As a lifelong (now part-time) North Carolinian, I can agree with new-to-the-Triangle caller Kat on several things:
1) The state's current government is awful, I mean worse than you think. I went to college with some of these yutz-knuckles and they were bad back then.
2) The area is underrated, particularly for its friendly people and excellent and affordable restaurants. I've never been to the arepas place she mentioned, but the News & Observer had a fantastic review. Also she should try Alpaca Chicken in Durham (and now Morrisville) which has great Peruvian food.
3) This nation really does need a better high-speed rail service, at least in the parts where there are enough people to justify it.
Things I can't agree with her on:
1) The need for "the fall of global capitalism."
- bc