Category Archives: Golden Rule

Dear Mr./Ms. Employer: Are you wondering why so many of your employees are so unhappy and leaving your company to go elsewhere or quit?

Let me share what Im hearing out there, when prospects contact us in response to a job posting, or we contact them because we think theyll be a great hire for one of our clients.

Start with your HR department, where, as I like to say, your corporate culture begins.

Is it fully staffed, so it can be supportive of your current employees? Or is it scrambling just to keep afloat? Believe me, your employees want to be listened to, and heard, not merely tolerated.

Do your employees get a quick response when they ask simple questions, like about benefits? If your answer is no, youre looking for trouble, especially if you have more than a few millennials and Gen Xers on board.

Recently, I heard a presentation by Dan Negroni, a highly successful career coach of CEOs whose workforce consists mainly of those kids who were born between the mid-1960s and late 1990s.

Together, they now represent nearly 70% of the U.S. workforce and growing fast.

Heres Dans twist on the Golden Rule: Treat others the way they want to be treated.

Very possibly, his advice is not how you would want to be treated. Whats more, his guidance is wholly appropriate for all employees, no matter what their age.

In other words: If you give everyone what they want, youll get everything you want. Make your employees happy and they will make your most valuable asset, your customers, very happy.

Go into the office every day of the week

Lets take working remote. Do you know how rare it is to find job applicants who say, I want to go into the office every day of the week?

About zilch.

If you are requiring that, and you dont have a valid reason like youre in healthcare or hospitality then get over yourself.

If you cant justify why your employees are needed in the office, then expect a mass exodus because other employers will offer them that option.

Are your goals strictly profit-driven? Big problem. Todays younger workers are not interested in making you rich and leaving them behind.

Is your management style all about you? Does your company generate negative media coverage? Are you making the world better in a way your employees think is important?

Do you encourage your employees to volunteer in the community? Or you penalize them when they do?

When your employees tell their friends where they work, are they proud of your company? If not, why not?

Now, listen to what your future hires think about your job offer:

As for compensation, what counts is their definition of whats fair not yours.

Were also finding that new employees are less concerned about taking the highest-paying job than about the opportunities for upward mobility. In other words, Where do I go from here?

The current crop of workers isnt strictly driven by the old-fashioned ethic of put your head down and do your work.

Believe me, if you run your company that way, youll have more challenges than you want.

Instead, most employees want to learn how to be better at their jobs, now and into the future. And they want to be respected for what they do.

As their employer, you have the responsibility to provide that kind of supportive environment.

Pay fairly, show appreciation to your team, and make your employees work professionally meaningful. Make your employees feel like they really matter, that they are part of a team that cheers each other on, and that they feel safe under your leadership.

When you think about it, isnt that the way youd like to be treated?

Blair is co-founder of Manpower Staffing and author of Job Won.

pblair@manpowersd.com

Excerpt from:

For your employees sake, give the Golden Rule a twist - The San Diego Union-Tribune

The NHLs 2022 trade deadline is on March 21, and as the Golden Knights inch closer to that day, theyre juggling a lot.

Vegas total cap hit of $91.5 million soars far above the limit of $81.5 million. As of now, the Golden Knights have close to $15.5 million sitting on long-term injured reserve, which allows them to be cap compliant. The majority of that belongs to Mark Stone ($9.5 million cap hit), who is out with a back injury that has bothered him for some time, and with no concrete timetable for his return. Stone has seen several specialists and has received very little clarity. Speaking with sources around the team and league, the sense I get is that most expect Stone to miss the rest of the regular season, but that is not definite at this point.

Alec Martinez and his $5.25 million in cap hit also are on LTIR. Like with Stone, Martinezs head injury is making it increasingly difficult to pinpoint a specific return date. The initial injury appeared to just be a laceration from a skate blade. It was serious, requiring more than 50 stitches, but usually those types of injuries dont keep players out for long. Martinezs symptoms seem to border on being concussion-related, and whatever is keeping him out of the lineup seems to have the team searching for answers. On Nov. 16, coach Peter DeBoer said he didnt think Martinezs return would be too far away, and its obviously taking much longer.

The Golden Knights predicament extends beyond just the difficulties of replacing two key players in their lineup.

Continue reading here:

The seldom-used trade deadline rule that could impact the Golden Knights' salary cap situation - The Athletic

February 23, 2022 West Bend, WI David Dave Mertzig, age 82, passed away on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at his home in West Bend.

Dave was born in his grandparents home in Fillmore, on September 3, 1939 to Oliver and Leona (nee Mueller) Mertzig.

Raised on that farm, he grew to be the man that anyone who knew him, loved. His Catholic upbringing taught him to be faithful and caring. A member of St. Frances Cabrini Church for 55 years, he believed and followed the Golden Rule, treating everybody as he wanted to be treated (or better!) with respect, honesty, dignity, and kindness. He expected everyone else to do the same, yet was forgiving of those who werent. He led by example to help others be better. He kept a positive attitude and offered encouragement, often saying, Do your best; thats all you can do. and Itll be alright.

David graduated from Kewaskum High School, where he was popular for his athleticism, friendliness, and good looks.

He was a hard-working man, starting out doing chores on the farm, earthmoving for a construction company, working at the Fredonia foundry, and janitorial work at the old West Bend High School (now Badger Middle School). For over 25 years, he was employed as a foreman at the Gehl Company. He then spent several years working in purchasing at Maysteel in Allenton. He retired after working many years at Fleet Farm, where he enjoyed helping customers find what they needed, whether in his farm department, elsewhere in the store, or out in the yard. Farmers who shopped there routinely, often appreciated that he monitored quantities of items they would need, and ensured inventory was available in a timely manner.

Dave received an Honorable Discharge after proudly serving his country in the United States Army. While serving, he was stationed at Fort Leonardwood in Missouri, and in Darmstadt, Germany.

Instantly enamored after seeing a photo of Helen J. Milan, he began a brief courtship with her. Their wedding took place at Holy Angels Church in West Bend on April 27, 1963. They were married 49 1/2 years when she passed away in 2012. He carried that same photo of her in his wallet, and that love for her in his heart, every day of his life.

Dave loved his family and cherished time together. He regarded neighbors and friends as family too, saying, Theres no difference.

Dad enjoyed being around people and was always willing to help others in any way he could, sometimes even before being asked. From car repairs, yard and home maintenance, cutting wood, and clearing snow to lending an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry upon, you could always count on him to be there for you. He was an enthusiastic sports fan, participating as an athlete in community leagues in his younger years, and as a spectator- Brewers, Packers, Bucks, Badgers were favorites, but he also watched others, professional, college, or high school. He was locally famous back in the day for his pitching. He tried out for the Braves, and they wanted him back for a second try out, but his mother told him to focus on having a real job instead. While watching on TV, he often would call plays or make comments of stats or trivia moments before the announcer would say the same thing. He took pleasure in fishing, card playing, dice games, scratch-off lottery tickets, word search puzzles, collecting pens, and routinely tuning in to Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. In later years, Dad even learned to text so he could keep in touch with his grandkids. They adored hearing from Grandpa! He got a kick out of it too!

Easy-going, kind, caring, loving, loyal, friendly, faithful Dave was a shining example of Jesus love for others. We were so very blessed to have known this wonderful man.

David is survived by his daughters, Laureen Laurie Kraemer and Dawn (Dr. Karl) Orth; grandchildren, David Kraemer, Jonathan Orth, and Taliya Orth; brother-in-law, Tony Millan; sisters-in-law, Mary Stec and Donna Millan. He is further survived by other relatives and friends.

David is preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Gregory and Julia Millan; wife Helen J.Mertzig; daughter, Mary Jane Mertzig; siblings, Raymond N. Mertzig and Rose Ann M.(nee Mueller) Clark; sister-in-law, Betty Mertzig, brothers-in-law, Donald W.Clark and Walter Stec.

Visitation will be at St. Frances Cabrini Church, 1025 S. 7th Ave, West Bend., 10:00 a.m. 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, February 26, 2022, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 p.m. with Rev. Carlos Londono presiding. Interment will follow at Washington County Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital at http://www.stjude.org/donate, Disabled Veterans at http://www.dav.org/donate, Veterans of Foreign Wars at http://www.vfw.org/HelpOurHeroes, or any charity of your choice. Be kind and love one another.

Special thank you to John Mertzig, Christopher Multerer; Samantha Watts; Ken and Cass Krebs; Travis, Michelle, Sophie and Parker Lang; Amy Hubbard; Brenda Roderfer; Val from Plaza Barber Shop; Michelle Hunt, RN/Case Manager and all Aurora Health Care workers who helped Dad.

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Obituary | David "Dave" Mertzig, 82, of West Bend, WI - washingtoncountyinsider.com

HAMLET A man who reportedly tried to run from police officers is facing several drug and weapon charges.

According to the Hamlet Police Department, officers responded to a call Saturday morning of a suspicious vehicle at Golden Rule on Hylan Avenue.

When officers made contact, the suspect, 39-year-old Latron Jermaine Dumas, attempted to flee but was apprehended, according to a post on the departments Facebook page. (Note: online records show his middle name also spelled as Germaine.

Following a search of Dumas person and vehicle, officers reportedly found a loaded handgun of an unspecified caliber in his pants pocket, as well as 24 grams of meth and 10 grams of heroin.

Dumas was arrested and charged with: felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; trafficking in opium or heroin; possession of a firearm by a felon; carrying a concealed gun; maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; assault on a government official; and having an open container of alcohol in the passenger area.

He was booked into the Richmond County Jail where he is being held under a $150,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on those charges March 10.

Online court records show Dumas also has a March 2 court date on traffic citations for speeding and driving with a revoked license.

Records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction show Dumas received probation when he was first convicted in 2001 of armed robbery, felony breaking and entering.

In October of 2003, Dumas was convicted of maintaining any place for a controlled substance. His probation was revoked that December and he served six months behind bars, records show.

He was convicted in 2007 of driving while impaired in Montgomery County, and the following year of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance in Richmond County.

Dumas probation on the DWI was revoked in 2008 when convicted of possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance and resisting an officer. Those sentences were concurrent and he served less than three months. His probation on the 2008 drug charge was revoked in 2011, resulting in a nearly four-month incarceration.

Dumas was also convicted in 2013 of shoplifting in Moore County, and in 2014 of driving with a revoked license in Richmond County.

All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Hamlet Police reportedly find gun, meth, heroin on suspect - The Richmond Observer

Stat that. Stats make the world go round and the only true way to measure progress over a period of time. Today they are as equally as important in the success of a business as they are in the success of human performance. Until now, stats only used to be used by elite professional athletes. Now having access to them is as prominent as it is prevalent, like the smartphones we all own.

This is where fitness bands and trackers come into play. Fitness trackers are wearable technology that enables you to measure a plethora of data to help improve overall health. With its recent entry into everyday peoples lives, it makes you wonder where it all started the answer goes further back than you think.

The evolution of fitness technology doesnt just go back decades, but centuries. Leonardo da Vinci once envisioned a device that would measure ones steps with military applications. Its first recorded description was in France in the 1670s, then again in the 1780s in Switzerland, and finally, in the U..S by Thomas Jefferson, when he introduced the mechanical pedometer.

Fast forward to the 1960s where Dr. Iwao Ohya, head of one of Tokyos biggest clinics, told engineer Juri Kato that he was worried about the lack of exercise in most individuals. Together they created a wearable pedometer and so came to be the general, golden rule of 10,000 steps per day.

The improvements throughout the decades in regards to wearable technology has been incredible. Today, it is as common as the smartwatch, as every smartwatch nowadays doubles as a fitness tracker. They can track and record data from calories burned, heart rate, sleep and sleep quality, to being able to remind you to breathe its progress is truly revolutionary. But, with so many options on the market, its hard to know where to start.

There are numerous fitness trackers available on the market today. Some keep it simple and give you just enough data to be relevant. While others prefer the ability to customize and truly make it yours. Here are some of the different types youll find while searching online.

The OG of fitness trackers, the Fitbit revolutionized tracking stats and has come a long way since it first arrived on the scene in 2007 they set the standard of 10,000 steps per day. Todays Fitbit Charge 5 is once again setting the gold standard in fitness tracking. They have it all, from minimalist style and affordability to calories burned, sleep monitoring, stress scans, to ECGs, all for a fraction of the price of other brands.

In order to be as healthy as we possibly can be, recovery and sleep need to be at the forefront. Watches and phones can all track sleep but can be troublesome and uncomfortable to actually use while sleeping. Enter the Oura ring. The first ring-based fitness tracker, its main goal is to collect and analyze data from sleep. Oura tracks your deep sleep, REM sleep, light sleep, nightly heart rate, bedtime schedule, and more to give you the best feedback for your best nights sleep ever.

Most people forget that our smartphones can double as fitness trackers, too. The kicker? We all have one already. Take the iPhone for example. With pre-programmed apps like Health, you can measure activity and steps, to sleep quality. Then there are thousands of apps on the App Store all geared towards health and wellness. iPhone fitness bands are fairly affordable. Its the unlikely fitness tracker we all already own.

Since its first release back in 2015 with its first-generation model, Apple has been at the forefront of technology that has been setting the standard of smart fitness trackers. The latest release, the Apple Watch Series 7, is no different. It has faster charging, larger screen, more durable, and more customizations. Its water-resistant, takes ECGs and has blood-oxygen monitoring. The real question is, what cant it do?

Myzone fitness trackers monitor calories and heart rate with a twist. The Myzone tracker has an online social platform that shows and rewards effort during your workouts. Myzone has an online community that brings the social network factor into play, allowing you to compete against people from across the world. Myzone also displays effort using color-coded zones to see how hard you are pushing yourself during workouts.

Continue reading here:

What is a Fitness Tracker and Do You Need One? - The Manual

Maurie Backman| The Motley Fool

Tax season 2022: What to know before you submit your return this year

The IRS is "buried" in paper after "most challenging" year for taxpayers, here's what to know for filing your tax return.

Staff video, USA TODAY

Now that tax season is in full swing, you may be gearing up to tackle your tax return. While you can file on your own (today's software programs are surprisingly user-friendly), you may want to consider hiring a tax preparer for the job instead.

There are benefits to hiring a tax preparer, despite the cost. For one thing, a professional can help you avoid claiming the wrong deductions a mistake that could get your return audited and lead to a hassle. A tax preparer might also help you identify deductions you may not have known you were entitled to.

The amount you'll spend on a tax preparer will vary depending on where you live and what your personal circumstances entail. Before you start pricing options, run through these five key questions to figure out if it's worth hiring a tax professional this year.

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Side hustles have become increasingly popular. If you did a lot of work on a freelance basis, it could benefit you to use a professional for your taxes. That person can make sure you're reporting your income correctly and taking the right deductions for expenses you incurred in the course of doing that work.

TAXES AND THE SELF-EMPLOYED:These 4 tips will help ease the process

If you sold a bunch of stocks in your brokerage account last year at a profit, you may be sitting on a big capital gains tax bill. If you sold investments at a loss, you may be able to have that loss offset gains or other types of income. A tax professional can help you navigate the process and reconcile that activity.

If you own a small business, it generally pays to use a tax preparer rather than tackle your return solo. There are different schedules and pieces of information business owners need to prepare. It's a task you may not be equipped to handle unless you're really well-versed in small business tax rules.

If you got married or divorced in 2021, it could pay to hire a tax preparer to help you navigate your new circumstances from a tax perspective. The same holds true if you had a baby last year.

TAXES 2022:Make this year's filing easier with 3 time-saving hacks

If you're a salaried worker who rents a home, then your tax situation is pretty straightforward, and there may not be much savings a tax preparer can help you eke out. But if you're a self-employed homeowner, ther's a host of deductions you may be entitled to, from your mortgage interest to your property taxes to a home office deduction. If you have reason to believe a tax preparer could save you money, it's worth finding out what local professionals will charge you.

Though there's no requirement to outsource the job of filing taxes, you may find that hiring someone takes stress off your plate and saves you money in the process. If you're going to use a tax preparer, be sure to ask for recommendations from friends and family to increase your chances of ending up with a professional you're happy with.Alert: highest cash back card w've seen now has 0% intro APR until 2023

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W're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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Should you have a pro do your taxes this year? Maybe, if you check these boxes. - USA TODAY

After a joyful return to (periodic) live Finally Friday shows last week at the Eastside Bowl Wash, our artist series resets this week to the cozy confines of home studios and remote stages with a fascinating pair of artists with impactful new releases. Sad Daddy brings raw and real country music in an old-time vein, while Sophie Gault leads her band The Broken Things with an attention-grabbing voice and a lot to say.

Sad Daddy features Melissa Carper on bass, she of the impressive 2021 solo album Daddys Country Gold. I dont know if its the same Daddy or not, but this rollicking ensemble began when Carper met guitarist and harmonica player Brian Martin at shows in 2010. They assembled a trio that toured around Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. Later they added Rebecca Patek, Carpers partner in the duo Buffalo Gals. And all along, Sad Daddy has been one semi-regular project for all of the artists involved.

We need hearty, earthy and unfussy roots music like we hear on their January album Way Up In The Hills. They offer yearning old-time ballads, stomping roots country and some hand clapping gospel as they sing about lifes simple gifts, such as Bacon and the fingerpicked Sunday Evening, as well as its blues as in the melancholy Cold Rain. Recorded in Martins cabin in Greers Ferry, AR, its as honest a roots performance as you could ask for, and we expect the same when they go live at noon.

My first impression of Sophie Gault was a streaming promo album last fall, and it only took a minute into her opening track Golden Rule to know I was hearing a special new voice. Gault has a gripping, emotional country vibrato that calls to mind Lucinda Williams, Kelly Willis and Kelsey Waldon. Her band name is derived from the songs of Julie Miller, so that offers another point of reference. Golden Rule hasnt been released yet, but check out the single Trouble, a yearning duet with Logan Ledger that can stand proudly next to the great Nashville duos of the 60s and 70s. In a 2020s Americana landscape where timeless country sounds are more the exception than the rule, Sophies new Delusions of Grandeur album arrives like a refreshing wave.

Our own Ana Lee spoke with Sophie in January and got her take on the records inception here in town: Weve been waiting almost two years to release it, so we are so ready to share it with everyone! During the tracking at Ryon Westovers Grey Gardens studio, we all just had fun tossing ideas back and forth. It was a good distraction from everything going on at that time - June of 2020. We exchanged lots of excited glances as we were listening back in the control room. The chemistry was great. And the final dashes of sonic sauce came from roots star mixing engineer/producer Ray Kennedy. His take: "Sophies songs have a cozy familiarity with a feeling reminiscent of some of my favorite records from the 70s: timeless yet new, with an emotional delivery I dont hear in other contemporary records.

Finally Friday goes live as always at noon at WMOT.org.

Read the rest here:

Finally Friday At Home: Sophie & The Broken Things And Sad Daddy - WMOT

Overall, we're expecting one to three inches across most of the area, said Jeremy Buckles, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. This year we have seen it all. Snow, freezing rain, damaging winds and now flooding is on the radar.

People in East Tennessee can expect heavy rainfall Tuesday night that could accumulate inches over time.

Overall, we're expecting one to three inches across most of the area, National Weather Service meteorologist Jeremy Buckles said. But some locations where those thunderstorms track over top of each other could receive up to maybe four or five inches.

Houses and roads near any body of water are most prone to flooding, and weather experts along with first responders want people to follow the golden rule of turn around don't drown.

Jeff Bagwell at the Rural Metro Fire Department says it's a simple rule, but Knox County people quickly ignore the risk.

Because it happens every single time, Powell has all kinds of flooding problems, Karns, anything along beaver creek, and then, of course, the north shore area, Bagwell said.

Bagwell says not many fatalities have been reported in Knox county, but 2021 was Tennessee's deadliest flood year. According to the state, twenty-two people died after massive flooding in Middle Tennessee.

Read the original here:

Prepare to stay off roads as heavy rain comes in - WBIR.com

Nearly twenty years after its initial run, the Disney animated series The Proud Family, which originally ran on The Disney Channel, returns with an all-new Disney+ show, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. The revival, created by Bruce W. Smith and Ralph Farquhar, features the original characters Dijonay, LaCienega, Zoey, and Michael, along with newcomers Maya and KG and places the action squarely in the 2020s.

Executive producer Farquhar, along with Alisa Reyes (LaCienega Boulavarde) and Paula J. Parker (Trudy Proud) recently spoke to Reel Faiths DeWayne Hamby about how the update addresses current social topics and what part faith and Christian principals might play in how the characters interact.

Ralph, at what point did someone decide to revisit The Proud Family all these years later?

Ralph FarquharBruce and I had been approaching Disney religiously since we left, I guess, in 2005, to bring us back because, you know, quite frankly, a Bruce created the show because there was no African American family presence in the animated world. And since we went off, no one came up in our place. So were like, Come on, we got to come back, we got to come back. And then three years ago, we got a call, we think its because honestly, the creation of Disney plus and us being a Disney IP, we were a natural to tap. So, were for whatever reason, and whoever did it. Were thankful and excited about being back.

It feels like were kind of in the golden age of creativity, especially with the avenues for streaming. Elisa, this series is for kids, obviously, but it has things that adults will appreciate as well. So, what do you think that kids and adults will be able to take away from this series?

Alisa ReyesPlaying Laci and a couple of artists who were just spunky and sassy and represents the Latin culture which I myself, Im also, Im you know, Im Irish, Italian and Dominican. So for me, I feel like its going to, you know, share cultural experiences, its going to share topics that are just also about morals and principles, and good old-fashioned lessons. We are also immensely diverse. So, I like to call us a little bit of the United Nations, we have a demographic for the masses. And, you know, were also going to be sharing things that were, you know, topics in regard to like social media that we didnt talk about before, activism, everything thats happening in todays world. Were able to intertwine all the way down to, you know, just sharing about same sex marriage and the LGBTQ community. So, I feel theres a little something for everyone. And were hoping that when people sit down for dinner, they can put their cell phones away, and they could sit down and maybe talk about what they watch on The Proud Family Louder and Prouder. And maybe were able to help enhance a family, discuss topics that they didnt necessarily know how to discuss within their dynamic. And at the end of the day, if we can just touch one person, whether it be an adult or a child, whether its the previous generation that watched the show all the way down to the new fans, couldnt ask for more as being a part of the cast.

Patheos is a faith site, and our readers are diverse and religious. Will the series touch on religion at all?

Paula J. ParkerYou mentioned the strides that we have made in streaming and in you know, our viewing preferences and the things that we are able to do but there are also things that were missing like the (stop motion animation) David and Goliath show. They dont have those shows right now for kids. Religion has been suppressed within the community, sometimes within the church, but within the school system. Now we can help parents talk about things that they would have been able to talk about in Sunday school. But now, you know, its not as prevalent or pushed as much as it was before when we were growing up. Now were able to discuss things that we werent, we didnt see on Davey and Goliath, like, EJ, Jr. is now a part of our cast. So topics that were poo-pooed back when we were first coming out, were able to talk about, with God at the heart, because we are all creations of.

Ralph FarquharWe dont talk about a religion, per se, but we certainly promote the principles that most religions promote, such as tolerance, love, acceptance, love of ourselves, and things like that. I think we go at the spirit of things from a family dynamic, certainly specifically from an African American point of view, in terms of the nuances, of topics that we tackle. So thats how we play it out. While we cant express a specific faith, we certainly know that this family and the families depicted come from a place of love and tolerance. And thats, and thats what The Proud Family is about. Thats actually what The Proud Family stands for.

Alisa ReyesAnd what I love is its about loving thy neighbor and the Boulavardez family, we definitely go back and forth with the crowds. At the end of the day, we love thy neighbor. When I had elaborated about the morals, principles, and lessons, that is a big factor for me, God comes first, Jesus comes first. That is the first thing I acknowledge when I wake up every morning, and I do a special prayer at night with my husband and my six-month-old, and I do it every morning as well. I just got done baptizing my daughter, and to be able to be a part of kid-friendly content that I can now sit down with my daughter and be able to watch, at the end of the day, even though we all have our little trials and tribulations in each episode, I feel every family, no matter what ethnicity, no matter what culture will be able to sit down and learn a lesson a moral and a principle. Why I keep saying that is because sometimes it is about having a little bit of faith and optimism. Sometimes it is about just getting through the day and that golden rule of how you treat others you wish to be treated. So even though Ralph elaborated, we may not be sectoring in on a specific religion, but at the end of the day. Its like that universal subconscious. It is there and its going strong.

The Proud Family, executive produced by Bruce W. Smith and Ralph Farquhar and starring Kyla Pratt, Tommy Davidson, Jo Marie Payton, Paula Jai Parker, Cedric the Entertainer, Keke Palmer, Alisa Reyes and more is now streaming on Disney+.

See more here:

The Cast and Creators of 'The Proud Family' Reboot Discuss Loving Your Neighbor, Christian Influences on New Show - Patheos

The budget for 2022-23 has been discussed from several angles. In this article, we want to raise three important issues, which have a bearing not only on the current year but also on the coming years. One, is enhancing capital expenditure the best way to stimulate an economy in the current situation? Two, can the government function with a high fiscal deficit for several years in a row? And three, what should be the mechanism to determine the level of borrowing of states?

What stands out prominently in the budget is the emphasis on capital expenditure which is expected to rise by 24.5 per cent over the revised estimates for 2021-22. This is a welcome directional change that continues the trend of the previous year. In 2022-23, 45.2 per cent of the fiscal deficit will be used for financing capital expenditure. In the UK, they have endorsed the golden rule of fiscal prudence under which there would be no limit on fiscal deficit so long as all of it is used to finance capital expenditure. Of course, the budgetary definition of capital expenditure does not fully correspond to economists concept of it. Even lending is treated as part of capital expenditure.

Enhancing capital expenditure not only creates additional demand immediately but also lays the base for further growth. In the planning era, all our plans were focused on raising the investment rate. Therefore, in principle, augmenting capital expenditure appears to be the right approach. Capital expenditure has a higher multiplier, but it takes a longer duration to work itself out. Revenue expenditure has a lower multiplier, but its impact is almost immediate. In the context of the situation created by Covid-19 in terms of loss of employment and income, a question arises whether revenue expenditure, such as income support for vulnerable groups, should also get high priority.

In the budget, the allocation for MGNREGA has been reduced. It is possible that as overall production increases, the need for it may come down. If this happens naturally, it is fine. Otherwise, the government should not stint on expenditure in this regard.

On subsidies, the reduction in petroleum subsidies is well taken. But on food subsidies, there has to be a rethink. Thus, there is concern about the reduction in some of the revenue expenditure. As we have argued elsewhere, there is some fiscal space available for higher spending and as revenues increase over targeted levels, revenue expenditures directed towards providing social safety nets should be raised. Even on capital expenditure, the government should bring out a separate document listing major projects in which investment will be made not only by the government directly but also by public sector enterprises.

The next issue is the level of fiscal deficit. The question is how long can we continue with a very high level of fiscal deficit. Fiscal deficits are way beyond what was considered to be appropriate under the FRBM Act. The Centres fiscal deficit in 2020-21 was 9.2 per cent of the GDP. Part of it was, of course, due to some cleaning up operations, which is desirable. Even then it is extremely high. In 2021-22, it is 6.9 per cent of the GDP and is expected to be 6.4 per cent in 2022-23. The norm that we had set was 3 per cent of GDP. As a consequence, the Centres debt-GDP ratio is expected to be at 60.2 per cent of the GDP in 2022-23 as against the desired level of 40 per cent of the GDP. For the Centre and states taken together, it would touch 90 per cent of the GDP. One can understand the compulsions; the impact of Covid-19 had brought the economy to a grinding halt. In 2021-22, the economy is expected to touch the level of where we were in 2020. Extraordinary measures had to be taken to kickstart the economy. Government expenditures had to rise. But we should not belittle the situation that we are facing.

It is argued sometimes that our debt-GDP ratio is low compared to other countries such as Japan. But that is not an appropriate comparison as tax revenue to GDP is high and interest rate is low in Japan interest payment on debt constitutes only 4.7 per cent of revenue receipts. The corresponding figure for India, considering the Centre and the states together, was 25.8 per cent in 2019-20. In the case of the Centre alone, interest payments will equal 42.7 per cent of revenue receipts in 2022-23. This is a large preemption, leaving less for other productive expenditures. Such a large public borrowing poses a problem. In 2022-23, the Centre and states will borrow an amount equivalent to 10.4 per cent of the GDP. The savings of the household sector (which is the only surplus sector) in financial assets do not exceed 7.5 per cent of GDP. Thus the borrowing programme can be completed only with the support (though indirectly) of the RBI. This is what we used to do in the 1980s. Such support from the RBI will have an impact on inflation, if not immediately at least with a lag. Of course, one has to take into account its favourable impact on output. At present, the target appears to be to take the Centres deficit to 4.5 per cent by 2025-26. Even this may or may not be achieved. But will it be adequate? A medium-term plan of fiscal consolidation is urgently needed, showing the period over which a sustainable level of fiscal deficit will be reached. Crowding out of private investments may not happen now. But eventually, it will become a problem, if we have prolonged high fiscal deficits.

The last issue relates to borrowing by state governments and the Centres role in it. The government has agreed to raise the borrowing limit of states to 4 per cent of the GSDP for 2022-23. But it imposed the condition that 0.5 per cent of this will be contingent on the states implementing power sector reforms. This condition is unnecessary. Power sector reforms are needed and inducement can be provided through other means. The limit for 2022-23 should have been raised without imposing any condition. Article 293 of the Constitution stipulates that states need permission from the Centre to borrow so long as they are indebted to it. Prior to the 12th Finance Commission, the Centre used to borrow for the purpose of lending to the states. The 12th FC recommended that this system be stopped and that at least all major states should be allowed to acquire their entire borrowing directly from the market. It was our hope that as this new system takes root, a stage would be reached when the states would not be indebted to the Centre and that they would then borrow based on their own assessment.

Against this background, the proposal in the budget of the Centre to provide an interest-free loan for a 50-year period needs reexamination. If the Government of India feels that states need to spend more on infrastructure, they should just be allowed to borrow more. Of course, under the present proposal, there is no interest burden on the states. Thats a sweetener. It is also appropriate here to recall one recommendation of the 12th FC which was to set up a loan council comprising the Union government, states and the RBI which could take the decision on how much states should be allowed to borrow. This recommendation was not acted upon earlier. This needs a relook.

This column first appeared in the print edition on February 23, 2022 under the title The fiscal rethink. Rangarajan is former chairman, Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Council and former governor, RBI. Srivastava is chief policy advisor, EY India and former director, Madras School of Economics. Views are personal

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Three important aspects of 2022 budget with long-term implications - The Indian Express