Reich writes: "The economy has stalled. With only 115,000 jobs in April, the hole is getting even deeper."

Portrait, Robert Reich, 08/16/09. (photo: Perian Flaherty)

The Stall Has Arrived

By Robert Reich, Robert Reich's Blog

06 May 12

he economy has stalled.

Friday's jobs report for April was even more disappointing than March. Employers added only 115,000 new jobs, down from March's number (the Bureau of Labor Statistics revised the March number upward to 154,000, but that's still abysmal relative to what's needed). We need well over 250,000 new jobs per month in order to begin to whittle down the vast number of jobs lost in the Great Recession. At least 125,000 new jobs are necessary each month just to keep up with an expanding population of working-age people.

With only 115,000 jobs in April, the hole is getting even deeper.

Most observers pay attention to the official rate of unemployment, which edged down to 8.1 percent in April from 8.2 percent in March. That may sound like progress, but it's not. The unemployment rate dropped because more people dropped out of the labor force, too discouraged to look for work. The household survey, from which the rate is calculated, counts as "unemployed"only people who are actively looking for work. If you stop looking because the job scene looks hopeless for you, you're no longer counted.

In the winter months - December, January, and February - hiring had seemed to pick up, averaging over 250,000 new jobs per month. Then the mini-surge stopped. The simplest explanation is that the mild winter across much of the United States gave an unusual boost to hiring then, leading to a correction by the spring.

Most of the job gains in April were in lower-wage industries - retail stores, restaurants, and temporary-help. That means average wages continue to drop, adjusted for inflation - continuing their long-term decline. Most of the new jobs that have been added to the U.S. economy during this recovery have paid less than the jobs that were lost during the downturn.

What does all this mean? Together with other recent data showing slower economic growth during the first quarter of this year, it's safe to say the economy has stalled.

This is bad news for millions of Americans.

It's also bad news for Obama and the Democrats. Voters don't pay much attention to the economy in an election year until after Labor Day, so it's not necessarily a huge help to Romney and the Republicans. But it's a bad political omen nonetheless.

No set of policies between now and Election Day are likely to expand the economy. To the contrary, government at all levels continues to contract, acting as a fiscal drag when government needs to be doing the exact reverse - boosting the economy through additional spending. In 2013, when spending major cuts are scheduled, we'll fall off a fiscal cliff.

Obama needs to push back loudly and clearly, saying he won't support additional spending cuts until the economy is showing clear signs of improvement.

But widening inequality is the underlying culprit here. As long as almost all the gains from economic growth continue to go to the top, the vast middle class doesn't have the purchasing power to boost the economy on its own. And rich Americans spend a much smaller portion of their incomes than does the vast middle class. Their marginal satisfaction from additional spending falls off. The second yacht isn't nearly as much fun as the first.

Get it? We've still got a terrible cyclical problem - we can't get out of the gravitational pull of the Great Recession.

Yet the underlying problem is structural, and it's been growing for decades. The structural problem of stagnant or declining real incomes for most people, and soaring income and wealth at the top, was masked during the boom years when the middle class could turn their homes into piggy banks and extract home-equity loans or refinance. But the mask came off in 2008 as home values plummeted.

There's no way to put the mask back on. We've got to face the truth. Obama and the Democrats have to explain to the American people why inequality isn't just unfair; it's also economically unsustainable.

Robert Reich is Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. He has served in three national administrations, most recently as secretary of labor under President Bill Clinton. He has written thirteen books, including "Locked in the Cabinet," "Reason," "Supercapitalism," "Aftershock," and his latest e-book, "Beyond Outrage." He is also a founding editor of the American Prospect magazine and chairman of Common Cause.

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+42 # Barbara K 2012-05-06 07:24

I believe that the Tbagger states' Governors are purposely laying off a lot of people just to keep the unemployment high. Just check out all the people they've fired, or laid off. You cannot convince me that they don't need teachers, firemen, and police in those states. They are contributing to the problem to make it a Presidential problem. It wont work, we are wise to them.

+26 # Virginia 2012-05-06 09:06

Barbara K - Please don't be offended but you need to educate yourself. Governors and legislators are laying off people because their pension fund directors gambled away the government workers retirement funds and they can't pay their pension obligations and keep a full work force. They are forced to lay off or be faced with telling the public that they lost million$ - billion$ in the Wall Street securitization frauds.

Union busting is a face saving tactic to keep from having to continue pensions and perks. Hollywood, FL already legislated against further pension plans for their gov't employees and other municipalities and states are trying to follow suit. See THE SUCKER PUNCH on www.deadlyclear.com.

The only connection to Obama is that he should have propped up the states before the banks...And he should have come clean with the Wall Street debt and Federal Reserve pay-outs to the banks a long time ago. His advisors have failed him - they made the wrong call and now it's too late unless he calls a moratorium to stop foreclosures and evictions and forces Congress to seize (where necessary) and regulate the banks.

+9 # Barbara K 2012-05-06 10:17

Virginia: I'm educated quite well, thank you. I guess you are not aware of all those being laid off by the Tbagger states, including my own state of Michigan. I stand by my comment. It is not happening in the Democratic controlled states, speaks volumes.

+3 # John Locke 2012-05-06 13:47

Barbara: The economy is not improving!

The BLS estimates 5.1 million people have been without work for 27 weeks or more, with 7.9 million working part-time because their hours have been cut back or they are unable to find full-time work. Some 2.4 million others "were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey," the BLS said.

If all those discouraged workers are included, estimates for real unemployment stand at 14.5 percent, 18 percent if all the new college graduates working at fast-food jobs are counted, Morici estimates.

I believe its even worse then this!

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2012/05/06/Unemployment-at-81-percent-If-this-is-recovery-where-are-the-jobs/UPI-28151336291500/#ixzz1u81xvehh

+23 # JCM 2012-05-06 14:22

Who is mostly responsible for this! First, the Republicans took a surplus and turned it into a catastrophic recession. How, because of lower tax that benefited the wealthiest and an administration policy of turning its back on whatever regulation was left over for the financial industry (the Republican extreme conservative ideology). Second, Obama and the Democrats tried to push legislation to stimulate the economy by building infrastructure, increasing tax on the wealthiest to support teachers, fireman, and police. They tried to extend unemployment insurance, sometimes successfully, which stimulates the economy too. What happened, the Republicans nearly opposed all things beneficial to the economy in order for Obama to look bad, for people to hate him and to gain control over Congress. What does this mean: The Republicans are more responsible for the destruction of our economy and the continuation of its poor recovery. What do we need to do? Tell everybody who it is mostly responsible for the destruction of our economy and vote for every Democrat we can until the Republicans regain their sanity.

+13 # Barbara K 2012-05-06 16:21

JCM: Thanks so much for helping to explain to people who don't want to believe. You have it all nailed and say it in easy to understand language. We were warned last year to watch for those hired by the Kochs to go to sites like this one and try to dispute what we say. Keep up the great job. You are a patient person.

0 # John Locke 2012-05-06 17:12

JCM The point of this is that we are in worse shape then the government is admitting, assuming you are correct that jobs have increased under Obvama...Which I doubt, but assuming you are correct if we are at 18% now, how bad was it before 30% 40%?

JUst answer one question...Who extended the Tax breaks for the wealthy! If Obama had not extended those tax cuts there would have been a different picture relating to the deficit budget....I rest my case.

+10 # JCM 2012-05-06 18:13

I don't like the way they calculate unemployment either. But the bigger picture I keep trying to present make it insignificant on the scale of the Republicans ripping us off. Obama had to go along with the Republicans so that the rest of us didn't get a tax hike. You can argue whether it was the best thing to do or not but the primary reason we have it and kept it was the Republicans and their opposition to get rid of it with out including the 99% of us. Obama had to make the choice between raising the debt or inflicting more harm to the economy by raising taxes on the working class. Tuff choice!.

+12 # soularddave 2012-05-06 21:16

You speak as if the President was the only one in Washington. Legislation does not begin with the President. There are 535 elected legislators who call the shots on tax cuts and stimulus spending. They, not the President, determine how it is spent. It is they who unfund the part of government that does the paperwork to mediate refinancing foreclosures, etc. It is they who have the power to investigate banksters and They who have the power to tax the wealthy. The t-partiers among them make them all look stupid.

0 # Barbara K 2012-05-06 14:29

John Locke: I guess it all depends on which side of the fence you are on. My side sees improvement, there have been hundreds of thousands of new jobs created. That is an improvement over another hundreds of thousands of new workers out of jobs. If you know a way to get the companies to hire more people, go for it.

0 # John Locke 2012-05-06 17:13

Barbara if we are creating so many jobs please explain why the workforce is in a decline...That is illogical!

+5 # John Locke 2012-05-06 17:34

Barbara: by the government investing on infrastructure here in America...and not in Iraq and Afghanistan and reduce the military budget to help pay for it...

+5 # soularddave 2012-05-06 21:08

Yes!! that's what we've been saying since "shock & awe"; the money would be better spent on America that some clown's folly in the MidEast. But everybody got carried away and let Bush defer the recession following Y2K by fomenting some damn excuse to go to war. Well, that made a few people richer, but that also let the wrong guys call the shots until they got us into some very deep doodoo. Now the stink won't go away.

+6 # soularddave 2012-05-06 21:01

Let me get between you two and say this: Yes, we're adding jobs - if you believe the statistics, but no we're not adding jobs as a percentage of the workforce. I think that's what Mr Reich's point is. In other words, the group of people that want jobs and better jobs is growing faster than the number of jobs and better jobs.

I sure wouldn't want to be graduating in a month!

0 # John Locke 2012-05-07 07:03

soularddave: I appreciate your input, but I still fail to understand what that means...
a declining workforce to me means that fewer people are working...am i incorrect in my understanding of the term?

0 # edge 2012-05-08 10:36

Quoting Barbara K:

SNIP.

If you know a way to get the companies to hire more people, go for it.

First I am glad that you understand that jobs come from companies, and I applaud you writing that!

More directly to how you get companies to hire is very simple.

1) ELIMINATE corporate income tax...ZERO!

2) RAISE taxes on dividends to 50%!

2A) Taxes on Dividends to be paid at the time they are declared and are NOT reported on individual tax returns. ( Charitable organizations and individuals with the stock in their retirement accounts can clawback 1/3 of these taxes)

2B) Money sent to parent foreign companies shall be considered a dividend!

2C) Bonuses paid out to only management shall be considered dividends, but if paid to the majority of workers ( excluding unions "they can negotiate their own terms for bonuses) they will be ordinary income!

If you did that you would flood this country with huge amounts of capital.
There would be no need to try and cheat on taxes since they are zero.
Companies would have much more money to buy things, expand business, hire more workers, etc.

No need to hire non productive accountants to search out loopholes like GE did just to avoid paying taxes.

+3 # Virginia 2012-05-06 14:31

Barbara K - It's happening in every state... They were all raped by Wall Street while the Dems and Republicans did nothing to stop it. Congress allowed it and the Administrations probably ordered it or else you'd have some major arrests. Your own state was a major victim - read the lawsuit City of Ann Arbor v. Citi:

http://securities.stanford.edu/1039/CMLTI_01/200946_r01c_081418

I posted these on DeadlyClear.com for a good reason... So the public could be informed. We all have the same problems, almost EVERY SINGLE STATE - Wall Street ran a muck and NOBODY stopped them and why do you think the Dems are not talking about it now?! We have less than 6 months to hold their feet to the fire and make them realize if they want to keep their jobs and get our votes they need to come clean or we cannot continue to put these crooks in office. When they intentionally deceive the public - they are as bad as the crooks they are trying to protect, aide and abet.

-2 # Barbara K 2012-05-06 16:15

Virginia: Did you see my comment on here about the New York Attorney General on the "Up With Chris Hayes" show this morning?
Find it and read it, you will see that the government IS doing something about the crooks. I won't bother repeating it all here. Just look down 2 comments and read it. But my original comment was about the Tbagger states laying off so many workers, let's just stick with that. My comment has nothing to do with yours.

+2 # John Locke 2012-05-06 17:16

Virginia: The real problem with the two parties is that they are beholden to Wall Street money, so anything goes and they close their eyes... just like the Dems here are doing to Obama's failings. Blind faith will be the cause of the demise of Democracy...

+3 # JCM 2012-05-06 21:37

It wasn't “administration s” it was the George W Bush Administration that reduced regulations and then turn its back on any regulations left. He also reduced the number of regulators in charge of Wall Street. Don't blame that part on the Dems!

0 # John Locke 2012-05-07 07:28

JCM: Wasn't it Clinton who repealed Glass Steagall. and wasn't Clinton a democrat.

+2 # Observer 47 2012-05-07 10:14

You are exactly right, John. There's no disputing the fact that William Jefferson Clinton, a DEMOCRAT, approved the repeal of Glass-Steagall, paving the way for the 2008 financial meltdown. We won't even go into the issues of NAFTA. But there's simply no point in arguing with the "Dems = good, Republicans = bad," people, just as there's no point in debating those who take the opposite view. One can point out until Doomsday that Obama continued many of the Bush policies; escalated the war in Afghanistan; used unauthorized military force in Yemen, Somalia, etc.; has authorized bail-outs over and above Bush's TARP; and has basically reneged on every one of his campaign promises. Not to mention the fact that he took single-payer off the table in a back-room deal and has indicated a willingnes to throw Social Security and Medicare under the bus, too. You can point all of this out, and a lot more, proving that the only difference between Dems and Rethugs is party names and symbols, but still, the fanatical Dems will insist that their party is better. Wake up, people! It's like preferring death by lethal injection to death by firing squad. No matter how you slice it, you're still dead. Dems and Rethugs are owned by the same corporations, and NEITHER PARTY is going to vote against the corporate masters. Those masters stir up "partisan" differences as one element of the bread-and-circu ses distraction. And ALL of the "my party is the good one" folks have bought into it!

+17 # Billsy 2012-05-06 10:29

My understanding is that the pension fund managers were defrauded by the likes of Goldman Sachs who claimed they were buying AAA rated bonds when they were actually buying "junk" mortgage backed securities. Republicans then like to claim it's the workers fault for not adequately funding their pensions when in fact they've been robbed and defrauded by bankers with total impunity. States have lost vital tax revenue and unlike the Fed cannot print more money. I agree with your recommended fixes however.

0 # Virginia 2012-05-06 16:05

My opinion is that the spotlight needs to focus on fund managers and their agents. Somebody was not doing their due dilligence... Entrusted with Billion$ - Trillion$ of pension and retirement funds that were NOT supposed to be gambled in risky investments - yet they pleaded to buy risky levels of the trusts. They were told, "don't worry it's all insured and it will be liquid" just like the homeowners were promised they could refinance.

Want the truth? Haul in those pension fund managers and agents in and grill them silly...they'll sing like canaries.

+2 # John Locke 2012-05-06 17:36

Maybe we can have Dick Cheney water board them!

-3 # Barbara K 2012-05-06 16:48

Virginia: Hmmm, I see that the website, "deadly clear" is your own website, so it is YOUR opinions.

+1 # Virginia 2012-05-07 09:46

No Barbara - not my opinions, but my research and the research of a lot of intelligent people. I'm glad you found it - read it, research it and comment if you like. There are documents from Congressional hearing, testimonies, court cases, legal opinions, videos, book reviews and reprints from nationally recognized authors in news media and print.

+3 # Barbara K 2012-05-06 12:35

I don't know if anyone on here watched "Up With Chris Hayes" on MSNBC this morning, but he had the New York Attorney General on telling that they have now 800 Lawyers working on the Wall St., banks, etc., fraud and securities fraud. They also have 50, so far and looking for more, to investigate the Banks and Mortgage Companies activities and what they have done to the people in form of frauds, false foreclosures, etc. So you see, they really are trying to get something done, but it is a monumental task, and so many crooks to investigate and will take time to complete. You may be able to find the show this morning on MSNBC if it is on there in video form for all to see.

+7 # brianf 2012-05-06 16:15

I think you are right, Barbara. Not for all states, but some of them. There were cases where there was no budget emergency until the governors created one be lowering taxes. Then they used the budget shortfall as an excuse to lay off state workers and take away their bargaining rights. The purpose was to weaken unions and to make the jobless numbers look worse, so that Obama (and other Democrats) would have less chance of winning reelection.

There are other states where the budget shortfall came first, and there were many causes, such as the housing crisis and private sector job losses, both of which decrease tax revenue, and the poor performance of the stock market, which hurt state pension funds. Obama and the Democrats tried to help with the stimulus, and that did save many state jobs, for a while. But it was not big enough to make a full recovery, and they couldn't pass a second one, so the jobs eventually were lost.

Private sector jobs have been increasing for quite a while. If it weren't for the public sector job losses, the unemployment rate would be much lower. I have no doubt the Republicans are deliberately stalling the recovery for political purposes. It's pretty obvious from their actions and from what they have said, such as their #1 priority is to make Obama lose in 2012.

0 # Barbara K 2012-05-07 09:12

brianf: Yes, it happened in Wisconsin and in Michigan, I know. Both states had a surplus until the Tbagger governors got in and took the surplus and gave it to the ones they were beholding to for getting them into office. In Michigan, the Dictator is even taking taxpayer money from towns and cities so they can leave them broke and send in a little dictator to remove our elected officials and take over the running of the towns and cities and schools in this state. The laws they passed were all illegally done. We need a team of lawyers to come in and clean out the rats. Yes, in the Senate, I watch the Senate, I watched Sen. McConnell more than once vow that their "only goal is to make Obama a one term president". Not to improve the economy, not to help the people, not to let us have Health Care that we pay for for them and they deny to us; not to make anything better. They set out to make the economy and everything else as bad as possible so they could blame it all on Obama. We know it is not all Obama in Washington, but the Tbaggers think we are stupid as they are. We know laws are made in the Legislature, and the President gets to Veto or sign the Bills. You are correct, the private sector new jobs are now growing steadily. The Rs take every good Bill and water it down to make it a less improvement Bill.

+27 # Virginia 2012-05-06 07:56

Nomi Prins laid it out fairly clear in "It Takes A Pillage." There is over $600 TRILLION of debt due to Wall Street frauds. Did it underwrite the wars? Was it a strategic plan to replace gold and silver with dirt and make debt the primary commodity? Does this massive debt lead up to the Oval Office - including members of Congress?

When Wall Street crashed the economy, it flatten 2 huge tires that are needed to keep rolling. Housing and labor are completely deflated. On top of that corporations that invested in these fraudulent securities lost their pension funds and had to lay off hordes of employees to compensate for their gambling debts (these companies should never be allowed to donate to any political campaign until they are audited and can substantiate there are enough pension funds for the future).

So, instead of funneling money back into the economy, Obama (sorry lefties, sometimes the truth is painful) chose to prop up the banks. Why? Likely, because Wall Street screwed other major countries so bad that they'd likely take us over for the debt.

Problem for Obama is - the banks didn't pare down their lifestyle and Congress didn't seize and regulate them. Sheila Bair was right, tongue in cheek or not, the American homeowner got duped into defective loan products that were too good to be true and should have received $10 million each for the fraud and the damage rather than prop up the banks and the economy might still be moving.

+2 # colvictoria 2012-05-06 11:05

Virginia thank you for pointing out this very interesting book you write about on this post. Thank you for putting this information in terms non business people can understand. What you point out about how Obama caved to the bankers on Wall Street really is ashame yet he goes out campaigning like he is a real hero who deserves our vote. I was fooled once!

+35 # jlohman 2012-05-06 08:05

Damn, we're getting close to the end. Reich is going to have to start talking about the root problem; political corruption. It affects our whole economy.

+36 # kbarrand 2012-05-06 08:46

Political corruption is a built-in component of a system that runs on private money. Until we come up with a system that takes the money out of it, we will continue to have a government that is for sale to the highest bidder; doesn't matter if it's Republican or Democrat.

+27 # CoyoteMan50 2012-05-06 08:27

Come on people, the Great Recession?
Let's call it what it really is!
The First Great Depression of the 21st Century.
I predict many more in the coming years.

+36 # JCM 2012-05-06 08:44

It is the extreme Republican Conservative ideology of less government, less regulation and less taxes for the wealthiest that has created the largest income and wealth inequality in our history. The wealthy do not create jobs. The demands for products from the 99% create jobs but the Republicans are strangling the wealth from the working class. Jobs are created when there is a demand for products not because “Job Creators” have more wealth. Trickle Down economics doesn’t work! The wealthiest have never been so wealthy in income and wealth and still there are no jobs! The Republican platform has become, “I will make you wealthier by cutting taxes and regulations if you donate to my campaign, to hell with everybody else”. We must defend our country from the Ideology of Greed! Vote for every Democrat you can!

+3 # Saberoff 2012-05-06 09:52

I understand that Demo's are usually more likely than Repub's to share our progressive positions. But I'm very tired of this "Vote Demo" all the time.
Parties and personalities do not necessarily hold the answers to our ills.

Here in Wisconsin, in the General Recall Election for Governor, I'll vote for the Democratic candidate (we'll have a name on Tuesday) but I'm not above thinking, given some education (press) and more time (same old same old); we could very well affect the outcome we need and want, on Tuesday!

Check out this "Republican" candidate, who is challenging Scotty in The Primary Election. It's educational, funny, and important!:

http://www.iartwi.com/

If Demo's continue taking big money and lying their way into office, it's time to stop supporting them.

+3 # JCM 2012-05-06 13:08

I appreciate your support for the Dems in your recall election. I push the Dems because comparatively they are our best chance to return to a healthy economy. I can't say their perfect and don't have any faults but when legislating they tend to benefit the 99% and all Americans. The Democrats believe in a government to protect our people and the environment. They believe in science and clean energy. They will fund research and development, which was so beneficial to technology in the past. They will try to regulate the financial industry to keep them honest, the petroleum industry to reduce pollution. And they will try to improve on health care for all. They believe in education, climate change, infrastructure, the safety net for all people and believe in increasing taxes for the wealthiest. The Democrats have made their worst mistakes in the last 30 years by succumbing to the pressure the Republicans affront them with. The Democrats ideology is, “Government for the People.” So I will again repeat myself, we must vote for every Democrat we can, and really, a super majority is our only hope. Additionally, even if you think there is a good Republican you would like to vote for it is overwhelming likely that he will vote party line nearly every time. That means lower tax on the wealthiest and less regulation for the corporations that need it most. Vote for Obama and the Dems until the Republicans regain their sanity.

+5 # Saberoff 2012-05-06 14:52

JCM:

You obviously have not looked at Arthur Kohl-Riggs website (above).

OK: I do not believe Dem's are our best chance to return to a healthy economy. What they might "believe," and what they do, are two different things.

Obama surrounded himself with Bush's crooks concerning the financial industry; continues to give oil prospectors license to ruin and pollute; did not even have a single-payer advocate at the table; is "willing" to put social programs on the table in order to appear to be working on getting a few more bucks out of the rich; more drones; more torture; more civil rights abuses. These are our saviors?

Come on, JCM: Obama and Blue Dog Dems have sold us all down the river Styx. Even Bernie Sanders will not call himself a Democrat.

Again, listen to the interview with Kohl-Riggs! I do not care if he is running on the Pink Elephant ticket; I care about his position on issues! I walked with him and 100,000+ others against Walker a year ago; I trust him and I believe him. I do not believe Obama; most other Dems either.

+2 # JCM 2012-05-06 16:49

I just watched, and forgive me, about half of the video. If this guy won the primary and you voted for him it would be way understandable. An exceptional guy and patriot! I hope he succeeds for all our sakes. What I am trying to point out in my comments is, for the most part, that either Democrats or Republicans will be in control next year. I my two comments above I think you will see a reasonable summary of the general direction each party is going in. We can also look at history and we can see the destruction of the conservative ideology has been on the economy and the attempts the Democrats have made to help restore it. Nothing being perfect, these are the two choices. Someone ask me once what I'm defending. I am defending our country from the Ideology of Greed. If you think Obama sold us down the river, he's using a raft; the Republicans are using a Destroyer. If you think my summaries of the parties are fundamentally wrong, I would be interested to hear why.

0 # Saberoff 2012-05-06 19:20

JCM: My problem here is simply with comments like "Always vote for the Democrat"

Or, "Vote for every Democrat you can."

Look: You can run for office under any party name you want: run as a Fungo, for all I care. But what is your platform? What are your issues?

The Democrats are failing us everywhere. Here in Wisconsin we have "Progressives." And they are Greens, Socialists, members of The Progressive Party, etc., etc.; and now, a Republican!

Why would we confuse people by saying something like "Always Vote for the Democrat?" (Wouldn't it be better to say Always vote for the progressive, or something, but even then, why?)

Parties are for lazy advocates. We're just going to have to spell out the issues; if we're going to tell people how to vote.

+1 # JCM 2012-05-06 21:30

The reason I believe it is important to vote in this election for all Dems and that does include independents that would vote with Dems is because if the Republicans win they will pass the Ryan Budget, etc, etc, etc. There is no good or nice Republican, any of them will, for the very most part, vote the party line. If you are alright with the Republicans winning and don't think they will continue to wreck havoc on all of us except the very wealthy, then you will vote whatever suits you. If, however you believe that their ideology will inflict continuing damage to us, then you will vote for every Dem you can. The political reality is that either the Democrats or the Republicans will be in control of Congress and the White House. The choice is between the two parties. If you want more conservative SCJ then vote Romney, if not vote Obama. If you want the wealthy to get wealthier vote Republican. If you want our government to spend money on our infrastructure, vote Democrat. Obama will pass any legislature that comes from a Democratic Congress, Romney will not. Romney will pass anything from a Republican Congress, Obama will not. It just isn’t that difficult a decision if you know a few facts and you know what direction you want the country to go in. It is about who will be in control next year. These are the basic issues!

-2 # John Locke 2012-05-06 17:24

Very well said, I have no further comment, you said it well

+2 # Barbara K 2012-05-06 12:38

JCM: Did you watch "Up With Chris Hayes" this morning? He had the AG from New York on there. I have more details that I just thought to post attached to my first comment on here. They really are going after the crooks on Wall St., etc.

+3 # JCM 2012-05-06 13:36

Sorry I missed it. I usually do watch it. I hope there are many prosecutions. That might make them think twice about ripping us off. Thanks again!

+1 # Barbara K 2012-05-06 14:32

I bet if you check out MSNBC on the web, you might find a video of this morning's "Up With Chris Hayes". I was so delighted to see that they really are going after all those crooks, we just didn't know it until now. The AG said "We need more lawyers, get the word out", so there we are. At least some lawyers can find some jobs. lol

+3 # JCM 2012-05-06 16:23

Got it, great show. Can't wait for results!

+6 # Sweet Pea 2012-05-06 13:21

Oh come on, everyone should be able to understand that if you don't produce a product, you can't survive. We import everything. U.S.A.-made products are almost non-existent. Corporations realize that it's easier to invest in countries without labor laws, environmental laws, and many of the other things that benefit the workers of our country. Cheaper may be better in the short term, but it is costing us the loss of a way of life that we had 20 or 30 years ago. We allowed it to happen.

-4 # John Locke 2012-05-06 17:22

I Agree with all but your last part
"Vote for every Democrat you can" that won't make a bit of difference, and will only prolong the fraud of a democracy that no longer exists...

+2 # bluebluesdancer 2012-05-07 07:51

The Democrats may have many of the same issues as the Republicans, but to claim that it won't make a bit of difference is like saying there is no difference between the local police force and the nazi SS!

+15 # jwb110 2012-05-06 08:55

I also think that Robert is going to have to start talking about what is right with the economy. The growth is slow because of whom? This will all be blames on the President lessoning his chance at re-election. As Democrats we need to stop all the blame game and bolster all the positive things that can be said about President Obama. There is much to be said about the economy and the previous administration' s part in its destruction. If the Republicans win the White House this new Depression will only get worse. As Democrats we mut also do everything possible to help win back the Congress. The mechanics of the problems in the economy are simple. The perpetrators is a little more complex.
The Democrats have to turn a corner and come out swinging and be a booster club instead of nay sayers.

-8 # dquandle 2012-05-06 10:13

There is nothing positive that can be said about the Reagan- idolizing Obama. He is shredding the constitution as only a constitutional lawyer can, and engaging in heinous abuse of power. He is a monster. A murdering lying plutocratic monster just like his mentor before him.

+6 # JCM 2012-05-06 13:26

All things are relative. World governments and politics are ugly and people get killed, many times needlessly. GW was responsible for hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilian deaths directly and indirectly, Obama has been responsible for maybe a few thousand, I'm not sure. Obama has tried to bring health care to all Americans, regulate the financial industry, has tried to increase necessary tax on the wealthiest and has tried to continue unemployment insurance to so many people in need. Yeah, not everything came out perfectly but compare that with the Republicans. They will pass the Ryan budget destroying Medicare as we know it and will probably crash Social Security as well, will decrease regulation on the petroleum and financial industries, leading to more catastrophe, add another two conservative judges on the Supreme Court and then repeal countless beneficial rulings for the working class, will repeal health care so that people could still be denied insurance and people with pre existing conditions will be out of luck, will lower taxes for the rich and create larger deficits, will reduce funding for infrastructure, for food stamps, for clean energy, for science, for global warming, for Pell Grants, will try to destroy unions, voting rights and will probably come up with some excuse to go to war. The list of destructive Republican policies goes on a long time but I can guarantee that they favor the very wealthiest. That said, there are many positive things about Obama.

-5 # John Locke 2012-05-06 17:30

Obama has killed as many civilians as Bush and in more countries...Oba ma has already offered up SS, Medicare and Medicaid...ther e is no real difference...
The democrats allowed the conservative judges Alito and Roberts to be approved for the high court, you and I have been over this many times, what will it take to get this through your stubbornness...
You continue to tout these false comments! Why?

+1 # JCM 2012-05-06 19:30

"Obama has killed as many civilians as Bush and in more countries". The Iraqi war estimates of civilian deaths range from approximately 100,000 to 1,000,000.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Iraq_War
There's nothing else in this comment worth responding to.

0 # John Locke 2012-05-07 05:28

Are you including Drone attacks over other countries? (6) countries are under Drone warefare ...Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen and most recently Libya, How many are dying in these countries right now?

+18 # Houston Allred 2012-05-06 09:17

Here are some perspectives regarding other times of "U.S. Govt. involvement" in "jobs": Pres. Franklin Roosevelt signed an "Executive Order" May 6, 1935. It was The Works Progress Administration (renamed during 1939 as the Works Project Administration; WPA) was the largest & most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings & roads, & operated large arts, drama, media, & literacy projects. It fed children & redistributed food, clothing, & housing. Almost every community in the United States had a park, bridge or school constructed by the agency, which especially benefited rural & Western areas. The WPA provided jobs & income to the unemployed during the Great Depression in the United States. Between 1935 & 1943, the WPA provided almost 8 million jobs. Full employment, which emerged as a national goal around 1944, was not the WPA goal. It tried to provide one paid job for all families where the breadwinner suffered long-term unemployment. The WPA was a national program that operated its own projects in cooperation with state & local governments, which provided 10%-30% of the costs. Liquidated on June 30, 1943 due to low unemployment from the economic boom of World War II, the WPA provided millions of Americans with jobs for 8 years." Is this what Republicans & alleged conservatives fear? Peace & love, Houston Allred

+3 # Barbara K 2012-05-06 10:19

Houston Allred: Absolutely!

+3 # JCM 2012-05-06 14:26

Nicely said!

+4 # wantrealdemocracy 2012-05-06 09:22

The Stall has set in and we are in awful condition and the best we have to offer for a way out is to stick with the Democrats? Sorry. Corruption is the problem. Our elected officials have sold us out for corporate 'donations', in reality these are flat out bribes. Both corporate parties enjoy these 'perks' of office and they do not care what their constituents want. Only when we all face the fact of the corruption of our Congress can we resolve never again to vote for either bunch of corporate lackeys. There are other candidates on the ballot. Choose one of them. By reducing the vote total of the corporate duo we can open up space for new parties and independents. Haven't you had enough of the evil yet? How bad does it have to get before you reconsider your voting habits?

+9 # mainescorpio 2012-05-06 09:27

Romney has shouted "JOBS JOBS JOBS" but has outlined no plans whatsover other than being Bushwacked again with the same policies that has got us here. And President Obama has resisted any populist movement to see justice is done for the middle and poorer classes.

Our whole system is corrupt...the corporate media is silent...we have only each other to band together in a movement..and the only one I see other than moveon.org is the Occupy movment...we've got to, in the words of the poet.."rage rage rage against the dying of the light"..and get money out of politics.

+15 # erogers 2012-05-06 09:31

Before the Democrats can turn a corner and start thinking about the 90% they have to start acting like Democrats. Many are nothing but closet republicans who are thinking about one thing, how to stand in power and how to kiss the butt of the 1% who fund their campaigns. Until Democrats cut all ties to the elite nothing will change.

+20 # suzyskier 2012-05-06 09:32

I think the country needs a history lesson. Most Americans today were not born when the Great Depression hit our shores in 1929. People forget what caused the crisis. Electing a Republican would be a disaster. Why can't we take a page our of FDR's book (oh I almost forgot, congress has no interest in reviving the economy until they get rid of Obama!)Meanwhil e our roads and bridges our entire infrustructure is falling apart. We could put thousands to work reparing these roads, bridges, railbeds etc. How can anyone possibly re-elect some of these jerks?? I cannot imagine voting for any Republican.

+8 # JCM 2012-05-06 13:31

Don't forget how often Obama tried to get legislation for infrastructure. The R's opposed it, time and again.

+12 # paddyrican 2012-05-06 09:37

Bob: Wonder how much better our economy would be if the Fed had dispursed $16TRILLION to U.S. citizens with home mortgage or credit card problems instead of U.S.&foreign banks like they did between 2007&2010 as reveled in the FIRST EVER audit of the FRB by the GAO and released in July,2011??

+1 # paddyrican 2012-05-06 17:38

RIGHT ON!!

+4 # bsmith 2012-05-06 09:57

I am in car sales and have been for 10+ years. April was the worst month I have had pretty much since I was wet behind the ears (here in the Midwest this is also true for pretty much all dealerships regardless of the makes they are offering too). Lack of customers, things beyond my control completely and something else. It seemed to me that the consumer in April had a certain unsettled air about them of which I had never seen, or atleast recognized. Nothing I could do ellieviated their unease.

Thank the universe April 2012 is gone, it sucked! May is 1000000000"x's better in every single aspect for me/my dealer group (again all of the dealers in the mid west are similarly reporting this change too!). Car sales are about the second most/best indication of the economy (aside from real estate) and this year is going well give for April.

To help illustrate the 180. Within two hours of the first day I was selling in May (may 1st) I happened on a deal that could have potentially (again within 2 hours the first day!) have me selling more cars than I did all April!!!

Post was too long so I'll chop it up.

(continued next post)
!

+1 # Merschrod 2012-05-06 11:39

B. Smith, I want to hear more details - this is interesting. Please continue.

+2 # bsmith 2012-05-06 17:52

What would you like to hear about specifically?

I started selling cars September 9th 2002. Over the years, especially in the few after 9/11, I have been told by multiple different older gentleman (ill be 30 this July) who have have been selling cars since the 80's/90's (kind of the "golden years" from what I can tell) that "this is the worst its ever been/never seen it this bad/etc". I believe this is due to their inability to change and adapt to a market/world that is internet driven and where consumers can find, with a quick Google search, what we paid for a specific vehicle, what a fair value of their trade in is or what our pre-owned car should be retailing for.

Now, unfortunately these aids are not the last word, are often not precise/accurat e enough and we all know that no matter what it is where talking about if its ours, its worth more than whatever we find says! :)

For some reason every April has always been my/many sales professionals worst month for myriad reasons. Specifically for me last month I had a couple come see me pick out a car, we negotiated a price both parties were happy with and they gave me a deposit that would allow me to acquire their car from another lot all was good/done. Then Monday they called me and started trying to work me even more because another dealer they talked to... Have to continue in new response.

+2 # bsmith 2012-05-06 18:30

Earlier that wouldn't even locate the vehicle they wanted. They would rather give the dealer that wouldn't help them $200 less than pay a bit extra for proper service! We could have done better but we have principles, we are not whores. A few Pre-owned cars got sold hours before my customers that had previously been in but needed to 'think about it' who didn't leave a deposit even after my urging. And just a whole mess of people that had no business looking at cars in the first place, you can think of the reasons I'm sure..

It was just a cluster and I'm glad it's over!

-15 # dquandle 2012-05-06 10:11

Unfortunately, Obama believes that inequality is fair and is the way things should be. All of his policies have been bent on increasing inequality and accruing and abusing power for himself and his plutocrat puppeteers. Hopefully it comes back and kicks him in the face really really hard. He is a dangerous and criminal man with a dangerous and criminal agenda.

+3 # bsmith 2012-05-06 11:48

Quoting dquandle:

Unfortunately, Obama believes that inequality is fair and is the way things should be. All of his policies have been bent on increasing inequality and accruing and abusing power for himself and his plutocrat puppeteers. Hopefully it comes back and kicks him in the face really really hard. He is a dangerous and criminal man with a dangerous and criminal agenda.

Politics aren't perfect and unfortunately from time to time there must be concessions made to allow other, larger legislation to flow through unimpeeded (Yukon xl pipeline being allows by BO to be used as a chip in future/currentl y being hashed out policy/s).

But how can you get the emails from rsn with all this info and say what you have?

You cannot believe the republican/libe rtarian choices would easer innequality at all but actually increase the pockets of the über fortunate even more/(now on the libertarian front) destroy world economics and pretty much draw a roadmap for anarchy in the USA?

Please explain as I don't get your view.

+16 # leavemealone 2012-05-06 10:13

The Republicans are offering nothing new. The same old trickle-down BS. Since 1980, the Reagan years they've pushed this strategy on the US and it is a FAILURE! They will try to spin it as a big success, but look at the stats, the wealth has been sucked from the poor and middle class to the rich! It's that simple.
It was covered up by the massive debt people took on through home equity and credit cards, to buy what that they couldn't really afford. This debt has control of so many people. I know plenty in it for $15,000+ that they will never get out of as interest rates are astronomical.
We must: get corporate money out of elections, regulate Wall St. speculating and hold the banker crooks accountable for the Great Recession. Corporations and the rich must pay their fair share of US taxes. Also close off-shore money laundering options, and help US citizens by using our tax money to our benefit by providing quality, affordable health care and not wasting it on these useless wars and defense spending. These changes would go a long way to help our country get back on track.

+6 # sapereaudeprime 2012-05-06 11:12

Obama probably didn't have any idea of the depth of manure he was jumping into. No Republic can survive a concentration of wealth of weaponry in the hands of a minority, because one concentration will always co-opt the other, and subjugate the majority. Capitalism has clearly outgrown its utility; it no longer raises the living standard of local communities, other than those behind gates. Hopefully a majority of politicians will recognize this, bring corporate wealth to heel and break up the big banks before it comes to a class war. Injustices precipitate class wars, but once the violence starts, it's all about vengeance for cumulative injustices. I wouldn't bet a dime on the physical survival of the Tea Party and their usurer-plutocra tic masters if this isn't settled in another year.

+1 # bluebluesdancer 2012-05-07 08:02

In my opinion Corporatism (which is really what we have nowadays, not Conservatism)is just the otherside of the Communist coin.
Both Parties want to remove citizens rights and create a service industry of slavery designed to increase the income for the top 1% while decreasing the 'cost' of the working classes.
Republicans are much closer to Communists than they have any idea!

+1 # bsmith 2012-05-06 11:40

I'm superstitious (I know silly for an atheist but get off my case, only when dealing with work/money) so I talked as if the deal didn't exist/would not come to fruition till the customers transfer of funds was completed to out financial institution.

Well I'm sure you have guessed and I wouldn't have posted this if it did not come to completion. We got the funds Friday!

Take that April and from where I'm sitting, May 2012 will not only make up for April flaccidness but be the best month since 01!

+1 # cordleycoit 2012-05-06 14:24

I would ask the eminent economist for a solution or two of this problem with its internal parts in need of rebuilding.It is time to answer questions not talk patches.

+6 # Mac 2012-05-06 17:23

The economy cannot really improve as long as government continues to scale back. I think Obama has tried to do more to boost spending in ways that will improve the job situation, but has been blocked by Republicans who "want Obama to fail." Which means we all fail. Look at the post office cutbacks, for example. This Republican-prom oted "savings" is creating even more job loss, and a loss to the nation if the rural post offices have to shut down. We have to vote Democratic. We can't choose otherwise. This Republican-crea ted recession cannot be reversed with more Republican nonsense about downsizing government. We need more spending on infrastructure projects where job expansion can occur. We need to retain those postal jobs. Downsize the government? We need to take over the government from the obstructionist right-wing.

+1 # John Steinsvold 2012-05-06 18:34

An Alternative to Capitalism (if the people knew about it, they would demand it)

Several decades ago, Margaret Thatcher claimed: "There is no alternative". She was referring to capitalism. Today, this negative attitude still persists.

I would like to offer an alternative to capitalism for the American people to consider. Please click on the following link. It will take you to an essay titled: "Home of the Brave?" which was published by the Athenaeum Library of Philosophy:

http://evans-experientialism.freewebspace.com/steinsvold.htm

John Steinsvold

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result."~ Albert Einstein

0 # bluebluesdancer 2012-05-07 08:11

Very idealistic, but where would the incentive be to go out and chop wood if there was no profit to be made?
The incentive to 'do-better' is what progress is all about, and if you take the profit motive out of the equation then work just becomes total drudgery.

0 # John Steinsvold 2012-05-07 18:36

Bluebluesdancer,
The best way to motivate people is to allow them to do the work they love to do. One of the goals of a way of life without money is to provide everyone with the opportunity to find a match between their abilities and the opportunity to serve society. If training is necessary, a free education is provided. Every effort will be made for each individual to find the work they love doing. There will be no pressure. I believe everyone has an ability or talent they want to use for the benefit of society.
Yes, if everyone is free to do their "thing", how can we satisfy the labor needs of our country particularly if shortages exist in various occupations? However, it takes only a small percentage of our work force to provide the necessities and luxuries for the now over 300 million Americans and that percentage is constantly decreasing due to automation and advances in technology.
As I envision a way of life, the people who do the menial tasks will be treated like royalty. Not only will they be economically equal to CEOs; they will also be given the highest priority when it comes to seating at sporting events, shows, operas, etc. They will also receive the highest priority in determining who gets the scarcer luxury items, the choicest vacations, etc. Therefore, I don’t believe there will be a problem in getting people to do the more menial tasks.
John Steinsvold

+2 # bsmith 2012-05-06 19:50

Campaign finance is the root of the cancer here.

Every time I get fired up, I dream of becoming a politician and setting the system straight. But everything I end at the same impasse...

To even run for a seat in a moderately populated area it cost massive sums of money (forget POTUS for a moment). Unless you are a CEO/very highly paid employee of a 'green' or other mostly right minded corp how can ANYONE finance a candidacy with out contributions? Even if you ARE a wealthy exec, who in their right mind would run a campaign with their own money when there is a good chance they will NOT win? I wouldnt that's for sure.

So by the time you get to mayor, governor or even congress even the most well meaning citizen would be in the pockets of so many who DON'T have the 'people' in mind when it comes to things they want done. If an official renigs on agreements made with above parties, funding is cut. If they bring the corruption to light they at best will serve time or at worst, well who knows???

Complete finance reform you say?!?? Well that's great but again, who but the already wealthy could run with their self interest to impose? Oh but a rich clear thinking progressive/tru e democrat? How many of those are there with the bucks to run till the end?

So in the end what can we do? Unless we happen upon indipendant wealth we must rely on donors and that is unfortunately the way it always has and will be in America.

0 # bluepilgrim 2012-05-06 20:26

See http://truth-out.org/news/item/8947-ny-activists-ask-ag-how-can-we-help

"Alexis Goldstein, a former net developer and business analyst at three large Wall Street firms, echoed that sentiment. “In January,” she told the crown. “President Obama appointed a financial fraud task force co-chaired by five people to investigate mortgage fraud. He touted it proudly in the State of the Union. But since the task force was created, we’ve seen zero prosecutions brought against the banks who committed securities fraud, conducted robo-signing, and illegally foreclosed on homes. We’ve seen no one thrown in jail following the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression.”"

+2 # bluebluesdancer 2012-05-07 07:47

I keep trying to understand 'why' the Republicans are so adamantly blocking EVERYTHING, and something occurred to me this morning.
Their 'modus operandi' is to tout fical conservatism i.e. to claim that they are the best at cutting government spending and limiting government growth, when the facts seem to prove the opposite! However, with the right TV shows and news media to promote the idea it is accepted by most Republicans as the truth, even though investigation shows that the Democrats are better at balancing the budget and shrinking government.
So we had Reagan and HW Bush who left us with a huge debt. In comes the Democrat (Clinton) who does a magnificent job of saving the economy so that when GW arrives he has plenty of money to spend on Republican government growth. Once that money is all gone they lose, but realize that the Democrats will have to spend all their time trying to fill the coffers again and if they refuse to allow anything Democratic to pass, the end result will be that when the Dems lose (which will happen eventually) they will get back in the game at the same place where they left off, but with money to spend again, due to the diligence of the Democrats! Brilliant!
This means that no matter what the Dems do, they cannot win.

0 # Listner 2012-05-07 20:02

Wrong,bluesdanc er. First, we VOTE.Then when we win the important second term we begin legislating. Overturn citizens united. Seek out blue dogs that go to the other side on critical votes. Investigate the supreme court justice that openly attends tea bagger meetings with his wife. Oh, there's a way my man. It all starts with the VOTE. They were voted in and they can be voted out!
Organize people with card tables at public places and register people to vote.It's the one tool we have that is free.The republicans cannot buy your vote. They will smear the president two weeks before the election (swiftboat) but they can't prevent you from voting. Lets change this crap once and for all.

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