By Thomas Sheffield Weeks ago, I warned you that a recession is coming. The economy seemed like it would not slow down. This September marked the 10 year mark (I refuse to call it anniversary), of our last great economic meltdown. The economy has been growing consistently for the past 10 years since the end of the “Great Recession”. The country has added jobs and home prices continue to rise. The unemployment rate is below 4 percent. The GDP has grown consistently in the past 10 years. However, the DOW has lost all its gains and is on track to…
Author: Thomas Sheffield
By Thomas Sheffield During the Great Depression, President Franklin D Roosevelt proposed a New Deal intended to lift American’s to a different standard of living. There is now another New Deal available many politicians are proposing. A Green New Deal (GND)has the potential do the same thing. A GND could reduce climate pollution while uplifting struggling families at the same time. Although we are lead to believe the economy is doing “great”, everyone is not doing that well as the cost of living continues to rise and the quality of life continues to decline. Studies have shown the cost of…
By Thomas Sheffield Are you ready to start the new year off right? It is past time to plan now but it is not too late. Most successful businesses already have plans on what’s coming in 2019. When we plan, then we are able to take advantage of opportunities others may sleep on. A report ordered by Congress about the global impact of climate change gives us a grim picture of its effects if it continues to be unmitigated. According to the report, “Impacts within and across regions will not be distributed equally.” If you are in business and are…
By Thomas Sheffield If you read my articles weekly, you will know I am pro environment, pro community and pro profit! If we do not take care of the earth, then we will not have an opportunity to have a great community and we won’t be able to live or make a living while we are here on this planet. A report ordered by Congress about the global impact of climate change gives us a grim picture of its effects if it continues to be unmitigated. According to the report, “Impacts within and across regions will not be distributed…
By Thomas Sheffield Election season is over. There were record amounts of votes cast during the 2018 midterm on November 6th. People from all backgrounds called for change. In spite of attempts to suppress the minority vote all over this country, voting was up during the early voting period and on election day. Our country is so divided, many of the contests have not been certified. Although many of the results may not have gone as we hoped, I am willing to say, we still have a voice and still vote everyday whether you realize it or not. Now what? …
By Thomas Sheffield The United Nations panel on climate change released a report, in which global temperatures could reach an irreversible tipping point in just 12 years or by 2030. That is if the world doesn’t act dramatically to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released in the atmosphere. According to the UN, the impact on climate change can be slowed down but it would require unprecedented action to reduce fossil fuels and release less carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air. The U.S. government is not supporting any aggressive policy changes. The President and the Republican controlled…
By Thomas Shefield A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending two Democratic Party functions. One was an Interfaith Prayer Breakfast featuring US Congresswoman Terri Sewell from Alabama and several other community faith leaders. In attendance were different candidates including Governor Phil Bredesen, Congressman Jim Cooper, Mayor David Briley, clergymen from different faiths, State Senators, State Representatives, Metro Councilmen and women, as well as other people from the community. I also attended a Turn Tennessee Blue Democratic Unity Dinner. Many of the same people attended this meeting which was also attended by Mayor Karl Dean who is…
By Thomas Sheffield The three stages of voting are registration, education and participation. Throughout this nation’s history, people have fought and died in order to vote. Historically, only white men who were land owners could vote. The 15th Amendment to the US Constitution gave all men the right to vote. Not until the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920 did women have the right to vote. Just because you have the right, does not mean you are able to vote. There are actions taken by local and state governments to take that right away from the undervalued, underestimated and marginalized. …
By Thomas Sheffield Last week, we heard US Senators, Judge Kavanaugh and the president refer to the confirmation of the Supreme Court proceedings as a sham. It is a shame that these wealthy well to do, powerful, white men feel as if investigating sexual assault is a sham. I have a wife and daughters and don’t take sexual assault lightly. I would argue, minorities and the poor can truly identify a sham. We live with everyday “shams”. We deal with a higher percentage of our monthly incomes on basic living needs, live in polluted environments and lack a livable…
By Thomas Sheffield Last year, the president boasted as he finally was able to get legislation passed and to keep one of his many dumb campaign promises. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, promised to all working Americans, became law and everyone was really excited. I even received a bigger pay check which was equal to a raise…. Or so I thought. Corporations received billions of dollars in tax cuts. The justification of these cuts was to give companies the ability to create more jobs. Corporate tax cuts for the largest companies was to spur economic growth. A study…