While the economy recovers from a painful recession, there is outrage from the public and the White House about what some banks are preparing to fork over in bonuses. So while they are focusing on the perks that the private sector bankers who took public funds are getting, no one is focusing on the perks our elected officials get. And we pay for all of these. Well, let's compare, Just a little sampling of perk vs. perk. So, B of A CEO has apparently one corporate jet. What shall we call Air Force One? Then, apparently, there is also an Air Helicopter One, a fleet of special reinforced limos, etc. I suppose that the CEO of B of A also has a tennis court that was recently converted to a basketball court with, you guessed it, public funds? ...more

November 2, 2009

The scary thing, say those who advocate for schools and their leaders, is that a Florida Senate committee came up with a budget that's not so bad, considering the economy. Scary because senators would start making financial decisions advocates say are best left to local school districts. ...more

March 31, 2009

The furnishing of health care as a collateral benefit of one's employment is largely a matter of historical accident rather than logical choice. Early in the development of the organized labor movement in the U.S. medical insurance was advanced as a benefit for employees. Initially, management found this a less expensive alternative than an outright wage increase since it was a contingent rather than absolute expense and could be covered by an insurance plan. Over the years this concept became generally accepted in U.S. employment contracts. Our current economic difficulties, with large numbers of the work force losing their jobs and as a consequence their health insurance demonstrates the illogic of this arrangement. Also, the cost of the insurance makes U.S. companies less competitive in the world market and is a factor in moving business offshore. ...more

March 22, 2009

I am outraged by the recent "solutions" proposed by our "leaders" in Washington to the financial crisis. Unelected bureaucrats and several shameful congressmen have staged a dangerous coup. They have hijacked our wonderful democratic and free market institutions and debased them into socialist nightmares that would make Hugo Chavez and Vladimir Putin blush. If that doesn't alarm you, then try this: Over the past three months, two unelected bureaucrats have decided to spend $1 trillion (at least) of your money to prop up their former colleagues or future consulting gigs. ...more

September 23, 2008

Industrial conglomerate Siemens AG said Tuesday that it will cut 16,750 jobs, or 4.2 percent of its global work force, to streamline operations and slice nearly $2 billion in costs in the face of a slowing economy. ...more

July 9, 2008

The Hernando County School Board will meet Tuesday for an afternoon workshop and evening meeting. ...more

May 19, 2008

CLEARWATER - The land deal between Pinellas County and Property Appraiser Jim Smith has cost taxpayers far more than the $225,000 the county paid to buy Smith's vacant lot. ...more

September 21, 2007