Festivus Open Thread [12.23.11
The Holy Story of Festivus:
Meanwhile, new unemployment claims are the lowest they’ve been since April 2008, prior to the Great Crash of 08. Meanwhile, the domestic auto industry is booming, thanks alone to President Obama:
After selling roughly 11.8 million cars and trucks last year, U.S. vehicle sales to businesses and consumers are expected to hit nearly 12.8 million in 2011…That’s up from 10.6 million at the height of the Great Recession in 2009. Through November, new-vehicle sales had logged six straight months of year-over-year gains. That should continue in December, when 1.2 million vehicles are likely to be sold.
In addition, U.S. and foreign automakers “are poised to add nearly 167,000 U.S. jobs by the end of 2015.” “The industry has pretty much hired back just about everybody from the automotive side that had been laid off. And now they’re hiring fresh, so they’re actually adding to their rosters.
Further, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson yesterday announced long sought new regulations governing the emissions of mercury and other air toxins. In a press release, the EPA noted:
EPA estimates that the new safeguards will prevent as many as 11,000 premature deaths and 4,700 heart attacks a year. The standards will also help America’s children grow up healthier—preventing 130,000 cases of childhood asthma symptoms and about 6,300 fewer cases of acute bronchitis among children each year.
While there is plenty to be disappointed about regarding the Obama administration’s actions regarding the environment, environmental advocates are praising this action, even Obama’s toughest critic on the environment.
I remember all the conservative and libertarian naysayers who predicted that saving the domestic auto industry would result in utter failure. Guess they were wrong.
I agree. Kudos to President Obama for getting this done, particularly the mercury standards.
a christmas miracle
Ummm… before we get carried away in all the self-congratulatory backpatting, isn’t there a difference between “new” unemployment “claims” and the overall unemployment “rate?” Isn’t there also a difference between new unemployment claims and the number of americans who have simply stopped looking for work?
Last time I checked, the unemployment rate in January, 2009 was 7.4 percent, and the number of people who had given up seeking employment was substantially lower as well. I’m just saying…
As to sales of vehicles, from 2000-2007, the U.S. averaged 16.8 million vehicles/year. Again, there is a long way to still go…
Yes, Obama is truly amazing, on a recent 60 minutes interview he claimed his administration has been the fourth best in American history. Boy is he going to be confused when we fire him next November.
Rusty: You’re a day late for Christmas wishes. Better luck in 2016.
Mitt was for the auto bailout before he was against it