Robert Reich clearly lays out how the economy got in this mess:

“…the real problem has to do with the structure of the economy, not the business cycle. No booster rocket can work unless consumers are able, at some point, to keep the economy moving on their own. But consumers no longer have the purchasing power to buy the goods and services they produce as workers; for some time now, their means haven’t kept up with what the growing economy could and should have been able to provide them.

This crisis began decades ago when a new wave of technology — things like satellite communications, container ships, computers and eventually the Internet — made it cheaper for American employers to use low-wage labor abroad or labor-replacing software here at home than to continue paying the typical worker a middle-class wage. Even though the American economy kept growing, hourly wages flattened. The median male worker earns less today, adjusted for inflation, than he did 30 years ago.”

from a longer article at:

http://robertreich.org/post/1060844316/the-real-lesson-of-labor-day

We’re getting there, only one question remains.

From the Daily Times; http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20100903/NEWS/309039998

What it was – The Hatch Act: USPS spokesperson Beth Barnett, however, said that postal employees are briefed about the Hatch Act during the course of their duties.

Must have missed those briefings.

How he found out : “No one brought it to my attention. Luckily, I just stumbled across it.”

It was “luck”.

Who should have told him: I thought we were cordial enough to each other where he could say ‘Hey man this could be a problem.’

Of course, it was David Ballard’s fault.

When did he find out?: Still, no answers.

From the GOP Chair: “That’s the candidate’s responsibility,” she said. “That is between him and his employer.”
and “The Blount County Republican Party makes every attempt to make sure our Republican candidates are qualified and capable for the office they are seeking,” she said.

Okay then.

If you want to watch the priceless reaction to the situation, watch this video of the situation by sliding the player to start at 12min 30 sec: http://75.130.57.76/meetings2/Commission/CC20100901.WMV

With the recent turmoil surrounding Shawn Carter Sr. you would think the Daily Times would use their daily poll to ask its MANY readers if they think this was corrupt, just right, or a simple mistake. Instead today we get the brain twisting question “Is it wise to let a forest fire continue to burn?”

Once again the DT goes above and beyong the call of journalism. What a joke!

Fourth Estate defined: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Estate

As it relates to the situation with Carter, the following questions should be asked by your local press:

Was the first time you learned of the Hatch Act at 11:20am this morning?

If so, who told you?

If not, when were you aware?

If you were aware before the election, did you seek clarification from anyone in your Party?

If Party officials were asked; who was asked, when did this questioning transpire and what was the response?

Just kidding folks, there is no Fourth Estate in Blount County.

From the Daily Times: http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20100901/BREAKING/100909999

Blount County Commissioner Shawn Carter Sr. has resigned after less than two hours in office.

Carter, who holds the District 1-B seat, was sworn in during a 9 a.m. ceremony today at the Blount County Courthouse. At about 11:20 a.m., Carter, who is employed by the U.S. Postal Service, announced he was resigning after reading the federal Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from partisan political activity.

This question was addressed on this blog two weeks before the election; http://www.blounttalk.com/b2evolution/blogs/index.php/2010/07/16/my-case-for-howard-kerr-as-blount-county?blog=2#c14823

Believe staff at the Daily Times doesn’t read this site. Believe Republican leadership doesn’t read this site. Believe nobody in power knew.

Believe this wasn’t known before 11 am today. Believe the local GOP leadership isn’t excited to get to appoint one of their “own” instead of Democrat David Ballard.

Or don’t.

From the AP: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jdqFDpJwtMDDLgjUdMSbWd-rgA6wD9HUOCJO0

NEW YORK — The 10 banks that received the most bailout aid during the financial crisis spent over $16 million on lobbying efforts in the first half of 2010, as the debate over financial regulatory reform reached its height.

Disclosure reports show that the banks that got the most government help in late 2008 and early 2009 also invested the most to influence members of Congress, the White House, the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department and a long list of federal agencies as new rules were enacted governing Wall Street and the nation’s financial system.

We will soon see some changes at our local newspaper and I want to encourage those of you who may have cancelled your subscription to give the new owners a chance. I like having a local newspaper and subscribe to support the paper, even though at times I disagree with them and even get angry with them, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Many times they offer an attractive discount if you buy the paper for a year.

From the Daily Times:

Planning such an ambitious project has taken years of work. What has emerged is a detailed usage plan that coordinates the look and feel of every aspect of Pellissippi Place. Structures, landscapes and work sites merge seamlessly, with the common thread being stewardship of the environment. The emphasis is on carefully planned, high-quality growth within a coordinated, environmentally sensitive design scheme.

Read more; http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20100831/NEWS/308319980

The High Cost of Free Parking, a new book by urban planner Donald Shoup, describes the contribution of parking regulations to sprawl and automobile dependency in the U.S.:

http://theweek.com/article/index/206125/the-high-cost-of-free-parking