[ Posted: Aug 31, 2010 ]
Although gathering some steam, the Rhode Island economy has some very rough patches. The housing market is sharply divided with signs of life at the top, a squeeze in the middle and so far, unremitting stress at the bottom. Unemployment amongst the middle class is not good. Now, they don't have a job or the job they have pays half of what it paid a year ago. The state's health and human services programs are seeing a steady uptick in cases. April saw the highest one-month number for emergency shelter occupancy. There's a pension liability and the state has a high tax and cost structure. And to add salt to their wounds, there have most recently been devastating floods. There are signs of recovery in some areas but most people don't see it.
The rain and floods invoked umbrellas. As a ray of hope, I added a bit of sunshine to the scenario by brightening the outlook in the two sketches of the man and women sheltering themselves from the downpour. The hand with the string denotes the state hoping for more dollars from the feds to aid in their recovery. Finally, I thought of using the state bird of Rhode Island the Rhode Island Red hen. Here it is shackled by a ball and chain. Dean Welshman, the AD of the publication didn't hesitate when he picked the state bird. I was hoping he would go with it. Thanks Dean.
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