newsobserver.com projects - recession - Comments

Am I my brother's keeper?

cornbread — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:47:48 -0400

Sorry but SOUTH CAROLINA has nothing to do with what happens in NC. But if you must I can throw California and Michigan into the argument.

Ah, yes. So the global economy is a myth?

Exotic financial instruments created in London and Manhattan brought down the financial system of Iceland and threaten every corner of the globe. Even into Mecklenberg County, NC and Cherokee County, SC.

It doesn't matter if Repbulicans in New York, Democrats in Boston, Libertarians in Arlington, or Tories in Essex created the problem. It's everyone's problem.

Partisan bickering will not help you solve it.

Re: 12% unemployment predicted

tangoz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:17:17 -0400

I knew you would try to drag another state into this. We live in North Carolina not South Carolian. Your obvious distraction tactic has FAILED.

This is NORTH CAROLINA. Try to stay focused and here with me. It is partisan. You cannot blame Republicans in NORTH CAROLINA. DEMOCRATS have had out of control spending in this state. The spending has doubled in a very short time. We have had numerous Democrats sent to prison. We have had numerous political appointees resign due to pay to play and other abuses of our trust. Until people start to realize that reelecting Democrats is only going to give us more of the same here IN North Carolina. We will fall further into the trap states like California and Michigan have.

Sorry but SOUTH CAROLINA has nothing to do with what happens in NC. But if you must I can throw California and Michigan into the argument.

Re: 12% unemployment predicted

cornbread — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:51:31 -0400

If you wanted to make this partisan, one could note that South Carolina has a higher rate of unemployment than North Carolina and has been run by Republicans.

But, I don't want to confuse Mr. Terrell with facts and notions about the economy writ large.

Re: 12% unemployment predicted

tangoz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:33:12 -0400

We have the nations FOURTH highest enemployment rate.

Who runs our state government and has run it for more than a decade?
DEMOCRATS!. No argument there I see.

Re: Perdue asks for economic birthday gift

FFC1304 — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:31:26 -0500

Will Bev stay in DC for the Tuesday annointing?

Re: Perdue asks for economic birthday gift

jonoflocke — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:31:39 -0500

In a manner of speaking, every one of these "stimulus" schemes is "shovel-ready."

Re: Foxx in meeting?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:44:36 -0500

Perdue met with members individually and also with the full delegation, minus Rep. Patrick McHenry.

— RTB

Foxx in meeting?

GrayJ — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:22:20 -0500

I saw footage on the local news of Perdue and Virginia Foxx embracing and talking. Leads me to think Foxx was also part of meeting, unless she simply just said hello and did not attend the meeting.

Re: Perdue asks for economic birthday gift

ThoughtCrimes — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:51:17 -0500

They take our money, and if we complain, we are using in-appropriate language. We should just whimper and take whatever scraps fall from the table.

Comment deleted

ThoughtCrimes — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:43:00 -0500

For inappropriate language.

Re: State collections down 6.1 percent

isittrue — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:40:04 -0500

Does the 6.1% include falling revenues for the NCDOT - that is, the revenue NCDOT receives from the gas tax, car sales, and regisrations? If not, how much is that revenue stream down?

Re: State revenue down 6.1 percent

bniolet — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:30:00 -0500

It means tax collections are down 6.1 percent from expectations for this year. Sorry for the lack of clarity. — BLN

Re: State revenue down 6.1 percent

dmarps — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:17:28 -0500

The headline and trhe story are not clear on what "State revenue down 6.1 percent" means. Are revenues down 6.1 per cent from last year or 6.1 per cent below estimates for this year?

Saying "down 6.1 per cent" implies down from the past year. Revenues could be down 6.1 per cent from the state's estimates or plans and actually be above last years'.

Of course saying "Down 6.1 per cent" implies down from the past; if that's not the case, you could well be making the situation sound worse than it is, which the state politicians prefer, of course. That enables them to ask for even more tax and fee increases.

From many years in business management, I can tell you that a six per cent reduction of costs from one year to the next can be done, especially after years of increasing expenditures. There will be weeping and wailing, but is is achievable if management wants to do it.

Re: State revenue down 6.1 percent

profbam — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:32:49 -0500

Departments of the State of NC have been asked to draw up budgets for next year that include a 10% permanent cut. Most have operating expenses that are 2% - 4% of total budget, the rest is salaries and benefits. The ONLY way to make 10% cuts is to terminate currently filled positions. Those folks will stop paying taxes, reduce spending at stores, collect unemployment and Medicaid, and otherwise increase the demands on the State's social network.

The only alternative is rotating furloughs in order to save in salaries the necessary amount of money. State personnel are demoralized as is. It WILL get worse.

Re: State revenue down 6.1 percent

informed — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:57:39 -0500

"if it doesn't get worse"

There's no question it will get worse, what is unknown is how much worse, since no one is using the word "mild" in this downturn.