The Federal Reserve delivered powerful new relief to people and businesses squeezed by the ailing economy Wednesday, cutting interest rates ever deeper in an effort to avert or at least soften the blow of a recession. ...more

January 31, 2008

I know editorials are opinion pieces, but opinions that make it to your editorial page should have at least some remote basis in fact. What facts do you have to back your assertion that the rising number of voters registering as independents reflects dissatisfaction with the major party candidates? Surely, you don't mean there is a tide of support for independent candidates, since for all practical purposes there aren't any. Do you have surveys, polls, interviews, etc. to support your statement? Worse, you then lapse into repeating the insipid populist pabulum that we have sent so many jobs overseas that wages have not kept pace with the economy. You really should check the facts. Trade has increased over 10-fold since 1960 to nearly $3.5 trillion –– more than one fourth of our total economy. If it caused unemployment and lower living standards, we would all be on welfare by now. Instead: Real GDP more than doubled, we added 81 million jobs, real per-capita and median incomes rose by a third, inflation and unemployment fell to historically low levels. We still manufacture twice as much as China and the combination of manufacturing, mining, and agriculture as a percent of our GDP remains at near record highs. Yes, the number of people working in manufacturing is declining. The same is happening in nearly every country, including China (where the number of workers in manufacturing has fallen 10-15 percent in recent years). We are witnessing the same miracle in manufacturing today that we saw in agriculture in the mid-20th century. Fewer people making more. It doesn't mean we have more unemployment; it means we have more stuff. ...more

January 15, 2008

A merger involving Delta Air Lines Inc. may be close, the head of the carrier's pilots union said in a letter to rank-and-file members Wednesday. ...more

January 10, 2008

As the year comes to an end, we are faced with a holiday that is the most celebrated in the world. Christmas is a special time of year in this country. Its traditions go back a long way in history. ...more

December 15, 2007

A storm that battered the Pacific Northwest for two days moved on Tuesday, leaving behind flooded homes, fallen trees and washed-out roads, including the region's largest highway, which was covered with 10 feet of muddy water. ...more

December 5, 2007

The darling young French couple was new to the States and needed furnishings for their historic townhouse in Alexandria, Va. ...more

November 25, 2007

SEBRING — Want a good excuse not to visit your family this holiday season? How about the cost of gas? With crude oil prices trading at more than $95 per barrel Monday, the cost for a gallon of gas reached an all-time high in several cities throughout Florida. Orlando had a record average price of $3.09 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline Monday, while the average at Sebring gas stations was $3.10 per gallon, according to the Web site www.floridastategasprices.com "(Gas prices) may be a good excuse to shy away from visiting my family around the holidays," said Laurie Kelley of Sebring. "The oil companies are greedy; they act like they're not already getting enough profit." Confirming Kelley's concerns, there's speculation that the prices could go up or down around the holiday season. ...more

November 13, 2007

Every person in our community should have some peace of mind that they will have financial security and adequate health care as they enter retirement years. Knowing we will be financially secure and we will have health coverage when we need it is historically the American way. ...more

October 24, 2007

TAMPA - The local weather service isn't even bothering to tease us with hope for a drop in the temperatures for, oh, this week. In fact, today and Tuesday will feel more like late August or early September, and Wednesday should be only slightly better. ...more

October 22, 2007

The biggest banks in the United States, with active encouragement from the Treasury Department, unveiled a plan Monday to keep the housing-related debt crisis from worsening. ...more

October 16, 2007