February 2008 No. 8Table of Contents |
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An 1865 photo of Abraham Lincoln’s second swearing in was recently found misplaced in a Ulysses Grant folder. It is perhaps the last formal photo taken of the president who was assassinated only a few weeks later. It also shows African-American troops who marched in an inauguration parade for the first time that day.
Lincoln’s words were prescient for today. He noted that slaves were one-eighth of the nation’s population, and he grappled with the fact that both contenders believed that God was on their side. It’s worth a read at www.bartleby.com/124/pres32.html.
With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.
In 1968, Congress made Washington’s Birthday into a federal holiday that now serves as a tribute to all who have held this august office. A recent poll confirms again that Lincoln is deemed the nation’s “best overall president.” It also found that Republicans (50%) consider Ronald Reagan the best president since World War II, and Democrats (29%) and Independents (28%) favor Franklin D. Roosevelt. See www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=869.
As Americans weigh into choosing contenders for the Presidency, pundits debate the role of “superdelegates.” IaUW’s former board chair, Cordelia Lewis Burks, is one of Indiana’s Democratic superdelegates along with Senator Bayh, four US Representatives, and 5 other party officials. Some of them have indicated their preference; some have not. Burks notes that many superdelegates “earned the positions as Party leaders by doing the difficult, unglamorous work of building the party organization day in and day out." Her role “is to exercise my best judgment as responsibly as I can, in the best interest of my Country and of the Democratic Party."
The role of Indiana Republican superdelegates seems less pivotal as Senator McCain is three-fourths the way toward locking up the nomination.
Remember the EITC. The federal and state Earned Income Tax Credit goes to people whether they file tax returns or not. It’s based on your income, not your tax bill. The credits do not count as income when qualifying for most federal welfare benefits. Click on www.irs.gov to see if someone qualifies. The EITC Assistant is in English and Spanish.
State revenue down. For the past 4 months, state income has grown (2.6%) but not enough. It trails targets by $42.8M. Individual, sales, and corporate taxes lagged 51% behind forecasts.
Richmond State Hospital. After 2 years of negotiating, the state dropped plans to privatize the government-owned mental health hospital in Wayne Co. The head of the nonprofit group wanting the contract was disappointed. Start-up funding seemed to be the roadblock. FSSA says it may “revisit” the idea.
IN211. Since newcomers Dubois and Knox counties joined 65 other Indiana counties, IN211 now covers 85% of Hoosiers, operating out of 15 centers. It serves three-fourths of Americans.
FSSA award. In fiscal 2007, Indiana had the highest productivity per work year and lowest overall processing time for Social Security disability claims in the USA. FSSA was 1st nationally for the 4th straight year in providing accurate and timely decisions.
IN pollution. Indiana is one of 9 midwestern states responsible for 75% of the pollution that created a “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. The run-off stimulates algae growth that strangles oxygen in waters off the coasts of Louisiana and Texas.
Who’s buying what? Indiana ranks first in total sales or receipts in iron and steel mills and manufacturing of primary metals, motor vehicle bodies, trailers, campers, electronics, mobile homes, and motor homes, caskets, and heating equipment—according to new US Census data.
Effective implementation of a corporate code of ethics promotes business success, reports a team of Indiana researchers at Valparaiso University. The multi-variable study found “ethical effectiveness” added considerably to a company’s reputation. “Since the margin between success and failure can be quite slim, ethics could be the solution to having the margin fall in the company’s favor,” they said. The International Journal of Business and Economics picked this study as the best 2007 business law paper.
The Valpo point is underscored by an IBM report on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) that found 68% of senior business execs see this as a way to generate revenue and 54% believe it gives them a competitive advantage. Yet 76% confess they don’t really understand their customers’ CSR concerns, though they’ve become sensitized to issues such as climate change, product safety, and labor practices. Three-fourths know that the CSR customer focus is a result of advocates’ attention and reports. United Ways realize that these expectations apply to themselves as well. See www.ibm.com/gbs/csrstudy.
In 8 years, Indiana lost 117,000 manufacturing jobs, falling from 672,000 in 2000 to 555,000 late last year. General Motors announced a buy-out deal for its workers that could add even more. Those pre-retirees will likely have to learn new skills to take home their old pay level in an economy that is becoming more high-tech every day.
Indiana’s state chamber of commerce wants Hoosiers to get serious about gearing up a new workforce:
- Indiana ranks 16th for having “fastest-growing” firms
- by 2014, there’ll be 222,400 more high-wage, high-demand jobs requiring a post-secondary degree
- Indiana ranks 43rd for providing workforce education
-Indiana ranks 41st among states for working-age adults with post-high school degrees
- 525,000 Hoosier workers didn’t finish 12th grade
- 24% of Indiana’s working-age population either don’t have command of the English language or are earning less than a livable wage.
What’s worse is that even if Indiana becomes the best-performing state on high-school and college completion, it won’t make it to being globally competitive. What are the skills needed to succeed in the 21st century economy? Critical thinking, knowing where and how to gain useful information, teamwork, and advanced science and technology, recites the chamber.
This is no time to wait! Private and governmental policy leaders, educators, and employers must get in gear to shift Indiana from an industrial to a knowledge-based economy. United Way and community leaders should get up to speed with the findings and proposals in the Indiana Chamber’s new report. Download it at www.indianachamber.com/adulteducation.
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