The post 9 Pet Friendly Hotels in Wilmington‚ NC (2024 Update) by Ashley Bates appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Wilmington‚ North Carolina is a city full of life‚ good food‚ and lots of fun things to do. If you have had your eye on Wilmington for a while‚ you may have finally taken the plunge and decided to visit. But wait. What about your feline buddy? Are you just going to leave him behind? You don’t have to! Below are 9 hotels right in Wilmington with various rates and perks. You can book one of these places so your cat can tag along for the adventure. The 9 Pet Friendly Hotels in Wilmington‚ NC 1. Residence Inn by Marriott Wilmington Landfall Image Credit: Instagram @maisybeans View Deals at Residence Inn Address: 1200 Culbreth Dr.‚ Wilmington‚ NC 28405 Star Rating: Open Times: Check in 3:00 PM; Check out 12:00 PM Cost: $100 pet fee per stay Located outside downtown Wilmington‚ near Wrightsville Beach Both cats and dogs welcome at this hotel Maximum of two pets per stay Combined pet weight is 75 pounds total $100 per stay for pets All pet-friendly rooms are on ground level 2. Staybridge Suites Wilmington – Wrightsville Beach Image Credit: Instagram @nationalhospitalityservices View Deals at Staybridge Suites Address: 5010 New Centre Dr.‚ Wilmington‚ NC 28403 Star Rating: Open Times: Check in 3:00 PM; Check out 12:00 PM Cost: $35 pet fee per night Located near the airport‚ mall‚ and UNC Wilmington Both cats and dogs are welcome at hotel Price varies based on length of stay Pets that are left alone must be crated Grassy area for relief on property Treats available for pet guests 3. Red Roof Inn Image Credit: Red Roof Inn View Deals at Red Roof Inn Address: 5107 Market St.‚ Wilmington‚ NC 28403 Star Rating: Open Times: Check in 3:00 PM; Check out 11:00 AM Cost: $100 refundable deposit Located near the airport‚ mall‚ and UNC Wilmington Both cats and dogs are welcome at hotel Pets may not be left in rooms unattended Pets stay free‚ but $100 refundable deposit necessary per stay Grassy area and waste station available 60-pound maximum 4. Best Western Plus Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach Image Credit: Instagram @tantalizingtony View Deals at Best Western Plus Address: 5345 Market St.‚ Wilmington‚ NC 28405 Star Rating: Open Times: Check in 3:00 PM; Check out 12:00 PM Cost: $30 pet fee per night Located near the airport‚ mall‚ and UNC Wilmington Cats are considered with prior approval only 40-pound weight limit Treats available Grassy area and waste station available on property 5. MainStay Suites Wilmington Image Credit: MainStay Suites View Deals at MainStay Suites Address: 5229 Market Street Hwy 132 &;‚ US-17‚ Wilmington‚ NC 28405 Star Rating: Open Times: Check in 3:00 PM; Check out 12:00 PM Cost: $50 pet fee per night Located near the airport‚ mall‚ and UNC Wilmington Both cats and dogs are welcome at hotel Two pet maximum 25-pound weight limit on pet guests Well-behaved pets are allowed in room unattended Grassy area on property 6. Extended Stay America Wilmington New Center Drive Image Credit: Extended Stay America View Deals at Extended Stay America Address: 4929 New Centre Drive‚ Wilimingotn‚ NC 28403 Star Rating: Open Times: Check in 3:00 PM; Check out 11:00 AM Cost: $25 pet fee per pet‚ per night Plenty of stores and restaurants nearby Both cats and dogs are welcome at hotel 50-pound weight limit (except for prior approved guests) Cheaper rates with extended stays for pets Grassy area available for pet relief 7. Hilton Garden Inn Wilmington Mayfaire Town Center Image Credit: Hilton Garden Inn View Deals at Hilton Garden Inn Address: 6745 Rock Spring Rd. Wilmington‚ NC 28405 Star Rating: Open Times: $75 pet fee for 1–4-night stays; $125 pet fee for 5+ nights Cost: No pet fee Located near stores and restaurants Both cats and dogs welcome at hotel 75-pound weight limit Grassy area on property for pet relief 8. Hampton Inn Wilmington Downtown Image Credit: Instagram @thingstodowilmington View Deals at Hampton Inn Address: 225 Grace St.‚ Wilmington‚ NC 28401 Star Rating: Open Times: Check in 3:00 PM; Check out 11:00 AM Cost: $75 pet fee for 1–4-night stays; $125 pet fee for 5+ nights Located in downtown Wilmington near museums and the Cape Fear River Both cats and dogs are welcome at hotel Maximum of two pets per stay 9. Hampton Inn Wilmington – Medical Park Image Credit: Instagram @blondie_and_dingy_adventures View Deals at Hampton Inn Address: 10740 Wilshire Blvd‚ Los Angeles‚ CA 90024 Star Rating: Open Times: Check in 3:00 PM; Check out 11:00 AM Cost: $75 pet fee for 1–4-night stays; $125 pet fee for 5+ nights Located in downtown Wilmington near medical facilities Both cats and dogs are welcome at hotel 75-pound weight limit for pets Fees raise to $125 after 4 days Conclusion Above are the top cat-friendly hotels in Wilmington‚ North Carolina. There are also tons of rentals in Wilmington where you can stay in actual houses or Airbnbs. So‚ if you didn’t love any of these hotels or the accommodations they offer‚ maybe try another avenue instead. In any case‚ we hope you had a valuable look into the pet-friendly hotels of Wilmington. With any luck‚ you’re booking now! Featured Image Credit: BrittanyNY‚ Shutterstock The post 9 Pet Friendly Hotels in Wilmington‚ NC (2024 Update) by Ashley Bates appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The post 10 Pet Friendly Hotels in Santa Rosa‚ NM (2024 Update) by Kristin Hitchcock appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. There are plenty of cat-friendly hotels in Santa Rosa‚ New Mexico. Whether you’re just passing through or want a more extensive vacation‚ there are plenty of hotels that you can choose from. We’ll review some of the most popular options below. That said‚ be sure you always call ahead before deciding on a hotel. Most hotels only allow cats in very specific rooms‚ so one of these has to be available when you’re visiting. Often‚ this is something you have to check by calling the hotel‚ as they don’t list pet-friendly rooms on their website. The 10 Pet Friendly Hotels in Santa Rosa‚ NM 1. Best Western Santa Rosa Inn Image Credit: Instagram @the_great_escape_tour View Deals at Best Western Address: 2491 Historic Route 66‚ Santa Rosa‚ NM 88435 Star Rating: Open Times: 2:00 PM Check-In; 11:00 AM Check-Out Cost: $20 per night (plus a $20 refundable deposit for cats) Two pets allowed per room Well-behaved cats may be allowed in the room unattended Cats require prior approval‚ so be sure to call ahead Clean with easy parking 2. La Quinta by Wyndham Santa Rosa Image Credit: Instagram @La Quinta Inn &; Suites Santa Rosa View Deals at La Quinta Address: 2277 Historic Rte 66‚ Santa Rosa‚ NM 88435 Star Rating: Open Times: 3:00 PM Check-In; 11:00 AM Check-Out Cost: $25 per night Cats must be supervised at all times Great views from many rooms Most pet owners are placed on the first floor Cats can fit underneath the beds 3. Super 8 Santa Rosa Image Credit: Super 8 Santa Rosa View Deals at Super 8 Address: 2075 Historic Route 66‚ Santa Rosa‚ NM 88435 Star Rating: Open Times: 3:00 PM Check-In; 11:00 AM Check-Out Cost: $15 per night Pets only allowed in certain rooms Cats must be crated if left in room Well-priced for the quality Clean rooms‚ typically 4. Americas Best Value Inn Santa Rosa Image Credit: Americas Best Value Inn Santa Rosa View Deals at Americas Best Value Inn Address: 120 Hwy 54‚ Santa Rosa‚ NM 88435 Star Rating: Open Times: 3:00 PM Check-In; 11:00 AM Check-Out Cost: $10 per night Only five rooms are pet-friendly‚ so be sure to call ahead Cats can be left in the room unattended Small‚ clean rooms Well-lit parking area 5. Days Inn &; Suites Santa Rosa Image Credit: Days Inn and Suites Santa Rosa NM View Deals at Days Inn &; Suites Address: 2255 Historic Rte 66‚ Santa Rosa‚ NM 88435 Star Rating: Open Times: 2:00 PM Check-In; 11:00 AM Check-Out Cost: $20 per night Cats allowed in certain rooms only Pets may not be left in room unattended Not the cleanest rooms Dated hotel‚ overall 6. Econo Lodge Santa Rosa Image Credit: Econo Lodge Santa Rosa View Deals at Econo Lodge Address: 2295 Historic Route 66‚ Santa Rosa‚ NM 88435 Star Rating: Open Times: 2:00 PM Check-In; 11:00 AM Check-Out Cost: $15 per night Up to two cats allowed per room Cats must be watched at all times Clean rooms Great location 7. Motel 6 Santa Rosa Image Credit: Motel 6 Santa Rosa View Deals at Motel 6 Address: 3400 Will Rogers Dr‚ Santa Rosa‚ NM 88435 Star Rating: Open Times: 3:00 PM Check-In; 11:00 AM Check-Out Cost: Free Cat-friendly for no additional pet fee Pets may be left unsupervised in room Rooms aren’t terribly clean Very dated 8. Comfort Inn Santa Rosa Image Credit: Instagram @az_trip_2015 View Deals at Comfort Inn Address: 3400 Will Rogers Dr‚ Santa Rosa‚ NM 88435 Star Rating: Open Times: 3:00 PM Check-In; 11:00 AM Check-Out Cost: $15 per night Cats allowed in certain rooms‚ only You may not leave pets in the room unattended Not the most pet-friendly hotel Pretty small rooms 9. Rodeway Inn Santa Rosa Image Credit: Rodeway Inn Santa Rosa View Deals at Rodeway Inn Address: 2298 Rte 66‚ Santa Rosa‚ NM 88435 Star Rating: Open Times: 2:00 PM Check-In; 11:00 AM Check-Out Cost: $10 per night Cats that are behaved may be left in the room unattended Two cats allowed per room Relatively low pet fee Not well-maintained 10. Route 66 Inn Image Credit: Instagram @3rdof5 View Deals at Route 66 Inn Address: 1818 Historic Rt 66‚ Santa Rosa‚ NM 88435 Star Rating: Open Times: 2:00 PM Check-In; 11:00 AM Check-Out Cost: $10 per night Retro-style hotel located on Route 66 Very run-down Problems with reservations‚ so be sure to call Great location Conclusion There are many hotel options in Santa Rosa‚ NM. However‚ some are better than others. We highly recommend calling ahead‚ no matter what hotel you pick. Most of the time‚ cats are only allowed in certain rooms. Some hotels also require that you let them know a cat is coming! Either way‚ we included tons of different options‚ so you should find something for every budget on our list above. Featured Image Credit: Svetlana Rey‚ Shutterstock The post 10 Pet Friendly Hotels in Santa Rosa‚ NM (2024 Update) by Kristin Hitchcock appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The BorderLine is a weekly Daily Signal feature examining everything from the unprecedented illegal immigration crisis at the border to immigration’s impact on cities and states throughout the land. We will also shed light on other critical border-related issues like human trafficking‚ drug smuggling‚ terrorism‚ and more. ——————————————————— In 1910‚ future president Calvin Coolidge told his father—a newly elected Vermont state senator—that “it is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones.” His words are as applicable today as a century ago‚ and not the least when it comes to our utterly compromised borders and immigration policy. Recently reported outlines of a compromise border security deal being brokered in the U.S. Senate indicate that Coolidge was correct. If the proposal emerges as currently reported—potentially codifying some of the Biden administration’s open border policies into law—we’re talking about a couple of tiny bones thrown to conservatives‚ buried in a large bowl of dog food. The White House’s supplemental budget request‚ which has triggered these negotiations‚ asked for billions more to continue President Joe Biden’s open border operations. The administration wants another $1.3 billion for the State Department to continue attracting the worldwide flow of illegal aliens to the Western Hemisphere and up to the U.S. border through its “Safe Mobility Offices.” The State Department says these offices are to “assist and guide migrants and refugees toward authorized channels of lawful migration‚” though its definition of “lawful” includes made-up parole programs that are anything but lawful. The administration wants another $4.5 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to continue “processing” more illegal aliens into the United States rather than deporting them (i.e.‚ “catch and release”) and to continue funding Federal Emergency Management Agency grants for nongovernmental organizations to transport and shelter illegal aliens throughout the U.S. And it asks for another $481 million for the Department of Health and Human Services to spend through 2025‚ thereby committing the next administration to continue NGO grants for “wraparound services” for “refugees” and unaccompanied minors. Congress should reject these border insecurity requests rather than continue to fund the demise of our nation’s sovereignty. To add insult to injury‚ some of the  proposals being floated in the Senate would codify Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ open border tools and bind his successors to abide by them. First‚ the bill would give illegal aliens work permits immediately when they are released at the border—as 85% or more have been recently‚ according to Mayorkas himself. Illegal aliens want to be allowed to enter the U.S.‚ stay here under any pretense‚ and work. Few of them are qualified for asylum‚ but they know the system will take years to process their cases and prove that they aren’t qualified‚ and when it does‚ the chances of their being deported are low—and under the Biden administration‚ they are incredibly low. Giving out work permits on arrival would lock into law the already existing massive incentive to come here illegally.   Second‚ the proposal would reportedly stop the Department of Homeland Security from giving parole to aliens who cross into the United States between ports of entry. Sounds good‚ but that’s like enforcing vehicle speed limits only where there are no paved roads—because Biden’s bogus programs actually allow inadmissible aliens to fly to U.S. airports and then apply for parole. Between ports‚ aliens are not supposed to be given parole. Nor are more than a handful of aliens at the ports of entry supposed to be given parole. A limited parole power was written into immigration law so a presidential administration could allow in a few people per year for urgent and significant reasons and when there wasn’t time for them to get a visa. But Biden has frequently used mass immigration parole to invent special programs for thousands of Afghans and Ukrainians. He invented another program for Cubans‚ Haitians‚ Nicaraguans‚ and Venezuelans‚ allowing 36‚000 people a month from these countries alone to apply for parole—from outside the country—and fly to the U.S. airport of their convenience. Biden created yet another program for “family unification parole” that lets relatives of legal U.S. residents from favored countries cut the line ahead of millions of others. The Biden administration calls these “lawful pathways‚” but they’re not—Mayorkas does not have the constitutional authority to create de facto visas for inadmissible aliens. Though he’s being sued by half the states in the nation over this‚ Biden will keep stuffing the parole piñata until something stops him. Third‚ the rumored Senate proposal apparently would authorize CBP to expel illegal aliens rather than allow their entry. Such a summary power‚ similar to the COVID-19 related Title 42 expulsion authority that Biden stopped using in May 2023‚ is of crucial importance to restoring order at the border. But there is a big catch. The general expulsion authority would not kick in until after CBP encounters 5‚000 illegal aliens a day. That’s 150‚000 illegal aliens in a month; almost 2 million in a year. That would be an unprecedented acceptance of crisis levels of illegal immigration. Finally‚ in a sop to immigration activist attorneys‚ the proposal would also reportedly provide taxpayer-funded defense lawyers to illegal aliens under 18 or with special needs to fight against their deportation. For decades‚ the Left has wanted the taxpayer to pay for immigration attorneys for illegal aliens. Currently‚ U.S. law allows aliens to have lawyers‚ but not at government expense. Biden has already allowed nearly 450‚000 unaccompanied minors into the country and has given them billions of dollars in government services and immigration benefits after entry. With yearslong asylum and deportation court proceedings‚ continuances‚ motions‚ and appeals multiplied by millions of deportable aliens‚ this change would be a fiscal bottomless pit for taxpayers.   So‚ that’s the mountain of dog food; what about the small bones thrown to conservatives? So far‚ it seems the proposal contains some unspecified tightening of the standards for claiming and qualifying for asylum‚ as well as expedited deportations in some cases‚ including for families with children. The asylum process is indeed unfit for purpose‚ but it has been in place for 60 years and needs a carefully planned overhaul‚ not quick and probably unworkable fixes drafted under the time constraints in which they’re looking to pass this legislation. As for deportation‚ it is going to have to be prioritized in any future administration that wants to restore credibility to our legal system. But the existing asylum loopholes are so numerous‚ the appeals so easy‚ and the system so clogged‚ that increasing removals will require a political will that is totally lacking in the Biden administration‚ so that is hardly a reason to support this package. In the end‚ the White House’s supplemental request for $13.6 billion to continue funding NGOs and mass migration should be a non-starter. The Senate shouldn’t further compound the border crisis by also codifying Biden’s and Mayorkas’ egregious open border tactics. If the Senate doesn’t agree to the House-passed Secure the Border Act of 2023‚ then Congress should follow Coolidge’s guidance and kill whatever legislation comes out of this reported Senate proposal. Then things will remain as they are‚ which means hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens trying—and mostly succeeding—to enter every month. The American people will have another 10 months to see the real consequences of unlimited and unvetted immigration. Then‚ they can decide for themselves in November whether to continue the open borders experiment or return to historical norms where laws‚ not executive discretion‚ decide who enters and who stays. Read Other BorderLine Columns: Biden’s Border Madness Has Cheapened What It Means to Be an American Nazi Name-Calling Is the Last Refuge of the Progressive Chicago Mayor Lashes Out as Illegal Aliens Flood His Sanctuary City Biden’s Border Chaos—Crime Soars as Punishment Vanishes Is There Really a Link Between Climate Change and Mass Migration? Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Concerns About Proposed Senate Border Security Compromise: The BorderLine appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Moms for Liberty held an event in New York City on Thursday night to discuss and diagnose the woeful state of education in the Big Apple. Residents and local representatives were invited to take part in the education organization’s town hall on the Upper East Side and the follow-up discussion. Moms for Liberty has been treated with hostility by left-wing groups in the city‚ so it was a full house for the event—not just inside the building‚ but outside‚ too. A gaggle of protesters showed up to crowd the front of the building and chant slogans. The New York Police Department kept watch at the entrance and helpfully guided me to the door. The protesters held up a large sign “Keep NYC Fascist-Free!” as they blockaded the door and yelled at the people going inside. As is its reflexive habit‚ the Left brands anyone who opposes their agenda as “fascist‚” in this case Moms for Liberty. (Photo: Jarrett Stepman/The Daily Signal) One of the speakers at the outside protest‚ who was invited to speak at the event inside‚ was Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.  “This group is anti-LGBTQ‚ supports book bans‚ harasses teachers &; school librarians‚ and has been labeled by [the Southern Poverty Law Center] a ‘far-right extremist organization‚’” Levine wrote in a statement before the event took place. #NOW Manhattan president @MarkLevineNYC joins protest against 'Moms for Liberty' townhall on the UES in NYC – "Exhibit A right here of what we are up against" he addressed the crowd outside. "Get Out of here!" an attendee of the event shouts in response. pic.twitter.com/pUCQYYx2KJ— Oliya Scootercaster ? (@ScooterCasterNY) January 19‚ 2024 As I left the event‚ one of the demonstrators—in a pink unicorn costume—followed me down the street. I was able to snap a picture of this person when I stopped and she/he/they/them—or whatever it was—said‚ “We don’t like you. You smell.” Needless to say‚ this was not the beginning of a Socratic dialogue. As I left the @Moms4Liberty townhall I was approached by this furry‚ whose comment was “we don’t like you‚ you smell.” Some high minded rhetoric right there. The picture is very close up because she was right in my face https://t.co/o7hDdqtJC6 pic.twitter.com/ogVn9GeGyR— Jarrett Stepman (@JarrettStepman) January 19‚ 2024 I live in New York‚ so I’ve definitely been followed by much worse‚ but all I could think was: “That’s the best line you could come up with?” For what it’s worth‚ the person in the pink unicorn costume was apparently not a “furry‚” according to internet trolls. My apologies for not knowing the difference. As for the actual event‚ the following are some of my takeaways from a panel discussion about the problems with New York City schools. Poor Return on Education Investment Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice led a panel discussion about how New York City schools have failed children and parents alike. “A third of the kids in the United States are reading on grade level. That’s atrocious‚ but here in New York City‚ where you spend about $40‚000 a year on each child’s education‚ only a quarter of the children are reading on grade level‚” she said in opening remarks. Justice said that in New York‚ black and Hispanic students are particularly struggling‚ as only 13 in 100 are proficient in reading. That’s despite the New York City school district spending the most money per student compared with any other district in the nation. Justice contrasted New York City’s record against that of Miami‚ which spends $11‚000 per student‚ yet “40 out of 100 fourth graders are reading and math proficient.” She said that’s nothing to brag about‚ “but for heaven’s sake‚ right?” The Moms for Liberty co-founder said that the results in New York City schools were declining even before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns‚ but there was a complete collapse during and afterward. Misguided Focus on Identity Over Merit Wai Wah Chin of the Chinese Americans Citizens Alliance of Greater New York spoke about how a focus on “equity” has moved the school system away from evaluating the individual skills and talents of students. “Our schools should be providing the best education for the children as they are‚ and that means you cannot dispel and get rid of merit‚” she said. “Merit must exist‚ because if you do not have merit‚ you do not have good education.” Chin explained that she was referring specifically to academic merit—“reading‚ writing and arithmetic.” “If you can’t do that‚ you’ve failed as a school‚” she said. Teaching students to be activists first before teaching students to think—Chin cited the people protesting outside—is a failure of education‚ she added. “If you do not respect facts‚ and you do not respect logic‚ you are not capable of making the decisions that are important for yourself in life and in the world‚” she continued. “And that’s what our schools must do: Provide that kind of environment so that you have facts and not ideology.” Paul Rossi‚ a New York City teacher‚ followed up on Chin’s comments about ideology in the school system. He spoke about his previous teaching experience at Grace Church School‚ an elite New York private school. He said that the school pushes ideas such as “anti-racism‚ critical race theory‚ gender ideology‚ these progressive beliefs‚ which have really come through the universities and dominated education‚ because most of the people who go through the [education] schools and teachers are inculcated in these ideas.” Rossi said that he teaches math‚ but that the ideology that dominates in schools denies that objectivity exists and calls objectivity an element of white supremacy. He said that he has seen a shift away from building character to a focus on group identity. ‘Fund Students‚ Not Systems’ Corey DeAngelis‚ the executive director of the Education Freedom Institute‚ spoke about policy solutions that could improve education in New York City. He explained that New York has a cap on the largely successful charter schools because “the Democratic Party is owned by the teachers unions. It’s that simple.” Almost all the political campaign contributions from teachers unions go to Democrats‚ DeAngelis said‚ and that constitutes a “nonstop money-laundering operation.” He said that while New York is dominated by this political dynamic‚ there’s been a sea change in other states because teachers unions have overplayed their hand and “awakened a sleeping giant” of parents. That has led to parents pulling money out of failing public schools and creating school choice programs‚ he explained. “We should fund students‚ not systems‚” he said. The education scholar spoke about how states such as Arizona have created Education Savings Accounts and other programs that have allowed parents to directly pay for the education they want for their child‚ whether that be a public school‚ a private school‚ a charter school‚ or a home-based education. “The money follows the child‚” he explained. It’s Worse Than You Think Nicholas Giordano‚ a professor of political science at Suffolk County Community College‚ spoke about how the education system has been transformed and how “it’s 10 times worse” than what most people think. He said that in his two decades of teaching‚ he’s noticed a pattern that students increasingly don’t have the knowledge they need when they enter higher education. He said that he began instituting a citizenship exam on basic civics and history questions when students took his classes. He said that very few pass it. “Students aren’t learning. They are simply being cycled through the system‚” he said. Giordano said that‚ according to national assessments‚ only 13% of students are proficient in history and just 23% are proficient in civics. He said that this failure has been the product of two main problems. The first is that parents became less involved in their children’s education. In many cases‚ both parents are working or the child comes from a single-parent household. He said that began to change during the COVID-19 lockdowns when the “veil” was lifted‚ and parents saw what was being taught in classrooms as a result of the switch to online instruction. Many people saw for the first time the “anti-Americanism” that has crept into K-12 instruction‚ he said. That’s a huge problem‚ Giordano said‚ because as the Founding Fathers insisted‚ our “small-r” republican institutions must be nourished by an education grounded in furthering those institutions. “Our education system should be linking us together. Instead‚ it divides us‚” he said. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Moms for Liberty Hosted a Town Hall in NYC About Its Failing Schools. Here’s What I Saw. appeared first on The Daily Signal.

This week‚ Congress took a step toward passing a carbon tax—an inflationary‚ regressive tax on all products that would lower economic growth; make all Americans worse off; and disproportionately harm poor people‚ farmers‚ and small businesses. Politicians have rightly rejected carbon taxes in the past and should continue to do so. On Jan. 18‚ the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted to send a proposed law to the full Senate that would require the federal government to conduct a study calculating the carbon emissions of a broad range of different products made in America and other countries. These include construction materials‚ plastics‚ and fertilizers—all vital to small businesses and corporations that power the economy. This study is the first step to imposing a carbon tax on these products. The bill‚ sponsored by Sens. Kevin Cramer‚ R-N.D.‚ and Chris Coons‚ D-Del.‚ is titled the Providing Reliable‚ Objective‚ Verifiable Emissions Intensity and Transparency (PROVE IT) Act. The bill’s proponents say they are responding to carbon taxes in Europe‚ which will be implemented in 2024. The European Union‚ which has 21 countries with a carbon tax‚ is preparing laws to tax imports based on greenhouse gases emitted in their production. This border tax proposal is meant to prevent companies from shifting production outside the EU to avoid carbon taxes. The complexity of this proposed European legislation‚ and the pushback from emerging economies‚ is one reason that it is unwise for America to follow. Europe’s current carbon taxes do not cover carbon emissions from all products. On average‚ the carbon tax covers 38% of total national carbon emissions‚ ranging from a high of 81% in Liechtenstein with a rate of $131 per ton to a low of 2% in Spain with a rate of $16 per ton. In taxing carbon dioxide‚ Congress would end up reducing energy use while‚ according to carbon tax proponents‚ raising revenue that might permit a reduction of income tax rates to compensate. The U.S. Treasury estimated in 2017 that a carbon tax of $49 per ton‚ rising at 2% a year‚ would raise $2.2 trillion over 10 years. Such a carbon tax would raise taxes on gasoline by 44 cents per gallon‚ on natural gas by about $2.60 per thousand cubic feet‚ on oil by $21.50 per barrel‚ and on coal by $62 to $126 per ton‚ depending on its carbon content. The carbon tax is a favorite of individual economists across the political spectrum for restructuring the tax system. Proponents include Tuft University’s Gilbert Metcalf‚ American Enterprise Institute scholar Alex Brill‚ and Donald Marron and Eric Toder of the Tax Policy Center. The Climate Leadership Council‚ which cleverly refers to the carbon tax as “carbon dividends‚” has as its founding members former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke‚ Harvard professors Larry Summers and Greg Mankiw‚ and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen (listed on the website as inactive due to her current position). But a carbon tax has four major disadvantages—it is inflationary and regressive‚ it causes regional disparities‚ it is complex‚ and it drives production offshore. America is stronger without it. Inflationary and Regressive. One major problem with the carbon tax is that it would raise prices‚ because all products contain carbon.  Inflation is running at almost 4% and has reduced Americans’ real incomes. Since low-income people spend more on energy as a percent of their income than high-income people‚ a switch to a carbon tax would have to be accompanied by income transfers to low-income groups—i.e.‚ some type of subsidy paid for by taxpayers. Proponents suggest that offsets‚ paid for by carbon tax revenues‚ can be returned to taxpayers through lower income taxes‚ perhaps with the proceeds going chiefly to poor people who are disproportionately hurt by what is in essence an energy consumption tax. However‚ Congress rarely cuts one tax by as much as it raises another tax‚ so Americans will end up paying more in taxes. Further‚ many poor people are not required to file tax returns‚ and they would have to do so in order to be identified and compensated. That means extra work for them and for the Internal Revenue Service. Regional Disparities. Another problem is that carbon-intensive sectors‚ such as coal‚ heavy manufacturing‚ and agriculture‚ would be the biggest losers under the new tax. This means higher prices for food and gasoline for everyone‚ especially in rural areas‚ as well as companies announcing that they are moving offshore. Farmers in Germany‚ France‚ the Netherlands‚ and Belgium are rioting against the new climate provisions. Complexity. A carbon tax is complex to set up‚ as can be seen from the PROVE IT Act. The bill selects which products are analyzed and then open to be taxed. Practically all products have some carbon in the content or in the manufacturing process or both‚ even food and clothing. That is why European carbon taxes range from 2%  to 81% of carbon emissions. Proponents of the tax suggest putting tariffs on imports in proportion to their carbon content so that American companies will not be at a disadvantage. But the precise quantities are complex to calculate‚ and tariffs might be illegal under World Trade Organization regulations. Greater Offshore Production Increases Global Emissions. Carbon taxes raise the prices of domestic energy-intensive goods compared to imports from countries without carbon taxes. If American goods were taxed‚ Americans would prefer to buy cheaper‚ untaxed imports‚ and American firms would relocate abroad to avoid the tax or lose business to foreign companies.  This potential relocation reduces the goal of the tax‚ namely to lower global emissions and global temperatures. It also potentially sends millions of jobs overseas. With production going abroad to countries with less stringent environmental regulations‚ global emissions might well rise rather than decline. Without a carbon tax‚ U.S. carbon emissions declined by 1‚000 million metric tons over the past 16 years due to the substitution of natural gas for coal. Other countries do not have America’s inexpensive natural gas and rely more on coal. Therefore‚ companies relocating overseas would rely on dirtier‚ coal-produced energy. A carbon tax would hurt the poor and raise domestic prices relative to the prices of many imports. It would be another add-on levy‚ with exemptions for political friends and punishments for enemies. The PROVE IT Act is a first step toward the tax‚ and Congress would be wise to reject the bill. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Senate Opens Door to Massive Carbon Tax Despite Critical Economic Concerns appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The post-Joe McCarthy era and the candidacy of Barry Goldwater once prompted liberal political scientist Richard Hofstadter to chronicle a supposedly long-standing right-wing “paranoid style” of conspiracy-fed extremism. But far more common‚ especially in the 21st century‚ has been a left-wing‚ hysterical style of inventing scandals and manipulating perceived tensions for political advantage. Or‚ in the immortal words of former President Barack Obama‘s chief of staff‚ Rahm Emanuel‚ “Never let a serious crisis go to waste.” The 2008 economic emergency crested on Sept. 7‚ with the near collapse of the home mortgage industry. Obama took office on Jan. 20‚ 2009‚ more than four months after the meltdown. In that interim‚ the officials had finally restored financial confidence and plotted a course of economic recovery. No matter. The Obama administration never stopped hyping the financial meltdown as if it had just occurred. That way‚ it rammed through Obamacare‚ massive deficit spending‚ and the vast expansion of the federal government. All that stymied economic growth and recovery for years. In 2016‚ then-President Donald Trump was declared Hitler-like and an existential threat to democracy. Amid this derangement syndrome‚ any means necessary to stop him were justified: the Russian collusion hoax‚ impeachment over a phone call‚ or the Hunter Biden laptop “disinformation” farce. Eventually‚ the Left sought to normalize the once-unthinkable: Removing the leading presidential candidate from state ballots and indicting him in state and local courts. Nothing was off-limits—not forging a federal court document‚ calling for a military coup‚ rioting on Inauguration Day‚ or radically changing the way Americans voted in presidential elections. In October 2017‚ allegations surfaced about serial sexual predation by liberal cinema icon Harvey Weinstein. The #MeToo furor immediately followed. At first‚ accusers properly outed dozens of mostly liberal celebrities‚ actors‚ authors‚ and CEOs for their prior and mostly covered-up sexual harassment and often assault. But soon‚ the once-legitimate movement had morphed into general hysteria. Thousands of men (and women) were persecuted for alleged offenses‚ often sexual banter or rude repartee‚ committed decades prior. #MeToo jumped the shark with the left-wing effort to take down conservative Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Would-be accusers surfaced from his high school days‚ 35 years earlier‚ but without any supporting evidence or witnesses for their wild‚ lurid charges. #MeToo hysteria ended when too many liberal grandees were endangered. Most dramatically‚ former Joe Biden senatorial aide Tara Reade came forward during the 2020 campaign cycle with charges that front-runner Biden had once sexually assaulted her—and was trashed by the liberal media. The outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States during the winter of 2020 prompted an even greater hysteria. Without scientific evidence‚ federal health czars Anthony Fauci and Francis Collins were able to persuade the Trump administration to shut down the economy in the country’s first national quarantine. Suddenly‚ it became a thought crime to question the wisdom of six-foot social distancing‚ of mandatory mask-wearing‚ of the Wuhan virology lab’s origin of the COVID-19 virus or of off-label use of prescription drugs. Left-wing politicians and celebrities‚ from Hillary Rodham Clinton and Gavin Newsom to Jane Fonda‚ all blurted out the political advantages that the lockdowns offered—from recalibrating capitalism and health care to ensuring the 2020 defeat of Trump. The COVID-19 hysteria magically ended when Biden won the 2020 election. Suddenly‚ the explanations about the bat or pangolin origins of the virus faded. The damage from the quarantines could no longer be repressed. And herd immunity gradually mitigated the epidemic. The lockdown caused untold economic chaos‚ suicides‚ and health crises. One result was the 120 days of looting‚ arson‚ death‚ destruction and violence spawned by Antifa and Black Lives Matter in the aftermath of the tragic death of George Floyd while in police custody in May 2020. Suddenly‚ a hysterical lie took hold: American police were waging war against black males. The details around Floyd’s sudden death—he was in the act of committing a felony‚ resisting arrest‚ suffering from coronary artery disease and the after-effects of COVID-19‚ and being high on dangerous drugs—were off limits. The riot toll reached $2 billion in property damage‚ more than 35 deaths and 1‚500 injured law enforcement officers. A federal courthouse‚ a police precinct‚ and a historic church were torched. Police forces were defunded. Emboldened left-wing prosecutors nullified existing laws. Diversity‚ equity and inclusion commissars spread throughout American higher education as meritocracy came under assault. Racial essentialism triumphed. Racially segregated dorms‚ campus spaces‚ and graduations were normalized. Everything from destroying the southern border to dropping SAT requirements for college admission followed. Sometimes real‚ sometimes hyped crises led to these contrived left-wing hysterias—like the Jan. 6 violent “armed insurrection” or the “fascist‚” “ultra-MAGA” threat. Otherwise‚ the progressive movement cannot enact its unpopular agendas. So‚ it must scare the people silly and gin up chaos to destroy its perceived enemies—any crisis it can. The Daily Signal publishes a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Heritage Foundation. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the url or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post The Hysterical Style in American Politics appeared first on The Daily Signal.

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