We keep getting told that economic recovery is underway, but the evidence remains stubbornly to the contrary. The most recent bit of bad news is the November jobs report, which showed the unemployment rate increasing from 9.6 percent to 9.8 percent. According to the report, only 50,000 private sector jobs were created — a puny [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Unemployment’
Still, No Jobs
Posted in America, Politics, The Economy, tagged America, economy, Politics, Unemployment, Unemployment statistics on December 4, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Tough Times On Labor Day
Posted in America, The Economy, Work, tagged America, economy, Federal Debt, income taxes, Labor Day, recession, Recovery Summer, stimulus spending, taxes, Unemployment, Work on September 6, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Times are tough on this Labor Day. You can’t pick up a newspaper or visit a news website without seeing discouraging reports on employment, manufacturing, housing, and other economic indicators. Labor Day marks the traditional end of summer and beginning of autumn — which means that the “Recovery Summer” has come and gone, with nary [...]
The Steady Drip, Drip, Drip Of Bad News (Cont.)
Posted in America, tagged America, bankruptcy, econom, Politics, Unemployment on August 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Sigh. As I’ve noted recently, the bad news just keeps coming. Yesterday the troubling story was about personal bankruptcies reaching a five-year high. Today it is reports of another “surprise” increase in new filings for unemployment benefits, which reached the highest weekly total in nine months. When every day seems to bring a fresh sign [...]
Enough With The Mosque, Already!
Posted in America, Politics, The Economy, tagged 9/11, Afghanistan, America, economy, Ground Zero Mosque, Iran, Iraq, Mosque near Ground Zero, New York City, Politics, recession, Unemployment on August 18, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
I haven’t commented on the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque” on this blog because UJ has already discussed it and I’m not sure there is anything left to say. I think the Muslims who want to establish the mosque have every right to do so, although if they truly are interested in building bridges they would [...]
The Steady Drip, Drip, Drip Of Bad News
Posted in America, Politics, The Economy, tagged America, economy, Food Stamps, Politics, President Obama, recession, Unemployment on August 5, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
It seems like there is just no escaping the drumbeat of bad economic news. Two examples from today’s headlines: in May, the number of Americans who use food stamps rose to 40.8 million, an all-time high, and first-time claims for unemployment benefits rose again last week. I find the first figure particularly amazing: more than [...]
In Defense Of The Stimulus
Posted in Politics, The Economy, tagged Budget Deficit, Congress, economy, President Obama, recession, stimulus, stimulus spending, TARP, Unemployment on July 25, 2010 | 4 Comments »
Any regular reader of this blog knows that I have been critical of the “stimulus” legislation and the government response to the current recession, which has featured lots of spending. In the interests of being even-handed about it, attached is an op-ed piece in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer from the chief economist of Moody’s Analytics that [...]
Who’s Playing Politics?
Posted in America, Politics, The Economy, tagged America, Congress, Democrats, economy, Extended unemployment compensation, Politics, President Obama, Republicans, Unemployment on July 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
It seems like, on every point of disagreement between Democrats and Republicans, each side accuses the other of “playing politics.” (Of course, to this Midwesterner it seems like every decision by every elected and appointed official in Washington, D.C. involves “playing politics.” Isn’t that why they are called “politicians”?) So it is with the latest [...]
Cautious Consumers
Posted in America, The Economy, tagged America, Consumer confidence, consumers, economy, Gulf Of Mexico Oil Spill, recession, Unemployment on July 17, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Yesterday still more data was released that indicates that American consumers are not bullish. This news follows on the heels of other statistics that reflect a significant lack of confidence in the economy and in prospects for a better future. Consumer confidence is a leading indicator because cautious consumers do not spend, and when [...]
A (False) Choice Election
Posted in Politics, The Economy, tagged 2010 Election, Cash for Clunkers, Democrats, economy, Politics, President Obama, Republicans, stimulus, stimulus spending, Thelma and Louise, Unemployment, Unemployment statistics on July 11, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The Obama Administration and the Democratic Party have decided that the 2010 election should be about “choice.” That is, the President and his Democratic comrades don’t want to have the election be a referendum on how the country is currently doing under their stewardship. Therefore, their goal is to make this election about “choice,” and [...]
When Should The Extensions Stop? (Cont.)
Posted in America, Politics, The Economy, tagged America, economy, Extended unemployment compensation, Politics, Unemployment, Unemployment compensation on July 8, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The Senate has gone on recess without acting on a bill to extend unemployment benefits, and the debate about whether to further extend the extended payments continues. Some economists argue that continuing to pay unemployment benefits has a stimulative effect on the economy; Arthur Laffer — of Laffer Curve and supply-side economics fame — argues [...]
Thoughts On The “Tanning Tax”
Posted in Healthcare Reform, Politics, tagged Botox, Cosmetic Surgery, Health Care Reform, Healthcare Reform, Indoor Tanning, Jobs, Politics, Tanning Beds, Tanning Tax, Unemployment on July 5, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
A few days ago a 10 percent federal “tanning tax” took effect. The tax is one of the revenue-generating provisions of the “health care reform” bill. It applies only to tanning beds and other devices that use ultraviolet rays to give customers tans and is expected to generate some $2.7 billion in annual revenue. The [...]
U, V, Or W (Cont.)
Posted in America, The Economy, tagged America, economy, recession, stock market, Unemployment, Unemployment statistics on July 1, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The most recent economic news is pretty darn grim. The number of people filing new claims for unemployment benefits has increased, the housing market in America is depressed, and the stock market has just experienced its worst quarter in some time, with the Dow down more than 10 percent. When you combine that with the [...]
A Disturbing Crisis Of Confidence
Posted in America, The Economy, tagged America, cars, Consumer confidence, economy, Unemployment on June 29, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The data on consumer confidence in the United States is very discouraging indeed. Americans are, by nature, optimists. In past recessions American consumers have spent and borrowed with complete confidence that things were going to get better and have thereby helped to pull the economy into recovery. That doesn’t seem to be happening in this [...]
Summer Help Not Wanted
Posted in America, The Economy, tagged America, economy, Summer Jobs, Teenagers, Unemployment, Unemployment statistics on June 22, 2010 | 2 Comments »
I posted recently on the impact of the recession on the summer job market for teenagers. Now USA Today has written a feature piece on the extent of the downturn in jobs for teenagers. Ten years ago, about half of all teens had jobs; this year it is only about 25 percent. The story notes [...]
Back To Ohio
Posted in Columbus, Ohio, Politics, tagged Columbus, economy, Governor Strickland, Ohio, Politics, President Obama, stimulus, stimulus spending, Unemployment on June 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
President Obama visited Columbus yesterday to promote jobs created by the “stimulus” bill — in this case, the 10,000th road project paid for with “stimulus” funds. He has visited the Buckeye State frequently in recent months. There are two apparent reasons for his visits, I think. First, Ohio is a “swing” state, and I am [...]
