Mind Over Money

I did a double-take when I picked up my morning Clarion-Ledger. The headline read, “Mississippi’s Economic Outlook Ranks in Top 10 Nationally, Annual Report Says.” Seriously? While I love trumpeting good news about my state, I’m no Pollyanna. Was this a Rip Van Winkle thing? Did I go to sleep for 20 years and miss [...]

I am hopping mad! Jack Welch and others have taken to the air waves suggesting the latest economic data on jobs has been manipulated. They have no evidence, but that hasn’t stopped them from claiming that government information has been “cooked.” Such an accusation reveals an ignorance of the collection and calculation of such data [...]

I was so excited when the State of Mississippi finally started offering a college savings plan. My daughter was 16 and on the edge of qualifying. I plunked down my money for the full four years. By the time “H” headed to college, tuition costs had spiked. It was a great return on my money. [...]

The retail report for May put a damper on economic hopes. For two consecutive months, retail sales fell. With about two-thirds of our economy dependent on consumer spending, this could be an ominous sign. With every bit of economic news released, there is a corresponding headline. It’s either screaming good news, or it’s screaming bad [...]

I’ve been watching Ken Burns’ show “Prohibition” on PBS. It details how activism gets translated into policy and is a fascinating story. In the 1880s, women fueled the temperance movement. They were concerned about the effect of strong drink on their husbands. These women organized and gathered in front of saloons, kneeling and praying for [...]

Ninety percent of Americans say the U.S. economy stinks. A CNN online poll shows that 72 percent think we’re heading into another recession. No surprises here. We’re all walking around with a cloud hanging over us. Doom and gloom is all I hear these days. Then, I attend a conference in Orlando, Fla. You know, [...]

It doesn’t matter what the economic reports are. If you can’t pay your bills, the recession is not over. Mississippi’s economy is one of haves and have nots. With one in four of our labor force working for a government entity and a large dependence on the service sector, we find ourselves with a higher [...]