My Word

We’ve complained in recent years about the single-digit temperatures we've seen from time to time during the winter months here in central Kentucky. So far this season, the 10-15-degree range is about as cold as we've gotten, but even at that you can hear grumblings from folks about how spring can't show up fast enough.

I thought I'd do a quick little write-up about the January we experienced here 18 years ago, just to jog our memories and remind us that it could be worse — a lot worse.

On behalf of Lifebridge for Animals, I would like to offer you a bittersweet “farewell.”

The goal of Lifebridge for Animals has been unique in that we always have been focused on the future. We have worked diligently to move toward a day when there will be no need for animal shelters.

Through curriculum-based humane education and spay/neuter assistance, that day can come. Sheltering is important, but it is not a solution to the problem of pet overpopulation, cruelty and neglect.

When dollars are spent in Shelby County, they can in turn be invested locally, raising the overall level of economic activity, paying more salaries and building the local tax base. This recirculation of money leads to an increase of economic activity, with the degree of expanse entirely dependent on the percentage of money spent locally.

Buying away from home means lost revenue for local businesses and your tax dollars going to support some other community. I refer to the lost of potential-local retail sales, as “retail leakage.”

Congress has an opportunity this week to make a historic decision that would permanently change the culture of spending in Washington. Our nearly $15 trillion of accumulated debt is a threat to our nation’s economic recovery, our national security and the welfare of future generations.

We have already succeeded in changing the debate in Washington from “How much can we spend?” to “How much can we cut?” Now, we must go even further and pass a Balanced Budget Amendment.