Great job George!

[ocelot]

Dawgball,

I assume that privatized accounts will be similar to an IRA with basically mutual funds as the options. Mutual fund management is either "Wall Street" OR is dependent on "Wall Street" for investment advice to my understanding.

But basically I agree with djv that what is the big deal about SS running out of money? The entire gov has been running on credit anyway for years. Why single out SS and say it can't do the same. My guess is the politicians want to tackle an "easy" problem and pretend they've done something meaningful when whatever they do will probably just complicate the system further to no gain.

 

[djv]

Oh the Pres is clever Ocelot. Lets get everyones attention on S/S. Why? It makes better headlines then 50 dead ever other 3/4 days in Iraq. including 3/4 G I's a week. It's better then our borders being over ran. It's better then the highest price for gas ever. It's better then a stock market that's stuck in a trading range thats going no where. It's better then the truth about the tax cuts. It's better then the truth about jobs being lost for good over seas. I see one of our best companies IBM said today 10000 more jobs cut this year. It's better then talkng about the trade deficit and budget deficit. And how thats causing interest rates to go up. And that is a tax on the middle and lower classes of our country that can't afford it. Oh there clever lets distract the American people as best we can before those election next year. And forsure dont talk about health care more and more Americans can't afford. No S/S is the only problem we got and it starts in 20 years. You bet.

 

[StevieD]

Correct you are DJV and the Corporate Press plays right along. How exciting is that Runaway Bride Story! All designed to keep our minds off the real stories.

 

[ocelot]

Agreed djv and StevieD. So many crises looming but the Press other than Bill Moyer doesn't want to bring it up.

America - Land of the Ostriches.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

"Oh the Pres is clever Ocelot. Lets get everyones attention on S/S. Why? It makes better headlines then 50 dead ever other 3/4 days in Iraq"

Your anology DJV is kind of like one on economy a few days ago on GDp slowing.Did you ever think or listen to Greenspan that all these rate hikes have been made to halt the torrid pace of growing economy and curb possible inflation.

and the 50 + deaths of Iraq's I know has the liberals in tears
Did you ever think what the end effect will be on terrorist who have abandoned their focus on foreign troops and have went to Muslim killing Muslim mode---and I quess you failed to read in your liberal outlets about the letter from terrorist upper echolon to Zarqawi that their recuits were becoming disenchanted with same and moral very low---and surely even the NYT had to make some mention of milestone in nabbing #3 Alquada leader yesterday--maybe not since you didn't mention it. I would say if captured by U.S. troops info from him would be slow in any at all--he would simple wait for the rights crew and attorneys from the left to protect him from any "embarrassment" but manage his singing like a chior boy being in hands of Pakistan. You'll notice all these courageous leaders that have their lemmings do the suicide thing have little courage themselves and surrender rather than take chance of being killed. I would be willing to make small wager we in fact did capture him but smart enough to turn him over to Pakistan.
If you travel over to Fox you might be surprised to see there were 40 terrorist killed in Afgan yesterday also--but that wouldn't serve you well.
--and how many weeks have we went without suicide bombing in Isreal??? Not what your looking for either is it.

If you can wipe away the tears for a few minutes and refocus I'll give you some "positive news" on the war from.
--but if truth be known I'd say this news brings more dismay to you and others than your headlines

#3 captured
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,155558,00.html
40 rebels killedin Pakistan
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,155552,00.html
terrorist letter--morale low
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/natio...0,1996516.story?coll=nyc-nationhome-headlines

 

[ocelot]

"Torrid pace of a growing economy"?

Puhleeze! IBM just announced layoffs yesterday. Where is this growing economy? The only thing growing is the number of realtors but that bubble will pop and then there will be nothing left but credit card debt and second and third mortgages with declining home market values.

 

[djv]

Ok drop Iraq all is well there. Even tho were there on lies. But the rest that was mentioned sure tells a story of many problems. And none are called S/S.

 

[dawgball]

47 million folks on S/S are the cause of problems. If thats the case. Instead of sending 4.3 billion foreign aid over seas. Cut it by 47 million and just send each S/S recipient a million each.

The above pretty much sums up why I give no respect to djv when he is arguing something. as long as he can bash the administration, he speaks before thinking.

I see one of our best companies IBM said today 10000 more jobs cut this year.

IBM hasn't been one of our best companies in a long time. They made the huge mistake a long time ago that they were invincible. Their demise has been looming for over a decade. I thought they would eventually make some concessions, but they have all been too little and too late.

I would love to see stories like the Runaway Bride banned from actual news stations, but we live in a time where that is what we get.

The Pres definitely has many very pressing issues right now. I, presonally, feel like SS is one of them that should be fixed sooner rather than later. I also think the President, whoever he is, is fully equipped with enough aides to multi-task to some degree. SS (and affairs with princes) just happens to be the main topic of discussion at this point.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

""Torrid pace of a growing economy"?

Puhleeze! IBM just announced layoffs yesterday. Where is this growing economy?"

I hear your opinion now let me give you some "facts" click on a few and read however as with most of those on the left it will prob dampen your spirits.
P.S. another fact unemployment is lower now than when your economic hero left office---

News Stories
U.S. Labor Picture Improved In April at The Washington Post (reg. req'd) - Sat, May 07, 2005
274,000 New Jobs Created Last Month Well Above Targets Investor's Business Daily via Yahoo! News - Sat, May 07, 2005
Payrolls grow much more than expected in April Reuters via Yahoo! News - Sat, May 07, 2005
US job creation surges, easing 'soft patch' fears AFP via Yahoo! News - Fri, May 06, 2005
Payrolls grow much more than expected Reuters via Yahoo! News - Fri, May 06, 2005

 

[djv]

But why are we are still behind on jobs for last 5 years. What happen to the other 1.3 million people promised that they keep for getting about.
Hey Dawgs whats wrong with giving those folks there own private accounts. You think we cant borrow from the over 4 billion that goes to foreign aid every year. My point was simple there is plenty of cash. The grave diggers are using scare tack-ticks.

 

[dawgball]

...deleted by dawgball..it's not worth the effort

 

[ocelot]

DTB, I give you:

Understanding the Unemployment Rate
Understanding Unemployment Tip

From Alison Doyle,
Your Guide to Job Searching.
FREE GIFT with Newsletter! Act Now!

Unemployment Statistics
Dateline: December 6, 2004
I was asked the other day about why it's still so hard to find a job when the national unemployment rate is at a point which could be considered low. Despite the positive spin in the BLS unemployment reports, the unemployment statistics don't tell the whole story of what is happening with the job market.

The unemployment rate is based on survey information from households and employers, as well as the number of workers collecting unemployment benefits. The unemployment statistics and national unemployment rate do not include workers whose unemployment compensation benefits have expired or those who have given up looking for a job.

Here's what is really happening with the job market and unemployment rate:


2.7 million manufacturing jobs have been lost since President Bush took office.

There were only 112,000 job created in November, well below the 200,000 predicted new jobs.

The Bush administration has a net loss of 313,000 jobs. If this doesn't improve during the next two months, Bush will be the first president since Herbert Hoover to have a net job loss during his first term.

The industries creating new jobs (mostly service sector positions) pay, on average, over 20% less than the industries that have lost jobs.

There are 8 million (counted) unemployed workers.

The unemployment statistics don't including people no longer collecting unemployment benefits or those who have given up looking for work. In some cases, they are listed as discouraged workers.
When you add people who are employed, but, seeking a new job, and those who are unemployed, but, not counted, to those 8 million people collecting unemployment, that's a whole lot of people who are looking for a job. This gives a much different, and more realistic, perspective to the unemployment statistics and to how difficult the job market is still.

 

[djv]

I always wondered if 5.2% equaled different numbers based on who's counted. It's like our over all population number. 5.2% of 250 million would be different then 5.2% of 280 million. I guess each year were stuck at 5.2% as our population grows. Them Numbers can fool you. And local areas can be doing well. Take Madison Wis. That terrible liberal town that has less then 2.3% unemployment.

 

[ocelot]

DTB:

Here are the FACTS straight from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and even given the caveats pointed out in the above article George has NEVER beat Clinton's unemployment rate.

Your statement :

"P.S. another fact unemployment is lower now than when your economic hero left office---" is an outright LIE and no doubt gotten from the Drudge Report or some such propaganda dregs.

HERE ARE THE ACTUAL FACTS!

Series Id: LNS14000000Seasonal AdjustedSeries
title: (Seas) Unemployment RateLabor force status:
Unemployment rateType of data:
PercentAge: 16 years and over

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1995 5.6 5.4 5.4 5.8 5.6 5.6 5.7 5.7 5.6 5.5 5.6 5.6
1996 5.6 5.5 5.5 5.6 5.6 5.3 5.5 5.1 5.2 5.2 5.4 5.4
1997 5.3 5.2 5.2 5.1 4.9 5.0 4.9 4.8 4.9 4.7 4.6 4.7
1998 4.6 4.6 4.7 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.5 4.4 4.4
1999 4.3 4.4 4.2 4.3 4.2 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.0
2000 4.0 4.1 4.0 3.8 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.1 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.9
2001 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.3 4.5 4.6 4.9 5.0 5.3 5.6 5.7
2002 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.9 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.9 6.0
2003 5.8 5.9 5.8 6.0 6.1 6.3 6.2 6.1 6.1 6.0 5.9 5.7
2004 5.7 5.6 5.7 5.5 5.6 5.6 5.5 5.4 5.4 5.5 5.4 5.4
2005 5.2 5.4 5.2 5.2

You will note that Clinton checked out at 3.9 or if you like 4.2% if you want to take January 2001.

Your monkey boy has NEVER come close but rather has slid downhill steadily hitting a high of 6.3% in 2003. Even now in this "TORRID" (did you mean HORRID) economic growth we are at 5.2%.

THOSE, sir, are the FACTS.

 

[djv]

Sure does make it easy to see.

 

[smurphy]

The industries creating new jobs (mostly service sector positions) pay, on average, over 20% less than the industries that have lost jobs.

This is the part I find most disturbing, especially when you factor in the much higher costs of living most of the country has experienced. I think our biggest long term problem is that the middle class has less and less spendable income. Eventually, they'll be too many people scraping by in the service industry - but only the wealthy will be able to afford the services.

I can see this already happening in Las Vegas. Everything is being geared towards wealthy visitors. The middle income tourists are getting the squeeze - becoming very difficult to afford their vacations here like they used to. Unless you got the huge dollars, your nothing. They used to make everyone feel like a bigshot, not just the rich.

 

[djv]

Tax cuts went to far. But you think Bush will ever admit that.
And of course a war in a 2nd country that was not necessary.
It will take someone with balls to say to a billionaire. You don't need a extra 300 million. But your country that has help you get all you have sure does. Like the Waltons last two years. The four of them over a billion. You got to wonder once pass a certain point how can you live any higher. When does it just become greed.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

"Sure does make it easy to see."

Yep in liberal math--Alison Doyle--a liberal female attorny from DC--maybe thats where Edward gets his logic from.

--and on sure easy to see--yep for CNN viewers--as you know it was Tuesday so was at hotel in Madisonville with my weekly feed from CNN because thats all they have. So I'm watching at about 7am with this good looking Robin chick doing the commentary. As I turn it on 1st thing out of her mouth was Culkin will be testifying today Jackson trial and "our sources say" he will in support of Jackson. How fcking prophetic--when was the last time a defence witness didn't testify on behalf of the defendent. They sure make things" easy to see" for their viewers.
Another episode I had good laugh over was she was discussing (and yes they admitted capture of 100+ terrorist in new operation). They immediately went on about the 3 soilders killed and finally the lady ask Robin "My question is,why have they waited so long to assault this area" Robin paused looked at the camera--and said slowly--"Good Question" It's not a good question--any baffoon that can turn dial to Fox are other neworks would have known several days ago the computer and papers from captured high level terrorist lead them there.

It amazes me this station has any viewers--however do like their ticker tape underneath and they do make things easy to see if you want one side and don't want to have to think for yourself.

 

[smurphy]

DTB, you should try Lou Dobbs on CNN sometime. He's far from "easy", and is pretty much nothing but numbers all the time. Comes down extremely hard on illegal immigration and outsourcing. Too bad he's opposite O'Reilly in primetime (on the West Coast anyway). I think a lot of O'Reilly viewers would appreciate Dobbs and perhaps have a better opinion of CNN as a whole. He's not very exciting and doesn't feature nonsense stories about whacky professors though.

Gotta switch channels immediately afterwards - or else get hit by the wrath of Larry King's voice. ....uggghhh, shudder when I think about it.

 

[ocelot]

O'Reilly is a complete buffoon. Just a lot of drivel. Unfortunately this hot air bag has his show on what used to be a good SPORTS network in my local area.

As for the media - I agree with DTB - they say some dumbass stuff. Both CNN and FOX in my view. PBS seems to be uniformly intelligent, McNeil - Lehrer News Hour just cannot be beat.