Time and again, throughout America’s history, individuals with a passion for truth and a commitment to justice have opted to defy the unjust laws and practices of the American government in order to speak up against slavery, segregation, discrimination, and war. Even when their personal safety and freedom were on the line, these individuals spoke up, knowing they would be chastised, ridiculed, arrested, branded traitors and even killed.

Indeed, while brave men and women such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Henry David Thoreau, Susan B. Anthony and Harriet Tubman are lauded as American heroes today, they were once considered enemies of the state.

It's like 2011 all over again. It was two years ago that, after Republicans claimed big gains in state legislatures across the South and country in the 2010 mid-terms, lawmakers made a national push for changes to voting laws, with one of the most controversial being restrictive bills requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls.

Now, with the 2012 elections behind them, state GOP leaders have again pledged to make voter photo ID a priority this year. But has the debate - and public sentiment about voter restrictions - changed this time?

Democrats can boast about winning the White House all day long, but they got their butts thoroughly whipped in North Carolina last November.

As expected in the aftermath with bruised egos, Democrats' hatred for Republicans was predictable but still troubling. After two months of Republican domination, Democrats, the minority party, appear to be in over their heads and in search of a real agenda.

It's Duke deja vu all over again. Duke Energy is petitioning for yet another rate hike. The bid is a 9.7 percent overall increase with special love for residential customers who would be tagged for a 11.8 percent jump in electric costs. Duke also has a bonus feature request of an additional charge of $2.86 per month per household. This is to pay for “energy efficiency programs.” And, you thought those light bulbs they hand out were for free. It's not fair. I'm not talking about the rate increase but the fact that I have to come up with new material for an article when I could have had one reprinted that was written less than 18 months ago. Duke simply rehashes the same verbiage as it does for every rate increase request. As others have pointed out, capital expenditures and maintenance are a part of doing business and should already be factored in with pricing. When I bought a new espresso machine for the business, prices didn't go up. New tables didn't warrant a special seating surcharge either. If costs go up (for whatever reason) you make less money.