Entries
What Recession?
Apr. 3, 2008 Posted in Comments
I drove through Greensboro checking out fast food restruants. They are still in business and have customers. Crime is increasing in Greensboro. People losing jobs are also increasing. Savings rate of the public has declined. Mass media outlets are trumpeting the call that “Recession is here!” What is really happening is that people are suddenly wondering if they better keep some money at home instead of spending it. The sub-prime scandal demonstrates that no one is watching the store. If you are the seller you will be bailed out. Good luck to you if you are the public buyer.
Newspapers writers seldom understand economics or business. They couldn't guess correctly what the economy is doing and why! Their eyes glaze over when they see a stock chart. Making money is dull if you are not a rock star or Hollywood celebrity. Wall Street is a dull place for suits there is nothing cool happening there!
I wish our currency were backed by gold not the the good will of the politicians. I yearn for the days when it wasn't immoral to make a profit if you were in business. Is there something wrong with making more money than I need? Do you know what country owns the United States of America? It is not the USA! Our treasury notes and bonds are in the hands of someone.
Saudi Arabia claims to have x amount of oil reserves. They pump out so many barrels of oil a year based on that. Reduce the number of barrels of oil and the price rises. Increase the amount of oil barrels in the market and the price falls. Suppose the estimate is wrong! If I were the oil minister I would want to pump fewer barrels of oil and be paid more for each barrel. Which means that oil prices are going to rise until we can replace Saudi's oil contribution.
If congress was serious about oil, and pollution. 50 mph cars driving in the city would be available now. I don't care what the engine is as long as it is not internal combustion requiring an oil product. Right now electric cars seem to be the way to go. Yet, Congress is pushing ethanol fueled vehicles. Which are dependent on oil. Ethanol gas will use more farm corn and energy to produce it than just buying oil instead. By the way how long will an ethanol car last and its mileage rating. The consumer understands that the problem will be solved by other countries than the USA. They are willing to wait awhile for the best solution. It is not available from a US company. How much oil have the political candidates wasted flying around the country to win delegates?
As an American citizen I find it difficult to recall when a Senator or Congressman ever did something right by me. When will the Social Security slush fund stop funding the USA general treasury? When will Congress put back the money it spent. As a citizen I know I paid and I didn't spend it, so don't come after me to put more money in that endless hole.
Command and control issues are bubbling up within the armed services. To wit, Taiwan received several nuclear trigger devices instead of the batteries it ordered. Taiwan is not supposed to have the A-bomb or to be supplied one by us. Air Force planes are being loaded with live nuclear devices without the crews being told. Lately, there have been stories of our military shooting civilians. The enemy doesn't have an army with a uniform any child, women, or man may serve in it and attack our forces. I don't want to see our forces reduced to volunteer targets for the enemy so some reporter can't write about a civilian being killed.
As we head toward summer remember to keep the shiny side up and water your grass on collection days. The city has not informed me whether it is the green or brown can collection day that you can water your lawn on. I have yet to figure out why giving them half of my recyclables and paying the same amount is a savings to a home owner? But then this is from the same people who invented the rain tax (really a run off tax) that I have to pay whether it rains even when we are in a drought! Don't believe these people are going to produce cost savings for you. Which is cheaper commercial pickup or the City of Greensboro?
The statue of General Nathaniel Greene looks good in the picture I have seen of it. Will the city mint any coins of the General? Will there be a tax relief day this year? Will the person or organization in charge of Greensboro stand up and be recognized for some questions.
What lawsuits are pending?
Who is responsible for them?
When will they be fired?
Will Mitch's management style continue?
Will the city fund the minimum wage act for all employers within the city limits?
Is there a tax that the council of Greensboro won't support or that the board of education won't recommend?
Will the secret meetings of our officials continue away from the public?
It is obvious that we need a representative at those meetings and it is not the elected officials!
I think it is time to select our public officials in Greensboro just like we select jury members. The salary is cheaper. They could not do worse than current officials! They are not entrenched in the political party system. They might even know right from wrong. A concept that so far appears to elude our city manager and district attorney. Is there a home for wayward Greensboro officials? Of course, there is, it is called JAIL.
It is good to note that there is life in the city's downtown district on Friday and Saturday nights. Not an ugly lady in sight or a club not worthy of its name. Thank God for digital cameras. Now if we can prevent the powers that be from shutting down the downtown in order to build another garage the downtown might thrive.
Apr. 27, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by BrendaFayBowers
Haven't come by for awhile. Allergies are KILLING me! Lew tells me I am just having a bout of wishful thinking and will live another season like it or not. What my answer to the comment was had to be bleeped out. It does me no good to have learned that if you have allergies Greensboro is the last place on Earth to live. Nows I find this out. Darn. And to think of the entire country I was the one who fingered Greensboro, NC because I thought it was the only lovely city out of the snow zone. (Lew wouldn't go anywhere there might be more4 than a flake or so of snow.)
Happy that David Wray got such a high paying, highly demanding job that I am sure he is equal to. He really was wasted on Greensboro. That thing about not being appreciated at home is true you know.
Also happy to see the city finally settling with Brady. Wonder if we will ever know just how much Mitch Johnson has costs the tax payers?
Spent four days planting 36 annuals in my perennial garden. 18 Snapdragons and 18 Pinks for $5 so I couldn't resist. The tulips are all gone and the lilies aren't yet blooming so I really needed some color. Took me four days because it is on a hill side and my knee job simply will not support me for long standing on the side of a hill. So I plant a few flowers or spread a bit of mulch and have to take an hour or so off to recoup. Did mention that I could very well have just plain avoided getting old if I had had my druthers?
Hope all is well with you Mr. Newton. I do love my site with triadblogs. I started a blog with wordpress because I was having so much trouble getting WE101to pick up triadblogs. Brenda If I stop showing up now I will know it is Roch and not the site. That won't go over kindly with some other bloggers . I have made some good blogging friends that I am proud to be associated with. They have taken in the caustic Old Bird regardless of her nasty temper sometimes. I have always been lucky enough to belong to the "decent" peoples groups and have avoided the "popular" groups. Thank goodness. I've always found the "popular" to be shallow and less than honest.
Have rambled enough. Oh yes, good post. I too have these same questions . BB