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Letter to the Editor: Robin Edwards

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We started our business 30+ years ago in our home and it grew beyond our wildest dreams, mostly through my husband’s incredibly hard work! Since the last quarter of 2008 our business has decreased every week to it’s present level of 80% of that last ’08 quarter. We have a niche business that’s manufacturers or provides customized products for other businesses. Many of our customers – businesses – have gone bankrupt, many owing us money, so not only have we lost the owed money, we have lost the income from those business. We have steadily cut back. We “carried” all our employees at personal sacrifice as long as possible, but were forced to lay them off, cutting our employees to 4!

When Obamacare passed our insurance premium skyrocketed. All of our employees immediately quit the insurance and became uninsured. Each employee that dropped raised our premium.Our premium with a $3000 deductible – no coverage of many medications such as acne, allergy, BIRTH CONTROL, Restasis, etc – went to $1,759/month AND we were told it would be raised again! If I told you what they said our premiums were going to be you would think I was lying so I won’t bother. We were forced to drop our insurance, but fortunately we were able to find some insurance with a $10,000 deductible per family member ( hubby, myself, 2 daughters) and added another “accident policy” – so we are covered for a major illness or accident, however, after the Supreme Court idiocy our rates were raised about $70. This despite we are all in excellent health and very rarely used our previous or current insurance – which was not cheap to start with!

We decided if Romney won we would hold to see if businesses felt confident and began growing, therefore, growing our business again. We agreed and told our employees that if Obama won we were shutting down. Today is our last 4 employees last day. FYI, we pay approximately 20% in government taxes & fees per each employee and if they opt for insurance we have that added expense – all on top of their salaries!

Americans have been brainwashed into thinking businesses hate their employees and use them then discard them. Nothing could be further from the truth! We care about our employees financial and personal lives. If our employees are not doing well, neither is our business. Beyond that we care about our employees as people we’ve gotten to know.

Hard times are coming for all Americans. All our former employees are now taking from the “system” rather than contributing to it.

Basically we have been working to pay our employees, taxes, and business expenses. We are no longer going to work for less than free! In reality we have been working to support our fellow Americans who are taking a free ride. That’s over.

My husband and daughters laughingly refer to me as the “Perpetual Optimist”, after an incident when a gloomy, doomy, pessimistic acquaintance screamed at me ,”You are the Perpetual Optimist!” I’m not feeling particularly optimistic today. Hard times are coming.

Papa Johns & Applebee’s cutting hours and laying off employees to deal with Obamacare Costs

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In the wake of President Obama’s reelection, one CEO is taking actions after his criticisms of Obamacare.

Papa John’s CEO John Schnatter said he plans on passing the costs of health care reform to his business onto his employees. According to the Naples News, Schnatter said he is considering reducing workers’ hours, as a result of President Obama’s reelection. Schnatter made headlines over the summer when he told shareholders that the cost of a Papa John’s pizza will increase by between 11 and 14 cents due to Obamacare.

“I got in a bunch of trouble for this,” he said, referring to the comments he made in August, according to Naples News. “That’s what you do, is you pass on costs. Unfortunately, I don’t think people know what they’re going to pay for this.”

Schnatter went on to say he’s neither in support of, nor against the Affordable Care Act, even admitting that “the good news is 100 percent of the population is going to have health insurance.” But he’s not the only one in the chain restaurant industry to admit that workers hours may be reduced, since Obamacare mandates that only employees that work more than 30 hours per week are covered under their employers health insurance plan. For example, Darden restaurants, the parent company of Olive Garden and Red Lobster, has already experimented with reducing workers hours in anticipation of the legislation.

Others have responded to the added costs of Obamacare more harshly, including Applebee’s which has said it won’t hire new workers because of the law. Just this week, a Georgia business owner also claimed he cut employees due to Obamacare and in fact had specifically laid off those who he thought had voted for President Obama.

IS IT TRUE November 9, 2012

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE November 9, 2012

IS IT TRUE that a group of independent non-partisans are talking about approaching 5th Ward City Councilman John Friend about starting an exploratory committee to see if he should consider running for Mayor of Evansville? … that there is a grass roots movement to oust the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party Chairman because it is widely consider that he has failed to lead the party? …many others have concluded that the Republican Party has won several local elections including the one for Mayor of Evansville only due to the efforts of the present and previous Democrat Party Chairmen? …the Democrat Party in Vanderburgh County may have lots of members but the leadership is ineffective and the membership is fractured?

IS IT TRUE that another member of the Evansville City Council has also had her name bantered about as a very good future Mayor? …3rd Ward City Councilwoman Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley is beginning to be seen as a smart and tough as nails alternative that actually does not mind working hard for the people she was elected to serve? …that Brinkerhoff-Riley is known to have some very good ideas to add some sanity to the public investment in attracting companies to come to Evansville bringing jobs with them?…one good idea that has been floated about is to establish some pool of money in the neighborhood of $5 Million for that purpose and to couple that money with an equal amount from local Angel Investors? …that would make a $10 Million attraction/investment fund available? …the third leg of that stool would be to hire outside advisors from the investment world to manage this entire fund as though it were a job seeking and return on investment seeking mutual fund with local concentration? …prior to 2009 GAGE was on a path to do exactly this and had the public part of the money committed?…then Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel and Tom Barnett took all of that money to build the Front Door Pride houses many of which still sit there unsold at prices that are half of what they cost to build?…Councilwoman Riley understands the value of mixing public and private money in the same investments and even supports investing to attract when the investment passes a sanity test?

IS IT TRUE that the CCO supports this idea but expects that in the halls of Evansville politics that anything that makes sense and removes control of the purse strings from career politicians will not be seriously considered? …that an old Israeli boss once told this writer “there are two kinds of people when it comes to money. The first turns crap into money and the second turns money into crap”? …that seems to be true and in a world of $700 hammers, $2 Million ball fields, $8 Million dog parks, and a looming fiscal cliff we can safely put Mayors and Presidents in the category of those who turn money into crap?

IS IT TRUE that Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams played a key role in helping to defeat Rick Davis re-election bid for Treasurer? …that because of this and similar political activities, Mr. Williams future political star is now very dim?…many political careers have seen their stock drop worse than the Dow Jones and the Dollar have due to their support of the overwhelmingly rejected “reorganization” referendum? …Mayor Lloyd Winnecke who laid it all on the line to try to pass former Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel’s half baked consolidation plan along with Marsha Abell, Joe Kiefer, and a host of others will have to answer for this every time they stick their toes into the future political Burgoo? …if this election cycle had been an Olympic event it would have been the backstroke or the dog paddle and gold medals would be hanging like albatrosses around the necks of the cast of clowns that have been running the City of Evansville in the last decade or so?

IS IT TRUE on the federal level that the so called “fiscal cliff” is looking our lame duck congress and our 50.3% of the vote President elect straight in the eye? …one of the items set to change from a tax perspective is that tax on dividends? …they really need to take this off of the table or even revamp this taxation to be more investor
friendly? …for those who ask why the answer is INFRASTRUCTURE? …dividend paying stocks like utilities, energy companies, and big conglomerates are the creators of INFRASTRUCTURE and that creation depends on access to capital? …raising the tax on dividends will lower the price of existing stocks and force these companies to raise their dividends to attract future capital? …in the long run this will raise the price of energy which will hit everyday citizens at the gas pump, the grocery store, the monthly utility bill, and in everything we buy or sell? …the real travesty is if our government fails we may see no new INFRASTRUCTURE projects at all?…the federal government proved with the stimulus that they cannot make infrastructure happen so this one has to come from the private world?

IS IT TRUE the war on fossil fuels also needs to stop? …the people on the east coast have not been lining up and fighting over a can of solar or wind power? …the immediate needs of these people can only be met with gasoline, fuel oil, or coal and that these are our only feasible bridge to the future when it comes to energy? …if we have not learned this by now, the 94 Million people who did not vote at all may have been the only ones who cast an intelligent vote for “none of the above”?

Reitz Journalism Department Receives Honors

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Reitz High School’s journalism department has reason to celebrate this week. The department, which publishes the school’s newspaper and yearbook, took home nine awards, including two first place awards, at the Indiana High School Press Association (IHSPA) Harvey Awards for scholastic press organizations.

The school’s newspaper, The Mirror, brought home a total of seven awards for 2012 publications. The 2012 Reflections Yearbook was edited by Samantha Trinkle, then a junior, who has come back to edit the 2013 book. Awards received for The Mirror, include:

Zoe Grabow, Class of 2012, first place in Newspaper Editorial Writing
Nolan Spinks, Class of 2012, first place in Communication (Newspaper) Graphics
Chloe Hollen, Class of 2013, second place in Newspaper Civic Journalism
Josselinne Torres, Class of 2013, third place in Newspaper Sports Writing
Melody Hart, Class of 2012, third place in Newspaper Spot News Photo and Newspaper Photojournalism Portfolio
Daryl Smith, Class of 2012, honorable mention in Newspaper News Writing

The school’s yearbook, Reflections, also took home two awards at the event for its 2012 publication. The 2012 Mirror Newspaper was edited by Zoe Grabow, now a freshman journalism and music student at DePauw University. The editor in chief of the 2013 Mirror Newspaper is Josselinne Torres. Awards for the yearbook include:

Bethany Barber, Class of 2013, second place in Yearbook Feature Photo
Samantha Trinkle, Class of 2013, third place in Yearbook Student Life Spread Design

Reitz’s journalism department has a history of receiving accolades for its publications. Reitz’s 2011 Reflections Yearbook was named a Hoosier Star finalist for three years in a row and Reitz’s newspaper continues to receive awards throughout the state.

Based at Franklin College, the IHSPA is one of the leading statewide press organizations for high school journalism programs. The ISHPA sponsors conferences and workshops, provides resources and training to students and teachers, and is an advocate for scholastic press programs in Indiana.

USI’s 2012 Senior Seminar on display

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USI
The University of Southern Indiana’s 2012 Senior Seminar Exhibition, featuring the artwork of 47 senior art majors, is now on display in the Kenneth P. McCutchan Art Center/Palmina F. and Stephen S. Pace Galleries, located in the lower level of the Liberal Arts Center.

The students have concentrated upon different areas of emphasis within the art major: graphic design, interactive media, illustration, and studio art. The senior art and design seminars are the capstone courses for graduating art majors and the exhibition is the culmination of those courses. “The artworks shown represent the best fine art and design work of these senior students,” said Dr. Kathryn Waters, professor of art.

The exhibiting seniors are Jack Ashley, Christina Baxter, Kristen Bickwermert, Reva Bourgasser, Krista Breitwieser, Andrew Brown, MaCabe Brown, Roxie Burton, Christina Butler, Tara Byers, Kellie Canif, Jazmyn Gideon, Jean Grace, Tara Hasenour, Cherise Hawkins, We Xin He, Jordan Head, Raquel Heisner, Amanda Hilger, Kristin Kelley, Cameron Kerstiens, Russell Kirk, Cory Lawrence, Megan Lollar, Dakota Lykins, Erin Manson, Justine Mayer, Sarah Melton, Erin Mooney, Melanie Mundy, Mackenzie Nieten, Ryan Pflug, Taylor Price, Sara Rasnick, Stephanie Reininga, Jamie Robertson, Shayna Roos, Devon Rose, Leyna Seaton, Veronica Shelton, Kandice Spurlock, Adam Tesh, Tristan Thompson, Dustin Vowels, Katie Vandiver, Amber Waninger, Danielle Waninger, Christopher Wilke, and Nicole Wiscaver.

There will be a reception for the student artists from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, November 11, in the art center. Refreshments will be served and the public is welcome to attend.

The Senior Seminar Exhibition will be on display through December 2.

Greenway Advisory Board – November 12 Agenda

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November 12, 2012
4:00 p.m.
C. K. Newsome Community Center
100 E. Walnut Street
Evansville, IN 47713

ROOM 118 A & B

Agenda

I. Call to Order

II. Minutes – October 8, 2012

III. Old Business – Greenway Update
a) Industrial Corridor – Phase 4 Update
b) Report on Street Signs Along Trail.
c) Update on New Greenway Trails.

IV. ETC Report – Roberta Heiman

V. New Business
a) Additional Amenities along the Greenway Passage.
b) Any Other Business the Advisory Board Wishes to Discuss

VI. Adjourn

Journey Concert Review from LAST NIGHT in Columbus, Ohio

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The Columbus Dispatch reviewed the concert put on by Journey, Pat Benator, and Loverboy last night and gave them all thumbs up including Journey’s 100 minute closing set. Those of you who are fans and were planning on attending tonight’s scheduled show at Ford Center can click on the link below to relive 1981.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/11/07/journey_pat_benatar_loverboy.html

JOURNEY CONCERT IS BEING POSTPONED

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The JOURNEY concert with special guests Pat Benatar featuring Neil Giraldo, and Loverboy, scheduled for November 8 at the Ford Center is being postponed.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

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IS IT TRUE November 8, 2012

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE November 8, 2012

IS IT TRUE that Disney On Ice World of Fantasy show is scheduled at the Ford Center on March 28, 29, 30, and 31st of March, 2012?…the concert featuring classic rock and roll entertainers Journey, Loverboy, and Pat Benatar has been cancelled at the Ford Center?…this same tour played in Louisville’s Freedom Hall in August to a sellout crowd of nearly 20,000 people?…by keeping Freedom Hall in operation Louisville is able to have classic rock concerts at classic rock ticket prices and seldom find themselves in a position of having to cancel concerts due to low ticket sales?…that finding uses for Freedom Hall have not been particularly difficult for Louisville but Evansville didn’t even give Roberts Stadium a creative chance to find new uses?…Louisville’s YUM Center along with Evansville’s shiny new Ford Center are partners in absorbing financial losses and passing them on to the populace in spite of good attendance at most events?

IS IT TRUE that the Wall Street Journal has on its front page today a county by county map of the United States showing each county as red (republican) or blue (democrat) to show how each county voted in the presidential election?…this map adds some clarity as to how the country is ideologically divided when compared to the state color maps that we are all familiar with from watching the election returns?…what becomes clear is that the ideological division in the country are strongly between urban areas and rural areas with the exception of some counties that are overwhelmingly populated by African Americans or Latinos?…that the red state of Texas had a few pockets of blue?…that Dallas, Austin, and a string of counties on the border with Mexico all voted for President Obama with the rest of the state painted red?…Democrat dominated California does not look so blue on a county by county map?…the highly populated coast with the exception of Orange County are all blue but the inland areas are pretty red?…our neighbor state of Illinois is a Republican state with one big Democrat run city named Chicago that nullifies the will of the rest of the state by a large amount?…what is really clear is if the election results were broken down into urban counties that President Obama would have gotten his landslide?…if this was a rural election Mitt Romney would have won an overwhelming majority?…it is possible to drive from one coast of America to the other and never pass through a county that went for the President?…it is not possible travel across the country and stay in Obama country?…that starting from either coast there are only two possibilities to get even 2 states deep before facing a red county in every direction?

IS IT TRUE that the stock market dropped over 300 points (2.3%) yesterday while the American dollar fell against 16 other non-banana republic currencies?…this came on the heels of not only the American election results but some news releases from Europe stating continued failures of bailout programs?…the other driving factor is the so called “fiscal cliff” that is looming at the end of the year if Congress and the President do not find a compromise to avoid the malaise that happens when the fiscal time bomb that was conveniently set for 6 weeks after the election during the last compromise in 2010 before the House of Representatives was taken over by Republicans?…this fiscal cliff is a golden opportunity for President Obama to bring out that guy from 2008 we got to know as candidate Obama that seemed able to do anything and put him to work on solving this problem?…this is no time for the politics of class warfare to dominate the President’s agenda or for the Republicans in Congress to obstruct logical solutions put on the table by the President and the Democrats?…if these folks can’t settle on a real tangible solution to avoid the fiscal cliff then we are headed for one horrible four years when it comes to the economy?…if President Obama gets his way on soaking the folks in the top tax bracket (and we suspect he will) that the additional taxes collected per year will only amount to 2% of the federal budget or 7 days of government spending?…it will become easily apparent that raising the top marginal tax rates is all about the politics of class warfare and not about a real solution to the fiscal crisis?

IS IT TRUE that both Boeing and Lockheed Martin, Americas two largest defense contractors responded to the election results quickly and decisively by announcing layoffs and cut backs of well over a Billion dollars each?…the fiscal cliff is driving the stock selloff too as the tax on capital gains is scheduled to roughly triple on January 1st?…we invite you to imagine you are faced with a scenario of having an investment of a stock or small business that will be subject to the having the tax laws changed in the middle of the game and that you have say $10 Million in gains?…if you sell before the end of the year you get to keep $8.5 Million but if you wait till next year you only get to keep $5.5 Million?…under that scenario and there are many such scenarios out there this is the last chance to sell and keep your earned income for at least 6 years and maybe longer?…a similar situation exists with inheritance taxes that are set to increase from 35% to 55%?…a two generational inheritance tax of a Million bucks above the exclusion will result in a Million dollars (taxes already paid on this by the person that earned it) seeing $550,000 taken by the government on their passing and another $247,500 taken when it passes to their grandchildren a few years later?…that hard earned Million bucks will have turned into $202,500 in two passes through the inheritance confiscation laws?…tax laws like this devalue everything they touch and provide a disincentive to earn?…anyone who thinks it is fair for $1 Million in hard earned after tax dollars to be taxed down to $202,500 going from granny to the grandkids would have been more at home in the now fractured and dissolved USSR?

IS IT TRUE we hope the Congress and the President both recognize the error of their ways and find a way to avoid this “fiscal cliff” that is truly a destroyer of value and ambition?…the campaign is over and it is now time to govern?…that campaign promises cloaked in “soak the rich” rhetoric will solve no problems, will make more problems, and are no way to govern?…as the protesters of the 60’s used to chant, “the whole world is watching” and there are only 7 weeks to find a solution?…we hope the bunch of you prove yourselves worthy?

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