Color me cynical when it come to economic ‘experts’
For the first time in ages, we actually saw gas prices take a little downturn. Unlike the analysts, who are now saying national averages could likely top out at $3.70 a gallon, I remain cynical. After all it’s just the first of May and we have the whole summer to go. And weren’t these same guys forecasting $4 a gallon prices by the end of summer? (Which they’ve already got in parts of California and Hawaii.)
Why am I cynical? Not bitter, mind you, just cynical. Could it have anything to do with ‘expert’ analysts’ inability to say the word ‘recession,’ instead clinging to terms like ‘economic slowdown’ and ‘downturn’?
If you watch the talking heads on TV, you also know they’ve started expressing views that the economy is improving. With gas prices still sky high and the cost of eggs, bread and rice out the ceiling, one might well wonder why. The why is very interesting indeed.
It seems the Labor Department report out Friday thrilled these economic buckos. Why the rosy outlook? Did we gain jobs or even hold steady? No, no, no. In April job losses totaled 20,000 nationwide. Twenty thousand more people lost their jobs last month. Why is this cause for rejoicing?
The experts are rejoicing because, after underestimating job losses in February and March, fewer jobs were lost in April than they expected. After missing the mark for two months, these analysts had anticipated 75,000 jobs would bite the dust in April. And we only lost 20,000! I would say Hallelujah, but I doubt those 20,000 folks are exactly thrilled.
The truth of the matter is I find myself turning more into my Pa Newby every day. We used to get a real kick out of Pa arguing with the guys on the evening news each night. And that was in the olden days of three channels and Huntley & Brinkley and Walter Cronkite. I hate to think what Pa would be doing now with 24-hour news. He’d really be throwing a fit!
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How many other fellow Democrats are concerned about the fact the Democratic nominee for president may very well be chosen by super delegates rather than the people?
Whoops, did I say the people? Make that ‘regular pledge electors or delegates.’ For a moment there I forgot that ‘we the people’ don’t elect the president or the primary candidates, but electoral college delegates, most of whom we wouldn’t know if they bit us. Pledge delegates are supposed to vote as ‘we the people’ indicate by our votes, but what happens if they don’t? Well, then they’re termed ‘unfaithful’ delegates. Boy, I bet that hurts.
Super delegates are ‘good old boys’ any way you look at it. Regardless of gender. They are hard-core party people rewarded for their good works for the party and bound in no way to vote as ‘we the people’ desire, but rather by what they deem good for the party (oops, make that the people).
And what about those poor Democrats in Michigan and Florida? They have been essentially disenfranchised, stripped of their primary votes, because their state Democratic party moved the primary dates up over the objections of the DNCC. Seems like the national committee could have found another way to punish the state party, rather than dumping on ‘we the people’ who probably had little or nothing to do with that decision, but are paying the price.
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We have baby robins at the Newby household, with at least two nesting in the double-decker homes atop our twig wreath. The fluffy, feathery young ones were spotted moving about Thursday. They aren’t chirping yet, but are mostly evidenced by wide-open beaks sticking above the nest-line awaiting Mom or Dad to come ‘Feed ME.’
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Two Warren countians made the Nashville news recently and in a good way for a change. The first was Mary Perry, who graced the front page of the Tennessean last Tuesday as one of the oldest living people with Down syndrome at age 73. In the 1930s, when Perry was born, most children with Downs were institutionalized, but Mary stayed at the family farm with her eight brothers and sisters. She did live at Clover Bottom for many years, but only after Mary quit walking in adulthood after her mother fell and broke her hip.
Mary is now in a local nursing home, where she is reunited with her one surviving sister who also lives there. Mary’s survival must be seen as a testament to the power of her family’s love, as well as her own will to live.
The second local resident well-acquitted in Nashville media attention was Charles Wilcher, who’s undergoing treatment for lung cancer at Vanderbilt Hospital. Charles turned up on a Channel 2 news feature about Vanderbilt’s gas card program. Seems the hospital gives out gas cards to cancer patients in financial need who have to travel to Nashville for treatments on an outpatient basis.
Charles looked good and spoke gratefully about the program which allows him to spend time with family here while still battling his cancer.
Unfortunately, Vanderbilt’s program has run out of gas cards, they reported, and Charles is now staying at Hope Lodge while continuing his chemotherapy.
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Good things are going on: Mark your calendar for Monday night if you enjoy good fiddle music. The Tennessee Fiddle Orchestra will perform at 7 p.m. at the Motlow Tullahoma campus gymnasium. Admission is free and it doesn’t get any better than that. The fiddle orchestra, which includes the Southern Standard’s own Bill Cathcart, consists of more than 70 musicians.
Expect to hear a variety of music including western swing, a Bob Wills medley, Irish and Scottish tunes, Appalachian and old-time fiddle arrangements as well as some contest-style fiddle.
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Also on the agenda: Two more American Cancer Relay for Life events are coming up, including, for the ladies who lunch, a Spring Fashion Show & Luncheon, slated May 10 at 11 a.m. at the Bridgestone Learning Center. Tickets are $10 and can be had by calling Cole at 507-1433.
River Park Hospital is gearing up for a Relay for Life Yard Sale at the River Park Surgery Center at 145 Health Way, also on May 10. Donations for the yard sale will be accepted through this Thursday, May 8. Call Pam at 507-6872 to make arrangements for donations. If you’re doing spring cleaning, but can’t stomach the thought of holding your own yard sale, this is a perfect way to get rid of your surplus while contributing to a good cause!
Keep your calendar clear for Saturday, May 17 and join us at the Black House for the annual May Day celebration! More about those events next week.
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What with end-of-month work and the ensuing deluge of work the first of the month brings here at the newspaper, I didn’t get out and about as much as usual, but here’s some of what’s going on:
At City Caf??: Friday has turned out to be law enforcement lunch time with men with guns in abundance. Sheriff’s deputies and city policemen were enjoying the specials and the district attorney’s office was out in full force as well. I kept getting a picture from the movies in which the dumb bad guys wander into a cop bar to rob it and everyone pulls a gun.
Also in attendance: Former county executive Harry Dunn lunching with son Ralph and grandson Jacob along with Ozle Allen. Ozle spent as much time deep in conversation with Lincoln Davis reps as he did eating, but politics has always been one of his main interests, so it was to be expected.
Billy’s Restaurant: Joining the usual suspects for Friday night’s catfish special were Mildred and A.L. Phillips, Mary Helen and B.F. Daniels, and Edwin and Linda Partin.
Well, that’s all the talking for this week. I’m plumb tuckered out!