Friday, July 13, 2012

Unemployment Still Dismal...


An article on WRAL.com this afternoon is titled: 

Disconnect exists between NC business climate, unemployment rate

Click here to find out more!
Here's a snippet:
Once again, North Carolina is ranked high on the list of places to do business in the U.S. But the state also has the nation's fourth-highest unemployment rate, at 9.4 percent.
Experts say the disconnect between business climate and employment comes down to regional differences across the state's 100 counties.

The Triangle and other metropolitan areas are faring OK, with the highest unemployment rates concentrated in rural areas where companies aren't looking to do business.

"There's a bunch of reasons why that disconnect is going on," said Ronnie Chatterji, an associate professor at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

Read more:  http://www.wral.com/business/story/11313303/

NC might be ranked high to do business in but it's not helping the unemployment rate which happens to be the 4th highest in the nation.  Can I guess why there's such a disparity between the two?

NC LOVESSSSSSSSSSS to give out those incentives.  Of course businesses are running to NC.  They can start up and play on our dime and jerk people around.  Then when the time comes to actually to do what they promised, they fold, leave and forget that creating jobs was a part of the package.

And who should know this better than anyone else?  LEED Brat Pac Members and the EDC.  Shoot might as well just say LEED because it's made up of EDC members.   They have selective memory and enjoy picking winners and losers.  (You wait till you see the new Donor List to be published this weekend.)

So this article on WRAL pretty much proves the point the conservatives have been saying:  Incentives are not working folks.  Unemployment is still dismal in our state.  Lee County hasn't changed much at since May 2011.  Yet all we hear about is some of our esteemed county leaders, ie, Hayes, RINO Oldham, Reives, Paschal, Chet Mann, Donnie Oldham, Bob Huets and other LEED members saying how great things are here.  Well it isn't great.  Every county surrounding us has a lower unemployment rate.  Now, I will have to tell you we are an industrial based county.  So naturally when recessions hit, those are the counties where it does hit the hardest.  But dang, guys and gals, stop sugar coating Lee Co.   Haven't these LEEDers ever heard that the first step to resolving a problem is to admit there IS a problem? 
We must, we must, we must demand accountability for any business that wants incentives.  We need milestones and the guts to stop the contract if milestones are not met.  And we need to demand all contracts to be public and detailed.   Some are going to disagree but if they are public, there's less chance of cheating.  And definitely demand honesty out of those good old Lee Co boys and girls.  Period.

But hey good news is our city council and Chamber of Commerce still thinks we are so consumed by tourists that they will find a way to fund a tourist bureau no matter how dismal unemployment is.  I think first they better address all those letters complaining about the ticketing of patrons in downtown Sanford.  And start being business friendly.  Did you all know there's a 14% extra tax (should I say penalty like the libs) for the "privilege" of being a downtown business located on Steele or Carthage or Moore, etc, (I can't name all the streets)?  That ain't friendly!  Look at the empty store fronts!

You know word of mouth can do quite a bit of damage to our little town.  I bet it already has.

10 comments:

Nancy Gale said...

No, incentives don't work. Something needs to change.

Bobby said...

LEEDPAC-IE really is giving our community a positive message on how to move forward. We do not need to go back to the days when businesses were expected to survive on their own.

If it wasn't for giving tax rebates back to businesses, how high would our unemployment be? Bob Heuts does a great job and helps us move forward. The important businesses have been paying the highest taxes in Lee County for so long and it is necessary to continue to pay these businesses back. We should all support LEEDPAC-IE completely in their effort to take taxes from locals living off the system and give it back to those of us that actually produce.

Forward to a better future, we can get there if the county government supports our important businesses by giving them back their taxes. I know the City Council and Governor Perdue do.

Sheila Barber said...

Bobby,

Thank you for visiting. But sugarcoating a dismal economy isn't going to get people working again.

If LEED wants to put their money where their mouth is, maybe they should rethink how they tried to destroy individuals in the primary. You lose credibility for the good things when you do such disgusting things. Happens on the other side too. But for a group who says they formed due to the tone in local politics, well they sure set it.

All it takes is one stupid move. Don't we tell our children that all the time?

Now if incentives are working, at the rate we give them out our unemployment should be at, let's be reasonable, about 8%? But it's not. So the argument that I ought to be proud of them doesn't work.

Why is it ok to pick winners and losers? Can't we give an across the board tax cut to every business owner and every citizen to spur spending and hiring? Seems to me that's the only option that hasn't been tried and when it is, it works! But that would take power away from those who want control.

I believe that is one idea we could all get together on if some would realize that those who won't born here actually do have good ideas.

And Oh the hypocrisy of those in Leed who think Moss is ok for my kids but just not darn good enough for theirs! Actions speak louder than words.

Funny you mentioned Dumpling. She's toast. We need real LEADership. Can we agree on that?

Bet so. Want to meet for coffee and discuss?

Sheila

Kirk D. Smith said...

I am reminded of the recently widowed woman whom I met while walking door-to-door campaigning for Ed Page in Walter McNeil's district. Unfortunately, she had a fixed income and was facing higher water and sewer taxes, as well the highest property taxes in the region.

She is not alone. . . Lee county has a number of elderly on fixed incomes subsidizing "public golf courses." a theater, and corporate welfare. Mr. McNeil votes for all of these goodies with no regard for his elderly constituents.

The LEED-PAC email from the progressive Chet Mann fed the statistics "Lee county has received a 509% return on investment!" So quoting the little ole lady on those Wendy's commercials "Where's the beef?" If Lee county reaped such a windfall. . . where's the tax cuts??? Again, he goes on to highlight "The City of Sanford has seen a 1,582% return during the same time period." Again, why is he City of Sanford the highest taxed municipality in the four county area?

Tax and spend is coming to an end. Accountibility is in order! Tax cuts will benefit all not a select few . . .

Sheila Barber said...

And here's the blog that has that very email in it: http://freshbrewedconservatism.blogspot.com/2012/06/dear-chet-leed-brat-from-pac.html

Sheila

Anonymous said...

Bobby I agree you should take money from people living off the system- Disability, welfare, social security. People that have business and jobs live off of their labors, not off the system. You are speaking like a true tree-hugging liberal.

Dale Marks said...

I will spread the mustard just like it is. LEED is nothing more than a attempt to get certain business owners in control of the city government.

Look at the donor list. Ask yourself why are these people contributing all this money? Surely they will never expect anything in return.

There are certain business owners in town frustrated that they are not given special treatment on bid projects and are seeking to circumvent the process.

Bottom line grEED not lead is the catalyst for this group.

Bobby said...

Many of you do not grasp the importance of business and that without government, business can't succeed. It is up to government to make sure that businesses have the tools they need to conduct business.

One tool the government uses is incentives. Incentives that we have given to Wyeth has made them successful.

President Obama even noted that it would not be possible for businesses to be successful if it were not for a government program or a road built by the government that allows the business to open.

If you have a job, you should be glad to give part of your taxes to benefit your employer. If more incentives were given away, the unemployment would not be as high as it is.

Sheila Barber said...

"One tool the government uses is incentives. Incentives that we have given to Wyeth has made them successful."

Oh that's hilarious. Where's Wyeth now?

Sheila Barber said...

Bobby if you actually believe what you are writing, America is in worse trouble than I thought. I should be glad to give away the money I worked for? Bobby, are you serious? I don't work to give you and those good old boys my dough. I work for my family. NOT YOURS. And I really don't care how cruel you say that is.

How about LEED by example: Give the government every bit you make. Then you can ask for mine.

President Obama also stated that an entrepreneur didn't really make their business successful. Dude, without the knowledge, the long hours (normal workers don't put in more than 8 and 8 if an owner is lucky), or the tenacity of the business owner to stick with it, the business fails. They are NOT in business to create jobs. They are in business to make money. Creating jobs is a bonus.

PBO also said that TARP, Stimulus I, II, 75 would keep unemployment at 8%. So much for PBO stating anything.

You say "If more incentives were given away unemployment would be lower." Prove it. Look at the incentives given to Pfizer and tell me why they are laying off. Unemployment lower? Really?? Hmmm tell me why it's not lower than surrounding counties now. When you can give me a REAL ROI on incentives instead of the LIBERAL ROI, I will listen and you will also see what I am saying is true. Across the board tax cut will work.

You good old boys stick together don't you.

Boggles my mind. Liberals are hypocrites. You want my money and refuse to give up yours. You tell me what I should be happy to do. When I tell you that you should be happy to give EVERY business a tax break and should be giving ME the one who spends money at those businesses, a tax break, you tell me No.

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