Salem-News.com Business articles

Morality and Law

Legislative law is nothing unless it is based on true law.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - In life and in business compliance with the law is an important part of one's decision making process. The relationship between law, morality, and individual action essentially defines how society functions. Law and morality are not the same.

If moral and legislative laws are two different things, then the possibility arises that they can be in conflict. If the moral and the legislative law come into conflict, then you are faced with a choice of which to follow.

Wyden, Merkley Announce Millions in Military Construction Projects, VA Health Care

Veterans Affairs Funding to be for Two-Year Cycle for First Time.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced millions in funding for Oregon as part of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations bill passed by the Senate.

The bill also marks the first time that the veterans health care funding will be budgeted for a two-year period supplanting the yearly budgeting process.

Forecasters Expect Long-term Job Growth in Oregon

Metro areas are expected to grow at close to the statewide average and half of the state's job growth will be in the Portland area.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Oregon Employment Department has released its projections of employment for 2018. The projections point to modest job growth between 2008 and 2018, although many job openings are expected due to the need to replace workers who leave their current occupations.

The department's forecasters expect economic growth to add more than 160,000 jobs, a gain of 9 percent over the decade. This growth is slightly less than the 10 percent gain that occurred between 1998 and 2008 and much slower than in many prior 10-year periods.

Everyday Leaders

As an everyday leader, you are the guardians of servitude and the custodians of courage in the time of need. You tap the resources of your leadership not out of impulse, but from what you have nurtured all along.

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) - On a cold wintry day in January 2009, US Airways flight 1549 taxied down the runway at New York’s LaGuardia airport. The flight, bound for Charlotte, N.C., was a familiar flight for Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger. Within a matter of minutes after takeoff, flight 1543 was floating in the Hudson River, mechanical failure from a bird shot brought the plane down.

In his book, Highest Duty, My Search for What Really Matters, Sullenberger shares not only his life story, but the heroic actions he and his crew took to ensure that not one passenger was lost.

Downside of Alexander/Webb Nuclear Bailout Plan

Market Refusal to Finance New Reactors Reflects Unacceptable Financial Risks That Should Not be Ignored by Lawmakers; Taxpayers and Ratepayers Beware: Loan Guarantees and Other Subsidies Will Not Turn ‘Uneconomic’ Reactors Into Sound Investments.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - If Congress and the states do not follow the lead of Wall Street in declining to underwrite financially “risky and uneconomic” new nuclear reactors, the resulting taxpayer-backed loan guarantees and other subsidies could pave the way for the same kind of industry-wide meltdown that happened in the 1970s and 1980s.

That is according to a major new study by Dr. Mark Cooper, a senior fellow for economic analysis at the Institute for Energy and the Environment at Vermont Law School.

Alexander, Webb Introduce Clean Energy Legislation with Emphasis on Nuclear Energy

Senators say the Measure would create carbon-free energy sources in the U.S., invigorate economy, create jobs.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Jim Webb (D-VA) today introduced “The Clean Energy Act of 2009,” a bipartisan bill to promote further investment and development of the nation’s clean energy technologies, including nuclear power and other resources.

The Alexander-Webb bill is designed to invigorate the economy, create jobs, and move the United States toward providing clean, carbon-free sources of energy.

Last Month`s Unemployment Rate in Oregon Still Holding

Oregon’s Employment Situation: October 2009

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 11.3 percent in October from the revised September figure of 11.3 percent.

This was its lowest since the rate was 10.7 percent in February, and was down from the high of 12.2 percent in May. Oregon’s unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in October 2008.

Lack of Healthcare Kills Veterans at Much Higher Rate than Combat

Harvard study shows that for every American killed in Afghanistan in 2008, 14 military veterans died because they lacked healthcare coverage.

(SALEM, Ore.) - A report from Agence France Presse indicates that the number of veterans who died in 2008 because they didn't have healthcare, is 14 times higher than the military death toll in Afghanistan, for the entire year.

Two Harvard medical researchers analyzed data, comparing U.S. combat-related deaths in Afghanistan, with the number of veterans who died because they lacked the ability to seek out adequate healthcare and access medical services. All of the veterans surveyed were under the age of 65.

Coalition of Industry and Business Groups Protest Oregon Tax Changes

The measures are supported by Defend Oregon, which warns that the measures’ defeat could mean deep cuts in education. Proponents say the ballot measures are aimed at helping to stave off in future economic downturns the type of deep funding cuts lawmakers have had to make in the past.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Oregon Supreme Court has slightly changed ballot language for ballot measures to raise $733 million from businesses and wealthy Oregonians.

Measure 66 and Measure 67 will be on Oregon’s statewide ballot in a Jan. 26 special election.

Opinion: Fight Fire with Fire

In order to protect ourselves from the threat of future fires, we must become a society of fire fighters.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - The fireman is a bold and noble figure in our society. He embodies the virtues of bravery, sacrifice, and duty toward others. The fireman is technically proficient.

He skillfully executes his duties using both mind and body, and relying on a set of tools that he has mastered in order to perform his task.