Friday Open Thread [11.4.11]
I had to share this from BustedTees. Love it.
Your political quote of the day is:
“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people’s minds.” – Samuel Adams
“A year ago the unemployment rate was 9.7 percent. During this time, nonfarm jobs have grown at an average monthly rate of 152,000 while civilian employment has grown at a rate of 140,000 per month. In other words, we don’t need 150,000 jobs per month just to keep the unemployment rate steady. Because of the aging of the labor force, 150,000 jobs per month is more than enough to push down the jobless rate.
Very quietly, without fanfare, private-sector payrolls have grown by 1.8 million in the past year, while the work week has lengthened and hourly cash wages are up 1.8 percent.
Total hours worked are up 1.7 percent in the past year. A 9 percent unemployment rate means the labor market is still far from operating at its full potential, but it is moving in the right direction as are other data. October chain store sales were up 3.7 percent versus a year ago, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. This includes luxury department store sales (up 4.5 percent) and wholesale clubs, excluding fuel (up 7 percent). Meanwhile, compared to a year ago, core railcar loadings are up 5.8 percent, steel production is up 10.3 percent, and hotel occupancy rates are up 6.8 percent.
Again, there are no signs of recession. Instead, plenty of signs of continued growth,” – Bob Stein, National Review.
Today’s numbers mean workers have capitulated to the upward transfer of wealth and are now adjusting to their new lower standard of living.
The serial End of the World Guy repents and apologizes for false teaching. But none of you suckas is getting your cash back.
The Social Security Forum being held by Delaware First Media is going on now — it is being livestreamed here.
Here is a story from DFM discussing a survey in PA on elderly reliance on Social Security.
Nancy KarobJellyBean is moderating! Moving on to second panel now, the one that has Joanne Butler from CRI.
Surprise — Ms. Butler absolutely sticks to the facts from the SS Actuarial report.
If you can’t get the livestream the moderator just mentioned it was on the radio at 90.7 FM (WSDL):
http://www.publicradiodelmarva.net/
Coons’s panel coming up now.
Coons keep saying “responsible changes” are needed. I guess it depends on his definition of “responsible.”
Responsible tax increases? Responsible raising of wage ceiling?
Is there such a thing as a responsible benefits cut?
Barnhart (other participant, Clinton era SSA commissioner) makes the important point that we don’t have to deal with Social Security in this deficit reduction cycle.
At least Coons rejects privatization.
“Responsible raising of wage ceiling?”
Ha! Outside of liberal blogs, that possibility hasn’t even been dreamt of, let alone spoken out loud.
It’s over. Coons gave a sane discussion of Social Security, but didn’t really give away any of his ideas for fixing it (in this panel entitled “Fixing Social Security For The Future.”)
Both participants spent most of their time explaining that even when the trust fund is empty in 2036 (on the current trajectory) Social Security will still continue paying out at 75% benefits from current revenues.
Nobody was willing to even talk about the issue of tax increases vs. benefit cuts. I guess the point was just to begin the voter education process.
The previous panel was equally innocuous.
OccupyDE needs to do a synchronized TEBOW at the park, then send it here as OccupyTebowing: http://tebowing.com/
Try to get a FOIA on the U of D. When you reach the point of frustration at the denial, you have to wonder what is there to hide?