor told The Associated Press he wants to talk with GOP leaders about shifting benefits toward the middle class and spending more revenues on public education. Again, we see a good move here: Cooper is trying to shift focus away from the wealthy/corporations and really trying to get good tax legislation that puts the NC population first, and not high earners. It will be interesting to see how this will play out over the next few weeks. Hopefully, we will see that good tax legislation triumphs, and that more tax breaks for top earners will stop.

This wraps up the NC Views for December 22, 2017. Did I miss anything? If so, leave a comment and let's discuss! Thanks for dropping in, and stay vigilant! 

Sources:
https://www.wfdd.org/story/morning-news-briefs-thursday-december-21st-2017