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Is there anyone who truly believes there is an oil shortage? If there is I have some very rare items I need to sell you at a bargain basement price. First over a year and half ago we were told gasoline would be $3.00 a gallon by the summer of 2007. The reason given was a need for new oil refineries because none had been built for many years because of the environmental impact oil refineries place on the environment. Now there seems to be a shortage of crude oil, and the “Big” oil companies need to drill in the Anwar province of Alaska. Is it just me, or is there some sort of pattern here? I have to travel 75 miles one way to work each day, and it really hurts each time the price of gas goes up. There are very few jobs in the Shoals area that pay wages that are comparable to the wages paid in Huntsville, and this is a shame. What has happened to the Shoals area? Why do companies that pay a decent wage not want to locate here? I have lived in the Shoals all of my life, and in my opinion there is no better place to live than the Shoals area. The high price of gasoline coupled with the lack of good paying jobs in time will take it’s toll on the Shoals, because the residents of the Shoals that commute as I do will eventually have to move closer to their place of employment. As for myself this will be a very sad day.
Roll On
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quote:
I suspect the business you drive to charges for its products or services according to what the market will bear too.

The company I work for does indeed charge for it’s services, but the price we charge is same price we charged 3 years ago. We have not been able to increase our price because the market place is very competitive. Furthermore I choose to accept a job 75 miles away from my home because I did not want to see my education go down the drain. I worked the midnight shift and went to school at UNA in order to make a better living for my family. Is there anything wrong with wanting to get ahead in life? Maybe we should all join hands, form a circle, and sing combya. Gasoline was less than $1.00 a gallon when I went to work in Huntsville. Still you have failed to answer the questions, “What has happened to the Shoals area? Why do companies that pay a decent wage not want to locate here?”
[/QUOTE]
Why do companies that pay a decent wage not want to locate here?”[/QUOTE]


In my opinion, the people that run this city are dead set on having it be a retirement community. That is why you have so many restaurants and shopping outlets, and no big paying jobs. Instead of giving tax breaks or incentives to bring in big business, all they want to do is tax the average working man to build the resorts and golf courses.
quote:
Originally posted by Viper:

Why do companies that pay a decent wage not want to locate here?”[/QUOTE]


In my opinion, the people that run this city are dead set on having it be a retirement community. That is why you have so many restaurants and shopping outlets, and no big paying jobs. Instead of giving tax breaks or incentives to bring in big business, all they want to do is tax the average working man to build the resorts and golf courses.[/QUOTE]
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Viper, your statement is so true. When some of us at a neighborhood meeting were suggesting ideas for Veterans Park that would appeal to families, my councilman, Herman Graham, told me personally that he was only interested in projects for senior citizens.
quote:
Yes there is a oil shortage and we are all screwed.


When the “Big” oil companies are allowed to drill in the Anwar province of Alaska, and when there are oil refineries strategically placed throughout the US the short supply of oil will magically no longer exist. If anyone doesn’t believe this you need to stop drinking the Kool-aid. Pie Charts and Bar Graphs are wonderful tools when they represent the truth, but in the hands of someone who has an agenda to prove something only he believes they cease to have any value.
Our area has so much to offer, and yet we can oonly get very few companies that offer he higher end of the wage scale to locate here. i know we are not on an interstate, and a lot of companies look at Transportation before selecting a location. Maybe we need to go after more of the railroad type work (as in the Boxcar plant) to grow the tax base in our area.
quote:
Originally posted by steamrollerb:
Still you have failed to answer the questions, “What has happened to the Shoals area? Why do companies that pay a decent wage not want to locate here?”


Shortsighted people, much like those who believe "cheaper gas" is the solution to transportation woes, invested only in the status quo with no eye to growth or development. Now we are left with limited and expensive options for the future.

Progressive companies need a progressive environment to succeed, and so far, the Shoals has failed to provide it. Maybe too many people took their fine educations to more lucrative markets instead of developing the struggling one we have here.

We DID finally get draft beer... big business can't be far behind. Wink
quote:
Originally posted by steamrollerb:
quote:
I suspect the business you drive to charges for its products or services according to what the market will bear too.

The company I work for does indeed charge for it’s services, but the price we charge is same price we charged 3 years ago. We have not been able to increase our price because the market place is very competitive. Furthermore I choose to accept a job 75 miles away from my home because I did not want to see my education go down the drain. I worked the midnight shift and went to school at UNA in order to make a better living for my family. Is there anything wrong with wanting to get ahead in life? Maybe we should all join hands, form a circle, and sing combya. Gasoline was less than $1.00 a gallon when I went to work in Huntsville. Still you have failed to answer the questions, “What has happened to the Shoals area? Why do companies that pay a decent wage not want to locate here?”


It may, also, be that they can't find enough people that can pass the drug test to work those jobs.
quote:
Shortsighted people, much like those who believe "cheaper gas" is the solution to transportation woes, invested only in the status quo with no eye to growth or development. Now we are left with limited and expensive options for the future.

Progressive companies need a progressive environment to succeed, and so far, the Shoals has failed to provide it. Maybe too many people took their fine educations to more lucrative markets instead of developing the struggling one we have here.


I don’t believe I’m shortsighted, but things did not start taking a turn for the worse until the price of fuel began to skyrocket. If you did not notice this maybe you need to remove your head from the orifice it is obviously in. The limited and expensive options you speak of are “man made”, and they will disappear when “Big” oil gets what they want. Is it really that difficult for you to see this? If so after you remove your head maybe you should consider taking off your blinders that are giving you a narrow tunnel vision

As for people taking their “fine educations to more lucrative markets”, what alternatives do you offer? May I suggest a movie to watch? The film is Field Of Dreams, and the main theme is, “Build it and they will come!”
steamroller,
I feel for you. That is a tough predicament. I have not been a a resident of the Shoals for long, about ten years, but I have made some observations. First thing I see is that there is a very strong "pro-union" workforce here that in some ways deters big businesses from wanting to locate here. Though the unions provide highly skilled workers, the general perception is that they are hard to deal with, and big businesses are reluctant to want to deal with them.
The "older" establishment is also difficult to deal with. As evident by a thread here recently complaining about how a local business painted their storefront, and the failure of the Colbert draft beer legislature to pass, which some say was torpedoed locally.
I have friends who drive to H'ville to work as well. The problem now is that real estate prices are going up in H'ville due to BRAC, and the market is somewhat stagnant here, so trying to sell here and move there is a losing proposition.
If we as working class Americans do not force our polticians to open ANWR and other resources we have available here in the US and hold those resources here close to home, until we get enough hybrids on the road to make a difference, our economy is going to suffer even more. Food prices will skyrocket, and there may even be shortages since the selling price is likely to recover the cost of getting it to market.
Last edited by teyates
LB, You really need to get out more and associate with the general public. It may seem that there isn't a drug problem here, but let me tell you there is. I'm not talking about the low class nasty druggies that everyone can tell what they are with one look. I'm talking about the people that are functioning addicts that hide their addictions well. They may look like upright citizens, but they sure as hell won't pass those drug tests.
quote:
Originally posted by steamrollerb:
quote:
I suspect the business you drive to charges for its products or services according to what the market will bear too.

The company I work for does indeed charge for it’s services, but the price we charge is same price we charged 3 years ago. We have not been able to increase our price because the market place is very competitive. Furthermore I choose to accept a job 75 miles away from my home because I did not want to see my education go down the drain. I worked the midnight shift and went to school at UNA in order to make a better living for my family. Is there anything wrong with wanting to get ahead in life? Maybe we should all join hands, form a circle, and sing combya. Gasoline was less than $1.00 a gallon when I went to work in Huntsville. Still you have failed to answer the questions, “What has happened to the Shoals area? Why do companies that pay a decent wage not want to locate here?”


If you are dissatisfied here, Delta is ready when you are. Take one last trip to Huntsville and get on an airplane.
quote:
If you are dissatisfied here, Delta is ready when you are. Take one last trip to Huntsville and get on an airplane.


How clever you must have seen that on a billboard on your last trip to the big city because I doubt you have the intelligence to think of that on your own. Would you like me to take a picture of it on my way home this evening and post it so you will be able to download it for future use because I’m sure you don’t have the any long-term memory to spare
quote:
Originally posted by yankeewitch:
LB, You really need to get out more and associate with the general public. It may seem that there isn't a drug problem here, but let me tell you there is. I'm not talking about the low class nasty druggies that everyone can tell what they are with one look. I'm talking about the people that are functioning addicts that hide their addictions well. They may look like upright citizens, but they sure as hell won't pass those drug tests.


Amen yankeewitch ,,,I know several myself . Wink
quote:
Originally posted by yankeewitch:
LB, You really need to get out more and associate with the general public. It may seem that there isn't a drug problem here, but let me tell you there is. I'm not talking about the low class nasty druggies that everyone can tell what they are with one look. I'm talking about the people that are functioning addicts that hide their addictions well. They may look like upright citizens, but they sure as hell won't pass those drug tests.

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Witch, I'm WELL aware of the drug problems in this area. I have also lived in other cities and actually have seen that the drug epidemic is bad everywhere. But I don't think this area is any worse than others. Maybe you need to associate yourself with some statistics.
quote:
Originally posted by lynnblount:
quote:
Originally posted by Viper:

Why do companies that pay a decent wage not want to locate here?”



In my opinion, the people that run this city are dead set on having it be a retirement community. That is why you have so many restaurants and shopping outlets, and no big paying jobs. Instead of giving tax breaks or incentives to bring in big business, all they want to do is tax the average working man to build the resorts and golf courses.[/QUOTE]
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Viper, your statement is so true. When some of us at a neighborhood meeting were suggesting ideas for Veterans Park that would appeal to families, my councilman, Herman Graham, told me personally that he was only interested in projects for senior citizens.[/QUOTE]


Then your councilman needs to look at how that attitude RUINED Florida!
Last edited by MOBY
This all has a cascade affect. It costs more for gas so the drug suppliers have to charge more for their product. More people can't go places because of the higher gas so they stay at home, use more drugs. Now don't take this the wrong way. I am just saying those that use drugs probably do this.

So those that steal to survive have to steal more to pay for the increase in food and gas prices. Those trying to make this area a retirement home have done so. Everyone has to leave to get a good job. Now that some are trying to turn it around, it's too late. Most college students won't work for min wage so that leaves you with know who to work in their places.

A lot of good points have been made in this thread and I have to agree with most all of them. Why can't our local governments see that?

No Obama for me thank you, I have already had my fill.
quote:
Originally posted by MOBY:
quote:
Originally posted by lynnblount:
quote:
Originally posted by Viper:

Why do companies that pay a decent wage not want to locate here?”



In my opinion, the people that run this city are dead set on having it be a retirement community. That is why you have so many restaurants and shopping outlets, and no big paying jobs. Instead of giving tax breaks or incentives to bring in big business, all they want to do is tax the average working man to build the resorts and golf courses.

.
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Viper, your statement is so true. When some of us at a neighborhood meeting were suggesting ideas for Veterans Park that would appeal to families, my councilman, Herman Graham, told me personally that he was only interested in projects for senior citizens.[/QUOTE]


Then your councilman needs to look at how that attitude RUINED Florida![/QUOTE]

Well, as a retired person, I can assure you that all of us don't have lots of money to spend on all that golf and restaurants. Fixed income has it's disadvantages, especially in these days of high inflation. (yes, let's just call it what it is).
Several problems exist with companies coming here, not the least of which is good highway transportation. The DOT people responsible for the traffic in this area are too stupid to know that a traffic light is the only way for two streets to intersect. Just look at the new highway crossing the river- a stoplight on each side, although both sides have an overpass. Can you get any more stupid than that ?
Consider Tupelo where the new Toyota plant has chosen to locate (on hold now because of gas prices)- they have hwy 78 , soon to be an interstate, and you can go through Tupelo without a single stop light. Hwy 45, the old Chicago to Gulf Coast highway. You can go through Tupelo (yep you guessed it) without a single stop light.
Now, consider our area. Hwy 72 - stop lights at Tuscumbia, hwy 43 and 133 intersection. Hwy 43- too many stoplights to even start to name.
Until our leaders discover that stop lights hurt, and not help us, we will never get anywhere.
As far as the sales of alcoholic beverages, the limitations are just plain ridiculous.
Folks, face it, our area is in the stone age, and not likely to get out without some leadership from someone who has actually been somewhere else.

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