Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011 | 2 a.m.
Labor Day was a good time to reminisce about when more people had jobs and could rely on a long and generally enjoyable employment until they retired. Unfortunately, those days are gone forever.
People have to realize the world economy has changed radically. In this country, manufacturing is virtually nonexistent.
The manufacturing that does occur uses robots to perform tasks with little human resources. If manufacturing requires labor intensity, then it’s outsourced to a foreign country.
The only jobs generally available are service jobs with low pay. People without a college education or a marketable skill will have a difficult time finding any kind of job. Older people who are unemployed, in particular, will likely never have a job again.
The one immediate saving grace, in the short term, would be rebuilding and upgrading the country’s infrastructure — but this would require an agreeable Republican Congress, which I wouldn’t want to hold my breath about.
Small businesses, in particular, will be doomed to a slow death because people will not have enough money to buy anything but necessities.
I’m sorry to be so pessimistic, but I see little to cheer about. With Republican-led efforts to concentrate their attention on reducing the deficit, I think the downward trend will only accelerate.
Mr. Wasserman, things will be easier when you accept that the Republicans and their little T Party friends are all too willing to completely destroy the country if they think it will improve their chances in the 2012 elections.
All in an effort to help their wealthy freeloader campaign contributors, of course.
They were given tax breaks so they could create jobs. They didn't create the jobs. That makes them freeloaders. Or worse.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ahead of the Obama speech tonight Harold Wasserman laments "I'm sorry to be so pessimistic, but I see little to cheer about."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Obama is going to repeat the failed jobs program which he has had in place since Jan 2009.
Even Democrats know it will not work
Even Harold Wasserman knows it will not work
-----------------------
Government can not produce jobs
Government needs to get out of the way
Government must eliminate uncertainty
-----------------------
Two thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on
- Complete tax REFORM to eliminate loophole deducttion, credits, etc and lower the rats for everyone.
- Eliminate counter-productive government rules and regulations
Obama will do neither one
Obama when will you sent the three trade agreements to Congress?
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
4 Dipstick:
"its a national tragedy, harold, when our soldiers go overseas to fight useless wars and come home and find they cant get a job. some have no option but re-enlist amd make the military a career. that has to suck big time, especially when they are sent back overseas fighting the same useless war bush started 9 years ago."
+++++
Yeah, and then they end up disabled and the politicians in the political party that was all gung-ho to send them to fight a war for them calls their Veteran's Disability Benefits "entitlements" and claim they should be dialed back. Political REMFs.
Future:
Name the government regulations that are holding back business.
Tax rates are lower now under Obama than under Reagan, Bush or Bush II.
Explain how even lower tax rates are going to help.
Obama ignored the jobs plan put forth by liberals and progressives, which called for eliminating the Bush tax cuts in 2009, raising the rate on capital gains and $2trn in stimulus spending requiring it be spent on material produced in the United States.
It was the conservatives who demanded the tax cuts stay in place, which caused the deficit to grow.
Conservatives also demanded that 1/3 of the stimulus be tax cuts, which also made the deficit worse.
Conservatives also demanded the stimulus be $900bn or less, instead of the $2tn most economist said was needed.
Conservatives also filibustered 152 jobs bills put forth by the liberals in the House, including the provisions calling for 100% American made products bought by the stimulus. They also stop a bill that took away tax cuts for corporations offshoring jobs overseas.
Time after time, Obama followed the advice of the CONSERVATIVES.
The conservatives got what they wanted and now we don't want what we got.
Are you now willing to admit that conservative economic policies do not work?
The Blue Dog conservative democrats now understand these policies don't, since they were sent packing in 2010.
"The one immediate saving grace, in the short term, would be rebuilding and upgrading the country's infrastructure -- but this would require an agreeable Republican Congress, which I wouldn't want to hold my breath about."
Sir, in theory you're right on. In reality, your argument falls miserably apart. Why?
First, infrasture building requires hug sums of money andf huge amounts of time. Where's it coming from? More stimulus? Another QE round?
Second, check the IG and GAO reports out for yourself on the usage of gov't stimulus funds. Read the reports, carefully. 30 percent plus of the funds, billions upon billions, wasted, fraudulently provided, abused, not accounted for as required by law, and/or unused. Big gov't at its worst. Solution by Obama and his econ wizards: More of the same Keynsian economics. Doesn't work, Sir. Never has, still won't and probably never will. Despite what you and others believe otherwise.
Carmine A. DiFazio
Harold claims "The one immediate saving grace, in the short term, would be rebuilding and upgrading the country's infrastructure".
Unfortunately Harold, recent history shows that a stimulus for infrastructure is too targeted to one job sector and doesn't stimulate the economy as a whole. The 2009 stimulus did not lead us out of a recession and won't this time either.
dipstick - "its a national tragedy, harold, when our soldiers go overseas to fight useless wars and come home and find they cant get a job."
To add insult to injury, many of those returning vets are greeted by banks foreclosing on their homes. Corporatocracy, gotta love it.
"To add insult to injury, many of those returning vets are greeted by banks foreclosing on their homes. Corporatocracy, gotta love it."
We're a volunteer Army, Sir, they go by choice. Free will. God bless them. I did too.
Recall alot of hard working Americans are losing their homes too who served or did not. It's no more a tragedy for one group than the other.
Carmine A. DiFazio
brtaylor,
Excellent post that is loaded with facts that all Americans need to know to form a more truthful opinion so they can vote wisely.
You will find that the radical extremist, pretend to be republicans "Nutters" have no use for facts. All they are interested in is their narrow minded ideology of their miserable failure political ideology and their narrow minded economic ideology of totally unregulated capitalism that has been disastrous to our economy.
These things do not have the time to fact check their own ideologies, they are too busy practicing obstructionism, extortionism, and propagating the Big Lie propaganda--tell lies, even preposterous lies, and repeat them over and over to fool--convince---brainwash the American people.
The downward couse in America started with Ronald Reagan and then continues on with Bush Sr, and then bush jr.
They increased the national debt in 20 out of 20 years they were in office.
Surce:www.lafn.org/gvdc/Natl_Debt_Chart.html.
The bush/cheney miserable failure administration with their narrow minded ideology of totally unregulated capitalism let the "Housing Fraud Bubble" flourish. When it burst creating the almost financial market collapse and then the Great Recession, America really headed toward the bottom at a very fast pace.
source:http://www.lasvegassun.com/2011/jul/17/republicans-push-country-toward-precipice.
"We're a volunteer Army, Sir, they go by choice. Free will. God bless them. I did too." And we thank them for their service by putting them and their families out into the street, and deny their service-connected injuries. Just how long do you think that can go on before the volunteer military turns to worthless garbage when faced by a real fight?
"It's no more a tragedy for one group than the other."
That is a very unrealistic comment. You bet there is a difference. Doing 3 or 4 tours back to back in combat zones is not quite the same as pounding the concrete stateside looking for a job. Thank you for your service, but if you spent 3 or 4 years in a combat zone would you be the same person?
Freedom of choice, free will. No fault if they join and go, except theirs.
All branches of the military are and have been at over capacity. To cut costs, soldiers will be forced to leave rather than allowing them to make careers of the military services.
Remember for every one combat soldier on the ground, there are 8-10 support military personel, not exposed to risks of combat, and receiving pay, pensions, promotions and benefits better than any others in the world.
Carmine A. DiFazio
"Just how long do you think that can go on before the volunteer military turns to worthless garbage when faced by a real fight?"
I gather you're saying that Afganistan and Iraq are not real fighting and wars. Are these simulated maneuvers and training for the next big one?
Carmine A. DiFazio
"Thank you for your service, but if you spent 3 or 4 years in a combat zone would you be the same person?"
I should hope not, regardless of where and how I spent 3 or 4 years of my life.
Carmine A. DiFazio
"Remember for every one combat soldier on the ground, there are 8-10 support military personel, not exposed to risks of combat, and receiving pay, pensions, promotions and benefits better than any others in the world."
That is no longer true. Halliburton/KBR, Blackwater/Xe and others have more civilian contractors overseas than military personel. Even our military is being outsourced to foreignors.
Comment removed by moderator. Inappropriate
"That is no longer true. Halliburton/KBR, Blackwater/Xe and others have more civilian contractors overseas than military personel. Even our military is being outsourced to foreignors."
Sorry, Sir, have to disagree. No pensions, no retirement, no benefits, no healthcare, no pay adjustments, no free food, no hazard duty pay, tax free. Just straight fixed cost contracts. Should I continue, or do you get the point?
In part the reason for gov't paid contractors there and elsewhere, even here in the USA, rather than military and civilian employees, is less cost and expense to taxpayers.
Recall before these contracts are awarded, an elaborate cost/benefit analyses has to be submitted to the gov't procurement office, and made available to gov't contrat auditors like Defense Contract Audit Agency, and Congress [on request] for review, to show cost savings by outsourcing. Even no-bid contracts, so called sole-source, which are the exception not the rule, have to follow these procedures else risk being not considered.
Carmine A. DiFazio
Carmine:
"Recall before these contracts are awarded, an elaborate cost/benefit analyses has to be submitted to the gov't procurement office, and made available to gov't contrat auditors like Defense Contract Audit Agency, and Congress [on request] for review, to show cost savings by outsourcing. Even no-bid contracts, so called sole-source, which are the exception not the rule, have to follow these procedures else risk being not considered."
You don't seem to know what you're talking about unless Halliburton/KBR/Cheney Inc and their ilk aren't included.
"You don't seem to know what you're talking about unless Halliburton/KBR/Cheney Inc and their ilk aren't included."
Sorry, Sir. But I do know perfectly, perhaps you don't. All these contracts are subject to gov't review for costs and performance. DCAA is the relevant entity in addition to GAO and IG offices for the departments where the funds are appropriated/allocated and awarded for the contracts. If you don't know the acronyms, let me knkow. I'll be happy to provide to you. If you still doubt, go to the gov't web pages and sites for these agencies and click on the issued/draft audit/OIG reports. All available for reading and purchase at a nominal price for shipping and handling. None are exempt from public perview.
Carmine A. DiFazio
The reason private contractors, i.e Mercenaries are used is because they answer to nobody.
The entire "open to the public deal" is yet more window dressing for stupid people. Did we learn nothing from Abu Ghraib? or the massive wiki leaks information?
Go ahead censor that Sun.
"Did we learn nothing from Abu Ghraib? "
If you are making a point about lack of oversight for gov't contractors, this example does not prove your case. Abu Ghraib was run by the military. And as subsequently revealed in investigative reports, both oral and written, the chain of command was at fault for errors, as well as rogue troops. All public information now.
Much to your disbelief, there is similar oversight for gov't contractors. Just have to look in the right places to find it, available on-line to the wanting. And as I said, and will repeat, the reports by a myriad of agencies with oversight authority, can be obtained for personal use at a nominal cost for shipping and handling. Wealth of information and fair and balanced reports, with ongoing oversight and reporting for recommendations.
Carmine A. DiFazio
The use of "private", i.e they do not really answer to anybody but those paying them, defines the issue here.
You are arguing they don't cost any less. So why use them?
If one thinks young men in the US Military are the same as Blackwater employees, well one is either ignorant or intentionally being deceptive.
These people are used for a reason. It is obvious why.
It should also be plain to realize the supposed oversight one can obtain for s&h is about a valuable as bird cage liner.
JFK warned us about all this before they wasted him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilF1eI9qA...
pessimistic views are needed too. One has to ask what exactly is this new job force that's not existing today. Who are you going to work for ?
Harold, please hold your breath and count to twenty thousand.
"If one thinks young men in the US Military are the same as Blackwater employees, well one is either ignorant or intentionally being deceptive."
You are guilty of both, sorry to say. If you do your homework sir, you'll learn that many of these private contractors, who are subject to ongoing gov't audits and reviews, are former decorated military members. The reason in part they are hired to perform these services as private contractors, along side military members.
Carmine A. DiFazio