From the Newsroom of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums:
Zoo and Aquarium Infrastructure Projects Important to Communities
Silver Spring, MD (December 19, 2008) The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) today called for shovel-ready zoo and aquarium infrastructure projects to be eligible for Federal stimulus funding.
According to a 2008 national public opinion survey 79 percent of Americans believe that zoos and aquariums are good for their local economy, and an impressive 80 percent believe that zoos and aquariums are important enough to local communities to be supported by government funding.
“Zoos and aquariums are woven into the fabric of American life,” said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. “They are viewed by the public as important to the quality of life in their communities.”
Many zoos have their roots in the Great Depression, when the Federal Work Projects Administration (WPA) helped build many zoos across America. In more recent times, aquariums have been successful anchors of waterfront renewal and development.
We don’t know what’s on your mind when you visit the zoo, but the phrase “shovel ready” definitely comes to our mind.
Greetings::
I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and success for the test of your life.
I was not for the bailout of the auto industry.
That being said, I do not understand something.
The Treasury can give to AIG $153 billion with out hardy any thought or oversight. I am under the impression that AIG consists of 49% of foreign investors. Where as General Motors and Ford are owned by US citizens and companies.
Why the disparency? And we do realize, don't we…that this bailout is only the tip of the iceberg! The automakers MUST begin producing more fuel efficient vehicles, not necessarily smaller. And the unions must make major concessions, if not…
The next major shoe to fall with be the CREDIT CARD INDUSTRY.
Good luck in the coming years…
If you all would like to save the Republic of the US of A, then u might like to investigate the following…
1. Save mortgage forclosures on ARMs:
Let us use a 3, 4, or 5 year ARM. In the 3 year arm, let us say the 1st yr was 3%, the 2nd yr was 4%, and the 3rd year was 5%. It is now the 5th year and the ARM is at 7%, and climbing.
Freeze the ARM at the 3rd year's rate of 5% for the next 3 years. No one loses! The home owner will (87%) be able to make the mortgage payments. The banks get their money, maybe not all of it, but enough so they dont need to be bailed out any further.
2. Remove the cap on Social Security and place the Social Security money in a trust that cannot be touched by Congress!
3. Give every tax payer and/or those on SS a one time $5,000 tax credit for those earning $30,000 to $100,000 yearly, toward either their mortgages, or Credit Cards. Who owns most of the credit cards? The banks do! The card holder can pay down his debt, and the banks get an infusion of money!
4. This is the most important and can CREATE between 5 and 10 million NEW and fairly well paying JOBS!
Allow the Automobile Industry to go into bankruptcy. Under Chapter 11, they will restructure their management, become leaner, and retool for more efficient vehicles. At $70 an hour for (average) employees, at full compensation, it is impossible to compete in the world!
They had a wake up call during the Carter Administration's Oil Embargo. They chose to ignore it. MANAGEMENT!
Begin building and installing hydrogen engines or fuel cells for all used vehicles. This includes fleets of trucks, busses, SUVs, and ALL automobiles. This will force the Auto Ind to retool their lines, or give up the ghost!
5. Begin building Wave or Tidal Generators to be placed off our shores, as in Great Britain. This would create massive NEW jobs and we would once again be leaders in the world. We wouldnt be looking for handouts from the countries who hate us and would like to see us fail!
This could be created by tax incentives via green energy, etc.
6. Bring home the troops from Iraq, Afganistan, and South Korea. Place them on our borders, and have them assist in port security and inspection of goods for all the agencies that are presently under staffed. The money that they have been spending overseas would be spent here! As they leave the service, maybe some of the programs i have hurriedly outlined within will have been started, and they can join in.
7. The Federal Reserve is a CORPORATION and NOT an agency of the US government, but since their inception they have NOT been taxed!!! Retroactively tax them at 35% from their inception, till now!!!
Why hasnt either the IMF or the World Bank run to assist us as they do for all others?
8. Alter the TRADE AGREEMENTS so that they are tilted more towards the US of A, and the FEDERAL tax (69,000+ pages) code should be revamped to be a maximum of 10 pages that anyone with a 110 IQ can understand. We must not allow jobs to be shipped overseas!
9. All military equipment MUST be manufactured and assembled in the US of A!!!
This must be done NOW, or we will have a short recession and a long depression!
ThinkingSquare
121408
P.S.
I sincerely hope it is not too late…
I have just started reading you sight and can't believe how reasonable your thought process. It is nice to see one of like mind and loads of intellence. I look forward to your future writing.
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Bryon, Sadly, in the year was born 27% of the work force was employed by local, state and federal gov't. It is now up to 43%. No wonder we need two income families. All good proposals as yours need to include a determined Cut in the public employees. We cannot continue to support that many workers. When times are tough they do not get laid off as the private sector workers do, and each Administration adds new jobs to the really bloated public workforce.
Revolt is on the horizon. . . . eh?
I've been using my shovel for this whole election process. Now our new President will hopefully include a gold plated shovel in my New Year's stocking so I can get busy shovelling. How dare the Congress include earmarks in this trillion dollar infusion of "my money as a taxpayer"!!!!
In Colonial Williamsburg this Christmas I heard Patrick Henry remind his audience that WE THE PEOPLE means we have the power to change those who govern if we don't like what they are doing.But to do that, the PEOPLE need to be properly informed. Here we are in 2009 repeating history because we don't know our country's history.
I'm for revolt!
Zoos are in the Fabric of Americans lifestyles and
can be funded by generous donations by those who
wish to do so in a Free Country!