Someone at NPR finally noticed the connection between the 18,000 jobs/0.1% rise in unemployment and all of the government budget slashing that has been going on.  For a real heads-up, take a look at NASA.  Pretend that the government is shutting down the space program as part of the trillions of dollars of budget cuts the GOP is seeking.  That is, after all, not a big reach. In late 2009 there were about 10 ...

In order for our government to work, the political parties  (in our case both) must believe in a common good.  They have different ways to get there, but they must, for the good of the country, be willing to compromise and work together to get there. The stakes are getting much higher.  The world is headed into some very serious problems.  I do not mean to bang my own drum, but I heard this a.m. that, over ...

We have about 27 million people between the ages 18 to 24.  I cannot find current statistics, but articles in the past few years have shown that half of the kids never make it through high school.  Half of those who do are not proficient in reading and math. Six years ago, in Atlanta, I witnessed two such young ladies agonizing over what an item would actually cost, that had a ticket for 20% off.  One of th ...

“The problem by now is familiar to most. Politicians have expanded the safety net without a commensurate increase in revenues, a primary reason for the government’s annual deficits and mushrooming debt. In 2000, federal and state governments spent about 37 cents on the safety net from every dollar they collected in revenue, according to a New York Times analysis. A decade later, after one Medicare expansion ...

A country of fascists, addicts, and simply greedy bastards we have become.  A number of us think it is perfectly OK to shoot our mouths off about starting another war with a very strong country on the trumped up charges of trying to build a nuclear weapon while our president signs a bill that lets the military “arrest” citizens as terrorists and detain them forever without a trial.  Meanwhile the Supreme Co ...

It won't start like other "civil wars." It will start by this or that poor person killing the first rich person that puts a "face" to the frustration that the "little guy" is feeling. It might be a local banker or just someone driving a Porsche. The poorest of the 99%, who have nothing to lose, will start by taking out rich guys. No one is crazy enough to actually start an organized rebellion. The rich who ...

The NY Times is going to write a five part series on whether anyone can create a job. I have answered the question in 5 paragraphs... When asking the question, “can anyone create jobs,” the answer is simple. Yes, you just hire someone and "poof," there it is-- a job. There is all this talk about creating an atmosphere where jobs are needed, by cutting back regulations or business taxes.  This is just smoke ...

Let me try to make this very simple.  Social Security and Medicare are not part of the problem.  They are part of the solution.  They are NOT part of the deficit.  Cutting them will not make the deficit less.  Cutting them will reduce the revenue side of the equation and make the deficit bigger.  Everyone on SS spends their checks.  (except the rich).  That creates jobs and produces tax revenue.   Our ...

You know what the real problem with getting “old” is?  The real problem with getting old is that you remember.  You remember things you shouldn’t. I inherited one of those leather Kleenex holders, one that clips to the sun visor of your car, from my father-in-law when he died.  It is one of those items you stick up there and never use-- leastwise, he didn’t.  It could have been up there 20, 30, maybe even 5 ...

1950 Buick Roadmaster Have you ever been fired?  It knocks your socks off.  If you are any kind of person, you always try to do your best, and then, often through no fault of your own, it’s, “Adios.”   Pick up your stuff and leave.  Try as you might, the one thing you cannot take with you is your dignity.  All your pitiful little belongings in an old grocery bag or box and out you go. Well, imagine doing th ...