Economic trends bode poorly for the working man

Jonathan Rauch at National Journal has an excellent in-depth exploration of what’s happening in the American economy. The headline, “The No Good, Very Bad Outlook for the Working-Class American Man,” captures its thesis perfectly.

The article focuses on themes that I’ve tried to address here as well, such as the blog post earlier this week detailing how employees are being forced to split an ever-smaller share of the economic pie, while the share of the economy going into corporate profits increases. The National Journal piece tells a similar story through a different chart, this one focusing on increased productivity and how the benefits have been allocated:

Source: National Journal

Source: National Journal

As Rauch notes, and as the chart illustrates, for decades employees shared in the benefits of greater productivity. As labor became more efficient, both employees and employers shared in the benefits. However, that relationship ended somewhere in the late 1970s, at what you might call “the Big Break” in the U.S. economy. (You see that same transformation occurring at the same time across a wide variety of statistical measures — income distribution, median household income, etc.)

Productivity growth — the chart’s red line — continued and even accelerated after the Big Break, but suddenly blue-collar and non-supervisory workers stopped sharing in the benefits of that increase. A little bit later, the same thing began to happen to a lesser degree to employees in general.

Rauch describes the implications:

As a result, less-educated workers are in trouble, and men are in trouble, and less-educated men are in deep trouble. The problem has become more serious than most people realize. “It has reached a very extreme point,” said David Autor, a labor economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Only a minority of Americans obtain four-year college degrees, and yet the economy offers ever-fewer well-paying jobs for men with nothing more than a high school diploma. Since 1969, the weekly earnings of the median full-time male worker have stagnated, according to economists Michael Greenstone of MIT and Adam Looney of the Brookings Institution’s Hamilton Project on economic growth. Stagnation is disappointing, to put it mildly, given that the per capita gross domestic product has more than doubled (adjusted for inflation) since 1969.

But men with only high school diplomas have faced worse than stagnation: Their earnings have dropped by around a fourth. And men who didn’t finish high school have fared worse still: Their incomes sank by more than a third, leaving their inflation-adjusted earnings stranded in the 1950s.

In effect, the economy is telling less-educated men: Get lost.

That has critically important social implications. If high-school educated males are earning a fourth less than their fathers, they are less able to support a family and less attractive as potential mates. If they do marry and support a family, they are less likely to be able to afford health insurance for them or to pay for higher education.

As exit polls and other data demonstrate, the Republican Party has managed to convince white working-class males that the economic challenges outlined by Rauch can be traced to excess government and, to be blunt, “those people.” It’s an explanation that might feel right and that resonates emotionally. By providing an alternative explanation to that illustrated in today’s chart, it also happens to suit the purposes of those who fund the campaigns and pay the bills for the GOP and its associated organizations.*

However, that narrative cannot plausibly account for the type of dramatic, even traumatic change documented in the chart above. There is no mechanism by which government can be said to be driving that trend. It’s not caused by taxes; it’s not caused by the deficit. And if more and more Americans have become reliant on government, it’s in part a consequence of, not a cause of, the economic decline depicted here.

But here’s the most frightening thing about the chart above: The trend that it illustrates shows no signs of moderating. This is a transformation that could continue to play out for a long, long time, and if we don’t do something to reverse it or adjust to it, it will change the nature of American society.

– Jay Bookman

* (An aside: Did it strike anyone else as odd that when Dick Armey left FreedomWorks, the ostensibly grassroots Tea Party organization, he was handed a golden parachute of $8 million? I had no idea the grassroots had so much green.)

362 comments Add your comment

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
7:21 am

I had no idea the grassroots had so much green.

Maybe if I ever have the time/inclination I’ll reach back into the archives and find instances of where I was chastised for calling referring to the Teaper overlord organizations as “astroturfers.”

(and now, off to RTFA.)

Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer leech...and earned it!

December 7th, 2012
7:27 am

The eight mil was probably “shut up” money…

Lord Help Us

December 7th, 2012
7:27 am

Is the trend here attributable to specific policy? Tax cuts do not seem related to the trend. Was there deregulation or other legislation that can be tied to this trend?

Going to do some looking…

Georgia on my mind...

December 7th, 2012
7:28 am

As a result, less-educated workers are in trouble, and men are in trouble, and less-educated men are in deep trouble. The problem has become more serious than most people realize.
_______

Bring the manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. The blue collar jobs were the heartbeat of rural communities. During the booming years when most goods were made here, a boy could graduate from high school and his dad would get him a job at the factory where he was employed. Now is the time for “Made in America” can be the new buying and bargaining power in this country!!

Ronald Reagan Parkway

December 7th, 2012
7:32 am

What ever happened to profit sharing?

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
7:35 am

Is the trend here attributable to specific policy?

I wouldn’t make the claim, but that break comes about the same time that some people decided organized labor was bad and we could send manufacturing jobs outside our borders to increase profits.

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
7:36 am

**claim “they are directly connected”,….

I left a chunk out of that sentence.

Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer leech...and earned it!

December 7th, 2012
7:37 am

As to your chart Jay, I could have told you that four years ago. my shop used to be a two man shop, but is now just me. The other was laid off just after the crash. I do the work of two and have not had even a cost of living raise for three years. Some would say, “at least you have a job”, and that’s true, but I would like to be able to be able to afford a vacation, or even a night out for dinner and a movie, but at under 17.00/hour, that’s pretty hard to do. The money we have saved up for our anniversary this month will now go to the co-pay for my knee operation. At least it is there to use. My rental income goes right back into the houses, but one day all that will be done and then I might do a little better. But hey, it is what it is. Moaning and groaning about it won’t help. Business has to do the right thing about wages and healthcare, but I wouldn’t hold my breath…

bob

December 7th, 2012
7:38 am

The late 70’s ? How we can move that to 1980 and blame Reagan ? Dems had a lock on congress for years as this break was occurring, along with the white house. Could it be that the wealthy controlled them just as repubs are blamed for being controlled by the rich now ? How about this concept, stability leads to stagnation, “bringing back” blue collar jobs instead of letting those jobs go elsewhere would not work. We need to advance by coming up with new technology instead of holding on to jobs that are done cheaper elsewhere.

Georgia on my mind...

December 7th, 2012
7:38 am

Now is the time for “Made in America” can be the new buying and bargaining power in this country!!

____

Now is the time THAT “Made in America” can be the new buying and bargaining power in this country!!

clem

December 7th, 2012
7:43 am

maybe even dumarse repubs will understand this trend; dick armey about as successful as bob nardelli.

Ronald Reagan Parkway

December 7th, 2012
7:43 am

“bringing back” blue collar jobs instead of letting those jobs go elsewhere would not work.

_____

It would work if the schools systems stop focusing on preparing ALL students for college and include vocational school as an alternative for future adult preparation.

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
7:44 am

Ok, I’m actually RingTFA Jay’s linked. I got to the point where I realize they’re citing Charles Murray.

Which is kind of like learning that the New England Journal of Medicine is citing Josef Mengele.

But I’ll try to get past that…

F. Sinkwich

December 7th, 2012
7:47 am

“…if we don’t do something to reverse it or adjust to it, it will change the nature of American society.”

I know!

Raise taxes !!!

guy

December 7th, 2012
7:48 am

Georgia on my mind is correct and we must bring back those jobs we sent away years ago. Commom sense! Those who won’t work need to be cut off the government’s “taker” program also.
There are a lot of tough things that will have to be done if we survive. Got to be done!!!

Jay

December 7th, 2012
7:49 am

Bob, LHU and others:

I think that if you’re looking to government as the cause of the “Big Break,” you’re looking in the wrong place. Macro-economic trends such as off-shoring, robotics, computers, etc. are much more powerful than government.

It’s an economic version of the drunk-man-and-his-lost-keys anecdote. You remember? The drunk is looking for his keys under a street lamp. Somebody comes along and asks the age-old question, “Where did you lose them?”

“I think it was over there,” the drunk says, pointing into the darkness.

“Then why are you looking here under the lamppost?”

“Because the light’s better here.”

Blaming government for such changes is tempting because if government caused it, we have politicians to blame and maybe government can “uncause” it. But if it’s larger macro-economic trends at work, we have to go stumbling in the dark looking for a solution or at least a means of ameliorating the impact.

Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)

December 7th, 2012
7:50 am

Well, I see Bookman’s using my Those Peoplle line without askin’. I’m suin’!

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
7:50 am

I want to head off at the pass one certain-to-appear talking point.

Obviously, when we talk about educating people beyond high school, the all-purpose term “college” doesn’t need to mean the classic go-live-on-campus-for-four-years-to-find-yourself experience privileged folk enjoy. We’re also talking about specialized vocational training that may require less time than that, and certainly less expense.

(Got that, Little Ricky Santorum? Good boy!)

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
7:51 am

Well, I see Bookman’s using my Those Peoplle line without askin’. I’m suin’!

If you succeed, you might could only be 978,000 dollars away from being a millionaire.

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
7:52 am

How we can move that to 1980 and blame Reagan ?

the PATCO strike break.

You’re welcome.

Lord Help Us

December 7th, 2012
7:55 am

‘I think that if you’re looking to government as the cause of the “Big Break,” you’re looking in the wrong place. ‘

Perhaps, but I am interested to see if the same trend lines occur in Sweden, Germany, Singapore, etc.

TaxPayer

December 7th, 2012
7:55 am

It appears that a form of evolutionary change will spell the demise of the typical FOX viewer. Oh well. We tried to save them from themselves. Perhaps a spot in a museum as a reminder of their former presence here… “Poor White Guy” on display, coming to a town near you. Get your tickets soon. It’s gonna be a sellout show.

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
7:56 am

The plutocracy continues to take shots after the whistle’s been blown, of course. That doesn’t help matters much, but it’s to be expected, like ants at an outdoor barbeque.

Mick

December 7th, 2012
7:56 am

jay

As someone born in the 50’s, educated in the 60’s & 70″s, I really do fear for the fuure of this country. I was very lucky to be living in that time period, I wish this younger generation had the same opportunities but they seem more interested (some) in blaming boomers. We need to get our manufacturing back, the global economy while helpful in some areas, has been a disaster for the average working man…

JamVet

December 7th, 2012
7:59 am

Outsource upper management’s jobs and bring back the hundreds of thousands of worker’s jobs sent overseas.

It’s a win-win.

bob, read about the Powell Memorandum and the Chamber of Commerce, Heritage Foundation, the Manhattan Institute, the Cato Institute, Citizens for a Sound Economy and other powerful organizations and the Reagan Administration’s “hands-off business philosophy”.

THAT is when the union-busters and the Corporations Uber Alles gang really began decimating the middle class in this country.

Look at the friggin’ chart.

Or don’t…

Thomas

December 7th, 2012
7:59 am

The economic gap is the result of the educational and technology gap.

Governments are the most opaque and corrupt institutions.

We will continue to ping pong between the left and right extreme until real leadership shows up. Until then happy blogging.

Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer leech...and earned it!

December 7th, 2012
8:00 am

Mick

December 7th, 2012
8:06 am

Plus, all the wealth hoarding at the top of corporate structure is shameful, yet way too many rubes fight tooth and nail to defend it while complaining about goverment. Go figure…

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
8:06 am

You know what else doesn’t help? Ostensibly “liberal” figureheads like Jon Stewart giving aid and comfort to the hateful, nasty, (and possibly senile, based on his performance) Alan Simpson, who explained on Jon’s show that the only way we can get this country back on its feet again is to stick it to the AARP crowd.

http://www.salon.com/2012/12/06/alan_simpson_spins_jon_stewart/

Stewart’s very first question is a mess. After a brief and mostly true account of the disaster that was the Simpson-Bowles committee, Stewart reveals that he thinks Simpson’s sudden post-election omnipresence is the result of an organic growth of support for his plan and widespread reverence for his wisdom. It’s actually just the most visible arm of a massive lobbying and P.R. campaign spearheaded and funded by Wall Street CEOs and crazy old Peterson. Stewart seems to think the people are running to Alan Simpson because his plan will help us avert the supposed “fiscal cliff.”

(Sam Seder also did a great takedown, but it’s not posted online as a separate video, yet…)

Keeping money concentrated among the wealthiest is not going to help the working man’s job prospects; it can only harm it.

George P. Burdell

December 7th, 2012
8:09 am

These shifts have happened throughout history and they are always very disruptive during the process, especially while living through it without knowing what will trigger the next innovation. But the US and mankind in general have always come up with the next innovation to put productive people to work. We face challenges as emerging markets develop and leave their traditional agrarian ways, just like we did back in the early part of the last century. Many emerging markets have a workforce that will not only work cheaper but also come out of high school with more skills and knowledge than their American counterparts. We are not going to fix that over 10 years. We cannot fix it by “Buying American” and moving jobs back to the US. If we insist on manufacturing here at a higher price, other countries that buy from cheaper manufacturing will enjoy a higher standard of living than we do. We need to find that next innovation that will employ large numbers of people before we will see this trend change. It will happen, there is just no way of knowing what it will be. If it doesn’t happen, then we will see our standard of living and world status drop and we may not ever be able to regain our position if that happens.

Gale

December 7th, 2012
8:09 am

Vocational education has been my mantra for years. Many kids drop out of public school or are simply not engaged in the learning program provided. For a number of reasons, they don’t want to go to college or don’t believe they will be able to afford college. Many see a depressing life of study for an ever shrinking pool of boring jobs. An alternative track of vocational education — in trades that society respects and values — will keep those students engaged and learning. Society would gain productive, educated citizens who are excited about life instead of citizens trying to figure out how to make do.

independent thinker

December 7th, 2012
8:10 am

Hey corporations are people- you’re hurting their feelings. Greed is good. We almost elected one of the greedy vulture capitalists who thinks workers are expendable. Walmart lost 120 workers in Bangladesh in a fire. Before hand they reused to act on reports of deplorable safety conditions. Greed is good. Workers in a Bain factory in Freeport Illinois that made hundreds of millions last year laid off this fall and had to train their Chinese replacements. Greed is good. Romney and partners buy up the bonds of Delphi for pennies on the dollar; hold up Uncle Sam for auto bailout money to pay off pension and health obligations and then ship the plants to China raking 2000% profits. Greed is good.
Black janitor in White House tasked with cleaning up this mess just got Apple to agree that it was bringing a few of the 700,000 offshore jobs back to the US. Jobs said those jobs are not coming back. Maybe someone at Apple listened to Springsteen’s song on offshoring or maybe Apple the person has a conscious and voted blue.

JKL2

December 7th, 2012
8:11 am

-This is a transformation that could continue to play out for a long, long time, and if we don’t do something to reverse it or adjust to it, it will change the nature of American society.

Forward!

I guess they’ll just have to get a job with the government.

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
8:12 am

I know I’m veering off topic but I gotta go there. This supposed plain-speaking economic savior, Alan Simpson, actually has no freaking idea of how much of our debt is own by those inscrutable Chinee.

On Stewart’s show, he actually claimed that “half of the half” — which I guess, is 25%? — of the 16 trillion in debt, is somehow held by Teh Skary Mandarins.

Anyone know the actual number without looking it up?

.

.

(In the filthy, horrible old coot’s defense–maybe Alan Simpson’s not senile. Maybe he’s drunk and he literally sees three of everything?)

middle of the road

December 7th, 2012
8:13 am

I think this graph is a little deceiving. Sometimes productivity increases at a plant for reasons totally unrelated to the workload of the workers: for example – the company decides to invest in a multi-million dollar machine that vastly increases output, while the employees do the exact same amount of work – productivity increases.

The second thing is that average wage is just that – AVERAGE. Before 1975, jobs were mostly manufacturing. Now, that has mostly gone offshore (or a lot, anyway) and the remaining jobs are SERVICE. Service jobs do not require the level of skills that manufacturing does and thus pays lower.

Ronald Reagan Parkway

December 7th, 2012
8:14 am

Corbin@8:00 am that is basically where this blog is headed. When I was in high school, I attended a school that had its own vocational school. It offered the same type of courses that our local technical schools (Gwinnett Tech, DeKalb Tech, etc.) offers. A person could enroll in the school during their sophmore year. The schedule was for two hours a day five days a week. If you stayed in the program, once you became a senior,there was a program called DECA that would help you find a job. You were allowed to get out of school at noon and go to work. Once you graduated from high school, you could continue to work at that same job.

JamVet

December 7th, 2012
8:15 am

While most Americans have seen flat-lined wages for a LONG time…

From 1992 to 2007 the top 400 earners in the U.S. saw their income increase 392% and their average tax rate reduced by 37%.

The share of total income in America going to the top 1% of American households (also after federal taxes and income transfers) increased from 11.3% in 1979 to 20.9% in 2007.

And the ring-through-their-nose Republicans think this is a GOOD thing!

The time is now here to effectively kill off the trickle downers…

Keep Up the Good Fight!

December 7th, 2012
8:16 am

Its a discussion we should have been having over the years when corporate leverage buyouts and shipping of our factories overseas were taking place but the magical misdirection has been to blame government instead of looking at real issues.

Living With Open Eyes

December 7th, 2012
8:16 am

Reckon it’s just a coincidence that all the textile jobs began going overseas and the Mexicans began coming here in waves about the same time our wages began to tank. I was working then, watched it happen, and was called a xenophobic liberal any time I said anything except for”Hail to Almighty Free Enterprise” like I was indoctrinated to do from birth. Anybody who tries to change things is labeled a communist in our country – as if that’s worse than being a laissez- faire capitalist.

Union

December 7th, 2012
8:16 am

sad.. but true.. government runs education.. specifically liberals. our “fathers” went to a different type of school that has changed more and more over the years…

btw bookman.. like how you toss the wealth envy thing in just about every blog.. you must hate the cox family.. they are keeping you down..

Jay

December 7th, 2012
8:18 am

Those are partial explanations for the graph, Middle. They are not in any way refutations of it.

Road Scholar

December 7th, 2012
8:20 am

Jay, during the same period shown on the graph add CEO and upper management compensation rates. That will make it complete!

GT

December 7th, 2012
8:21 am

There needs to be a new expectation of America. The worker needs to be more independent of the employer. Your value should not be found in the opinion of a recruiter; we need to control our value. I found it interesting at Enron how the employees there were satisfied that company destroyed their career. Seems to me if you had something people needed the need would carry over to the next job. If you were a hooker and one ship sailed out of port would that destroy your career or would it be given a lull until another ship rolled into port? You have got to take responsibility for finding yourself in this world; don’t let something or someone control your future. The private sector will steal it and use it and abuse it if you let them.

Thomas Heyward Jr

December 7th, 2012
8:22 am

think that if you’re looking to government as the cause of the “Big Break,” you’re looking in the wrong place. Macro-economic trends such as off-shoring, robotics, computers, etc. are much more powerful than government.

It’s an economic version of the drunk-man-and-his-lost-keys anecdote. You remember? The drunk is looking for his keys under a street lamp. Somebody comes along and asks the age-old question, “Where did you lose them?”

“I think it was over there,” the drunk says, pointing into the darkness.

“Then why are you looking here under the lamppost?”

“Because the light’s better here.”

Blaming government for such changes is tempting because if government caused it, we have politicians to blame and maybe government can “uncause” it. But if it’s larger macro-economic trends at work, we have to go stumbling in the dark looking for a solution or at least a means of ameliorating the impact.
———————————————————————————————————–
.
Tell that claptrack to the world’s largest prison population.

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
8:24 am

KUtGF @ 8.16, a reminder: We remain the richest, most powerful country ever on earth.

We have the resources to address this labor problem and other infrastructure problems, if only we have the courage to do so, and the resolve to ignore those pigs who are trying desperately to cling to what they perceive as their God-given share to have and hold forever and ever, amen.

(I know you almost certainly realize this, but there was something a tad fatalistic in your post, I felt needed addressin’.)

And it wouldn’t hurt if y’all read the entire article Jay’s linked, because basically that backs up what I’ve just posted here. In fact, have a look at the proposals reference in that article, as well, which I’ve linked here:

http://www.nationaljournal.com/next-economy/the-to-do-list-for-rebuilding-the-u-s-economy-20121203

I don’t wholeheartedly support all of them, but they are all worthy of consideration, and certainly not beyond our grasp.

TaxPayer

December 7th, 2012
8:24 am

“I filibuster me!” – Mitch

Gale

December 7th, 2012
8:25 am

DECA was a joke in Ohio, and did not really build a skilled workforce. I am talking about a program that will keep students in school with vocational training in skilled labor, at the same time as scholastic education that meets their future needs. They may not be going to college, but they do still need history, civics, math, etc. Students need to understand what it will take to program an industrial machine, for example. It pays well, but the job is not free to any high school grad. We need them to stay engaged in learning. Today’s schools need to provide skilled workers if we are to return manufacturing to the USA.

indigo

December 7th, 2012
8:25 am

And, let’s not forget that a large number of college graduates who major in one of the humanities have a very difficult time finding work.

It’s not as hard as you might imagine to understand this sorry state of affairs. You see, Big Business moguls are only interested in increasing the value of their personal estates. As long as curent management pracices result in large corporate profits, these execs will continue to greedly rake in as much of the largesse as possible and care absolutely nothing for high school and humanities graduates.

LET THEM EAT CAKE

MONEY TALKS

Ronald Reagan Parkway

December 7th, 2012
8:26 am

Taxpayer, I read about that…too funny…
Debt Ceiling Bluff Called By Harry Reid, Leaving Mitch McConnell To Filibuster Himself

WASHINGTON — A move to embarrass Democrats backfired on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Thursday as the Kentucky Republican proposed a vote on raising the nation’s debt ceiling — then filibustered it when the Democrats tried to take him up on the offer.
On Thursday morning McConnell had made a motion for the vote on legislation that would let the president extend the country’s borrowing limit on his own. Congress would then have the option to disapprove such hikes, in a fashion similar to one that McConnell first suggested during last year’s standoff over the debt ceiling.
The minority leader apparently did not think Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) would take him up on his offer, which would have allowed McConnell to portray President Barack Obama’s desire for such authority as something even Democrats opposed.
Reid objected at first, but told McConnell he thought it might be a good idea. After Senate staff reviewed the proposal, Reid came back to the floor and proposed a straight up-or-down vote on the idea.
McConnell was forced to say no.

St Simons

December 7th, 2012
8:28 am

it is no accident that we have reached the final iteration

of the industrial/capitalist cycle now.

Cmon mon. Clinging to this is no better than clinging to gunz er religion.

Steve

December 7th, 2012
8:28 am

Nice to see intelligent, civil conversation in here. I wonder how long this will last until the trolls arrive?

We keep learning about the rise of plutocracy. I wonder how long it will take for this to sink into the minds of the undereducated in the red states? Another generation?

TaxPayer

December 7th, 2012
8:28 am

By the way, Norquist says his plebes will not back down from their no tax hike pledge, or else. :lol:

Keep Up the Good Fight!

December 7th, 2012
8:30 am

Stands, I agree we have the capability to address these issues, the problem remains the willpower to address reality and to change the stupidity of the starve government idiots and the rising power of the supernational corporations and the megarich who are not bound to borders.

Ronald Reagan Parkway

December 7th, 2012
8:31 am

DECA was a joke in Ohio, and did not really build a skilled workforce.

____

Maybe it did not build the skilled workforce in Ohio but it did in my town. Once you continued to work after graduation, your education continued at the local technical college. I chose a different route (4 year college).

Adam

December 7th, 2012
8:32 am

7.7% BABY

SEVEN POINT SEVEN PERCENT

straitroad

December 7th, 2012
8:34 am

The major problem with the American workforce today is a lack of work ethic and illiteracy.

Adam

December 7th, 2012
8:35 am

Across all metrics, U-1 through U-6, unemployment numbers are down to their lowest level since BEFORE Obama took office.

7.7% U-3, 14.4% “real unemployment,” which is nearly 3 points lower than its peak and over 2 points lower than January 2009.

146k new jobs

B
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
MMMM!!!!

oops

December 7th, 2012
8:35 am

Nothing Obama is going to do is going to improve the fate of the working man. Just selling a false bill of goods.

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
8:35 am

If we insist on manufacturing here at a higher price, other countries that buy from cheaper manufacturing will enjoy a higher standard of living than we do.

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Really, care to explain why a pair of Levi’s 501 jeans (US retail $30-$40) runs around 130Euro in Germany then? People will buy the best. When America produced the best goods, people bought American made products. As long as people have the WalMart mentality, cheap sh*t will prevail. I guess I must be a bit more refined in my tastes as I try to avoid buying cheap sh*t whenever I can. I’d rather buy ONE good product instead of buying the same cheap crap 4 or 5 times to cover the same lifecycle of the one good product.

JamVet

December 7th, 2012
8:35 am

The major problem with the American workforce today is a lack of work ethic and illiteracy.

The second truly stupid post of the morning. (Sink’s being the first.)

Adam

December 7th, 2012
8:36 am

By the way, unemployment statistics and jobs numbers are trending GOOD. The unemployment report this morning is GOOD news, so I have just one question:

WHERE’S EJ MOOSA???

oops

December 7th, 2012
8:36 am

“employees are being forced to split an ever-smaller share of the economic pie”

Obamacare makes it worse, as the legislation forces many employers to make full time employees become part time employees.

TaxPayer

December 7th, 2012
8:36 am

Nothing Republicans have done has helped the working man.

Steve

December 7th, 2012
8:37 am

As the economy steadily improves, we easily prepare the path for 2014 Dem victories in Congress, and a landslide Dem Presidential win in 2016! woo hoo!

TaxPayer

December 7th, 2012
8:38 am

as the legislation forces many employers to make full time employees become part time employees.

Yep! That’s what it says all right. I think it even has an “under penalty of death” clause in there somewhere. :roll:

Gale

December 7th, 2012
8:38 am

@Ronald You chose a different route… That was a point I made to another poster some months ago when this issue was discussed. He argued that voed was all very fine, but not for his kids, who he wanted to attend college. The attitude there is that the trades are not valued in society. In the 70s, we started to devalue the trades. The only path to success was clearly college. As you point out, some students in voed will choose college. The problem is keeping kids engaged in learning long enough to see that additional education; academic or technical, is in their interest. They need to see an exciting future or they turn off from learning.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

December 7th, 2012
8:40 am

Oh and before we go too far…take a moment to remember that it is Pearl Harbor day.

oops

December 7th, 2012
8:40 am

“It’s not caused by taxes”

Progressive income taxes reduce the after tax return on education.

Jack ®

December 7th, 2012
8:40 am

Sometime back when I was working my way through life, my daytime job didn’t provide enough money to pay all the bills. There were no providers that would pay my utility bills, help with my rent nor help buy groceries. I did what I thought I had to do: I got a part-time night job and also a paper route. For some crazy notion I had at the time, I didn’t think my employers owed me anything that had to do with their profits. It didn’t occur to me that I could have blamed someone else for my travails and thereby escape my responsibilities. Also, during that hard scrabble period, I got an education that was not paid for by other taxpayers. Bookman is right: trends don’t bode well for those that spend more time complaining than they do working.

dbm

December 7th, 2012
8:40 am

For a long time we had protective tariffs, which kept us used to artificially high prices and the goodies that came with them. With globalization, this broke down. Now we’re having to go through two painful transitions at once, one due to globalization and cybernation and one due to being weaned/detoxed from protective tariffs.

Jay, I notice you didn’t mention the long-range trend of increasing government regulation, and you didn’t mention uncertainty about how this will play out. Maybe there’s a third cause there.

New innovations will undoubtedly help. Freeing up the economy would probably help too. For example, it ought to be easier (less red tape) for people to operate pushcart businesses.

straitroad

December 7th, 2012
8:40 am

JamVet

December 7th, 2012
8:35 am

Other than insulting comments, can you explain how this post is stupid?

Steve

December 7th, 2012
8:41 am

Where are you guys seeing 7.7 unemployment numbers?

Adam

December 7th, 2012
8:41 am

December 7, 2012, a day which shall live in infamy, the day the Republicans discovered that they were wrong about the economy. Again.

Ronald Reagan Parkway

December 7th, 2012
8:44 am

Gale, I agree with you 100%. I chose a different route because I was interested in the Fine Arts. I have two kids and one chose to go to a four year college and one chose to go to a techincal college (Gwinnett Tech). I feel that each one of them should be successful because they are following the choices on the type of work that they would like to perform as adults. On the other hand, the one that is attending the technical school will probably make more money than the one that is attending the four year college.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

December 7th, 2012
8:45 am

Jay, as for Dick Armey golden parachute, it seems very odd for a “grassroots” organization and a highly inappropriate use of funds “contributed” by the “grassroots”. Why certainly there is no one suggesting that perhaps there were some big monied powers behind it and perhaps another Murdoch envoy to “suggest” that Fox would give it all its support. ;)

I think whenever someone from Fox speaks, the GOP speak or even our conned wingnuts post here, we either ought to here the Benny Hill music or the Monty Python wink wink nudge nudge say no more.

oops

December 7th, 2012
8:45 am

If the government can do two things to fix the situation, here they are.

1. Make users of education loans co-pay 10%-20% with cold hard cash. Theirs.
2. Advertise every Saturday during cartoons, on every channel, the statistics below, for 30 seconds.

(Lifetime)
High school diploma earnings: $1.3 million
College education earnings: $2.3 million
Graduate degree earnings: $2.7 million

And they should also note the disparity between STEM incomes and non-STEM incomes. Nothing else is going to move the needle.

http://www9.georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/hpi/cew/pdfs/collegepayoff-complete.pdf?bcsi_scan_95c9d18e12377997=0&bcsi_scan_filename=collegepayoff-complete.pdf

Steve

December 7th, 2012
8:47 am

Off topic but interesting…

Michael Tomasky at Newsweek injects reality back into the discussion:

So we saw Tuesday night the unveiling of the “new” Republican Party at the Jack Kemp Foundation dinner. The two young stars spoke, Paul Ryan and Marco Rubio. Politico gave it a big write up, noting how many times Ryan mentioned the word “poverty” and how many times Rubio said “middle class.” One can see already that the media is going to hype these two and their supposed new thinking relentlessly. Is there anything to the hype? Of course not, and the reason is simple. Neither they nor the people they’re talking to are ready to accept that they’ve been wrong about anything except messaging, and until they are, this is just gaseous rhetoric. [...]
Republicans aren’t anywhere near to exposing themselves to the kind of self-examination and intra-party debate the Democrats undertook after Reagan’s second win. Despite upholstering their speeches with ample liberal rhetoric, and in Rubio’s case those aforementioned quasi-proposals, Rubio and Ryan both stuck hard to current-day GOP gospel. Raising tax rates isn’t an option. Relying on government isn’t the answer, and all the rest. When I read the Ryan remarks I quoted above, as I first started reading those words, I thought to myself, “Ah, might I encounter here an actual nugget of self-criticism?” It came. But it was only about messaging. The substance of their positions, to them, is fine and dandy.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/06/michael-tomasky-on-the-ridiculousness-of-paul-ryan-and-marco-rubio.html

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
8:47 am

Nothing Republicans have done has helped the working man.

Nothing? the Party of Lincoln and TR wasn’t always this way. It could be progressive, again.

dbm

December 7th, 2012
8:47 am

“In effect, the economy is telling less-educated men: Get lost.”

Or, it’s telling them: Get more education. Also telling teenagers: Stick with your education.

DannyX

December 7th, 2012
8:48 am

The irony of the improved job numbers is that the cons around here will all whine “But, but, they are low paying jobs.”

They are very well trained in talking points.

Jay

December 7th, 2012
8:48 am

(AP) — The U.S. economy added a solid 146,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent, the lowest since December 2008. The government said Superstorm Sandy had only a minimal effect on the figures.

TaxPayer

December 7th, 2012
8:49 am

I’ll bet there are a lot of Tea Party members that would love to get themselves a Tea Party retirement package as good as the one Dick got. Who’s funding their retirement program anyway. Do they collect their own payroll taxes or union dues or something to pay for it. :lol:

oops

December 7th, 2012
8:50 am

Jay’s 8:48

And Jim Cramer is once again proven to be a complete moron (he predicted Sandy would cremate the jobs report)

Adam

December 7th, 2012
8:50 am

Since January 2009, here are the numbers of jobs added or lost:

Total: 291,000 added
Private: 905,000 added
Government (all): 614,000 lost
Federal Government: 9,000 added
State Government: 119,000 lost
Local Government: 504,000 lost

Since February 2009:
Total: 1,015,000 added
Private: 1,630,000 added
Government (all): 615,000 lost
Federal Government: 4,000 added
State Government: 109,000 lost
Local Government: 510,000 lost

Adjusting average January numbers so we start the clock as near to January 20,2009 as possible:

Total: 547,903 added
Private: 1,162,258 added
Government (all): 614,355 lost
Federal Government: 7,226 added
State Government: 115,452 lost
Local Government: 506,129 lost

oops

December 7th, 2012
8:51 am

Kids. Do too much drugs, and you too can be like Jim Cramer. Completely loco.

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
8:51 am

Easy fix, just print more money. Or, take from the rich and give me some.

Adam

December 7th, 2012
8:51 am

By the way, where’s Scout? He said the unemployment rate would be above 8% yesterday.

Nero

December 7th, 2012
8:52 am

All this is, is the direct result of a shift from a manufacturing based economy to the current service based one. Those jobs are never coming back. This country can’t compete against a less costly foreign labor market and cheaper goods. It’s the new paradigm. America is a victim of it’s own “success”.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

December 7th, 2012
8:52 am

But what does Unskewed Job Figures report…. what about the conspiracy to manipulate the figure for the election?

oops

December 7th, 2012
8:53 am

“or at least a means of ameliorating the impact.”

this is not a solution

Welcome to the Occupation

December 7th, 2012
8:54 am

Excellent post. But of course I disagree strongly when you say:

“There is no mechanism by which government can be said to be driving that trend”

The fact that the behavior of the lines in the graph changes so radically in the late 1970s is no coincidence. By the late 1970s, the Bretton Woods framework had collapsed and world capitalism faced some really daunting challenges: soaring oil prices, revolutionary stirrings in post-colonial lands, and perhaps most important of all – and most underestimated of all – an astonishing rise in labor militancy here at home.

The response from capital — acting through the US government and the Federal Reserve — to this crisis was fierce. Labor had to be disciplined, which meant above all, allowing unemployment to return to (what the capitalists like to think of as) a more “natural” rate, not the Keynesian goal of full employment. The Volcker Shock – which, recall, happened under a Democratic president, not Republican, marked the beginning of this assault and by the time it was over, well into Reagan’s first term, it had proven devastatingly effective and successful. World markets were reassured that the US dollar would weather the inflationary storm and and would not continue to be jeopardized by runaway inflation fueled largely by excessively low unemployment. The reserve currency would remain strong, so world markets could breathe easy.

Finally, when Reagan undertook his PATCO attacks, labor rolled over. The counter-revolution had succeeded, and the world had a new model for the future of heavy deficit spending based on defense, and deeply hostile to the traditional Keynesian models, which was also being played out in places like the UK under Thatcher and in Pinochet’s Chile.

Capitalism had been restored to apparent health, though the labor-capital truce that had made possible the broad rising prosperity of the post-war era was dead. So it’s no coincidence that “that relationship ended somewhere in the late 1970s, at what you might call “the Big Break” in the U.S. economy”.

I don’t agree with that, of course.

TaxPayer

December 7th, 2012
8:55 am

Just imagine where that unemployment rate could be if only the Republicans had lived up to their 2010 jobs campaign rhetoric. Why, it could be 2.8% and tax cuts could be paying for themselves as we type. If only…

straitroad

December 7th, 2012
8:58 am

I’m all for good economic news but I don’t look at it blindly. I’m trying to figure out why there’s a trend of past monthly jobs numbers being revised downward. Maybe the 7.7 figure is at least partially due to the continued drop in labor participation? The labor partication rate is the one I’d like to see rise as a better indicator of the jobs picture.

Old Goober

December 7th, 2012
9:00 am

Those on here arguing for a vocational track in high school have departed from reality. The problem has always been that people see that as fine for other people’s kids, but not for their own. They want their own kids to be high on the totem poll, with college degrees, etc. As a result, our colleges and universities are packed with would-be executives who find no useful jobs when they leave. There’s a certain sense of elitism in those who see vocational training as the cure for our unemployment problems. Ask those people what they want their own kids to be. You can bet you won’t hear plumber, electrician, auto mechanic, etc.

DannyX

December 7th, 2012
9:02 am

“I’m trying to figure out why there’s a trend of past monthly jobs numbers being revised downward.”

Not true at all, in fact last month the revision was a couple months being revised up.

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
9:04 am

540K people dropped out of the workforce. Participation rate at 63.6% (lowest since the early 80’s).

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-12-07/146000-jobs-added-november-beat-expectation-85000-unemployment-rate-lower-77

All we need to do is keep people out of the workforce and we’ll be back at 4% unemployment in no time…..

do not be misinformed

December 7th, 2012
9:05 am

Ask those people what they want their own kids to be. You can bet you won’t hear plumber, electrician, auto mechanic, etc.
______
Have you checked out the curriculum for the technical schools? Have you checked out their certification programs? You will be surprised.

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
9:05 am

September and October had a combined downward revision of 49k……

Thomas Heyward Jr

December 7th, 2012
9:05 am

“The No Good, Very Bad Outlook for the Working-Class American Man,”
.
Bombing/invading/Killing Working-Class Men in Somalia,Yemen,Afghan,Pakistan,Syria,Libya,Iraq, and all them dope smoking guys in South America and North America…………………………..don’t come cheap.
.
The Government is actually HELPING you.
.
Don’t be an ingate.
.
lol

Thomas Heyward Jr

December 7th, 2012
9:06 am

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
9:07 am

Bunch of “burger flipping” jobs too….

“In terms of quality of jobs, the biggest gain was in retail jobs as expected in part of the Thanksgiving rush, which added +53K jobs, Professional and Business services rose by 43K, of which Administrative and Waste Services was +23K, and Hospitality and Leisure +23K: all low paying jobs. Construction jobs lost: 20K.”

dbm

December 7th, 2012
9:07 am

Old Goober

December 7th, 2012
9:00 am

If what you say is true, a lot of those “but not for my kid” people need a dose of reality.

I don’t actually have children. If I did, it would be nice if they were advanced degree people like me, or wealthy executives. But I would not be at all ashamed if they were making it as plumber, electrician, auto mechanic, etc.

jconservative

December 7th, 2012
9:10 am

Jay – The chart also parallels the “Net Jobs Created” for the same period. The Net Jobs Created flattened in the late 1970’s and continued flat at about 20% through the 1990’s before starting to drop off the table early in the decade of the 2000’s. The numbers are showing some indications of rising in the past 12 months.

Apparently government policies have had no effect on the numbers.

godless heathen - fiscal cliff dweller

December 7th, 2012
9:10 am

Macro-economic trends such as off-shoring, robotics, computers, etc. are much more powerful than government.

Word, Jay.

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
9:12 am

oops — “Kids. Do too much drugs, and you too can be like Jim Cramer. Completely loco.”

You’re thinking of his onetime TV partner, Larry Kudlow. Kudlow was the darling of the 80s Greed-Is-Good crowd at the same time he had a RAGING coke habit.

Cramer’s just a clown; Kudlow was the druggie.

Not Blind

December 7th, 2012
9:12 am

You can’t make this up…. “WORKING MAN!!! VOTE FOR UNCLE BO !!!!!!!” Fine print – “In the mean time lib policy means you be screwed.”

F. Sinkwich

December 7th, 2012
9:12 am

Tis a sad commentary on our lot when many like Jay here are doing cartwheels over a 7.7% unemployment rate.

Welcome to O’bozo-world.

DannyX

December 7th, 2012
9:13 am

The economy added 146,000 jobs in November, far more than economists had forecast.

Of course its not as good as the 800,000 a month job losses we were suffering under Bush. Oh the good ol’ days of a non socialist economy. We love Republicans!

MANGLER

December 7th, 2012
9:13 am

A few other things happened in the late 60s through the 70s as well which may be linked to a changing of corporate and private mindsets. You know, things that made a generation of Americans distrust their Government a little more, and realize that the world outside of our shores can have great impact on the world inside of our shores. Then a culture of fear sets in, which leads to dependency, and then control. I’m referring to corporate dominance (not Government) over the worker, and the worker feeling as if that’s the way it goes.
We’ve gotten too far away from the American entrepreneurial nature that was preached and practiced (and led to amazing economic and cultural rebounds and leaps forward). The only people out there trying to get you to start your own anything are generally perceived as being part of some multi level marketing joke, or pyramid and ponzi scheme. Schools are no longer set up to teach and inspire, just to pass exams or at the higher levels to make money.
When we get back to working for the good of the Country (and world) in tandem with the good of our own pockets, that trend will do an about face. The CEO’s know that. They want to own your talent not nourish it.

do not be misinformed

December 7th, 2012
9:14 am

dbm

December 7th, 2012
9:07 am

You are exactly right. ALL kids are not college material and some have exceptional skills with their hands. A lot of them can grasp a process by observation and little training. I always believe that a person should be allowed to follow their hearts desire. Let the kids grow into their own identity as long as they are not into illegal activity and are being productive citizens!!

oops

December 7th, 2012
9:14 am

on topic

A Jobless Dilemma: What’s Wrong With Fort Wayne?
Lots of Jobs Are Available, But 14,600 People There Are Still Looking for Work

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323316804578161141400688884.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories

Matti

December 7th, 2012
9:15 am

What the working man needs is an anthem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL3ljwMJ5sE

DannyX

December 7th, 2012
9:15 am

“Welcome to O’bozo-world.”

“This-sucker-could-go-down-world was much, much better.

Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer leech...and earned it!

December 7th, 2012
9:16 am

Don’t be down on journeymen or technicians. They will always be needed. If you ever read “The Foundation Trilogy”, the chapters on the mayors would interest you now. There was a civilization in which Technicians were more like priests. They would operate the power plants as mystical overseers , but if they broke down, they could only pray to them…Bottom line…we will always need the fixers and they can demand big money too.

Gale

December 7th, 2012
9:16 am

Having come from a very blue collar family, I can tell you that education was valued. What I am trying to point out is that keeping kids in school is the big issue. In Georgia, our dropout rate is horrible. Why is that? Why can we not keep those students engaged in learning. In some part it is because they have no hope that another year or too, or four in college, will get them a solid life. Many dropouts are bright intelligent children. If even one in ten mechanic that graduates, one or more will continue learning because of the extra knowledge transfer. It is not elitism, it is societal need. It is well and good to have a college educated populace. But as a society, we need to regain our respect for people who are not teachers, lawyers, doctors. We need to define a different measure of success for ourselves and for our children. What good the degree, if I cannot find a job, or hate the job I can find?

fair and balanced

December 7th, 2012
9:16 am

The cons have demonstrated at a every turn that they are not interested in job creation and that outsourcing and offshoring is good for the bottom line. Hey if you get cheap labor with no restrictions on work conditions or benefits overseas- go for it and vote Republican they will protect corporate bottom lines every time even if it cost them the election:

“”"”"”"”"”The latest jobs bill from Senate Democrats – a plan to punish firms that ship jobs overseas – failed to clear a key procedural hurdle Tuesday after some Democrats complained that the measure would hamper the ability of U.S. companies to compete in foreign markets.

Four Democrats and Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) voted with a united Republican caucus to block the bill, which was crafted to address the 9.6 percent unemployment rate in the run-up to November’s midterm elections. On a vote of 53 to 45, the measure failed to garner the 60 votes needed to overcome a GOP filibuster.

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) defended the bill as a “simple, common-sense” effort to “keep American jobs here in America” and to “stop forcing taxpayers in Nevada and across the nation to pay for giveaways that reward companies for sending American jobs overseas.”

But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) dismissed the bill as “a purely political exercise” that never had a chance of becoming law”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/28/AR2010092806143.html

With people like McConnell in charge of fillibustering any job creation bill, the workers don’t stand a chance. Oh but there is all that trickle down nonsense Grover got the cons to believe in along with fairy dust and Santa Clause.

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
9:16 am

“Tis a sad commentary on our lot when many like Jay here are doing cartwheels over a 7.7% unemployment rate.”

Well they do want us to be more like Europe……….

Welcome to the Occupation

December 7th, 2012
9:17 am

Mangler: “I’m referring to corporate dominance (not Government) over the worker, and the worker feeling as if that’s the way it goes.”

This is correct. But they key point is that government and the corporate dominance work in tandem, not at odds, generally speaking.

Despite what right-wing rhetoric would have you believe, which is designed to con the gullible and the resentful.

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
9:18 am

Interesting read here:

The Fantasy of a 91% Top Income Tax Rate

“A liberal article of faith that confiscatory taxes fed the postwar boom turns out to be an Edsel of an economic idea.”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324705104578151601554982808.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Jay

December 7th, 2012
9:20 am

““A liberal article of faith that confiscatory taxes fed the postwar boom turns out to be an Edsel of an economic idea.”

Odd. I have never encountered this alleged “article of faith.”

RB from Gwinnett

December 7th, 2012
9:21 am

This whole issue has been caused by companies logistically being able to produce goods in economically depressed nations with good quality and ship it here for less than it can be produced here. Automation helps as well. Just think how many gas station attendants are no longer working (outside of NJ) because everybody pumps their own gas now. The world is changing.

The question I have for Jay is….if there are 10+MM illegals here doing jobs Americans won’t do, what jobs are the Americans who won’t do those jobs doing? The answer is, for the most part, they aren’t. They don’t have the work ethic to do any job they’re qualified for and they’re getting left behind because of it. And their lack of productivity is having a significant impact on that chart to the tune of 10+MM workers. And I would guess many of the illegals who are doing those jobs aren’t showing up in those statistics.

Finn de Siècle (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)

December 7th, 2012
9:22 am

Jobless Rate Falls to 7.7%

“US Economy improves, Conservatives Slash Own Wrists”

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
9:22 am

“Odd. I have never encountered this alleged “article of faith.” ”

That’s odd because I see liberal posters here bringing it up all the time (or at least on Kyle’s blog).

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
9:23 am

“Tis a sad commentary on our lot when many like Jay here are doing cartwheels over a 7.7% unemployment rate.”

Well they do want us to be more like Europe……….

I can’t speak for nobody other than me, but I think America is much better off with Liberals cheering for a dropping unemployment rate vs Conservatives cheering for the dropping of the US economy. Liberals may want us to be more like Europe, but it seems as though Conservatives are shooting for feudal Europe.

Oscar

December 7th, 2012
9:24 am

Around 1980 or so 90 per cent of our clothes were made in New York city. Now 90 per cent are made in Asia, mostly China.
The idea was to embrace globalizaion and let the products that could be made with unskilled labor be made overseas, and we would used our more skilled labor force to make products that called for such skilled labor. Computers, etc.
Result has not been so good.

Germany has been successful at that idea.

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
9:24 am

Got my Obama check last night. I guess I will use it to build my own blog website, where I can bash Bush all day long. :D

Thomas Heyward Jr

December 7th, 2012
9:26 am

“But here’s the most frightening thing about the chart above:”
.
In all seriousness,
if any real working men or women are reading this……………….take heart.
Leave the fear to the progs of the world.
The Liberty movement has a bright future.
.
10,000 Bookman-type talking heads may apologize or excuse a tyrannical government…24/7,
But more and more people are getting the clue.(decreasing voter trends).
The great ponzi/hoax is coming to an end.
.
It’ll be tough for awhile but you real producers are not alone.
Once again……shrugg what ya can………and Buck up.
.
Nopalitano 2016!
.
Forward Freedom.

Mike

December 7th, 2012
9:26 am

So, uneducated people have a harder time? No kidding.

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

December 7th, 2012
9:27 am

“Economic trends bode poorly for the working man”

Thank you Democrats and Obama !

dbm

December 7th, 2012
9:28 am

“stop forcing taxpayers in Nevada and across the nation to pay for giveaways that reward companies for sending American jobs overseas.”

If that’s true, which would be no surprise, why not just get rid of those giveaways?

Jay

December 7th, 2012
9:28 am

No, Stephenson, you have not.

You have probably seen the observation that, despite conservative claims to the contrary, high marginal tax rates didn’t PREVENT strong economic growth. And they didn’t.

But that’s very different from Schiff’s claim of “A liberal article of faith that confiscatory taxes FED the postwar boom,” as in caused it or accelerated it.

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

December 7th, 2012
9:28 am

“AIR RAID PEARL HARBOR. THIS IS NO DRILL”

12/7/1941

Thomas Heyward Jr

December 7th, 2012
9:28 am

Jay

December 7th, 2012
9:20 am

““A liberal article of faith that confiscatory taxes fed the postwar boom turns out to be an Edsel of an economic idea.”

Odd. I have never encountered this alleged “article of faith.”
—————————————————————————————————————————————-
.
As bad as the Edsel might have been…………….it was still better than the “Volt”..the world’s first EXTERNAL Combustion automoblie…….compliments of FED.Gov.
.
lol

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
9:28 am

Enjoy it while you can. Quick scan of recent news articles….

Citigroup layoffs may not go far enough

The Newsweek Layoffs Are Coming, and This Could Get Ugly

Planned Layoffs Surge To 3-Month High, And Bloodbath May Not Be Over

McGraw-Hill plans 63 layoffs at Polaris location

Johnson Controls to close plant; layoffs planned

Maine-Endwell to consider mid-year layoffs

Holiday Jeer: Big Banks Planning More Layoffs

Carbon County commissioners expect layoffs admidst tax hike

Radio personalities let go during major shakeup

Delay of Louisiana hospital layoffs seen as temporary reprieve

Hospital blames Obamacare over layoffs

Pratt Lays Off 80; 20 Others Take Buyouts

Area layoffs planned at Buca di Beppo, Carson Pirie Scott

PEER Frets Over DEP Layoffs, Says More Cuts Likely

etc, etc, etc…..

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
9:29 am

S. Billings — “Interesting read here:”

I found this part particularly interesting:

The changes came about not so much by movements in rates but by the addition of tax credits for the poor and the elimination of exemptions for the wealthy. In 1958, even the lowest-tier filers, which included everyone making up to $5,000 annually, were subjected to an effective 20% rate. Today, almost half of all tax filers have no income-tax liability whatsoever, and many “taxpayers” actually get a net refund from the government. Those nostalgic for 1950s-era “tax fairness” should bear this in mind.

Yes, let’s bear that in mind. Let’s also bear in mind that refundable tax credits were yet another REPUBLICAN idea, having come from and been championed by Congressional Republicans. If Mr. Schiff can’t bring himself to admit that he’s either ignorant of their provenance or deliberately covering it up when he seeks to beat liberals over the head with them, then there’s not much reason to bother with the rest of his opinion piece.

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
9:30 am

But I would not be at all ashamed if they were making it as plumber, electrician, auto mechanic, etc.

Nor would I, and I actually AM a parent. If there is a vocational position that provides secure income doing honest work that my kid wants to do, that is more than fine and dandy with this proud poppa.

Welcome to the Occupation

December 7th, 2012
9:30 am

I missed your 7:49 elaboration, Jay. I would have been sharper in my disagreement with you had I seen it.

“Macro-economic trends such as off-shoring, robotics, computers, etc. are much more powerful than government”

You’re completely leaving out of this the key role of capital investment in such developments and the indispensable role of government in that. Technological advances such as robotics and computers do not simply materialize in the private sector as conservatives like to fantasize. Never have, never will. The worlds of iPads and gadgets we enjoy today was no more the spontaneous products of heroic Promethean entrepreneurs than the railroads were century before last.

But just on a simple logical level, you’re just wrong. Take this for example:

“But if it’s larger macro-economic trends at work, we have to go stumbling in the dark looking for a solution or at least a means of ameliorating the impact.”

So assume then that we do “go stumbling in the dark looking for a solution” and actually come up with something, what then? What do we call that collective action that results? We call it policy, and that policy will then have its own effects which will later be judged as adverse or positive, which will then call forth other responses. The point being that those responses of policy are always part of the picture that we’re looking at. There is never just simply some raw, spontaneous movement of the economy out there that is outside any control. It’s always already a product of collective (policy) action.

Mick

December 7th, 2012
9:31 am

0311

Really? What have republicans done for middle class job creation? Please, tell us…

Jay

December 7th, 2012
9:31 am

““Tis a sad commentary on our lot when many like Jay here are doing cartwheels over a 7.7% unemployment rate.”

Well they do want us to be more like Europe……….

Actually, no once again. It is conservatives that want us to be more like Europe, where leaders have undertaken austerity measures to slash spending and where, as a result, unemployment is much higher, the economy is in recession again in some cases and deficits continue to be high because of lack of economic growth.

alex

December 7th, 2012
9:31 am

Jay, “no mechanism by which the govt. is not driving the trend…absurd, chart gives no indication of that and entirely your opinion, if the “govt” increases unemployment PAYMENT, IF WELFARE IS INCREASED, if the minimum wage is increased then their are govt drivers, BUT the bottom line is ; GET AN EDUCATION, OPEN TRADE SCHOOLS

Cynical and genetically, if they can’t find mates then these numbers will begin to change as they will not reproduce..

Fred ™

December 7th, 2012
9:32 am

Odd. I have never encountered this alleged “article of faith.”

You haven’t spent enough time on FOX or talk radio to be brainwashed yet.

DannyX

December 7th, 2012
9:32 am

“I guess I will use it to build my own blog website, where I can bash Bush all day long.”

That was some speech Bush gave at the Republican convention. Bravo.

I like the part of his speech where he said he showed leadership that is sadly missing today, like the time he screamed “This sucker could go down.” Its a shame that Obama hasn’t cleaned up the Bush disaster faster, Its Obama’s Katrina.

TaxPayer

December 7th, 2012
9:32 am

I think the point made by the “liberals” regarding higher tax rates was that the higher rates, contrary to the Republican articles of faith, do not result in economic decline and loss of growth, etc. By the way, global warming is also real, cons.

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
9:32 am

JHM @ 9:29

When have you recently seen any Republican own up to the consequences or results of their policies?

skipper

December 7th, 2012
9:33 am

Bro,
When unions first came in, they were probably a good thing. Now, the demands they make DO IN FACT often make business way less profitable. Unions, like so many entities, have swung too far the other way. The demands now often exceed common sense, when before in fact they had merit. They have gotten now (in many instances) where sorry workers cannot be fired. They want all the rights and priveleges but less work! Many companies will, in fact, continue to go overseas instead of messing with the cluster the unions have become. Some things that started out as a good thing, like EPA, unions, etc. have morphed into something totally different. Perhaps many should be disbanded and re-started from the ground up (with some just staying permantly disbanded.)

Mick

December 7th, 2012
9:34 am

heyward

Every person who has a volt, apparently loves them…fearing the future is no way to go thru life son…

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
9:34 am

Brosephus — “JHM @ 9:29 When have you recently seen any Republican own up to the consequences or results of their policies?”

Come now, my friend. You know it’s just another example of Republicans throwing a tantrum, spilling the contents of their collective sippy cup and leaving the mess for Democrats to clean up.

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
9:35 am

Really? What have republicans done for middle class job creation?

Created massive unemployment which should have spurred all those lazy assed workers to go out and seek new jobs or open businesses of their own. Nevermind the fact that the credit freeze negated any type lending for that exact thing. If those lazy assed workers had bothered to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, they would be working now.

//oozing sarcasm//

Lynnie Gal

December 7th, 2012
9:35 am

Look what just happened in Michigan yesterday. Republicans pushed through, without debate, anti-union legislation that turned Michigan into a “Right to Work” state overnight. No discussion. No warning. It was a surprise, sneak attack on the workers of Michigan by the Republicans in their state house. When workers got word about it, they tried to storm the legislature and were met with police armed with pepper spray. This, my friends, is what Fascism looks like. I know it’s extreme to say that, but what the Republicans just did to the workers in Michigan, the heart of the nation’s auto industry, is extreme. I certainly think those state reps who just put the boot of force on the throat of workers will pay a price when their term is up. Working people everywhere need to realize the extremes that Republicans will go to hold down your wages and destroy safety nets that may keep you from free-falling in this economy. It really is class war, and we know who the foot soldiers for the rich and corporations are. Look at what party got the lion’s share of their money this last election. It’s past the time for American workers to wake up and give all Republicans, everywhere,state houses and national houses, the boot when elections rolls around again.

Welcome to the Occupation

December 7th, 2012
9:35 am

Brosephus: “Liberals may want us to be more like Europe, but it seems as though Conservatives are shooting for feudal Europe.”

The irony is that it is conservatives who truly want us to be like Europe – austerity-ridden, sclerotic, contractionary, increasingly fear-dominated, etc.

Conservatism equals labotomization. Unless you’re an “elite” conservative, who’s at least studied up enough to paper over the gaping contradictions int he arguments – and then conservatism amounts to throwing up your hands and ceding to pure cynicism.

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
9:36 am

Jay: the Republican Party has managed to convince white working-class males that the economic challenges outlined by Rauch can be traced to excess government and, to be blunt, “those people.” It’s an explanation that might feel right and that resonates emotionally. By providing an alternative explanation to that illustrated in today’s chart, it also happens to suit the purposes of those who fund the campaigns and pay the bills for the GOP and its associated organizations

For years I’d heard people repeating the mantra, “American Workers Are Lazy”; and I couldn’t understand why:

*a) As an American worker people were calling themselves lazy.
*b) Americans work more hours, have less vacation time/sick time than their European counterparts; are more prodcutive and efficient yet are supposedly MORE lazy.
*c) Americans, more than any other group, take great pride in their work and accomplishments And….
*d) People were actually BELIEVING that bull.

You’ve just explained why. Thanks.

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
9:36 am

” It is conservatives that want us to be more like Europe, where leaders have undertaken austerity measures to slash spending and where, as a result, unemployment is much higher, the economy is in recession again in some cases and deficits continue to be high because of lack of economic growth.”

And sequestration was a Republican idea….. :rolleyes:

ObamAusterity: Forward!

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

December 7th, 2012
9:36 am

It’s called capitalism ………… which made the biggest middle class the world has ever seen.

Now the liberals/Democrats are trying to slowly but surely dismantle it.

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
9:37 am

Off topic, and purely soap-operatic, but–

Do any of the resident conservatives of a rational bent find the “STUPID LIBERAL” parody act posting here even remotely funny?

Just wondering. Because if you do, I guess it’s serving some purpose. I mean, we have Redneck Convert, the Pulitzer-Prize[1] nominated online performance artist, so I guess it’s only fair you have at least a (very, very) pale imitation to call your own.


1. and by that I mean I’ve said sometimes that someone ought to fill out the paperwork and nominate him/her, which is close enough, right?

Fred ™

December 7th, 2012
9:37 am

Actually, no once again. It is conservatives that want us to be more like Europe

Wrong again Jay. Conservatives want us to be more like China where forced child labor supplements the slave labor they have. Both which compliment the practice of bribing local officials rather than paying taxes, grand scale pollution, crappy standards of living, severe shortages of consumer goods for the peasants, and a virtually nonexistent middle class.

They used to point at Ireland with their close to 0% corporate tax rate until THEY crashed and burned………

alex

December 7th, 2012
9:38 am

2 Jay, unemployment was high BEFORE the austerity measures, the medicine may taste bad , but hopefully it will help, look to the long term prospects…..Greece and spain’s problems also have something to do with THEIR mortgage issues….

2 Stands sgree with you, my son will have ” a blue collar job”, if he’s happy , his kids are happy and well taken care of, the old man is happy(me)..

GT

December 7th, 2012
9:38 am

Look where the concentration of unemployment is. Seems to me with internet and home offices the work force should be more on a par place to place. Look at Georgia and see why we are so behind the other states. Instead of telling the nation how to run their business we need to shut up and listen to what they are doing we are not.

DannyX

December 7th, 2012
9:39 am

In fact Volt topped the Consumer Reports list for consumer satisfaction for the second straight year. Volt sales are also way up.

Way to go Obama!

straitroad

December 7th, 2012
9:39 am

540,000, the number of people not accounted in the 7.7% rate. As, much as I want this economy to improve, I suspected something was missing from the 7.7 number when jobs are later revised downward and labor participation drops. Let’s hope next months numbers are better.

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
9:39 am

“When have you recently seen any Republican own up to the consequences or results of their policies?”

When have you seen any politician own up to the consequences or results of their policies? They don’t. It’s called job security. They pass something that has unintended consequences and then tell their constituents they need to be re-elected to fixed it….

St Simons

December 7th, 2012
9:40 am

a long time ago, in a university not so far away –

Professor: “With re-engineering & automation, we can eliminate or
greatly reduce manual labor.”
Naive student (me): “What will all those people do for a living?”
Professor: They will ‘freed up’ to do ‘other things.”
Naive student: “Other things like what? Starve? Go on unemployment?”
Professor: Maybe you need to change your major to Social Work! Any
way, by then, there will be another system in place than money.

touche, Dr Linn.
Your move, plutocracy.
and I wouldn’t wait for our next move, jus sayin’

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
9:40 am

Now, the demands they make DO IN FACT often make business way less profitable.

skipper

There’s a big difference in “less profitable” and “not profitable”. The problem is that most Americans are too damned awestruck and googley eyed over the idea that they may become one of these 1%ers when the game is rigged for everyone except the 1% to fail. Do you not think that people should have a semblance of job security? What person can be productive when they know they can get fired just for simply being alive, regardless to how well they work their job? Such is the case of living in right-to-work states, yet the mindless GOP drones go out and cheer for their own demise.

Why should unions be disbanded, especially when cosidering that executives and corporate boards have basically banded together to further their own causes at the expense of everyone else?

————————-

JHM

Yeah, you’re right. I stand corrected and properly chastised… :)

DannyX

December 7th, 2012
9:41 am

“It’s called capitalism”

What do you call your over 8% unemployment lie you told yesterday?

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
9:42 am

Welcome

I think they’re shooting for 1600’s Europe. No infrastructure, no health care, workers fighting each other for scraps, and the overlords owning everything. At least, that’s how I see it. I could go for the austerity Europe too.

:)

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
9:42 am

Right On Lynnie Gal!

This, my friends, is what Fascism looks like. I know it’s extreme to say that, but what the Republicans just did to the workers in Michigan, the heart of the nation’s auto industry, is extreme. I certainly think those state reps who just put the boot of force on the throat of workers will pay a price when their term is up. Working people everywhere need to realize the extremes that Republicans will go to hold down your wages and destroy safety nets that may keep you from free-falling in this economy. It really is class war, and we know who the foot soldiers for the rich and corporations are

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
9:43 am

It’s called capitalism …

ok, now kindly explain WT holy F the modern Republican party has done to advance the kind of enlightened capitalism that actually *benefits* the middle class in the past, oh, thirty years?

And if you lean back on ye olde “we let Merkins KEEP mo’ of their OWN MONEY” BS, I will have to smite you.

Welcome to the Occupation

December 7th, 2012
9:44 am

Very well said, Lynnie Gal 9:35. There is no question but that the increasingly brazen tactics we’re seeing on the part of capital (and keep in mind where Snyder came from – he is a DIRECT product of the new financial class of capitalism who is now seeking to consolidate the hold of the financial class on the economic system as a whole) augur a very dark future. These people are less and less constrained to even fake a sense of a need to bow to democratic processes and the will of the people. There was once a time when these tactics were reserved for the “global South”, like Pinochet in Chile’s, but were abstained from here in capital’s backyard. But no more.

But don’t be fooled into thinking that the Democratic party is not also largely on board with this. They just favor a slightly different mix of tactics.

Make no mistake, neoliberalism — a violent, extreme doctrine, as you can see from Snyder’s actions in Michigan — has infected the ENTIRE elite of our corporate AND government structure, and that means of BOTH parties in the US.

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
9:45 am

SSI — “touche, Dr Linn.
Your move, plutocracy.
and I wouldn’t wait for our next move, jus sayin”

Clearly, the next move should have been to develop new industries, new occupations and new markets. Green and renewable energies could have been that sector, but we’ve pretty much given up the lead in that to other countries.

There’s a possibility that biotechnology could be another such new industry, but it lends itself even more to assembly-line processes and isn’t an optimal solution.

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
9:45 am

And sequestration was a Republican idea….. :rolleyes:

Are you claiming that they didn’t vote for it??? Wasn’t the idea of budget cuts or spending cuts the idea that the GOP used to bash America over the head as though it was a defenseless baby seal? I recall the election of 2010 being all about jobs, jobs, and jobs. However, when Congress started in 2011, we heard nothing but spending cuts, entitlement cuts, deficits, debt, and everything else austere. Sequestration, own it GOP as you’re the one that brought it on.

Thomas Heyward Jr

December 7th, 2012
9:47 am

“The pharmaceutical giant that just hired Fowler actively supported the passage of Obamacare through its membership in the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) lobby. Indeed, PhRMA was one of the most aggressive supporters – and most lavish beneficiaries – of the health care bill drafted by Fowler. Mother Jones’ James Ridgeway proclaimed “Big Pharma” the “big winner” in the health care bill. And now, Fowler will receive ample rewards from that same industry as she peddles her influence in government and exploits her experience with its inner workings to work on that industry’s behalf, all of which has been made perfectly legal by the same insular, Versailles-like Washington culture that so lavishly benefits from all of this.”
.
This has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the “working man” being extorted to buy a bad product…………possibly violently.
.
Nothing to see here.
Move along now ..but remember………
.
….government has NOTHING to do with this.
.
lol

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
9:48 am

They don’t. It’s called job security. They pass something that has unintended consequences and then tell their constituents they need to be re-elected to fixed it….

And like the good sheeple, y’all keep re-electing the same jackasses over and over and expecting different results. Kinda makes one think of that whole concept of insanity, huh?

Oscar

December 7th, 2012
9:49 am

When I was in high school back in the fifties we were told that in the future with improvements in technology workers could produce everything we needed by working only a few hours a week. They would spend the remainder of their time in recreation and leisure activities.

The techoolgy part came true. But workers working few hours for the same pay did not.

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
9:49 am

A little info on the European “austerity”

How savage has European austerity (spending cuts) been?

http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2012/05/how-savage-has-european-austerity-been.html

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
9:50 am

“And like the good sheeple, y’all keep re-electing the same jackasses over and over and expecting different results.”

I didn’t vote for Obama either time…..

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
9:51 am

They had schools back in the fifties ??

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

December 7th, 2012
9:51 am

Excuse me ………. I apologize. It wasn’t 8% it was 8.3%

WASHINGTON, D.C. (12/6/12) — U.S. unemployment, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, was 7.8% for the month of November, up significantly from 7.0% for October. Gallup’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 8.3%, nearly a one-point increase over October’s rate.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/159104/unadjusted-unemployment-shoots-back.aspx

P.S. And don’t forget to add in those who have dropped out of even looking for work. I don’t think they are even counted in unemployment figures.

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
9:52 am

“Are you claiming that they didn’t vote for it???”

Are you claiming it wasn’t Obama’s idea and that a whole lot of Dems didn’t vote for it?

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
9:52 am

However, when Congress started in 2011, we heard nothing but spending cuts, entitlement cuts, deficits, debt, and everything else austere.

That’s not true. The fightin’ 111th, they LOVED them some abortion legislation. Untold hours spent legislating to prevent uppity, sluttish women from controlling their own bodies.

Donovan

December 7th, 2012
9:52 am

For the majority of liberals who decided to enroll in liberal arts rather than business administration I’ll give you all a cliff note version of how profits are realized.

When a product is made by a company and sold for $10 but has a cost of $5 to make it, the profit to the company is $5. Purchased materials to make the product and overhead expenses define the cost. Overhead expenses include employee wages, health care, pensions, and numerous other cost inclusions.

When labor unions (legalized extortioners) are involved in companies the inevitable cost of goods being produced will go up and profits will go down. Union contract demands for higher wages and ancillary benefits that go unmet result in strikes that cripple or close companies. That company which used to sell a product for $10 must realize that their profit of $5 will now be $2. Since a $2 profit will not be sustainable to remain in business, the company must find a cheaper way to produce the product. China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and emerging countries in Latin America offer cheaper costs.

Made in America sounds real patriotic, but until Democrats and organized labor look inward at themselves and figure out that they are the ones who caused the flight of jobs to cheaper overseas producers, those lost jobs will not be coming back.

You made your bed, now sleep in.

DannyX

December 7th, 2012
9:53 am

“Are you claiming that they didn’t vote for it???”

Answer the question.

Oscar

December 7th, 2012
9:53 am

Stupid – Well, not ones that could predict the future very well.

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
9:53 am

I didn’t vote for Obama either time…..

Obama wasn’t the only one re-elected. Congress has a historical re-election rate between 80%-90% over the past few decades. Obama isn’t the cause of our problems. He’s only the one who is the latest in the position to sign off on the legislation that leads to our problems.

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
9:53 am

They need to ban abortion, birth rates are dropping and we need more tax payers to pay for our free healthcare.

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
9:56 am

Monsieur Numbers: It’s called capitalism ………… which made the biggest middle class the world has ever seen.

WRONG. Capitalism didn’t create the biggest middle class ever — Unions, Regulations, Oversight of industries, Anti-trust legislation, the busting up of monopolies and the GI Bill (which enabled returning WWII vets to get a good education), did. If not for these things, we’d still be living in the 18th century with the vast majority of Americans working but not advancing while the vast majority of wealth remained in the hands of a few men.

With common sense and even handed legislation, coupled with Unions, helped to make the things like Child Labor Laws, the 40 hours work week, etc.

In the old days, if you were a hard worker and you played by the rules you could always find a good job. That good job would enable you to buy a house, buy at least one car and support a family. It would also enable you to take a couple of vacations each year and buy some nice things for your family. After working for 30 or 40 years you would look forward to a comfortable retirement.

Now IF you have a pension, you’re lucky if the company doesn’t try to liquidate it and leave you with nothing.

Corporate America wants the American Worker to be “loyal” to them; yet they are only “loyal” to themselves.

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
9:57 am

Donovan — “For the majority of liberals who decided to enroll in liberal arts rather than business administration I’ll give you all a cliff note version of how profits are realized.”

ST*U, Donny.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_big_lebowski#Cast

F. Sinkwich

December 7th, 2012
9:57 am

“In fact Volt topped the Consumer Reports list for consumer satisfaction for the second straight year. Volt sales are also way up.”

Oh, good. When are we going to stop paying Doofusses to buy that POS?

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
9:57 am

Are you claiming it wasn’t Obama’s idea and that a whole lot of Dems didn’t vote for it?

I never made that claim. From what I’ve heard, the idea came from the White House. What else would you expect from the “roll over” president? Republicans whined about spending cuts and sh*t, so Obama gave them the deal to get their spending cuts. You would think that y’all conservatives would be tap dancing like the son of Sammy Davis Jr since you get your government spending cuts that y’all have been whining about nonstop for more than 2 years.

So, did the Republicans vote for Sequestration or not? I know the Democrats did. Afraid to own up to problems brought on by Republicans? They did have a major part in this whole thing, especially considering their shift from job creation to austerity creation after the 2010 midterms…

Welcome to the Occupation

December 7th, 2012
9:58 am

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801: “It’s called capitalism ………… which made the biggest middle class the world has ever seen. / Now the liberals/Democrats are trying to slowly but surely dismantle it.”

Tough, aint it, trying to cram all of this reality into your little “liberal vs conservative” hole?

John F. Kennedy

December 7th, 2012
9:58 am

If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

Karl Rove

December 7th, 2012
9:59 am

Jay is a commie liberal who hates corporations and big business, The Obozo lover does not undersand how that trickle down thing works when the rich get richer with big tax breaks and government assistance. Maybe Grover can give him a few pointers. Here is a fine example of how that trickle down thing works to keep the workers happy:

“”"”"The Nation discovered that, in the two weeks immediately following the announcement of the Delphi jobs-saving plan, Paul Singer, Romney’s partner, secretly bought up over a billion dollars of old Delphi bonds for pennies on the dollar.

Singer and partners now controlled the company – and killed the return of Delphi to GM.These facts were revealed in a sworn deposition of Delphi’s Chief Financial Officer John Sheehan, confidential, but now released on the Web.

Sheehan said, under oath, that these speculators threatened to withhold key parts (steering columns), from GM. This would have brought the auto maker to its knees, immediately forcing GM’s permanent closure.

The extortion worked. The government money that was supposed to go to save jobs went to Singer’s hedge fund, Elliott Management Corporation and its partners, including the Romneys.

Once Singer’s crew took control of Delphi, they rapidly completed the move to China, sticking the US taxpayers with the bill for the pensions of the Delphi workers cut loose.

Dan Loeb, a million-dollar donor to the GOP, who made three-quarters of a billion dollars off the legal scam, proudly announced that, once he and Elliott took control, Delphi kept “virtually no North American unionized labor.”"”"”"”"”"”"
http://truth-out.org/progressivepicks/item/12273-romney-company-shipped-every-single-delphi-uaw-job-to-china

Works just fine – keep those tax breaks like they are for the job creators.(Nobody said the jobs had to be in this country) Remember if someone passes gas in a crowded room always point a finger at the commie liberal.

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
10:00 am

F. Sinkiewicz — “Oh, good. When are we going to stop paying Doofusses to buy that POS?”

How long did we pay doofuses to buy SUVs and Hummers?

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
10:01 am

Debbie,

Once our currency was no longer tied to a gold standard, and became a Fiat system. We started noticing runaway inflation as the money supply increased. Wages have remained flat, and with prices increasing, as our dollar lost value, the gap between rich and poor has increased. As long as our money is not backed by gold, we are going to continue to see our wealth evaporate.

DannyX

December 7th, 2012
10:01 am

“Made in America sounds real patriotic, but until Democrats and organized labor look inward at themselves and figure out that they are the ones who caused the flight of jobs to cheaper overseas producers, those lost jobs will not be coming back.”

Right, because poor Walmart is suffering. They needed to increase their wealth.

Christy Walton…$28 billion
Jim Walton…$27 billion
Alice Walton…$26 billion
S Robson…$26 billion

Look inward liberals. The Waltons are suffering, you don’t need insurance.

Cosby

December 7th, 2012
10:02 am

Hmm..High School Grds are loosing Ground…the other side of that coin is they are less educated than in the past and getting dumber by the day thanks to Government Schools. Perhaps if the USA increase education the tide would turn as you would have a more educated workforce. but if you cannot read and write, you are not in good shape even if you have a High School diploma. Of course attitude may come into play, I should be paid even if I do not come to work, I am high, I cannot work past 3pm, I do not have transportation, I smoke, use dope and drink, I have 5 kids by 5 different dads, and if you do not pay me more than the government pays me for not working, I will quit and by the way I am not responsible for anything I do…correct this attitude and you might just see equity come back into the picture!!

They BOTH suck

December 7th, 2012
10:02 am

While there is still a good way to go in regards to getting folks back to work, I am glad the jobs report was pretty decent.

How much more whining and gnashing of teeth would be going on if it had been a bad report?

We are starting to get past hurt feelings and meltdowns over the election. Some seem to have been traumatized.

That Black Guy

December 7th, 2012
10:05 am

Steve

December 7th, 2012
8:28 am
Nice to see intelligent, civil conversation in here. I wonder how long this will last until the trolls arrive?

We keep learning about the rise of plutocracy. I wonder how long it will take for this to sink into the minds of the undereducated in the red states? Another generation?
_____________________________________________________
Steve, great job ending the civil discourse by insulting those who disagree with you politically.

Oscar

December 7th, 2012
10:05 am

Enjoyed reading all the comments this morning. Lots of interesting views and information.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
10:06 am

Unemployment Plunges to 3.8% for Government Workers; Government Adds 35,000 Jobs in November, 544,000 Since July

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/unemployment-plunges-38-government-workers-government-adds-35000-jobs-november-544000

Ronald Reagan

December 7th, 2012
10:06 am

Jeb Bush in ‘16 or we all will be selling apples on the street corner.

Welcome to the Occupation

December 7th, 2012
10:06 am

Donovan: ‘When labor unions (legalized extortioners)”

Great propaganda, man! You’ve got a knack buddy.

Love how you just break out your hang glider and sail over the gaping chasm in logic in these statements:

1 – When a product is made by a company and sold for $10 but has a cost of $5 to make it, the profit to the company is $5.

But WHO’s the “company”? Who get’s to pocket the $5 that’s cleared as profit? Is it the owners or the workers?

For those who skipped a real education and went straight to Limbaugh and Fox, here’s a little economics 101.

The owners (the capitalists) aren’t one and the same as the workers. There’s a pesky little divide there that can occasionally cause difficulties. Believe me, the armchair right wing bloggers may forget the distinction but I’ll tell you who never forgets it: the capitalists themselves (Just ask Wal-Mart itself if they were thrilled by the strikers on Black Friday.)

2- When labor unions (legalized extortioners) are involved in companies

After the above is made clear, how can you claim that it is the labor unions who are the “extortioners”?

Only through willed ignorance of basic economic facts, that’s how.

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
10:06 am

Excuse me ………. I apologize. It wasn’t 8% it was 8.3%

WASHINGTON, D.C. (12/6/12) — U.S. unemployment, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, was 7.8% for the month of November, up significantly from 7.0% for October. Gallup’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 8.3%, nearly a one-point increase over October’s rate.

Wow Scout!! You must have a super duper MAGIC TIME MACHINE!! Yesterday, you said the numbers had came out with 8% unemployment and today, just like that, you’re saying you were off by only a few percentage points!!

Can you go back to 1965 with the time machine and change the course of history? I don’t want The Los Angeles Dodgers to win. :roll:

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
10:07 am

I dont want the Dodgers to win the World Series…….

Other part of the sentence.

Abraham Lincoln

December 7th, 2012
10:08 am

Working and Takng…

That is the real issue that will continue in this country when these poor tongues of Judge Douglas and myself shall be silent. It is the eternal struggle between these two principles, right and wrong, throughout the world. They are the two principles that have stood face to face from the beginning of time. The one is the common right of humanity, the other the devine right of kings. It is the same principle in whatever shape it develops itself. It is the same spirit that says “you toil and work and earn bread and I’ll eat it.”

alex

December 7th, 2012
10:11 am

Manufactured goods are a commodity and with globalization, the cheapest product (integrating quality and accessibility) will get sold with jobs for those companies that can sell their product:

Price of ton of steel to produce:
USA $625-675
Russia $ 500

Guess whose steel will be bought, whose mills are working and whose laborerers are getting paid ( less yes but this is globalization of the work place, global caitalization) to lay on the doorstep of the repubs is superficial and intellectually dishonest.

Fred ™

December 7th, 2012
10:11 am

Wow, it must be computer day at the asylum. We have Donovan, Sinkie, Cosby, Stevenson Billings, RB AND an assortment of cowardly alts too embarrassed to use their regular screen name………

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
10:12 am

How long did we pay doofuses to buy SUVs and Hummers?

Come to think of it–

How long are we going to go on paying doofuses to live in Alaska?

Fred ™

December 7th, 2012
10:12 am

Hi DDR. Haven’t seen you in a while. Have you been well?

gadem

December 7th, 2012
10:12 am

Education is key, however republicans want to cut funding to education.

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
10:14 am

SfD — “How long are we going to go on paying doofuses to live in Alaska?

ZOMG STATE SOSHULIZUM

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
10:15 am

Fred

:lol: :lol:

They’re not all asylum residents, although some of them portray themselves as such on the internet.

RB from Gwinnett

December 7th, 2012
10:16 am

“giveaways that reward companies for sending American jobs overseas”

Care of offer up what any of those giveaways are?

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
10:17 am

Guess I’m gonna get started on this brake job now. Parts should be cooled off now. Y’all let me know if Mr. Billings ever owns up to his Republican party voting for the sequestration they begged Obama for after winning the 2010 midterms.

RB from Gwinnett

December 7th, 2012
10:18 am

“Wow, it must be computer day at the asylum. We have Donovan, Sinkie, Cosby, Stevenson Billings, RB AND an assortment of cowardly alts too embarrassed to use their regular screen name………”

RB has never once posted here under any other name, Fred. But thanks for thinking of me.

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
10:19 am

Let me get this correct, since I am still learning how to be a liberal. When confronted with factual information that discredits my position, I should resort to name calling ? I know that I am stupid, but I am willing to learn.

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
10:20 am

S. Liberal @ 10:01 a.m. — If you really believe that, I have a bunch of bridges, (that go from California to Hawaii), that I’d like to sell you. Cheap.

Cosby: High School Grds are loosing Ground…the other side of that coin is they are less educated than in the past and getting dumber by the day thanks to Government Schools

NOT Government Schools, they are NOT the problem. The problem is Republicans Governors who have systematically and delibeately weakened the school system by defunding it. In the past, the state, who gets THEIR funds from the government, would supply over 60% of their school districts budgets. Now these same states are hoaridng/keeping the funds and putting the onus more and more on individual school districts.

The districts in turn have to raise taxes on their constituents in order to pay for their children’s education. Hence things like school nurses, physical education, music, art, etc. are being stripped from schools since these districts don’t have the funds to maintain them anymore.

Abraham Lincoln

December 7th, 2012
10:21 am

I know that I am stupid, but I am willing to learn.

+++

your handle (STUPID LIBERAL) speaks for you..perception means a lot.

jewcowboy

December 7th, 2012
10:21 am

I’m late to the party as usual.

“Bring the manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.”

I’m so tired of hearing this drivel. Our economy (and future) is based on the service sector..not manufacturing. Manufacturing is gone…it’s gone to every crap hole on Earth that doesn’t give a rat’s @ss about pollution and have billions of uneducated workers clamoring to work for 12 cents an hour, 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. I for one, am happy to leave those types of jobs to others, and sit in an air-conditioned high rise office not breathing toxic fumes and destroying my body so that by the time I’m fifty I look seventy.

All during this past election, both candidates went on and on about manufacturing, but said not one damned word about what drives our economy…the service sector.

Peter Hay

December 7th, 2012
10:23 am

I suspect that a lot of this decline is related to the decline in Unionization. Somehow Unions seem to be bad in many peoples eyes. I am not sure what drives this attitude, although I am sure it is a combination of many things. I am sure though that the anti union propaganda machine has a big part.

Fred ™

December 7th, 2012
10:24 am

RB from Gwinnett

December 7th, 2012
10:18 am

“Wow, it must be computer day at the asylum. We have Donovan, Sinkie, Cosby, Stevenson Billings, RB AND an assortment of cowardly alts too embarrassed to use their regular screen name………”

RB has never once posted here under any other name, Fred. But thanks for thinking of me.
++++++++++++++++++++++++

Brush up on those reading comprehension skills bro, I mentioned names of the brave who are proud of what they say (you were included in that group) and then the cowards who use alts.

Look at that, I gived you a compliment. :lol:

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
10:24 am

Debbie,

So you think our money should not be tied to something of value ? So that would make our money as valuable as the paper that it is printed upon. Gee, what a knee slapper. So our FED can continue with printing money, and it will not create inflation ?? Man I have a lot to learn when it comes to liberal economics.

Go Navy

December 7th, 2012
10:26 am

Where is USMC?

Fred ™

December 7th, 2012
10:26 am

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
10:19 am

Let me get this correct, since I am still learning how to be a liberal. When confronted with factual information that discredits my position, I should resort to name calling ? I know that I am stupid, but I am willing to learn.
+++++++++++++++++

Right you ARE willing to learn, but first you have to UNLEARN some things. One thing would be NOT to call names when confronted with truth, I know as a hard right fanatic that’s what you are used to doing but it’s bad form. See only FOXBOTS and talk radio sheeple have a hard time discerning the truth……… since they never get it from their puppet masters.

Mick

December 7th, 2012
10:31 am

Poor donovan, doesn’t even realize that what he is advocating is american communism. Yes, let’s get rid of the unions, all 11% percent of them cause that’s the problem, decent wages, health care, take it all so we can compete with $2 an hour china jobs…

Brad Steel

December 7th, 2012
10:31 am

Capital has gotten an advantage over labor in the US? Shocking!

Nunna Yobinnes

December 7th, 2012
10:32 am

A partial solution proposal: Impose an excise tax which cannot be offset by tax credits on executive compensation above (amount to be determined) dollar for dollar. Maybe that will help to curb executive pay.

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
10:33 am

Hiya Fred!! Been busy working, looking after my sister, looking after my aunt, and looking after my nephew, (not necessarily in that order!) I’m trying to finish up as much as I can here so that when the babies do come, I can work more from home.

My sister is due any day now with the twins and my nephew, who’s 18 months is a handful!! My aunt, (special needs), has been very tiring too (I really don’t know HOW my sister managed with her all these years), and I’m thinking of sending my aunt to live with my Mom (her sister), for a few months when the babies gets here. It’ll be a big help if she could take her because my sister and I would get a break.

My bro-n-law has to be the most kindnest man EVAH to put up with a bunch of women, (one pregnant, one half crazy, and one special needs), a toddler AND 3 dogs, (my pit bulls — I’m sending them to live in the country, Douglas County, with my cousin – pit bulls and babies/toddlers don’t always get along so well).

Other than that, I’m doing great!! How are you and Mrs. Fred doing? Oh and WHAT are you going to make for Christmas dinner!!! (please tel me ALL of your plans so that i can salivate over my keyboard!)

====================================

alex: Guess whose steel will be bought, whose mills are working and whose laborerers are getting paid

You forgot one simple thing that cheap labor can’t buy, QUALITY. iF there’s one thing we’ve learned from the crap coming out of China, is that you can’t buy QUALITY. I’d rather pay a little more for something that’s made in America and comes with STANDARDS of purity, etc., then for something that cheaper and may poison me, my family or my DOGS.

And the best part, if it was made in America and my family was hurt by it — I can do something about it. There aren’t any trade negotiations in place where I can sue/hold libel a country like china for poisoining me.

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
10:34 am

Fred,

I have never called anyone a name on this blog or any others. But I have been called a butt monkey, or was it a butt clown, I can not remember.

RB from Gwinnett

December 7th, 2012
10:35 am

“I suspect that a lot of this decline is related to the decline in Unionization. Somehow Unions seem to be bad in many peoples eyes. I am not sure what drives this attitude, although I am sure it is a combination of many things. I am sure though that the anti union propaganda machine has a big part.”

It’s pretty simple really. If company A uses union labor at $25/hr to make widgets and company B uses non union labor at $14/hr to make competitive widgets, which one do you think is going to win in the marketplace?

You liberals can’t seem to grasp the idea that a company and it’s management has to do what is required of them to make and sell a product in a competitive marketplace. It does not matter one bit if they have a benevolent owner who wants to pay their employees double the average and give them free healtcare if they can’t sell their product because of it. None of them operates in a vacuum and has the ability to just do whatever they want as you seem to believe.

Adam

December 7th, 2012
10:36 am

This is hilarious. Before it was “what’s the “real” unemployment rate?” and then it was “What’s the job participation rate?” Then it was “How many people are leaving the workforce?” Now it’s “What’;s the NON seasonally adjusted rate?”

This follows a similar progression to:

Global warming doesn’t exist. Well it does exist but humans aren’t causing it. W ell humans have some effect but not enough of one to cause it. Well ok NASA says humans are mostly the cause but some scientists still don’t agree…

OR

Romney is going to win in a landslide because no one promises to vote for Obama. Well some people promise to vote for Obama but the public supports our ideas! Just look at 2010! Well maybe the public doesn’t support all our ideas but the polls are skewed so Romney is still going to win in a landslide!

Delusional. The lot of you. To your very dying breath.

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
10:36 am

RB,

You did not build that company, the Union and the Government did.

BADA BING (imagine an umlaut above the i, I'm trying to class this place up a little)

December 7th, 2012
10:37 am

Imagine if all the PCs and iPhones were around 71 years ago. Just think of the tweets, instagrams, etc. that would be coming out of Pearl Harbor this morning.

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
10:39 am

S. Liberal — “Let me get this correct, since I am still learning how to be a liberal. When confronted with factual information that discredits my position, I should resort to name calling ?”

No, you should sharpen your argument and try again.

OTOH, the standard conservative response in such a situation around here is to do any of the following:

1) Reject the facts if they came from a ‘librul’ source (NBC, CBS, CNN, Washington Post, etc. are all “librul” so this one is often used)

2) Pretend you didn’t see the refuting facts

3) Post that you’re going to pick up your kid/go to a doctor’s appointment/etc. and not post again for a few hours

4) Post a non-sequitur and follow it with

B

O

O

M

5) Pretend you were somehow insulted by the refuting facts and get nasty.

Fred ™

December 7th, 2012
10:39 am

So your handle, Stupid Liberal, isn’t an overt insult to everyone who doesn’t walk lockstep with the far right wing fanatical talk radio listening FOXBOTS? Really? REALLY

Hmmmmm…………. I guess you fail to see the irony?

Irony (from the Ancient Greek εἰρωνεία eirōneía, meaning dissimulation or feigned ignorance)

Or maybe we could even say hypocrisy?

hypocrisy: a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion

Just saying…………..

Just out of curiosity, are by chance a Southern Baptist?

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
10:41 am

RB — “You liberals can’t seem to grasp the idea that a company and it’s management has to do what is required of them to make and sell a product in a competitive marketplace. It does not matter one bit if they have a benevolent owner who wants to pay their employees double the average and give them free healtcare if they can’t sell their product because of it. None of them operates in a vacuum and has the ability to just do whatever they want as you seem to believe.”

Jim Sinegal says you’re wrong and he’s more successful than you.

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
10:42 am

I am an Athiest, God does not exist, Stephen Hawkins said so. :D

Doggone/GA

December 7th, 2012
10:43 am

“there’s one thing we’ve learned from the crap coming out of China, is that you can’t buy QUALITY”

I don’t think that says what you mean. You CAN buy quality, you just have to be prepared to pay for it. I would have said you can’t buy quality CHEAPLY

RB from Gwinnett

December 7th, 2012
10:43 am

“You did not build that company, the Union and the Government did.”

Funny, the only times I’ve seen any government people around my business they’ve had their hand out wanting me to pay some fee or fill out some form and that ain’t helpful!!

Fred ™

December 7th, 2012
10:44 am

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
10:36 am

RB,

You did not build that company, the Union and the Government did.
+++++++++++++++++++++++

And here you deliberately take what the President said out of context. Is that intellectually honest? I know it makes a nice bumper sticker phrase or even a funny parody song (see below) but is it truthful?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQu2SVFF-cU

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
10:44 am

Fred,

My Handle, (stupid liberal) is just that, MY HANDLE ;)

JamVet

December 7th, 2012
10:45 am

Care of offer up what any of those giveaways are?

How many more times must this information be provided for the willfully ignorant???

http://thegavel.democraticleader.house.gov/?p=5433

You trickle down idiots just got CRUSHED in the recent election. That makes three times since 2006.

And I am convinced that more are coming your way.

Please, self-deport so that hard working families in this country once again have a fighting chance at realizing the American dream.

Occupy that.

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
10:45 am

Bada – Heard that “PearlHabor” talking point this morning on one of those talk radio shows. I’m trying to figure out which one was it……………….

…………………..Can you remember? :roll:

=-===========

suspect that a lot of this decline is related to the decline in Unionization. Somehow Unions seem to be bad in many peoples eyes. I am not sure what drives this attitude, although I am sure it is a combination of many things. I am sure though that the anti union propaganda machine has a big part.

Well, then it looks like Goebell was right:

“The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly – it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over”

And what was the lie?

Unions Are Bad.

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
10:46 am

Fred,

If we can not make fun of any sitting president, which has been done since Washington, then are freedom of speech is in jeapordy, do you not agree ?? I like to call it Satire :D

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
10:48 am

Adam: Delusional. The lot of you. To your very dying breath.

Well, at least they, with their rants, conspiracy theories, and ODS; makes the day go by a bit faster! :)

===========================

Fred – Recipes?!?!?

===========================

Thanks DogGone.

Old Goober

December 7th, 2012
10:48 am

For the majority of liberals who decided to enroll in liberal arts rather than business administration I’ll give you all a cliff note version of how profits are realized.

What a crock! I happen to hold advanced degrees in both the liberal arts and in business administration, and I see nothing in the latter that makes it even worthy of graduate study. Those who want to blast the liberal arts do so perhaps because they sense their own inadequacy in learning. The assumption that the primary purpose of going to college is to qualify for some job is itself ignorant.

Welcome to the Occupation

December 7th, 2012
10:49 am

RB from Gwinnett: “You liberals can’t seem to grasp the idea that a company and it’s management has to do what is required of them to make and sell a product in a competitive marketplace”

Pefectly true, but you forgot to add “under the current conditions of global capitalism”.

Otherwise, your statement makes a claim to universal validity that cannot be supported.

Fred ™

December 7th, 2012
10:49 am

Stupid Liberal; And hence the reason I posted the video. I liked this picture too when the timing was right:

http://twitpic.com/9jyrvh

Nunna Yobinnes

December 7th, 2012
10:50 am

I guess no one thought too much of my idea. Oh well, Fred says I am stupid.

Fred ™

December 7th, 2012
10:51 am

DDR: I haven’t decided yet. I made cream of mushroom soup (now that is EASY if you like it) the other day and turkey pot pie yesterday. But Christmas? No clue……. maybe a tenderloin on the egg……….

oops

December 7th, 2012
10:52 am

Reagan 10:06

If it is Hillary v Jeb, we will have two good choices. I would likely vote for Jeb. Hillary would likely win. The democrats have a supermajority vote almost for the WH.

GT

December 7th, 2012
10:52 am

You saw Obama own up to his; the rest of the field was betting against him in this last election and lost. O had to carry his record around his neck and have ghost stories added to it and still won. The opposition not only does not own up to their records they hide from them, gerrymandering a minority of the population to match their needs then come to Washington on a white donkey like they have a mandate.

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
10:52 am

No Nunna,

I am Stupid, You are Nunna :D

Fred ™

December 7th, 2012
10:52 am

Nunna Yobinnes

December 7th, 2012
10:50 am

I guess no one thought too much of my idea. Oh well, Fred says I am stupid.
++++++++++++++

I did? I said, “Man Nunna, you sure are stupid.’ Really? I don’t recall that.

Mick

December 7th, 2012
10:52 am

rb

The problem with your example is when the company is making the product at a cost of $5 and selling it for $25 successfully. Then, hoarding all the cash for the top of the pyramid while constantly trying to shaft the actual workers, is why that union is needed to negotiate a fair dividend of the profits. But, we don’t need any unions anymore because in your world, the top executives are the entitled ones…

godless heathen - fiscal cliff dweller

December 7th, 2012
10:54 am

I don’t think that says what you mean. You CAN buy quality, you just have to be prepared to pay for it. I would have said you can’t buy quality CHEAPLY

In our biz, we say: “Fast, cheap, good. Pick two.”

Nunna Yobinnes

December 7th, 2012
10:54 am

Perhaps I should change my handle to nunna brains.

Thulsa Doom

December 7th, 2012
10:55 am

If you’re going to have a real discussion of labor economics then we also need to discuss some other trends and real life costs that have had on effect on labor.

The first and most obvious mistake that I see here is one that any dolt could pick out but if the dolts on here haven’t figured it out I’ll do it for them. From what I see on here the study is on wage compensation only. The truth is that while wages may have become stagnant, particularly for unskilled labor, overall compensation has not. In lieu of increased wages workers get more compensation in other non-monetary benefits than they did decades ago. They get more vacation days, personal days, maternity leave days, health insurance, life insurance, car and cell phone allowances and such, expense accounts, and on and on. Doesn’t look like these non wage benefits show up in this analysis. Also some of the costs of these benefits such as health insurance have grown exponentially for employers, thus taking a bite out of wage compensation.

Secondly there are added compliance costs heaped onto business such as the maternity leave act, the disability act, etc. While the benefits of these acts may seem nice they have a real cost to business and it could well be that the overall regulatory compliance costs are coming out of what would have been increased wages for employees.

Thirdly, there is no question that illegal immigration has put downward pressure on unskilled labor wages. The number I’ve usually seen by labor economists seems to be about 15% less in wages for the unskilled. Simple labor supply and demand. Can’t imagine why you guys would leave that out of your analysis.

Fourthly I think we all know that the world is becoming more globalized. If your are unskilled labor and you have little more to offer than an assembly worker working for $2 an hour in China then you stand little chance of competing with him on a global basis.

A lot more going on here than just blaming the Repubs.

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
10:55 am

S. Liberal — “I am an Athiest, God does not exist, Stephen Hawkins said so.”

Stephen Hawking or Richard Dawkins?

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
10:57 am

RB from G: If company A uses union labor at $25/hr to make widgets and company B uses non union labor at $14/hr to make competitive widgets, which one do you think is going to win in the marketplace?

Why don’t you put the “human” factor into your equation? Let’s do this $14*5000/0 = 0

The company that’s paying the $14/hr has disgruntled employees; who are overworked and tired and barely making enough to put food on the table. (that’s the 14)

They have a quota of 5000 widgets per day. (that’s the 5K)

They are tired and overworked and some are just saboteurs/malcontents and somehow those 5K widgets are defective and not up to standards. (that’s the 0)

These widgets cause various accidental deaths/dismemberments, etc. and the company gets sued, class action style, and in the end make nothing.(that’s the OTHER zero).

:roll:

zeke

December 7th, 2012
10:58 am

In most cases an increase in productivity is a direct result of technology and innovation! So higher productivity may actually have nothing to do with actual work performed by an individual! And, for the USA to remain competitive in World markets, considering the union scourge and government labor law over reach, THAT IS A VERY GOOD THING!

Doggone/GA

December 7th, 2012
10:59 am

“Stephen Hawking or Richard Dawkins?”

Both

joe

December 7th, 2012
10:59 am

Best get used to it…only gonna get worse the next 4 years thanks to barry the magnificent. Just wait until obozocare hits…

alex

December 7th, 2012
11:00 am

@Jay: odd that Armey is in d.c. and that many former house and senate memnbers are in very lucrative lobbying positions, Odd–no,not in the least, are you kidding? Ridiculous, but Odd?

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
11:00 am

Stephen Hawkings.. See, I am stupid. :D lol

Nunna Yobinnes

December 7th, 2012
11:01 am

Here ya go Fred:

“your lack of knowledge … your blatant declaration of ignorance here”

Erwin's cat

December 7th, 2012
11:03 am

I would blame “automation” followed by “off-shoring”

It’s even difficult for a $200k robot to compete with unlimited super cheap labor

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
11:04 am

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
11:04 am

RB — “Funny, the only times I’ve seen any government people around my business they’ve had their hand out wanting me to pay some fee or fill out some form and that ain’t helpful!!”

I don’t know what you do for a living, RB, but my old man’s experience is quite diffferent from yours.
My pop’s a professor of Microbiology and Food Science at a major Suthun university, and he frequently gets called on by the State Extension Service, the Cattlemen’s Association (in the state where he lives and works) and even by the USDA.

When Farmer Bob’s having a problem with a crop and he calls the Extension Service — and gets a call or e-mail from my dad or another Extension guy telling him how to solve it, Farmer Bob’s happy.

When the Cattlemen’s Association was dealing with the fallout over Mad Cow Disease several years ago, they called on my dad to explain the ins and outs of the sickness and how to safely process animals to reduce the already low risk of transmission. And you know what? They were *thrilled* to have the help.

And when a food processing plant’s QA team turns up adulterants or bacteria in a production line and they call the USDA to help them figure out where they’re messing up, they’re not upset when the gubmint comes calling. They’re *happy* because it means the problem will be found and remedied, and the production line will be swiftly recertified and placed back in operation.

Again, I don’t know what you do for a living, but some people DO get useful and timely help from the gubmint — and are glad to get it.

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
11:05 am

godless: In our biz, we say: “Fast, cheap, good. Pick two.”

word. You can either build a house cheaply – using cheap goods and shady labor; or correctly; using materials that you know are good with dependable labor.

If you take the first route, liquidate & go out of business after about 4 years; cause when that house falls down, there’s going to be an angry homeowner looking for you and some payback.

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
11:05 am

G. Heathen — “In our biz, we say: “Fast, cheap, good. Pick two.”

Axiomatic in the IT world. :D

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
11:07 am

And, since I feel like sharing:

A sailor chalks a message to America’s fighting men from the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations on a destroyer at Pearl Harbor. “Your conduct and action have been splendid. While you have suffered from a treacherous attack, your commander-in-chief has informed me that your courage and stamina remain magnificent. You know you will have your revenge. Recruiting stations are jammed with men eager to join you.”

Jay

December 7th, 2012
11:07 am

“The first and most obvious mistake that I see here is one that any dolt could pick out but if the dolts on here haven’t figured it out I’ll do it for them. From what I see on here the study is on wage compensation only.

Before you start flinging the word “dolt” around so freely, Thulsa, the “first and most obvious mistake” is once again YOURS.

If you had bothered to educate yourself by actually clicking on the above link, you would find that compensation as defined in the chart means TOTAL compensation, including benefits. It says it plain as day: “Productivity measures the value of the output (brake pads, stock transactions) a worker produces in, say, a day; compensation is a measure of earnings that includes the value of benefits such as health insurance.”

It’s something that any dolt could learn, if the dolt in question cared to do so.

alex

December 7th, 2012
11:09 am

@ debbie Please note : this is what I wrote (integrating quality and accessibility), you must read the entire paragraph before you try to refute, it makes your response specious and devoid of intellectual content. Debbie, it is true that you are left wing, I’ll listen to you, but you rant and rave, don’t fully read others opinions and expect to be respected?

Erwin's cat

December 7th, 2012
11:09 am

G. Heathen — “In our biz, we say: “Fast, cheap, good. Pick two.”

Axiomatic in the IT world. :D

a bible verse for the product design universe …

That Black Guy

December 7th, 2012
11:11 am

Mick

December 7th, 2012
9:31 am
0311

Really? What have republicans done for middle class job creation? Please, tell us…
________________________________________________________________
From my own experience, the company I work for has been hiring and expanding since I’ve been here. All that dispite efforts from enviromental (hardly conservative or republican) groups to harm my industry. Republicans are leading the way opposing those efforts.

Thus, they are helping my industry expand and continue to create jobs.

We also contract with thousands of independent truckers. Without our product to haul, it becomes harder to feed their families.

It’s not always dems = good, repub = bad.

Old Goober

December 7th, 2012
11:12 am

It’s something that any dolt could learn, if the dolt in question cared to do so.

And in the words of someone we all know . . .

B
O
O
M
!

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
11:13 am

And, for the USA to remain competitive in World markets, considering …..

Hmmm interesting thought.

Hey, want a nice peanut butter sandwich for lunch today? Or how about a nice juicy cantelope?

:roll:

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
11:13 am

EC @ 11.09, I don’t know of any trade/profession where that *doesn’t* apply, actually, try as so many might to slough it off.

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
11:14 am

E. Cat — “a bible verse for the product design universe …”

I’m always pleased when a Steering Committee or executive team can be convinced to let a launch date or milestones slip, because that tells me that *they* know the axiom, too. They don’t want a crap product, and that’s cool. They don’t want to spend a bundle, but they know it can’t be done on the cheap. So what’s left? Let the timeline slip a little.

I think all techies breathe a sigh of relief when they hear that the executives have agreed to do that. :)

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
11:14 am

Dolts can learn too ??

That Black Guy

December 7th, 2012
11:17 am

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
9:37 am
Off topic, and purely soap-operatic, but–

Do any of the resident conservatives of a rational bent find the “STUPID LIBERAL” parody act posting here even remotely funny?
_________________________________________
Funny? No.

Annoying, childish, and irritating, Yes.

Worthy of a “blanket party”? Yes

In the “ignore” list? Yes

But, no, not funny.

Doggone/GA

December 7th, 2012
11:17 am

“From my own experience, the company I work for has been hiring and expanding since I’ve been here. All that dispite efforts from enviromental (hardly conservative or republican) groups to harm my industry”

Another way of saying: my industry can absorb and comply with environtmental regulations and still grow and remain profitable

Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer leech...and earned it!

December 7th, 2012
11:18 am

I ran across this while surfing for something to read during lunch. this is a damn interesting read and a real eye opener.

http://www.thenation.com/article/171613/how-save-democratic-party

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
11:18 am

OT: New Star Trek teaser reel is out, and it looks pretty badazz. May 2013 release.

Extra footage to be shown before IMAX screenings of The Hobbit. I might have to go see that, just for the teaser.

They BOTH suck

December 7th, 2012
11:19 am

Thulsa

Doesn’t appear you will be winning the AJC frisbee this week?

Maybe next time.

;-)

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
11:22 am

Fred: maybe a tenderloin on the egg……….

BEEF TENDERLOIN! (Wow!) Beef tenderloin is exorbitantly EXPENSIVE!! If you make the beef, could you please invite me (just me I’ll pretend something and leave the others at home), over for dinner? I’ll bring the wine!

@alex — Alex I read your “full comment”; and replied accordingly. If you don’t like my comments, that’s your problem. Not. Mine.

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
11:22 am

Thanks, TBG @ 11.17.

(For the record, there are some liberals here who don’t share my bemusement at Redneck Convert’s long-running act. I hear it’s somehow bigoted, or Josef will point out that he/she gets this or that colloquialism / linguistic usage wrong and whatnot.

What I always appreciate about Redneck Convert is, he/she usually has a larger point to make, beyond the simple parody. Sometimes it is quite literally an angle I hadn’t considered. So, the thought that goes into the parody, plus the relentless willingness to stay in character, plus the funny–that’s what makes me a fan. YMMV.)

oops

December 7th, 2012
11:23 am

Joe Mama 11:18.

You are the most articulate mom’s basement dweller I know.

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
11:25 am

BEEF TENDERLOIN! (Wow!) Beef tenderloin is exorbitantly EXPENSIVE!

True that. It’s also really the only cut of steak I’m interested in consuming as a grilled product.

The rest of the cow can be stewed, braised, slow-roasted, fed to the cat, but I’m not interested in trying to make it “almost as good” from the grill as loin, ‘cuz it ain’t.

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
11:26 am

Also too, DDR, it is not *that* hideously expensive if you buy (as we typically do) an entire loin and cut it yourself. Freezes well, if you take care to wrap each slice and seal it properly.

Erwin's cat

December 7th, 2012
11:30 am

The rest of the cow can be stewed, braised, slow-roasted, fed to the cat,…

works for me..a 2 inch rib eye Tuscan style is to die for

JamVet

December 7th, 2012
11:31 am

Corbin, as you know, I have called the Democrats, Republican-lites for a LONG time.

Both are dominated by pro-war and pro-plutocracy sellouts and frauds.

That the goofballs in the right wing think that the Democratic party is controlled by hard core liberals merely proves how blind and irrational they choose to be.

From your link:

The political bankruptcy of the Democratic Party, its historic achievements consigned to the distant past, is not a recent development. The party’s role in the making of the current crisis speaks for itself. For forty years—that is, under both Republican and Democratic presidents and Congresses—the nation’s wealth has been put into fewer and fewer hands (the richest 1 percent now possess more wealth than the less prosperous 90 percent), while ever more people have been relegated to poverty or rendered unable to maintain their hard-earned place in the middle class.

Those degraded Democratic policies included reducing regulations on financial institutions; lowering taxes on corporations, investors and the wealthy; enacting “free trade” measures at the cost of American jobs; and fetishizing “fiscal responsibility” and balanced federal budgets (as though the US government is merely a big family household) to the detriment of social justice and investment in the nation’s infrastructure.

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
11:32 am

What means this Tuscan style you speak of?

And will you want some kibble with that?

Finn de Siècle (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)

December 7th, 2012
11:34 am

Want more on the Harry Reid BEAT DOWN of Mitch McConnell yesterday?

http://www.alternet.org/election-2012/dems-look-wonder-mitch-mcconnell-filibusters-his-own-proposal

some embarrassing stuff for the Kentuckian. Eat turtle, turtle face.

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
11:35 am

Oops — “You are the most articulate mom’s basement dweller I know.”

Sorry, Punkin. Moved out on my own at age 17. And my mom never had a basement. :D

Jefferson

December 7th, 2012
11:35 am

Basic human fairness has yeilded to greed and selfishness. People are not that different as paydays are different.

Finn de Siècle (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)

December 7th, 2012
11:36 am

What is crazy is $4.99 lb for oxtails. I just don’t understand that.

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
11:36 am

SfD — “Also too, DDR, it is not *that* hideously expensive if you buy (as we typically do) an entire loin and cut it yourself. Freezes well, if you take care to wrap each slice and seal it properly.”

This, this, a thousand times this. :)

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
11:36 am

stands: Also too, DDR, it is not *that* hideously expensive if you buy (as we typically do) an entire loin and cut it yourself.

Stands, I bow to your knowledge of beef! Until I started cooking classes, the only beef I was familiar with and cooked “partially” well was hamburger meat.

Now that I know the differences about cuts, etc., I still say — WOW!! BEEF TENDERLOIN!!??!!

Damn! I just drooled all over the keyboard!

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
11:38 am

“The company that’s paying the $14/hr has disgruntled employees; who are overworked and tired and barely making enough to put food on the table. (that’s the 14)

They have a quota of 5000 widgets per day. (that’s the 5K)

They are tired and overworked and some are just saboteurs/malcontents and somehow those 5K widgets are defective and not up to standards. (that’s the 0)”

Yea, because we all know disgruntled workers only come from non-union shops :rolleyes:.

What was the saying from a few decades ago? “Never buy a car built on a Monday or Friday” (or in the UK) :D .

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
11:41 am

nevermind, EC, I used Teh Google.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5169848_make-tuscan-ribeye-steak.html

Ok, that might be somewhat tolerable as well.

alex

December 7th, 2012
11:41 am

@ Debbie , with all do respect I included “quality”. You, in a rant choose to ignore it, plain and simple. You want to be read and heard, you should do the same with other contributions. Your contributions are therefore not respected by me…

2 Jamvet, perhaps it’s time to start a new party….another option… good luck!

Erwin's cat

December 7th, 2012
11:42 am

http://www.saveur.com/article/Kitchen/Italian-Grilled-Steak

http://karistaskitchen.com/2010/07/02/tuscan-style-grilled-steaks-with-fresh-rosemary-and-garlic/

here’s a couple variations on the Tuscan steak. If done properly it;s seared on the outside at a very high temp and very rare in the middle

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
11:44 am

Jefferson: Basic human fairness has yeilded to greed and selfishness. People are not that different as paydays are different.

Heard on the news the other day about this Vet who started, for whatever reason, paying people’s Electricity bills inside of a Ga. Power office. It made me feel good. Sometimes I think I get so jaded and cynical about the world; but then I hear stuff like that and it makes me feel better. There ARE people out there who actually CARe about someone other than themselves — and as Americans we have such huge hearts and such a capacity for giving and hoping that I’m in awe sometimes of how “great” a nation we really are. Our greatness doesn’t come from money/things, but from our selflessness to others.

If there’s a typhoon in Japan, Americans are the first to reach into their wallets to give. Earthquake in Haiti? ditto.

===========================

Finn — Oxtails – you’re so right!! Aren’t oxtails considered the “lesser” part of the cow? It’s tough and it takes HOURS to cook…………….so you’re right — why ARE they so expensive?

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
11:44 am

DDR, it’s pretty simple. cut away the waste on the outside, slice it into something that will allow a nice outside sear but still quite rare inside (about 4 minutes/side on a rocket-hot grill). A little salt on both sides prior to grilling, some ground pepper afterwards while it rests for, well, as long as you can stand to let it rest!

And the rest of the loin gets sliced, wrapped carefully in waxed paper (easily separated), and then into plastic bags so it’s not freezer burned. Freezer burning this should be punishable by hard labor.

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
11:45 am

here’s a couple variations on the Tuscan steak. If done properly it;s seared on the outside at a very high temp and very rare in the middle

Ok, dat do look good.

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
11:46 am

Oh, and another victim of hipster inflation–that’d be skirt steak, which I understand they used to have to practically give away, now it’s at least six bucks a pound, since everyone uses it for fajitas, now.

Finn de Siècle (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)

December 7th, 2012
11:47 am

Well, actually oxtails make a great vietnamese pho where you want the flavor of the bone/marrow as well as the meat. But we have found we can make good pho with chicken which is, what, $.99 to $1.99 lb?

Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer leech...and earned it!

December 7th, 2012
11:47 am

Finn,
I saw that this morning and I couldn’t believe it. Reid make Mitch look like…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_Kh7nLplWo

:)
————————-

JAM,
That article opened my eyes some., for sure, but they still are the best act we’ve got…sad as that is.

getalife

December 7th, 2012
11:47 am

“(AP) — The U.S. economy added a solid 146,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent, the lowest since December 2008. The government said Superstorm Sandy had only a minimal effect on the figures.”

Great news.

stands for decibels

December 7th, 2012
11:48 am

Gotta leave the time-suck awhile. Later…

Finn de Siècle (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)

December 7th, 2012
11:49 am

A better cut of beef than tenderloin (to me) is the prime rib which you can catch at Costco during the holidays for around $7.00 lb. We buy it in 3-4 rib packs and a single rib slice will feed a family of 3 for 1-2 meals.

With some horseradish? Ohohoh

Erwin's cat

December 7th, 2012
11:49 am

Finn – I’m always on the look out for a good pho recipe

Mama Says

December 7th, 2012
11:50 am

seems to me that by speaking to this matter the Liberals have revealed their intent.

The only resonable way to fix this problem to tax the bigs more and redistribute the money via government intervention. If not that then Jay is simply telling us this in order to let all the young males out there know tha they need an education, something that we already know.

The entire problem with the liberal think tank is that you look at the haves as being responsible for the have nots. The fact is that the game is called capitalisim, its the system we play in, its the base of our freedoms. To open a company and work your butt off to make it big and then give it to your kids is an effort that cannot be looked at as bad. The entire argument fails in basic accepted capitalistic thought. The only way to “balance the scales” would have to be to take from one group and give to another. If that is the answer we should be open about it and simply vote to change our form of government.

We can put Capitalist Republic, Socialist Monarchy and Communist Dictatorship on the ballot and let the people decide. Lets stop talking about all this and put it to a vote. In a free republic the givernment cannot take from one and give to another to promote balance and good., Its a self defeating effort, by definition- if this is what we have chosen we are no longer a free republic. We have to be a socialist country. No hyberbole in that statement its just real talk.

JamVet

December 7th, 2012
11:51 am

alex, per that article, I’d settle for a decent Democratic Party instead of this abomination that now exists.

Corporations are not people, my friend, Mr. Romney. ~JamVet 2012

Finn de Siècle (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)

December 7th, 2012
11:51 am

One of the early slave revolts on American soil was in New England. The slaves were revolting because their owners were trying to make them eat LOBSTER at every meal.

Finn de Siècle (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)

December 7th, 2012
11:54 am

Stands is leaving to go to the grocery store…

hehehe

Doggone/GA

December 7th, 2012
11:54 am

“What is crazy is $4.99 lb for oxtails. I just don’t understand that”

I saw a show about that. Basically, the idea was that if you want cheap cuts cheaply, go to the richer parts of town…if you want the expensive cuts for less, go to the poorer parts of town.

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
11:55 am

“Great news”

Santelli: ‘They Love to Fib About Statistics’

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?play=1&video=3000134005

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
11:55 am

@alex – Alex. sigh………. I wasn’t trying to hurt your feelings, talk about your taste in men/women OR belittle you. I was just commenting on what you saidit was not a personal attack. I’m sorry if I offended you, but alex; this is a blog, and though you’re probably an exceptional person, kind and full of life — I’m just not that into you. Sorry. :sad:

stands — I wouldn’t DARE try to do anything with Beef Tenderloin. I’ll leave the artistry of cooking, (because good cooking IS an art), to the master.

Finn — Same comment as above! I like oxtails, but the best i can do is this stew that my mother makes when she puts hte oxtails in a crock pot with some yucca, sweet potatoes and peanuts. Other than that……

JamVet

December 7th, 2012
11:55 am

Mama van Winkle, yet what you decry is exactly what the chart shows.

Take from the poor and give to the rich. Republican “capitalism”…

The answer is there is too much power and too much wealth in too few hands and the few control our government and the few create the problems and the injustices for the many and have less and less interest in doing anything about it because they can get away with it. ~Ralph Nader 1996

getalife

December 7th, 2012
11:58 am

There is no fiscal crises in America.

Our economy is returning to normal.

cons lose again.

Joe Hussein Mama

December 7th, 2012
11:58 am

DDR — “why ARE they so expensive?”

A lot of US and British beef producers started destroying them outright during the mad cow scare. From what my dad’s told me, a human consumer would expose themselves to greater risk of transmission by consuming neural tissue such as the brain and spinal column — and that’d include the tail. Consequently, many beef producers in industrialized nations started destroying that tissue outright as part of processing. Result: less oxtail availability and higher prices when you can find it.

Mama Says

December 7th, 2012
11:59 am

Jam please explain your logic. maybe I am missing something.

who is taking from who and how

nathan's political arsonist

December 7th, 2012
11:59 am

wealth disparity.. very simple.. the wider it grows, the more the common man is screwed. if the government doesn’t move to address it, eventually the people will

Old Goober

December 7th, 2012
11:59 am

A better cut of beef than tenderloin (to me) is the prime rib which you can catch at Costco during the holidays for around $7.00 lb. We buy it in 3-4 rib packs and a single rib slice will feed a family of 3 for 1-2 meals.

I get prime rib at Whole Foods—nothing but prime cut there. For the horseradish sauce, I use Inglehoffer. If it’s too sharp for you, you can always cut it with some sour cream.

United Statesman

December 7th, 2012
12:02 pm

The collapse of worker’s wages was hastened dramatically when Ronald Reagan froze the minimum wage for the duration of his presidency. The myth at the time was that only high school kids working at McDonald’s made minimum wage. In fact, many younger workers with families suffered.

Regarding labor unions: Many companies have good relationships with their unions. It makes sense for them to negotiate one contract covering all employees instead of thousands of individual contracts.

Common Sense isn't very Common

December 7th, 2012
12:03 pm

DDR

My bro-n-law has to be the most kindnest man EVAH to put up with a bunch of women, (one pregnant, one half crazy, and one special needs
—————————————————————————-

Which one are you :-)

alex

December 7th, 2012
12:05 pm

@ Jamvet, end of Starbucks, eh ? can’t go that far, $1.75 ($.25 tip) tall Christmas blend…ADDICT !

Stephenson Billings

December 7th, 2012
12:05 pm

I guess I’m doing it wrong….

‘Welfare Spending Equates to $168 Per Day for Every Household in Poverty’

“The amount of money spent on welfare programs equals, when converted to cash payments, about $168 per day for every household in poverty.

…welfare spending per day per household in poverty is $168, which is higher than the $137 median income per day. When broken down per hour, welfare spending per hour per household in poverty is $30.60, which is higher than the $25.03 median income per hour.”

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/welfare-spending-equates-168-day-every-household-poverty_665160.html

That Black Guy

December 7th, 2012
12:06 pm

Off topic:

Bro-C, I have noticed that you sometimes have trouble spilling you coke on your keyboard when someone says something, er, what’s the word? Dumb.

May I suggets one of these:

http://www.jewelryandbabyblingbydara.com/blingsippycup.html

For the ABM that has everything…

getalife

December 7th, 2012
12:06 pm

” if the government doesn’t move to address it, eventually the people will”

Exactly.

Mama Says

December 7th, 2012
12:07 pm

Jam I am waiting

JamVet

December 7th, 2012
12:07 pm

American/multinational CEOs gave themselves a 396% increase in income from 1992 – 2007. During that time they convinced (with mountains of money) members of the US government to lower their tax rate by 37%.

They gave basically no increases at all to their American employees during those years. Though productivity per employee more than doubled.

Also, of note, corporate profits are at all time highs.

Your idea of capitalism is perverted, and why as George Bush noted in September of 2008, “This sucker could go down.”

Please explain why economic injustice is good for America.

getalife

December 7th, 2012
12:08 pm

Looks like I picked the right time to retire.

I would advise Americans to remove the gop from our economy to fix these gaps.

Good luck.

indigo

December 7th, 2012
12:09 pm

Mama – 11:50

Has it ever occured to you, even once, that a Socialist Government is not necessarly a Monarchy and a Communist Government does not necessarly have to be a Dictatorship?

Mama Says

December 7th, 2012
12:09 pm

getalife,

if you guys really believe that the you cant support capitalisim becasue you are saying that if the government dosent take it you will. So at what point does the poorer lees fortunate take it from you ?

getalife

December 7th, 2012
12:11 pm

mama,

I have no idea what you are talking about but here is a new idea.

A global consumer union.

Mama Says

December 7th, 2012
12:13 pm

Indigo,

what hs occurred to me is that you cannot call the U.S a free republic when you advocate taking from the rich or better off and giving it to anyone else. The effort, although well placed, gives the government the power to decide when you have more than you need and therefore the right to take it, give temselves a slice and then give it to someone else. Its a basic violation of a free country. That is not freedom its socailism and or communisim.

no amount of reasoning or justification can change that fact.

Mama Says

December 7th, 2012
12:15 pm

getalife

you did support the concept that was posted earlier that id the government dosent fix it the people will right ?

i asked you how you fix it and what you do when u become one that has to much

JamVet

December 7th, 2012
12:15 pm

Mama, I’m waiting.

LOL.

getalife

December 7th, 2012
12:16 pm

mama,

I support capitalism but trickle dowm, invisible hand and laffer curve is all bs.

The focus on the wealthy worked for them but failed the rest of the American people.

Focus on the middle class American worker will work.

Mama Says

December 7th, 2012
12:18 pm

i asked for examples of the government taking from th epoor and giving to the rich. All of you support the concept of taking from the rich and giving to the poor. I need examples of when the corporate folks got this treatment.

getalife, go ask your boss if you benefit from him or your company making money please. then again you could go csh the check that they give you for doing the work that you agreed to do.

Finn de Siècle (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)

December 7th, 2012
12:19 pm

thanks for the oxtail explanation. also, I’ll check oxtail prices in buckhead next time i’m over that way or shopping for recreational drugs.

getalife

December 7th, 2012
12:19 pm

“you did support the concept that was posted earlier that id the government dosent fix it the people will right ?”

Based on world history , yes.

But I think changing focus from just the wealthy to all middle class workers will address the gaps.

No need for a revolution just change in focus like we are doing now.

getalife

December 7th, 2012
12:21 pm

“getalife, go ask your boss”

I am retired.

I am the boss.

getalife

December 7th, 2012
12:24 pm

The battle to change focus from just the wealthy to the middle class was won in the last election.

Get the gop out of the way of our economy and continue this focus on the middle class is the way to go.

Mama Says

December 7th, 2012
12:24 pm

getalife

at the risk of being a smarta**, who is giving you your retirement check while you are not working for them ?

Mama Says

December 7th, 2012
12:25 pm

all this general talk is wonderful. I am asking you folks who we take the money from and when they have taken it from you

That Black Guy

December 7th, 2012
12:27 pm

Doggone/GA

December 7th, 2012
11:17 am
“From my own experience, the company I work for has been hiring and expanding since I’ve been here. All that dispite efforts from enviromental (hardly conservative or republican) groups to harm my industry”

Another way of saying: my industry can absorb and comply with environtmental regulations and still grow and remain profitable
_________________________________________________________________
No, not really.

The push from the enviromental groups is the out right ban of our packaging (bottles). How do you absorb that? Our industry has one of the highest rates for the use of recycled raw materials out there, that cost can be absorbed. An all out ban on the use of plastic bottles would put my employer out of business. That would mean the loss of about 5000 jobs nationwide. Not to mention the impact on suppliers.

getalife

December 7th, 2012
12:29 pm

Mind your business mama.

Mama Says

December 7th, 2012
12:32 pm

i am getalife,

you advocate taking money from people as a formal government policy, as you draw from the very people you condem, as you do not work for them–that is my business

getalife

December 7th, 2012
12:32 pm

“all this general talk is wonderful. I am asking you folks who we take the money from and when they have taken it from you”

What in the world are you talking about?

DebbieDoRight -- The Only Thing Wrong With Capitalism Is Capitalists...

December 7th, 2012
12:37 pm

Joe: Result: less oxtail availability and higher prices when you can find it.

Ahhh the oldest story……..demand/price/availability! thanks joe!

====================

nathan: the more the common man is screwed. if the government doesn’t move to address it, eventually the people will

History 101 — this has happened again and again in the history of the world. Tsarist Russia; French Revolution, American Revolution, etc., etc., etc. When will they learn?

Mama Says

December 7th, 2012
12:41 pm

this cant be so hard.

are yo not saying that the middle class and the poor need to be taken care of ?

all of you are talking about an income gap and the rich are better off, make to much money. that is the topic right ?

you know darn well what I am asking ! I will ask it again. Who do you take the money from to help the middle class and When have those from whom you would to take, taken it from you ?

simple questioin

getalife

December 7th, 2012
12:44 pm

mama,

The mindless governing for the wealthy only ended.

Your ideology lost.

Doggone/GA

December 7th, 2012
12:57 pm

“The push from the enviromental groups is the out right ban of our packaging (bottles). How do you absorb that?”

One way is to move to biodegradable plastic bottles. They do exist.

Brosephus™

December 7th, 2012
1:03 pm

TBG @ 12:06

You know I gotta get my hands on one of those now… Gonna be bloggin’ while blingin’.

:)

I also noticed that Mr. Billings didn’t ever come back and acknowlege the fact that Obama and the Dems signing off on the sequestration, which the GOP supported, was nothing more than the GOP getting the government spending cuts they’ve been whining about. It doesn’t surprise me that nobody wants to own up to the bad stuff that their ideology is responsible for.

:lol:

alex

December 7th, 2012
1:26 pm

@ jam they income discrepency has entirely gotten out of hand, as Bogle has asked “how much is too much”… Return arguement is that the companies are now so much larger….

STUPID LIBERAL

December 7th, 2012
1:50 pm

Yep, a half a million people gave up looking for work, so of course, the jobless rate falls.

proof for you blind dummycrats.

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/the-exchange/unemployment-rate-falls-more-adults-discouraged-quit-looking-165711644.html

dabir dalton

December 7th, 2012
8:02 pm

Jay the beginning of the decline of male wages can also be traced to the beginning of the rise of feminism – a movement of hatred directed towards men as a group – and a movement that spineless liberal males such as yourself have supported to the detriment of their sons. The rise of the welfare state – single motherhood – the movement to murder children while in the womb all keystones of both the feminist and liberal agenda and all equally damaging to our society. So the next time your tempted to point the finger at conservatives – their sins are many just as the liberals – take a good look in the mirror and at your hand and you’ll find three fingers pointing right back at cha for every one you point at someone else.

ev

December 9th, 2012
5:16 pm

Jay does this take into account benefits or just hourly wages. It is misleading if it only takes into account wages.

ev

December 9th, 2012
5:19 pm

As I thought. It is just hourly wages. Let’s see a graph that has total compensation and benefits.