Speak out: More government involvement on unemployment?
I know many Georgians are tired of government intervention in the economy. Readers of this blog have said so many times.
At the same time, there is a record number of Georgians unemployed right now. About 230,000 of them receive no state or federal unemployment benefits.
In light of those conflicting facts, what do you think of what Michael Thurmond, state labor commissioner, said today:
“Georgia leaders should develop a bi-partisan recovery plan that focuses on three critical elements: protecting vulnerable citizens, including children, the elderly, and the sick; preserving our health, safety, and educational institutions; and encouraging economic development investments that promote job creation and future prosperity.”
Should the government become more involved or not?
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122 comments Add your comment
Dee
July 15th, 2009
7:11 am
Yes! What do we pay them for? To represent us and help us, right? If there’s a way for the government to get stimulus money into the state and a way to create jobs to help stop this trend – then I say go for it!
Cornell Keith
July 15th, 2009
7:17 am
Bottom line…We need to attract more business to this state and our country. These numbers will continue to rise if we don’t start attracting more industry to us.
TW
July 15th, 2009
7:26 am
Weel, let’s see. We bury our head in the sand, spending eight years thinking whatever Rush and Hannity tell us to think, we let the drug companies write the health care legislation, we allow to market run wild while unregulated, we build ourselves upon borrowed money, we listen to our local leaderships justify why we should not pay for our public schools, we trash government at every turn, invade the wrong country – costing us trillions, and now, only when we are losing OUR OWN jobs, we start to wonder why?
Call the recession a ‘time-out’ for having behind like a child.
Perhaps you God is angry?
The people of a democracy get the government they deserve. Happy now?
Darren
July 15th, 2009
7:34 am
Lazy renecks down here don’t want to work. All they want to do is bash Mexicans, blame ‘libs’ whatever that means, and pretend they are part of the wealthy GOP when they are not. You rednecks are losing your jobs while those in your party who tell you what to think are adding diving boards to their pools, new putters to their golf bags. God made you a man, not a sheep. Actually, if your were a sheep, that might be a step up from being Saxby’s b!tch. Every one with a brains ought to move north. I guess we’ll have to if we don’t want to be part of the secession. Like anybody with an IQ cares if this dump leaves?
Phil
July 15th, 2009
7:41 am
Darren. Please go back to where you came from.
Ray
July 15th, 2009
7:53 am
I think we need higher corporate taxes, higher individual taxes, taxes for socialized medicine, higher SSI withholdings and maybe also higher sales and gas taxes to make things better.
ONLY the government can create jobs. Companies don’t create jobs.
Save us JesusObama!
Tre'Shawn
July 15th, 2009
7:55 am
Where da white women is?
IC Atlanta
July 15th, 2009
7:55 am
When has the government becoming more involved ever been a positive solution?
There is a model to follow which will take us out of the recession – lower income taxes on producers and not the bottom 50% who do not pay taxes. Lower corporate taxes to help attract investment back into America, temporarily suspend the cap gains tax.
Do not adopt Cap & Trade in it’s current form, do not increase minimum wage this month and do not socialize health care – all are job killers.
Obama and the democrat leadership will continue right along their current path and unemployment will probably reach 15%.
Gary
July 15th, 2009
8:05 am
This hopey/changey “thing” just is not working. Small business drives America. Big business has continued to perpetuate the myth of “good jobs”. In reality, big business has become nothing more than a big pimp. I don’t know of anyone in a big business who is happy with the environment they operate within. Small business owners are being squeezed. Its almost impossible to make a living these days. We need to stimulate those who can spend on goods & services to do so. They are not. Therefore America is screeching to a halt. Promote spending, promote the end of this recession, promote the need to support small business in America. When you buy for price, its generally due to non-american labor or manufacture. We don’t make much anymore here in the US. The media needs to start talking about relief. They are the ones who drive consumer behavior. Lets get spending America, starting with local merchants !!!
Corey
July 15th, 2009
8:08 am
Without greater demand for goods and services there will be no need to create jobs. Even with taxz cuts for businesses(I’m not against tax cuts) businesses will not hire people to just stand around. We need innovation. Start producing stuff people can’t resist. R&D, are you out there? There really hasn’t been much invented since the PC and the internet became a must for every household.
RW
July 15th, 2009
8:15 am
Well TW I think you furthered the case for capitalism and higher education! You are right, borrowing and printing money to help the economy is bad! It is going to fuel rampant inflation and further unemployment. The government’s (Obama’s…PBO) answer for their insatiable desire to spend money: print more, borrow from the Chinese and raise taxes against the rich that supply us jobs through their small businesses….brilliant!
RW
July 15th, 2009
8:18 am
Darren, you are right, everyone with brains ought to move north….at least as far north as Washington since there are none there, especially in this dimwitted administration.
AM
July 15th, 2009
8:26 am
Poor leadership and their policies has caused this problem – no respect for the constitution and the promotion of greed only to benefit a few . Time to take back our gov’t. Bush/Cheney and their policies and judgements have just about ruined our economy/country. Now it time for the other party to ruin it some more/serve the people?? Quick to bailout the corporations that make policies based on greed for a few, not the people. We need a new party that serves the people and is not ruled by a few.
David H
July 15th, 2009
8:32 am
Hey, you guys with the highest unemployment rates voted for Obama. So how is all that “hope and change” working for you? When the evil George W was President, unemployment in this state was half of what it is today. Those capitalistic policies that make people rich (don’t you want to be rich, too?) gave you a good paying job! But no, you had to vote for socialist misery and poverty, and boy did you get it square in the face. So enjoy it. It will only get worse with these time tested economic models that you allow to be rammed down your collective throats. And guess what? You still have 3½ years to go with the abomination living in the White House. I have no sympathy for you, what so ever. If Georgia is currently at 10.1% unemployment, can 15% be far behind? And just wait for the imminent inflation, and massive interest rates. You are going to love it.
Lee
July 15th, 2009
8:36 am
Take a ride through any of Atlanta’s projects. That’s what your healthcare is going to look like.
You ain’t seen nothing yet. Just wait ’til you see inflation!
Corey
July 15th, 2009
8:38 am
David H, why didn’t great W keep the economic collapse from happening just before the election so that Jed and Elli Mae could have gotten elected and continued hid great ecenomic policies?
fulldawg
July 15th, 2009
8:38 am
I, for one am cretainly glad we ahve “Lee” the one who can see into the future….jerk
fulldawg
July 15th, 2009
8:39 am
It’s a “Sonny Day” in Georgia!!
Sharon
July 15th, 2009
8:40 am
I believe the unemployment number is higher than the state reports simply because they use the number of people collecting unemployment benefits to arrive at that number. This does not include the number of people, like myself, who find themselves unemployed and unable to collect because they were forced to submit a resignation in lieu of termination to preserve their ability to obtain other employment. The government states that number is 230,000, but really how do they know. I believe a more realistic unemployment percent is already at 15%.
Reallity
July 15th, 2009
8:41 am
Lee, Atlanta no longer has projects. Have you been living under a rock? You really should get away from the six o’clock news more often.
anonymous coward
July 15th, 2009
8:43 am
What makes me laugh at your comments are those that think stimulus packages do anything at all, or that 6 months in office should be enough to make some sort of difference. That it’s Obama’s “dimwitted administration” that keeps things from getting better or Bush & Cheney for making things bad. Nothing is really going to change until the US moves back toward a manufacturing based economy instead of a consumer based economy. Otherwise we’re borrowing money from the Chinese to buy Chinese-made crap sitting on ships anchored at our ports.
Governments and administrations come and go and they can have some effect on the overall economy. But as long as labor is cheaper elsewhere and nobody wants to pay more for goods made locally nothing will change because people are about as intelligent as sheep. They march dutifully to buy their Chinese made crap at WalMart (oh yeah, those are some good paying jobs there) or Target and think they’re living the good life. Oh yeah.
Darren
July 15th, 2009
8:47 am
The GOP started this war on brains. Hope you like it.
To listen to those who trashed the house now talk about what’s wrong with the clean-up is the height of ignorance and would be funny if it weren’t so pathetic.
What’s not funny for sure is how the rightwing couldn’t have cared less when our soldiers where needlessly dying in droves over in Iraq, but now they care because their money is in trouble. Sure, kill sombody else’s kid, but don’t mess with my money – how very Christian.
This South is nothing but an anchor on this country. We would do well to find a way to trade it for Mexico. At least Mexicans value education and know how to work hard – two things the to which the South is apparently opposed. Nothing worse than hypocrites who are too dumb to know what they are. Like the teabagers who took Marta to the rally. Ignorant sheep.
EJ Moosa
July 15th, 2009
8:54 am
Government intervention is why we are where we are. Without profits, companies do not hire. Not one thing that has been done by the Obama administration has the result of improving profits. Not one.
What happens going forward with a higher minimum wage? Fewer profits….
When the Doctor kills the patient, we get lawsuits. What will we do when the politicians kill the economy?
White Woman
July 15th, 2009
9:05 am
I wish we could put aside the name calling and the blaming long enough to figure out a real solution to the mess we’re in. When we spend all our time and energy bickering with each other, the problems just get worse.
Somehow, we have to make it attractive for entrepreneurs to start new businesses and for current business owners to invest in their companies. Continuing to overtax the income producers doesn’t work. Governments must cut their fat at all levels. Americans are being forced to cut back (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing — I’ve always lived a frugal life). Why hasn’t the Congress been forced to cut back? They actually had the nerve to INCREASE their operating budget this year. Shameful. I am totally fed up with the whole culture of the federal government — they do not appreciate exactly what their jobs are — to represent US. NOT to get rich, not to indulge themselves in a lavish lifestyle at our expense. That nonsense has to stop.
Alan
July 15th, 2009
9:14 am
Obama sure has done a great job so far! What a moron. His approval rating goes down and down each month. I think you people have learned your lesson about putting one of “those” in office. It has been proven, especially in Atlanta, how terrible black leadership is.
kool$kat
July 15th, 2009
9:15 am
2 Chronicles 7:14 (New International Version)
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
AM
July 15th, 2009
9:26 am
David H – Where were you during the last 8 years – in fantasy land? Bush/Cheney and his policies have caused this major problem. You are a political hack that has a very shallow memory or other wise known as selective memory. Instead of building Bush a library we should build him a jail cell. But I have no faith in the democrats either!
An Ordinary American.com
July 15th, 2009
9:27 am
I don’t have a problem with limited government involvement, especially during times of distress like these. We got the Kia plant through government involvement with tax concessions and other incentives and I don’t hear too many people complaining about that. Let’s give businesses some good incentives to hire new people.
Also, the real estate market around is truly the milestone around our necks. We rode the real estate bull market for quite a few years and now it has fallen back down to earth. That is not the fault of any one party, but a natural part of free markets (or of greed). Remember the dot com era. I am not sure how we solve it or if we just try to minimize the damage, but let’s put our heads together. Why do we let the burden fall on the government to solve our problems? Is the increase in government a result of our failures to help our fellow man?
All of us can help by hiring an unemployed person to cut your grass, remodel your house, or other temporary jobs that will help that person put food on his table. Find that person and make a difference today.
Cindy
July 15th, 2009
9:34 am
Let’s get back to the point. I have been unemployed since September 2008 and it is scary! Our small and large companies are leaving Georgia in droves… I truly think our Goverment should tax the major corporations that have moved many jobs overseas to the point they have to bring the manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. As more and more people become unemployed, what you sell or make or do, will suffer too. Be thankful you have employment…. many of us are hanging by fingertips trying to hang on to whats left…
Former Project Kid
July 15th, 2009
9:40 am
Lee, you are one of those people who speak about without knowing the facts of anything. I bet you make a lot of assumptions about poor people and welfare, etc. Fact is that while you’re telling people to ride through any housing project in Atlanta and that’s what health care will look like…. Housing projects, in their previous form, no longer exist in Atlanta. They are now beautiful mixed-income communities. The metro Atlanta governments have been tearing them down since the GA Dome was being constructed (I went to Bethune Elementary directly across the street from the dome and lived in the Herndon Homes directly down the street from the dome). Get your facts straight before you comment.
Distressed
July 15th, 2009
9:46 am
Ordinary – The KIA plant.. yes.. through tax concesssions.. How bout if we didn’t have those taxes in the first place? Housing issues.. Yes.. we had a lot of ppl buying homes they couldn’t afford. Why were these limits dropped by Fannie and Freddie? Gov’t intervention..
Cindy.. Tax companies that move jobs overseas? Maybe that is why you see COMPANIES moving overseas. Why would you want to punish a retired couple for some company making a profit? Those evil companies are places that many people have invested their retirement money in and are hoping for some kind of return.
gatorman770
July 15th, 2009
9:51 am
The liberal democrats policies beginning with Jimmy Obama Carter’s Community Investment Act (CIA), ACORN and liberal Democrats like Barney “Elmer Fudd” Frank, blackmailing banks into taking CIA loans that would never be repaid and banker greed led to the US and World economy crashing to hell and “cap and Trade” will finish the libs job of making the US a third world economy.
Mrs. Godzilla
July 15th, 2009
9:58 am
Confidence is high!
Jay Litton
July 15th, 2009
9:59 am
For those people that are personally impacted by being in transition a volunteer group in Roswell can help. I lead the largest job networking ministry in the Southeast at http://www.RUMCjobnetworking.com. We average over 300 professionals at each meeting and even start each meeting with dinner. We then offer one-on-one resume review, workshops and guest speakers. Our next meeting is Monday, July 27th starting at 5:55 pm. With over 75 volunteers on-site and another 125 off site we have the ability to contribute to the needs of those that stop by.
Cindy
July 15th, 2009
10:00 am
Distressed – I understand what you are saying… I may not have said it correctly. Many U.S. large corporations are moving all manufacturing out of the U.S. Some companies have 99% of their production in other countries that I don’t think they should even be called U.S. based organizations. Believe me, many of our retired parents should rebalance their retirement monies in less agressive accounts until the dust settles. Most don’t need the money to live on themselves…. it is their greedy children that are most concerned.
"C"BERRY
July 15th, 2009
10:09 am
let me begin with a question. when has the government done anything right on a consistent
basis? the number one job our u.s. government is supposed too do is protect our country
from our enemies. we haven’t won a war since ww11. do you really want to have this group
of 535 congress people trying to solve any of this nation’s ills? just look what you have in
this group of 535 legislators. one classic example is ted kennedy. a drunk that should have
been charged with manslaughter in the death of mary jo kopechne. a man who has been fed with a silver spoon all of his life and “never” held a real job. then you have the other senator from massachusetts, john kerry. now , he’s a piece of work. he brings shame to
our military. a liar and a coward that could have been president if the swift boat soldiers
hadn’t come forward and pointed out his lies. congress is full of perverts, liars, tax cheats,
and blowhards who make the rules for us to live by. the problem there is that they don’t have to live by them. they have the “best” health care in the world for as long as they
live–FREE. they vote themselves pay raises. i could go on, but it would be beating 535
dead horses. next year we have the opportunity to vote out of office one third of the u.s.
state representatives. that will be a good start, and in the next four years after that we can
finish the job by firing the rest of them. it’s past time to let these people know that they are our employees and we’re ready to fire them all. i’ continue to be amazed at the ignorance
of the average voter. you wanted change and hope, so you voted in someone who has all
these unanswered questions hanging over his head. voters, didn’t your mother teach you
that “you are judged by the company you keep?” i know that i’m looking for change and hope. the change will be in 44 months when we unload president “hussein” but i hope that
it comes much sooner !!
.
PappyHappy
July 15th, 2009
10:09 am
Citizens can rightfully start asking the questions:
*What dividends are we going to receive from the auto bailouts? President Obama indicated on July 14 that many of the automotive jobs that have been lost ARE NOT COMING BACK.
*What will be the impact on jobs — nationwide — with the proposed Cap & Trade legislation? Individuals who have worked in the energy sector — oil, natural gas, coal and even nuclear — will tell you that these jobs will go by the way of ‘automotive jobs’. Though nuclear is supportive in the package, who will want a plant in their back yard, and it takes years for bureaucratic approval! If you work for GE, there will be hope in the manufacture of wind turbines, but if you have been reliant on jobs (or investments) in the other sectors, your days could be coming to an end!
*What about the job prospects in the health care industry if Obama Care comes to fruition?
By definition, Obama wants to REDUCE COST! As a result of NO TORT REFORM, attorney jobs will remain stable. Health insurers will probably go out of business for they will not be able to compete with the government’s public policy. A nursing shortage already exists, and a doctor’s shortage is looming. The challenge will be to attract the ‘best and brightest’ into medicine. This may be a lot easier said than done, for many of the ‘best and brightest’ are leaving medicine for other disciplines because they do not want to be governed by bureaucrats. Long story short, this will NOT be a jobs generator!
*What should be the focus on job creation? Quit wasting taxpayer money on BIG FINANCE; nationalizing the automotive industry; get out of the business of trying to take over free enterprise. It was reported latein 2008 that 78% of all jobs were with businesses with 500 or less employees — these are small businesses. But, there is ZERO focus on providing stimulus to the job creation engine. On the contrary, these are the targets the federal government is targeting to pay for many of their initiatives.
In our view, if the current legislative agenda continues, START FARMING IF YOU WANT TO EAT!
white real citizen
July 15th, 2009
10:12 am
do ya’ll ever notice all the pregnant illegal aliens walking around walmart?? the mexkins don’t have a clue about recessions or give a flip. call your leaders…they don’t have a clue either.
Cynthia
July 15th, 2009
10:16 am
I think Commissioner Thurmond’s comments are right on point. I am concerned about the unemployment rate. I believe the State Department of Labor is doing all they can to provide resources and employment assistance.
Jim
July 15th, 2009
10:23 am
“Government” intervention is the principal reason that the economy is where it is today, and all of us are suffering the consequences of political decisions. Politicians make political decisions – not business decisions – in order to get votes. Politicians want votes and every decision they make is all about getting votes – period. Government is full of politicians who keep their jobs because more of us vote for them than we do for their opponents. Business succeeds by making good business decisions to grow and remain competitive – this is where jobs come from. Business decisions and political decisions are like water and oil – they do not mix. If you are currently employed, and want to keep your job, or unemployed and looking for a job, think carefully about the next election. Vote for a candidate who is willing to support business over government and we will soon be back to work. Vote for the government candidate, you will soon be on welfare or be a government employee. If you choose not to vote, you abdicate your future to those who do vote and therefore have no right to complain about the outcome.
Barry
July 15th, 2009
10:24 am
You can try to blame Bush and Cheney but they were a hell of a lot better than this moron teleprompter Obama that has been illegally elected to hold the position of commander in chief! His OJT and witless spending is fastly sinking what was once a great country!
One
Big
Ass
Mistake
America
reservoirDAWG
July 15th, 2009
10:26 am
Wait until healthcare is socialized. We’ll be looking at 20% unemployment. Companies will lay people off because of the increased taxes. One Big Ass Mistake America.
one fan
July 15th, 2009
10:27 am
The best part of the whole deal is that when unemployment reaches 15% Obama apologists will still be blaming Bush. Obama is in charge now. Blaming Bush is not going to help the situation. We can all agree that Bush was a flop; the problem is that Bush is looking better and better compared to this incompetent administration. Two million jobs have been lost since the “stimulus” package was passed. At what point does the drunken spending end, and common sense takes over? hopefully before it’s too late.
Melody
July 15th, 2009
10:47 am
Darren, I completely agree with you and TR as to why things are the way they are. However, do not paint all southerners with the same broad brush. I was born and raised in the south, and I am proud to call myself a liberal.
coachx
July 15th, 2009
10:52 am
The Democrats lied through their teeth for 2 years wile they charged for their hostorical presidential nomination with idealogical thinking lead by actors in Hollywood (like they have a clue).
Now the Democrats are busy increasing taxes to pay for all their promised governmental programs while people are losing jobs. Not to mention appointing a Justice to the Supreme Court that is racist. Appearently it is OK to be racist and long as your not white in Democratic Party.
Cut taxes to small businesses so they do not have to lay off more employees. Is it rocklet science ?
People wanted change ! How does and increased taxes, increased unemployment, and more government control sound ? Well, that is the kind of change America’s min-informed voters asked for and now they got it.
We have to stand up and tell these Demorats in the Congrees we do not want more spending and increase taxes. We do not want $200 check written as a “stimulas plan.” That was a Buy Votes Plan from the poor voters plan…plain and simple. That plan created no jobs ! Cut taxes to small businesses so they can hire back some of the growing unemployed population.
Melody
July 15th, 2009
10:53 am
As for healthcare reform… Conservatives always point to Great Britain and Canada to scare people away from a government run health care system. Ever notice that they never point to France, even though they have a socialist system as well? The World Health Care Organization just voted France as having the best run health care system in the world. My best friend has lived in France for over fifeen years, and he agrees that they have a much better system than the U.S.
coachx
July 15th, 2009
11:01 am
Melody,
You now want us to follow the lead of France ?
Have you ever taken an economics class in your life ?
Economics must be taught in highschool. It is obvious US citizens are fools based on the plan to grow government and start up a health care system in the middle of a recession. The deficit is now $1,000,000,000,000 !
Are we just going to keep printing money out of no where ? Infaltion is the next wave to hit this country if we keep printing money.
You have to be kidding me ! Get a clue Melody ! This whole bunch about my friend lives in France, blah, blan, blah is for the birds.
We cannot pay for a health care system right now !
AH
July 15th, 2009
11:10 am
To answer the original question should the state do more – No. The Feds are doing enough to screw everything up don’t ask the state to jump in and help.
FYI – Maybe we should look a little closer at a healthcare system similar to Singapore’s system.
Bill
July 15th, 2009
11:13 am
Thanks Barry
Sparky
July 15th, 2009
11:14 am
The Feds kept interest rates at historic lows which discouraged savings and encouraged spending and borrowing. There is plenty of blame to go around. Letting the market correct itself without government intervention would cause the economy to slip even further into a recession and cause unemployment to be in the high double digits. At least Obama understands that something has to be done, I don’t agree with all his choices, but something has to be done.
martin
July 15th, 2009
11:29 am
I wasn’t aware Obama was supposed to turn around a near economic collapse within 6 months. It took 8 years of a failed administration to get us into this mess….have a little patience. Would you rather have John McSame and Caribou Barbie running the show? God help us.
Gen Neyland
July 15th, 2009
11:31 am
Hey President Obama, why not eliminate the 10% penalty for the unemployed that have to cash out their 401(k)’s to survive your economic slump..?
IC Atlanta
July 15th, 2009
11:32 am
Fair Tax is the answer to our current malaise. I think it will get much worse before it gets better. When necessity will require us to turn the current situation on it’s ear. The government will continue to try “to do something” and it will be a huge flop – higher unemployment and massive inflation. Which will lead to just more government control and more misery.
Perhaps it is time to follow through on another Declaration of Independence “When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
The Democrats are in the process of forming a tyrannical government, yet sadly the Republicans aren’t much better. In the long run our current road will not work. Use history as your guide.
Ignorance_Is_Bliss
July 15th, 2009
11:47 am
Wow Barry…Didn’t know you were at the hospital at the exact moment Obama was born to help his mom and dad sign the birth certificate in a place that has been a state since 1959…
Really people..it hasn’t even been seven months.
Jobless in Atlanta
July 15th, 2009
12:00 pm
The percent of unemployment is higher than 10 percent. Recently, I resigned from my job in lieu of termination. My separation noticed said resignation. When I called the DOL, I was told that my benefits would be denied. So, here’s an example of someone who wasn’t counted by the system. I want the bloggers to know that workplace bullying is on the uprise and the managers are using peer evaluations to get rid of employees.
Aaron
July 15th, 2009
12:06 pm
Why is it that here at least, almost 70% of the people unemployed or who are receiving a check are black yet only 25% or so of the state is black? Maybe getting an education and even a college degree would help. Too late for you people but maybe you should focus on your kids. It would be nice to see them in school instead of out killing, stealing, and robbing.
Unemployed Granny
July 15th, 2009
12:08 pm
You can’t blame Obama for everything. He inherited this mess. Like he has said over AND over again, it is going to take time.
At least he is being honest…which is more than can be said for his predecessor.
C-way
July 15th, 2009
12:13 pm
I am very surprised at a lot of the commentary. I assume that we all had some form of civics and history during high school. For those who would address our president in some of the derogatory tones I have seen, shame on you. Had McCain won, and I did not vote for him, I would have more respect than you have shown.
We have two primary methods of wealth management – hard assets and “soft” assets. Cash, real estate, stocks and other forms of company ownership would be in one bucket. this mess started when the powerful were allowed to siphon income from the hard working folks I think are commenting today. America has been living on credit and still lives there. Only before the recession hit, we thought we had an unlimited supply of it.
We have all been fooled. So, do we “take” the money back from the CEO’s, CFO’s and the like that have milked billions out of the ecomony over the years while firing thousands of American Employees and put that money back into the system – - could be a right answer, but it also does appear that we do not have the Govt. (and it certainly did not exist with Cheney-Bush) to do so. We would cry foul, but we had no problem watching it happen.
the economy is not great and we are beginning to put a spot light on when execs take cash like they had in the past. change is slow, but I would rather have Obama in office who is willing to stay the course and continue to participate than Palin who quit when the going got tough – - let’s see what those Alaska taxes look like this year. As far as waiting 44 months for the next election, the repubs don’t have a candidate. We welcome the selection of SP, quitting when the going gets tough…
Skip
July 15th, 2009
12:14 pm
Good job voting for Obama Bin Laden you morons. His approval rating keeps going down and down. You should have known had bad black leadership is. Just look at Atlanta.
white real citizen
July 15th, 2009
12:18 pm
the bush/cheney/rove/rice/rummy gang sold out america to wall street bankers. we did not have massive deficits and 50 million welfare illegals under clinton. you can only save your selves from now on.
Get Real
July 15th, 2009
12:31 pm
These so-called ‘informed’ people don’t even realize that the federal government’s current budget is the one proposed by George Bush. This trillion dollar deficit didn’t start on 1/20/09, and even Sarah Palin couldn’t turn around the Titanic quickly enough for you yahoos. Of course you all want to blame this on ‘black leadership’, but why is it the Georgia has such a high unemployment rate compared to other states? Might it have something to with the fraud of a housing industry that we have (i.e, laid off construction workers)? Or the 15 or so failed banks in this state (the largest in the nation)? Seems like local and state politics would affect the average citizen moreso than anything Obama could ever do. Oh, by the way, if not for that unneeded, wasteful stimulus, Georgia’s budget wouldn’t have even been able to balance its budget. Heck, GDOT is so broke they can’t even afford to cut the grass along the interstates. Blame Obama, yeah right. Weren’t those $1.35T tax cuts proposed by Bush and voted into law by a republican majority were supposed to create all these jobs? And I don’t think Obama was President on 9/14/08 when the stock market crashed either.
Kim
July 15th, 2009
12:33 pm
Question, why can’t the government help folks to retrain? I’m talking for nursing, technical jobs, things you can’t teach yourself. I might be pretty naive but it would be a win-win for everyone.
itsme
July 15th, 2009
12:35 pm
I cannot imagine what is taking the governmet so long. More and more people are losing their jobs every day. Money seems to be going for everything except putting people to work. That is the biggest need right now.
ornery
July 15th, 2009
12:39 pm
We need to let up on the taxes and ensure we are getting businesseses to invest. I know a lot of businesses slowed up when the realization that President Obama was to be elected. Now there’s another wait and see due to the global change bill and health care reform bill that are killing businesses with increased taxes. The GDOL, is a dysfunctional cesspool of halfway literate miscreants that have no motivation or inclination to do anything for the citizens of Georgia. Relying on a outdated, outmoded way of operations that shows a classic disconnect between government operations and leaders and that of the citizens of Georgia. So to get out of this rut, We need to gut GDOL, and find a way to stop the steam roll of wealth redistribution by those in power. Yes there needs to be some tightening of the financial markets, but, at the expense of those fortunate to have money is not a valid solution.
Gen Neyland
July 15th, 2009
12:43 pm
Get Real : GWB isn’t the president and Sarah Palin never was. BHO is and it’s his economy, his war, his everything. Let’s be fair if you want to blame past presidents through a most recent history. Were you around when Nixon inherited Vietnam from Kennedy/Johnson..? Were you around when Reagan inherited Carter’s economy? If so, you can easily figure out who got what blame and who got what credit. This is now all BHO. Deal with it.
UnemployedInGA
July 15th, 2009
12:46 pm
Implement the FairTax Act at the state level and stand back and watch the flood of companies moving to Georgia. GA Dept of Revenue still processing refunds, won’t be necessary w/ FairTax Act.
worldcomingtoend
July 15th, 2009
12:50 pm
THIS IS SAD!!! RACISM AND IGNORANCE WILL EVENTUALLY DESTROY THIS EARTH. SKIP – LAST TIME I CHECKED THE POTUS WAS BI-RACIAL.
Get Real
July 15th, 2009
12:56 pm
@ Gen, I don’t see the beloved ‘Reagan’ catching any flack for his policies (Iran Contra, S&L BAILOUTS), while Carter has continued to characterized as an inept President. Even as he tried to promote energy independence 30 years ago. It is Obama’s ‘everything’ as you put it, but some on this blog believe when can stop a war in a week, or turn unemployment around on a dime. The unemployment rate has been skyrocketing for more than a year, but no one was blaming GWB for his failed economic schemes. Fiscal responsibility is the new slang now, however, two wars were put on a credit card and slipped into supplemental war bills to hide their true costs. Obama didn’t cause these high unemployment numbers and has attempted to do something about it. Either thats not fast enough for some people, or too much spending for others. The fair thing to do would be to at minimum wait until 1/20/10 and judge the man. If the economy has worsened, you won’t hear anything from me. But to blame the guy that hasn’t even been in office 6 months is a bit childish. As I stated before the federal fiscal year begins 10/1, until then he’s working off Bush’s ‘fuzzy math.’ And the idea of tax cuts stimulating the economy is a myth that has been debunked. We had tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 that created no jobs. Republicans had the grand idea to privatized social security benefits. I’m dealing with it, some hear want to solely blame the black man while letting do nothing Sonny skate. He’s the freaking governor and not a word here about him from any conservatives. Can’t blame the President without at least equal blame going to the Governor.
ornery
July 15th, 2009
12:56 pm
This is not racism, The president is a borderline socialist that believes in classic tax and spend mantra with a hint of black militancy (ala Black Panthers) That throws a lot of people a curve and with the dual majorities and the dysfunctional republicans, there is not a articulate, passionate person in the Republican party that is worth anything to listen to. All we need to do is send the time machine back to the late 1940’s and GOP can have Bob Taft. I like Palin, but I think she’s damaged goods, needs to lay low and rebuild the base. and if Newt would stop tweeting from the restaurants he eats at and gives thoughtful commentary we might get somewhere.
Andy in Blairsville
July 15th, 2009
12:58 pm
When has more government been the right answer to anything?
It sucks out there but let me tell you a secret: It’s only going to get worse as we are in for a long deep depression/recession.
Thankfully my business is growing by big double digits in an industry which is down 20+% YTD. After 12 years in business it pays to be in the right place at the right time. Heck, I have even hired a few people since January and plan on expanding my operation this year by adding another warehouse…..
….but no sooner do I walk out of my front door it sure seems like the world is coming to an end.
I hate to see anyone out of a job that actually wants one and my best advice is to get a federal government job if you don’t have an entrepreneurial spirit. Hell, if you’re young enough put 20 years in the Chair Force. Retire in 20 yrs then become useless and work at the Post Office.
white real citizen
July 15th, 2009
1:04 pm
as long as america lets any illegal alien produce welfare babies , we are doomed.
look at mexifornia.
Unemployed software tester
July 15th, 2009
1:06 pm
I’m not sure what the government can do in my case. I test software. Software companies are doing one of two things:
1) They are sending testing to India; or
2) They are deluding themselves into believing that programmers can test their own code.
This will not change until programs that are “tested” in one of these two ways blow up after release and their profits are wiped out by refunds and penalties.
I’m currently unemployed, but I am so much luckier than many of my friends who have been unemployed two or three times since 2000 – for periods lasting up to 19 months. I have had a week’s worth of work since the end of March (which I reported to unemployment) and might get another week’s work in the next couple of months. I send out resumes daily. I have moved into a smaller apartment that I can afford without tapping my savings.
I won’t say that I am never afraid or that my stomach never hurts from worry, but I will keep trying and believing that I will make it through this – without help from the government.
TS
July 15th, 2009
1:08 pm
The government should pay for jobs and the government should pay for healthcare. Instead of saying government just substitue “YOU” in there. If France is so much better why don’t you move there where it takes 8 months to see a cancer specialist.
Watch Glenn Beck- he is the TRUTH!
SR
July 15th, 2009
1:13 pm
Don’t worry it’s all good and it’s all gonna be better with all the Change that the democrats and Obama are bringing in. LOL! What a bunch of SUCKAHS they all are who voted for this guy.
ornery
July 15th, 2009
1:16 pm
How dysfunctional is GDOL? They offer job fairs where people aren’t hiring, or hiring for menial positions
Instead of collecting resumes from everyone that walks in the door, they have a archaic job posting system, you look through their postings cut and paste and hope the reader at the AS/400 terminal will be able to understand the requirements and then send you to the job. Sometimes the clerks are so slow by the time they process your request the job is gone. When they should convert their system to a web based system that enables resume collection and automatic job referral. Also if you have been to the GDOL website there is no way to get a hold of Mr. Thurmond directly by email. Also why does every GDOL location has a ARMED guard? Fact is we have dysfunctional systems on top of dysfunctional system in the age of Craigslist and monster.com GDOL is living in the age of Sam Caldwell and George Busbee.
Gen Neyland
July 15th, 2009
1:19 pm
Get Real : There is plenty of blame to go around. We’re now a highspeed society expecting the fix be implemented ASAP at any cost and for Washington to think printing new money will speed up the process, well it may. Short term. I consider myself a fiscal conservative and voted my primary on that principle. It galls me no end to see good money tossed for bad. I don’t do it at home and I’ll guarantee most people of any political affiliation don’t if it’s their money they’re tossing around. But when it’s taxpayers dollars spent on social ills and shovel ready jobs that aren’t, it is truly painful to the ‘fiscally responsible’ among us to have to watch the slow kill methodology out of D.C.. What did Johnson’s Great Society bring us but greater dependence on goverment and a slow kill to the land of the free. For some reason I want to say the S&L bailouts occured on Bush I watch…Am I wrong..? I remember being as opposed then just like I am to today’s massive and widespread BAILOUTS and the 30 or so czars that get to call the shots via the president.
reservoirDAWG
July 15th, 2009
1:19 pm
One more thing. Obama throws like a girl.
Larry
July 15th, 2009
1:24 pm
Glenn Beck sets the standard for TV pundit douchebaggery. The way he wipes imaginary tears away and does it with a straight face is amazing. They should move his show to comedy central though. He is hilarious.
Get Real
July 15th, 2009
1:24 pm
Gen, S&L began to rear its head in 1986 and became a full-blown scandal by 1990. I’m an independent who leans democrat, and was against the auto bailouts. I agree with the stimulus in the case because it was a last resort. Cutting taxes for businesses that were losing revenue and shedding jobs wasn’t going to create more jobs. Business owners would just sit on the cash, as they’re doing now. We can debate about Medicare and the Social Security Act of 1965, but just imagine the health care costs we would have today for a rising senior population. Sometimes government has to step in. The tax cuts implemented by Bush and Pelosi more than a year ago was not that time.
Gen Neyland
July 15th, 2009
1:36 pm
reservoirDAWG : Good to see you get out of Bulldawgspeak on occassions.
Kymell
July 15th, 2009
1:43 pm
Dont take this sitting down. There are jobs in DC/MD/VA. Get off your butts and move where the money is.
PokeUINURI
July 15th, 2009
1:51 pm
For all you anti-Obama, guvmint hating, unemployed whiner hacks out here on the board, I have a suggestion for you…
Put in an app with the “Blue Jean Bandits”, they’re hiring! Stop being miserable slugs.
reservoirDAWG
July 15th, 2009
1:52 pm
Gen, occasionally I like to read what the liberals think? It is also nice to get away from m and the bunch.
Andrea
July 15th, 2009
1:52 pm
It can be discouraging, but there is hope. I was out of work from August 2008 to March 2009. I went to the job fair at the World Congress Center in March 2009. It was so crowded (over 20,000 people) but I did get a job. It was not a menial job. While I did take a pay cut (started out in the mid 40’s), it was certainly more than nothing.
You have to ask yourself – WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO TO GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE?
I am in the process now of relocating from Madison, GA to Atlanta because my commute is 89 miles one way. I say all of that to make the point – there are jobs out there. Someone has to get them, why can’t it be you? Stop wallowing in what has happened previously. You may have to relocate or have a horrible commute for some months, but at least you will have a job.
Newsreader
July 15th, 2009
2:06 pm
Barack Obama is terrorizing this country with higher taxes and his wanting to be the biggest celebrity in the world. The people that love him are nothing but ignorant sheep that would follow him off a cliff. Obama is running this country at an alarming rate but his sheep don’t care and get just giddy when they see him on the Tonight Show or at the MLB All-Star Game. Can’t wait til Nov. 2010 when the liberal trash out of the leadership out of Congress. 99% of black people voted for Obama because he is 1/2 black and they have no clue on his policies or do they care. That is a sad fact.
Gen Neyland
July 15th, 2009
2:07 pm
Kymell : You are correct in your assessment that job availibility hasn’t limitations, people do… My Mom told a story from her youth that dated back to the Depression years. It was of men passing through our hometown of Cookeville, TN aboard the Tennessee Central railcars enroute to and in search of work. Of how my grandmother and others would cook them hot lunches from yard chickens and homegrown vegtables. For the most part, all travelers were polite and thankful. These were not ‘hobos’, but men in search of work to feed their families back home, wherever that was…That mentality is gone. Now it’s a gimme game off the Little Taxpayer That Should…
Libertas
July 15th, 2009
2:10 pm
Push the FairTax at home, here in Georgia. I would not mind being a guinea pig to test its viability and showing D.C. the way. If it’s a rough experience, it’s not like the corporations and talent would leave and go anywhere else. The Rust Belt is dead, California is imploding, too cold in the Midwest, the tax the snot out of you in the Northeast. Etc.
Now back to work for me because I’m damn grateful for the opportunity while it lasts.
Vick Supporter
July 15th, 2009
2:12 pm
My condolences to those who are unemployed…I must admit I’ve been very fortunate to get a great paying job right out of college.
You white people kill me man….its funny how quickly ya’ll turn on people,lol. White people put Obama in office!!! We didn’t vote him in alone you idiots! Now you people blame “black leadership”,lol. Well what the F do you call “Bush” leadership? Bush did a GREAT job, lmao. Obama has been in office 7 months and you white people expect him to snap his fingers and magically fix the economy, which has been in decline for years! Bush had 8 years, and people on here still support him, yet he F’ed up the country for Obama to fix. I always knew that Obama would have a tough time as President due to PURE RACISM. You people are full of hate just like you were during the civil rights era. You people are sickening.
Jobless in Atlanta
July 15th, 2009
2:13 pm
Based on the comments that I’ve read, racism is alive and well! This is NOT a race issue. Nor is this a democrat or republican issue! This crisis started through GREED! Now, we have to pay for it. I would love the opportunity to work and make a decent salary in order to support my family.
Lcard
July 15th, 2009
2:14 pm
We don’t need more goverment intervention everything it touches goes to hell ex. Social Security,Wellfare etc..Give the citizens of this great nation what they deserve and stop intervining in other countries problems.
reservoirDAWG
July 15th, 2009
2:17 pm
Good luck to those who are unemployed and seeking a job.
Tim
July 15th, 2009
2:33 pm
Hey Vick Supporter, you trying to get Al Sharpton’s job? Stop blaming white folks for all your problems. You folks have had that chip on your shoulder for far too long, and we are tired of the whinning.
As for the economy, I have an idea. Lets find the most liberal member of Congress that has the least experience with government, believes in Socialism, wants government health care, shakes hands with dictators, bows to the Saudi prince, apologizes for America, blames America for all the problems in the world, appoints a tax cheat to run the IRS, fires CEO’s from private companies, takes over the banking system, spends 1 trillion dollars in 7 months, and asks for more stimulus money. Oh wait…….we did that. Oh, well then I guess Obama has done a good job.
Because It Matters
July 15th, 2009
2:35 pm
“Government Intervention” is Republican code for helping the Working and Middle Classes. The fact that Conservatives speak in code and talking points speaks to why we see the massive failure at both the state and national level.
The truth is, Conservatives preach a good game about values and personal responsibility, but when it comes time to take responsibility for their mess, they create distractions such as teabag parties and even talk of succession.
Bush’s $2 Trillion tax cut was an “intervention” folks. His turning a annual surplus into the largest annual deficit is proof positive that Conservatives cannot be trusted to manage the public’s money.
There are no easy answers out of this mess either. The philosophy of trying to attract business, so-called “job creators, by offering low or no tax es along with little worker protection has proved to be a massive failure. All that did was to temporarily suck jobs from the North on their way to India, China, and other developing countries. There is no tax incentive that can compete with $1/day labor somewhere else.
I would suggest we start by making massive improvements in public transportation and education. Business are more likely to come to a state, or stay in a state, if the public school system is among the best. People are more likely to relocate to those places where there is a strong public transportation system. We have lots of terrific roads and highways, it’s now time to do public transportation.
What we do know is that the things we have been doing have failed us. There is no benevolent entrepreneurial class just waiting for the right tax cut to save the Working and Middle Class. The economy relied too much on spending and now over-priced assets (houses, stocks). It is going to take good jobs that pay good wages to put the country on solid footing.
It is going to take more than one President to guide us through the required changes. President Obama is merely the beginning, not the end.
As for y’all giving the President your disrespect, I hope you enjoy your government-run health care. It is going to happen. People will come to love it, just like people in other countries enjoy theirs, and we will save more money in the long run. I know many don’t believe that now, but by time the next President is sworn in, I bet almost all of you will be getting you some of that “socialized medicine” and happy as hell to have it.
Get Real
July 15th, 2009
2:50 pm
tim @ 2:33, guess you haven’t seen the picture of Bush KISSING the Saudi prince then eh? Not that it means anything but you brought it up. And no one has a chip on their shoulder. Contrary to media reports and ‘informed’ citizens, most blacks get up everyday and go to work AND are taxpaying citizens. Republicans elected a one-term governor who ran a company names Arbusto (that went bust) and if not for his daddy would be pumping gas at the Phillips 66. YOU did that. And you should also include that those CEOs took taxpayer money after virtually bankrupting their companies and the economy along with it. Bush looked into Putin’s soul whatever that means. Also, YOU folks should do less to pin all this on Obama. Especially since the unemployment rate here is higher than the national rate and that of other states. Guess you think Sonny is doing a bang up job.
Tim
July 15th, 2009
2:50 pm
Hey ‘Because it Matters’, why don’t you speak to a Canadian (my wife is Canadian) about socialized medicine. Is that why a lot of doctors offices up north are full of Canadian patients? If it is so good, why do they come here to see a doctor? I think you need to do some more research before you spout off your liberal bull squeeze.
Tim
July 15th, 2009
3:05 pm
Hey ‘Get Real’, you need to get real and stop watching CNN. Obama was a community organizer. What the hell is that? And by the way, the unemployment in Michigan (democrat run for the last 20 years) is at 20%. And yes, I do pin a lot on Obama. He is the one pushing all his liberal programs through congress when he should be pushing a mop in Waffle House. He thinks, like a lot of liberals, that you can spend your way out of trouble. Remember, the economy crashed (and this is fact, something CNN doesn’t report) when Barney Frank and Chris Dodd (democrats both) forced both Fannie and Freddie to loan money for homes to people that should have been renting. That was the first domino to fall, and then it all crashed. When Republicans tried to force hearings on these 2 companies, Barney, Chris, and Maxine Waters all said there is nothing wrong with Fannie and Freddie. Then once Obama is elected, he takes the CEO from Freddie and gives him a government job. These 2 companies are in worse shape then any bank or auto maker, but yet they escape the scrutiny of the press, and even get praised by ‘The Annointed One’. And now a report comes out that the mortgage scam is much worse then anticipated, and then Biden says the economy is worse then they thought it was. Who the hell thought these two could run the country ought to have their voting rights taken away. This is a sham, and shame on the folks who do not have the vision to see it.
The Truth
July 15th, 2009
3:11 pm
The housing bubble started collapsing in 2007. That was the first in a series of market collapes that have followed since. As much as many of you want to blame the current President, he didn’t start this economic decline just as Clinton didn’t start the economic recovery of the early 1990’s (it started under G.H.W. Bush). But, of course, facts don’t matter when you are so steeped and mired in racism and hatred as a lot of Georgians appear to be, given the comments. Georgia will never acheive its full potential on any quality of life societal measure (healthcare, infant mortality, educational achievement, crime, lifespan, per capita income, household wealth, etc.) while some of you continue the fight to oppress, control, and debase the humanity of others based on the long disproven myth that your quality of life will be enhanced by those actions.
Shevial
July 15th, 2009
3:13 pm
I have read many of the comments, and I must say all this bickering is getting us where????? NO WHERE!!!! That’s the problem with the U.S. OUR representatives are voted in to represent who?? WE THE PEOPLE! And ALL of them have SOLD us all out to the highest bidder! This economy mess is not a black, or white thing it’s an AMERICAN ISSUE!!! And if you look at the investments that foreigners have made and all of the money that we have borrowed GOD HELP US ALL!!!! The people that are out of work, aren’t looking for handouts, just looking for help during this turbulent time. Not all of us are living above our means, but I will say this corporate greed got us in this mess, and everyone turn their heads, because THEY ALL (Democrats and Republicans) looked the other way!!!We pay taxes, and the money that is being borrowed guess who pays it back AMERICANS, which are WE THE PEOPLE!! Let’s stop all of this bigotry and look for answers. The unemployment is going through the roof, is it fair to allow Wall Street, the Banks, and the Car industries to get bailouts that we are having to pay from our taxes, but not allowing those that need the help the most, get nothing. Once the unemployment extensions run out, and jobs are not available for all that seek jobs, GOD HELP US ALL!!!! Be Blessed.
Shevial
July 15th, 2009
3:23 pm
Enter your comments here
illegal welfare alien
July 15th, 2009
3:27 pm
we welfare aliens appreciate all you people with jobs who pay for our bills in this country.