|
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Friday, April 11, 2008 at 8 p.m.
Ken Hare, Keivan Deravi, and the income gap. “For The Record” is a half an hour this week as Alabama Public Television airs an episode of “NOW on PBS” that looks at Alabama’s tax structure. Ken Hare, Editorial Page Editor for “The Montgomery Advertiser” will join Tim Lennox in talking with Auburn University Montgomery Economics Professor Keivan Deravi, Ph.D. about Alabama’s economy. They will also discuss a recently released study showing Alabama’s gap between the highest and lowest incomes has widen at a rate placing the state among the top state’s with income inequities.
You will need Windows Media Player to view this file.
You may download Windows Media Player here. View in New Window/Outside Player
VIEWER COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS
Sir,
I like watching your show and even called in once. If you can recall having a Professor of Economics from the Montgomery branch of UA on about a year ago discussing the housing crash - I was the first caller who asked about the effects on the consumer with the HELOC freezing up. You both went off on a happytalk rant about how good the economy is. The coming $168B guv handout program for consumers speaks other wise.
I am writing because I saw your last segment which discussed Carl Rove and the 2 year college system. I tuned in a bit late to miss the start of the show but never heard anything about my neighbor who I have voted for since she began running in 1992 - That being Sue Schmitz. This is an honest granny who was doing what she thought was right. I do not know if Carl Rove was involved but the whole mess smells like the Govenor wants to be able to appoing a republican to her seat. Now that Bud Cramer has suddenly announced his not seeking another term (for fear of being "Spitzered"?) there is the possibility of a AL Senate seat being vacated and another appointment.
I wish that you had discussed Sue Schmitz's situation. In case you are not familiar here is a little background. This really stinks.
***********harpers****/archive/2008/02/hbc-90002293
***********harpers****/archive/2008/02/hbc-90002316
Chris Barber, Toney, AL
Grocery Tax: Eliminating the tax may well be a good thing but the reasons presented are flawed. The stats on the perceived differences between the top fifth and lower fifth income differences here in Alabama as protrayed on your program and NOW, 4/11/08 are rather misleading if one looks at the actual dollar differences between these income levels. Going to Reuters "gap between rich/poor Americans accelerates," 4/09/08, Alabama's spread is below the national average. The spread for the total US is $114,015. Alabama's spread is $99,524. NY, 131,085; MS, $103,249; M***, $148,382; CN, $148,245; CA, $127,046; DC, $174,530, etc. We may well need to get rid of the tax and substitute something else, but let's do it for the benefit of our citizens not some misleading stats.
Bob Cly , Prattville, AL 36066 |
|||||||||||||||||||
