government

Outsourcing Pays Big to Private Companies While Americans Suffer

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Remember how outsourcing was shoved down the throats of the American people by claiming it would save money and was more efficient?  Guess what, not only is costing more, the services now provided are dismal failures.  A new report, Out of Control describes the abysmal state and consequences of outsourcing public services.

Employment Stats Misleading

The payroll jobs report for November from the Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the US economy created 203,000 jobs in November. As it takes about 130,000 new jobs each month to keep up with population growth, if the payroll report is correct, then most of the new jobs would have been used up keeping the unemployment rate constant for the growth in the population of working age persons, and about 70,000 of the jobs would have slightly reduced the rate of unemployment.

Does America Really Have to Suffer Through Yet Another Congressional Psychodrama?

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Congress at the midnight hour has passed a deal to re-open the government and raise the debt ceiling, yet this deal is amazingly short lived.  The political theater has been unbelievable and once again the problem with America's economy is completely irresponsible politics versus external events.  Instead of focusing in on the responsible thing, which of course is to not destroy the United States and global economy, the press is now having a field day with who blinked first in this very dangerous game of political chicken.

It's not the Stupidity, It's the Money Behind the Shutdown Crisis

In This Crisis It's Not Stupidity, It's the Money: Three Relevant Laws

There are three basic laws about discussion, especially political discussion, that are useful in the contentious government situation we have today.  The third of these laws is especially relevant because it warns us that what is happening in Congress is not a passing aberration, but in fact a threat to democracy in our country.

The Wisdom of the People - the Populist Rationale

The citizens of the United States have excellent judgment. They have shown it consistently over time. When that judgment shifts briefly allowing a failed policy, it is a result of the vilest forms of propaganda by a small clique of liars. (Image: PS-OV-ART)
 
The people were right about the invasion of Iraq
 
We know that the plan to invade Iraq began just days after Inauguration Day, 2001. The opportunity to launch the most disastrous and costly military effort in our history came on 9/11. The destruction of the World Trade Center towers and attack on the Pentagon became the pretext for war. The manipulators launched their fraudulent storyline in earnest with confidence that they would get their war.
 
But in December of 2002, the public wasn't buying it. The people didn't have access to all of the information. They knew one thing for sure -- the invasion was a very bad idea unless Iraq posed an imminent threat to the country with weapons of mass destruction.  An in depth Los Angeles Times public opinion poll asked this question:
 

News today - They are Lying to Us or father to son....I remember when

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Son I remember the year and time that our President told us a stimulus package had to be passed. That without the stimulus package everything would collapse, unemployment would go above 8 percent and our economy would collapse. The package was going to create many, many new jobs. Yes son, I remember those days.

But dad, unemployment is almost 10 percent and the stimulus package was passed. Dad, didn't Goldman get a big, bailout and now they are giving almost one thousand new million dollar bonuses. Dad they are saying that another stimulus package is needed and are going to pass it. Dad is borrowing from China good for me. Dad I remember our President said the economy had turned a corner. Dad are Green Shoots sprouting in our back yard?

Econ' Notables & Quotable for the Week

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Hello everyone, sorry I’ve been away.  I do wish everyone is doing well in these economic hard times.  If it pleases this court, I would like to start something new today.  Talking to our esteemed Mister Oak, he noted that something would be nice to fill in the weekend shift.  Well, today I would like to submit “Econ’ Notables & Quotable”.