I am happy to report after talking with folks at the Tribune
and some negotiating, my columns will once again appear regularly.
As we are all aware, times are tough and any recovery moves
seem to be missing in Huron County. As we continue to invite
new industries and businesses to our beautiful county perhaps
our ski-high unemployment numbers will begin to decrease.
Even a few new jobs would help a lot. At the Huron
Daily Tribune,
they, like most newspapers around the country, have had drastic
drops in circulation and advertising. I, like many of the
older generation, always enjoy sitting down and reading
the paper.
I read it from front to back, including all the ads and public
notices. Of course I also read the columns to see what others
have to say. Reading the paper makes me feel like part of
the community I live in. It keeps me abreast of activities
and
changes all over the county and even other counties.
While
I’m in Florida I have a number of publications
to read, some like the Miami Herald are just too big to
read on a daily basis. I read several smaller papers that
provide
local news of my community in the Keys.
The
younger generation seems satisfied with just waiting for
someone to tell them what’s new and exciting. When you
ask young people if they heard about something that took place
nearby they often say, “I didn’t know about
that.”
Young
people also get their news via texting. Somehow it seems
using message coding in texting news it can’t
be accurately transmitted. There also must be a lot that
is missed in translation
from one person to another.
Some folks who still do read the newspaper may have acquired
the habit at home. A couple of my girls are devoted to their
local newspapers and I always enjoy reading their papers
when I visit them.
As newspapers are struggling I have to wonder how so many
television news stations survive. They all cover the same
stories and
if you change the channel, you get a repeat. That does not
happen while turning pages of the daily paper because they
provide new, fresh coverage of events.
While reading and viewing the news I have learned some of
the contributors to our last financial meltdown are repeating
the
practices that caused much of the downturn. I just noted
Lehman Brothers CEO Richard S. Fuld, Jr., while testifying
before
a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, misspoke
(or some would say lied) when he reported his pay. It seems
he just forgot bonuses totaling $ 200,000. Others have been
found to have misreported even greater amounts, up in the
millions.
As
I see it if there is no penalty for perjury when testifying
before a special government committee,
why would the
government waste time conducting hearings? And
why
is it — we the
people — are not only paying for the hearings
but our tax contributions had to
bail out those liars that falsely reported the reasons for
their financial problems?
Another
thing I have noted lately, if you pay close attention to
ads and promotions (like I
do) you
will once again
see “No
Money Down, No Interest.” These deals offer payment terms
so long they will outlast whatever you are purchasing. Isn’t
this where all our problems began?
I have a bailout suggestion; drawing from the alphabet each
year pick a letter A to Z and everyone whose last name starts
with that letter could be allowed to skip paying taxes AND
receive a bailout check from Uncle Sam. Funds for these bailout
checks could be gathered from fines levied upon those who
perjured themselves while testifying before government committees.
Recipients
of the bailout checks would not be required to pay the funds
back unless all millionaires had paid income tax on ALL OF
their income.
If
that idea does not fly, how about putting the banks on the
spot and make them raise
the interest
they pay
on CDs
and money
market accounts held by seniors over 65
years of age. Isn’t
their bailout money part of the interest
that is due on Social Security? Better
yet, find
out what
brilliant
member
of the
government decided there was no cost of
living increase for two consecutive years so Social
Security payments
would remain
flat. Please send the address and phone
number so those of us on Social Security can let
them know
how wrong
they were
and what a great job they are doing.
Sorry
can’t help it, here I am complaining about our
government again. It’s just so easy I can’t resist
and after all it is As I See it. It’s great to hold the
pen again and put my thoughts on the line – and I’m
very happy to have my column appear in
the Trib where it started.
To
those who sent notes and best wishes, thanks. And a special
thank you to Andy
for his card,
we will get
together
when
I get back to Huron County. Also special
note to Clark & Barb
for your comments but please re-instate
your subscription because each one
counts. Remember,
we will all
miss the Tribune if
we lose it.