Governor convenes forum on Rhode Island economy
11:49 AM Thu, Nov 06, 2008 | Permalink
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Governor Carcieri today urged business leaders and elected officials to join forces and take "bold steps" to lift Rhode Island's economy out of the worst economic recession in a decade. "This is an opportunity for us,'' the governor told a crowd of more than 100 business and government leaders at a forum on the state's economy at the Rhode Island Convention Center. "I'm not interested in fighting about a shrinking pie. I'm interested in how to grow the pie." Carcieri's call for bipartisan action came during this morning's opening of The Governor's Forum on the Rhode Island Economy, which included presentations from a nationally-recognized labor economist, a corporate relocation consultant and an expert on tax policy and economic development. The forum was scheduled to continue until noon. Governor Carcieri described the state's economy in blunt terms, likening it to the 1989-'90 recession. "Rhode Island is back in the same sort of situation,'' Carcieri said, "and feeling it in the same way.'' Rhode Island's unemployment rate is the highest in the country, at 8.8 percent as of September, just ahead of Michigan's, and the state has now lost close to 16,000 payroll jobs since the first quarter of last year. During the 1989-'90 recession, the state's unemployment rate climbed to 10 percent and the state lost 48,000 jobs in 1 ½ years. "My fear right now,'' Carcieri said, "is that it's going to get worse before it gets better." The attendees heard three presentations and were then scheduled to break into groups to come up with strategies for addressing the economic problems. The presenters were Paul Harrington, a labor economist and associate director of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University; John M. Rhodes, senior principal with the corporate site relocation firm, Moran, Stahl & Boyer and Jim Eads, executive director for the Federation of Tax Administrators. The forum was moderated by Jill Schlesinger, executive vice president and chief investment officer of StrategicPoint Investment Advisors. 
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Reported in PROJO - The General Assembly absent from the meeting says it all! Half of the state government did not even show up for this very critical meeting concerning RI survival in the National and global economy!!. Why should they show up? They got voted back in to office for doing a great job of preserving the status quote and providing a de-fact o lobbies service for superficial sunset & costly RI State labor unions. These "institutions" have just about bled RI finical s bone dry. Then add the entitlement mentality of perpetuating the very inefficient costly Social services client provider relationship.
The ball game is almost over for RI. Yes, it will take a finical melt down and state bankruptcy before change can even be considered. Yes, a complete overhaul and restructure & consolidation of state and local government into a city state structure e.g. Economy of scale lowers cost and eliminates overlaps etc. We all know the details of what needs to be done. Only problem is the Union controls the general assembly hence nothing can happen in the way of a critically needed wholesale government restructure & reform leading to a single city state government.
We are continuing to preserve and protect the present artificial and costly Utopia of socialist liberal largeness. Such is the eventual downfall of a small democracy or republics.
Last, many of the so called experts at the Governors round table, reported in yesterdays PROJO are at best second and third tear players if even relevant. You see citizens most of the very skilled labor force (knowledge base) and companion capital has already departed from RI to prevent further seizing of its wealth (employees and investor / owners) through unacceptable tax structure, remaining second rate workforce. The last nail is the tolerated environment of corruption and crime that permeates all levels of government & society.
One hope might have been the 4th estate our local newspaper. However the erosion of the press today in our country & state is a factor. The lack of press research with companion in depth hard hitting but balanced reporting might help educate the people. Rather today what remain of the press just most often games the facts while playing the local game e.g. the weather reporting mode of operation?
Thanks for trying Governor Don Carcieri RI does not deserve and honest man with noble intentions like you.
Welcome to the third world economy banana republic The State of RI!
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