Our education system is preparing students for jobs that do not even exist.

Link...

Finally, somebody said this out loud. We need to get wise about manufacturing. As if to understand, there won't be much of it here in the future. Globalization is here, and has been here since the web has had a presence. Americans like to use terms like free trade and globalization. What many don't understand, this is a race to the bottom. Bottom being the cheapest. If virtual design, virtual engineering and virtual meetings can all be done here, but China can make it, where do you think it's going? At $160 Link... per month, do we really think their labor rates are going to rise to ours anytime soon? If theirs don't rise, how do we get fair trade? The answer is - we don't.

We should be setting up our kids for knowledge based and service skills. Skill sets that are proprietary to them. Setting them up to make widgets is setting them up to be jobless.

I'm actually against Free/Fair trade with impunity with those countries that are communist and/or have no desire to fulfill their end of the agreement. Remember, NAFTA was going to "fix" the environmental disaster that is Mexico. Remember China was going to improve it's human rights efforts? How are those things working out?

Look at this way, if Levi's was still here, a worker might make $20 an hour. The locally made jeans in a store would cost $60. Outsourcing pays a foreign worker $4 dollars an hour (figure shipping/handling) to make the jeans. Now the jeans can be sold in the store for $20. Problem is, the $20 per hour factory worker is now at one of the discount big box stores making $7 per hour.

See the paradigm shift? The jeans are going to be three times your hourly wage regardless. But all that assumes the basis of our economy remains Materialism/Consumerism. What happens when or if this ceases to be the case? Suppose we are not buying or manufacturing? The answer is - have a skill or knowledge you can sell anywhere in the world. BTW - prepare your kids for transatlantic flights when they are ready to fly away from the roost.

That's my take. I know there will be many here to tell me how I've got this wrong. Trust me, I look forward to it.

Link... vs. Link...

While I'm all for protecting both, I think the larger issue here is that we have no choice but to correct our wayward judicial system.

TWRA officials were called to Chilhowee Mountain when a group of 20 to 25 hunters claimed to have found the four men hunting bear near a plastic barrel containing donuts.

How is that not enough evidence to at least go to trial? Something is not right with this case.

Link...
For an article that's supposed to be about the sheriff's budget, it sure reads more like Blount Today is getting an early start on the political football season.

The article cites $464,000 dollars as being spent in the current fiscal year by Blount's law enforcement's health care for inmates, but only cite one expenditure that ran around $32K. Where did the rest of the $432,000 go?

If the goal of the article is about what it appears to be, politics, I can't wait to read the article on Judge Duggan's response to the situation. What would he have done with an eight month pregnant, cocaine using inmate? Would he have felt "furloughing" this addict, leaving her to her own devices, would have been the best thing for the unborn child?

However, Blount Today was thoughtful enough to include a statement from Judge Meares on how he sees his role of fiscal responsibility;

Meares said anyone who questions whether he is a fiscally conservative should look at the drug court budget for 2008 versus 2007.

“It’s gone from $174,000 to $119,000,” he said.

When was the last time Berrong had a 32% reduction of any of his budgets? Can't wait for next Thursday.

This from another thread yesterday; Link...

So I am working to pay health services for people making more money than me when I cannot afford insurance for myself?

I felt strongly Ms. Blevins's question needs its own thread. Yesterday, I asked government officials to chime in to see if sense could made of this situation, but at this point, I'm willing to hear anyone try to explain it.

From the DT Link... :

In September 2006, the county’s undedicated fund balance, its equivalent of a savings account, had dipped to just about $800,000 because of the spending of previous commissions.

“That was frightening,” Cunningham said. “We were in precarious financial shape as related to our rainy-day fund.”

Because of spending restraint and other measures, the fund balance now stands at about $3.2 million and is expected to reach about $6 million next fiscal year, Cunningham said.

“We’re moving in the right direction,” he said. “We need to continue building this fund (to about $9 million). I’m asking your help in doing that.”

The mayor also went on at length about having a ridiculous arrangement with an insurance policy that cost $300K a year, had a $250K deductible and only paid a max of $1million. He stated we had never paid more than the deductible (although we are a couple of broken arms away from it staying that way) Smartly, we dropped that policy and are now self insured.

The mayor also stated the "rainy day fund" was needed in case of a catastrophe. The question: Why do we need two different "insurance" policies?

At any rate, would it be more likely that Blount is going to have a "catastrophe" or a certain bank will get $9million dollars richer?

Wouldn't you trust yourself with your money in case of a "catastrophe" more so than you would trust Blount County's fiscal governence? "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you." used to be a joke. I don't think many local and national leaders get it anymore.

Link...
The County Commission needs to take a hard look at this deal. I would like to think we had this parcel nationally advertised or at least entertained other bids. Or were other potential buyers even aware of this property? Here is what I've gleaned from 10 minutes work on the internet:

Offered at $924,885.00 per acre Link...

Offered at $809,866.00 per acre Link...

Offered at $665,000.00 per acre Link...

The per acreage amount the County is willing to settle for on behalf of the citizens; 17 acres at $3million equaling approx $176,470.00 an acre.

Could it be the traffic count? Well, per TDOT numbers for 2006, the HWY 411 South location gets 15,910 while the HWY 129 - Louisville Rd intersection gets 42,992 vehicles a day. More than double.

Once again where Bennett and numbers intersect - things don't add up. Maybe Bennett can get his cult together so they can suspend the rules in effort to proclaim him; Twinkie King - Earle of Dealmakery! All hail the King!

Maybe some developer(s) on the CC will take another look at this deal. We are getting suckered again people - take that to the bank. Can you guess which bank?

Link...
Do you think we are there (here) now?

I'm fine with it on a personal level, but from a sociological standpoint it worries me. The paradigm shift from those who use the power of the internet and other technologies to those who don't is a vast difference from even 25+ years ago when the difference was a matter of touch-tone vs rotary, tape vs cd, oven vs microwave, etc.?

With those examples, it was still a matter of device - the content was the same. A few decades ago, a conversation at the water cooler was one you could almost always share in. For the most part, everyone read/watched the same news, same shows (1 in 3 chance before cable), and read at least one of the same book. With the billions of different avenues the internet and technology can take us - that's not so anymore.

With all my heart and with no ill intention, I really do believe ignorance is bliss. I'm just not sure I would want to be that happy.

Do you see technology shifting society?

If the Blount County Planning Commission wants to regulate ridge-top and hillside development to protect scenic sections of the county, the first step is deciding what’s worth protecting.

Link...

I don't think any of it should be protected. They should set a limit on height. If they "protect" areas, they will just be protecting the current development of Berrong and Slater (Overlook) and the future development of Alexander and Beall (3 Sisters). Let them deal with what the rest of us have been dealing with the past two decades.

To protect anything at this point, would just be protecting their ass-ets.

What do you think?

If doctors found a way to cure amnesia and/or Alzheimer's, but could only bring back one lifelong strain of taught memories, what would you choose between religion and education?

Looks like the DT is back in the “fold”; Link...

“During comments at the end of the meeting, County Mayor Jerry Cunningham told committee members that a formal policy addressing tuition reimbursements for county employees would be included in the upcoming policy manual for county employees that will distributed in January 2008.

In the interim, Cunningham said that he implemented a policy prohibiting any reimbursement for tuition paid to unaccredited schools in January after it was discovered that the Blount County Circuit Court Clerk received $3,910 from the county for bachelor’s and master’s degrees from an online diploma mill.

Following an article in The Daily Times, regarding the degrees that Circuit Court Clerk Tom Hatcher had received from the unaccredited Columbus University, Hatcher repaid the county and successfully sought a refund from that institution.”

Was this brought up at the meeting because Hatcher’s dead horse (and political career) wasn’t dead enough? Or maybe, just maybe, the Mayor brought it up because of this more recent story: Link...

I hope in the next Our Voice, The Daily Times management can ask for our money back from these deputies in between asking for more money for their boss – again. Link...

Funny how today’s Our Voice Link... about local hero Lamar also fails to mention The Daily Times own poll that asked; “Has Lamar Alexander done a good job as a U.S. Senator?" The total 38.5% Yes and 61.5% No with 213 votes.

Looks like “Our Voice” applies mostly to the minority of Blount Citizens. Maybe the “who’s who” crowd?

Sen. Alexander says; “I think we need to do an even better job of expressing our beliefs in a way that it rallies voters and attracts independents. I think (the conference election) suggests our conference is looking for a little bit of a new direction, a new face.”

I think he’s right, just not sure why he thinks a “new” face would be his. I’m not sure if he is/isn’t a Bushy, but I do know he hasn’t done a thing to get in his way. Thusly, he has enabled war profiteers to cripple our country; Link...

As it stands right now at 11:55, the Daily Times online poll asking "Has Lamar Alexander done a good job as a U.S. Senator?" is running 38.5% Yes and 61.5% No with 213 votes.

I think Mike McWherter gave up to early. Is anyone else running?

Today on Gene Patterson's Tennessee This Week, guest Bill Lyons announced Mayor Haslam's Deputy Mayor, Larry Martin, would no longer have his dual role of Finance Director. I wonder what Mayor Haslam knows that Mayor Cunningham doesn't?

Does anyone know the reason for this change?

Wasn't the audit that usually comes in October rescheduled for mid-November? It's November 26th, do you know where your local accounting is?

Mr. Garrett threatening lawsuits seems odd in that he questions in a public paper "the mother’s fanatical religious practices" Link... . Does she claim she is a fanatic? I hope Mr. Sheppard intends on defending these outrageous remarks made toward his client.

For those who don't necessarily want the "corrected" version of the opposing lawyer Garrett, here is the transcript in question; Link... Read it for yourself. Anybody else want their religion questioned this way in a court of law?

Maybe Mr. Garrett can chime in to tell us if he was one of the 40 endorsing Judge Young along with Duggan, Goddard, and Cunningham? Link... Link...

Croster, Aldridge, Trexler - are you ever going to stand up for your employees? Are you going to finish the FBI probe story? Will you tell Garrett to take his threats to Laney and stick em' where the sun don't shine? Ever think about being pro-active instead reactive?

Sorry to start another thread on you Grumpy, but I wasn't sure how to enter the pics otherwise. This is what Vulcan does for residents of Windsor Park and Windsor Manor.

This has been a problem for years. What used to be clear lake and stream bottoms are now covered in silt from Vulcan. This is not a problem with TDEC. It's an issue that those that control the quarry also control the local government up to senators and congressman. Needless to say, local politicians also feel the control of the same family connections.

The same people who want us addicted to oil for another millennium, hope to still be providing the rock for outdated road technology over the same period.

All these things seem contrary to the environmental standards their corporate website promotes; Link...

Please select the attachments section below to see the damage