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Sivan Langer - The Three Monkeys Somg

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  Langer’s journey into the world of songwriting began when he decided to form a band with a couple of his schoolmates. He dove into a furious exploration of the guitar, immersing himself in the iconic sounds of 90s rock and grunge. Soon enough, his musical tastes grew to encompass jazz and experimental rock. It was a journey that led him to appreciate the conceptual ideas behind the music as much as their sonic manifestations.  As he continues down the winding path of a musician infatuated with his craft, the culmination of his musical journey is marked by this labor of love and determination, borne out of sheer will and appreciation for the arts. Langer’s fusion of genres, blending classic rock, punk, and even elements of jazz, bears witness to an artist unafraid to explore and transcend boundaries. Sivan’s fusion of genres, blending classic rock, punk, and even elements of jazz, bears witness to an artist unafraid to explore and transcend boundaries. With each note and chor...

VICKI LEE PARKER: Permanent corporate tax cap; Not best for business

Historic Marker, Halifax, N.C.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Vicki Lee Park is executive director of the North Carolina Business Council, a statewide nonprofit association with a mission to "connect, empower, and influence business leaders to build a vibrant economy that protects our natural resources, sustains local communities, and benefits all North Carolinians."
As a statewide organization of growing small businesses, our experience shows that long-term corporate prosperity depends on whether a large proportion of North Carolinians are prosperous as well. A significant proposed amendment to our state Constitution, Senate Bill 75, would put a permanent limit on corporate and individual income taxes into the State Constitution. This bill is not an answer to any of our problems as businesses. In fact, it would likely create problems.

  • It weakens funding available to support education, public safety, infrastructure, and other public services.
  • It rewards the biggest corporations the most, in affect arming them with deeper pools of capital to undercut their smaller local competitors.
  • As we look for other ways to pay for things like public safety and education, we could see sales taxes on more goods and services (and at higher rates), more , property tax increases from local governments, excise taxes and fines and fees.
  • It's likely to put more tax burden on local and rural communities.

    • Our members believe their businesses prosper by investing in the right things.
    So we care about:

  • A well-educated workforce: the state should lead investments in health care and education for all children, in excellent public schools that prepare young people for high-skilled jobs.
  • A resilient state financial structure—maintaining a balanced budget, investing in core infrastructure for growing small business—such as tech assistance, startup support.

    • We know that will rev the engines of businesses all across the state.