July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Enough with negative economy news (03/31/2009)
Letters to the Editor
To the editor:
I've had enough! I told myself I would not write a letter to the editor, but I've had enough.
Enough of negative reporting, bad news, and gloom and doom. We all know that times are hard, but this constant bombardment of bad news has a depressing and negative effect on us all.
If you have a job and/or some money to purchase durable goods, you are more likely to hold on to your money and take a "wait and see" approach to your spending when all you hear is bad economic news. Our economy needs individuals and businesses to spend money to get it moving.
As a business owner, I just cringe while listening to, or reading more bad news. Obviously, my business needs homeowners to spend money the same way local stores and businesses need me to spend money with them.
My point? Occasionally some good economic news pops up, but where is it? Just before Christmas, I read an article in The StarPress about key economic indicators showing better than expected growth at the end of 2008. But the article was buried deep in the paper, nowhere near the front page.
On Wednesday, March 25, in The Commercial Review, there were two articles showing better news. The first, "Orders up," was about orders to factories for big-ticket manufactured goods unexpectedly rising in February after a record six straight declines. The second, "Sales rise," was about new home sales unexpectedly rising in February, although still low. Both articles were on page six, again nowhere near the front page.
On Friday, March 27, The StarPress headline was "Recession/depression," subtitled, "When the Dow drops, anxiety rises." Poor timing? On Thursday, March 26, the Dow rose 179 points and Best Buy announced better than expected earnings so far this year. A radio announcer on Friday actually said, some news agencies would not report Best Buy's announcement because they felt it was premature.
Okay, so why does the news media "push" the bad news? Because bad news sells newspapers and keeps most of us watching the nightly news.
Roughly 20 years ago, Don Henley had a hit song called "Dirty Laundry." It was a revealing song throughout, but one line said, "The news comes on at 5, she'll tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eyes." (I paraphrased that as not to offend anyone.) The fact is, we as a culture are drawn to bad news.
Well, I've had enough! I challenge this paper and all news media to more balanced reporting. If there is no "good news" on a particular day, then how about some "feel good stories" about people helping people or dig harder to find job opportunities or new businesses and factories opening up. The new restaurant in Portland and the new gear box factory in Muncie come to mind.
I've had enough of winter weather and bad news, so come on, Spring, and come on better economic times.
Rick Clifton
Portland
Nice people
To the editor:
I would like to confirm that there are still some nice people in Portland.
Wednesday afternoon I was going down Meridian in my electric wheelchair down the sidewalk.
For some dumb reason, there was a sandbag holding down a sign. I wasn't watching where I was going and ran over the bags. My wheelchair turned over, and I was on the ground.
In not time, there were two ladies there to help me. I was wondering how I was going to get up. I could not have done this by myself.
Not only did these ladies turn my chair over and got it going, but helped me up in the chair.
I can't say thank you enough. I really appreciate the time it took to do.
Stephen Quinn
Portland
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I've had enough! I told myself I would not write a letter to the editor, but I've had enough.
Enough of negative reporting, bad news, and gloom and doom. We all know that times are hard, but this constant bombardment of bad news has a depressing and negative effect on us all.
If you have a job and/or some money to purchase durable goods, you are more likely to hold on to your money and take a "wait and see" approach to your spending when all you hear is bad economic news. Our economy needs individuals and businesses to spend money to get it moving.
As a business owner, I just cringe while listening to, or reading more bad news. Obviously, my business needs homeowners to spend money the same way local stores and businesses need me to spend money with them.
My point? Occasionally some good economic news pops up, but where is it? Just before Christmas, I read an article in The StarPress about key economic indicators showing better than expected growth at the end of 2008. But the article was buried deep in the paper, nowhere near the front page.
On Wednesday, March 25, in The Commercial Review, there were two articles showing better news. The first, "Orders up," was about orders to factories for big-ticket manufactured goods unexpectedly rising in February after a record six straight declines. The second, "Sales rise," was about new home sales unexpectedly rising in February, although still low. Both articles were on page six, again nowhere near the front page.
On Friday, March 27, The StarPress headline was "Recession/depression," subtitled, "When the Dow drops, anxiety rises." Poor timing? On Thursday, March 26, the Dow rose 179 points and Best Buy announced better than expected earnings so far this year. A radio announcer on Friday actually said, some news agencies would not report Best Buy's announcement because they felt it was premature.
Okay, so why does the news media "push" the bad news? Because bad news sells newspapers and keeps most of us watching the nightly news.
Roughly 20 years ago, Don Henley had a hit song called "Dirty Laundry." It was a revealing song throughout, but one line said, "The news comes on at 5, she'll tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eyes." (I paraphrased that as not to offend anyone.) The fact is, we as a culture are drawn to bad news.
Well, I've had enough! I challenge this paper and all news media to more balanced reporting. If there is no "good news" on a particular day, then how about some "feel good stories" about people helping people or dig harder to find job opportunities or new businesses and factories opening up. The new restaurant in Portland and the new gear box factory in Muncie come to mind.
I've had enough of winter weather and bad news, so come on, Spring, and come on better economic times.
Rick Clifton
Portland
Nice people
To the editor:
I would like to confirm that there are still some nice people in Portland.
Wednesday afternoon I was going down Meridian in my electric wheelchair down the sidewalk.
For some dumb reason, there was a sandbag holding down a sign. I wasn't watching where I was going and ran over the bags. My wheelchair turned over, and I was on the ground.
In not time, there were two ladies there to help me. I was wondering how I was going to get up. I could not have done this by myself.
Not only did these ladies turn my chair over and got it going, but helped me up in the chair.
I can't say thank you enough. I really appreciate the time it took to do.
Stephen Quinn
Portland
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