Good news in it is 11,000 lost gummint jobs. But among those to be reported lost next month will be cops’ and firemen’s jobs in Democrat-run places like Camden NJ and Newark.
“Unemployment rises”
“Unexpectedly”, I’m sure. 🙁
–
OOPS – shoulda read the link first.
They don’t even make it out of the first paragraph before that word turns up.
–
Reading the differing reactions between here and there is strangely fascinating:
Paul-
Notice that “unexpectedly” is perhaps the most commonly employed adverb in economic articles. Things keep taking the wizards by surprise, whether up or down. But the “analysts,” the bankers, the investment guys or whoever, that greet the “unexpected,” still keep their jobs.
Best to ignore them. I do, and I have not failed to prosper in my ignoring.
I don’t know where this fits, exactly, but it goes with the general theme of the Accumulation of Power by the Left and its allies.
This site has compiled a lengthy list of the biggest-money donors to American politics over the last 20 years. Note that the top 20 donors (by amount) gave to the Democrats at a 13 to 1 ratio:
Note, too, how many ginormous corporations give heavily to the Democrats. And how many unions are in the top ranks of donors. Very interesting, and a good link for those arguments when your lefty friends claim “corporations are all in bed with the Republicans.”
Er, no.
That ratio, BTW, is derived by counting the number of “donkeys” vs. the number of “elephants” in the list.
Actually Beverly, that chart itself seems to make the case that corporations are either in bed with the Republicans or more commonly, are in bed with both parties. It’s true it’s an overwhelming victory for Democrats in the top ten donors category, but those are all various UNIONS, not private sector firms.
So yeah, both our parties are brought and paid for. And we’ve known this for a very long time.
You might also consider how many top union bosses go on to work for either the Democrats or for a private company after their terms are up. I’d say the corporations and politicians have a good deal of control over most of the unions as well. The average working gal/guy really doesn’t have much representation anymore.
Actually Beverly, that chart itself seems to make the case that corporations are either in bed with the Republicans or more commonly, are in bed with both parties.
Drilling down on OpenSecrets.org (which I love, btw) shows that many corporations are in the bag for Democrats, including most particularly the financial industry.
It makes sense for them to do so. To the extent that the canonical party positions hold true (i.e., that Dems want bigger government and Reps smaller), there’s no point in giving money to people who want to leave you alone. Giving money to people who are trying to amass more power, which they may use either to help or harm you, just makes sense.
I’d say the corporations and politicians have a good deal of control over most of the unions as well.
This is backwards. The unions have a good deal of control over corporations and politicians. See UAW vis a vis GM, public sector unions vis a vis CA pols (who dance a merry jig when told to do so by the unions).
Oops. My italics fu failed me. Sorry.
There are men. There are women. There are colors. There are religions. There are nations. We all know each other by these things.
But there seems to be something more fundamental than any of the above. For lack of a better word call it autonomy. Man seems to be divided into two classes: one who wants to make his own decisions; the other who wants someone else to decide for him. It almost appears as if this divide imposes itself and there is little or no free will. Which is a huge problem in my system as I do believe in free will.
I can’t convey to the NA (non-autonomous) how passionate and fierce I am to the idea of freedom. I would rather die than not have my freedom. I will not give up my freedom for another freedom–say the freedom from want or need. (I do reserve the right to learn and change, however.) To me that is what life is about, and if you take my right to provide for myself away, you have taken away life itself.
This rant was inspired by Brad’s topic and link.
Occam’s Beard:
Your argument is that unions have all this power.
If that’s true, can you tell me please why so few Union members have seen their benefits increase over the past ten years, and why the percentage of unionization of the workforce keeps going down as it has for probably the last 50 years? I guess I could believe you if you can explain why the Union leaders are so incompetent on getting what they want , or purport to want for their memberships?
My opinion is this: in France, the people go on strike if the corporations or government look at them funny. In America the average working stiff and most of the unions bend over and take it and ask for another. I don’t see any balance.
Oh, and “canonical” party positions? Please. If you can tell me how Bush governed like a small government republican maybe we can talk. Normally when voting over the past 4 elections I’ve felt like it’s a choice between Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and I have yet to be proven wrong.
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Good news in it is 11,000 lost gummint jobs. But among those to be reported lost next month will be cops’ and firemen’s jobs in Democrat-run places like Camden NJ and Newark.
“Unemployment rises”
“Unexpectedly”, I’m sure. 🙁
–
OOPS – shoulda read the link first.
They don’t even make it out of the first paragraph before that word turns up.
–
Reading the differing reactions between here and there is strangely fascinating:
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2010/12/3/111649/017
Paul-
Notice that “unexpectedly” is perhaps the most commonly employed adverb in economic articles. Things keep taking the wizards by surprise, whether up or down. But the “analysts,” the bankers, the investment guys or whoever, that greet the “unexpected,” still keep their jobs.
Best to ignore them. I do, and I have not failed to prosper in my ignoring.
I don’t know where this fits, exactly, but it goes with the general theme of the Accumulation of Power by the Left and its allies.
This site has compiled a lengthy list of the biggest-money donors to American politics over the last 20 years. Note that the top 20 donors (by amount) gave to the Democrats at a 13 to 1 ratio:
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php
Note, too, how many ginormous corporations give heavily to the Democrats. And how many unions are in the top ranks of donors. Very interesting, and a good link for those arguments when your lefty friends claim “corporations are all in bed with the Republicans.”
Er, no.
That ratio, BTW, is derived by counting the number of “donkeys” vs. the number of “elephants” in the list.
Actually Beverly, that chart itself seems to make the case that corporations are either in bed with the Republicans or more commonly, are in bed with both parties. It’s true it’s an overwhelming victory for Democrats in the top ten donors category, but those are all various UNIONS, not private sector firms.
So yeah, both our parties are brought and paid for. And we’ve known this for a very long time.
You might also consider how many top union bosses go on to work for either the Democrats or for a private company after their terms are up. I’d say the corporations and politicians have a good deal of control over most of the unions as well. The average working gal/guy really doesn’t have much representation anymore.
Actually Beverly, that chart itself seems to make the case that corporations are either in bed with the Republicans or more commonly, are in bed with both parties.
Drilling down on OpenSecrets.org (which I love, btw) shows that many corporations are in the bag for Democrats, including most particularly the financial industry.
It makes sense for them to do so. To the extent that the canonical party positions hold true (i.e., that Dems want bigger government and Reps smaller), there’s no point in giving money to people who want to leave you alone. Giving money to people who are trying to amass more power, which they may use either to help or harm you, just makes sense.
I’d say the corporations and politicians have a good deal of control over most of the unions as well.
This is backwards. The unions have a good deal of control over corporations and politicians. See UAW vis a vis GM, public sector unions vis a vis CA pols (who dance a merry jig when told to do so by the unions).
Oops. My italics fu failed me. Sorry.
There are men. There are women. There are colors. There are religions. There are nations. We all know each other by these things.
But there seems to be something more fundamental than any of the above. For lack of a better word call it autonomy. Man seems to be divided into two classes: one who wants to make his own decisions; the other who wants someone else to decide for him. It almost appears as if this divide imposes itself and there is little or no free will. Which is a huge problem in my system as I do believe in free will.
I can’t convey to the NA (non-autonomous) how passionate and fierce I am to the idea of freedom. I would rather die than not have my freedom. I will not give up my freedom for another freedom–say the freedom from want or need. (I do reserve the right to learn and change, however.) To me that is what life is about, and if you take my right to provide for myself away, you have taken away life itself.
This rant was inspired by Brad’s topic and link.
Occam’s Beard:
Your argument is that unions have all this power.
If that’s true, can you tell me please why so few Union members have seen their benefits increase over the past ten years, and why the percentage of unionization of the workforce keeps going down as it has for probably the last 50 years? I guess I could believe you if you can explain why the Union leaders are so incompetent on getting what they want , or purport to want for their memberships?
My opinion is this: in France, the people go on strike if the corporations or government look at them funny. In America the average working stiff and most of the unions bend over and take it and ask for another. I don’t see any balance.
Oh, and “canonical” party positions? Please. If you can tell me how Bush governed like a small government republican maybe we can talk. Normally when voting over the past 4 elections I’ve felt like it’s a choice between Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and I have yet to be proven wrong.