Unemployment is the Best Way to Create Jobs

[Red Arrow]

I'm further back in line than you, about 22 years from the current eligibility.  How do you think it looks for people my age?  I'm figuring I'll be doing a working "retirement" somewhere rather than holding my breath on getting my benefits.

You better hope someone has a bunch of kids to pay your way.

[we vs us]

You better hope someone has a bunch of kids to pay your way.

What's interesting is that demographically we're not in as bad a shape as everyone thinks we are.  The Boomer generation is about 75 million people all told, but the Millenials -- born 1980ish to 2000 -- are going to be 80 million or more. If we can manage to swap Boomer for Millenial employment, the SS structure should remain viable. Xers like me are just along for the ride 

[Red Arrow]

What's interesting is that demographically we're not in as bad a shape as everyone thinks we are.  The Boomer generation is about 75 million people all told, but the Millenials -- born 1980ish to 2000 -- are going to be 80 million or more. If we can manage to swap Boomer for Millenial employment, the SS structure should remain viable. Xers like me are just along for the ride 

Make it financially attractive to retire and I'm your man.  I like what I do at work but I can find plenty to keep me busy in an alternative career (retired).

[Gaspar]

We got a few more hints yesterday from Mr. Axelrod on CNN yesterday (as President Obama hosted the CEO of MSNBC for dinner on the Vineyard).

Looks like more government stimulus projects are in the works.  Roads, railways, and runways?

SWEET!

[nathanm]

You're just pissed he's doing something that might improve the economy. You'd rather have the economy in the tank until the election next year so your side can chalk up another W. At least that's what the sum of your completely incoherent positions seems to indicate.

[Gaspar]

You're just pissed he's doing something that might improve the economy. You'd rather have the economy in the tank until the election next year so your side can chalk up another W. At least that's what the sum of your completely incoherent positions seems to indicate.

Wow!  Ya got me! 

What the blazes is he doing to improve the economy? 

[nathanm]

What the blazes is he doing to improve the economy?  

Take advice from Avis. Try harder.

[Conan71]

You're just pissed he's doing something that might improve the economy. You'd rather have the economy in the tank until the election next year so your side can chalk up another W. At least that's what the sum of your completely incoherent positions seems to indicate.

I don't know of anyone who really wants the dour economic outlook to continue.  I would have far preferred that President Obama would have come up with policies which helped turn the economy around and he'd be one of the more successful examples of a recovery administration we've seen.  Unfortunately, time is running out for him and I'm afraid the stimulus he is going to propose will look more like a bag of...*ahem*...vote purchases.  Tax rebates for lower wage earners, more projects for union trades, more cash for clunkers, some rebates on thermal windows or solar panels made in China.

It's not partisan for me, Nate.  The numbers have been near flat forever which says we've not really gained substantial ground on jobs or GDP since January 2009.  We are now in the 30th month of this administration so blaming the previous administration for the continued malaise isn't possible.  Granted, the administration has limited options at it's disposal, but this President has consistently been uninspiring and underwhelming on matters of the economy from day 1.  

[Gaspar]

I don't know of anyone who really wants the dour economic outlook to continue.  I would have far preferred that President Obama would have come up with policies which helped turn the economy around and he'd be one of the more successful examples of a recovery administration we've seen.  Unfortunately, time is running out for him and I'm afraid the stimulus he is going to propose will look more like a bag of...*ahem*...vote purchases.  Tax rebates for lower wage earners, more projects for union trades, more cash for clunkers, some rebates on thermal windows or solar panels made in China.

It's not partisan for me, Nate.  The numbers have been near flat forever which says we've not really gained substantial ground on jobs or GDP since January 2009.  We are now in the 30th month of this administration so blaming the previous administration for the continued malaise isn't possible.  Granted, the administration has limited options at it's disposal, but this President has consistently been uninspiring and underwhelming on matters of the economy from day 1.  

It has always seemed like a secondary concern for him too.

[Teatownclown]

I don't know of anyone who really wants the dour economic outlook to continue.  I would have far preferred that President Obama would have come up with policies which helped turn the economy around and he'd be one of the more successful examples of a recovery administration we've seen.  Unfortunately, time is running out for him and I'm afraid the stimulus he is going to propose will look more like a bag of...*ahem*...vote purchases.  Tax rebates for lower wage earners, more projects for union trades, more cash for clunkers, some rebates on thermal windows or solar panels made in China.

It's not partisan for me, Nate.  The numbers have been near flat forever which says we've not really gained substantial ground on jobs or GDP since January 2009.  We are now in the 30th month of this administration so blaming the previous administration for the continued malaise isn't possible.  Granted, the administration has limited options at it's disposal, but this President has consistently been uninspiring and underwhelming on matters of the economy from day 1.  

Are you "in" or what?

Obama Jobs Plan Meets Early Resistance From Republicans

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/republicans-already-balki_n_932453.html

[Gaspar]

Are you "in" or what?

Obama Jobs Plan Meets Early Resistance From Republicans

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/21/republicans-already-balki_n_932453.html

He should have kept it a secret until it was signed.  You know. . ."You have to pass it to see what's in it."

That seems to be the best strategy for him.

[Teatownclown]

He should have kept it a secret until it was signed.  You know. . ."You have to pass it to see what's in it."

That seems to be the best strategy for him.

Leading from the rear was the previous admin strategy, wasn't it?

[nathanm]

I don't know of anyone who really wants the dour economic outlook to continue.  

You should read some of the stuff the Republicans were saying during the debt ceiling debate. McConnell came out and said his entire purpose in life right now is to stymie anything Obama does, including repairing the economy. Maybe it's just the leadership, I don't know, but it's a terrible attitude to have, and too many of the right wing foot soldiers are saying things that sound just like what McConnell has been saying.

[Conan71]

You should read some of the stuff the Republicans were saying during the debt ceiling debate. McConnell came out and said his entire purpose in life right now is to stymie anything Obama does, including repairing the economy. Maybe it's just the leadership, I don't know, but it's a terrible attitude to have, and too many of the right wing foot soldiers are saying things that sound just like what McConnell has been saying.

I think it was along the lines of his biggest goal was to make Obama a one term President.

The state of national politics is incredibly sad.  With all the legislators making around $15,000 a month and many of them are already independently wealthy, they don't seem to have the slightest sense of urgency in solving serious problems with the economy, do they?

[nathanm]

they don't seem to have the slightest sense of urgency in solving serious problems with the economy, do they?

A few of them do, but it is true that almost nobody in Washington is talking about jobs. Get more people employed and/or out of the underemployment trap and you do most of the work needed fix the economy pretty much automatically. Sadly, Obama's "preannouncement" of sorts regarding his new jobs plan is the closest thing to any real talk about the issue we've heard in months.

To some degree, there have been other issues sucking all the air out of the room. There is and has been far too much talk about the 2012 elections. There was far too much time wasted on the debt ceiling. Even the Libyan situation is probably getting more attention than it really deserves, at least in proportion to how it affects our daily lives. On the one hand, I'd like to see more coverage of the Murdoch scandal, but once again, it would be distracting from more immediate concerns.