This video is not new. But it is worth viewing/studying for more than one reason. Can you guess what they are?
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
Most of the headlines in the MSM related to the most recent unemployment data promote the jobs created nonsense. Here’s what the report actually describes:
In March, nonfarm payroll employment rose by 162,000. Job growth continued in temporary help services and in health care. Federal government employment increased due to the hiring of temporary workers for Census 2010. Job losses continued in financial activities and in information.
Employment in federal government was up over the month, reflecting the hiring of 48,000 temporary workers for the decennial census.
And here is more of the less encouraging information in the report.
The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) in creased by 414,000 over the month to 6.5 million. In March, 44.1 percent of unemployed persons were jobless for 27 weeks or more.
The number of persons working part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) increased to 9.1 million in March. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.
About 2.3 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force in March, compared with 2.1 million a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.) These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks pre ceding the survey.
sources:
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm
Why don’t we all just simply admit the economy is not doing so well.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
A column by Dana Milbank at WaPo may be representative of the liberal view on healthcare reform and the associated politics in Washington DC. And right out of the gate Milbank is wrong. In the first paragraph he tries to be cute and references a Kenny Rogers song suggesting the GOP should ‘know when to fold’em’. And two more errors are offered in the next paragraph. One, that healthcare reform is a done deal. And two, bad behavior and death threats ‘no doubt’ were caused by actions of Republicans.
On the topic of folding Milbank should be more concerned about the financial strain another huge entitlement will place on our nation. He should also point out that politics, majority party politics is responsible for the selfish choice to place a favorite liberal agenda item, healthcare ‘reform’, ahead of attending to jobs and the economy.
Perhaps Milbank’s real meaning for his ‘folding’ advice was requesting that the loyal opposition simply roll over and play dead. There are those of us who would prefer they did not. Bad enough that GOP errors caused them to lose the majority in 2006 that led to the leadership mess we’re in now. But the best way to fix that is learn from your mistakes, retake the majority and correct what damage the liberals cause.
To suggest that healthcare reform is a done deal is for Milbank to concede his lack of understanding. Beyond the fact that 37 states have initiated legal moves to opt out of Obamacare and talk about repealing the new legislation there is an underlying problem Milbank ignores.
There are no done deals in politics. Obamacare is no exception. Most new legislation alters older legislation and the party battles, wins and losses, perpetuate the process. And if Milbank thinks other liberals are content to stop meddling in healthcare after the bill is signed by the President, he knows nothing.
‘No doubt’ Milbank would prefer you had ‘no doubt’ about who or what is behind threatening behavior directed at politicians. But it is prudent and sensible to withhold judgment until there is something other than guesswork or personal opinions available like evidence. Or we can fan the flames like Milbank and point fingers and hurl accusations. Or just hurl.
For Milbank to jest about viagra for pedophiles misses the point which is government failures in managing programs produce outrageous outcomes. Milbank mentioning Lindsey Graham or John McCain as sensible voices in the GOP confirms they’re RINOs. Thanks for making one point conservatives can agree upon.
There is much about Milbank’s column that is foolish. Not the least of which is getting it wrong on why the GOP won’t fold’em.
The GOP used the majority party’s choice of reconciliation to send Obamacare back to the House allowing liberals one more chance to do what’s right and kill the bill. They also used amendments they knew would be rejected as nearly all have been to date in order to provide a record of many items that are in Obamacare and wrong. And to have those who support Obamacare go on record as promoting and accepting bad legislation.
There may be those who believe the GOP needs to use the record of these proceedings to challenge Democrats in November. It may be necessary to inform those not paying attention. I for one do not require it for opposing those who supported Obamacare. And Milbank does not need it to vote for liberals. No doubt.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
Let’s not get all excited about current news reports featuring ACORN. The organization now famous for registering cartoon characters and dead people to vote is bleeding profusely but not entirely dead yet. And with a community organizer-in-chief occupying the White House ACORN’S chances for revival are better than they should be.
Someone like George Soros or any number of other liberal sugar daddies could come to ACORN’s rescue, new names or not. It is to the benefit of all who support honest participation in public affairs and respect for the rule of law to be vigilant against the return of these ‘community organizers.’ Which is nothing more than code for a special interest scam willing to use any means to perpetrate their fraud.
Focus should not only be placed on ACORN. All one needs to do to find other sources like ACORN can be accomplished by reviewing non-profits, ‘volunteer’ or ‘charitable’ groups in their own locations. College and university campuses are a typical site for these groups. Even local chamber of commerce chapters have produced programs of a questionable nature.
Obviously not all groups described above are dishonest. But hiding among them as well as some in plain sight are groups with similar objectives to ACORN. And the methods to achieve those objectives are as suspect.
Don’t believe this? Look around.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
Emotional appeals designed to pull at the heartstrings were an effective weapon unleashed on the uninformed for those supporting the latest fiasco in the US Congress. Americans have always been a generous group. But too often that generosity is abused by those with special interests having nothing to do with being kind to others.
The report below is a case in point. The first paragraph indicates it was published before roll call vote 165 on Sunday night last on the House ‘vehicle’ for the bill named the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. And there is much in this report pointing to the decision process of many Americans.
In this instant society of fast food, mobile everything and the ‘on demand’ appetite developing unreasonable expectations comes with the skewed perception of reality that results from these behavior patterns. Not so different from the average spoiled child.
A basic concept in marketing defines salesmanship as satisfying needs and wants. Everyone should understand the difference between something you need and something you want. But more and more these days the two become confused. It is now common for people to believe something they need or want is a right and they are entitled to it. And to them it does not matter if someone else must be the responsible party in providing it. In other words, I need it therefore I want it and you must give it to me.
With the story below, where to begin? Why is Michele without health insurance? The author suggests 20 somethings are the largest uninsured group. She further suggests about half work only part-time. And their uninsured numbers are nearly twice that of older adults.
This will sound cruel. Michele claims she has a heart condition and it keeps her from working full-time. We are not told why she is a single mother but obviously having a heart condition did not interfere with getting pregnant. It may sound cruel but being sheptical is part of not being conned.
Much of this is about choices. And it certainly is about rights and responsibilities. How many people CHOOSE not to have health insurance? How many of those described in the VOA report made choices which limited their options for their future? It is reasonable to suggest there are those who are in predicaments not of their own choosing. But it is just as reasonable to suggest the vast majority of people in predicaments are there through no one’s fault but their own.
And a swell of sympathy for those with limited options (through no one’s fault but their own) has once again been used to force legislation on the rest of us. Liberals were more than willing to use these emotional appeals in an attempt to further their flawed agenda and avoid political backlash this fall at the ballot box. To the GOP’s credit a practical and common sense set of objections were used to oppose dangerous legislation. However, to be fair, their motives may not have been entirely altruistic.
The point is, whether for the right reason or not, the GOP was on the correct side of this political battle. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a misnomer in more than title. If you do not understand or believe by now this measure can break the financial back of our nation you are not paying attention.
The instant society, a loss of values from our nation’s past and a failure to be the best we can be have all conspired to bring us to this point. If this trend is allowed to continue the future looks very dim indeed.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
Democrats in the US Congress are racing to pass health care reform legislation. Currently, people in their 20s are the largest group in the United States without health insurance. With skyrocketing health care costs, those with low incomes often cannot afford insurance. Under the legislation, some 30 million uninsured will be able to buy insurance, and some will get government subsidies for it. And that could make health care more affordable.
Michele Gomez is a 23-year-old single mother with no health insurance. She has a cold and came for medication to the Free Clinic in Arlington, Virginia outside Washington. Gomez also is having a blood test because she has a heart condition.
She says because of it, she can only work part-time and she doesn’t make enough money to pay for health insurance.
“I need medicine, and sometimes I get heart pains and I have to think about it twice before I go to the hospital because I don’t have insurance,” said Michele Gomez. “I normally get a big bill and I don’t have a way to pay for it.”
Nearly half of young adults work part-time and so they are less likely to be offered health insurance at their jobs.
The U.S. government estimates that 30 percent of young adults are without health coverage, compared with 17 percent of older adults.
Gomez says she is in favor of health insurance reform. But she says if she is required to pay for even a small part of her insurance, she can’t do it.
“I think they should have done this a long time ago,” she said. “It’s ridiculous how you can’t get insurance, especially if you are a U.S. citizen. I think that should be one of the major priorities is to get insurance for people, especially if they have a low income.”
Health officials say it’s important to insure young adults even if they have few health problems. Nancy Pallesen, head of the Arlington Free Clinic, says their issues can become chronic.
“It’s very important for these people to have health care, regular health care, and to have preventative kinds of health care because in the future this will save them a lot of anguish,” said Nancy Pallesen.
Currently, most insurance plans allow parents to claim their children as dependents until they are 22-years-old. Under the new legislation, young adults will be able to remain on their families’ policies until the age of 26.
Ronald Perry works in a grocery store and says health insurance is too expensive for him. He thinks it should be optional.
“Everybody can make their own decisions and if you choose to have health care you shouldn’t be forced to do it at 26 or 30,” said Ronald Perry. “If you want it at 45 or 50 you should be able to get it then.”
Young adults are more likely to work in small businesses that don’t offer health care plans.
Isidro Duran is one of them. He came to the U.S. from Honduras 10 years ago and works in a small restaurant in Washington. He says he would like affordable health insurance.
“I am nervous and I am very concerned about it because you never know when you will need it,” said Isidro Duran.
Kimlinn Pham, from Vietnam, is a manicurist in a hair salon in Virginia. She hopes health care reform will allow her to buy reasonably priced health insurance. Pham says even when she’s sick she avoids going to the doctor.
“The doctor and hospital are so expensive,” said Kimlinn Pham. “I know that they treat you very well. But later on when you get the bill, you are the one to suffer from the bill. The doctor won’t suffer from that.”
Even with new legislation, the changes in health insurance won’t begin for several years. By that time, some people in their 20s could already be burdened with medical debt and chronic illness.
Crushing debt and mounting deficits in the face of a fragile recovery, if in fact there is one, adds to concern about the liberal agenda and out of touch POLS in Washington as well as at the state and local level. Tea parties and other outspoken critics have raised the ante for November 2010 midterm elections while being attacked by entrenched power brokers in the culture of corruption.
President Obama’s frequent reminder that we must pass ‘health insurance reform’ and other agenda items of the Democratic party are at odds with the report presented here expressing his belief that ‘deficit spending is unsustainable.’
One consistent feature of The One’s rhetoric blames the whole mess on problems that he ‘inherited.’ It has been stated on this site before that candidate Obama knew exactly what lay before him in his pursuit of the highest office in the land. At some point Mr President you must accept responsibility for the leadership role you now have. Do not pre-empt your agenda’s likely failure by putting the weight on someone else. Your agenda succeeds or fails on its own merits or lack of same.
One can almost hear his 2012 concession speech. I had a dream. To change the foundation of this nation into my own image and likeness but Bush sabotaged my plan.
Some have said authorizing a government ‘commission’ to oversee debt and deficit reduction attempts is simply a way to remove political risk from elected officials and place it on a group of bureaucrats. Whatever the strategy we don’t need another government commission for anything. Simply have the stones to reduce spending, taxes and the growth of government. But then that notion runs counter to any liberal agenda. That supports the opinion on why this commission was born.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
Obama Confronts US Debt as More Americans File for Jobess Benefits
18 February 2010
Michael Bowman | Washington
President Barack Obama announced a bipartisan commission on Thursday to tackle mounting U.S. federal budget deficits that economists say imperil the nation’s economic future. The president acted to correct America’s long term fiscal imbalances while short term economic signals point to a bumpy recovery after a deep recession.
President Obama says he inherited massive budget deficits and a staggering national debt when he entered office, and that he has had to incur even more debt to combat a financial crisis and prevent a prolonged economic recession from becoming a depression.
But he is quick to add that deficit spending is unsustainable.
“Without action, the accumulated weight of that structural deficit, of ever increasing debt, will hobble our economy,” Mr. Obama said. “It will cloud our future and it will saddle every child in America with an intolerable burden.”
Mr. Obama spoke at the White House, where he signed an executive order creating a bipartisan commission that will craft solutions to bring federal spending in line with tax receipts.
Standing behind the president were the two men who will lead the panel - Democrat Erskine Bowles, who served as White House chief of staff during the Clinton administration, and former Republican Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming.
“I am asking them [Erskine and Simpson] to produce clear recommendations on how to cover the costs of all federal programs by 2015 and to meaningfully improve our long term fiscal picture,” Mr. Obama said.
More than half of federal spending goes to so-called entitlement programs such as Social Security for retirees, and medical subsidies for the poor and the elderly. Cutting such programs is politically unpopular.
National defense consumes another large portion of the budget, and is difficult to rein in during a time of war.
President Obama has proposed a freeze on the remainder the federal budget, beginning next year. But a limited freeze along will not eliminate a deficit that exceeded $1 trillion last year and is projected to do so again this year.
Congress rejected creating a budget commission of its own that would have been empowered to draft fiscal solutions and to compel the legislature to consider its recommendations.
Meanwhile, fresh signs of weakness emerged in the U.S. labor market that analysts say point to a slow economic recovery. The number of newly-laid off workers filing for unemployment benefits stood at 473,000 last week - 31,000 more than the previous week.
Global Insight chief economist, Nariman Behravesh:
“After substantial progress in fixing or at least improving the jobs situation, we seem to have backtracked a little bit,” Behravesh said. “This is not so unusual. When you reach a turning point [in the economy after a recession], the progress is not uniform - two steps forward, one step back. And I think that is what we are seeing - the one step back.”
At the same time, a broad measure of future economic vitality, the Conference Board’s Index of Leading Economic Indicators, rose for the 10th consecutive month, but at a slower pace than in previous months. And spiking energy costs caused U.S. wholesale prices to rise 1.4 percent in January - double what many economists had anticipated.
The following images are from Congressman Eric Massa’s House website. Can we ‘ask Eric anything?
Yup, another day, another scandal in the nation’s capitol. Some reports suggest the right is downright giddy about this one. And reports from left-leaning sources are quick to suggest the differences between this and other similar scandals. But the most telling is from the the blog at TIME named ’swampland.’
The fifth of five reasons given for why Massa’s potential scandal is different from Mark Foley’s in 2006 is provided here.
The question for Eric Massa:
Are the allegations true?
The question for Democrats in general:
Is it true that Democrats do not hold themselves to standards described in the swampland reference provided here?
Even though components of the Democrats’ agenda suggest the answer it would be interesting to hear or read a response from the Dems.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
One of the best reads I absorbed lately. I have read this author before and have yet to be disappointed. The values we hold. Similarities and differences between generations. And what influences our perceptions and how that changes over time. Plus a generous description of the role technology has played shaping the youngest among us.
Opinions of millennials with regard to values and older generations may be the clue that wisdom will prevail and America will endure and become better for the effort. This could be further proof that the founders knew what they were doing. Like most of us didn’t know that already.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
Nothing like singleness of purpose to inspire others by demonstrating that hard work and determination lay the foundation for success. Who better to display those attributes than the King of Altruism, the man who invented the internet and is deeply devoted currently to saving our planet, Al Gore.
Last weekend with continued support from the NYT fish wrap former US Vice-President Al Gore presented an op-ed once again extolling the virtues of his own personal crusade. To express his concern for those who reject his money making venture this political doormat and newly minted snake oil salesman offered the following sentiment:
I, for one, genuinely wish that the climate crisis were an illusion.
But just as Mr Gore’s incompetence derailed his bid for President of the United States in 2000 it once again exposes his worldwide scam to profit from a crisis of his own making. Not an unusual strategy for a liberal. Attempt to create panic, fool the willing and laugh all the way to the bank in your corporate jet while criticizing others for destroying the planet.
Some more of Mr Gore’s ‘phrases’ will be supplied here demonstrating his folly. Of course libs will object to out of context use but then they are free to follow the link, search for the phrase and read the whole laughable thing for themselves. Why make everyone else suffer through Gore’s feeble pitch for his own wealth building scheme.
From Mr Gore:
-It is true that the climate panel published a flawed overestimate… (read the rest for yourself)
-But the scientific enterprise will never be completely free of mistakes.
-Because these and other effects of global warming are distributed globally, they are difficult to identify and interpret in any particular location.
In each of the examples above Mr Gore admits his case for AGW is flawed. He has drawn an absolute conclusion from vague, ambiguous or simply flawed data. And on that thin or non-existent evidence he expects the world to act on his recommendations. His position for personal gain from investments and partnerships points to the hypocrisy of his quest.
Hey Al, if you want to make a boatload of money on eco=business knock yourself out. But don’t expect the rest of us to buy what you’re selling, literally. The financial turmoil of the last few years and what may last for some time is nothing compared to the economic destruction your holy war would cause if we let it. Your money connection to your environmental crusade betrays your claim of genuine concern. As does your personal choices for producing the carbon mess you describe. You’re simply not believable. Nor are your cronies in the pseudo-science game. They’re in it for the money too.
Are there problems to solve with regard to ecology and the environment? Certainly there are. And good folks have been quietly working on them for a long time without the help from Al Gore’s personal search for the Holy Grail. Gore’s personal agenda will do more to harm those efforts than any other source. When you lose the public trust through selfish motivation support for otherwise noble endeavors declines.
Thanks for nothing, Al Gore.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
BTW, it is interesting that Gore chose the word ‘enterprise’ to describe science.
The mainstream media has fallen on hard times. You may recall it being the subject of another list of targets to ‘bailout’ as Washington politicians continue to spend money we don’t have. But it is understandable they would not want the only collective voice supporting their nonsense to disappear. How else would they be able to quote writers as their only argument in favor of that which is largely opposed?
This post is inspired by a random survey of articles in the first week of this year and has been hanging around in a bookmark file for some time. It had come to the decision point of write about it or delete it. And with a post here on the idea of using sources with no names entitled ‘Under Condition of Anonymity’ writing about it seems fitting.
The article from the LAT by James Rainey, ‘Freelance writing’s unfortunate new model’, did its job of drawing a reader’s attention. From that point it is anyone’s guess if that condition remains. His lament that tough times for the mainstream media translate into tough times for writers, freelance or otherwise, seems obvious. Talk about a case for trickle down economics. If the business supporting incomes for individuals encounters some degree of failure how are they to continue as before? If the business loses money so will those depending on it for an income. This ain’t rocket science.
After noting less than impressive opportunities for freelancers Rainey expresses the real reason this article stayed in the bookmark file this long.
Why? Where is it written that a skill you may have should provide a living wage? It is not necessarily true that if you build it they will come. And it follows that they may not be willing to pay for it. The problem may be the result of the audience or market realizing the product or service is not what it once was and are no longer as interested in paying for the privilege of using it.
Rainey suggests compensation for writing may have hit bottom. And he adds that little attention has been given to it ‘outside the trade.’ Is he aware that there has been a recession as well as troubling times for most economies around the world? His timeframe is a fair match for similar problems faced by just about everyone else. The economy stinks and money’s tight.
The last word for Rainey’s article (from here) suggests he may have it backwards. The quality and quantity of what passes for journalism in the mainstream media and elsewhere may be the real reason for hard times in the writing trade. An inability to deal effectively with a changing market and allowing public criticism of bias to be ignored may be the real cause.
As for what we will be missing if the trend he describes continues Mr Rainey might want to consider that ship has already sailed. Had journalism remained in the media hard times for the industry may have been avoided.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
What a ridiculous arrangement this is. And its widespread use is even more laughable. Those accepting this questionable practice would like you to ignore the obvious drawbacks. Like how useful is information provided by someone without the stones to disclose their identity? Or the ‘journalistic’ sin of avoiding the scrutiny of full disclosure? All this practice does is raise more questions for the skeptical and attempt to place value on gossip. Something all too common in media reports these days.
Media organizations lament the rise of citizen journalism and the fall of their business model. As more and more newspapers and other mainstream media outlets lose advertising dollars to support their enterprise criticism is misplaced. Many blame the internet and free resources rather than to perform an introspective analysis focusing on lack of integrity.
So how common is the practice of using anonymous sources? A Goole search of the phrase ‘condition of anonymity’ delivers a results count of twelve and a half million. In Google news, the phrase ‘they spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information’ returns over five thousand hits.
Never mind the results available in these searches is tiny compared to the stated total (who could review milions of results?). The point is the practice as well as ‘media’ willingness to use it is more telling than any report including it. Citizen journalism may be suspect but that is a given. The role of the ‘fourth estate’ was to provide a source of objective information to the public. The failure to meet that standard is nothing new. There are many accounts demonstrating that fact throughout history.
So what’s the real reason mainstream media is failing? It’s obvious. They are no longer believable. At least citizen journalism, e.g., the blogosphere, provides passionate accounts on virtually any topic to promote discussion and foster further investigation.
Something lost on those allowing the demise of journalism in traditional sources.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
From unrest displayed by various factions in Pakistan to the strange relationship between the US and former top dog Musharraf to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto the some-time ally nation is a wild card in foreign affairs.
The story below is typical of those demonstrating that which may frustrate public officials and the public in countries around the world. However, terrorists who view this latest development as positive may change their minds later. US intelligence operatives may lament this decision publicly but keeping a top Taliban commander in Pakistan’s custody may actually expand options available for acquiring necessary information.
How much money will the US have to provide Pakistan for ‘extracting’ intelligence from this individual without all those messy rules some find comforting? Sure, Pakistan is denying extradition to any other country based on perceived rights of the detained. Not likely.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
VOA News
A Pakistani court has blocked the extradition of at least five captured Afghan Taliban leaders, including top Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
Judge Khawaja Mohammad Sharif issued the order Friday after Islamist rights activist Khalid Khawaja filed a petition with the high court in Lahore. The judge said the militants should not be handed over to any other country.
One day earlier, the Afghan government said Pakistan had agreed to send Mullah Baradar and other militants to Afghanistan.
The Afghan president’s office said Thursday that Pakistan had agreed to give up the militants in exchange for the return of Pakistani prisoners.
Pakistani security forces captured Mullah Baradar in a joint operation with U.S. agents. Pakistan also detained several other top Taliban members in recent weeks.
The United States has urged Pakistan to crack down on Afghan Taliban militants who use northwestern Pakistan as a base for attacks on U.S.-led forces in neighboring Afghanistan.
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