Economy

Visitors to Danville and Boyle County spent 11.2 percent more here in 2004, and tourism contributed $48 million to the county's economy, according to statistics released by the Kentucky Department of Tourism. The numbers are part of an overall 7.3 percent statewide increase in tourism in 2004 that added $8.7 billion to the state's economy. "Not only do these visitors take in the beauty of our commonwealth, they also spend money in our restaurants, hotels and motels, gas stations and retail stores.

Dear Editor, So, the White House says our economy is headed in the right direction. I’d like to pose the obvious, pain-bearing question: Exactly what destination are they suggesting? If our destination is a stable and prosperous economy, and we continue to go down the road of plummeting economic news and reports, then surely we are going the wrong way. It’s analogous to taking a trip to Florida, with all of its hot and sunny beaches, and seeing a proportional increase of snow and cold temperatures the further you drive.

From my understanding, if a certain Kentucky candidate for governor is elected, expanded legalized gambling will be coming to our state in the coming years. By expanded legalized gambling I mean casinos. This may include casinos at racetracks. On a sarcastic note, this is just what our economy needs is another gambling business siphoning from the people and the economy. I for one don't want this to happen. I don't believe that casinos are in the best interest for our state's economy or families living here.

I recently returned from a ten day trip to China, and I can tell you that it's time for all of us to start paying attention to this rising country. My travels through Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai confirmed what I have long suspected-the emergence of China as a force in the world economy poses an immense challenge to future prosperity in America.  Big changes that will challenge the U.S. economy are already underway. Even though this Asian country has only barely scratched the surface of its potential, China has made tremendous strides toward becoming an economic leader in the 21st century.

On Tuesday I voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, a comprehensive piece of legislation that creates clean jobs, moves us away from foreign dependence on oil, tackles pollution, and transforms our economy to face the challenges of the 21st century. Supporting the bill was not an easy decision. I struggled with this legislation, and I recognize the good points on both sides of the issue. But I believe we have to take this opportunity to invest in the future of our economy, and we have to act before the environmental crisis gets worse.

When the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Union disintegrated, Francis Fukuyama told us it was "the end of history. " He meant there would be no more great struggles between competing ideologies. He thought the big issues were resolved. In the past, these struggles produced more "history" than we wanted to consume. Clearly, he did not anticipate the struggle between Islam and the West. Hence, it is not the end of history. Indeed, the central issue between the West and the Soviet Union is still with us: The struggle between socialism and capitalism.

"America needs you, Harry Truman"- Chicago Harry Truman said that a recession is when your neighbor loses his (or her) job. A depression is when you lose your job. A 21st century version of Truman's theory is: A recession is when your neighbor is foreclosed on. A depression is when you are foreclosed on. Managing debt and wealth are how we now measure the economy. Unemployment is low. There are plenty of minimum wage jobs, but minimum wage does not net enough to make a subprime house payment.

QUOTE ME ON THIS features area high school students and their interest in the presidential election. Each week we feature two to three students and their answers to selected questions. Adam McRay16/JuniorMercer County Senior High SchoolDemocrat 1. John McCain. Because he doesn't tell the American public what they want to hear. He tells what it actually is. Like gas prices and the war in Iraq. He could say that prices will drop and the war will end soon; however, he says gas prices will stay up for a while and the war will continue.

Dear Editor, It appears that voters are ready to put Barack Obama, a very radical socialist, into the White House. He says he wants to take our country in a new direction, but never says where. When I change directions, I like to know what is at the end of the road. Of course, these things aren't important, "It's the economy stupid. " We heard that same phrase in 1992 and it got us eight years of Bill Clinton: easy living, easy credit, people living way beyond their means.

Kentuckians have started to come to grips with the grim fact that the state budget will suffer an estimated shortfall of $456 million over the next year. Centre College economics professor Bruce K. Johnson is part of the group of seven economic experts responsible for that estimate. The Consensus Forecasting Group was formed in 1994 to provide a more independent projection of state revenues. The group meets several times every other year ahead of finalizing the two-year budget in even-numbered years.