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.