Change is in the air . . . (Charlotte: income, taxes, living in)

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Art1979

Thank you very much, Ani. I appreciate your insight, as well. I try to draw conclusions on my own. I would've followed a path in legislature, however quickly realized that my ideas would not be accepted very well "inside the beltway". Politics is a very dirty business, next to the music industry.

Politics can be very dirty. My dad served 3 terms in NC's General Assembly and then spent some time over a state department. He is a man of integrity and character and he was often amazed at how business gets done, LOL. But I think it is sad that people with talent, intelligence and imagination often feel alienated from public service b/c of the "cheap tricks" that go on in politics. It doesn't have to be that way . . . and good men can still triumph, even if only with small victories along the way. You shouldn't write off politics; after all, change is best effected when it comes from WITHIN an institution. Legislation is at the root of all social change. One does not have to get every idea approved - even ONE idea can have tremendous impact.

[pink caddy]

Great post Art 1979! I'm going to sleep a lot better tonight knowing that there are other people out there that feel the same as I do. Thank you.

P.S. Imagine a union asking for a dismissal. Next thing you know there will be the Society of Kindergarden Children asking for the dismissal of the Principal of their school.

[jstubbspt]

An excellent article on the current economic situation, both here and globally, written by the former head of the IMF. I believe it provides a rather sobering view of how we arrived in our current predicament and what the future may hold. The article is long, but edifying and well worth the read.

The Quiet Coup - The Atlantic (May 2009)

Comments?

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Good points. I agree with slamming corps that offshore outsourcing - not sure what the best method is. I have thought - put some sort of Levy or additional tax burden on them to discourage offshore outsourcing. I also agree about tax breaks for companies choosing to do business here, as long as they are creating jobs for Americans (Toyota, for ex).

I got interested in what was happening to manufacturing in this country when I saw the trends w/ furniture plant shut-downs here and then other furniture companies importing goods from Malaysia. It is a BIG business now. Well known labels just import stuff and slap their own recognized brand on furniture. Then I started looking into ship building b/c I heard Trent Lott state that we no longer had but a fraction of our capability of ship building in this country. After researching, I found that facilities were being shut down all over the USA. Then Bethlehem Steel went bankrupt and they had been one of the biggest shipbuilders in the whole world. Economists often cite the demise of Bethlehem Steel as the prime example of America's economy shift to moving manufacturing OUT of the USA due to cheap labor elsewhere around the globe.

What is troubling is that China is building a huge fleet. I don't understand why this is not concerning our leaders. Instead of this thrown-together mess of a stimulus package - why didn't the Prez choose to truly create long lasting jobs in the manufacturing sector - such as shipbuilding? This would put thousands of experienced workers back into PERMANENT jobs. Plus, it would have put the steel industry, in general, back to work. Think of all the jobs it would have opened - from welding to engineers. Plus, it would be a bolster to our national security. So I don't get it!!!!

We have China out there gaining superiority by air and sea - yet we are going to borrow more money from them - to build roads. States should figure out how to build roads and repair infrastructure within their own states. If a state cannot balance its own budget - then they need to cut out programs, plain and simple, and entice manufacturers and corps to relocate to increase revenue. Accepting federal dollars is not even a short term solution, b/c the federal budget is in the crapper!!!! We are all passing around IOUs!!!!

Until this country starts manufacturing our own goods and services - wh/ in turn creates jobs - our economy is screwed. And that has to start at the GRASSROOTS level - in communities. We, you and I, have to start those factories.

We need to get factories up and running HERE - in our region. Wages may have to be lower and the manufactured goods will cost more than imported goods would cost - but this is our only solution. We must re-adjust how we think about jobs and pay and also - purchasing power - and get factories running again right here at home.

Ani, I could write a ton on the manufacturing fiasco. What I know best isn't local, but it drives me nuts to see all of the empty mills & plants out here. What happened here & all over the country was just a crime.

As for shipbuilding, case #1 was what happened to the Philadelphia Naval shipyard. When it was closed for military purposes it was political. What happened to it afterward was also political. The politicians who were responsible should be ashamed but aren't. Then they were going to turn it's security, as well as most eastern ports in the US over to a foreign concern & tried to force it after the public screamed about it.

I really can't go into the details because it's just too long & convoluted, but Trent Lott just really shouldn't utter a word about the lack of ship building.

[baybook]

The middle class disappears and we all start looking for jobs at walmart

Originally Posted by anifani821

Sadly, this is all shareholder driven. Corporations have resorted to offshoring as a way of bolstering the books and thus, the profits (and thereby - stock prices). This is part of the "corporate greed" factor . . . the ME ME ME factor. Shareholders want their stock dividends . . . corporate C-level leaders respond by off-shoring and outsourcing.

What I can't figure out is . . . when all the jobs are gone other than teaching and healthcare and service-related blue collar jobs . . . who is going to be working and making the $$ it takes to buy goods and services? I mean - we can import all day long - but even if those goods are cheap as dirt - if no one has a job and thus - the money - to buy those goods . . . what happens then? What happens when only a minority of people can pay the hospital bill? the electric bill? the mortgage? What happens then?

[Ragdoll Kitty Lover]

A group of us were talking about this today in our outplacement meeting. With a group of about 15, we had most of the employee components of starting our own small company! Unfortunately, many people are afraid to strike out on their own.

And to bolster this positive feeling you have, Anifani, we were told today that bigger numbers of people in both the Greensboro and WS groups are currently having interviews, negotiating, or have been given offers. It is a drop in the bucket, but drops do add up. January through mid-March saw very little action, but since the latter part of March, we have seen more jobs starting to appear and more interviews happening. People are replacing any positions that have opened instead of creating new positions, but it is a start.

The recovery will go as it came. Employment won't start recovery until the Housing and stock markets start their upward trend. The best thing we can do is have the nation take it slow and steady, working on building new firm foundations, instead of allowing it to spiral back up quickly with a foundation of air.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Ragdoll Kitty Lover

A group of us were talking about this today in our outplacement meeting. With a group of about 15, we had most of the employee components of starting our own small company! Unfortunately, many people are afraid to strike out on their own.

And to bolster this positive feeling you have, Anifani, we were told today that bigger numbers of people in both the Greensboro and WS groups are currently having interviews, negotiating, or have been given offers. It is a drop in the bucket, but drops do add up. January through mid-March saw very little action, but since the latter part of March, we have seen more jobs starting to appear and more interviews happening. People are replacing any positions that have opened instead of creating new positions, but it is a start.

The recovery will go as it came. Employment won't start recovery until the Housing and stock markets start their upward trend. The best thing we can do is have the nation take it slow and steady, working on building new firm foundations, instead of allowing it to spiral back up quickly with a foundation of air.

RAGDOLL: So glad you shared the conversation you had today! I just know there is a way to bring people together - even w/ limited resources - and get a business (businesses!) going! But you are right. Most people are hesitant - even when unemployed - to take a chance.

I hope those job openings and hirings keep "filling up the bucket." It has to start somewhere - even if slowly and cautiously.

[CharlottePirateFan]

Originally Posted by anifani821

I dunno how to explain it, but I have felt so battered by all the terrible news about our economy - and here locally in Charlotte - the unemployment rate.

But something this past weekend made me feel hopeful that things are gonna turn around sooner than I thought. I have been looking well into 2010 for hiring to start back and the economy to stabilize.

Anyone seeing evidence of this? Know someone who DID just land a job? Or who found out their company is NOT laying off? Or someone who got that much needed small business loan at just the right moment recently?

Do I just have my Pollyanna glasses on? Or is Charlotte gonna turn around by year's end?

What do you all think?

My company is doing well all things considered. No layoffs yet. No reduction in hours. The only thing they've done is give everyone a 2% raise across the board (my 3rd year here...1st year got a 6.5% raise, last year they capped everyone at 3.5% to see what was coming)

I have abuddy that just got hired in charlotte for a medical supplies company. They deliver and set up oxygen systems.

[chicagocubs]

Japan, Sweden may offer economic recovery lessons - CNN.com

[Miker2069]

Originally Posted by anifani821

I keep trying to think it through, OHIO. How can we start businesses w/o money? I know that sounds stupid, but what I mean is . . . all our furniture factories and textile mills - they started out SMALL. Some started out in garages or basements or barns. We gotta get moving on a grassroots level and CREATE new jobs.

What if everyone w/ specific talents - who are out of work - found a way to connect? And each person contributed something to a new venture. A piece of equipment . . . a particular talent . . . I know it sounds nuts - but there is a way to do this. While people are on unemployment compensation - doesn't it make sense that while they still have a check coming in - but free time - that they should be starting new businesses - forming some sort of co-op? A work co-op?

Does this sound totally impossible?

It's extremely possible but what I've come to realize that only a very small percentage of people are capable of stepping outside the predictable comfort zone (and a bad situation that's predictable is still comfortable..) and make a go of it. It's the reason why less than 10% of population controls 90% of the wealth and contributes the most in taxes...