There are so many issues facing the citizens of this great country. How long will we be able to call the USA "this great country"? The economy has not recovered, ethics is at an all time low, morals have decayed dramatically, and on and on. Will there be no end to the struggle for power and control over this vastly populated continent - yes continent.
This is the big election year. There is mud slinging going on from the most insignificant positions up for re-election to the top position of "this great country" and the closer we get to November the worse it will get.
In the last four years has government and its citizens progressed or suffered from the decisions made by our leaders.
Think before you vote!
Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts
Monday, September 24, 2012
Monday, March 28, 2011
Overdone
For years our little county government ran like a well oiled clock with 3 clerks and an administrator in the commissioners office. With little economic growth in the county as well as nationwide, the commissioners feel the need to add more personnel. A payroll clerk, an accounts payable clerk, a receptionist/secretary, an office manager and now a fire fee clerk to handle the all encompassing clerical duties for a county of around 17000. Talk about efficiency and wastefullness and the county is suppose to be in a budget crunch!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Economically Speaking
Times are hard for people, business and government. I have been jobless for a year and a half and even though I search the ads and posting every other day, I don't see much hope for the future and I know I am not alone. There are many families suffering through much worse as they have children they are trying to feed, clothe, and house. Families are breaking up under the stress. How long will it be before our little community has the need for homeless shelters and food kitchens? We already have homeless in our community, but they can always find an empty building or a covered front porch to get a bit of sleep, but remember, winter is coming and where will they go?
Business' have closed their doors as they can no longer afford the high taxes that are already here, much less those that are scheduled to go into effect the first part of the year. The EPD restrictions, OSHA restrictions, the WC insurance, the unemployment taxes, the licenses, the permits are all contributing factors to the closings. The small businesses do not stand a chance and the large businesses are moving their operations overseas to escape the never ending taxes and insurance, no to mention the lower production cost.
We have thrown common sense out the window and now the government is protecting us from ourselves. I am not in favor of sweat shops any more than the rest of the people of this country, but regulations have closed more industry than lack of sales ever thought about doing.
The bank sales in our area seem to have abated somewhat, but that doesn't mean that construction has rebounded. Subdivision development has ceased and there are many lots sitting vacant as well as new homes that just don't sell. Contractors are looking elsewhere for employment as skilled laborers and most are having to go out of town to find work. It has happened before. People have followed work all over this United States in an effort to survive. Georgia is no longer a manufacturing hub and people are leaving.
New businesses have moved into downtown Atlanta and some of the satellite cities surrounding the big city and bless their hearts, Lagrange landed a gold mine in the Kia plant. Oh for a Kia plant for our little central Georgia town.
I really feel for the upcoming generation. Given everything they ask for, how will they survive. It is time to teach our children and grandchildren that life can exist without cell phone, ipods, DVDs, even television. Can you remember the time before television, when a good book or a deck of cards were the entertainment of the weekend?
Thanks for stopping by and until next time . . .
Happy Reading!
Belle
Business' have closed their doors as they can no longer afford the high taxes that are already here, much less those that are scheduled to go into effect the first part of the year. The EPD restrictions, OSHA restrictions, the WC insurance, the unemployment taxes, the licenses, the permits are all contributing factors to the closings. The small businesses do not stand a chance and the large businesses are moving their operations overseas to escape the never ending taxes and insurance, no to mention the lower production cost.
We have thrown common sense out the window and now the government is protecting us from ourselves. I am not in favor of sweat shops any more than the rest of the people of this country, but regulations have closed more industry than lack of sales ever thought about doing.
The bank sales in our area seem to have abated somewhat, but that doesn't mean that construction has rebounded. Subdivision development has ceased and there are many lots sitting vacant as well as new homes that just don't sell. Contractors are looking elsewhere for employment as skilled laborers and most are having to go out of town to find work. It has happened before. People have followed work all over this United States in an effort to survive. Georgia is no longer a manufacturing hub and people are leaving.
New businesses have moved into downtown Atlanta and some of the satellite cities surrounding the big city and bless their hearts, Lagrange landed a gold mine in the Kia plant. Oh for a Kia plant for our little central Georgia town.
I really feel for the upcoming generation. Given everything they ask for, how will they survive. It is time to teach our children and grandchildren that life can exist without cell phone, ipods, DVDs, even television. Can you remember the time before television, when a good book or a deck of cards were the entertainment of the weekend?
Thanks for stopping by and until next time . . .
Happy Reading!
Belle
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Going Out of Business
It is so sad and disheartening to see so many businesses closing their doors. Some of these are owner operated, but others employ hundreds of people. What is upsetting is the chains that are choosing to close business because they do not meet expectations. I am not saying it is not a smart thing to do for the owners - it is just sad that so many will be losing their jobs at years end or sooner.
It is extremely hard in a small town to make a go of any specialty business. With rent and utilities taking the first thousand plus dollars of your sales there is nothing left for inventory replacement much less earning a salary. The business providing the "must haves" - food, gas, groceries, medicine - are hardly surviving, so you know a specialty shop is really taking a hit.
Our area is flooded with restaurants, drug stores and gas station/convenience stores, but most of the specialty stores have gone to the wayside.
Without a sustaining industry coming to our area, it will not be long til our little town will be a memory of what was.
It is extremely hard in a small town to make a go of any specialty business. With rent and utilities taking the first thousand plus dollars of your sales there is nothing left for inventory replacement much less earning a salary. The business providing the "must haves" - food, gas, groceries, medicine - are hardly surviving, so you know a specialty shop is really taking a hit.
Our area is flooded with restaurants, drug stores and gas station/convenience stores, but most of the specialty stores have gone to the wayside.
Without a sustaining industry coming to our area, it will not be long til our little town will be a memory of what was.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Christmas and the Economy
How do you spend your way out of debt? I can't quite figure that one out.
We have spent years trying to change the image of Christmas and complaining it has become too commercial - too much spending, too much advertising, too much, well, of most everything. We have stressed that Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' birth. Christians know that December 25 may not be the actual date of birth, but no one seems to be able to calculate the exact date, so December 25 has been designated as the date.
The movers and shakers of the economic world seemed to base the state of the economy on the revenue earned during the Christmas season. Since Black Friday did not meet the sales expectations of the economist, we have been encouraged to spend, spend, spend.
There is a definite clash between the financial sector and the ideology of Christmas.
Have you seen a bicycle, a pair of skates, or a basketball with hoop advertised? Nope, because children are more interested in emulating mommy and daddy with their cell phones, iPods, Mp3, and laptops. Manufacturers and vendors are very much aware that this is a technological world. They have put their money into pushing items in electronics and technology. If a child were to receive a bicycle for Christmas instead of the cell phone which they crave, they would be highly disappointed.
It is easier and less time consuming for a parent to teach a child to use a cell phone than it is to teach them to ride a bike. The bike takes physical activity on both their parts. As I have said before, we have become a lazy society, dependent on a machine to perform for us.
Along another venue, the refinancing of mortgage loan program was considered a flop. Well, let's take a look. If a person is unemployed and has no idea when they will be reemployed, how will they get a loan approved? It seems the people are smarter than our legislators. People know they can not borrow money they have no way to pay back. Being unemployed is demoralizing, debilitating, and frustrating without being told "sorry, you don't qualify". Why add to their frustrations?
Listen legislators, being unemployed means having no visible means of support. I have talked to many many people looking for employment. They have tried the programs (refinancing, back to school, retraining), but if jobs are not available what do you do then? No amount of retraining can create jobs. No amount of refinancing can save a home if there is no money to pay the mortgage.
No we are back to the same round robin. Supply and demand is still the guideline for manufacturing and trade. If there is no demand, supply stops - therefore jobs are lost. So, yes, it makes sense to say spend, spend, spend. But, on the other hand.
We have spent years trying to change the image of Christmas and complaining it has become too commercial - too much spending, too much advertising, too much, well, of most everything. We have stressed that Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' birth. Christians know that December 25 may not be the actual date of birth, but no one seems to be able to calculate the exact date, so December 25 has been designated as the date.
The movers and shakers of the economic world seemed to base the state of the economy on the revenue earned during the Christmas season. Since Black Friday did not meet the sales expectations of the economist, we have been encouraged to spend, spend, spend.
There is a definite clash between the financial sector and the ideology of Christmas.
Have you seen a bicycle, a pair of skates, or a basketball with hoop advertised? Nope, because children are more interested in emulating mommy and daddy with their cell phones, iPods, Mp3, and laptops. Manufacturers and vendors are very much aware that this is a technological world. They have put their money into pushing items in electronics and technology. If a child were to receive a bicycle for Christmas instead of the cell phone which they crave, they would be highly disappointed.
It is easier and less time consuming for a parent to teach a child to use a cell phone than it is to teach them to ride a bike. The bike takes physical activity on both their parts. As I have said before, we have become a lazy society, dependent on a machine to perform for us.
Along another venue, the refinancing of mortgage loan program was considered a flop. Well, let's take a look. If a person is unemployed and has no idea when they will be reemployed, how will they get a loan approved? It seems the people are smarter than our legislators. People know they can not borrow money they have no way to pay back. Being unemployed is demoralizing, debilitating, and frustrating without being told "sorry, you don't qualify". Why add to their frustrations?
Listen legislators, being unemployed means having no visible means of support. I have talked to many many people looking for employment. They have tried the programs (refinancing, back to school, retraining), but if jobs are not available what do you do then? No amount of retraining can create jobs. No amount of refinancing can save a home if there is no money to pay the mortgage.
No we are back to the same round robin. Supply and demand is still the guideline for manufacturing and trade. If there is no demand, supply stops - therefore jobs are lost. So, yes, it makes sense to say spend, spend, spend. But, on the other hand.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Season of Discontent
I read some blogs today. The most interesting responses came from the question "How is Obama doing as President and is he obtaining his objectives?"
Well, it turns out, after much reading, the consensus don't like Obama or Bush or any other politician. There was much confusion on whether this country was built on Christian principles and whether Obama caused the problems of today or did Bush. Well, the problems seem to have started 40 years ago, so neither can be blamed. As far as Christians beliefs, that is still up in the air. Whether our forefathers were Christians is only a question that They and god can answer. I do believe that our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were developed based on Biblical laws, ethics and morals. That does not make them Christian.
Then came the discussion on the turn around of American businesses. Some businesses are going to fail based on the operations of the company. Some will fail due to the greediness of the executives. Some businesses are going to fail based on its leadership. Some business are going to fail due to a lousy product. Then some businesses will fail based on the lack of cash flow in the economy. A good business leader will anticipate the changes in the economy and IF they want their business to succeed and stay afloat, will adjust where ever and whenever is needed. Yes, some people will lose their jobs. Yes, some will have to double up on work - but they will have work.
I worked for a company that was a viable and productive manufacturer for many years. They looked into manufacturing out of country and not only did that not pan out, they had invested so much money and resources on the project, they lost the original company. This happened 25 years ago, not in the past 3 years. The company thought it was stable enough to expand, but did not take all the factors into consideration in the planning process.
There are many reasons businesses close. The economy is just one factor. It is a fact of life that we live lavishly, wastefully and without thought or reason for the future. However, when forced we either blame it on someone else or languish in pity for our hardships. Mr. Bush nor Mr. Obama is to blame, yet we expect them to lift us out of the pit we now find ourselves and return us to the lap of luxury.
Well, it turns out, after much reading, the consensus don't like Obama or Bush or any other politician. There was much confusion on whether this country was built on Christian principles and whether Obama caused the problems of today or did Bush. Well, the problems seem to have started 40 years ago, so neither can be blamed. As far as Christians beliefs, that is still up in the air. Whether our forefathers were Christians is only a question that They and god can answer. I do believe that our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were developed based on Biblical laws, ethics and morals. That does not make them Christian.
Then came the discussion on the turn around of American businesses. Some businesses are going to fail based on the operations of the company. Some will fail due to the greediness of the executives. Some businesses are going to fail based on its leadership. Some business are going to fail due to a lousy product. Then some businesses will fail based on the lack of cash flow in the economy. A good business leader will anticipate the changes in the economy and IF they want their business to succeed and stay afloat, will adjust where ever and whenever is needed. Yes, some people will lose their jobs. Yes, some will have to double up on work - but they will have work.
I worked for a company that was a viable and productive manufacturer for many years. They looked into manufacturing out of country and not only did that not pan out, they had invested so much money and resources on the project, they lost the original company. This happened 25 years ago, not in the past 3 years. The company thought it was stable enough to expand, but did not take all the factors into consideration in the planning process.
There are many reasons businesses close. The economy is just one factor. It is a fact of life that we live lavishly, wastefully and without thought or reason for the future. However, when forced we either blame it on someone else or languish in pity for our hardships. Mr. Bush nor Mr. Obama is to blame, yet we expect them to lift us out of the pit we now find ourselves and return us to the lap of luxury.
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