Weekly jobless numbers add to optimism
“The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell to a 3-1/2-year low last week and factory activity in parts of the Northeast gained speed in December, suggesting a further strengthening of the economic recovery.
While other data on Thursday showed industrial output shrank for the first time in seven months in November, much of the decline came from auto production, which analysts said was held back by temporary supply disruptions.
“It looks like we have just hit a clear patch on the road to recovery, where things are going to speed up a little bit,” said Mark Vitner, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina.
According to the Labor Department, initial claims for unemployment last week were 366,000, the lowest since May of 2008, before the economy began its cliffdive. (The number is seasonally adjusted to account for the normal holiday hiring.)
According to the Wall Street Journal:
” … surveys of large and small employers also show improving conditions and sentiment. A survey out Tuesday from ManpowerGroup hit its highest reading since 2008, while a report by the National Federation of Independent Business showed small businesses added workers in November after shedding them for five straight months. Labor Department data reflect a steady increase in job openings while consumer polls suggest people are feeling better about the job market.
“If claims can remain at this level, payroll growth will strengthen markedly within a month or so,” said Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics.
That doesn’t mean that things still aren’t tough. They are. I was in the grocery store yesterday and was struck by a conversation I overheard between a man behind the counter and a customer, a seemingly prosperous older woman. It went like this:
Clerk: “How are you doing today, ma’am?”
Woman: “Oh. I’ve been better. Things have certainly been better.”
Clerk: “Well, I’m sorry to hear that. I always try to look at the bright side, ma’am, so maybe things will improve.”
Woman: “Yeah, well, you have a job. Right?”
Clerk: “Uhh, yes ma’am. I guess I do.”
Woman: “I don’t. And my husband was just laid off too, after working for the company for 30 years. So no, I’m not doing so well.”
The depression and sense of resignation in the woman’s voice told you more than her words did. Those of us with jobs or steady income should keep in mind how lucky we are during this holiday season.
– Jay Bookman
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411 comments Add your comment
josef
December 15th, 2011
9:13 pm
Kayaker
Will do! A few more years, though…
Mr B
Got a Brit-lit for some of our posters…Osborne’s “Look Back in Anger…”
wet wiccan
December 15th, 2011
9:15 pm
A pep talk for the 99% ….
This December 19th marks the 235th anniversary of Thomas Paine’s American Crisis #1. First published in the Pennsylvania Journal, it brings hope from a dark time during our revolution. Thomas Paine, who eleven months earlier published his sensational work, Common Sense,which helped ignite the rebellion, would once again bring the American people hope. The same hope that American Crisis #1 brought the Patriots can inspire the Occupy movement to withstand this winter.
Thomas Paine brilliantly stated, “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country, but he that stands now, deserves the love and thanks of men and woman.” In these 41 words, the gravity of the situation leaps from the page and pulls the reader into the momentous task of staying the course. The course of liberty is never an easy one, nor is the duty to fight against tyranny. In late December, 1776, the American Revolution was teetering on the brink of collapse. General Washington, after suffering a serious defeat in New York City and a long retreat through New Jersey, saw his army on the verge of destruction. During these trying times Thomas Paine’s words inspired the Continental Army and the American people to stay the course.
At this very moment, the Occupy movement is at an impasse, after being evicted from many of their camps. However, we too must stay the course. They curse us in the conservative media. They call us socialists, anarchists, un-American and many more labels to stir up fear of those fighting for the livelihood of the American middle class. As Thomas Paine so eloquently stated in American Crisis #1:
“Let them call me rebel, and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing to one, whose character, is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man.”
Recently, Bill O’Reilly stated that the Occupy movement has officially come to an end. This statement, as premature as a Jersey Tory’s cheerful glee as Washington’s army retreated from the Hudson to the Delaware will not be proven true. As Paine stated: “I thank God, that I fear not. I see no real cause for fear. I know our situation well and can see the way out of it.”
The economic royalists, our modern day Tories, will only be able to do so much to silence us. They use the officers sworn to protect us to disperse us, they use the sheriffs to force us out of our homes, they threaten our social safety net, they cut our education, and push us deeper and deeper in debt. Yet we won’t be silenced. If we allow ourselves to be silenced, we will commit an unforgivable offense to the American character. We, the people must be the ones who take our government back in November 2012, or lose it forever.
Rich Bergen
getalife
December 15th, 2011
9:15 pm
I am watching the Falcons but looks like a blow out.
Huntsman is too much honesty for fox viewers.
Brosephus
December 15th, 2011
9:19 pm
josef
I don’t know about those moccasins… They have a bit too much attitude for me.
getalife
That’s probably the same story that I linked to earlier from my hometown. I wouldn’t use fun to describe that stunt.
josef
December 15th, 2011
9:19 pm
good fight
@ 9:11
“Sorry, Force of Habit.”
Boo! Hiss! Good one…
josef
December 15th, 2011
9:22 pm
Brosephus
They do, that! I don’t mess with ‘em lightly…
Midori
December 15th, 2011
9:22 pm
thank you Getalife.
thank you Keep
Mr_B
December 15th, 2011
9:25 pm
josef: the secret is respecting the moccasin’s space. Just don’t try to be where the moccasin was first.
Mr_B
December 15th, 2011
9:26 pm
Oh, and don’t mess with ‘em unless they mess with you. They won’t.
getalife
December 15th, 2011
9:27 pm
Bro,
It is a new extreme sport.
Like a ride at Six Flags.
We jumped of rock quarries and bridges into water.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 15th, 2011
9:27 pm
josef, it could have been: Oh and we so wanted a Virgin Bloody Mary
josef
December 15th, 2011
9:30 pm
Mr B…
Fond childhood memories had to do with moccasins…the Rothschild Place is in the upper reaches of the Tallahatchie end of the Delta where it meets the hills…during the spring high water the moccasins headed for the high ground…would go out for target practice with Mama and Granny…
getalife
December 15th, 2011
9:30 pm
corruption in a gop debate.
Too funny.
AmVet - Read my lips. No new con refudiations.
December 15th, 2011
9:30 pm
wiccan, thanks so much for that 9:15.
Of course the cowards and lackeys want the protests to all just go away. Nothing has changed for them in that regard since the days of the civil rights and Viet Nam war protests. And liars like O’Reilly think their cowardice will prevail over righteous and patriotic civil disobedience.
The weaklings and sunshine patriot sellouts were dead wrong then and they are dead wrong today.
Mark my words, the protests are nowhere near finished.
They will be invigorated and the words of Paine will inspire us who fight the good fight against tyranny and oppression.
Mr_B
December 15th, 2011
9:32 pm
Well, folks, tomorrow is my last chance in 2011 to corrupt the youth of America. Gotta get to bed so I can get an early start. long live the Revolution!
josef
December 15th, 2011
9:32 pm
good fight
Mr B
G-d Alm-ghty in the Book of Genesis cursed the snake and I see no reason to doubt H-s dictum!
JohnnyReb
December 15th, 2011
9:33 pm
“Huntsman is too much honesty for fox viewers.”
No, Huntsman had no chance once he agreed to work for Obama. It was a mortal sin, so to speak.
As to FNC, they are number one in every time slot. That’s a lot of people to challenge their understanding of honesty.
getalife
December 15th, 2011
9:33 pm
newt is lying about lobbying again.
fox is attacking him.
getalife
December 15th, 2011
9:34 pm
Yeah, reb .
Lots of cons watch it.
Brain washed by failed ideology.
wet wiccan
December 15th, 2011
9:35 pm
AmVet – The 4th of July next summer – Philadelphia – I am expecting great things!
Brosephus
December 15th, 2011
9:35 pm
Mr_B
What about being in the place where they’re trying to go?
getalife
If it doesn’t have tracks, safety harnesses, and brakes, then it isn’t a ride like Six Flags. Furthermore, this brother here ain’t buying that ticket either. I’ll let y’all have that one.
AmVet - Read my lips. No new con refudiations.
December 15th, 2011
9:36 pm
getalife, Hunstman honesty is the kiss of death in the Republican Party.
And his intellectual acumen doesn’t help much when the base is, as he notes, “anti-science” too boot.
Loathing liberals is the number one priority in the Party of No and he does not fit their bill…
Common Sense isn't very Common
December 15th, 2011
9:36 pm
Newt is lying – you can tell because his lips are moving.
JohnnyReb
December 15th, 2011
9:37 pm
getalife – brainwashed, eh? You are giving away your age. That’s a word I would use.
getalife
December 15th, 2011
9:38 pm
reb,
Now they are attacking Medicare again.
Why is wyden working with ryan to end Medicare?
Common Sense isn't very Common
December 15th, 2011
9:41 pm
Ryan just said he doesn’t want to lead. OOOOPS
Brosephus
December 15th, 2011
9:46 pm
Can one of you hard core righties help me understand how removing the taxes on capital increases demand and helps us compete with cheap foreign labor when it comes to jobs?
Sanguinity
December 15th, 2011
9:49 pm
To all of you nay sayers who doubt Obama don’t count him out yet.
Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
It is far more useful to be aware of a single shortcoming in ourselves than it is to be aware of a thousand in somebody else. For when the fault is our own, we are in a position to correct it.
Common Sense isn't very Common
December 15th, 2011
9:52 pm
Bro – Low Capital Gains taxes increase the money flow through the stock market.
Only with an IPO will any funds go to the company itself, that and the company selling some of its held stock.
Other than that the profit flows to the stockholder and the stockbroker.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
9:53 pm
Wy den is smart and knows Medicare must be reformed
getalife
December 15th, 2011
9:54 pm
They are whining about court cases they lost.
Sore losers.
getalife
December 15th, 2011
9:55 pm
jm,
It ends it silly.
Brosephus
December 15th, 2011
9:55 pm
NoCom
I understand that there’d be more money in the market and all. I can also follow that people holding the stock end up with the money in most instances. How does that increase demand to the point that it becomes attractive to invest domestically which would create jobs? The people who are typically stockholders invest and re-invest. Pensions and other investment vehicles typically do the same. Where does the increase in demand come from that we need to increase domestic investment?
Jm
December 15th, 2011
9:55 pm
Bro
Our labor is expensive
So we have to make our capital cheap to compete
And they have cheap capital too because they don’t tax it as much as we do
Brosephus
December 15th, 2011
9:56 pm
“increase domestic
investmentjob creation?Jm
December 15th, 2011
9:56 pm
Getalife
Replaces it. And protects current retirees
getalife
December 15th, 2011
9:58 pm
Yeah jm,
And you voted for Obama.
Brosephus
December 15th, 2011
9:58 pm
So we have to make our capital cheap to compete
And they have cheap capital too because they don’t tax it as much as we do
Ok…
We drop capital taxes… So now we have cheap capital. We still can not compete because of labor. Cutting those taxes would be more beneficial IF we were already creating jobs and needed the extra investment. Right now, we need DEMAND. Capital does not automatically increase demand. How many businesses are going to hire just because they have extra capital onhand?
getalife
December 15th, 2011
9:59 pm
Well, our President will win every debate.
Easily.
Thulsa Doom
December 15th, 2011
9:59 pm
“A seemingly prosperous older woman”
Fear not liberals. The wealthy have most certainly taken a bath in the last couple of years with nearly 2 in 5 millionaires disappearing according to IRS tables. That’s awesome news for the “hate the wealthy” crowd around here. The downside is that they took their tax contributions and the jobs their businesses provided with them in their sinking ships.
Newsalert has posted a chart from a Wall Street Journal blog titled “Recession and the Rich.” The chart, based on 2009 IRS figures, shows that the number of taxpayers reporting annual income over $1 million fell 39 percent between 2007 and 2009; the number of super-wealthy individuals making over $10 million annually plunged 55 percent. The carnage wasn’t confined to millionaires. The number of taxpayers earning over $200,000 per year also decreased by 612,000 – or 13 percent. If you are tempted to join Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., in a bit of schadenfreude over the fact that nearly four in ten millionaires disappeared in two years, don’t be. The chart also shows how the loss of these top income earners adversely affected the federal government’s bottom line. Aug 20, 2011
http://digg.com/news/politics/obama_s_economy_where_have_all_the_millionaires_gone
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:01 pm
Wyden is just about the only reasonable democrat left
Getalife u speak more gibberish
Sanguinity
December 15th, 2011
10:02 pm
“It looks like we have just hit a clear patch on the road to recovery, where things are going to speed up a little bit,” said Mark Vitner, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina.
***************************************************************
No matter what happens, it all works out in the end.
It may not work out like Obama had planned, but it did work out and may actually even be better than Obama planned.
getalife
December 15th, 2011
10:02 pm
They should pay back the money they stole from Medicare and make it illegal for them to steal from it again.
There is your Medicare reform.
Recover all the jobs w lost and Medicare would be fine.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:02 pm
Bro
Age old chicken egg
We’ve been over this before
You need both
But you can’t have consumption without investment
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:05 pm
All Ryan wyden proposes is adding a new option alongside Medicare
It doesn’t end Medicare
More getalife scare tactics
getalife
December 15th, 2011
10:08 pm
“It doesn’t end Medicare”
Yeah and you voted for Obama.
Not buying it..
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:09 pm
Doom
You are seriously confusing the liberals
Steve - USA
December 15th, 2011
10:10 pm
I guess we need to thank Bush because up until today all the Lib’s on here say the economy is due to Bush.
Thank you George!
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:10 pm
Getalife
And you believe Iran manufactured a fake drone too. And somehow the us government mistakenly said they lost a drone
Get, you should chat with sooth
Brosephus
December 15th, 2011
10:11 pm
jm
But you can’t have consumption without investment
You only need initial investment. Consumption leads to additional investment. Right now, we don’t have consumption, so what good is investment doing us? Don’t you think that if investment alone could push demand, we would have seen increases based on the profits that major companies are reporting? Delta’s projecting increasing profits this year, yet they’re cutting their routes by 2-3%. That doesn’t sound like profitability because of increased demand to me.
It’s not an egg vs chicken thing. You can invest every single dollar in this country into a product. If there is no demand for it, you’ve wasted your investment. Do you honestly think that investors are gonna throw money at every little thing that comes their way right now with the way this global economy is?
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:12 pm
Getalife
Given your mental state, I doubt you buy much of anything
Food stamps for you?
getalife
December 15th, 2011
10:12 pm
They learned nothing about the Iraq disaster.
Warmongering on Iran.
Vote gop for war with Iran.
getalife
December 15th, 2011
10:13 pm
jm,
I am being nice to you.
Watch your mouth or I will stop.
Thulsa Doom
December 15th, 2011
10:16 pm
Jm,
But…but….but the rich still haven’t paid their fair share. Doesn’t matter if 2 out of 5 of them don’t exist anymore. They should have paid more as or before their businesses went belly up.
Welcome to the Occupation
December 15th, 2011
10:16 pm
Why can’t Mitt Romney actually do something interesting for a change? I mean, mix it up a bit. He’s like a g-damned used car salesman (and Americans really really hate used car salesmen). Don’t just do what everybody on the planet knows you think you have to do to bend over and lick asses to say. Actually say something to challenge your would-be followers. For example, when everyone’s expecting you to criticize the president for leaving Iraq, why not mix it up and throw in something a least a little nuanced.
But Mitt Romney doesn’t have an interesting fiber is his entire being. He’s a black hole of uninterestingness.
Say, do you think the obvious scumbaggery of Mitt Romney is more a measure of the scumminess of the man himself or does it indicate a general rot of our culture itself? Hmm, I wonder.
Common Sense isn't very Common
December 15th, 2011
10:16 pm
Bro – that’s why the people have been conned since Capital Gains taxes were lowered. When the US had low unemployment and high manufacturing output capital gains could be low to increase money flowing throughout the system (allowing more currency for loans, etc).
The US is made up of consumers, when they were employed they spent and saved, generating demand which was fulfilled within the borders of the US.
When manf. jobs were offshored it started the trend of lower tariffs (because the manf. were US based).
It took a few years for the gap to close between demand and jobs to jump up and bite us in the butt and that is what is happening. How many necessary items are produced offshore that the US doesn’t have the capability to build.
If the trade tariffs were raised to what the item would cost to be made in the US then I think we would see some manf. coming back to the US. That along with cancellation of all work visas might make an immediate difference on demand.
Sanguinity
December 15th, 2011
10:16 pm
It sure would be nice if we had the 800 billion dollars that was wasted In Iraq.
George W a “Republican” got us into that mess and now he is living large in Texas while americans are suffering.
800 billion dollars could have helped millions of people but that is water under the bridge.
You can’t but the sh*t back into the horse.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:16 pm
Bro
You can’t increase demand
Almost every American has a car. A house or apartment. Tv’s bicycles, stereo’s, food and water.
Demand can only be increased so much, and it is slight
If there’s not a factory, how can you buy the good
I really get bored with this argument liberals make
In reality you need demand and investment. And the government can’t do much to spur either other than getting out of the way
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:18 pm
Romney is a bit boring
Because he is competent
He will clean up government
getalife
December 15th, 2011
10:19 pm
Jobs create demand jm.
Steve - USA
December 15th, 2011
10:20 pm
No. Demand creates jobs.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:20 pm
Getalife
Not my problem if you can’t believe I voted for O
Hell I went to the inauguration
Got to watch history from the top of a law firm building
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:22 pm
Getalife
Go ask Shirley. She was there
Mediocre mayor…..
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:22 pm
Doom
Libs don’t understand finance
It’s not in their DNA
getalife
December 15th, 2011
10:22 pm
Well, willard has fox on his side.
But the cons are going with newt.
cons usually do what fox tells them to do so that is change.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:23 pm
cons usually do what fox tells them to do so that is change.
getalife
December 15th, 2011
10:24 pm
Steve,
No jobs mean you don’t buy corporate crap.
Welcome to the Occupation
December 15th, 2011
10:24 pm
Jm: “Because he is competent
He will clean up government”
Like Draghi’s cleaning up Italy?
Look what the cat dragghed in.
Jay
December 15th, 2011
10:25 pm
The foreign policy portion of this debate has been a horror show. Ron Paul is the only person on that stage with even a lick of realism on these issues.
And yes, that’s saying something.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:26 pm
Draghi is getting it done
Noodle over this: you know Europe is in trouble when a German is the Pope and an Italian is running the central bank
Steve - USA
December 15th, 2011
10:26 pm
No hiring without demand. You don’t hire people if there is no demand for your product or service.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:27 pm
Jay
Campaign season………..
Did everybody say bomb Iran?
getalife
December 15th, 2011
10:27 pm
Getalife
“Not my problem if you can’t believe I voted for O
Hell I went to the inauguration
Got to watch history from the top of a law firm building”
I would believe you if your posts did not give you away.
You swallow every gop lie and talking point.
You would never vote dem and we know it.
Brosephus
December 15th, 2011
10:27 pm
You can’t increase demand
my oh my….. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at that one…
I’m guessing you think people buy one car and it lasts a lifetime. Yep, we’re still buying solid state electronics and appliances that last 30-40 years.
Dude, sometimes I wonder if you really even think about what you post before you hit that submit comment button. Accidents happen, natural disasters happen, and sh*t just breaks down and quit. Demand is there when people have money to spend. You put 5 million people to work and we’d probably see 6% GDP growth based on the pent up demand that’s sitting in this country.
If there’s not a factory, how can you buy the good
I tell you what, you go build a coach whip factory, deck that summb*tch out with the latest in robotics and technology, and see how fast your “investment” turns to sh*t. It’s the demand that creates the factory, and not the other way around. You get bored with that argument because you’re either to stubborn or downright dense to admit that you’re not right.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:28 pm
Jay. Look at it this way. It probably turned out better than if Cain was still on the stage
Brosephus
December 15th, 2011
10:30 pm
Jay
You said a mouthful there. Ron Paul isn’t my favorite politician, but he made them look like useless jackasses, not just the regular jackasses they normally look like.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:30 pm
Romney’s ok on foreign policy
He wants to create jobs, not wars
Common Sense isn't very Common
December 15th, 2011
10:30 pm
Since lower Capital Gains taxes haven’t increased demand for life sustaining goods lets raise the taxes on Capital gains to the same as earned wages.
Let’s cut taxes on companies that have PROVEN that they have created jobs with their tax cuts.
Let’s cut out the loopholes that allow corporations pay 0% taxes (unless it’s for new equipment) along with the monitoring for job offshoring.
These can be adjusted yearly for deficit reduction along with debt reduction.
More demand creates jobs which increase demand, which create a broader tax base which reduces entitlements (food stamps, section 8 housing, etc).
getalife
December 15th, 2011
10:30 pm
Yeah Steve.
Again, if the people do not have jobs, they can’t buy crap so there is no demand..
Geez, it is not complicated.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:31 pm
Paul is isolationist
Like democrats
Thats why you like him
I am in between isolationist Paul and the neo cons
Welcome to the Occupation
December 15th, 2011
10:32 pm
getalife: “Well, willard has fox on his side.”
No mean feat.
“But the cons are going with newt.”
Well, that’s how they’re trending right now. But they’ve been known to change horses multiple time before the race.
“cons usually do what fox tells them to do so that is change.”
Yep, it’s curious. You’ve got Rove out there acting as the voice of reason.
By the way I wonder if this is on track to be the Falcons’ biggest margin of victory in franchise history.
Mick
December 15th, 2011
10:32 pm
Beat me to it jay – ron paul put the michele bachmanns of the world squarely in her place. If you want more war – vote GOP…
getalife
December 15th, 2011
10:32 pm
Wrong as usual jm.
Our President will beat any gop on foreign policy.
Thulsa Doom
December 15th, 2011
10:32 pm
“Don’t you think that if investment alone could push demand, we would have seen increases based on the profits that major companies are reporting? Delta’s projecting increasing profits this year, yet they’re cutting their routes by 2-3%. That doesn’t sound like profitability because of increased demand to me.”
The classic supply siders vs Keynesian argument.Investment does lead to spurred demand as the supply siders point out. Why? Few businesses are profitable immediately. Some may never earn a profit. Others may take years and years to turn a profit. But their investment spurs growth and bottom up middle and lower class demand because even though the company may not be making a profit demand is being spurred.
Let’s say you start a business like a restaurant which may or may not work out for you the owner. Doesn’t matter. Your employees are going to get paid and make money, your suppliers will, the people who built the restuarant or manage the grounds, security, or who print the menus and sold you dishes, furniture, condiments, everything that goes into a restaurant. They are all making money and especially their employees. Regardless of whether or not that restaurant owner ever makes money his employees will and so will his suppliers. Overall aggreggate economic demand has in the mean time been spurred substantially by the money made by the employees and suppliers of that restaurant.
That’s the other fascinating thing about liberals and their criticism of “trickle down” economics. The real world reality is that its trickle up since the business owner is the last to be rewarded. His employees, suppliers such as the builders who built his restaurant, etc. all those people get paid long before the owner ever makes a dime. And to think liberals call it trickle down economics with the idea that employees or people at the bottom are the last to get paid or get “trickle down share”. Reality is quite different.
As for Delta being more profitable yet decreasing routes that’s apples and oranges. Their current profitability has nothing to do with future demand which they apparently feel is weak enough to justify route cuts.
Welcome to the Occupation
December 15th, 2011
10:33 pm
Jm: “I am in between isolationist Paul and the neo cons”
I think that puts you square in Realpolitik.
They BOTH suck
December 15th, 2011
10:33 pm
Jm
“I am in between isolationist Paul and the neo cons”
You must be lost at time because on certain issues they are so far apart; you would be in the middle of nowhere.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:34 pm
A world without American military power would be a very sad, vicious, cruel, violent, and dangerous place
Much more so than it already is
getalife
December 15th, 2011
10:34 pm
Now perry is warmongering on Mexico.
Good grief.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:35 pm
Enter your comments here
Brosephus
December 15th, 2011
10:35 pm
NoCom
I could go for something like that. I’ve suggested this before in relation to corporate taxes… Start everybody out at 35% with no deductions. Give them rate decreases when they create jobs domestically. As long as they do so, give them the opportunity to cut their rates to 15%. When they shut operations domestically and outsource, their rate goes up. Anytime they do something destructive towards the domestic economy, their rate goes up. I’d set the ceiling at 35% and the floor at 15%. If they wanted to segregate domestic profits from international, then they’d get a flat rate of 20% on foreign profits.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:36 pm
Trotsky
I favor a smaller military presence abroad
But not the elimination of it
I also think we need fewer toys
getalife
December 15th, 2011
10:36 pm
Where is our military going jm. They just spent 662 billion more on war.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:38 pm
Bro
We should start you at 35%
And when you prove you’ve created a whole entire job you can get a break
Common’s is the Dumbest idea on here today and that’s saying something
getalife
December 15th, 2011
10:38 pm
newt lost the Latino vote.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:39 pm
Military needs to come mostly home
We need a presence in Asia though
Common Sense isn't very Common
December 15th, 2011
10:39 pm
Why in the h3ll does anyone thinks e-verify works? are they totally out of touch with reality?
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:41 pm
And unless you guys want another german army, we will have to maintain a presence in Europe
Because the French sure as hell don’t know how to run an army
Thulsa Doom
December 15th, 2011
10:41 pm
“Since lower Capital Gains taxes haven’t increased demand for life sustaining goods lets raise the taxes on Capital gains to the same as earned wages.”
Common sense I’m not sure I agree with your linking of capital gains to life sustaining goods but I will agree that we could raise the cap. gains tax from 15-18 or 19% without affecting investor behavior and bring more revenue to the table. Just not sure if we should do it now or wait another year to make sure we don’t regress.
“Let’s cut taxes on companies that have PROVEN that they have created jobs with their tax cuts.”
Can’t. That would be govt picking and choosing winners and losers in an arbitrary and capricious manner. Who wants a bureaucrate having that kind of power over businesses he doesn’t understand.
“Let’s cut out the loopholes that allow corporations pay 0% taxes (unless it’s for new equipment) along with the monitoring for job offshoring.”
I’m with you on cutting out the loopholes. But cut the overall corporate tax rate or else we won’t be at all competitive internationally. As for offshoring we’ve been offshoring for decades. Its nothing new and if we’re not careful companies could move their entire operations offshore. Could backfire on us big time.
“More demand creates jobs which increase demand, which create a broader tax base which reduces entitlements (food stamps, section 8 housing, etc).”
I’m with you on all that.
getalife
December 15th, 2011
10:42 pm
Flip flopping willard..
My head spins.
What does he stand for?
Mushy.
Jm
December 15th, 2011
10:43 pm
Bro can get a tax break as soon as he has someone on his payroll
Until then, no breaks for bro