| White House, U.S. Congress agree on economic stimulus plan
The NDP were more or less break even when in government in BC. When Campbell got in, he immediately cut taxes by 25 % resulting in a deficit the next year. Recently he has got lucky with oil and gas revenue. He also tends to sell government resources at fire sell prices, so I'm not impressed with his (or the NDP's) financial management. We could've used more pragmatic government in either case.
The argument about money management is probably clearer in the states than in Canada in recent history. Reagan, and the 2 Bushes were prolific spenders, except in areas where it would actually help the economy. Clinton was more pragmatic but no miracle worker. He more or less left things alone and the economy grew up around him. He didn't get as distracted by zaniness except in his personal life.
When mortgage rates drop, calls increase
John Johnson, general manager of Van Dyke Mortgage Corp. in Rockford, said although rates have fallen to attractive levels, not everyone should refinance. "If you owe less than $50,000 then it really doesn't make a lot of sense," Johnson said. "If you owe around $100,000 then it has to drop a full 1 percentage point to see a real benefit. If you owe more than $150,000 then you can benefit from a 3/4 percentage point drop. It really depends upon the individual circumstances." Johnson had as many as 13 employees when the housing market and refinance booms were at their hottest — and now, with the home sales market having cooled off significantly, just has two. He said the falling mortgage rates have had a positive effect. In 2007, real estate agents had sold the fewest number of homes and condominiums locally since 2001.
Our Viewpoint: Honor Dr. King by following in his path
But we'll do more than demand equal opportunity in our schools and businesses. We'll set that example in our hiring and teaching decisions. We'll give opportunities to young people seeking their first job, to ex-prisoners seeking a new start, to people who don't fit the company mold. We'll work side by side to mentor students, interns and new employees. We'll go into homes with books and read to kids in day care centers. And because many people don't have homes, we'll join with Habitat for Humanity and other groups to refurbish or build houses. And while we're doing this, we'll encourage our neighbors and congregations and community groups to speak up about poverty and injustice and war, just as King did, even when those views clash with our own. Martin Luther King was a rabble-rouser, an activist, a doer.
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