Bloggings
Jonathan Pait
April 4, 2002
Wow, lots of things to comment on. Sometimes things can get pretty boring. Other times it seems like you can't handle all the information!
We'll be using a technique called "bloggings" to get through it all. Not interested in the first item? Just go on down to the next one. Before you get to the bottom, you might find something to stir you up!
GOP desires to have questions concerning stadium and Expo Center on the ballot.
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/news/2002/04/03/2002040321601.htm
The questions:
1. Do you support a tax increase (property tax, sales tax, or hospitality tax) to provide money for a new baseball stadium for the city of Greenville or an upgrade of the current stadium? Yes or No
2. Do you support a tax increase (property tax, sales tax, or hospitality tax) to provide money for a new convention center or an upgrade to the current Expo Center? Yes or No
The pundits:
"The Republican controlled County Council wants to kill off the debate before it even has a chance to happen."
"The Republican controlled County Council wants to gauge the constituents’ willingness to give more taxes for these projects."
Our take:
Common Voice has another take on this issue. You can't discount the former of the two ideas floated by pundits, but could it be that people are reading a little too much into all of this? Think about it, the publicity around the Republican primary just went up several notches. Does high publicity over a hot topic equal high turnout. Just an idea. . . If that is the goal, it seems to be working.
What’s going on with the GOP outreach committee?
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/2996283.htm
Common Voice has followed the formation of this outreach committee with interest. People cannot help but to be a little cynical about the intentions behind the creation of the committee. That isn't to say that those on the committee do not take their positions seriously or really wish to accomplish their goal. The cynicism is more around the question of whether the committee will be given the backing it needs to have a real impact.
Now we learn that there is trouble from within the committee itself. It is sad that political bickering has to get in the way before the battle can even be enjoined. Common Voice has no way who is right or who is wrong in all of this. That isn't the point. Let's hope this can be resolved and the committee can carry through with their plans.
Don’t forget Condon's plan for textiles.
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/news/2002/04/03/2002040321594.htm
It would take a lot more than a paragraph to go after this one. However, there are some questions that have to be asked.
1. Why are only the textile workers who have lost their jobs getting this treatment?
2. If Condon's plan were enacted would it even make a difference?
Yet, there is a deeper question that the United States must face at some point. Is our manufacturing economy dying? Twenty-five years from now will any low-cost items be made in America? Unless we are willing to make drastic changes in our lifestyles, this could very well be the case.
Most economists will tell you that our economy is becoming service oriented with the only commodity with which America seems to have an advantage being information. Is this good or bad? Common Voice won't pass judgement on that one. However, there is no doubt that 20 years from now there may be no textile factories, tire factories, or any other factories with products that can be produced with cheap labor off shore.
It will take a lot more than $60 million to solve this problem.
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