"usn" Are you in the Navy?

Thanks for responding. I'am a veteran. I was just curious. Have a great day.

And we should also vote in candidates who will pledge to do the following: 1) Bring all troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan and close all US military installations overseas. We need to free up some badly needed funds. 2) Impose a ten-year moratorium on immigration to the US and end the temporary guest worker program. Why add more competition to a shrinking job market? 3) Do to all importers what they're doing to Toyota. No more cheap crap allowed on our roads. And US automakers should stop worrying about executive bonuses and start worrying about what comes off the drawing board. We want cars that last as long as it takes to pay for them. 4) Switch to another form of taxation other than the income tax. The FairTax is worth a try, unless those opposed can come up with a better idea, which I doubt they will.

Tough decisions have to be made. This is America and Americans come first. Anyone who doesn't like it can move to China. That's where the jobs are...and the pollution and the oppressive government and the overcrowded cities and the poverty wages-a socialist's paradise!

I would have done way differently if I was in her position. Knowing that the job market was bleak, I would have tried hard to save that life savings. Then stop paying for that 1500 mortgage and the credit cards. Keep saving that money while getting foreclosure. Once the banks kick you out, you should have enough saved to move to a cheaper apartment. Why keep trying to pay your mortgage until you bleed dry?

Unfortunately all the politicians "pledge" to do the right thing until they are elected. Politicians in this country are rich and have no idea how the other half suffers. A poor man cannot get elected in this country because it takes big money to run television adds and run the big campaigns. The supreme court just made it easier for the big money to put more of their politicians in place.

Obama could care less. He only needs to create jobs when it's time for re-election.

I can't believe Biden called them the greatest accomplishment of the 20TH century! The poor man can't even get his centuries right.

JSCS, don't be angry because the truth is being told and you're now finding out the hard way that you were another naievette who got sucked into voting for him.

As for your other statements, get your facts right before you try to argue; because your'e wrong on all points.

The biggest problem with your wordy and boring post is from point one. Pres Obama "inherited" an economy in the gutter and a stock market at around 5000K. Are you that inept at history???

USA:

Well said.

jscs - not as inept as you are with facts. Nancy and Harry had the reins of our government from 2006 on. Look back to find when the stock market began its freefall. The Dems are the problem.

JSCS, It apparently wasn't too boring to catch your attention originally.

And you're right. I do remember history; even as far back as BUSH also inheriting a downward spiraling economy created by CLINTON.

As a last note, it was a good time for OBAMA to become president, because people like you will never blame him for how unskilled he is at the job; always on predecessors or something else. He has it easy.

Jago... you've proven your ignorance. Clinton had the surplus. That's it.

I'm not a Pelosi fan (before Obama was Pres I was not a Pelosi fan).

But Jago, you're wrong. Clinton had an American surplus.

jscs

Lemme guess.

Liberal? Nah, you have to be a Progressive.

Contrary to what you ardent Obama followers believe he did NOT inherit anything. Unless he woke up on Nov. 4, 2008 and had NO idea we were in a recession and the economy was crashing he has NO excuse. He campaigned on the fact that we were sliding into a terrible economic period from our abuses of the last 80 years. He KNEW what he was getting into. The fact that none of his progressive policies are working his only recourse is to point fingers to deflect blame on himself.

But as always you Obama sniffers continue to fall back on the "last 8 years" or "I inherited" gibberish. If he felt he couldn't handle the pressure he should have walked away. He didn't inherit, he ACCEPTED the presidency and the situation our country was in.

This is the reality you Liberals refuse to accept.

That "surplus" is/was a myth.

USARouge

"We the People?" I guess I didn't get the email when we decided all of this. Not that those aren't great points, but you don't speak for everyone...

Furthermore, as a liberal, I agree with a lot that is being said (does that blow your mind?), especially about shifting blame etc. But, is Obama constantly blaming the previous administration like you guys love to point out, or did he perhaps make one or two comments about it echoing many peoples frustration (clearly not yours).

I'm sorry but errors of the past, on both sides, are still errors.

USAROGUE, I couldn't agree with you more. Exactly true on that all.

If OBAMA is as great as everybody thought he was; he could have done great things in a short amount of time just like Roosevelt did.

Or at least done something at all thus far....

jscs - as usual, you are inept with facts. Clinton managed to "balance the budget" that means for a year or two the govt. spent no more than what it took in. He did not pay off the debt. He could not have a surplus as there was always national debt.

This whole thing makes me wonder if this isnt how the roman empire fell. There are thousands of theories but, it seems overwhelming debt and bureaucracy could have rotted things out from the central government. Look at how easily we are trapped by our own laws when we do not have a "Job". Seriously think what a 19th century family would do to make it, then think of how many laws they would be breaking. No wonder we just stand on the street with our hands out, too many years of the paternal unit of government cushioning us from the real world.

TREASON
A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and he carries his banners openly. But the traitor moves among those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the galleys, heard in the very hall of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor—he speaks in the accents familiar to his victims, and wears their face and their garment, and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation—he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city—he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared.......Cicero, 42 B.C.

anders-865242

I understand. And I don't expect everyone to accept my points. I am just tired of listening to everyone coming on here and in private discussions complaining with NO solutions.

The upcoming elections in 2010 and 2012 are most likely going to be the most important elections in the last 100 years. American people need to make educated unbiased opinions of who will lead us out of this economic morass. This is a test of our national sovereignty, if We The People don't stand up and think about our nations situation it will fail. Obviously, for the last 80 years, including the past 9 years and a month, we have been deceived. Deceived by a government that has glad-handed money from one pile of debt to another and monetized all of our recessions resulting in a US Total Debt of almost $55 TRILLION DOLLRS.

This did not happen in the last 13 months NOR did it happen in the last 8 years. This is what We The People need to worry about. Do it however YOU want, but do SOMETHING rather than point fingers.

Clintons "surplus" was a gift from the "dot com boom", where the value of companies skyrocketed without reason and ungodly sums of money were made for using the internet to do very little. Companies with no cash flow or revenue streams were sold for millions and millions, just because venture capitalists were in a grab to get ahold of anything "dot com" (because the values were rising so fast). Very similar to the more recent speculators driving up of housing prices.

Yes, Bush approved the bank bailout spending, but most of that money has been repaid (I am tired of hearing how much that drove the Bush debt up, but the people who remind us of that never seem to include that most dollars have since been repaid, which would make Bushes bailout spending almost deficit neutral).

I know where I live, state and local governments have been kept afloat by the stimulus money, which in a sense has masked their real problems and kept them from having to address them (yet). If there is not stimulus after stimulus after stimulus, the number of states and local goverments that will fail will be staggering. The only real jobs saved have been government jobs and union teaching jobs.

OK, you've been out of work 2 years and your rent takes up $1380 of your $1595 monthly income. Isn't it about time you move to an area where the cost of living is less and jobs are more plentiful. Just a thought.

What is the REAL Unemployment Rate?

While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) keeps relatively precise statistics on labor and unemployment, the figures that they issue have an inherent weakness. They do not keep track of the number of people who are actually available for work in computing their unemployment rate. If people want to work, but give up actively seeking employment out of frustration, they are no longer counted as part of the available employment pool.

So when the government issues its unemployment rate, it's not really comparable with earlier periods because, while the actual number of people wanting to work goes up each month because of population increases, the base number of people counted in the government's figures may actually DECREASE. For example, the Total Civilian Labor Force for 2008 was 154,287,000, and while the historical increase per year has been 1,661,000 workers, the number of workers counted by the BLS for 2009 actually DECREASED by 1,427,000 workers – a difference of 3,088,000 workers.

If we counted all of the people that were actually available for work at the end of 2009 but unemployed, the rate of unemployment would be 11.7% instead of the 10.0% figure issued by the government. This 11.7% is what would be an accurate measurement of the current unemployment rate when comparing with the rate at the end of 2008, which was 7.2%.

This means that the actual unemployment rate for Obama's first year in office actually increased by almost double (4.5%) instead of the reported 2.8% increase.

The real reason that the unemployment rate is expected to remain high for several years is that, when workers realize that jobs are again available, that 3 million people that gave up looking will again start looking, and if they all re-entered the labor force, 3 million new jobs will have to be filled before that 10% figure actually starts to go down.

Also, the government “adjusts” their calculation methods in January of each year, so comparing January figures with December figures is not possible. For example, while there was a net LOSS of actual jobs in January 2010, the Unemployment Rate issued by the Government was reported to have gone DOWN from 10% to 9.7%.

Bob, I remember that the Clinton "surplus" was based on 10-year projections of the stock market, trade balances, home construction and income growth. In the 90s, we had the dot.com bubble where many internet start-ups were generating fantastic investor results from IPOs based on a cyber idea, but were not actually generating real profits from sales. The home ownership roles were swelling due to sub-prime mortgage loans, U.S. car manufacturers were making money because everybody wanted an SUV, and the Dow hit 13,000.

When Dubya took over, the dot.com rush was over, then 9/11 happened eight months into his presidency, we got involved in two wars, government expanded to create the Department of Homeland Security, and several important industries like airlines, auto, and construction had to survive on thin margins. All this time, we continued to buy more of our oil from foreign sources instead of developing our own because of Congress's interference in implementing a viable energy plan.

The Clinton "surplus" was only a paper projection of economic assumptions taken out over a 10-year extrapolation, long after his second term was to end. It was just another political shell game, just like the unemployment figures we get every week.

Vote, it means nothing today, multinationals won Congress and our legal system. We need to get public financing, do not elections in your state if still merit system for judges. Our economy will not come back. At one time the #1 employeer was GM paying good jobs and others. Now Wal Mart is #1 paying low wages, no unions, and the model has 80% of all products made from China and else where paying slave labor like the South did to the blacks. Every time some new product comes out is it made here? NO, abroad and sold here to make the profits. Any you wonder why they increase our taxes, less money being made to pay taxes and government is a business protecting themselves. YOu think you vote any politician that is bought off and we borrow from China. They cannot speak what I am saying or our borrowing will be cut off. China needs us to borrow so we can buy their products. A catch 22. Me, I live green save over $600 a month and pay a little more to strictly buy American or if not, do not buy it. Can YOU? If not then enjoy the pain or you get to fight for the military complex while they brainwash you over patriotism. Mine is to stop supporting this lie.

For this country to have a role of responsible voters we would probably have to change the voting requirement to require a voter to have 5 years of employment before they could vote so that they would understand what it means to work for a living and the costs of every day living. Too many can vote who aren't mature enough to understand the consequences.

I feel sorry for those people who are unemployed and likely to stay that way. The couple paying almost all his disability check for rent should look into low-income housing to start with. That is a lot to pay for rent. HUD might be able to help them

My Grandmother used to say that Social Security payments should have been used to invest in our manufacturing and it would have helped everyone plus kept the Trust(which does not even exist anymore as the money goes straight into the General Fund) from every going bankrupt. Many would have considered that idea as socialist but Janpan has always supported their manufacturers and the US never has. Supporting them need not be controlling them like Obama wants.

It's interesting how all of the rants on here blame the government for the joblessness problem. And yet most of the ranters would claim to want smaller government - yet they complain that the government isn't doing enough to fix their problems. What a bunch of hypocritical crybaby losers.

How about we place a rightful share of the blame where it belongs - on those who can't find jobs because they do not have the education and skills to compete in today's market? I just can't feel sorry for someone in their 50's with a high school diploma. Thought the gravy train was going to continue forever? What exactly has she been doing for the past 30 years? Obviously not anything to keep up with the changes in the workplace. Over 30 years, taking 1 measly class a semester, she could have gotten a college degree. But no, most people just want to sit on their growing butts and flip on the tv and vegetate, and then blame someone else for their problems. There are jobs out there, and there are always opportunities for people with an entrepreneurial spirit - but most people are caught of in the mindset of being losers.

And for those of you who are blaming the big corporations for outsourcing, how hard do you look for made in America products? I'll bet 99% of you just head to WalMart and pick up the cheapest thing, then blame the government for not implementing tarriffs. If they did, then you would complain about the increased cost of living, when you see the excess cost that comes from paying American workers to make the exact smae thing. You could have that now, without the tariffs if you sought out local products and paid a little more. On a small scale, do you even bother to shop at farmers markets and support the locals who are trying to make a living off the land? Again, I'll bet 99% of you don't, and instead go to WalMart and support the multinational companies who often treat their employees terribly, take advantage of illegal labor, run local farmers into the ground, and don't give a whit about food safety.

So, stop complaining about the government, or expecting it to fix these problems. Take a good, hard look in the mirror and recognize you are a huge part of the problem.

Last - how about we also reform the voting requirements to require people to have an accurate, informed view on all the major issues before they are allowed to vote? People whose opinions are based on chain emails full of lies or disinfirmation, or sound bytes from their favorite talk show host or comedian, should not be allowed in the voting booth. Masses of people ranting and waving signs when they don't understand the facts or the complexity of the issues isn't democracy - it's nothing but an uneducated mob of bullies, especially when most of the opinions are based on ignorant prejudices and bigotry (in fact, that's one reason the founders of this country set up a republic, not a democracy - they understood all too well the problems of an ignorant, emotional electorate). These aren't the kind of people we need controlling the direction of the US in the 21st century - unless the goal is to become a 3rd world country. That may not be too far off when you look at the global stats on things like education, health care, etc...

The article seems to be saying that it's no political entity's fault, which is quite a different thing now that liberals are in power than they were saying when conservatives were in power. Their obvious bias asside, the article is wrong in one other crucial aspect. The jobs will come back, but they will only come back when the value of homes catches up to people's equity, so people can start borrowing against the equity again. (Trust me, the American public WILL borrow against their equity whenever they can, whether it's to use the equity to start a new business, to build a new deck, or just to get some cash to blow on a vacation.) Since there, a housing glutt that's running around 15% more houses available than families that need one, it's going to take some time for that to happen. Whenever it does, the politician in charge whether it's a Dem or Republican likely will take the credit for something he/she had nothing to do with.

SO what this article is saying is , the Obama administration and the plan to save or create millions of jobs , has failed miserably and even with all of Obama's horrific spending , we are still no better off than before , in fact we are far worse off then before.

You ALL need to wake up and realize who is steering the ship !!! , you start at the TOP and cut the head off , and then dismember the body of the problem.

Obama needs to go first , and the you remove his co-horts and his partners in crime , and then you remove every single congressman/woman/judge/senator etc , until we have a fresh clean slate. !!!

But Obama needs to go first !!!! he is calling the shots , he id steering the ship right at the ice-burg , and he is going full steam ahead at it , refuses to turn the wheel.!

Impeach him NOW , vote his partners in crime out in Nov. and vote the rest out in 2012 , so them that this IS A GOVERNMENT FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE !!!

And remember all you Obama-files , while it is easy to BLAME BUSH , just remember , Bush has been out of office for over a year , Obama has full control of what is going on and Obama has the full blame for the mess we are in now !

It is time to put on his big boy pants and start owning up for the mess he is making by spending money like a drunken sailor on shore leave !

it is not, Clinton, Bush or Obama; IT IS CONGRESS; that is where all decisions must be approved, all Tax breaks for Company's using overseas labor; all money spent on anything within the federal Government.

The Congress has even stopped the financial reform legislation, to keep the Banks from repeating the derivative, hedge fund gambling. Lobbyists from the multi-national corporations and banking interest control Congress, Voters are swayed by media blitz at election time, where the lobbyist's donate ten's of millions to their favorite puppet, to get elected every two years!

These are the kind of articles that put things into perspective. We need to read more of these kind of articles. People not Political fighting about who's fault it is. The system is failing so many PEOPLE!

Find some of the youth that did all the right things. Struggling through school to find out they have big loans and no jobs or jobs that pay so little cause they can choose to take advantage of the current systems status. It is an employers market. But in a business perspective of quick and decisive gains its just goooooood business.

I am in no way against Businesses. I ove to work, love to make a difference in any way. Business cannot be business without profit.

To whoever is collapsing jscs's comments...please stop! He has a right to be heard and besides, he has said nothing offensive or even true for that matter and through talking only points out the folley of liberal thinking.

No-Bama:

SO what this article is saying is , the Obama administration and the plan to save or create millions of jobs , has failed miserably and even with all of Obama's horrific spending , we are still no better off than before , in fact we are far worse off then before.

I'm sorry to have to burst your little bubble with facts, but the job loss trend started in 2008, and accelerated starting in Sept 2009, when net job losses reached over 400,000/month, peaking in November/December/January at over 800,000/month. These numbers have gone down and stabilized in the second half of the year, and hovering around a net gain/loss of 0 for the past 3 months. I'd consider that an improvement. And if you understood anything about business at all (and I suspect you're not included in discussions with the decision makers in your company), you would realize that stabilization precedes hiring as companies take stock of the economic climate for a period of time before going back into expansion mode. They do not go automatically from contraction to expansion. You just demonstrate your own poor grip on reality if you think the economy and job situation should have miraculously recovered to the go-go rush of the 90's by now.

But, I'm sure you won't let facts get in the way of your prejudices...

I am certainly voting out any of my Congressmen who supported TARP.

I don't believe in "too big to fail," unless, by definition, it suggests that these Corporations were "too big," and thus, "too unregulated."

We spent 10 times on Corporate Welfare what is spent on Welfare for the disenfranchised, yet the disenfranchised are blamed!?

Thank you Reaganomics, Voodoo Economics, and the desultory, archaic GOP.

what I like about Republicans - They believe the best government is the closest government to you.

What I like about Democrats - They are aware as a Nation that our weakest link is how we truly are.

As a computer guy there isn't any reason to make one part faster when all parts are needed and your computer is only as fast as the slowest component.

Brandon, have you ever worked for a poor man?....I thought so. And riggznit....................WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY? We are all dumb here so you need to speak plain old english....if you don't mind.

What a sad story/picture of America. "We" can change this! "United we stand,divided we fall". For a start,vote "every" incumbent out! Have you called your Congressman and Senator yet and told them you are not voting for them? Watch their heads turn!

Art981203,

You've got the right idea but lets take a step farther. You don't have to vote Dem or Rep. There are plenty of other parties out there to vote for. I don't intend to ever vote Dem or Rep ever again. They've had their chance and they have destroyed the country. It makes no sense to vote out the current incumbents only to replace them with individuals who hold to the same party platform which obviously isn't working. It's time to build up the other parties out there who have some pretty appealing platforms.

Last

ROY WILSON-336103

You both address important issues. Most people in this country don't realize the extent of our financial problem. The unemployment rate is always skewed by the government to deflect blame from themselves.

The problem with unemployment is addressed well in the article but the only solution is never addressed. The only way out of this "jobless recovery" is to create domestic exportable long-term manufacturing jobs. Without this we will never reduce our deficits and debt let alone create a surplus. These short-term, government funded social service and social program jobs are budget consuming jobs,,,not profitable jobs.

The housing crisis is expected to continue with an estimated 3.8 Million more foreclosures this year. These are staggering numbers until you really evaluate their impact.

The average family size in the United States is 2.6. Using a conservative estimate that half of those foreclosures house a family this number explodes to affect over 7 MILLION people. Men women AND children are being evicted from their homes. Some have owned these homes for over 15-20 years. These were NOT the credit default swap or interest only people who shouldn't have been put in those homes to begin with. These are hard working people trying to achieve the American dream. Unfortunately they have been caught in the grip of this economic failure at the hands of our government.

This is the reality and the sorrow America finds itself in.

PS-Can anyone explain what in the HELL a jobless recovery is? If this is the case HOW will these MILLIONS of people, fathers, mothers AND children, be supported until a "jobfull recovery" occurs?

Gadfly-1114997

And I hate to burst your little bubble with facts , but who was in control of both houses of Government in 2008 and 2009 ?

OH WAIT !!! THE DEMS HAD CONTROL OF CONGRESS AS WELL AS THE OTHER HOUSES OF GOVERNMENT AND BUSH WAS LEFT AS A LAME DUCK WHO COULDN'T DO ANYTHING !!!

now OBAMA has control of all the houses of Government and he ISN'T doing antying , other than spending money like a drunken sailor and pushing this country deeper and deeper into debt , which will equate to hyper inflation as well as massive job losses and cut backs.

and for the poster who said , a business cannot be a business without profit , ...good point , but why is it , every time a business turns a profit , OBAMA and the DEMOCRATS DEMONIZE THEM !!!! AND RAKE THEM OVER THE COALS OF CONGRESS ABOUT IT ?????

OBAMA DOES NOT WANT A SUCCESS FULL COUNTRY , NOR DOES HE WAS US TO BE EMPLOYED , HE WANTS A SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT , WHERE HE CAN TELL YOU WHAT TO DO AND WHEN TO DO IT , OR THEY WON'T GIVE YOU , YOUR PORTION OF RICE FOR THE WEEK !!!

Obama and the Democrats have pulled the biggest Government power grab in history and you sheep have sat by and let it happen.

HOW IS ALL THE HYPE AND CHANGE WORKING OUT FOR YOU NOW ???

A poor man cannot get elected in this country because it takes big money to run television adds and run the big campaigns.

Judy-683484

That ain't true. Are you telling us that you let political ads determine who you vote for? My gosh...how long have we had the internet??? You can easily now do your own research and have a candidates party platform at your finger tips in seconds. You don't let an ad decide who you vote for. You do your homework as a responsible voter and cast your vote accordingly. There is not a single reason why a candidate should have to run an ad anymore. Without the need for ad money you also remove special interest money.

This is the long term effects of NAFTA and the FREE TRADE agreements made by or own government,through no choice of our own. So now many Americans are out of work because of this. Bad choices I say it again Bad choices. Why are the container ports still coming in here at 100%, Imports coming in here at 100% when unemployment is so high? There needs to be a change here We need to say no to high Importation because many Americans are out of work and we cant afford them. Unemployment at10% this makes me sick.

Name one just one poor politician? Ever?

You rarely hear about the candidates of a ticket only the Republican and Democratic Candidates and then when you get to the booth you have no idea who the other guys are. You may of heard their name somewhere but that isn't enough to vote on.

No-Bama - it's not even worth responding to someone like you - you don't have a good grasp of facts or logic, or demonstrate any understanding of the complexity of the economy. You just spout of the same propagandistic, jingoistic drivel time after time, based on your own ignorance and prejudices. No one is trying to turn the US into a socialistic country - but you've bought into the fearmongering - throw that big scary word around and people will stampede. And you think you sound intelligent using a 3 syllable word, but you don't. Nor has Obama demonized well run businesses - only those that have caused the bulk of the problems recently - or do you think he should applaud Wall Street bankers for handing out exhorbitant bonuses within months of taking a handout from the government? That would really be sticking up for the American people, allright. Your post is full of the same cliched sound bytes over and over again - go out and educate yourself and get back in touch with reality.

The unemployment figures are much worse that the media reports.

The following is from the government's own Bureau of Labor Statistics;

For 2008, the total people employed in the U S was 136,790,000.

For 2009, the total people employed in the U S was 130,912,000.

This means that 5,878,000 net jobs were lost in Obama's first year in office, which is double what most of the media reports.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics web site to verify this is;

ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/suppl/empsit.ceseeb1.txt

Roy,

more here and there, That still doesn't paint a full picture. Are you this limited in capacity? Sure one is connected to the other, but painting a picture of only parts doesn't do anyone any good.

I agree the numbers we hear and see are no where close to accurate. The same principals they apply you do the exact Same but only paint the opposite small picture. So you are right and they are wrong?

I do like the 130 million out of 300 million employed stats. That is a real eye opener. thanks!

At what point does one totally bale on their life? I mean, do you sell, move, downsize, re-train, pull kids out of school, etc. day one when you lose a job? Hell no! It is easy for people to sit back and play critic or monday morning quarter back. I bet that any of these people that got laid off had no idea or ever thought they'd be on long term unemployment. Would you? These people continue to find employment, hopefully gainful employment. They search because the have faith, hope and commitment. By the time one starts considering to totally turning their lives upside down, it may be too late and too expensive to make major changes. It really is a catch 22 situation and for those critics that love to say I'd do this or do that, Really? Do you tell the person that has worked 20 or 30 years that they are deadbeats because they need extended help? NO! They did not purposely put themselves into this situation. As a viable and responsibility we need to help such people. I mean, damn, after all, we sure can pay millions for such wasteful things that this country does not need. If the government had been responsibly miding the store instead of robbing the store, helping people in these situations would not be a strain.

FRUSTRATED

Yes, I called my incumbent politicians, from the Governor of my state right down to my local rep, who happens to live on the same street that I live on.

What did they say? They're too busy to answer me, so I'll never know.

Next week I'm going to stand in front of our local univesity wearing a sandwich board that announces, "Unemployed Ph.D. 20 Years Experience. Published author and researcher. Broke and Homeless. Can You Help?" and see if I make the news.

Watch for film at 11

Demosthene,

Best of Luck!

Courage rarely goes unrewarded.

NYT story telling Americans the jobless will remain for years?. That is untrue.

What kind of BS is this?

Negative advertising from the NYT. This is now discourage even more people from looking for a job. Jobs can be created by people who have ingenuity to make their own job such as a private business or using a talent of theirs to make money. Or going on the job hunt, killing the motivation of our citizens.

This is pyschological Proganda coming from the Obama Administration, so we keep off his a--------------------------for the lack of his knowledge in the job industry. JOB SUMMITS! He never worked.

No, this article is to cover O's a-----------------;

THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. HE DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE THE BLAME FOR DOING A HORRID JOB OF GETTING THIS ECONOMY GOING AGAIN.

SOCIALISM IS THE MAIN GOAL OF THE MEDIA AND OUR PRESIDENT..

USA Rogue...... You should post your decree 1.14 on line in the form of a petition for people to sign. Then forward it to the White house. If you are running for office, you got my vote as long as you keep your promises.

"Lean" and "Productivity". Learn these words well.

If you are working, watch your back when your bosses start talking about it.

If you're not, use them in your resume to describe your experiences.

These two words have already become a daily benchmark in many companies, ways to cuts costs, ways to increase ROI (return on investment), ways to improve the bottom line. Workers will continue to be the "easy" way to save money in overhead and production costs. That's why it will take years to re-create the jobs, not the demand for the products.

NO Worries people.......we've got Obama......he's too consumed in his healthcare insanity to pay any attention what-so-ever with these "silly" unemployed people.

This is why this loser should resign....he could care less about fixing anything in this country...he's more concerned with spending money....being "anti-business"...and passing this stupid insane Healthcare nonsense......

Why is NO ONE in the media taking this administration to task? What are you idiots in the media waiting for.....an engraved invitation?

People........OBAMA is the worst ever.........he can't lead......can't get anything done.....and rather than "unite" parties and people....he divides them.

What a complete failed experiment......his stupidity and complete lack of leadership is beyond measure.......so what if unemployment is soaring and the economy is in the toilet......let's go vacation in Hawaii, let's keep the 20+ assistants for my wife and let's just keep spending money like it grows on trees.....let's escalate the troops in these "horrible" wars (I guess the liberals now believe they're "good" wars because there sure was a lot of protesting and now I guess it's all good....right lemmings?).

Hey Obama....resign and Biden your dumbass can resign too......along with Pelosi, Frank and the rest of those turds.

Haiwaii2,

Yes because the Democrats and the Media plus our president want to give their lives accomplishments AWAY!

It is so clear now.

And the Republicans want to sell the government to the highest bidder. Open up the government to stockholders.

Wow I painted the extreme opposite you did. How much do you think that helped anyone?

Paul,

With respect I agree that jobs should of been first. Health Industry consumes 1/6 of the economy. Isn't that a sign that improvement in this area is important? Now how you improve it, we can slide the scale and 10 years from now slide it extremely back or we can find the middle that works for all.

Well, Mr. President, how is your Stimulus Package working now ?? And how many jobs have been saved or created ?? Guess you will say the jobs are coming later this year (right before Mid-Term elections) when the brunt of the Stimulus Package funding (if any is left after you use it for your other pet socialist projects) will be released at the direction of the Vice-President.

Between you, your Vice-President, White House Chief Economist (Mrs. Romer), the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Head of the Federal Reserve, you may be able to come up with the SAME ANSWER !!

Let me see now, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 no 10 Million jobs saved or created. There, I have done the work for you.

Time to get on Air Force One, either for a date or to hit the road again for campaining or go overseas for another photo op.....forget about all those families in the food line, getting kicked on the street after losing their homes, or those who continue to look for JOBS.

riggznit "Roy, more here and there, That still doesn't paint a full picture. Are you this limited in capacity? Sure one is connected to the other, but painting a picture of only parts doesn't do anyone any good....I do like the 130 million out of 300 million employed stats. That is a real eye opener. thanks!"

You have me scratching my head with that comment. How does reporting the OVERALL employment figure paint only parts? Also, the 300 million is the approximate total number of people in the Country, including children and retirees. If you could clarify your comments, I might be able to respond better.

I have called, written and you name it almost everyone in Washington. I even asked them to give me a job there. LOL. Washington will drag their feet like last time because there are no such urgencies in their rich lives. I agree...vote all of them out including Obama. I don't hear him saying a thing about long term unemployed Americans anymore. I thought he was on our side. All this nonsense stuff they discuss everyday in the Congress/Senate can darn well wait. Get our benefits extended or there will be more homeless, crimes, people committing suicide and taking others with them because they are so distraught. STOP helping other countries and take care of our own FIRST. No country would help us like we help them. In the name of National security??? That's a joke. Put the billions of dollars going everywhere else right here at home and we'll all be better off. STOP appropriating monies elsewhere. Put it into extended benefits for the unemployed and then we can say Washington cares. With less than 2 weeks to go before all extensions/benefits stop it appears little will change and that is because of the leaders whose salaries our tax dollars pay for.

Large companies are increasingly owned by institutional investors who crave swift profits, a feat often achieved by cutting payroll. The declining influence of unions has made it easier for employers to shift work to part-time and temporary employees. Factory work and even white-collar jobs have moved in recent years to low-cost countries in Asia and Latin America. Automation has helped manufacturing cut 5.6 million jobs since 2000 — the sort of jobs that once provided lower-skilled workers with middle-class paychecks.

Here lies the "root" cause as to why we are in the predicament we are in and why we are projecting a "jobless" recovery. Also remember, those "institutional investors" are the ones we just recently BAILED OUTand are receiving their well deserved bonuses (satire)!

Roy,

your passion is undeniable and wish it was so for many more. The status is overall not Republican or Democrat positions. Being the fact that the country is almost split down the middle with people on either side and no one or not many saying here in the middle we can all have a piece of the pie and continue making more pies.

Good point what is the working faces of the 300 million. I looked for that info a while back with no success.

Please don't take me as a socialist. that isn't what I am saying. Literal would be for the experts I am no expert. Some people are just more dedicated and have the ambitions to create amazing companies, they earn more and so should they. I want to see Balance for Americas success! That takes Democrat's and Republican's combined perspectives. What does the Private sector need not what it wants.

USARogue "PS-Can anyone explain what in the HELL a jobless recovery is? If this is the case HOW will these MILLIONS of people, fathers, mothers AND children, be supported until a "jobfull recovery" occurs?"

In Europe, where they have a very high level of government spending and welfare, high unemployment (about 15%) is the NORM. This is true because of 2 factors;

1 - High government spending requires high levels of taxes. Historically, total government spending (and taxes) in this Country has been about 32% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and our real long term economic growth rate has been about 3% per year, while in Europe, their typical government spending (and taxes) has been over 50% of GDP, and their real economic growth rate is under 1% per year. IT'S ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT CREATES JOBS. Unfortunately, Obama proposes a spending level for 2010 that's projected to be over 47% of GDP, which correlates to very slow growth. A very interesting analysis of the relationship between total government spending and economic growth can be found by Googling the "Rahn Curve".

2 - The government has changed the tax laws so much to favor lower income people that almost 50% of the people in this Country pay NO income taxes (In fact, almost 50% get tax "credits" even though they don't pay any taxes), so half of the people (and voters) could care less about excessive government spending, since they don't have to pay the bill, but may get some benefits. We see many in the media rail about the "Bush tax cuts" benefiting the "rich", but in reality, the "rich" pay an even higher % of income tax revenues now than before the cuts, and the "poor" pay even less than before, so the cuts actually benefited the poor and middle class, not the "rich".

A "jobless" recovery is one in which businesses recover, but at such a slow pace that the need to hire workers is too slow to absorb the ever expanding labor pool.

History has consistently shown that a low level of government spending and intrusion into our lives leads to prosperity and an increased standard of living for everyone, but, unfortunately, the current Administration has embarked on the reverse course - all in the name of "fairness".

The real problem I see is that the HUGE increase in spending, at a time of slow economic growth, is causing such high deficits that our children and grandchildren will NEVER have a chance to recover.

Welcome to "Hope and Change".

riggznit "Roy,...Good point what is the working faces of the 300 million. I looked for that info a while back with no success."

Getting a handle on the actual people available for work is admittedly a MIA number. In my post at #1.35, I attempted to address that figure, but even that is only good for short term comparisons.

riggznit:

Yes, we are at the opposite ends of the Spectrum in our views.

The Republicans selling out the Government to the Stock Market?.

Tell me, what is wrong with Investing in the Stock Market. Millions of Americans can and do invest in the Stock Market, The Liberals, The Democrats, (heavily), and Conservatives, Independents, and everyone else. Don't you want to see your money "grow"; having Mutual Funds if not investing in singular stocks. This is reality. America is a Capitalistic Society. Are you Capitalist, or Socialist?

Greed is not the factor. The factor is Americans can make choices on how they want to spend their money. People who work for businesses or Corporations are allowed to get into Funds, Stocks to see their Portfolio grow. Investing in the Stock Market is a gamble..

Sometimes, in times like this, the Market doesn't always do well. We are living in a Global Economy. We are in the World Stock Market. The Asian Market, European, United States, and other countries.

Do you live without money?. How is that done?---someone is paying for you, if not. Do you work?. Why do people work? For Fun, or to take care of their families, or themselves.

Greed. No it is not greed, but a want for a better life. This is the only country that has a Free Democracy and Pure Capitalism..

You have choices. Please don't tell me, you want to live in Iran, or similar ones (Middle East) think Iran is a better country!

My apologies for the one paragraph that has many typo errors in it. Morning here.

ROY WILSON-336103

I guess I should have prefaced my comment as sarcasm.

I understand the concept of "jobless recovery". My concern is HOW do we support these TENS OF MILLIONS (single people and families affected) of new jobless people? If these predictions of joblessness for 5 years or more are indeed factual where will the extra money for Welfare, Food Stamps, WIC, public housing, Medicaid and other programs come from?

I suspect this is exactly why Congress recently raised the Debt Ceiling to $14.3 TRILLION dollars. This administration knows their futile attempts at job creation are failures and they know they will need to increase government spending more to support these victims who are affected by incompetent governance for decades.

The situation regarding job loss is sad. I hate to break it to conservatives, but only government can change this through legislation. Unfortunately the right-wing "invisible hand" folks are still hanging on to superstition and conspiracy theories. And the GOP is blocking financial reform and other measures that would improve matters.

At the same time, what also bothers me is: 1) the lady should use the money from her mother to move. I did it with what was left in savings -- with no job or income. Which brings me to 2) the husband (and daughter!) are collecting disability. This IS more of a social net than most people will ever have.

And is why most people will never have Medicare benefits -- because young people are collecting disability their entire lives, which the program is not designed to sustain. And yes, if you have 1,500/month or more, why should you qualify for food stamps? These benefits are for people who have nothing.

Here's an idea: The mother and daughter and granddaughter could all move into one place that is cheaper (not in California?). With everyone's combined income, they'd be way better off then most people who have jobs.

...About Hope and Change -- Tea Party Gurus -- Please enlighten us with how things would be right now if McCain/Palin were in the White House with a Republican majority -- or for that matter, the reverse -- if Gore had been President instead of Bush in the last eight years, we probably wouldn't be facing this economic meltdown.

And in regard to incumbents, why is it that the right-wing always takes the extreme knee-jerk black or white position on everything? Has it ever occurred to you that there are some representatives doing good work, and their experience might come in handy? I realize this is too complex for your simplistic world view, but at least try a little.

You people need to leave the Echo Chamber of right-wing BS.

Healthcare not Warfare!

In addition to debating whether we should be occupying Afghanistan or Iraq, americans are going to have to decide whether healthcare is a right or a privilege. If you talk to a medicare recipient it is a right. If you talk to a veteran healthcare is a right. If you talk to a welfare mom on medicaid her healthcare is considered a right. Only the middle class and politicians are confused about whether healthcare is a right or a privilege for a few lucky enough to have insurance.

we have millions unemployed, that cuts the tax base for the government by billions, we have fewer people spending money, thus the corporations are not going to have the profits to tax, again drop the tax base for the government more. we have all the illegals taking what work there is and pay no income tax. on the other hand we have a liberal congress and administration who both want to spend money at every turn. money they dont have. the talk of tax increases only means the few who are still working will bge supporting all the spending by the liberal government. pull all the military back home. let the world know we will not interfere in their issues again, kick out all the illegals and keep them out with the military we brought home. and let the unemployed take the jobe ste immigrants left. we need no visitor/worker immigrants here. niot at a time like this and afghanistan is making it clear they dont want our soldiers hurting any civilians, so we would not really be missed there. FIX OUR COUNTRY FIRST. we dont need more big brother. less govt, less taxes. more freedom.

Wrong, True Patriot, the government can do absolutely nothing to solve this problem, except for some temporary benefits. Like it or not, we are now part of a world economy and those uncomplicated assembly line manufacturing jobs are gone forever to countries where people will work for wages we can't compete with. Our solution is to get with the times. We have plenty of manufacturing going on here, but it requires some degree of technical training. Gone are the days of dropping out of high school and getting on at the local plant for great wages and benefits. Got to go back to the vo-tech school and learn a 21st century skill - medical, computers, electronics, etc.

What?

Never Mind!

1+1=2 is that all you see? America is nothing more than a $ sign?

Nothing comes from nothing. I don't disagree with you but you are not the only American in America. If we continue down this road we will have more victims than survivors. How does that help anyone the poor or the rich? This is a country of people. We all count on each other no one is truly independent anymore.

businesses count on the market no market no business. So if we can't afford your product you cannot afford to be in business. Many sides to truth.

Moderation of Both = Balance!

Roy Wilson:

Agreed, I don't quite understand Riggznit's comments. I responded, but reading back, am confused as to the point of his message.

Time Magazine, 11/1998 - ..."an outright global recession, economists concede, is still a real possibility. "The risks of a deeper, wider, more prolonged downturn have escalated," the International Monetary Fund reported in its most recent global forecast; the Commerce Department said last month that in August the trade deficit ballooned $2.2 billion, to $16.8 billion... After years of low unemployment, a number of major U.S. companies have responded to their earnings troubles with year-end job cuts, among them Merrill Lynch (3,400), Raytheon (14,000), LSI Logic (1,200) and Atlantic Richfield (900). For all of 1998, firings could hit 625,000, their high point for the decade."...

The next issue... Corporate Welfare..."A company sets up what is called a foreign sales corporation. Companies can form FSCs in 32 countries designated by Congress--among them Jamaica and Barbados--or in a U.S. possession like the Virgin Islands. The company then funnels its exports (or, more accurately, the paperwork for its exports) through its offshore FSC. Presto: no federal income taxes on a portion of those export profits.

Just about every large U.S. corporation has an FSC; Intel, Eastman Kodak, General Motors, Caterpillar, Union Carbide, Chrysler, R.J. Reynolds and Georgia-Pacific are just a few. And why not? A corporation with an FSC can shelter 15% or more of its export profits from federal income tax.

Like so many corporate-welfare programs, this one isn't available to all companies. It goes only to those that export. The truth is, most large corporations that use the FSC break are already robust exporters and don't need much encouragement to ship abroad. They would export with or without the tax break. In this decade alone, this single corporate-welfare program has cost U.S. taxpayers more than $10 billion, with about $8 billion of that flowing to the largest corporations. FSCs are but one of scores of corporate-welfare programs run out of Washington....." - This has been on-going, over 10 years. See also the 2007 article about job loss, and preparing for a downturn.

I completely relate to this story. I received my graduate school degree in 2008 and am still looking for a job. Of course, in California, all the major cities are sanctuary cities for illegals...Most jobs are "bilingual only" & we all know what that means. The same can be said all over the country. Forget job creation... there would be more jobs if illegals weren't holding them. There would also be more social services & extended benefits for citizens who are in need if illegals weren't receiving welfare/food stamps/W.I.C./section 8 housing/ loan assistance/social security/free medical/ free education (BTW, a bill is being considered as we speak to raise property taxes or add a homeowner's fee to pay for all the new schools being built to house the illegals' children)...

While you all are contacting your congress people, you should also go to NumbersUsa dot com for immigration news we don't get on television, and easy click to send faxes that go to your state reps. Refer the site to others, and Bombard them. It makes no sense for citizens to be in a situation of hardship & unable to get the help they need because our elected officials are giving our jobs and our benefits to people (and their offspring) who shouldn't even be here.

She and her husband now settle their bills with only his $1,595 monthly disability check. The rent on their apartment is $1,380.

Ms. Eisen: Think woman Think. You can move to the mid-west and make it on $1,595 a month until the economy turns around. I live here and pay $290 a month for descent one bedroom total electric apartment. My electric bill averages out to about $55 a month. Water, sewer, and trash pick-up is part of the $290 rent. You need to move to a low cost of living area until the economy turns around.

the poor that can't get health insurance, working 2-3 jobs, people dieing every day because they can't afford health insurance, etc.

We are witnessing the collapse of the United States!

...You guys are aware that nothing you say changes anyone's minds, right? And despite how almost all of your posts are directed at various derogatory nicknames for Obama, he ain't going to read them.

I'm going to find it really hilarious when Obama gets re-elected. Because this tea-party movement is imploding in on itself, and the boat does not have a leader right now. And Obama still has almost 50% of the nation in support of him. Meanwhile, who is going to run against him? Palin (inexperience, idiocy) Huckabee (radicalism) Romney (religion) Paul (radicalism, racism, foolish proposals) Each of the candidates has some huge scar that's keeping them from office.

Bush had a lower rating then Obama when it came to reelections, but he still won because people decided he was more capable than Kerry. Same will happen here.

She and her husband now settle their bills with only his $1,595 monthly disability check. The rent on their apartment is $1,380.

Lady, wake up and smell the coffee.

I guarantee that I can show you how to live on $1595 per month AND afford your blood pressure and cholesterol medicine.

What are you doing in an apartment that costs almost $1400 a month while calling yourself poor? There are nice apartments in my neighborhood for $650 per month. And although I hate shopping at WalMart, I buy my blood pressure and cholesterol medicine there and it costs $12 per month for the two of them. No insurance.

Too many people are abusing this apparently unending extension of unemployment benefits that the rest of us have to pay for. Too many expect to continue living in luxury in $1400 apartments.

Wish I could afford one, but unfortunately, I work for a living.

My advice to you: move to a cheaper area, even if that involves living in another state. And GET OFF THE DOLE, regardless of what you call it.

If we vote every incumbent out of office just who is going to take their place? I will tell you who, some already politically entrenched immoral self-serving scumbag. The dye has already been cast. Turning things around at this point runs on the odds of winning a multi-state lottery game.

This will be the foundation of civil unrest in this country...better prepare yourselves, as your government has failed you miserably...

had-enough-470242

Then stop paying for that 1500 mortgage and the credit cards.

Because, just maybe, unlike the rest of the dead-beats that ignore their contractual obligation, this lady feels a since of responsibility for her debts! As it appears you are part of the problem, professing that you would willingly sign a contract and walk away, she does not feel the need to become what those that have done before her have so blatantly done: contributed to the problem!

That is right, unlike the welfare drones, with their hands out, crying "we deserve", this lady believes that her word & signature to her promise means something. But I digress, this bothers the liberal agenda to no end: After all, they only want what is someone Else's, only to give to the same dead beats that you yourself encourage! Funny how America is finally waking up to the real problem, 'eh?

So, bravo to those that stand behind their obligations, and to those that prescribe the adverse, may your hunger last forever!

We all know that unemployment benefits will be extended again because that is what politicians feel will make them popular. Why do they ever need to create jobs when the people who work can simply pay for those who don't?

Obama will attempt to give illegals amnesty, which will automatically mean 12 million more people to support...and as obama hopes 12 million votes for himself.

States are already bankrupt, education and services will continue to be cut.

All of these occurrences indicate that the situation will only continue to decrease, there is no realistic possibility of improvement until a real economy is built again. Not an economy based on fictional property values or based on feel-good "green" jobs. The current amount of spending is unsustainable as any real economist knows and the resulting tax increases are sure to flatten any real "recovery" should one ever begin, and without a recovery the tax burden will simply spiral us further downward. "Breaking even" at our current level of recession is about the best-case scenario for the near future, and that is very optimistic.

This is who owns the entire country and has for the better part of 12 years.

(Hint: The financial industry made 40% of all corporate profits last year, covering all economic sectors, with no end or regulation in sight.)

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/top.php?indexType=c

Art,

The basic problem with your argument is that overall Americans are not angry with THEIR incumbents. They are angry with other people's incumbents --- Pelosi, Reid, McCain etc and even with people who are not incumbents --- Clinton, Bush, Cheney, Limbaugh, etc. The Constitution was set up for one man, one vote --- and you can only vote YOUR incumbent out.

When people are polled, they are generally happy with their incumbents (with a few exceptions --- Ensign, Sanford, and people like that --- after all they voted for them. It is only the other guy's incumbents that they want thrown out.

And my guess is that it's always been that way since the country was founded.

We are not going to get out of this with Fortune 1000 companies, small business nor exports. We NEED Direct Investment through the SBA to start new companies in renewable energy. There are multiple benefits in wind, solar, geothermal and biofuels. We get good stable jobs, renewable energy and more energy security for our future.

This is how radical Socialism, and other forms of Tyranny are introduced....create economic collapse, and then take over. We have seen it in Russia, and many other countries, the latest being Venezuela, and of course Cuba.

I believe Obama is truly trying to usher in change....and you and I are paying for it.

pjam09

"Breaking even" at our current level of recession is about the best-case scenario for the near future, and that is very optimistic.

You're right. And even then, breaking even does not pay off our debt and interest.

I invite you to read Ron Paul's "State of the Republic Address" presentation for a more realistic result of our economic situation. Although his conclusions are rather "ominous" you will appreciate how it took us 80 years to get here and now what needs to be done to correct our "excesses".

His solutions are debatable but they can be used as great disussion points.

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=31623

We should stop hiring Illegals for any Work. In addition, we should stop all the Work Visas ASAP and issue no more Work Visas for 10 years. This means all the H-1, H-2, L and J Visas. These Work Visas number over 500,000 Visas a Year. That means Foreigners on Visas are taking over 500,000 of OUR AMERICAN JOBS every year. Stop hiring anyone on Work Visas and see the results. There are nearly FOUR MILLION Foreigners on Work Visas in our country. USCIS should stop renewing their Visas as well and they should be sent home. Moratorium on Immigration for 10 years. Time to take back OUR COUNTRY!

Diane 1530584, Please stop bashing the disabled. After all, Sarah Palin gave birth to one that will need help to care for himself for the rest of his life. It's not only birth defects that can make a person disabled, you know.

"GET OFF THE DOLE, regardless of what you call it." How dare you!!! This "DOLE" is what every worker pays in to. It isn't called Social Security Disability INSURANCE for nothing!! Apparently you don't have a disabled person in your circle of friends or in your family. If you did, you'd have some compassion for a person who has worked hard, but acquires an illness or disease, or has an accident, that makes them unable to work.

Just as families are often judged by how they care for their weakest (children and grandparents) so are nations. That there are more people in this country who think like you is very scarey for the disabled, and anyone who cares about them. They think of Hitler, eliminating the disabled and anyone else he deemed undesirable, taking your inference that they have no worth to heart.

Without a disabiity check, these people would be dying in the streets. Many of them MUST live in a city rather than a lower rent area in the country because they need the medical expertise found only in larger cities. There are too many variables in situations for you or anyone else to judge the situation they're in. The article would have been much longer if all the details were given for their reasons why they live where they live.

Certainly there are people on SSDI who could work at some type of job. However, they are not very easy to find. I know a disabled woman (former professional) who wants to work but she must work from home. In addition to health issues, she is not able to drive. She must live where she has public transportation for a reliable way to get to work. She must work 1 or 2nd shift even if though she has bus service because busses don't run during 3rd shift hours where she lives. She has been looking for a job for over 6 years, has tried a few only to have her body break down to the extent that her doctors ask her what in the hell she was thinking to try work? Her self-esteem plummeted when she couldn't work. She sold her home to have income to live on while waiting for a SSDI determination rather than going on the "DOLE" of county and/or state help (which MOST people consider welfare). If she would not have been awarded a benefit, she would have been homeless unless a friend or distant family member took her in.

What would YOU do today if you became disabled and were single, had elderly parents who couldn't care for you, and no children or siblings to help you either? Have you ever considered how fortunate you are that you CAN work? How many times do you grumble about having to go work? This woman would give her right arm (if she could and still work) to have your job, or any job that she could do from home!!!

She called me the other day (she's on a family plan with me for a cell phone because she can't afford her own plan), so excited because someone she'd talked to said they heard about a work at home job that wasn't a scam. She's applying. I hope she's not disappointed AGAIN if it falls through, again dashing her dream of becoming independent once more.

Again, PLEASE don't label the SSDI program as a DOLE from the government. It is funded with money every worker pays into to help them if they should not be able to work. Welfare it is NOT!!!

Face It Fellow and Sister Americans, just as in PreBastille Paris 1789, Our American State of Affairs IS WAY PAST VOTING, Armed Revolution is The Only answer with the police helping to avert anarchy.

And France Now Has One of the Finest National Healthcare Systems on The Planet.

Gadfly, 2 thumbs up on your post #1.56.

I have to disagree with part of your post at #1.39, however. Thirty year old credits are NEVER going to accepted for a college degree. I tried that but mine were less than 20 years when they were refused for transfer from one state college to another. And, for that matter, there are many college educated people in the unemployment lines. That education does not guarantee employment or protect you from downsizing, a foreign country's purchase of the company and laying you off, or your being replaced when you're older by a younger worker who they can pay less than they're paying you.

Corporate America has accepted the many benefits of tax loopholes and incentive programs through the last few decades but it hasn't been a good citizen. They have done the America worker wrong by outsourcing jobs to INCREASE the profits. They were very short sighted indeed.

This president dosen't care about jobs he is out campaigning for heath care. He does talk about jobs for 3 minutes before returning to health care. He dosen't care about me so I don't care about him. The years of 5,5% unemployment are over, it will continue to grow from here on out.

ROY WILSON-336103 Great post! #1.57 - Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:30 AM MST

The Bureau of Labor Statistics site is a great site to get data. The real sad part you missed in your arrow you shoot at just the Obama Administration. Take a closer look at that website and you will notice

• From 2000 to 2009 our country had a net loss of 873,000 jobs.
• Manufacturing alone shed 5.38 million jobs between 2000 and 2009.
• From the peak in 2007 to the valley in 2009, 6.686 million jobs vanished.
• With a little more research on the BLS site you will discover that 3.82 million of those jobs were lost between January 2008 and January 2009.

All of these plus more statistics point to increased productivity in manufacturing with decreased labor requirements leading to semi-skilled and under-educated labor being unable to find meaningful employment. Also highly educated and skilled people are having to take positions that under-utilize their skills and training. Employers can choose who they want and are not forced to take what they can get.

So while you take aim at President Obama and blame just his election for increasing unemployment from 7.7% to 10%. Try to understand how businesses in the US and around the world increase profitability. Understand Presidents have little impact on economic performance. Presidents and Congress together can create conditions to foster economic prosperity or soften the effects of economic recessions, but so far no President or Congress has been able to prevent a recession.

Profitability is increased by increased productivity, decreased operating and manufacturing cost, decreased cost of goods sold, decreasing logistics, time to market, to name a few productivity improvement areas. Massive labor filling assembly lines are not even how developing economies employ semi and un-skilled labor. Developing economies use the same automation developed countries pioneered. But developing economies labor is and will be cheaper to operate until the overall standard of living in the developing economy approaches the standard of living enjoyed by developed countries.

This is where I believe we need to embark on energy technology and lead the world like we led the world to the moon and safely back in the 1960's. Exploit every energy resource in the United States with environmental responsibility while simultaneously pioneering advanced energy technologies that are clean so we have an energy independent nation - with technology to sell to the world for clean energy independence. The production, logistics, installation, operation, and maintenance of clean energy will provide jobs to people who are currently unemployed. Boone Pickens has the vision, President Obama has the vision - but some people are too upset that possible cap-and-trade legislation will affect their job and are afraid to transition through the energy industry to cleaner and more efficient resources. Clean energy independence is a vision decades ahead - but I feel we have to jump start the United States with a unified energy policy to move energy to the front of our economy.

There are so many points to hit.

The one that affects our household is "age".The obvious thing that is happening is that "those who are over 40 years old" are having a hard time getting back into the job market. It's somewhat of an age discrimination issue. Realising that you are not 29 years old anymore is one thing... but having it drilled into you that you are a dinosaur is another. The other problem comes down to having the right resume. If you made a boatload of money before, you are over qualified or a threat to someone else's security. These are not excuses for dis-continuing your search, but they are realities that we deal with. It is estimated that there are 6 out of work for every one job. I believe it is higher than that.

I still do not believe that we are in a recovery.I believe that there are so many leaks in the boat and vieled threats that have not been addressed, that we are in an overall blanket of employment darkness that may finger out for over a decade. The approaches of our collective governments have not come up with sound answers. Individuals are going to have to somehow find out how to employ themselves and find a way to make the water run.

The answers are not going to come from government.Government is in the way. There is not one noble states-person that I can point to and say "I trust them". We need to learn to be happy with new standards, or just be happy in the situation that we are in... while continuing to try and make it better. The problem is bigger than ourselves.

Like Ms Eisen... we need to turn back to the Lord, and hope that our government officials will do the same. They need our prayers rather than our bitterness.

AF Chief

Nice analysis, and I'm sure that we can't blame Obama for all of those job losses, but I do think that the actions by the party in power right now are counter-productive for job growth.

I would agree that we should exploit our natural resources in a responsible way, but I'm not sold on trying to lead in the "green energy" sector, because countries like China, with their propensity to copy/steal technology, combined with their artificially low labor costs, will not allow us to be able to obtain any significant advantage.

The "Inconvenient Truth" about "green energy" right now is that it is 2 to 3 times as expensive as traditional sources of energy, and whenever we saddle ourselves with higher energy costs (ie; Cap & Trade), we become even less competitive and lose even more jobs.

"Green energy" sounds nice, until you look at the details.

********************************

BOTTOM LINE:

It is like I stated in previous Newsvine Posts.

NONE OF THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE. Since many keep trying to treat the Symptoms (Effects) and not the Causes. As Philosophy (Logic, later becoming the diluted "Scientific Method"). Cause + Effects (Symptoms) = Results.

US Voting and Politics.

The Politicians irregardless of Polticical Party are NOT going to listen to you.

The Price Tag Of Politics (video)

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6228712n&tag=related;photovideo

Sorry, Politicians' Dance Cards Are Full

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/21/ftn/main6228685.shtml?tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea

Donors, Bailouts & Politics

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4661792n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

To Eliminate the Cause:

1. Representatives are selected from a State using a selection like Jury Duty. With benefits like US Military (except benefits end at end of term). Term Limits. National Avergage of "Middle Class" Income for Salary. Live at D.C. at "Middle Income" House owned by State. Upon completion of Duty, returned to same State, same Neigborhood that they came from (peer pressure to do a good job at D.C.).

2. All Lobbyists Illegal. Those caught involved with Lobbyists (Special Interest) are charged with "Crimes against the Citizens of the United States of America", aka Treason.

3. One for One Voting on all Issues. These issues are broadcast by news media and posted on internet, using a system similiar to online banking. As monitored by NSA against hacking and fraud.

4. Eliminate the Electoral College. Since they have proven that they can be bought, purpose defeated by Gerrymandering.

example: "Mr. Corporate America", then Senator Biden, Delaware Major Constituents, and Campaign Contributors (nearly a billion each):

(List from 2005) Delaware: Freddie Mac, Fanny Mae, Bank of America, Wilmington Trust, First USA / Bank One / JPMorgan Chase, AIG, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Barclays plc, GM, Chrysler, Wachovia, ExxonMobil, Chevron, ISDA, and those States with Corporations Incorporated at Delaware.

Over 50% of US publicly-traded corporations and 60% of the Fortune 500 companies are incorporated in Delaware;[1] the state's attractiveness as a corporate haven is largely due to its business-friendly corporation law. Franchise taxes on Delaware corporations supply about one-fifth of its state revenue.[2]

1. Delaware Division of Corporations
2. Delaware Fiscal Notebook - State General Fund Revenues by Category

With the Bailouts being demanded by a Democratic Party Controlled Congress as "time sensitive" in order to buy the Electoral College Votes, with the above list (geographical locations) benefitting. See "Economy" below for why these Billion USD Bailouts have little or no effect to the current "Global Economic Crisis".

Have to give credit where credit is due to then Senator Biden for figuring out that his Home State of Poor Coal Pennslyvania would never get him near the White House after his previous failed Presidential Campaigns and that the key to "Corporate America" is Delaware due to US Incorporation Laws and that becoming the Delaware Senator would get him unlimited US Corporate funds (proof non compliance with Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act). Who do you think pushed (persuaded) the US Supreme Court on Campaign Contributions, the result would have nulified the 2008/2009 Elections if the US Supreme Court ruled any other way than it did.

_____________________________

Other Issues:

1. Illegal Aliens.

April 2009, August 2009. US President told Mexican President and Canadian Prime Minister would not use US Military to secure US Borders. So what are you going to do with us throw us on unemployment with the Speaker of the House already declaring us "Homegrown Domestic Terrorists".

August 2009:

And immigration remained a sore spot. While Obama has said he'd like to start crafting an overhaul that legalizes millions of Mexican immigrants, there's little chance of Congress acting this year, since even top administration priorities like health care and climate policy are moving slowly amid heated partisan debate.

During the 2006 Illegal (no permits) Nation wide Demonstration by Illegal Aliens the count was actually over 23 Million that demonstrated and caused Congress to chicken out on passing the 2006 Illegal Alien Act (based on California Propostion 187). With none paying State or Federal Income Taxes, paid cash under the table, so that IRS does not turn them in to ICE or INS. And only 1 works, and 8 collect Public Assistance at California, as illegal to ask Citizenship status with the result coming up:

California could get nine House seats it doesn't deserve (2010 Census)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204908604574332950796281832.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

This will affect/effect the Electoral College.

As a matter of National Security, the 23 Million Illegal Aliens are forced to cooperate with the Mexican Drug Lords, who sell their services of smuggling, human trafficking, weapons, intelligence, save locations in US, identification forgery, to the Terrorists. With the intent of the Terrorists attacking "Soft Targets" within the US with WMDs.

And:

Al Qaeda Bombers Learn from Drug Smugglers (not detectable by Full Body Scanners)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/28/eveningnews/main5347847.shtml?tag=pop

Example: Bankrupt Illegal Alien Harbor State. Over 10 Billion USD yearly of 85 Billion USD yearly budget spent on Illegal Aliens. This money then becomes unavailable for brush clearing (leading to Forest Fires then mud slides), Firefighting, Law Enforcement, Medical Facilities, Infrastructure, Public Buildings, Libraries, Local Government Employees, Education, etc.. as it is illegal to ask Citizenship Status. So just mathematics, over 10 Billion USDs NOT used for Legal California Residents (US Citizens).

2. Jobs for American citizens.

Elimination of the Free Trade Agreements and Amendments that were due to the US Corporations Lobbyists (Special Interests) to escape the high cost of US Labor Unions. These Free Trade Agreements legalized the "outsourcing" of US Jobs and Manufacturing by US Corporations (name only). Prior to the Free Trade Agreements and Amendments "outsourcing" was heavily penalized or restricted.

Stop considering Foreign Investors in the US as the enemy. Example: The "Foreign" Automakers, that built Plants/Factories in the US using US Construction Contractors, that used US raw materials. Hire US Citizens to manufacturer parts in the US using US raw materials. That hire US Citizens to Assemble vehicles in the US. And use the profits (remaining after the majority spent on Payroll) to reinvest in the US. And sometimes are Incorporated as separate US Corporations at Delaware.

Examples: The hatred of "Foreign Investments" caused the then 2008 "Richest Man in the World", Carlos Slim Helu, to leave the US. With part of the stated ignorant hatred being stated by calling him "the Mexican" (as he was origninally from Lebanon, his family escaped to Mexico when he was young), he directly or indirectly owns everything at Mexico. This was an indicator of my 1990s Research Papers to US Government that would start the collapse of various Businesses within the US, that would contribute to triggering the "Supernova Depression" sometime between 2006 and 2010.

2009 GM, Chrysler Finalized Restructing Plans. Close 1/3 US Plants/Factories and layoff associated "Work Force" while retaining Toluca, Mexico; Machau, China, and Shanghai, China to become "Economically Viable".

3. US Military

Goggle search US Military Installations in your State. Add on top of this the current Nationwide Dispersed Government Owned Government Operated (GOGO) and Government Owned Contractor Operated (GOCO) Plants/Factories required since the US Military by US Code (Law) "Must Buy Only US Products, Goods, and Services" and can no longer buy from most US Corporations due to "outsourcing" to China and Mexico. example HMMWV built at GOGOs or GOCOs or by Oshkosh Defense; not GM.

Meaning ask yourself what would happen if all US Military Installations in California closed down and moved where they are appreciated like South East away from the Illegal Alien National Security Threat (and since the Speaker of the House has stated her opinions/dislike of the US Military). Not to be derrogatory towards the South East, as it was a consideration during WWII, the distrust of strangers as a means of additional security.

5 billion dollars a month, we're spending in Afghanistan
Most of that is going to the US Contractors (US Jobs) that were created after the President Clinton cut to the bone Reduction In Force of the US Military. With the US Military losing many of it's in house cheap capabilities, and replaced by the extremely expensive US Contractors (US Citizens). This is like the 1 Million per soldier, is counting the US Contractors (payroll). examples: US Military Water Purification Specialist, $17,000 per year; US Contractor Water Purification Specialist, $200,000 per year and the US Military provides own security and additional duties (like guard duty) while the US Contractor goes back to their airconditioned hotel room and must be provided a secure work environment by the US Military. My sarcastic comment is Unionize us so that some of the lower ranks do not have to have their families living off of food stamps (Public Assistance), and can earn a "fair living wage".

Manditory US Military Conscription. This would pertain to everyone. Especially, the US Corporate Executives. So that after the swear or affirm an Oath to the United States of America (Citizens of US), if they do anything that is against the US, then they are charged with "Crimes Against the Citizens of the US", take a few out and summarily execute them (legal in time of War (four)) and National Emergency, H1N1. This is an advantage that all Countries have over the US, sworn or affirmed Oath to their Country with no loop hole legal consequences.

4. US Economy

Elimination of the 1999 Gramm Leach Bliley Act and 2000 Modernization Act. With the President at the time told by the Congressional Reseach Service NOT to sign them into Law. As these Acts would eliminate the Glass Steagall Acts that prevent the causes of the 1907 Depression and 1929-1939 Great Depression. The 1999 Gramm Leach Bliley Act and 2000 Modernization Act legalized the activities of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), which made profits of 60-100 Trillion USDs that triggered the "Global Economic Crisis" consisting of the "Financial Meltdown (Crisis)", "Mortgage Crisis", "Banking Crisis", "Wall Street Crisis", "Credit Crisis" and will soon be triggering another "Crisis" of 54.6 Trillion USDs.

Again this is why the Billion USD Bailouts cannot do anything to fix Trillions USDs "Crisis". And were actually used to buy Electoral College Votes, 2008 for 2009.

See isda.org (left hand column, "Membership", click on next page "Current List of Members"). This is why this became the "Global Economic Crisis" and did not just effect/affect the US. Also compare this list to the list of Private Financial Institutions that are the Federal Reserve.

note: Not to be naive. The ISDA will do anything as an "Investment" to continue making Trillions of USDs. This would include hiring Million USD "Problem Solvers" as a cheap investment to continue to make Trillions of USDs.

_______________________________

Greg in Oceanside - We need more scientists, engineers, computer programmers and scientists, and competent business people, not liberal arts and 'philosophical' degrees (humanities, arts, social studies, etc.).

Disagree with the definition that you use, as Philosophy is where all the Sciences, Mathematics, Medical Arts, etc. came from. Especially, since Philosophy (Logic) gives the "Big Picture" view with it's search for "ulitmate truths". And many "Experts" have "tunnel vision" and cannot see the entire picture, or even deny that there is a bigger picture beyond their scope of "expertise".

Many first hand experiences.

If you look in detail at most of what I posted above they are interrelated systems (have something to do with each other, even if minute (small)). And this post does not include all the other small pieces that I have included elsewhere on Newsvine, and in my 1990 (updated 1993,2009) Research Papers to US Government.

***********************************

Add to above post #1.111.

Pertaining to Philosophy (Logic) and the "Liberal Arts".

Where do you think the "Flow Charts" for computer programmers came from, Philosophy "Logic Charts". Reason why before computers became "mainstream", Philosophy (Logic) was looked at as some sort of Human Computer, as to why Philosophy (Logic) Majors got along better with computers than emotive people. The basis for Gene Roddenberry's Vulcans (along with Oriental longevity)(I asked him during the 1980s).

Or how about the Study of History as not to repeat the same mistakes and expect a different result.

Or how Science is applied to affect the Social Order, and knowing the results before hand by considering the Social ramifications. Like Scientist Isaac Asimov. (look at how many Science Books he wrote, not just Science Fiction, like Sir Arthur C. Clarke).

5 years down the road without employment is Not Good..you will deemed as unemployable with NO Current Job History..we're in a grave situation, thousands apply for work, when there is only one opening at minimum wage..this is common clear across this Country; That's Not a Good SIGN of Now and the future....

USARogue, Awesome posts....!!!!!

Most of you make me want to puke on my screen. O I have no sympathy for these ppl, they went at this problem all wrong, they should've done x, y, & z....or O what a bunch of lazy SSD sucking losers who do they think they are to apply for FS why can't they live on $1500/mo....or O let's just be all self-important & post meaningless links b/c we're so much smarter....or O let's do what we always do on Newsvine make this totally OT w/ our endless political rhetoric & bashing.

What a pack of ignoramouses. Your links & political views are irrelevant & it's quite obvious you think you're invulnerable to anything bad happening to you at some pt in your life. I didn't see anyone getting indignant that it took this woman's husband 6 yrs to get the govt to cough up the SSD benefits he pd into for decades. I didn't see anyone getting indignant that social services expects 2 ppl to eat for a whole mo on that $25 over the limit that denied them FS. I didn't see anyone's jaw dropping that renting an apt these days costs almost $1400 of this man's SSD check or that social services is apparently doing nothing to assist them in relocation to something more affordable when 90% of his check goes for housing expenses alone (which is triple what it ought to be), or apparently did nothing to help an able-bodied & willing to work spouse who's pushing 60 yet undergoing job retraining repair her vehicle to expand her employment viability. Do programs exist for this? You bet they do....but these glorifed "social workers" who did no more than pass a civil service test & have no real training either don't know this or don't care to expend the effort, so these things are not advertised & used as much as they could be.

Who the hell do you all think you are to take a story about unemployment & the impossibility of getting a job for a discriminated against segment of the population & turn it into an opportunty for OT BS & disrespectfulness & poor ppl bashing? I'd rather hand over a free sack of groceries to this couple who's trying their damndest to survive than to dine out w/ any of you smug, sanctimonious critics. Listen, genius who thought he/she had "the answer", they couldn't hang onto their savings b/c the govt won't allow it. Once you are poor, they make sure you stay that way. This man likely got in the neighborhood of $40,000 "back pay" after a 6 yr SSD claim fight, but he couldn't keep any of it, save $2000 after a certain period in which to piss it away, or he would then be considered as having "too much" to continue rec'ving SSD benefits & have to start over. What kind of asinine system do we have that makes ppl cram their apts full of useless crap instead of permitting them the dignity & falll-back of a savings acct?

Y'all don't care; you think you're invincible & will never be in this position, do you? You've nothing to contribute of any value here w/ your blowsy rhetoric & stereotyping.

NumbersUSA.com

Support American workers, fight illegal amnesty, foreign worker visas, anchor baby legislation, and support I.C.E. as well as the institution of E-Verify to make it mandatory for all employers to verify that employees are legal!!!!!

We have no security net because we've blown our reserves on wars and paying to keep the rich rich, while meanwhile cutting their taxes. But no, they need to stay rich to create jobs... which they aren't doing. Because as the article mentions, they want a quick fix of cash, and companies no longer plan for the long term. There's hardly any unions left to force companies to keep enough jobs around, which is partly their fault for getting greedy as well.

The way out of the recession is to force Americans to care about America again - their neighbors, their jobs, their own products - and that means ALL Americans, not just those who have nothing left to lose. Quit kissing the job creators' !@#es, and make them create jobs again instead of taking their still-record-breaking-bonuses.

I HOPE that eveyone realizes when you read the word "data," (2.4 this, 6.1 this) there is one and only one solution to this issue.

There is abosolutely NOTHING worse than a pragmatist.

The Marxists got to go and stay gone. Once and for all, back to E. Europe or to prison.

Ded,

You are right on the money!

orbust

Seems like it doesn't it?

But hey, maybe his promotion at WalMart fell through.

Pushing all those carts in from the parking lot in winter can be a bit@h!

Can someone tell me how the woman who receives $2,000 a month child support, and $1,800 a month in unemployment benefits can cry poverty? If I was taking home $3800 a month I would be doing great, unfortunately, my child support is $750 a month, my unemployment $275 a week, and the job outlook in Florida....non-existent.

Not to mention, prior to being unemployed she was earning $10,000 a month, you would think she would have saved quite a bit, especially with her mortgage only being $1,500.

Milwaukee Broad wrote "Tough decisions have to be made. This is America and Americans come first. Anyone who doesn't like it can move to China. That's where the jobs are...and the pollution and the oppressive"

The US accepts 500,000 immigrants per year. Every single one travels to the US for streets paved with gold, uh, I mean a better life. Why are Americans the only people in the world that will not leave en masse for a better life in other countries? It's time to advertise emigration.

dEd Grimley - We have no security net because we've blown our reserves on wars.

It may seem that way; however, if you read post #1.111, paragraph 3. "US Military". You will see what the Economic Impact is.

Historically, Pre WWII it was the US Military Defense Industrial Complex that enabled the US to get out of the 1929-1939 Great Depression after all the President FDR "New Deals" to the American People failed (stated by President FDR and Congress in retrospect). This was done by the shipments of War Materials to England pre WWII (an Act of War), this allowed the US to move from an Agricultural Based Economy to an Industrial Based Economy. The same occurred to Great Depression Era Germany to a greater extent including Nationalization thru force by the Brown Shirts (SA, Sturmabteilung) during the Kristallnacht and the subsequent German Ownership Laws by the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (National Socialist German Workers Party), the Nazis, with most external to Germany not realizing that if you were not a member of the Nazi Party, you did not work after 1939, the equalvant of a "scab" to US Labor Unions, except more violent (enforced by SA). As during the German Great Depression people were literally dying from starvation. Some of their successful programs left over from those days and after WWII is their Universal Health Care, and Flat Taxes (plus VAT (Value Added Tax) Mehrwertsteuer, which has the purpose of limiting imports and paying for those services associated with imports (customs, transportation, effects on economy, etc.).

I no more than anyone else (especially all these men and women with me, I treat them as the sons and daughters that I never had) would love to be safe at home, than here (Afghanistan) for years.

redacted

redacted

Involvement with the "Wars" (and exceptionally stupid UN Peacekeeping/Humanitarian Missions) from the 1980s till now (except Haiti).

Bottomline: Until there is a entity to replace US Military the Defense Industrial Complex, including those US Codes (Law) restricting that replacement entity to "Buying Only US Products, Goods, and Services", the US Military Defense Industrial Complex is the only thing keeping the US Economy (US Employment and US Manufacturing (GOGOs and GOCOs)) alive and not going into a Great Depression Economy. As well as adhering to those "Morality", "Ethics", "Conduct" Laws stated by the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and those other Laws appointed over the US Military, US Civil Laws, Local Laws (State, International), and UN Laws (like 1907 Hague and 1949 Geneva Convention).

which brings up a gripe based on fact, those f**king Lawyers and Judges that award everything to our spouses (male and female) using tactics that violate the Servicemans and Sailors Act, like sending us notices by the slowest means announcing Hearings and Trials dates while we are at a Combat Zone. Leaving many with only the "shirts on their backs". This is the reason for the high domestic violence rate and high suicide rate within the US Military. And in anticipation of what you are going to say, that we choose our profession, some of us have been repeatedly recalled from retirement; as to why it is now someone else's turn with the reinstitution of the Selective Service (Draft) necessary to earn their US Citizenship, Equal Rights Equals Equal Responsibilities. As Chief of White House Staff, Rahm Emanuel states, US Citizenship is NOT an Entitlement:

Obama's Plan for The Draft

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

[[Many of them MUST live in a city rather than a lower rent area in the country because they need the medical expertise found only in larger cities]]

Not all cities are expensive. I live in Pittsburgh, PA, which has a very low cost of living, good bus service, AND world class medical service. People come here for transplants. You can find a cheaper place to live that still meets all your needs. I left an expensive city to come here.

The provisions eliminated by Reid included an extension in unemployment benefits, a package of individual and business tax cuts worth $31 billion, and provisions preventing looming cuts in Medicare reimbursements to doctors. Reid said lawmakers would take up those items later.

Well no matter what is or not..the congress says forget you to the was working man. WTG taking care of the common man. It is ok. Unemployeed hungry and homeless people need something to do......might as well be

RIOT
BURN
PROTEST

Get ready it gonna be a hot time in the city this summer!!

Buy only American made!!!

Buy only American made!!!

When the best price/quality comes from an AMerican made product, then I buy AMerican. When it comes from a foreign made product, then I buy foreign.

I won't lock myself into "buy American" and end up with a lot of overpriced junk.

Mrkwildcat

Because, just maybe, unlike the rest of the dead-beats that ignore their contractual obligation, this lady feels a since of responsibility for her debts! As it appears you are part of the problem, professing that you would willingly sign a contract and walk away, she does not feel the need to become what those that have done before her have so blatantly done: contributed to the problem!

See, that is the problem. Why is it bad for a person to sign a contract tilted against her to just walk away from it? Why is there a stigma to keep continuing to pay until you get destitute all for a good credit score? Well if society wants me to keep my promise, then I want the other party to do the same. Thats right. I don't want 20 page + mortgage contract where a lawyer is needed to understand it. I don't want banks to practically lie through their teeth and state every single lie or tricks to get me to sign that contract. I don't want them to hide a fine print which will bite me in the a$$ if I miss it. Or how about realtors and bankers over inflating the property values and commiting fraud. And you expect people to continue to fulfill their obligations? What about credit card companies who continue to change their contracts when ever they feel like it? Jumping from 5% to 29% even though you been paying on time and doing what's right?

And no, I'm not part of the problem. I'm doing very well with a job. I have no debt, no credit cards and basically buy everything in cash. And when I ever do plan on buying a home, I will plan on putting down 70% down. Its easy for me since I can manage my money well and have low expenses and not trying to keep up with the Jones.

If the other party is not doing their part of the contract, why should you?

And as for the lady in the story. If the monthly mortgage is 95% of your monthly income, common sense tells you that sooner or later they will be foreclosed. Family comes first. Quit trying to impress everyone and worry about shame. Find a cheaper rent apt, and reduce expenses. Apparently none of that occured to her.

Then you better start increasing the birth rates. There are soon going to be more "retirees " than workers.

Nutgrape - That would be when you begin allowing immigration again.

Dot, how exactly should the government encourage companies to manufacture here? Our workers want higher wages but also want to pay very low prices when they walk in to WalMart. You can't have it both ways.

Don't get me wrong, companies could save money by making manufacturing process more efficient and throwing out unions, in turn allowing them to pay more while keeping costs down. Problem is, the unions aren't going away. That alone will keep companies from resuming traditional manufacturing jobs here.

Rent the movie "Food Inc." and you see how Nafta killed million of agricultural jobs in Mexico and they had no choice but to come here. Then Tyson broke the unions of good paying jobs and hired immigrant with unfair working conditions with low wages selling toxic food and paying low wages. We are just guinea pigs like Ghandi's nephew said one time at our church who spoke. Are you, enlighten ourselves and how you spend your money does make a difference.

Right - maybe it's not up to the government to strong arm cmpanies to manufacture here. It's in the hands of the consumer, who rules. If all the poeple who sit on here complaining started purchasing American-made goods (at higher prices), and boycotted foreign-made goods, you'd see a big shift. Look at how companies have adopted green principles - not because they care about the environment, but because they discovered consumers do... the same could be done with American-made products. If that gave a company a competitive advantage, they would manufacture here. But unfortunately, most people want to flap their gums and whine, but won't put their money where their mouth is, or take any sort of constructive action.

It always amazes me of people on the right who claim to be for the workers want to blame everything on the working classes that get organized. Lets try and remember where this countries work forces were before the Unions came to power! That being said!
1. Stop shopping at Wal-Mart or at any other outlets that choose to sell 90% foreign made products.
2. Buy local, do a little research and see what companies(like Tyson) are using foreign labor to break the backs of American labor.
3. Support the new Green economy it is where the next centuries jobs will come from.
4. Start pushing the Federal and state governments for more Government Works programs, we need to get Americans back to work.
5. We need to replace welfare with works programs.
6. Enough with giving out 100 million dollar contracts for 10 million dollars worth of labor, just employ the laborers.
7. Start a straight tax program that does not touch any income under $40,000 and creep it up from there. 2.5% on income between 40 to 50,000, 5% 50 to 60,000 and so on. Cap it at say 40% this will leave most Americans with far more cash on hand and if you do away with all of the loop holes at the top end we will end up with far more cash for infrastructure works projects which are desperately needed.
8. Start screaming for campaign finance reform, we the people do not stand a chance if politics are controlled by corporate donors. We can vote out all the incumbents we want but if their replacements are bought and sold by the same corporations how will anything change.
9. Stop being so reactionary and actually think about who benefits from the status quo.

Obviously this list could go on and on but we need to start some where and actually think about what we want as the citizens of this country.

Nutgrape,

I think it may be better in the long run to lower birth rates and just get ready to bite the bullet for for a couple of decades. We will be far better off down the road with a smaller population. We do not have the resources to continue with the type of population growth going on in the world today!

Come on Oceanside - they wouldn't be "taking" jobs if American companies/business owners weren't hiring them - no one is holding a gun to their head to make them. Boycott businesses that hire illegals, and start letting the INS bust the ones that do. Not just Mexicans - any "under the table" ones too. Give people/employees a bonus for turning in those who hire for cash... I know one right off the bat who could be busted. Nothing in it for me to turn him in.

Need proof? The idiot I have in mind pays his employees with company checks - that bounce half the time.

Greg,

So do you buy US made goods only. Do you research what companies are breaking US labor with foreign labor and refusing to buy their goods. Do you buy only locally grown food. If not shut up!

sp - That was a bit strong, to say "shut up", because he makes some good points. A lot of people would like to buy American, and I know I'll be likely getting a Ford when the last kid is out of the nest. (Had a Ford conversion van and Expedition, both over 90k miles before sold.)

And we in SoCal do buy a lot of homegrown produce (north San Diego).

Not being a native Californian, I do get tired of all the boo-hooing about "illegals", because it ends up going against all who are of Mexican descent - which is wrong. And I get tired of them whining about taxes - they passed Prop 13, and it should have ONLY been for retirees.

2.7 million people lose their unemployment in April, 2010.

That means by May or June, 2010, the number of unemployed will have fallen more than expected as a headline on MSN, and be touted as a further sign that the economy is improving and prosperity is just around the corner.

Indeed, the recession is over. It is has been a Depression for a while now, complete with tent cities (Obamavilles?), bank failures (20 so far this year, 140 last year), stock market that is about where it was 11 years ago (we first broke 10,000 in 1999), and foreclosures and bankruptcies that are still occurring at an alarming rate.

Yesterday the local yokel news reported "La Jolla" banks were taken over - had to have been mismanaged. La Jolla is one of the wealthier areas in San Diego county. They did not report on why they went into receivership, would have like to have heard.

We should stop hiring Illegals for any Work. In addition, we should stop all the Work Visas ASAP and issue no more Work Visas for 10 years. This means all the H-1, H-2, L and J Visas. These Work Visas number over 500,000 Visas a Year. That means Foreigners on Visas are taking over 500,000 of OUR AMERICAN JOBS every year. Stop hiring anyone on Work Visas and see the results. There are nearly FOUR MILLION Foreigners on Work Visas in our country. USCIS should stop renewing their Visas as well and they should be sent home. Moratorium on Immigration for 10 years. Time to take back OUR COUNTRY!

addiem, please report the company you know that pays under the table, even though "there isn't anything in it" for you. There IS something in it for you! All legal measures we as citizens can take to hold our government responsible for its actions makes each and every one of our lives better. It's easy to take the stand that it's "only one company" so it doesn't matter and will make no difference. That's like saying don't bother to stop the hole in the bucket because it has more holes. We, as citizens, have a responsibility to uphold our laws and demand that others do so, too. Please get on the phone tomorrow and report them to the appropriate government agency.

USA I will vote for anyone who would do what you propose. How about you?

Greg in Oceanside, thank you for sharing some personal information, especially the viewpoint on illegal immigration. I share you and your wife's perspective on the subject, by the way.

However, you are sterotyping and making alot of assumptions in this regard "Look at those getting entitlements and you'll see many wearing trendy designer clothes and expensive shoes, have cell-phones, flat-screen televisions in their home, and drive late-model vehicles with fancy rims and tires. Who's paying for all this? The taxpayers are."

I have many disabled friends who are on SSDI. Unfortunately, many people think of them as on the DOLE! One has grown children who pooled together to get a flat screen TV for her for Christmas, another has a child in the tech field that built a computer for her from friends' cast-offs/upgrades so she could email family and friends and keep current on her computer and typing skills in the event a job comes along that she can do. Another has a friend who helps her pays her car insurance on a 10 year old vehicle because the disabled friend can still drive and the other friend has no car. The disabled friend picks up the other one for doctor appts., grocery shopping, etc. when she feels well enough to do so. As far as the clothes goes, they've added to my knowledge about thrift store shopping. They don't leave their homes very often, but they look like a million bucks in one of their few "good" outfits because of their clothes shopping habits. During their stay-at-home days, they are wearing well worn clothing around their home. I have one of my disabled friends on a family cell phone plan so it is more affordable for her to have a phone for the occasional call to 911 for medical help and for the few times she's able to travel alone to visit family or friends. Plus, I get to visit with her on the phone myself. It's a win-win!!

You sound too rational to have the kind of thinking that some may have that those who receive help should dress like beggars and have nothing worth having in their homes. Because of their family and/or friends, they are able to live with some measure of dignity . Most of their dignity was lost when they could no longer provide completely for themselves. To begrudge them what they can salvage often comes from a lack of the ability to put oneself in their shoes. Any one of them would trade their situation for any employed person's, even if it meant they would no longer receive help from family and/or friends. Just please be careful when you're generalizing because it can feed the thinking of those who would stereotype the recipients of SSDI and SSRI, labeling them ALL as lazy, worthless, and receiving undeserved help.

See post 1.111 paragraph 1. "Illegal Aliens". As to the economic impacts.

Illegal Aliens as different and not to be confused from Legal Immigrants (like the British, Irish, etc.) sent to the "Colonies" by the British emptying out their Debtors Prisons. Or the Political or Religious Prisoners also sent to the "Colonies" (various Nations). The other ruling according to US Supreme Court (Ruling, Historical Perspective, requested by Congress legal review in 2006 by of the 2006 Illegal Alien Act pertaining to the 14th Amendment, with the 14th Amendment not pertaining to Illegal Aliens according to the US Supreme Court as a Historical Perspective (same perspective that declared the D.C. Anti Gun Laws as Unconstitutional, as 2nd Amendment is an Individual Right (Minutemen (no uniforms, Asymmetric Warfare), not Organized Militia (Uniforms, European Napoleanic Warfare; as two distinct separate entities))) was pertaining to "Involuntary" Slaves brought to the US as declared 100% Legal just like the Chinese (they did not know the difference between Chinese, Japanese or any Orientals, and considered them all as "Chinese".) later brought to the US as "Indentured Servants" to build the East West Railroad also being Legal US Immigrants. Unlike the Illegal Aliens who's intent is to commit conspiracy to commit fraud and fraud against the citizens of the United States of America. (the conspiracy to commit fraud is based on the Mexican Websites that encourage Pregnant Mexican women to go to the US, including maps, names, benefits)(not determined if these internet sites are funded by the Mexican Government, same sites that later organized the 2006 Nationwide Illegal (no permits) Demonstrations of 23 Million Illegal Aliens, that caused Congress to chicken out of passage of the 2006 Illegal Alien Act (based on California Proposition 187, "Save Our State" Initiative)).

So all of you who want to deport all of the illegals, who do you think is going to pick our fruits and vegetables at the current piece rates. Do you really think that American citizens are going to work in those conditions for those wages. And if you can find enough to actually do it how are they going to survive on poverty wages.

The answers to these problems are far more complex and do not fall completely at the feet of illegal labor. These people come here and take jobs that very few Americans are willing to do because they pay @!$%# and kill you fast.

We need to replace welfare with works programs.

What, are you new, or did you just snooze thru Mr Clinton's vaunted "welfare reform"?

No one on welfare is allowed to go to college, trade school, or participate in job retraining or vocational rehab anymore. The rule is get up off your ass & work.

If you don't get a job, you become part of your local dept of social services' slave labor pool, & this incl ppl who only recv FS as well. You put in 20 hrs/wk in exchange for that welfare pittance, & social services is getting their money's worth out of it. Why write ppl a paycheck when they can get by w/ doling out 1/3 of minimum wage instead?

A single person, disabled, senior, or not, is only permitted to collect welfare 2 yrs. A family w/ children is only permitted to collect welfare 5 yrs. Eligibility is insanely low & ppl must be already destitute to even have a chance of getting it. Retirement age is increasing & the jobs aren't there, esp for the targeted segment of late boomers in this article.

This is not the time to be putting further restriction on social services, but expanding them so that no one is in danger of malnutrition, starvation, homelessness, death from lack of meds (as this woman in the article is courting b/c she can't afford her BP pills).

It drives me nuts to see ppl who are still so stereotypically ignorant that they somehow believe welfare is a lifetime gravy train of fun.

Greg - Just back from the China Festival downtown today.

My 20+ year friend up in OC (grandparents were from Mexico in the 20's, one grandma was an Indian, but tribe unknown) feels the same as your wife on the immigrant issue. And I can kind of see why. But I can't justify it, because of all the twits who paint anyone "hispanic" as "Mexican" - therefore likely illegal or somehow inferior. Since we lived here, I had to correct my kids (at middle school then high school) to not slam "Mexicans", because I won't have it - and like Mexico and most of the people from there. We don't go down to TJ anymore, too many murders. I still get upset about those 4 kids from Chula Vista that were found in TJ wrapped in blankets, beaten and choke to death, 2 girls, 2 guys, 20 and younger. Horrible and sickening - they were Americans, btw.

Corporate welfare has ruined this country, not the bones they throw the single mothers and disabled. Whether millions in salary AND millions in stock options for the Banks/financials, or same for HMO CEOs - those are the real culprits.

To Love it - I'd think about reporting that restaurant guy, but don't want to rock the boat of the person on the edge who is one of the hapless employees needing the work. If that person quits... probably will report it - pretty sure he uses illegals too - but that I couldn't prove. I'd hate to call the INS on someone that just happens to be guilty of looking like a Mexican who might be illegal - if they aren't!

Scar Tissue,

I think you misunderstood me. I mean the Government should start works projects that actually employ Americans at living wages. It would have multiple effects

: 1 . It would get food on the table in many a household that need it right now.

: 2 . It would stimulate the economy at the base where it is needed most right now.

: 3. It would drive up minimum wages from the private sector due to the fact they would have to compete for the better employees

: 4. It would also allow the US to start work on a crumbling infrastructure that is going to bite us on the ass hard in the next decade if we don't start to deal with it.

Dot-820782 wrote "In order to save our country/economy we need to come up with an immigration policy"

How about an emigration policy? The US has taken the boat people of every nation for a couple hundred years. Now, it's time for those nations to take a boat of America's tired and hungry.

Greg, many people on food stamps DO work full time jobs. They just don't make a lot of money. You seem to make an awful lot of assumptions about complete strangers--that the pregnant woman in question was unmarried, for instance, that the car was even HERS and not her mom's, for instance, and that she was an immigrant, based on her APPEARANCE. You could easily be wrong on all counts. I've been on WIC although I was (and am) married to the father of my children; honestly, it isn't a disgrace to accept help for your small children. We aren't deadbeats; in fact we were both college grads with degrees in the sciences, but these days that isn't always enough. Unborn children, babies and small children cannot simply be told, 'sorry, we can't afford food" when their dad or mom is laid off due to a bad economy. Please grow up, will you? I am a very conservative person in most things, but it's just ridiculous to resent temporary food assistance to a pregnant woman.

spg64-1292127 - So all of you who want to deport all of the illegals, who do you think is going to pick our fruits and vegetables at the current piece rates.

That would be credible if not for the California Statistic of 1 Illegal Alien Works and the other 8 Illegal Aliens do not work and collect from California Public Assistance. (California Department of Human Services, aka California Health and Human Services Agency (DHCS)). This amounts ot over 10 Billion USDs a year of the 85 Billion USD California yearly Budget. Think about what you could do with over 10 Billion USDs every year.

Oom Yaaqub; You could have, however, not brought children into the world without the means to support them!

spg..its not the illegals picking our fruit that is the issue. It is the 8 that are on public assistance that are NOT working and taking money..ILLEGALLY.

David,

We can argue percentages all day, but you still did not answer my question, what do we do about filling these jobs that no one but illegals seem to be willing to do. Are the citizens of the US ready to pay the actual cost of fruit and vegtables. Are we willing to have the price of meat go up 50 to 100% when the meat packing industry is forced to pay a living wage. How about what would happen to the construction industry without Mexican carpenters and brick layers. You can not pay an American worker $12,000 a year to lay bricks 60 hours a week and actually get decent work. Are Americans willing to pay 50% higher housing cost. The list goes on and on.

It is the same basic issue with imports. I bet if you polled the people who shop at Wal-Mart 75% vote republican. Yet they shop at an outlet that robs Americans of living wage jobs on multiple fronts. This can not go on. Yes we need immigration reform but you must have economic reforms in place before hand or it will collapse our system.

spg64-1292127 - what do we do about filling these jobs that no one but illegals seem to be willing to do.

You can say that all day long. The fact remains that there are no opportunites for those that might be willing to do those jobs. Instead of selling everything they have so that they can meet the thresholds for receiving Public Assistance legally after their Unemployment Insurance has expired.

How about what would happen to the construction industry without Mexican carpenters and brick layers.

Yes, or no. Are you pro or anti US Labor Union (US Construction Unions).

I bet if you polled the people who shop at Wal-Mart 75% vote republican.

Of course because they are sick and tired of being lied to. Since the 1994 Free Trade Agreements and Amendments created the Walmart effect (US Corporation in name only) and massive "Outsourcing" like GM, Ford, Chrysler to China for Parts, and assembly at Toluca, Mexico (with Made In US label put on at US Assembly Plants to equal 2% (by Law) or Made In America, which includes South America and Mexico as part of the "Americas"). With the Politicians that pushed the 1994 Free Trade Agreements and Amendments getting Campaign Contributions in return, like President Clinton from China, aka "Chinagate" as mentioned during his Impeachment.

Wonder how many families of people that are in the armed services that were called up and sent overseas are on the "Public Dole"? Pretty hard to support three kids, a wife that has lost her job to China, and still feed them, cover the mortgage, and pay for their medical needs on a E-7 salary in Iraq. Guess they should just lower their standard of living so Greg can live high on the hog, free from harm.

David,

So the fact that Republicans are sick of being lied to makes it exceptable for them to shop exclusively at Wal-Mart. A company that sells nearly all Chinese goods. A company that pays poverty wages and encourages it's employees to get on food stamps. A corporation that collapses the local businesses that pay living wages. Come on man that is a complete cop out!

Reform our tax system so corporations like Wal-Mart start taking care of American workers or pay for their indifference. Raise the minimum wage so that it is an actual living wage. Place import taxes on any countries that do not measure up to US labor, safety and environmental standards. Then go after real immigration reform by fining the s— — — out of anyone caught employing illegal labor.

"There's something very wrong with a system that guarantee's those in the congress and senate will never have to endure the problems their decisions have created for the American people". "Until those in office are just as affected by their decisions as the rest of Americans are, we will continue to see our once proud nation fall apart as did the Romans and other once great societies that let the greed and corruption of their leaders of run rampant." Great post! Everyone should read this!

Thank you brother for enlightening the world

MEDICINE/HEALTH CARE/MENTAL HEALTH 3,868

PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY 1,178

Look at the biggest money item on this list and you will see why we still don't have a rational national Health care system. They have the money to finance the brainwashing of Americans using their fear tactics, their own TV station and countless other fabricated, erroneous lies. Yet people continue to believe this crap. Wake up America or you will be bankrupt!

Yes, great post. Why wouldn't any company move from the USA to a foreign place to do business. We have the highest corporate tax in the world and so many regulations that it is almost impossible for any business to comply completely.

We need to brush out these representatives who care little about our enterprise and people and only about themselves and what they can get by being a congressman. We can't blame businesses from leaving this country, after all, we were founded on the principles of freedom. Also, came here or revolted because of taxes and government interfering with business and production.

Our great country needs a breath of fresh air which can only occurr when we retire all these washington people who know little about operating a business and who only stymie production and business growth in this country.

Iy's not true that we have the highest Corp tax in the world. Quite the opposite in fact. The US has one of the lowest business tax rates in the world (I just researched this for establishing a non-US business, turns out the US is the best location after all).

We (in the US) DID have one of the highest standards of living in the world, until jobs started being "off-shored" in the 1980's. In fact, part of the Reagan '86 tax reform provided tax breaks for Pharma to move jobs out of the US and into Puerto Rico. BIG government give away to the industry. BIG hurt to economies in Ohio and New Jersey.

But mainly, folks - it's us, not our government that is to blame. We've bought cheap Chinese crap from WalMart et al until there are almost no consumer goods made in the USA anymore. All for a few pennies savings.

The German economy still goes strongly - their exports are greater that those of the US - but in Germany, the people still buy German goods over Chinese and Korean brands. Not so in the US. Our culture isn't to help our own economic condition, it's merely one of cheapness over all else.

I'm afraid it's too late for this to turn around anytime, leave alone anytime soon. For those of us who've been warning for years that the loss of US manufacturing jobs would kill the US economically, well, it seems the time may have come.

You are both right, and you are both wrong. It is a matter of interpretation.

The US has the 2nd highest rate of corporate taxation in the world. That is true. However, we have among the lowest rates of actual corporate taxes paid.

How are both of these things possible? Easy.
We allow corporate tax breaks, incentives, write-offs that no one else would allow. So our corporations continue to scream about the high rate of taxation without actually having to pay taxes.

Bingo!

When people don't have the money then there is no other choice than to buy the cheapest goods a person can afford. If all purchase prices were the same, then there would be no reason to buy foreign made products - that's not reality though.

This is especially true when it comes to buying the basic necessities for everyday "living" if you can call it that anymore - I consider it "surviving" now days.

I guess eventually we'll drop to being a 3rd world country and get back to production again...

HP651

Bull. Buy local to support you local economy. You want to be employed, support the jobs your neighbors depend on, not the Chinese.

If the Gernams can survive paying higher prices to support German industry, why don't we? We CHOOSE not to, using thin rationalizations like your above.

You have it right. I am surprised like Europeans that would have marched on their capital by now. No many want someone else to do it and the Tea Party is not the answer. I remember the lies back in the eighties over Nafta and saying there would be also environmental laws enforced by this @!$%# Kolbe in Arizona. McCain was for it too. Hayworth here running against him is a total idiot too. Talk radio host, what does one expect just pandering to emotions.

"86 percent of people questioned in new poll say U.S. government is broken"

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/21/poll.broken.govt/index.html?hpt=T2

We're screwed and nearly everyone knows it.

Everybody?

Nah, The only 'broken' people are those dependent on JOBS. Those in power (or the so called top 1% of the wealthy) don't care about 'us'.

Have you read any European newspapers lately? I read the British papers daily and, seriously, you can exchange London for Los Angeles, there is NO difference. Mass unemployment, overwhelmed social services, overwhelmed school systems, foreclosures, broken infrastructures, mass killing offs of middle classes. Values and ways of life for the citizens of destroyed... We're being over ran and out breed by the third world everywhere all using 'welfare/benefit" systems and taking WAY more than they ever give...Illegal "Immigration" is destroying us all and our governments stand by and do nothing about it...

GOVERNMENTS, WORLD WIDE, DON'T CARE!

Thanks William Root, I knew the facts, just did not have the numbers. Copied and pasted you post for future reference, hope you don't mind.

second vote.

____________—

Martine WordPlaya

House speaker will keep money from ‘villains’

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32237227/ns/politics-cq_politics

__________

The Europeans have an average of a 20% Flat Tax. Not even a consideration when asked of Candidate Obama by "Joe the Plumber". With this Flat Tax the Europeans also pay a VAT (Value Added Tax) on anything not manufactured (originated) at that country, this varies and be more expensive than the price of the merchandise (depending on the calculated impact on the economy). Like I also stated as an advantage is that almost all Citizens of these countries due to manditory Military Conscription have sworn or affirmed Oaths to their Countries, unlike the US (Citizenship as entitlement, not earned).

TREASON
A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and he carries his banners openly. But the traitor moves among those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the galleys, heard in the very hall of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor—he speaks in the accents familiar to his victims, and wears their face and their garment, and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation—he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city—he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared.......Cicero, 42 B.C.

the biggest strain on this country is the corporate jack@ssess running this country out of washington.your biggest problem is them. not the illegals

has anybody thought about that?everybody discusses the problems of this economic mess but they don't discuss the source or who or what is the main source causing them.

how about start by thinking of how to get rid of them first? then deal with the illegals and all the other garbage next.instead of vise versa.

everybody seems to forget where the problems started . people you got to deal with the biggest source, the cause,and then most of all solve that large problem first. then you deal with all the other problems.

sounds very logical. it's only common sense.

Well gloria that IS what I was talking about. Any government is not going to do anything about it because the lobbyists for the corportations making money off of using the illegals and giving big money to the government to keep any changes from happening which would help. Until that happens, and until more people speak up (many are afraid to not be "politically correct" and those that seem to benefit from it) nothing is going to change.

hell Flash1 who give a flying rats @ss about political correctness! i am not afraid to speak out.i'm not afraid even to the point of going to jail, if i know it's for the right thing.at the rate it's going there's nothing for me to lose.

let me say this, this moronic political correctness is what screwed the country also,because people were too chicken hearted to really speak what was on their minds they didin't want to offend anybody. sounded like a popularity contest.

guess what? it all blew up in their face.

The assumption is that the "Illegal Aliens" are being used for cheap labor.

The fact (2009 California Statistic), is that only 1 Illegal Alien Works the other 8 live off of and collect California Public Assistance. As like the 2010 Census it is illegal to ask Citizenship status:

California could get nine House seats it doesn’t deserve because illegal aliens will be counted in 2010.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204908604574332950796281832.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

translation the Illegal Aliens will determine the next US President and Vice President thru the Electoral College Votes.

Many states not just California get extra house seats, electoral votes, and funding based on illegal immigrants.

California and other states also get a size able boosts in seats, votes, etc.. from its legal residents (non-citizens)and visa residents as well.

That's how our system was meant to work. It is not just about citizens. It is about everyone that resides in a state. Rightfully so.

Real World Engineer - That's how our system was meant to work. It is not just about citizens. It is about everyone that resides in a state. Rightfully so.

Wrong. That is NOT how our system was meant to Work. That is called "Collective Punishment" (declared Illegal by US Supreme Court long ago), in that all US Citizens (Taxpayers) are paying for those that have not put a cent into the "System" thru Revenues (State and Federal Income Taxes) and "Insurances" (medical, dental, vision, unemployment, etc.). As stated before, they do not due to the fact that the IRS will turn them in to the ICE or INS. As Illegal Aliens they will continue to conduct Illegal Criminal Activities to hide their previous Illegal Activities, that is just a fact (and the known reason within US Intelligence that they are being forced to cooperate with Terrorists by the Mexican Drug Lords, and that "Legalizing" (with Amnesty) will do nothing as they still have relatives within Mexico used as "leverage" by the Mexican Drug Lords (do what we tell you or your relatives die, like used by the Mexican "Familia", MS13, MS 14, Surenos and Nortenos within the US)).

Stop trying to mix Illegal Aliens in with LEGAL Immigrants. That is an insult to your education (denigration of US Education System and making US Degrees worthless), not knowing the difference between ILLEGAL (Aliens) and LEGAL (Immigration).

Hypothetically, how do you train US Special Warfare in low level Asymmetric Warfare (specifically Counter Insurgency Warfare) with minimal risk of getting killed, you attach them to US Law Enforcement at the US Southern Border. Just like you attach Physcians Assistants, Military Medical Service Corps, US Military Doctors to US Civilian Hospital Emergency Rooms. You might want to stick to Engineering and not something that you do not have first hand experience with (meant not as an insult).

Flash1 wrote "That "cheap labor" onl initially saves the people using them, but we ALL pay for the through taxes. Why are they getting free college educations here while I, an American citizen born, have to pay for mine?"

Why are these illegals able to work the system better than you can? Are they craftier?

add to above post #6.6

What is clearly not commonly known within the US (based on posts on Newsvine).

Mexico:

1. Mexico has a Mandatory Compulsory Military Service as the 3rd Largest Military of the "Americas".

2. With those Mexicans "of age" selected and not selected into Mandatory Compulsory Military Service Swearing or Affirming and Oath to Mexico and issued a Mexican National Identification Card. (Reason why US Intelligence was able to identify 23 Million Illegal Aliens within US, Mexican National Database and International Databases, from the 2006 Illegal (no permits) Nationwide Demonstration of Illegal Aliens). Translation those Illegal Aliens of "working age" already have an Alligence to Mexico and will not relinquish that Alligence since they have relatives at Mexico (leverage used by Mexican Government).

3. Those Illegal Aliens that have been trained in Mexican Military Tactics, knowing how to "outgun" (use of Military Automatic Weapons), "outsmart" (Military Tactics versus US Civilian Law Enforcement) the US Local Law Enforcement,

4. The Mexican use of their Military to "handle" their own Illegal Alien problem with Guatemala. Mexican Military ordered to "shoot to kill".

5. US Military Liaison Officers attached to Mexican Military and other Countries Militarises worldwide, and the other Countries also having Military Liaison Officers attached to the US Military.

Ian Blokesworth - Why are these illegals able to work the system better than you can? Are they craftier?

Go research the Mexican Websites that instruct them how to "work" (exploit) the US Systems. You must hablo (? leer, escritura ?) espanol.

Wrong. That is NOT how our system was meant to Work.

Not wrong, learn the FACTS dave.

The law and the courts have already decided that EVERYONE should be counted in the census, including illegals. If you reside here, then you get counted if you want.

Which means many states get extra seats and votes from having large illegal populations.

Real World Engineer State the Law. Reference your "Fact"

THAT IS RIGHT YOU CANNOT

The fact (2009 California Statistic), is that only 1 Illegal Alien Works the other 8 live off of and collect California Public Assistance. As like the 2010 Census it is illegal to ask Citizenship status:

California could get nine House seats it doesn’t deserve because illegal aliens will be counted in 2010.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204908604574332950796281832.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

translation the Illegal Aliens will determine the next US President and Vice President thru the Electoral College Votes.

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/Content/Article.aspx?rsrcid=46021

The acting director of the U.S. Census Bureau, Thomas Mesenbourg, told CNSNews.com that the bureau intends to work with community organizations to make sure every illegal alien in the United States is counted in the 2010 Census

The laws says the census counts everyone that resides here! It makes no distinction between legal and illegal.

From the census numbers seats and votes are determined.

Illegals have been counted for years under repubs and dems.

Here is another link, it links you to the law itself

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/censusandstatistics/a/censusandaliens.htm

Who the Census Counts Now and Why
As currently required by law, the U.S. Census Bureau attempts to count all persons in the U.S. living in residential structures, including prisons, dormitories and similar "group quarters" in the official decennial census. Persons counted in the census include citizens, legal immigrants, non-citizen long-term visitors and illegal (or undocumented) aliens.

The census counts everyone. TITLE 13, CHAPTER 5 , SUBCHAPTER II, § 141

So you are saying that is perfectly correct that the Illegal Aliens get to determine the Next President and Vice President of the United States of America thru the Electoral College Votes.

You don' t see anything wrong with that.

The fact (2009 California Statistic), is that only 1 Illegal Alien Works the other 8 live off of and collect California Public Assistance. As like the 2010 Census it is illegal to ask Citizenship status:

California could get nine House seats it doesn’t deserve because illegal aliens will be counted in 2010.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204908604574332950796281832.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

translation the Illegal Aliens will determine the next US President and Vice President thru the Electoral College Votes.

translation the Illegal Aliens will determine the next US President and Vice President thru the Electoral College Votes.

Illegal immigrants don't determine the election themsleves. Voters determine who gets the electoral votes.

Illegals just help certain states get more electoral votes, which give the voters in those state more "pull". Same goes for getting more seats in the house or reps.

Bottomline Translation: translation the Illegal Aliens will determine the next US President and Vice President thru the Electoral College Votes.

By the way your reference is Census Bureau "Policy", not the US Code (Law) that makes Illegal Aliens Legal to be counted.

For heaven sakes... do not back the Republican Tea Bagger humor movement. Their ideals over five years ago started this.

Do NOT get them back in DC. America will be finished.

jscs... you just keep spewing your hate and stay focused on the "Republicans" and making your derogatory comments on Tea Party participants.

The shadow that is building behind you is the Conservative tidal wave that will sweep the Socialist / Progressive movement out of power and out of Washington.

You'll soon be asking yourself......"What happened ??"

JSCS read this and tell me its not the truth

TREASON
A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and he carries his banners openly. But the traitor moves among those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the galleys, heard in the very hall of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor—he speaks in the accents familiar to his victims, and wears their face and their garment, and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation—he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city—he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared.......Cicero, 42 B.C.

ren-755775 wrote "I am one of those this article is talking about. Laid off Dec 2008, congress has its collective head up its @ss. Millions rely on extended UIC but is congress doing anything to extend the deadlines?"

Are Americans the only ones unable to adapt? My family lost everything, including most of the family members, to the Red Army and immigrated to the US in the 1950s. My grandmother lost her house, her father, her brother, her husband and community and brought two very young children across the Atlantic. She was an ordinary person in extraordinary times.

Can't you just pack you bags and your family and move to another country in which you can compete for work? 500, 000 legal immigrants arrive on US shores every year. What do they have that people in your situation do not?

Ian Blokesworth,

What the immigrants have over "us natural-born Americans" is that they'll do the scut work that keeps this society going at wages far less than Americans will. We've been living pretty high on the hog (turns out, the poor oinker was mortgaged to the hilt) for something like 100 years and what we have is a sense of entitlement. With the exception of those people living near Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 or in central Manhattan on 11 September 2001, most Americans have no clue just how fast and deep $#%^ can get (unless you're a minority).

Not that I personally am a conspiracy theorist, but going on 20 years ago I heard one in Washington say that, for the New World Order to become truly possible, the living standard of the American people had to be brought in line with that of the rest of the world---and therefore, reduced. This dude was bat-crap crazy (I'd just come back from the Gulf War and if you were so off your rails that good ol' BAJ saw it, brother, you were trippin' on something far more serious than the light fantastic), but sometimes...just sometimes...I wonder if he wasn't spot-on right about that one, because our standard of living in devolving at warp speed.

Problem is, virtually none of us are prepared for it. A lot of us have been taught the hard way to live within our means and to save for a rainy day because prosperity isn't necessarily permanent (and yeah, I'm among the "lot of us'), and "prosperity" build on borrowed money is an illusion. Most of us also believe than America is the greatest country in the world. Who moves away from Shangri-la?

When the crime rate really ramps up and the home-grown lunatics start blowin' $#!+ up, maybe I will... but that's not an option most of us will entertain. After all, I'm willing to bet that your grandmother left behind a bunch of people who, for whatever reason, chose to stay and take their chances...or couldn't pony up the resources to run for the hills.

The provisions eliminated by Reid included an extension in unemployment benefits, a package of individual and business tax cuts worth $31 billion, and provisions preventing looming cuts in Medicare reimbursements to doctors. Reid said lawmakers would take up those items later.

Dem is being part of the problem.not the solution.

The e.p.a. has said that it is going to clamp down on Texas this year, so goodbye to jobs.

How about identifying the company so people know whose product to buy?

Nah, I would not do that but I think that it is the only american company left that makes bathroom and kitchen fixtures in the usa. Of course, they also have plants all over the world.

And what are they doing that po'd the EPA?

Nah, I would not do that but I think that it is the only american company left that makes bathroom and kitchen fixtures in the usa. Of course, they also have plants all over the world.

Wouldn't be Kohler would it?

Cars replaced walking. Telephones replaced writing. Would you really prefer to go back to time before all human adventure? We'd both be chewing raw meat in a cave.

Based on the tone of some of these posts, we'd be so unwilling to share the rat meat that there'd be an "everybody against everybody" war.

Personally, I think I'd eat grass (if there was any left). Rat meat? Ian, you're sick. LOL!

Raw meat when possible. Early human diet was termites and roots. Grab a twig and let's go fishing for bugs.

What change? The Republican Tea Bag Party won't allow one single bill to pass.

We're in mud.

Thanks, Cheney.

I wish the "change" had happened in 2004. This hole we're in would not be nearly as deep!

jscs...... The DEMs have controlled congress since 2006, and for a time, until recently had a super-majority. Given that, how in the world can you say the Rep. won't allow a bill to pass.

You're reading your DNC / Organizing for America talking points and they are making you look silly and uninformed.

As far at the sentiment of the REPs voting NO... I'm all for it !!! I want to see a hail of NO, NO, HELL NO votes for every financially irresponsible bill that comes forward. Grind it to a halt if necessary.

If the DEMs have a reasonable bill, will true bi-partisan components, then let's talk. That hasn't happened yet and likely won't.

JSCS, Kinda like how the democrats prevented BUSH from doing anything in his last few years in office when they flooded congress?

Seems fair to me.

jscs, up untill Brown WON THE KENNEDY SEAT in mass. you doushbag progressives had the majority in the house and senate and DID NOT NEED ANY REPUBLICAN VOTES and still got nothing done unless it was done in the middle of the nite when we all were asleep. The reason your party is failing is because America does NOT want what you offer, They have sent a clear message through phone calls, E-mail and their votes that we don,t want to live in a third world country wich is exactly where the progressive agenda is taking this country. Some day you will have your dream of a one world governed, third world socialist eutopia. The public schools are working hard at dumbing down the young people. But at this point in time there are still enough of us that get it to hold you off. I just pray to GOD I'm not here to see you win.

Hold onto your hat, Eric. Scott Brown is not the neo-con you want him to be. I was in Boston at an after-party with Brown voters, many voted for Obama... many still believe in his ideals.

Brown will either step up to the moderate/left leaning plate or he will be very done in two years.

Not likely...Obama is a one term president. And if he doesn't manage to pull a miracle out his arse...he's going to go down in history as the worst president ever. Just one step above Jimmy Carter. The Dems have had the power, for at least a year, to pass anything they wanted. They flushed everything right down the toilet...just like they're doing to the whole country. They had all the votes. How do you explain that one?

I want nothing of Scott Brown and as usual, you responce does not adress the point of my post.....America as a whole does NOT embrace your ideas! GET IT?

It's been an hour and nothing.....that's what I thought.

I like the change very much. No more keeping up with the Jones, neigbhors driving around in expensive cars and huge McMansions just to show off while overextending their credit. Now those same snobby people are suffering.

Yes, I love the change this recession has on people.

the EPA environmentalist wackos..

Nice. Man those people that care about the planet and it's species are just a bunch of idiots! Don't they know an invisible man will take us to a cloudy paradise when we die? Why, we may as well just nuke the planet and get it over with...in the name of Jesus. Amen.

You will be kissing their collective a$$#s and inserting your foot into your mouth if our fresh water supply dwindles.

anders, you tree huggin wacknuts have cried the same song for 30plus years. Just stop with the chicken little" the sky is falling'' B.S. WE KNOW BETTER. Your probably a global warming koolaid drinkin chump to.....am I right? The jig is up dude. I'm ass deep in 2 feet of snow and you think I'm dumb enuogh to beleive in global warming.....PLEASE!

eric, sorry you are only four feet tall.

No....I just have a very low ass.

Eric, 15,000 years ago half the northern hemisphere was buried under miles of ice and people walked from siberia to alaska, as the sea level was 200 feet lower than today. then the ice age ended and the planet started warming and the ice started melting. today the ice is still melting and the planet is still warming, and the sea level is still rising. No amount of hyperventilating right wing denialst morons can change the facts. Not anymore than a couple of snowstorms has any relation whatsoever to climate. the ignorance of people like you is astounding.

Joe, when the ice age ended, how many cars or even humans were here to cause it???? Thats what I thought. You liberal elitist expect dumb old conservatives like me to just beleive the horse@!$%# that you shovel. Well that ain't happenen. Wacknut libs like yourself are all over the TV saying the snow IS because of globalwarming so you all should get your story straight! Nevermind.....it's to late ....we are on to you! The "I'm smarter then you" additude of the progressive movement is what is astounding.

Eric,

Never hugged a tree and don't drink kool-aid, sorry. What else ya got?

I'm sorry I don't play the name calling game. Have fun though...

Remove barriers to domestic energy production. Get off $80.00 a barrel oil and reduce the price of gas or diesel fuels at the pumps to $1.00 to $1.25 per gallon

Actually, I like the gas prices higher. I drive around a beater that is fully paid for which still gets good 30 mpg. So, if the gas prices jump up extra .50 or even 2.00, it doesn't affect me much. I'm not living paycheck to paycheck. But it does affect yuppies who overextended on credit and driving around SUVs. What do you think will happen if the gas drops to $1.00 to $1.25? Americans have very short term memory and will continue to buy that SUV after they sold it when it was $4.00

And give up all those votes and cheap labor...to save America....thats gonna happen.

Absolutely agree Steve. It is amazing to know that we Americans are being overlooked and NOT hired because foreigners are preferred. I have been involved in that "discrimination" and see businesses run by these people everywhere. When they come to this country they pay no taxes for 7 years, are given loans easily, housing allowances, etc. All because they ARE NOT Americans. What ever happened to "For The People and BY The People". Just because you have a piece of paper saying you are a citizen does NOT make you an American by a long shot. True Americans are now minorities so why aren't we getting minority benefits? Refuse to pay taxes and see how fast the government comes knocking but let the people need help and they don't even know we exist. There is something seriously wrong with the way this country is being run and to read about all these shootings, suicides, etc. because people are so distraught is pitiful. Obviously Washington isn't reading all that news!!

Actually, get the Baby Boomers to retire, and look at all the jobs that will open up. But why would they be in a rush, in these lousy times?

The H1B1 visas should be put on hold for now, tho' I hate to say it - know some nice Canadians who could be affected. When 40% of Duke University's graduating engineers could not get hired (this was reported about 2 years ago), that's not right. Companies are paying the foreign people less.

Actually, get the Baby Boomers to retire, and look at all the jobs that will open up.

Another one who decided to just jump in & contribute something nonsensical rather than take the time to read the article.....the whole pt of which was, it is the boomers who are having the hardest time getting jobs nowadays, esp women. The women featured here were in their 50s & unemployed over 2 yrs already.

Got any more brilliant ideas?

I'm talking about the ones close to retirement, 62+, not MY age group.

1944 - just turned 65 last year...they are still hanging in there, too many. See the age of the IRS manager, the only fatality in Austin last week from that ass who flew the plane into the IRS building?? 68!

Now, if you want to talk about doing away with Social Security and Medicare, underfunded and in the red, sure, let's keep all those retirees on the payroll as long as possible, screw the young. (rolls eyes)

steve-1271054 wrote "Stop immigration and in no time at all we will pick up jobs tremendously ."

It will be impossible for middle class past-workers to give up that fat unemployment check that is paid for by the taxes of working people. I don't see any Caucasians lined up in front of home Depot for day laborer gigs. Face it. Many Americans find it easier to beg for unemployment checks for two years

addiem - Now, if you want to talk about doing away with Social Security and Medicare, underfunded and in the red, sure, let's keep all those retirees on the payroll as long as possible, screw the young.

Did not help that Congress (all Political Parties) raided the Funds. (including to pay for their automatic payraises).

some one else posted. "The opposite of Pro gress is Con gress".

see post #1.111 for a solution, "Eliminate the Cause".

Think about how gypped you would feel if you put money into Social Security and Medicare all your life (payroll deductions) and will not get anything back. While some jerk at Congress is going to parties serving French Champagne and Russian Caviar (example: the Presidential Parties closed to Public and Media).

add to post #11.7

I was ordered to attend wearing my US Military Officer's Dress Uniform and for ethical reasons took a hike (left) after doing the "Command Performance" thing (shaking a few hands) without drinking or eating.

Something I learned in US Business the money for the one night of partying has to come from somewhere (like profits, including bottomline Payroll, meaning someone has to pay for it by getting laid off later, example: (Observation of PNL) Company sponsored (paid for) Christmas Parties and New Years Parties). Sarcastically, have not seen any "Mana from heaven" ("Manna from Heaven, spelling) or "Free Money" yet. So next time you have an "Office Party" (sponsored by Company, Corporation) think about who is going to get sh1t canned (laid off) afterwards.

Men do not work well in life without a purpose. This will be causing more and more suicides, mental illness and depression. I believe that men "going postal" will now become so common a problem that it will cease to become newsworthy and be reduced to a passing blurg.

You forgot to mention that it will be the "white men" who will be "going postal" as they are the ones who have had the highest paying jobs and stand to lose the most and the problem is they can't stand losing THE MOST!

Minorities are always left out in the cold anyway, so it's no big deal to lose something you've never had. I am so damn glad that this financial fiasco has taken hold of this country, because with the middle class upper crust pissing and moaning every day about their lost McMansions, SUVs, bright shiny gadgets, I hope this mess only gets worse for you!!

Go ahead, sink into depression, "go postal," I implore you!!! LMAO!!

Middle class is what's being hurt most, and that affects all ethnic backgrounds. So gee, Isabella get over it.

Isabella.....I am so sorry for you that you are so filled with hatred, it must be terrible to have to live with yourself in that state of mind. I wish you well but you must know that you have very bad karma and that normally means that the things you wish on others befall you, so I am not sure my well wishes will benefit you for it appears you may be destined to bring about your own ruination.

you're reading comprehension is about as good as a sheep's. the job decline, as discussed in this article, has been going on for decades. Blaming Obama for this is a fool's game, or in your case livestock.

Mr. Moto - Obammy can certainly be blamed for making the situation worse. Even while he was campaigning he threatened to "bankrupt the Coal Companies". You know, the coal that provides us with well over half our electricity?? Practically every proposal he has made and the legislations passed have had a job killing effect. He continues to allow immigrants in when there aren't jobs for the people already here. If Obammy isn't flat stupid then his plan is surely diabolical.

Unemployment after the Bush tax cuts in the wake of 9/11 were 4.5%. Unemployment levels since the Neo-Libs took control of both houses in 2007 (the Congress that Barry was a member of) and spent money like there was no tomorrow, 6-10% and rising. See a trend?

Anyone who has been paying attention knows that A LOT of this mess was caused by the housing market crash. The Dems controlled Mae and Mac for decades and turned them into their own cash cow(s). Buying over-valued mortgages and then selling bogus securities against those mortgages. It was one big Panzi scam. Once the holders of those securities went to cash them in or sell them, they found out they weren't worth the paper they were printed on. Allowing people to obtain mortgages that were never qualified until Clinton's CRA in 1997 only made matters worse.

Franks, Raines, Obama, Waters, Dodd, et al, hand their fingers in the pot and made out very well as the economy tanked. Dodd and Obama were the two highest recipients of campaign contributions of the bankrupted federal housing giants.

The Left likes to cry about lack of regulation during the Bush years. Well, it was the original party of "no" that would not allow regulation from '00-'06. "No" on housing reform. "No" on Social Security reform. "No" on Health Savings accounts.

I blame Obama because his, "I inherited this mess" rant is nothing but fiction. His first act as the Junior Senator from Illinois was to filibuster the Housing Reform Bill in 2005. You don't "inherit" something you helped cause/create.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMnSp4qEXNM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs

Lou, the country will survive, but there are going to be some pretty profound changes over the next few years. Most people (hopefully including me) will continue to find work and continue more or less are we are. But there will be millions more homeless people as banks starting kicking out those who are not paying their mortages. I'm afraid a fairly high percentage of those who've been out of work for year will still be out of work 2 years from now. By then they'll be destitute and on the streets, with their children. We as a nation need to quit trying to blame the political opposition and start thinking about how to deal with this looming situation. Do we feed them or just let them starve? Do we allow them to form camps? Does our government create sanitary and safe camping areas with minimal shelter? Do we ignore them until, in their desparation, they start stealing food? It's going to cost taxpayer money no matter what. We can't afford to send them all welfare checks and we can't afford to keep them all in jail. I'm talking about a significant change in the social order ahead that we should start preparing for....

You're right about profound change. This mass "reverse avalanche" of all of the money going to the top 5% must and will change. I remember well the huge riots of the 60's. You ain't seen nothin' yet. The American people won't be living in camps. They'll be camping in those mansions after they toss the owners in the streets.

Why would the bottom 50% be rioting? They don't pay ANY taxes. Some type of revolution might be in the not so distant future but I don't see anarchy (which it sounds like you are predicting) as solving anything.

joe..."how to deal with this looming situation. Do we feed them or just let them starve? Do we allow them to form camps? Does our government create sanitary and safe camping areas with minimal shelter?".... I just watched "Grapes of Wrath" last weekend - the "Okies" chasing jobs ended up in CA, in camps, waiting to pick fruit for pennies - with their kids and old folks. Bummer.

Porkbevr,

It's not just about taxes, although the fact is that the poor don't pay income taxes. "Poor" doesn't necessarily mean "unemployed," and everybody pays sales taxes. Everybody also gets hit with payroll taxes--- on average, 25% of your paycheck right off the top. So much for being one of the "lucky duckies" (as some knothead @ the Wall Street Journal once put it) in the so-called tax-free class.

Is there really any point in trying to describe the joy of making $10/hour (if you're lucky) in a country where it's been estimated you need $17-$20/hour to live a comfortable, far from luxurious lifestyle--- and you can bet the ranch one thing you're not gonna get is a meaningful raise, no matter how hard you work? I've laughed in the face of more than one supervisor, manager, or small business owner who thought he was doing me a favor by giving me an extra five or ten cents per hour.

I do think you're right about the poor not rioting over any of this. Many poor folks in this country are born into poverty, and America is not nearly as upwardly-mobile society as we're led to believe. The Horatio Alger myth is just that, a myth. On the way home from my dead-end service job (a fact made no less true by being a supervisor), I see people every day who don't have jobs and don't want one. Some are just plain lazy, and others got their fill of doing dirty and/or back-breaking labor knowing full well they'll never make more than $11-$12/hour if they work years or decades.

If you study violent revolutions in modern times, you'll find that they usually start with middle-class people who find themselves middle-class no longer, and have had enough of mealy-mouthed politicians talking smack at them while continuing to serve (or being perceived as such) the interests of special-interests with deep pockets. If there is a truly charismatic figure, either on the left or right, out there waiting for his (or her?) chance at the golden ring of power---most obviously, in the Tea Party movement--- the stage is definitely being set for such a person to rise high and quickly in US politics.

It's gonna get fun around here as the American Dream vanishes...

Yes,or we can spend the money fighting the terrorists on American soil.Pretty slim choices.

This is the problem with dittoheads. The job loss really accellerated under Reagan, and contunued thru Bush the Younger. Blaming the Dems for this type corporate behaviour is an obvious sign someone's wearing blinders. Most likely Limbaugh Blinders, one thing Made in America. We're #1 in Corporate propanganda machines!

do ya think it just might be time to stop blaming everyone ,and just maybe someone could step up and do their job and start working on the real problems.

the blaming game! THEY ARE ALL TO BLAME. instead of pointing the finger lets just get rid of all of them and start over. and as for you JOE MOTTO there will be civil unrest before there will be a tent city's

mr or ms. mad rough neck couldn't of said it better myself. thank you finally the sound of common sense!

ellie, good point!

once bubba clinton passed NAFTA, it put difficult/impossible challenges on american industry, esp manufacturing.

jcbwell, you're wrong!

joe what the @!$%# are you talking about you are so outta touch maybe you should run for president. they should have never bailed out big banks,auto and wall street! they should have bailed out main street thats 70% of our economy. stop blaming the american people it is not there fault. WAKE UP

sicko, my post did not attempt to assign blame for these changes that are coming. just pointing out that they are coming. Bush should not have invaded Iraq. Congess should not have de-regulated banks. Bankers should not have been so greedy. People should not have borrowed so much money. Congress should not have increased spending while cutting taxes and then act surprised at the deficit...and on and on. Point is, there's going to be a lot of new homeless people in the streets within a couple of years and it's going to be a big deal, and our current approaches (denial, ignoring, blaming them, or handing out money) will not work. People who don't want to be in that number better make sure they have skills to get the few jobs that will be available or go into business for themselves.

Mind you not the cities, but in the small towns. These are emptying so fast you can sometimes BUY a house for $1300. Reason? Nobondy wants to live there...

REASON-- The towns/small communities are DEAD. Even the grocery stores are folding. There are fewer job opportunities and NO health care facilities.

How presumptuous to tell someone where to live. DId you skip the part about the husband's illnesses? The daughter's disability? It isn't a wink of an eye decision to uproot and move cross country.

Stores/malss closing in Big CA too folks!!. It is overly expensive and a lot of that reason is because so damn many very rich people live there and love the platinum lined sunshine. It's nice but when it takes every cent to survive it is time to get out of Dodge. Let the movie stars and other richies run the state. It is high on the list of a lot of overpricing. Small town America still exists even if not as well as it used to and I bet that is what will rise again first. That's where you find real people. You can lay dead in your place in CA and no one would know it because the word good "neighbor" doesn't exist there. I live there and am leaving there for the South. I have discovered by traveling a lot that foreigners have taken over everywhere so it doesn't matter where you go that will be encountered. Ridiculous to say the least. Americans can't get the loans for these businesses but if you come from another country you have it made. We are giving this country away.

California is no place to live if you are poor. The average home price in San Diego is about $350k, down from about 6 years ago when it was $550k. This is about 1800 square feet in a so-so area with "eh" schools.

The average home in Silicon Valley CA is between $700k and $800K in a ok area.

I come from a samll town.

Small and middle town =

1) No good work, No professional work at all.

2) The people are generally undeducated. Many people there are plain trash and the number of hill-billies is amazing.

3) Every year more work and schools in those areas close. The current level of education at many of the schools now is pathetic.

Prices are cheap because no one in there right mind would want to live there.

There are plenty of apartments available for $300k range and houses/large condos for $500-$600k. What is "ok" to you? Palo Alto?

While relocating isn't an easy decision, it IS a real option and one that should be considered in a case like this. You don't have to move to a small town; there are plenty of inexpensive cities that DO have jobs, low rent, and all the amenities are person could want. Do your research and be willing to move. We're Americans and we've always done this.

What is "ok" to you? Palo Alto?

Your numbers are way off. Palo Alto is still over a million, unless you are talking East Palo Alto.

There are plenty of apartments available for $300k range and houses/large condos for $500-$600k.

Single br condos in East San Jose go at $300k, not a good area.

$500-600K is a normal size condo not large and not houses, unless you mena in trash areas. My statement was meant for houses in OK areas.

Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Santa Clara and even Campbell are trash areas to you? I agree it's hard to get used to a "normal-sized" house when you come from a small town with enough land and forest such that you don't even have to see your neighbors for years.

That's not completely true. This is a political issue and while true that we need to adapt and help our fellow Americans, we can't continue borrowing, printing and monetizing our debt in order to continue the false American dream.

The collapse of our way of life is no accident and should not be blamed on our companies as a whole. We need to look deeper. Look into the Federal Reserve, our own corrupt and self centered Congress and its passing of regulation (or repealing GOOD legislation). Every time someone wants to blame companies for our problems I always ask them to research Glass Steagall Act, Gramm-Bliley Leach Act, NAFTA creation, the evil UN, Community Reinvestment Act, our gargantuan tax codes. Our government is hastening our own demise.

For instance:

1) Why hasn't our Congress placed a moratorium on all H1B's, L1 visas, etc.

2) Why hasn't our Congress ENFORCED the existing illegal immigration laws already on the books rather than turning a blind eye?

3) Why is our executive branch literally begging the UN to take our money in exchange for our global climate change "sins"? Why are other countries shying away from carbon emissions taxation and Obama is dying to use executive order to give the EPA power to destroy us even further????

4) Why isn't our government MADE to live by the same laws we have to live by?

5) Why did it take Obama a full year to address the unemployment issue finally!!! Why is health care such an overwhelming objective when our real problem is unemployment through globalization, outsourcing, lack of demand and insourcing?

6) Why don't MORE of our Congresspeople DEMAND that HR 1207 (Audit the Fed) get heard on the floor of the House and lets open up the Federal Reserve to see where they have pillaged our money (through a private banking institution) to the tune of trillions of OUR dollars. If Obama is such a man of the people then I ask why does he not push on this????

7) Lastly, why has the derivatives and hedge fund markets still not been addressed. Why aren't there investigations at the SEC? Why aren't heads rolling for the shenanigans taking place at Fannie, Freddie.... Why has no one been prosecuted for the financial theft that has taken place? Why ask yourself...

Lets put the true blame where it belongs and then lets resolve to GET RID OF ALL THESE CONGRESS TRAITORS come November 2nd.

And btw- I've been unemployed off and on now since Nov. 2008. I have two degrees and 20 years experience in industrial sales. Wonder why I'm having a problem finding a job- its called industrial... my opptys dry up when our manufacturing base gets hammered.

TREASON
A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and he carries his banners openly. But the traitor moves among those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the galleys, heard in the very hall of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor—he speaks in the accents familiar to his victims, and wears their face and their garment, and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation—he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city—he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared.......Cicero, 42 B.C.

sick, your quotation from Cicero is aimed at Rush limbaugh and Glenn Beck, and their ilk, right?

I'm tired of this.

I didn't buy a house I couldn't afford, so I didn't get bailed out by the government.

I didn't jump on cash for clunkers either, so I missed out there.

I kept working and so can't sit around claiming unemployment for years.

In other words, I'm the idiot who acted responsibly and now has to watch helplessly while the government STEALS my money and gives it to scum.

I wonder what they think is going to happen to them after they've killed the goose that lays the golden egg.

Every day record numbers of people like me -- people who have saved and planned for the future -- are leaving the U.S. rather than letting the government steal the money they worked for. I'm not talking rich retiree's, but average people like me. Leaving a ship full of rats.

Diane: I'm tired too!! I played by the rules, did the right things, didn't go in over my head, but yet here I am unemployed and out of work for over a year. People on this board who are working and think it couldn't happen to them, that they feel that "one paycheck away" doesn't apply to them, I say THINK AGAIN!! Anybody here can be unemployed at any time. No one is immune. Don't act like your crap don't stink, because IT DOES!!

Andrew, if you don't mind working at a hardware store, there are two major chains hiring in my neck of the woods.

See, I don't BELIEVE you. I think you don't want to work at a job that is beneath you. There are people in my neighborhood crying the same crap because they are too good to work at a common labor type job, such as stocking, or at a fast food restaurant. And since they aren't willing to give up their lifestyle, a $10 per hour job won't begin to pay their bills anyway, so they sit there and whine while living on the dole.

Don't act like you are so superior, because you are living off the money I earn. You are a deadbeat. If you weren't you'd get a job -- any job, any where.

Diane: I am not above and beyond doing whatever it takes to support my family. I've been there, done that for MANY years. I should also remind you that the same money you are referring to is also the money I earned as well for all these years. Unemployment is insurance. Insurance that I paid into for many years through payroll taxes. Some states have unemployment as a payroll deduction fyi. So like say car insurance, or health insurance, I should be able to use unemployment insurance when I am in need, same as the other 16 million others who are currently in need. My rant has nothing to do with my being better than another person. It has to do with people who post on these boards acting like they can trash unemployed people. I did not ask to be laid off, nor did I have any input or say as to whether I could keep my job. Yet, here I am. Don't think it can't happen to you or anyone else, because it can.

And another thing -- in one sentence you talk about how you did the right things, and in another sentence you refer to how people who believe "one paycheck away" doesn't apply to them are fools.

One paycheck away doesn't apply to me or to any responsible person. If you don't have a bare minimum of 6 months worth of overhead saved, you are completely irresponsible. And any able-bodied person can find a job in less than 6 months.

It would take me about 6 DAYS, because I would be willing to work at any legitimate job in order to avoid depleting my savings -- and yes, I have savings.

Too bad you apparently don't. But I'm not up for you and your ilk living off me in your $1400 apartments and government mortgaged houses much longer.

Unemployment insurance is not supposed to be extended from cradle to grave until the deficit is so out of control that the entire country is destroyed.

Diane:

You and the sinking scum like you, is the reason the country is in the mess it is in today. There but for the grace of God go I you would have thought, right?

If you don't believe it could ever happen to you, than you are sorely mistaken. My husband and I both had great jobs, a nice average home 179K 30 year mtg with 30K down on it. Payment was way under what we could afford. Husband's job moved to Mexico and I got layed off. Both of us were out of work and we had 2 children along with 2 grandchildren who were laid off their jobs move in with us. My husband got another job about 5 states north. We had to move and short sale our home because our mtg Co Citigroup refused to cooperate with us. We are living way below poverty level while trying to pay a Mtg in one state and a rent in the other. Please tell us what we did wrong Ms. Genious? Oh and please don't tell us anything about Obama because this all took place under Dubya's watch. Please let me know what you would have done different....I'm waiting. It's people like you who make me want to puke. I bet you any amount of money you are a card carrying snake handling slingblade style RepubNOcan. How did I guess......why I must be psychic! LOL!

One paycheck away doesn't apply to me or to any responsible person. If you don't have a bare minimum of 6 months worth of overhead saved, you are completely irresponsible. And any able-bodied person can find a job in less than 6 months.

A prime example of how your crap don't stink.

And another thing -- in one sentence you talk about how you did the right things, and in another sentence you refer to how people who believe "one paycheck away" doesn't apply to them are fools.

One paycheck away doesn't apply to me or to any responsible person. If you don't have a bare minimum of 6 months worth of overhead saved, you are completely irresponsible. And any able-bodied person can find a job in less than 6 months.

It would take me about 6 DAYS, because I would be willing to work at any legitimate job in order to avoid depleting my savings -- and yes, I have savings.

Too bad you apparently don't. But I'm not up for you and your ilk living off me in your $1400 apartments and government mortgaged houses much longer.

You need a nice bitchslapping. Yet another freak who can't read. Did you not see where it said this woman who has been out of work for 2 yrs, had her vehicle die, is in job retraining b/c ppl in their mid-50s didn't learn the technology we need to deal w/ today in the workplace, has a disabled husband (I suppose you'd say ppl should plan for that, too?), blew thru $24,000 in savings in this period to survive?

How much you got in the bank, smartmouth?

That's to survive, not live at a level at which they'd like to become accustomed. If they can't get FS, they don't have subsidized housing, either, so you don't need to worry about that coming out of your double-locked wallet.

It's ppl like you that I wish would fall on their heads from a great height. Not only would there be no discernible difference in brain function, but then you'd see how far your 6 mos in savings kept you....the retarded don't get hired much. 6 days, my ass. It's always the ones like you who don't have a clue what to do when they lose a job & start planning on how to be that system leech you so despise b/c you all have this idea that life is great fun when it's pd for by the govt. Think if you got injured your 6 mos of savings would carry you the 6 yrs it took that woman's husband to get his SSD? Why don't you make a little withdrawal & buy a clue, honey?

The answer for changing the system is to exercise it.

When less than 30% of eligible voters actually vote, then that is a problem. On the other hand, in a two-party (some say one-party) system, it's usually in one or both the parties' self-interest to actually REDUCE the number of votes. I think the Republicans tend to benefit more from lowering the vote count, at least at the moment. Certainly Tom Tancredo wants the number of voters reduced.

You want change? Levy fines for NOT voting. But you may be surprised at the outcome, like the USA voting in a "black" (well, half-black) Pres. Never thought I'd see the day. I'm also not freaked out by it, like many seem to be.

We've been through other recessions, and come out fine. I got out of scholl in 1982, during an even WORSE recession than the present one. And that one was under Reagan. We'll weather this one, too.

My kids just graduated, and like me in 1982, have VERY limited job prospects. This, too, will pass.

But the BEST hope for change comes from using what we have, and finding a way for everyone to participate.

In parting I have one observation I'd like to make. It seems there are so many people espousing Strict Constitutionalism, yet railing about Socialism and Communism, both of which are protected under the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Everyone with the opportunity to vote does not.

This recession will pass.

Two facts not in dispute.

Bold and brusque ways to motivate voting...

Bold and brusque ways to help the recession pass...

Your bold and brusque suggestions are?

Aussies have compulsory voting, how about a similar system here? Let's make election days national holidays, and anyone without a good cuase for not voting gets fined. We'd have to have election boards that actually set up for voter turnout rather than limiting access as it is now (how many of us have waited hours in line to vote?). In an age when information is so accessible, we should be looking at ways to have more than two major parties. Many of the founding fathers saw political parties as inherently in opposition to a democratic republic form of government. So let's make it easier for form legitimate political parties.

This ship is definitely sinking and I'm getting off. I want to go on record as willing to trade my citizenship for the citizenship of anybody from any other country on Earth except African countries, Arab countries, Mexico, and Haiti. Any takers?

OK

I've lived in three different states and fifteen different voting districts. I never had to wait hours to vote. But you have and they show these long waits on the news. This waiting is true, but only in a limited number of places, this is the reason it is not a meaningful place for change to many.

In our technological age, I am sure voting could be moved into the 21st century. Paper and pencil thinking keeps us from voting by home computer, library computer, web cafe computer, phone, etc. Not much waiting involved with most of those voting sites.

Multiple parties. How would this work? In our form of government where the rules in the senate seem to demand super majority, would it matter if some were elected from third parties?

If you give up your citizenship here, become a citizen of another country, then come back to the USA you will get just about anything you want with ease. That is how it works now. American citizens are no longer important to Washington. They are too busy kissing butt to look good which I can't fathom at all. Sad, sad, sad but true. I have been told many times by foreigners how easy it is for them to get businesses going, etc. Food allowances, housing....and the beat goes on. Our own government makes it degrading to Americans to even get food stamps. Been there.

Ryder, I cannot speak to it being degrading to get food stamps, but is your information accurate: if one became a citizen of another country then returned, would one get immigrant status?

Information, please: what does one need to do to get food stamps? Any/all degrading processes should be overhauled.

Ryder, that is the biggest load of BS I have heard in a long time!

spg, if you can't see how this government treats immigrants, leagal or illeagal, better then it treats the tax paying citizens, you sir are blind and hopeless.

The government is you, Eric. Why do you do this?

spg, if you can't see how this government treats immigrants, leagal or illeagal, better then it treats the tax paying citizens, you sir are blind and hopeless.

Citizenship only entitles you to vote and hold some offices. Besided that, you get and deserve nothing special for it, in terms of rights or treatment.

Immigrants do get some bonuses. Rightfully so. Because we wish to have more of them and increase the diversity and professional worker base in the country.

single payer systems destroy competition and raise costs in the end but the current approach needs major modification to work. no matter what approach you use, to obtain full coverage healthy people will pay much more to compensate for unhealthy people. true reform will have to start with folks taking responsibility for their own health by not engaging in destructive behaviors like use of tobacco or drugs and alcohol to excess. this would eventually lower the pool of at risk patients and lower costs dramatically. unfortunately, since way too many folks expect the gov't to do all but wipe their butts daily, true reform may remain elusive at best. what gov't program has not promised to save money and then increased twenty fold over the years ! single payer health care would be no exception.

Jay, we have single payer now. You pay for the health insurance of everyone employed with your tax dollars. You pay for the health insurance of everyone who makes a product or provides a service you buy. You, the consumer of goods and services, you, the payer of taxes, local, state and federal, are the single payer. Now, each of these people whose insurance you pay do not get the same bang for your buck and it isn't because they are healthier, it is because the benefits package you provide is different in each case. But you pay for it all.

Like to know how the hell the subject of health care funded abortion crept in here? Can you imagine the economic chaos if there had never been a Roe v Wade back in the 70s? All you only children of boomers probably didn't get to be that way w/o it. Unemployment would be a great deal higher right now.

Today's problem is not related to what we are doing today. But it is because of what we have done for many decades. We have borrowed from the future for decades. Now the future is here. We find it consumed, depleted, empty. The mistakes have already been made. The cause is in place. The effect will follow. It is called Kondratieff Winter :

http://kondratieffwinter.blogspot.com/

Economy was good for decades, we had jobs because we kept spending borrowed money. Now the borrowing has stopped, bank credit is deflating. Once the government maxes out it's credit card, all we do will be paying off debt and that will not feel like prosperous times. No government can fix this. But the responsible thing to do would be to not do the same mistakes again.

IMCurious - Let's have some advice on how to cut technology costs, medical costs, legal costs.

We need bold and brusque change.

I curiously await suggestions of change.

See post 1.111. And unfortunely, the US Government (all Political Parties) do not want "Change" and only want Status Quo, reason why they continue to want to pass H.R. 1955, and S.1959 "Homegrown Domestic Terrorist" Act, aka "1984 Thought Crimes Laws", in that "anyone stating a radical change to (US) Government is a Homegrown Domestic Terrorist".

Pertaining to Medical Costs. You get the Insurance Corporations out of the Medical Profession (Health Care) and the proven result (since President FDR):

Decreases cost 80% (last part of video) by Doctor David Ores, New York.1:45

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5247963n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

Your advice is solid. It is responsible not to do the same mistakes. The mistakes are the past. Your advice is for the future. What do we do in the present, Robin Hood, to pay the debt? We need to pay the debts in the present so the do not grow into the future.

notanymore - This ship is definitely sinking and I'm getting off. I want to go on record as willing to trade my citizenship for the citizenship of anybody from any other country on Earth except African countries, Arab countries, Mexico, and Haiti. Any takers?

Most of the Countries other than you mentioned require Manditory Compulsory Military Service to earn your Citizenship. After your service you will be placed into their Military Reserves (to get around Status of Forces size limitations), or even be required to join their Law Enforcement. I know about this from serving with many different Countries Militaries as a US Military Liason Officer, making me able to relinquish my US Citizenship and becoming one of their Citizens as "Earned In Blood" by fighting on their side.

IMCurious - What do we do in the present, Robin Hood, to pay the debt? We need to pay the debts in the present so the do not grow into the future.

The first step is as posted at #1.111 number 3. Economy. The outcome (result) will almost be immediately felt.

The second step is essentially elimination of the Debt based US Economy. To do this you would have to eliminate the Federal Reserve. With simplistically the Federal Reserve buying US Government Debt in exchange for printed money. With the US Government having to payback interest on the "loans" from the Federal Reserve (primarily those Private Financial Institutions that comprise the Federal Reserve). The function of printing US Currency would be turned back over to the US Department of Treasury.

The third step would be a Flat Tax of 20%, no loop holes. And possibly a VAT (Value Added Tax). As proven to work by centuries old Countries. Without this we can expect above 37% (current number) Income Taxes, it is expected in the next years to go above 52% (from a CBS News Report), resulting in a violent backlash from the Tea Parties ("Taxation without Representation", as mentioned at beginning of post 1.111 why Politicians do not listen). What is laughable is that most the far right and far left do not know or have a misconception of "Taxation Without Representation" being why the Tea Parties (consisting of all Political Parties, without a "Policy" that will disenfranchise those that do not agree with a set "Policy", other than "Taxation Without Representation" as to why the Left, Right and Newsmedia have a problem with putting a label on them). Many of the Tea Party Members do not realize that the are or will be placed into the "Homegrown Domestic Terrorist" (a US Government self preservation measure) category under the 2009 Patriot Act (revised), and if necessary by Executive Order US NORTHCOM will implement the Insurrection Act, requiring the US Military to use "Deadly Force" if necessary against US Citizens or face immediate Summary Execution ourselves (with our families, relatives, friends, co workers, etc. being used as "leverage" as possible co conspirators to Treason).

There are your basic proven ways to get the US out of Debt. There are many other details based on Logic Charts, Perth Charts (decision making process), Timelines (when things must be implemented or lose effectiveness, Economic Indicators, etc. If you read all of post 1.111 you will see how all of this is interrelated (some solutions must be implemented or the other solutions will not work).

Do you REALLY want idiots who don't care enough to be well informed voting just because they will be fined if they don't? I say if you don't care enough, then you're doing the rest of us a favor by not voting.

David,

When you talked about required service in many foreign countries, you left out the option given in most for civilian services as well. I am sure it was simply a mistake. These systems should most definitely be applauded. However, the rights of citizenship in most of these countries also includes Government supported health care as well as many amenities so many on the right here seem to see as evil. Under our current system if everyone served in the US military what would that do to the cost of VA care.

spg we do have the free health care program in oregon they also have suiside as an option to reduced health care costs. People in canada wait for important surgeries until they either come here or drop dead. There is no such thing as free. Everything carries a price.

With the NY times there is a liberal agenda behind everything. The agenda here is for more government intervention and social programs. The NY times can never be trusted.

The situation regarding job loss is sad. I hate to break it to conservatives, but only government can change this through legislation. Unfortunately the right-wing "invisible hand" folks are still hanging on to superstition and conspiracy theories. And the GOP is blocking financial reform and other measures that would improve matters.

At the same time, what also bothers me is: 1) the lady should use the money from her mother to move. I did it with what was left in savings -- with no job or income. Which brings me to 2) the husband (and daughter!) are collecting disability. This IS more of a social net than most people will ever have.

And is why most people will never have Medicare benefits -- because young people are collecting disability their entire lives, which the program is not designed to sustain. And yes, if you have 1,500/month or more, why should you qualify for food stamps? These benefits are for people who have nothing.

Here's an idea: The mother and daughter and granddaughter could all move into one place that is cheaper (not in California?). With everyone's combined income, they'd be way better off then most people who have jobs.

...About Hope and Change -- Tea Party Gurus -- Please enlighten us with how things would be right now if McCain/Palin were in the White House with a Republican majority -- or for that matter, the reverse -- if Gore had been President instead of Bush in the last eight years, we probably wouldn't be facing this economic meltdown.

And in regard to incumbents, why is it that the right-wing always takes the extreme knee-jerk black or white position on everything? Has it ever occurred to you that there are some representatives doing good work, and their experience might come in handy? I realize this is too complex for your simplistic world view, but at least try a little.

You people need to leave the Echo Chamber of right-wing BS.

Most republicans will tell you that a mccain/palin ticket would have been just as bad, I for one am one of those. This country needs real change, change that gives people real hope. What we got is a boy scout president with a radical progressive agenda that thank god is now being stopped by the electorate...ie., Massachusetts. 2010 will be a a wake up call for dems but I doubt it will really change anything.

And is why most people will never have Medicare benefits -- because young people are collecting disability their entire lives, which the program is not designed to sustain. And yes, if you have 1,500/month or more, why should you qualify for food stamps? These benefits are for people who have nothing.

Are you new? The main tenet of the FS program is to free up available cash for bills while not worrying about going hungry. It's not for ppl who have "nothing". That would be welfare. FS is for ppl who don't have "enough". Just like the couple in the story for whom you feel no compassion. They were $25 lousy bucks over the limit on a $1550 SSD check, $1380 of which went for housing. That leaves them $170/mo for everything else one needs to survive, incl food. I challenge you to feed 2 ppl on that figure plus figure in transportation costs, basic household goods (unless you want to be thrifty & wipe your ass the old-fashioned way w/ a corncob....o wait, you can't, you have no food, what was I thinking?), medical expenses, etc. & come out at exactly $170/mo. It cannot be done. Don't know what CAs social services dept is like but I'd hazard no better than NYs if it can't assist w/ more affordable housing for a disabled man & his spouse instead of just turning them down for FS they obviously need.

You are confusing Medicare w/ Medicaid. Most young ppl who receive disability benefits do not have enough time into the system (or could well be disabled from birth or in childhood & never worked at all) & therefore do not qualify for SSD, which lets disabled ppl get Medicare after being on it for 2 yrs. Think again if you think there's no monthly premium, co-pays, exorbitant prescription costs, or deductibles & limitations. Everyone who has Medicare is paying $1200/yr for the privilege whether they're in good health & rarely use it or not, plus all the extra fees when it is used. Younger ppl get SSI, which qualifies them for Medicaid. The largest piece of the Medicaid pie does not come from poor ppl, but for end of life nursing home care, & the senior citizen must also be rendered destitute to get it. Medicaid refuses to reimburse at "usual & customary" rates but at reasonable ones, which is why most drs won't take it & why poor ppl on it often end up in the ER even tho they have the coverage, they just can't find a dr. So young disabled ppl have little or nothing to do w/ Medicare. And if that bothers you anyway to see young ppl collecting disability, why don't you start lobbying for things like mandatory abortion when birth defects are detected & the right to leave said defective infants on a hillside to die of exposure like they did in the good old days? Make citizens arrests when you see healthy younguns drinking, texting, driving so that they don't burden you unduly w/ acquiring a disability in an accident?

Do you get how stupid a statement you made w/ that?

You ppl don't seem to get that no one in their right mind wants to be disabled....but it happens nonetheless, & ppl need assistance for that.