Comments on: Two Quarters Does Not A Success Make

By: dog

dog — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 04:53:40 +0000

Idaho will re-elect Gov. elect Otter. Otter and the Idaho Tea Party will save us with animal husbandry, and stuff.

By: Kappa TA

Kappa TA — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 22:36:11 +0000

K-bear: Lived here 30 years and staying. Lucky those who can still afford to eat out and shop. You can cut costs, but if you have no business you cannot survive. Obviously the economy has not hit your pocketbook, family or veins. It’s that kind of elitist attitude that threatens Idaho and the nation. You are, however, entitled to your opinion. I will, however, continue to fight to help those who cannot help themselves.

By: K-Bear

K-Bear — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 13:54:57 +0000

If a company cuts enough costs, it may likely see profit. As has already been asked, is it sustainable?

As far as the local economy goes, I’m tired of the whining. Wherever I go, restaurants are packed, I see people shopping and things seems busier than ever. The issue is the migration of people here from other states who were looking for cheap houses but have no job prospects. Sorry, time to leave.

By: Kappa TA

Kappa TA — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 22:15:45 +0000

Headline news today from the department of labor that unemployment dipped from 9.5 percent in February to 9.4 percent in March and that all is right with the whole darn world! Peachy outlook:

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/04/03/1139902/finally-jobless-rate-falls.html

Baloney, check the figures next month, the same as the Governor and the Legislature are on income tax receipts. I hope I’m wrong. I know of several companies locally that have frozen hiring, and have laid off and fired employees. I know others who have been searching for jobs for more than four years without unemployment benefits, severance packages or rainy day slush funds such as the idaho state tax commission which paid out refunds BEFORE tax day April 15, then zeroed out and then found money to replenish the fund. Don’t we all wish! I know someone selling his blood three times a week to buy food and other necessities because he is 60, an unemployed carpenter who moved out of state for menial work, but recently returned on the promise of a job that disappeared. Just today, I saw that an old favorite haunt of my son’s is closing: Hollywood Video on Fairview in Meridian. That along with Boise Blue and other local faves are as important as the BIG GUYS. Could be competition, road construx or whatever. Still I hate to see such closures. I do want Micron to succeed, I do wish the best for H-P, the return of MPC, etc. However, I also feel for the small businesses and unemployed who don’t get breaks. Whatever Micron does will not return foreclosed homes to their rightful and devastated owners. That’s the Idaho and American tragedy of this economy and the mindset of politicians who have not walked a mile in our shoes. It doesn’t matter which party caused it, it only matters that we find a common solution that is fair and equitable to all Americans.

Correx from earlier post: echelon

KTA

By: ericn1300

ericn1300 — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 20:11:54 +0000

I don’t think those profits are from the Boise site, probably from the off shore operations. Don’t look for any hiring at the Boise site, it’s glory days are long gone.

By: CareyAct

CareyAct — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:42:01 +0000

I left Boise six months ago for St. Louis. There are myriads of firms in the St Louis Metropalitan area. None of them are hiring – manufacturing, financial, retail, etc. A Pulitzer Prize sponsoring local newspaper is documenting the decline “unless we get our act together”. Relative to Boise’s predicament, relying on one companie’s statement of profitability to proclaim the state of Idaho is now again whole via the local press seems to approache the consideration that most people in Idaho are delusional (exepting readers of this blog).

By: Jon W.

Jon W. — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:55:08 +0000

If that profit translates into bonus checks for existing Micron employees’s or hiring additional staff, then, yes, statistically it will probably more than offset the impact of those 70 foreclosures. You are absolutely correct that their corporate profit may not impact state tax revenue directly, but some of those $’s that make it into the hands of employee’s will not only end up in the economy, but also be paid as taxes.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:20:59 +0000

Mr. Edgar has figured out Idaho is all about giving away anything and everything state and local officials can do in the name of a business friendly climate.

I welcome businesses to Idaho but only if they are willing to pay their way and not download tax burdens on people living here in the name of “incentives and entitlements”.

Pay your way or go somewhere else. No skin in the game is a prescription for an easy pullout by companies. They need to be vested in our community if they want to take advantage of what our workforce has to offer.

Does anyone really think “Right to Work” has been a positive for Idaho? No Rights for Workers is a more reasoned title for this law.

By: Zippo

Zippo — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:42:41 +0000

I think we need to import some more people with no skills from other states and countries so that we will have enough votes to keep Dave and friends in office. And we will finally have a few people riding the buses too… and then we can get money for a train…

By: Clippityclop

Clippityclop — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:14:48 +0000

Thanks, former Commissioner Edgar, for the straight talk. You always ‘got it’ as a Commissioner, and you still do as a citizen. I found the Statesman Micron story ridiculous and pandering as always. This valley does not need false hope but real solutions for what I also believe will be a long recovery.