Big 3 in Big Trouble

We all have to make sacrifices and tighten our belts in today’s economy and it is not a far stretch to expect that companies will have to do the same.

Demonstration of willing to make sacrifices fell short today when they appeared before the senate to ask for $25 Billion dollars. CEO’s Rick Wagoner (GM), Alan Mulally (Ford) and Robert Nardelli (Chrysler) were asked by Democratic California Representative Brad Sherman if they flew in via private jet. Their response was yes. Sherman continued to ask if the CEO’s had any plans to sell their gas guzzling private jets and down grade to first class. The CEOs answered, "no."

In all fairness Reuters reports, “GM CEO Rick Wagoner and Ford CEO Alan Mulally are required by their companies to fly by private aircraft for security reasons, according to company documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The policy for Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli is not required to be disclosed because the company is not publicly traded.”

The Multi-million dollar CEOs were also grilled on their pay and asked to examine where cutbacks would be made out of their own pockets. Question was raised in remembrance of former Chrysler CEO Iacocca famously cut his salary to $1 when Chrysler was on the brink of bankruptcy in 1979 but eventually had to ask Congress for a loan guarantee program.

The issue was left without a vote by lawmakers today.

Trickle Down Economy Problems Hits Home

Just a few short years ago in 2006 Butler County hit a record high in creating
new jobs. ( Full Story ) Today the Nation faces economic challenges and effects of the struggles have certainly hit home. For the first time in 26 years Butler County will have to take out a federal loan as soon as next month to keep unemployment checks flowing. Gov. Ted Strickland is requesting federal aid through congress so that doesn't have to happen. ( Full Story Here ) Cuts into Jobs and Family services could go deep and cost hundreds of jobs and the loss of several programs.AK Steel is closing two branches. Hamilton County is reporting as many as 500 jobs could be lost and Nation wide people are getting "pink" slips.

So how is our new President Elect plan to get us out of this? Well the Huffington
Post reports that Total US debt has increased from $5.8 trillion in 2001 to $10.6 trillion today. Obama's plan of deficit spending is reported to be our only way out of our crumbling economy. It is very important to keep the flow going. While many are not fans of govenment involvement in business, times like these offer us little choice ( Read HP story here)

Ohio Issue 6 Fails Forth Time

If at first you don’t succeed try, try again? We have to give it to Ohio issue 6 for persistence. But Ohioans have once again decided that the 600 million dollar casino was not in the best interest of the state with a 63 percent to 37 percent difference when 93 percent of the vote had been counted.

Arguments made in favor of passing Issue 6 include:

- It would bring 5,000 jobs to Ohio. A declining economy makes the potential of new jobs very inviting, therefore a main focus of their campaign.

- The casino would generate $800 million a year in revenue, with $240 million to be split among Ohio counties based on population. Keeping Ohioans who currently go to the Argosy Casino in Indiana, 30 miles from downtown Cincinnati, in Ohio to gamble.

Arguments made against Issue 6 include:

- Ohio would fork out a $1 billion give-away to a private casino company; whose base is in a different state.

- There is no guarentee that Ohioans would get any of the jobs promised. The casino could bring people from out of state trained and already working the casino circuit .

- The possibility of not taxing means no money for counties as promised

- Moral issues like families loosing money needed for living expenses and the invitation of more high profile crimes to Ohio.

- Many legal loopholes provided in the wording of the initiative allows for more than one casino to be built in the state by Indian tribes which may also not be taxed.


The state of Ohio spoke very clear on the casino issue as it has since 1990. As tempting as 5000 new jobs looked to Ohio’s troubled economy and despite the potential of new traffic for local businesses, there was just more problems than Ohio was willing to buy.

Light Up Middletown Gets Help From Police

Since the weather has been nice out lately the Light Up Middletown Grandpa Gang enlisted the help Middletown Police Water Rescue Team. They are going to help tow the animated, lighted swans to the middle of the Smith Pond.

This year it will start on November 28th in Smith Park. It is located at 500 Tytus Avenue, in downtown Middletown. This will also be the 10th anniversary of the event and the 10th time the Middletown Police have helped tow the swans to their place of honor. In earlier years the swans were anchored down by a heavy rope, but now that the beavers and other animals in the pond have chewed them up they are down anchored by sturdy cables.

The Grandpa Gang consists of mostly retired men. They start work around mid-October and go through Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. One person goes each night to turn the lights on and off.

There are always a lot of people that come to visit the light display. For example families, sports teams, senior center tour buses and traveling motor coach groups visit the display as a tradition for them.

Admission is a donation. It will be open every evening from November 28th through December 31st from 6-10 p.m. The weather will not make the event close.