US labor department BLS jobs data, May 2013, Cooking the books?, Unemployment report revised numbers, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary, Orwell 2 + 2 = 5

US labor department BLS jobs data, May 2013, Cooking the books?, Unemployment report revised numbers, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary, Orwell 2 + 2 = 5

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Since the Democrats took control of both houses of congress in January 2007, the number of people who could only find part time work has gone up 215 percent”…Citizen Wells

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

 

The US Labor Department BLS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, came out with 2 reports in May with their jobs and unemployment data. BLS reports on jobs and unemployment have long been suspect. A recent ADP report on private sector jobs added did not mesh well with the government reports.

The two BLS reports do not mesh well either.

From the BLS May 3, 2013.

“THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION — APRIL 2013″

“The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for February was
revised from +268,000 to +332,000, and the change for March was
revised from +88,000 to +138,000. With these revisions, employment
gains in February and March combined were 114,000 higher than
previously reported.”

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

From the BLS May 7, 2013.

“Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary”

“JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – MARCH 2013″
Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted
———————————————————————————————-
| Job openings              | Hires                            | Total separations
|————————————————————–
| Mar. | Feb. | Mar.     | Mar. | Feb.   | Mar. |    Mar. | Feb.   | Mar.
| 2012 | 2013 | 2013p| 2012 | 2013 | 2013p| 2012 | 2013 | 2013p
——————————-|————————————————————–
| Levels (in thousands)
|————————————————————–
|3,848 |3,899 |3,844 |4,435 |4,451 |4,259 |4,180 |4,180 |4,213
“Net Change in Employment

Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle. Net employment change results from the relationship between hires and separations. When the number of hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires level is steady or declining.
Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even if the hires level is steady or rising. Over the 12 months ending in March 2013, hires totaled 51.8 million and separations totaled 50.1 million, yielding a net employment gain of 1.7 million. These figures include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.”

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/jolts.nr0.htm

The “p” stands for preliminary (decoder ring setting smoke & mirrors).

Using the BLS rules outlined above, the following calculations should yield the employment gains by month.

Feb 2013 hires                4,451,000

Minus

Feb 2013 separations   4,180,000

Feb job gains              271,000

Mar 2013 hires                4,259,000

Minus

Mar 2013 separations   4,213,000

Feb job gains                46,000

From the BLS above:

“The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for February was
revised from +268,000 to +332,000, and the change for March was
revised from +88,000 to +138,000.”

Huh?

Isn’t this what Orwell warned us about?

Markets rise on flawed data, ADP BLS Market Watch reports, Stated unemployment rate, Labor force participation rate, Part time work, Food stamps tell all

Markets rise on flawed data, ADP BLS Market Watch reports, Stated unemployment rate, Labor force participation rate, Part time work, Food stamps tell all

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Since the Democrats took control of both houses of congress in January 2007, the number of people who could only find part time work has gone up 215 percent”…Citizen Wells

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

 

I have been reviewing employment data from ADP, BLS and a Market Watch report this morning. The stated unemployment rate, as most of you know, does not factor in the people who have dropped out of the work force and 2.8 percent have dropped out since Obama took office.

It also does not factor in the large increases in people who could only find part time work due to the economy and impact of Obamacare.

The ADP report of private sector jobs added does not match the BLS report. The Market Watch report echoes the BLS report and misrepresents the true unemployment rate:

“The acceleration in hiring nudged the unemployment rate down to 7.5% from 7.6% in March. That’s the lowest level since December 2008, the month before President Obama took office.”

The stock market has responded positively to this unrealistic data, much as it has this year.

I do not know how long the markets can be buoyed on false data, but numbers don’t lie.

20 percent, 1 in 5 Americans are on food stamps.

More details to come.

Rhino Times publishing ends after 21 years, Rhinoceros Times donations, Truth in print in NC, John Hammer printed truth about Obama and local officials

Rhino Times publishing ends after 21 years, Rhinoceros Times donations, Truth in print in NC, John Hammer printed truth about Obama and local officials

“The function of the press is very high. It is almost Holy.
It ought to serve as a forum for the people, through which
the people may know freely what is going on. To misstate or
suppress the news is a breach of trust.”…. Louis D. Brandeis

“Satan laughing with delight the day the music died”...Don McLean “American Pie”

“We must not let the truth die.”…Citizen Wells

 

The truth in print in NC.

I met with John Hammer of the Rhino Times this morning.

I am a long time reader and fan of the Rhino (Rhinoceros) Times, published in Greensboro, NC and with coverage of one of the larger metro areas in NC. Sadly, due to high debt brought on by the economy, the Rhino Times has been forced to shut down its publication.

The Rhino Times exposed the truth about local politicians and officials and John Hammer wrote the truth about Barack Obama.

From John Hammer of the Rhino Times April 30, 2013.

“It is with a great deal of sadness that I announce that the April 28 edition of The Rhinoceros Times now on the stands is the last.

I’d like to thank all of our readers for making a point of picking up The Rhino Times for the past 21 years and I wish we could continue to provide you with the news, opinion and humor every week that you have come to expect, but we have simply run out of money. Like a lot of small businesses, we took a huge hit in 2008, and although we have done everything we could think of, we simply can no longer pay our bills.

Newspapers got hit with the double whammy of the recession and increasing competition from the internet, and we join a long list of newspapers that have closed their doors.

I would especially like to thank our advertisers, some of whom have been advertising with us for over a decade. We appreciate their support. They are the ones who have been footing the bill for us to bring you The Rhino every week.

And I’d like to thank our employees.”

“We’ve had a really good run and are incredibly thankful for all the kindness our readers have shown us.

Not many people knew about this, but the few that had been told responded, “Is there anything I can do?” The answer is yes. The Rhinoceros Times is hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. We need money to pay our creditors. I guarantee all the money raised will be used to pay debts. If you have been reading The Rhino from the beginning, that’s 21 years of free newspapers. We ask you to consider paying $1 for each of those years and sending us a check for $21 dollars. Of course, if you are moved to donate more, no amount is too large, and if you can’t afford $21 but want to send something, no amount is too small. Nickels, dimes and quarters will be graciously accepted. But we thought one dollar a year was not asking too much.

This would be a donation. It is not tax deductible and you won’t receive anything of value for it. But right now we are deep in a financial hole and every bit helps. If you would like to send a donation please send it to The Rhino Times, PO Box 9421, Greensboro, NC 27429. Thank you in advance.

And we’d like to add that The Rhino Times will continue to have a web presence for as long as possible.”

Read more:

http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/Articles-Breaking-News-c-2013-04-30-215617.112113-Rhino-Says-Goodbye.html

The truth about Obama in print in NC.

Here are a few examples taken from John Hammer and reported here:

From Citizen Wells June 8, 2011.

From John Hammer and the Rhino Times April 28, 2011.

“It is strange that we have a president that the people of this country really know very little about.”
“Interesting, isn’t it? Even when it seems there appears to be a historical fact about Obama’s past, it turns out there is no documentation to back it up.”
“The question remains, why did Obama wait so long and spend so much money to keep his birth certificate from being made public.”

From John Hammer and the Rhino Times June 02, 2011.

“It is incredible that the mainstream media are still giving President
Barack Hussein Obama the protection that they are.”

“The mainstream media is so deep in his pocket that they don’t know
whether it is night or day but simply believe whatever Obama tells
them.”

“The mainstream media give Obama a pass on every stupid thing he says
or every lie he tells depending on how much you think Obama knows
about what is going on in the world. Obama said we were going to be in
Libya for days not weeks. How about months not years, or maybe he
meant to say years not decades.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/obamagate-obama-and-justice-department-abused-power-howard-coble-and-house-judiciary-committee-must-investigate-john-hammer-rhino-times/

From Citizen Wells March 10, 2012.

“John Hammer, Editor and Publisher of the Rhino (Rhinoceros) Times, is a good man. He is also a rare commodity these days. He has consistently put into print in NC articles that are critical of Barack Obama. I met with John last year and I was just thinking I should meet with him again about the possibility of a larger, real news organization. I finally got around to reading his latest opinions in “Under the Hammer.” I was pleased as usual but even more so because he quoted Illinois Pay to Play, a site that Citizen Wells has quoted and been quoted at. John Hammer, in print in North Carolina, the state that is hosting the Democrat Convention, has covered the Daniel Frawley $400,000 for Rezko to give to Obama.

From the Rhino Times March 08, 2012.

“Isn’t it funny what the mainstream media decides is news? According to the website Illinoispaytoplay.com, Obama has been implicated in the investigation of Obama’s good friend Tony Rezko, who has been convicted and sentenced to 10-and-a-half years for corruption involving, among others, Obama’s good friend former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/obama-rezko-daniel-frawley-400000-reported-in-nc-by-john-hammer-rhino-times-fdic-lawsuit-against-mutual-bank-ties-obama-to-rezko-chicago-corruption/

From Citizen Wells June 17, 2012.

The results of the Sheriff Joe Arpaio investigation of Obama’s birth certificate, Selective Service Application and other records are beginning to surface and a news conference is expected soon. Press coverage, though often biased is increasing. It is good to see Obama questioned in print in NC.

From John Hammer of the Rhino Times June 14, 2012. 

“Finally some reporters are doing some investigation of the life of President Obama. The left has done a great job of making anyone who asks any questions about Obama’s past out to be crazy.

People who just wanted to see Obama’s birth certificate, not anymore than Obama would have to show if he wanted to play Little League baseball, are called “birthers” and are by definition the same folks who see black helicopters hovering over their houses every night. The left has done a remarkably good job of defining people who just wanted to see proof that Obama was born in the United States as nutcases. His Republican opponent in that last election, Sen. John McCain, went to court and proved that even though he was born in Panama, he met the definition of a “natural born citizen.” Obama facing the same challenge went to court and said that he didn’t have to prove that he was a “natural born citizen.”

As it turns out, people had good reason to ask that question about Obama, because for years Obama claimed to have been born in Kenya. He was listed as born in Kenya in his publisher’s biography. That was no doubt done to boost book sales, but it is either evidence that Obama was born in Kenya or evidence that he is not a very honest person. In some of the information about Obama when he was running for the Senate is information that Obama was born in Kenya. Once again it makes him seem more exotic and was supposed to win him more votes, and unless you’re running for president it doesn’t make any difference where you were born.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/obama-birth-certificate-and-kenya-birth-in-print-in-nc-rhino-times-john-hammer-obama-new-party-affiliation-sheriff-joe-arpaio-investigation/

Read some of the comments left for the Rhino Times.

This one is typical.

“So Sorry to Hear That
April 30, 2013 | 11:55 AM

I counted on the Rhino to bring up the Real local news that is why I read it – you will be a missed source – back in the 80′s I was talking with a neighbor who told me that your paper was the only one that told the truth for the local scene I started reading that week

Lynn”

Check this one out.

“The Importance of The Rhino
April 30, 2013 | 12:54 PM

The new of your paper folding saddens me deeply.
Community newspapers like The Rhino are what keep the politicians honest (well, sort of…), the schools on their toes to the benefit of our children and police departments ever vigilant lest a reporter be watching what they do.
I’m wondering if your community realizes the ramifications of The Rhino’s death? The beasts ever watchful eye will be closed, the consequence of the “Hammer” coming down on the mis-behaving will be silenced, the publcs right to know what the hell their elected officials are doing behind the scenes will be muted.
I have personally benefited from the glorious Rhino and their intrepid founders,John and Elaine Hammer. They took in this homeless reporter during the political corruption trial of John Edwards and out of the goodness of their hearts gave her a quiet place to write and a fuzzy cat to pet.
Please, everyone who reads this – send in a donation. Help the Hammers continue their good works on the internet.
They, like all dedicated journalists, work for you because they believe in their hearts YOU NEED TO KNOW.

Diane Dimond
Newsweek/TheDailyBeast.com

Diane Dimond”

Read more:

http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/Articles-Breaking-News-c-2013-04-30-215617.112113-Rhino-Says-Goodbye.html

There is always a chance that enough funds can be raised to resurrect the Rhino Times.

Unlike newspapers in general, they depended solely on advertisers and printed the truth.

They had many loyal readers. There must be thousands and thousands out there. If you are one, please donate if you can.

Remember, this was the truth in print in NC.

Wells

Obamacare creates part time work force, Business response to Affordable Care Act, Gallup report April 4, 2013, 9.6 percent workers want full time, 2.8 million more part time since dec 2007

Obamacare creates part time work force, Business response to Affordable Care Act, Gallup report April 4, 2013, 9.6 percent workers want full time, 2.8 million more part time since dec 2007

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Tonight, let’s declare that, in the wealthiest nation on earth, no one who works fulltime should have to live in poverty — and raise the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour.”…Barack Obama

“Since the Democrats took control of both houses of congress in January 2007, the number of people who could only find part time work has gone up 215 percent”…Citizen Wells

 

From MSN.

“Obamacare has more companies opting for part-timers

“They’re making this move to avoid paying for full-time workers’ health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.”

Another national company says it’s reducing the number of hours many of its employees will work, making them part-time staff, thanks to Obamacare. Scheduled to go into effect next year, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is expected raise health care insurance prices, according to recent studies. As a result, a growing number of American businesses are opting to switch workers to part-time status.

AAA Parking, the latest company to react this way to Obamacare, manages more than 200 properties across the U.S. and employs over 1,500 people. AAA recently announced it will move about half of its 500 full-time, hourly employees to part-time status next month in response to the Affordable Care Act.

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, a company memo said executives had “spent extensive time evaluating the impact of this mandate, and the financial impact for AAA Parking is dramatic.”

The company told the Chronicle that upholding the new laws would require it to make “substantial changes in our hourly staffing models, or suffer an enormous and unsustainable annual net loss,” costing AAA Parking over $1.2 million annually in cut employee hours.”

“The New York Times Economix blog notes that, compared to the official start of the recession in December 2007, currently 5.8 million fewer Americans are working full-time, but the number working part-time has increased by 2.8 million.”

http://money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?post=c7c2d8c0-db3c-48e3-95bd-db7a4da2ef26

From Gallup April 4, 2013.

“The percentage of workers working part time but wanting full-time work was 9.6% in March, a decline from 10.1% in February, but unchanged from 9.6% in March 2012.

Implications

Gallup’s data depict an employment situation that failed to improve in March, and has remained relatively little changed year over year. Workers did not find the full-time jobs they were seeking, and the labor force and unadjusted unemployment rates were flat. The one seemingly bright spot was the improvement in the number of workers employed part time but looking for full-time work. However, given the lack of change in the other measures, it is most likely that these workers have settled for part-time work and have given up the search for a full-time position.

Gallup’s seasonally adjusted U.S. unemployment rate — the closest comparison it has to the official numbers released by the BLS — increased slightly in March, though the unadjusted rate was flat. However, the unemployment rate as reported by the BLS each month does not always track precisely with the Gallup estimate, in large part due to differences in the adjustment procedure the BLS uses, and because of some differences in the way in which data are obtained. The BLS may report no change in the unemployment rate or even a slight increase on Friday as a result of the seasonal adjustments, and Gallup’s numbers illustrate that in fact little has changed.”

http://www.gallup.com/poll/161624/payroll-population-rate-stagnant-march.aspx

Part time workers included in employed category.

“Household survey. The sample is selected to reflect the entire
civilian noninstitutional population. Based on responses to a series
of questions on work and job search activities, each person 16 years
and over in a sample household is classified as employed, unemployed,
or not in the labor force.

People are classified as employed if they did any work at all as paid
employees during the reference week; worked in their own business,
profession, or on their own farm; or worked without pay at least 15
hours in a family business or farm. People are also counted as employed
if they were temporarily absent from their jobs because of illness, bad
weather, vacation, labor-management disputes, or personal reasons.”
“Establishment survey. The sample establishments are drawn from private
nonfarm businesses such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as
from federal, state, and local government entities. Employees on nonfarm
payrolls are those who received pay for any part of the reference pay
period, including persons on paid leave.”

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.tn.htm

NC unemployment impact of Obama and Democrat Controlled Congress, Jan 2007 to Jan 2013, Unemployment rate doubles, Percent of population employed dropped almost 6 percent

NC unemployment impact of Obama and Democrat Controlled Congress,  Jan 2007 to Jan 2013, Unemployment rate doubles, Percent of population employed dropped almost 6 percent

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

You have heard the excuses from Obama aided by the lies from the mainstream media. Obama blamed Bush for inheriting a mess even though he and his Democrat cronies and criminals helped create the mess. When Obama took the White House in January 2009, the Democrats had controlled both houses of Congress for 2 years and would do so for 2 more years until January 2011.

The Labor Force Participation Rate for NC recently has been difficult to locate (I will find it.) The unemployment rate for NC and North Carolina counties for January 2013 was reported late in March.

Learn more here:

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/nc-unemployment-rate-rises-in-january-march-2013-reports-jobless-rate-up-in-all-100-counties-guilford-from-9-6-to-10-3-percent-why-no-feb-reports-news-record-headline/

The percent of the population employed is another good indicator of the true employment picture.

% Pop Employed     Unemployment Rate

Jan 2007     63.0                               4.7
Jan 2009     59.1                                8.9
Jan 2013     57.4                                9.5

That is an ugly picture and a picture is worth a thousand words.

http://www.bls.gov/lau/ststdsadata.txt

NC unemployment rate rises in January, March 2013 reports, Jobless rate up in all 100 counties, Guilford from 9.6 to 10.3 percent, Why no Feb reports?, News Record headline

NC unemployment rate rises in January, March 2013 reports, Jobless rate up in all 100 counties, Guilford from 9.6 to 10.3 percent, Why no Feb reports?, News Record headline

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

In case you have been wondering why the latest NC unemployment rates have not been presented here, there is a reason. The unemployment rate in NC for January 2013 was just reported a few days ago. There was no report in February 2013. I still do not know why. Perhaps there was pressure to delay it. I can understand why.

Thanks to the Greensboro News Record for reporting this and placing it at the top of Saturday’s, March 23, 2013 issue.

The paper edition had these headlines:

“Jobless rate for January rises in NC.”

“All 100 counties saw an increase, including Guilford with 10.3
percent unemployment.”

From the Greensboro News Record electronic edition March 23, 2013.

“Guilford, Rockingham unemployment rates rose in January”

“Unemployment rates rose in each of the state’s 100
counties in January, showing that many communities continue to
struggle with a sagging economy.

Guilford County’s rate rose from 9.6 percent in December to 10.3
percent in January, according to figures released Friday by the N.C.
Department of Commerce.

Rockingham County’s rate jumped from 10.8 percent to 11.7 percent.

Randolph County’s rate was 11.1 percent, up from 9.6 percent in December.

At 20.4 percent, Graham County had the state’s highest unemployment
rate in January.”

“Statewide, rates rose in each of the 14 metropolitan areas.
Unemployment in the Greensboro-High Point metro — which includes
Guilford, Rockingham and Randolph counties — rose from 10.3 percent a
year ago to 10.6 percent in January.

Unemployment rates dropped in 30 counties compared to the same month last year.

However, unemployment increased in 63 counties compared to a year ago.

The latest numbers show that many communities continue to struggle
economically, said John Quinterno of the Chapel Hill-based economic
research firm, South by North Strategies.

Economic activity remains below normal, which translates into a
decreased demand for employees, Quinterno said.

“In many local communities, we started off 2013 not all that radically
different than we started off 2012,” Quinterno said. “We continue to
have a labor market that’s very unhealthy.””

http://www.news-record.com/home/946709-63/guilford-rockingham-unemployment-rates-rose

The unemployment rate by county can be viewed here:

http://www.wral.com/news/state/page/4879060/

Here are the report schedules from the North Carolina Department of Commerce Division of Employment Security. Note there are non from February.

“Previous State Unemployment Rates

Date Title
3/18/2013 North Carolina’s January Employment Figures Released
1/18/2013 North Carolina’s December Employment Figures Released
12/21/2012 North Carolina’s Unemployment Rate at 9.1 Percent in November”

“Previous County Unemployment Rates

Date Title
3/22/2013 North Carolina’s January County and Area Employment Figures Released
1/30/2013 North Carolina’s December County and Area Employment Figures Released
1/3/2013 Unemployment Rates Rise in 81 Counties in November”

http://www.ncesc1.com/pmi/rates/ratesmain.asp

From SBN Strategies March 22, 2013.

“Although the numbers are not directly comparable, local labor markets
across much of North Carolina began 2013 no differently than they
began 2012,” said Quinterno. “Simply put, unemployment rates remain
elevated across the state, and twice as many North Carolinians are
jobless and seeking work than was the case five years ago.”

http://www.sbnstrategies.com/archives/12938

Remember, these high unemployment rates do not include the thousands who have dropped out of the labor force. Finding a recent percent for this stat has been elusive recently but I will will find it. Stay tuned.

Guilford county NC healthcare cost increases may cause benefit cuts, Obamacare costs, No pay raises in 4 years, Obamacare is causing prices to go up

Guilford county NC healthcare cost increases may cause benefit cuts, Obamacare costs, No pay raises in 4 years, Obamacare is causing prices to go up

“And so our goal on health care is, if we can get, instead of health care costs going up 6 percent a year, it’s going up at the level of inflation, maybe just slightly above inflation, we’ve made huge progress. And by the way, that is the single most important thing we could do in terms of reducing our deficit. That’s why we did it.”…Barack Obama

“However … health insurance rates and benefit coverage plan costs have continued to increase. As a result of those increases, county employees have experienced a pay decrease that has grown larger each year.”…Guilford County Interim Manager Sharisse Fuller

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

We warned you.

From the Greensboro News Record March 4, 2013.

“Guilford workers could see cuts to health benefits”
“Some county leaders say it’s possible — but they hope it can be avoided.

Guilford County commissioners are searching for where to save money as
the county faces a $41 million budget deficit. This month, the
commissioners plan to meet with representatives from UnitedHealthcare,
which manages health insurance for county employees, about how the
company can provide savings to the county.

The meeting has some commissioners nervous on behalf of employees they
say are already struggling.

“I am concerned that the purpose of that discussion will be to take
away some of the benefits that our employees now have,” Commissioner
Carolyn Coleman said. “They haven’t had a raise in four years. We
don’t have the same insurance that the Senate or the president have,
but it’s decent insurance. I think we owe it to them to provide the
best insurance we can.””

“The county has cut costs for the past two years by increasing co-pays,
deductible amounts and out-of-pocket maximums for employees.

“Over the last four years, no merit increases have been awarded to
Guilford County employees,” Fuller said Friday in an email. “However
… health insurance rates and benefit coverage plan costs have
continued to increase. As a result of those increases, county
employees have experienced a pay decrease that has grown larger each
year.””

““It looks to me like Obamacare is causing prices to go up and will
continue to make prices go up,” Henning said. “That’s something we’re
going to have to deal with, like everyone else in this economy.”

“The question is do you raise costs or do you cut services?” Henning
said. “Hopefully, we won’t do either. But health care costs are going
up for everyone. County employees aren’t immune.””

Read more:

http://www.news-record.com/news/826898-91/costs-could-erode-county-benefits

Federal budget deficit explained in common sense terms in NC, John Hammer Rhino Times, January 24, 2013, Obama and congress increased spending 40 percent

Federal budget deficit explained in common sense terms in NC, John Hammer Rhino Times, January 24, 2013, Obama and congress increased spending 40 percent

“only 2 percent of the 3.5 million jobs gained since the recession ended in June 2009 are midpay. Nearly 70 percent are low-paying jobs”…AP, Kitsap Sun January 22, 2013

“We tried our plan—and it worked. That’s the difference. That’s the choice in this election. That’s why I’m running for a second term.”…Barack Obama

“the Times of the nineteenth of December had published the official forecasts of the output of various classes of consumption goods in the fourth quarter of 1983, which was also the sixth quarter of the Ninth Three-Year Plan. Today’s issue contained a statement of the actual output, from which it appeared that the forecasts were in every instance grossly wrong. Winston’s job was to rectify the original figures by making them agree with the later ones.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

Common sense in print in NC.

From John Hammer of the Rhino Times January 24, 2013.

“If you listen to Democrats, and even some Republicans, for the federal government to balance its budget would require draconian cuts that would decimate the Defense Department and put major social welfare programs in bankruptcy. But the truth is that the federal government will take in $2.9 trillion in revenue this fiscal year. If the federal government would simply reduce spending to what it was a mere five years ago it would have a surplus instead of a trillion dollar deficit.

In 2007 the federal government spent $2.7 trillion. That was during the presidency of George Walker Bush and the budget deficit was about $200 billion, because the revenue that year was $2.56 trillion.

What Congress and President Obama have managed to do since then is increase spending astronomically. The projected spending for 2013 is $3.8 trillion. So even though revenue has increased to $2.9 trillion the deficit is still right around a trillion dollars.

It is an unbelievable increase in spending. The problem is not, as Obama continues to say, that the rich aren’t paying their fair share. The problem is that Obama and Congress have increased spending by 40 percent in the past five years. This is during a period of almost no inflation.

Since 2007 the federal government has increased its spending by $1.1 trillion. It is an incredible amount of money and it would be nice to blame it all on Obama, but Obama is a co-conspirator. Spending bills have to originate in the House, which the Republicans have controlled since 2011. Obama in his first term had pretty much free rein in Congress. The Democrats controlled the House and for almost a year had a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Spending skyrocketed and in Obama’s first year in office, 2009, the budget deficit increased to $1.4 trillion.

What could only be done in Washington – where reality left the building decades ago – is that the budget deficit has remained over $1 trillion. The reason for the budget deficit in 2009 was the $1 trillion stimulus plan that Congress passed and Obama signed as soon as possible. That was supposed to spike up the spending, but then it was supposed to come back down.

It never has.

But the country ran pretty well in 2007. We were fighting the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, Social Security was being paid, as were Medicare and Medicaid. The federal government was throwing money at local governments, as it does, but evidently to go back to those years would be a tremendous hardship. It’s hard to believe.”

Read more:

http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/Articles-Columns-c-2013-01-23-214571.112113-under-the-hammer.html

Democrats blame Republicans for Democrat policy failures, Lack reason and accountability, End justifies the means, Democrat policies destroyed economy jobs family budgets

Democrats blame Republicans for Democrat policy failures, Lack reason and accountability, End justifies the means, Democrat policies destroyed economy jobs family budgets

“only 2 percent of the 3.5 million jobs gained since the recession ended in June 2009 are midpay. Nearly 70 percent are low-paying jobs”…AP, Kitsap Sun January 22, 2013

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“A tax increase to a company results in some combination of the following:
Product and service price increases.
Employee and hours cutbacks.
Reduced hiring.”…Citizen Wells

I am not praising Republicans.

Many of the actions and policies of Obama liberal Democrats can be simply explained.

The end justifies the means.

They lack reason and accountability.

From the Mirriam Webster Dictionary.

Reason

2 a (1) : the power of comprehending, inferring, or thinking especially in orderly rational ways : intelligence (2) : proper exercise of the mind (3) : sanity

Accountability

the quality or state of being accountable; especially : an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions <public officials lacking accountability>

Yesterday I was informed of the following letter to the editors of the Greensboro Daily News. The author, an older gentleman, is someone that I know. He represents the old guard, those who follow the Democrat Party come what may, and blame Republicans for all that is wrong. Lack of reason and accountability.

“Obama is right to get tough on Republicans”

“Regarding “Obama warns GOP in debt ceiling battle” (news article, Jan. 15) and “Mr. Friendly Obama unveils tough talk” by Dana Milbank (column, Jan. 16):

So, President Barack Obama “warned” the GOP in his recent White House news conference. Applause!

From now on, I hope he will continue to brand Republicans in a way, and to a depth, that FDR did in 1932!

We already know that congressional Republicans cannot win the debt ceiling “battle,” and the only question now is, “how badly will they lose the fight?” The answer is, “How much they will be perceived as harming the American people.”

We also know that congressional Republicans seem determined to harm Americans by turning our nation into a Third World country where the majority of people live in poverty, are poorly educated (if at all), are without quality health care, without Social Security and without taxes — of course! — but with a massive military to protect the wealth of the powerful “2 percenters.” No doubt about it.

Yes, Mr. Milbank, “friendly Obama” recently spoke like Lincoln or TR, or FDR or Truman, or LBJ when he delivered the free, “tough and friendly advice” to the GOP. Again, applause!”

http://www.news-record.com/opinion/623224-94/obama-is-right-to-get#continue

The last time that Republicans controlled the White House and Congress was December 2008.

The Labor Force Participation Rate in December 2008 was 65.8 %.

The Labor Force Participation Rate in December 2012 was 63.6 %.

Add that 2.2% drop in the labor force participation to the unemployment rate!

Reported here yesterday from the AP.

“But 42 months after the Great Recession ended, the U.S. has gained only 3.5 million, or 47 percent, of the 7.5 million jobs that were lost.”

“But only 2 percent of the 3.5 million jobs gained since the recession ended in June 2009 are midpay. Nearly 70 percent are low-paying jobs;”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/ap-job-facts-january-23-2013-recession-tech-kill-middle-class-jobs-70-percent-of-jobs-added-low-paying-government-policies-biggest-job-killer/

In 2009 when Obama took office, 31.9 million Americans used Food Stamps.

The latest numbers from the USDA reveal that over 47 million Americans now use Food Stamps.

These economic failures from the Democrats have come with record spending and increased taxes for lower income Americans.

It is no wonder why Obama and so many on the left are anti religion.

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”…Jesus, John 8:32

AP job facts January 23, 2013, Recession tech kill middle class jobs, 70 percent of jobs added low paying, Government policies biggest job killer

AP job facts January 23, 2013, Recession tech kill middle class jobs, 70 percent of jobs added low paying, Government policies biggest job killer

“only 2 percent of the 3.5 million jobs gained since the recession ended in June 2009 are midpay. Nearly 70 percent are low-paying jobs”…AP, Kitsap Sun January 22, 2013

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“the Times of the nineteenth of December had published the official forecasts of the output of various classes of consumption goods in the fourth quarter of 1983, which was also the sixth quarter of the Ninth Three-Year Plan. Today’s issue contained a statement of the actual output, from which it appeared that the forecasts were in every instance grossly wrong. Winston’s job was to rectify the original figures by making them agree with the later ones.”…George Orwell, “1984″

With the controversy about the AP producing biased reports about jobs added and unemployment, I did a search this morning:

January 23, 2013 AP jobs

I found the article below. There is truth in the article. There has been a trend for technology to replace jobs. Technology has also helped companies to function after massive layoffs. However, Technology did not cause the “Great Recession.”

From the Kitsap Sun January 22, 2013.

“Five years after the start of the Great Recession, the toll is terrifyingly clear: Millions of middle-class jobs have been lost in developed countries the world over.

And the situation is even worse than it appears.

Most of the jobs will never return, and millions more are likely to vanish as well, say experts who study the labor market. What’s more, these jobs aren’t just being lost to China and other developing countries, and they aren’t just factory work. Increasingly, jobs are disappearing in the service sector, home to two-thirds of all workers.

They’re being obliterated by technology.”

“The numbers startle even labor economists. In the United States, half of the 7.5 million jobs lost during the Great Recession paid middle-class wages, ranging from $38,000 to $68,000. But only 2 percent of the 3.5 million jobs gained since the recession ended in June 2009 are midpay. Nearly 70 percent are low-paying jobs; 29 percent pay well.”

“Over the past 50 years, technology has drastically reduced the number of jobs in manufacturing. Robots and other machines controlled by computer programs work faster and make fewer mistakes than humans. Now, that same efficiency is being unleashed in the service economy, which employs more than two-thirds of the workforce in developed countries. Technology is eliminating jobs in office buildings, retail establishments and other businesses consumers deal with every day.”

“Thanks to technology, companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index reported one-third more profit the past year than they earned the year before the Great Recession. They’ve also expanded their businesses, but total employment, at 21.1 million, has declined by a half-million.”

“In the U.S., the economic recovery that started in June 2009 has been called the third straight “jobless recovery.”

But that’s a misnomer. The jobs came back after the first two.

Most recessions since World War II were followed by a surge in new jobs as consumers started spending again and companies hired to meet the new demand. In the months after recessions ended in 1991 and 2001, there was no familiar snap-back, but all the jobs had returned in less than three years.

But 42 months after the Great Recession ended, the U.S. has gained only 3.5 million, or 47 percent, of the 7.5 million jobs that were lost. The 17 countries that use the euro had 3.5 million fewer jobs last June than in December 2007.

This has truly been a jobless recovery, and the lack of midpay jobs is almost entirely to blame.”
Read more:

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/jan/22/ap-impact-recession-tech-kill-middle-class-02/#ixzz2InmaRPFt

While technology may account for some job losses, a big part of the answer lies in Washington, DC.

Looking for honest reporting.