tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post5166519299889142914..comments2023-09-15T04:27:57.129-04:00Comments on Commentarama: Flash! NY Times Gets A Fact RightAndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-1577805302657859442011-06-03T21:20:50.578-04:002011-06-03T21:20:50.578-04:00WriterX: Ya just can't put enough spin on thi...WriterX: Ya just can't put enough spin on this administration to get the dirt out. In fact, I think they've been spinning so long that their brains are mush. Their only accomplishment (other than putting the economy into a deep dumper and keeping it there) is Obamacare, and I don't think the public is too pleased about that. They're spending us into oblivion, and all they can say is "yes, but look at these magic beans we bought with your money."LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-45858746718121957372011-06-03T20:02:54.009-04:002011-06-03T20:02:54.009-04:00And the spin today by the White House on the econo...And the spin today by the White House on the economy was so laughable that it's hard to even put it in words, although one word does come to mind: Clueless.<br /><br />Let's hope Obama stays on the golf course. Whenever he and his band of idiots have tinkered with the economy, they've made it worse.Writer Xnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-31336043892696633952011-06-03T17:58:21.299-04:002011-06-03T17:58:21.299-04:00TJ: My sympathies are with you. At my age and gi...TJ: My sympathies are with you. At my age and given the Obama economy, I would find it hard to find work outside the legal profession and re-opening a practice is out of the question considering the costs. I have a different worry, and it relates to the -flation portion of stagflation. I tried to plan carefully so that my retirement would be comfortable (I never expected it to be lavish). Now I'm watching those carefully-planned budgets going to hell because of rising prices. I still write wills and trusts, but in this economy, estate planning for the average guy has given way to panic over whether his present is secure, let alone his future. And unemployed workers have no estates to plan.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-40808413131566568002011-06-03T16:48:04.602-04:002011-06-03T16:48:04.602-04:00My husband is one of those "chronically unemp...My husband is one of those "chronically unemployed". He works part time in order to home school our kids, but in 2009 his hours got cut from 20 per week to 6 and since he works at our church, he can't collect unemployment. All of those idiots who asked during the Bush administration if you were better off before he got into office are strangely silent now (or not so strangely when you consider the source).<br /><br />TJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-49593954629940149562011-06-03T16:17:09.568-04:002011-06-03T16:17:09.568-04:00Andrew: LOL Absolutely right. They'll disco...Andrew: LOL Absolutely right. They'll discover the real unemployment figures about the same time they discover that the streets are suddenly full of homeless people again.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-71239901975507142242011-06-03T16:00:32.415-04:002011-06-03T16:00:32.415-04:00Lawhawk, You know they won't discuss the real ...Lawhawk, You know they won't discuss the real number unless there's a republican president in the White House, then there will be whole exposes on the "truth" about unemployment. In the meantime, we'll just keep hearing 9% and how that's not really all that bad.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-48444381476062111462011-06-03T15:18:29.202-04:002011-06-03T15:18:29.202-04:00Tennessee: I agree. With a decent candidate, the...Tennessee: I agree. With a decent candidate, the only thing that could defeat the Republicans this time out would be a lack of the will to hammer Obama for his unkept promises, his weakness as a leader, and his crooked administration. The future of the Republic is at stake, and this is no time for gentlemanly half-measures.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-1605823465558025592011-06-03T15:13:33.417-04:002011-06-03T15:13:33.417-04:00"It's the economy, stupid!" was famo..."It's the economy, stupid!" was famously used by W.J. Clinton to win the white house. There are underlying fundamentals that will make this downturn extremely long and painful. Those that think that Obama is unbeatable in 2012 are "effen" daft in the head. All that needs be done is continue to run attack ads on this guy's broken promises. "I am going to spend 100% of my time as the jobs president . . . blah, blah, blah."Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-21237507011808911572011-06-03T14:14:49.577-04:002011-06-03T14:14:49.577-04:00Joel: I don't think we have to worry that Oba...Joel: I don't think we have to worry that Obama will reverse his policies. He's a doctrinaire, elitist, self-important ideologue. And he's arrogant to boot. But I do agree that even if he did suddenly have a brain aneurysm and reversed course, it would be too late, too little and too unbelievable.<br /><br />Clinton made a smart political move, but as much as I think he believed in the liberal line, he was not a devoted Marxist-leftist the way Obama is. He may have disliked having Congress yank his chain, but he didn't see it as a complete rejection of his entire being. For him, it was more about being liked than about being right, so he was able to bend. Obama has none of those characteristics. For him, this is personal.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-9390398297502687822011-06-03T14:08:27.925-04:002011-06-03T14:08:27.925-04:00Andrew: Very few pundits and reporters ever empha...Andrew: Very few pundits and reporters ever emphasize the true unemployment numbers. As you and I mentioned, it's closer to 17% or 18%. Even Fox only brings up the real number occasionally. Just because you can't find a job and your benefits have run out doesn't mean you're suddenly not unemployed. It means you are now <i>chronically</i> unemployed. The 8% and 9% figures are all well and good for insiders in the Bureau of Labor Statistics to use, but it doesn't even come close to painting the true picture. I hope the future Republican candidate makes the real figure a major part of his or her campaign.<br /><br />Now let us join hands and pray: "Dear Lord, may he be removed from office and may another take his place."LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-66709176937157906512011-06-03T14:04:07.305-04:002011-06-03T14:04:07.305-04:00LawHawk,
I don't even believe it will get bet...LawHawk,<br /><br />I don't even believe it will get better if Obama reverses every policy he has introduced. He still is a thieving Marxist at heart and any change in policies is a temporary thing. The business investors at large don't trust their money is safe when he is around. <br /><br />With Clinton, he at least had the grace to understand that he needed the investor class. Obama and the rest of his Marxist friends act as if the money the investors have is theirs to do want they want with. Similar to third world tin-plated dictators.<br /><br />One reason why third world countries aren't developed is because the people who run them don't respect property rights of investors. Nationalization is their watchword. As it so happens it is Obama's favorite. <br /><br />I don't expect it to get better until Nov. 2012, and even then it will take a few years to recreate the level of employment enjoyed prior to Nov 2008.Joel Farnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856960977033430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-20393998491208216342011-06-03T13:59:13.103-04:002011-06-03T13:59:13.103-04:00rlaWTX: I don't know if it was out of acciden...rlaWTX: I don't know if it was out of accidental honesty or just plain exhaustion, but the <i>Times</i> article had only a slightly liberal tilt. They stated facts, figures, and very little skewed opinion. Frankly, I checked twice to make sure I was really reading the <i>Times</i>.<br /><br />I have heard mention of LePage, but what I don't know about him would fill volumes. Guess we'll have to take a closer look.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-16644901958301978842011-06-03T12:42:47.435-04:002011-06-03T12:42:47.435-04:00Lawhawk, There's no way. The real unemploymen...Lawhawk, There's no way. The real unemployment level is closer to 17%. That means that even as the job market recovers, 6-9% will re-enter the picture, which means that they need to produce jobs for those people before they can even get the number below it's current rate (in fact, it will go up when the job market recovers). That means it stays at 9% for a very long time and could even drift to 10% as things start to get better and more people are lured back into looking for work.<br /><br />And nothing Obama has done is likely to cause any sort of recovery in the jobs market. In fact, everything he's done will only increase the problems. Right now, his only bet will be that the rest of the world recovers and forces us to recover -- but that's not happening as Europe is about to re-enter recession and even China is slowing.<br /><br />I suspect that Obama will continue to prove the rule about the link between unemployment and being a one-termer.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-14986011105098422942011-06-03T11:55:10.148-04:002011-06-03T11:55:10.148-04:00if only NYT hadn't been bemoaning this fact......if only NYT hadn't been bemoaning this fact...<br /><br /><br />on an entirely different subject (surprise): I may be behind the times, but Maine is very far away. Have y'all heard about this guy: Governor Paul R. LePage? Sounds like an interesting guy... <br />(and why does it seem that these poor kids from hard backgrounds keep growing up to be Republicans? Don't they know that the Dems are the "party of the people"?? lol)rlaWTXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09319344164726195144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-58228630198964742462011-06-03T11:51:03.423-04:002011-06-03T11:51:03.423-04:00T-Rav: The clear, obvious and provable are just r...T-Rav: The clear, obvious and provable are just roadblocks on the road to utopia. Socialism and statism ignore two major factors: simple mathematics and human nature.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-47140167487425741672011-06-03T11:39:00.003-04:002011-06-03T11:39:00.003-04:00LawHawk, I first learned about the problems with m...LawHawk, I first learned about the problems with minimum wage when I was a junior in high school. We had an online economics class with an economics professor who was either pro-free markets or simply did the math. Anyway, he discussed minimum wage, told us to think of labor in terms of supply and demand, and voila. My reaction: "Gee, that was simple. Why haven't other people figured this out?"T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-62794831423826303412011-06-03T11:05:31.388-04:002011-06-03T11:05:31.388-04:00T-Rav: You just touched one of the Democrats'...T-Rav: You just touched one of the Democrats' third-rails. Minimum wage is always a bad idea and an impediment to entry-level and temp hiring. In the current climate, it's utter disaster. It's a dumb concept that has been with us so long that many people don't even realize that it is one of the fundamental forms of interference in the free market.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-34367366557492749192011-06-03T11:00:23.002-04:002011-06-03T11:00:23.002-04:00Joel: I just don't see how the rate can drop ...Joel: I just don't see how the rate can drop significantly without major changes in Obama's economic policies (or lack thereof). Tinkering around the edges, even if he were willing to do so, is not enough to make a serious dent in the numbers. Any moves to change this by the Republicans will be met with a presidential veto (Clinton would have known better). All things considered, I think Obama is the prime architect of his own coming defeat. Then he can join Jimmy Carter in the Worst Ex-Presidents Hall of Fame.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-83679389118900160902011-06-03T10:52:38.180-04:002011-06-03T10:52:38.180-04:00Below 7.2%? Yeah right.
I'm not intimately fa...Below 7.2%? Yeah right.<br /><br />I'm not intimately familiar with the job market, but I have applied for summer jobs the past couple of years, and it's been a crapshoot no matter how you look at it. A large part of the problem is that many employers are no longer hiring for temporary or seasonal work; they expect their employees to be there for the long haul, as training short-time workers over and over again has cut into dwindling profits too much. So people in my position are out of luck most of the time. (Of course, this would probably be less of a problem if we just eliminated the minimum wage laws.)T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-56608198787237446972011-06-03T09:23:29.154-04:002011-06-03T09:23:29.154-04:00LawHawk,
Nice job and you are right. I don't ...LawHawk,<br /><br />Nice job and you are right. I don't believe we will get below 7.2% either.Joel Farnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856960977033430002noreply@blogger.com