Unemployment at 10.1%, underemployment at 19.6.
1 in 5.
Meanwhile, inflation is starting to kick in, so we can soon expect interest rates to rise. Along with food, clothing, and energy prices.
I predict soup lines. Followed by pitchforks. And maybe funny hats.
I’m investing in tar futures. Feathers, on the other hand, are tricky; will 21st-century mobs insist on feathers from only free-range chickens?
And yet these “protesters” in Wisconsin — with their Hitler signs and their Egypt comparisons — are bitching about having to contribute to their own retirement, insisting that the out of work or underemployed pay for it instead.
Were I in Madison, my counter-protest would be a wonder to behold.
Seriously. Were I governor I’d fire them all, then rehire whomever wants a job under the new conditions that the state finds economically sustainable.
The Left is finally getting what they’ve always wanted.
But I have to admit, I never guessed that the European level of unemployment would arrive first.
I’ve taken strong positions in commodity metals,canned goods, potable water, and three different rifle calibers.
I’m a diversified investor in These Modern Times.
Watching it all unfold almost like I thought it would is… just damned depressing.
It’s a coup. Not an administration.
Can somebody pop me an email on how to get an avatar…?
Fire them all.
“Can somebody pop me an email on how to get an avatar…?”
sign in at gravatar.com and pick an image
Most people do not have pitchforks anymore. But they might use their golf clubs and ski poles. It is not like they are going to be able to sell them or afford to use them anymore. At least not the way they were originally intended.
Happy days are here again!
The latest talking point in WI centers around a “study” by Soros’ Economic Policy Istitue that claims that WI public employees are underpaid compared to their private sector counterparts. Just be patient, you’ll see it trotted out a lot; some guy laid it on me at Dan’s site today in the comments, and self-righteously challenged me to argue the content of the “study” and not the source.
( http://tiny.cc/2e60n )
Which I happily did. Skimming the content of his link several serious flaws became apparent immediately. The first among these was the assertion that public employees recieve more of their “compensation” in the form of non-salary benefits than their private sector counterparts. But, it chose not to detail the differences in the benefit packages recieved for said compensation; there can be no direct comparison between the Cadillac health-care and retirement plans of the public employees to the most certainly lesser ones that the private sector employees recieve.
And astoundingly the same “study” asserts that the public employees recieve less vacation/holiday/sick leave than their private counterparts, to which, all I can say is BS in spades…
They don’t actually directly compare types of employees, but instead resort to more subjective measures of “human capital” instead, which is a clear indicator that fudge factors were introduced; speaking as one who’s done more than a bit of data analysis and reduction in my time.
Instead they primarily rely on education level to draw comparisons, which is patently devious, since teachers especially are required to have Master’s degrees, and in many non-blue-collar public employment situations one reaches a cieling on salary that can only be transcended by advanced degrees; while in the private sector most employees with higher levels of education are in professional or manegerial positions.
So the study is largely comparing apples to oranges, so to speak. By using education as the basis, in most cases they are comparing bureaucrats to upper-level private management.
So be ready for them to challenge us to answer this study, or for the lefties to cite it arbitrarily as part of an argument that Walker’s act is not only unfair because of the “assault” on unions, but because the premise of WI public employees being “over-compensated” is false.
Never mind that all Walkers proposing is that they pay for marginally higher portion of their health and pension plans, as well as only being able to collectively bargain for pay, and not benefits. And, you know, essentially giving them as “open shop” clause; the choice whether to opt-out of union membership-which is the real problem that the public employees have with this.
Sorry, that was OT for this thread, I meant it for the “Wisconsin” thread.
I’m enjoying the lefty meltdowns in Wisconsin and Ohio. Finally we get a preview of what’s coming, albeit but a tiny exhibition…tiny, so far. These clowns, Union thugs all, are doing themselves a great disservice. Teachers, cops, firemen, bussed-in activists, kids who should’ve been in class; these demonstrations only serve to highlight the Democrat’s dependence on the Unions and their willingness to do whatever it takes to keep the Unions in power, to keep themselves in power. Every minute this goes on is bad news for Democrats.
If only Governor Walker and Republicans can hold on long enough to win this one. If not, the national repercussions will be devastating to our side.
We should send reinforcements.
I blame Bob Reed. )
Test: PALIN ! PALIN ! PALIN !
;D
We should send reinforcements.
The Tea-Party seems to be on the case already.
What was that Pat Buchanan said back in ’92?
Were I in Wisconsin, I’d be beating the ever living shit out of some SEIU and Teacher union fucks. But then again, I’m a mofo with anger management issues. I happen to have the opportunity to work with government union morons and my only story regarding them is this; they had a chance to vote on either letting people lose their jobs or everyone having furlough days. The compassionate government union workers choice? Lay the fucks off. I loathe them all.
Thankee, newrouter!
Walker gins up ‘crisis’ to reward cronies:
Also: not sure how firing civil servants is going to decrease unemployment and magically restart the economy.
And the (federal) deficit is mostly a result of an under-taxed economic elite and a depression caused by reckless speculation. Unions are just a scapegoat.
Fuck you and your fucking lies you lying fucker, AJB.
Why do you waste the hosts, commenters, and your time posting, AJB? You don’t have the balls to back up what you post when you’re called on it.
Jesus, what a coward.
Test
Jeff, tell me about it… our business (commercial insurance, workers comp) is tied to employment and sales, etc. I can see when things are good, bad or indifferent in employment and macroeconomic activity… “bad” is where we are at right now.
But don’t ask a public employee union memeber to give one dime to their own retirement or health care. I’d love to show them what has been going on in the real world.
Bad. And getting worse, LtC John.
Oh, and fuck you, AJB.
So, AJB,
If we extrapolate the argument you put forth to the Federal level, then, instead of having to face the “DRACONIAN CUTS!11!1!(eleventy)” that you and your ilk are vrying and gnashing teeth about, why can’t we just rescind all of the budgetary increases that Obama has dictated since his regime took office?
Better yet, AJB, why not roll back budgetary targets to 2006, the year the Democrats took control of Congress?
AJB quotes something that tells me it is a “progressive voice.” Good lord. I particularly like this bit:
Minorities, women, and Our Gang hardest hit.
“Contribute to our own retirements?!!1!11 Why that is tantamount to having Pinkertons break skulls!” (D-WI)
“that will return Wisconsin to the days when land barons and railroad tycoons controlled the political elites in Madison.””
can’t have that when ” public employee unions control the political elites in Madison ” on noes cupcake
“railroad tycoons ”
don’t like high speed rail
public sector unionism is the funny
Dibs on this one.
Were I in Madison, my counter-protest would be a wonder to behold.
Hey, if the fire spreads to Denver, we’re gonna insist on video.
From comments in AJB’s link (seems that the ‘cost’ to State workers will be $5,000/yr, an insurmountable amount to one of the whining Union posters)…
Times are tough. Get a helmet.
OMG Di. Back in HS I used to be a hair model. I had hair that was about mid thigh level, thick (not the hair itself just massive amounts of follicles producing it), medium brown and wonderfully straight. I had my hair Bo Derek’d, teased, colored (purple, mahogany etc) and braided. The weirdest was the time they put all my hair in an updo that looked like a braided three tiered wedding cake with stephanotis entwined.
I still have nightmares. Cindy Lou Who had nothin on me. Now I’d kill for straight hair. Still have just as much hair, but it’s wavy due to the grey that started in at 21, AND I’ve gone blonde to keep from having to color it every three weeks to avoid the ‘racing stripe’ and it’s only shoulder length as I can’t fathom having to iron more than that. Sigh.
Video of one of the Wisconsin protesters (h/t Burge on the Twitter)
He actually said that? Heh.
Me, I’m thinking about the myriad ways in which “Cash For Clunkers” can be repurposed.
On the plus side we’ll never be entirely clear of the real estate bust until after interest rates peak out…
How’s that for a silver lining?
If there were an ice-cube’s chance in hell of AJB coming back to pick up the ass that everyone upthread is offering to hand him, I’d say “FUAJB.”
But there isn’t, so I won’t.
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/02/17/judge-drill-baby-drill
Today, the Obama Administration’s de facto drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico was once again struck down in Federal Court. U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman granted a preliminary injunction requiring that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) act within 30 days on five pending permit applications from Ensco.
http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2011/02/17/shame-come-back-shame/
The trouble with one more time, is that finally it gets to be the last one. For the unions, the problem with giving an inch is the admission that retreat is possible. And once the unions start going back, who knows where it may end? Even in the midst of this budget crisis, the Milwaukee teachers have held out for viagra coverage, according to the Associated Press. “The union has asked a judge to order the school board to again include Pfizer Inc.’s erectile dysfunction drug and similar pills in its health insurance plans.”
Fuckers.
Don’t really want to rag on the host’s math, but 10.1 + 19.6 = 29.7. 33 would be 1 in 3. The underemployed is only 0.4 from being 1 in 5 all by its lonesome self.
Depressing, ain’t it?
You don’t add thow numbers together David. The smaller one is a component of the greater…
Steph: fifty bux says it’s not her own hair, but who cares? It’s kinda cool.
My hair right now is down to my waist, reddish brown, thick, and wavy when wet. I used to envy my next-door neighbor, because when her mom made two braids, the braids were the same thickness at the top as at the bottom. Mine were fat at the top and skimpy at the bottom.
Still can’t do a damn thing with my hair, but what the hey.
Tips for counter protesting:
Eat light beforehand.
Glue your sign to an ax handle.
When the shit starts, keep left arm straight and start swing with your lower body.
I would suggest you shut up, pay attention, and take good notes until you figure it out.
“Seriously. Were I governor I’d fire them all, then rehire whomever wants a job under the new conditions that the state finds economically sustainable.”
Exactly so. Then let’s see what the test scores look like after a year of teaching by people who don’t have Ed degrees and aren’t unionized. Be an interesting experiment.
Sarah Rolph eats boogers. Who is proposing that teachers not need degrees? Did unions teach you how to slaughter straw people?
Seriously. Were I governor I’d fire them all, then rehire whomever wants a job under the new conditions that the state finds economically sustainable.
Absolutely. Go Reagan on their asses. Any state employee who thinks the taxpayer should pick up the tab for their retirement and benefits should explain themselves to their employer, the taxpayer.
[L]et’s see what the test scores look like after a year of teaching by people who don’t have Ed degrees and aren’t unionized. Be an interesting experiment.
You mean people like homeschooling stay-at-home moms? Put them in the classrooms instead people who spent four years learning teaching strategies instead mastering a discipline? That would be an interesting experiment!
Exactly so. Then let’s see what the test scores look like after a year of teaching by people who don’t have Ed degrees and aren’t unionized. Be an interesting experiment.
Ba haa haaaa …
I have an Ed degree. all my room mates in college were Ed majors. BAh aahh aa haaa haaaa.
If you think having an education degrees makes someone a good teacher, you’re detached from reality.
There is a reason all the dumb jocks in college are Ed majors.
? Put them in the classrooms instead people who spent four years learning teaching strategies instead mastering a discipline
My elementary ed roommates used to have tests on their ability to perform BASIC math. And simple rhyming.
Ha haa a
Go go, ga ga
Do do, da da
My husband and I still laugh about that one.
So, how can you say they weren’t “mastering a discipline”. Ha ha haa ….
El. ed. is a bit of a gray area, I have to admit.
On the other hand, if the current curriculum czars hadn’t kicked grammar to the curb, I wouldn’t be teaching my daughter Latin on the weekends, would I?
(Yeah. Probably I would)
I started college as Secondary Ed. major, with concentration in Social Studies (don’t ask me what that means, because I don’t remember); wanted to teach h.s. history. Walked away after two quarters because I coudn’t stand all the hippy-dippy feel good bullshit coming out of that deptartment.
It all goes back to fucking John Dewey.
I was Masters, secondary Ed, English, with a reading endorsement.
You know what I learned after all those courses on “reading” – how to help problem readers? The magic bullet?
To help problem readers, you must get them to read more.
GENIUS.
I’m sure glad I have a graduate degree so I have the authority to dispense such sage advice.
Never expand an abbreviation I guess. Although “tart” describes a number of the co-eds I remember, however vaguely. No wonder we’ve had an outbreak of scandalous teacher-on-student action since the mid-90s.
It all goes back to fucking John Dewey.
The hot teacher on student action? I’d blame Margaret Mead myself.
Wait. Are we talking about the same thing [grin]
Are you all sure Sarah wasn’t making a valid point – without the union crap and with teachers that have more than an Education degree, what might we achieve?
I used to substitute teach middle and high school – I have a BA and MA in History and a Juris Doctorate – but I was not “qualified” to be a full time teacher. How on Earth could I have taught History or Civics at a High School level?!? Oh, I ended up teaching a college course on law and ethics, somehow…
To AJB’s credit, he did link an article that advocates for simplifying the tax code, arguing that dropping the corporate tax rate to a reasonable number and taking out all the current loopholes would have the salutary effect of simplifying everyone’s lives and raising more revenue at the same time.
Thank you, AJB, for proving that you’re not completely ineducable. I never thought I’d see the day when you’d advocate for lower, simpler taxes.
Yea, I think you’re right. I took Sarah as sarcasm.
Most people do not have pitchforks anymore. But they might use their golf clubs and ski poles.
My marketing department would like to have a word with you, Joe…
Are you saying some of us may lack reading comprehension skills?
BECAUSE OF THE IRONY!
They think they can fool us about inflation by hanging the housing prices on the index. They forget we have to shop for our own groceries and buy our own gas.
Well, it’s her own fault for using charged language. She should have chosen her words more carefully if she wanted to be really helpful. You know, exercise some responsibility for her words so that they couldn’t be willfully misconstrued.
Five to one, baby
One in five
No one here gets out alive…
— The Doors
That’s one good thing about all these teachers calling in sick to strike.
A bunch of the political hacks (of the sort that drag the children to the protest and liberal politics into the classroom) basically identified themselves for us, and are now ripe for firing.
That is, if anyone has the balls to take advantage of it.
Test again