Recently, the New York Times, after talking with Marco Rubio's pest control person, discovered that Marco authorized the execution of untold numbers of Palmetto bugs (roaches) in and around his Florida home. Horror of horrors! Marco the murderer! Marco the killer!
Of course, this is just a tongue-in-cheek piece of fiction on my part. But, it could very well have happened with the way that the New York Times has been treating Rubio in print these days.
Two weeks in a row, Marco has been the target of a hit piece by this nation's best known and liberal newspaper.
First, there was the story of the "lead foot" Rubio's with 17 traffic violations between them in the last 10 years. Four of which were by Marco and 13 by his more "criminal" wife. Unfortunately, the "Times" could catch him using his influence to fix those tickets but, the fact that he even got them was criminal enough. By contrast, Hillary is a saint when it comes to driving. Maybe, because, she hasn't driven a car since 1996, and, my guess is that she thinks a chauffeur, who opens the door for her, comes standard on all cars.
Then, the "Times" went after him for his management of his expenses. A crime that all of us are probably guilty of.
But, they found his truly "capital felony" was the purchase of a sport fishing boat for $80,000 which the "Times" called a speed boat as to infer that Rubio was racing around Florida harbors; tipping over other boats in his wake with his lead hand on the gas. Obviously, if you have a lead foot on land, you're sure to have one on the water. The truth is that he modestly lavished himself with a recreational boat after receiving an $800,000 advance to write about his life growing up as a son of Cuban immigrants. Has anyone watched 'Dexter'? I think if a murdering blood splatter specialist working for Miami-Dade can afford a Rubio-like boat named the "Slice of Life" then, too, should a U.S. Senator by the name of Rubio. Of course, this is not to imply that Rubio, like Dexter, is a murderer who dumps Palmetto bug bodies off the coast of Florida.
I think Rubio should wear those NYT stories as badges of honor. It shows he is a threat to liberals as being the next President. Even though, the stories themselves are trivial when compared to others who have run for President. But, don't underestimate the tenacity of the "Times" to catch Rubio doing something bigger. Right now, they probably have operatives counting the number of flushes in his home. Seeing if he or his wife calls for paper or plastic when they're checking out at the grocery store, or if he environmentally drinks tap water or selfishly drinks bottled water. Even, worst yet, does he pickup after his dog poops. And, the dog being another mystery that media is infatuated with. Maybe he stole it? Is it still alive? These are deep questions that need to be asked and answered.
So much to do and so little time before Rubio might get the nomination as the GOP presidential candidate.
References:
Rubio and wife received 17 traffic tickets: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/kyle-drennen/2015/06/08/ny-times-reporter-rubio-traffic-ticket-story-why-people-dont-run
Rubio's 'luxury speedboat' is a fishing boat - POLITICO: https://www.google.com/search?q=rubio+speed+boat&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
NYT: Marco Rubio Is Totally Irresponsible Because He Bought a Fishing Boat in Florida: http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2015/06/09/nyt-the-rubios-were-totally-broke-when-they-were-younger-guys-n2010147
The 'Slice of Life': Dexter's Boat: http://dexter.wikia.com/wiki/The_Slice_of_Life
Hillary Clinton Hasn't Driven a Car Since 1996 - The Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/01/hillary-clinton-hasnt-driven-a-car-since-1996/283375/
Who Is the Mystery Dog in Sen. Marco Rubio's House?: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ryan-nickum/mystery-dog-marco-rubio_b_2686769.html
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Monday, June 15, 2015
To Hillary, Bill was the King of Income Inequality
On June 13, Hillary Clinton was about to relaunch her presidential campaign after its horrible launch weeks ago, that came amid all the Clinton Foundation scandals. But, prior to her appearance, a close campaign confidant leaked an excerpt of the speech she was about to give in the Business Insider magazine. It concerned income inequality. The text follows:
That aside, one measure of income inequality is how the top 10% of the nation's income earners fare against the rest of us. To that point, let me thank two liberal (actually socialist) French economists for the following chart:
As you can clearly see, in 1928 (a year prior to the Crash of '29), the top 10% were almost earning 50% of what all the rest of the country earned. Then came the market crash, the Great Depression, World War II, and the Korean war, so that by 1953, the super rich had only controlled a little more than 32% of all incomes. Until Democrat Jimmy Carter became President, the richest incomes meandered sideways from 32-1/2 percent to 35% with the years under Republicans Nixon/Ford being the most stable. Then, in 1979, under Democrat Jimmy Carter, the current increase in super rich wealth began. From that point forward, the rich not only regained their high percentage of income earning power they enjoyed from pre-1929 levels, but exceeded it by now earning in excess of 50% of all incomes in 2012 and under Democrat Barack Obama's watch. Further, under Obama, we have historically high levels of poverty.
Interestingly, the steepest and least interrupted growth in income inequality occurred during the years that Hillary's husband, Democrat Bill Clinton was in office from 1993 to 2001. During those years -- starting in 1995 -- the super rich grew from 41% of incomes to nearly 47% by 2000. A gain of nearly 15% in just 4 years.
Once again, Hillary is making a campaign issue out of a lie. More often than not, gains in the rich's earning power increase under Democrats because the super wealthy feed off higher government spending, policies, and regulation. For example, right now, the rich are making money hand-over-fist in the stock market which is reaching record highs because interest rates have been so low. At the same time, those who are lucky enough to have some money in the bank are seeing interest rates that are less than inflation; meaning that they are losing money on every penny of savings they have.
Hillary may talk like "Robin Hood" regarding the rich, but she's not going to do anything about it. Hillary and Bill love the rich. That's who pays them for all those speaking engagements and that's who supports the Clinton Foundation. These are also the very people who will give Hillary enough money to run her billion dollar campaign.
References:
Hillary Clinton, in Roosevelt Island Speech, Pledges to Close Income Gap: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/us/hillary-clinton-attacks-republican-economic-policies-in-roosevelt-island-speech.html
Hillary Clinton's 'talking points' for 'friends and allies' just leaked: http://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clintons-talking-points-for-friends-and-allies-just-leaked-2015-6
Chart source: How do we know income inequality is getting worse?: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dreaming-of-a-better-gini/
That's rich: Poverty level under Obama breaks 50-year record: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/7/obamas-rhetoric-on-fighting-poverty-doesnt-match-h/?page=all
How Did the Clintons Become So Rich? [and help their rich friends at the same time]: http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/how-did-clintons-become-so-rich
pb
Republicans think it’s time to go back to the old top-down playbook that failed us before. They think it’s time for lower taxes for the super-rich and fewer rules for the biggest corporations. We’ve seen this before. And we can’t let it happen again.Really? Failed us? This from a woman who makes more money giving a one hour speech than nearly 4,000 minimum wage workers would make in a year working 40 hours a week with no vacation or sick days? Not exactly an "I really feel your pain moment"!
That aside, one measure of income inequality is how the top 10% of the nation's income earners fare against the rest of us. To that point, let me thank two liberal (actually socialist) French economists for the following chart:
Interestingly, the steepest and least interrupted growth in income inequality occurred during the years that Hillary's husband, Democrat Bill Clinton was in office from 1993 to 2001. During those years -- starting in 1995 -- the super rich grew from 41% of incomes to nearly 47% by 2000. A gain of nearly 15% in just 4 years.
Once again, Hillary is making a campaign issue out of a lie. More often than not, gains in the rich's earning power increase under Democrats because the super wealthy feed off higher government spending, policies, and regulation. For example, right now, the rich are making money hand-over-fist in the stock market which is reaching record highs because interest rates have been so low. At the same time, those who are lucky enough to have some money in the bank are seeing interest rates that are less than inflation; meaning that they are losing money on every penny of savings they have.
Hillary may talk like "Robin Hood" regarding the rich, but she's not going to do anything about it. Hillary and Bill love the rich. That's who pays them for all those speaking engagements and that's who supports the Clinton Foundation. These are also the very people who will give Hillary enough money to run her billion dollar campaign.
References:
Hillary Clinton, in Roosevelt Island Speech, Pledges to Close Income Gap: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/us/hillary-clinton-attacks-republican-economic-policies-in-roosevelt-island-speech.html
Hillary Clinton's 'talking points' for 'friends and allies' just leaked: http://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clintons-talking-points-for-friends-and-allies-just-leaked-2015-6
Chart source: How do we know income inequality is getting worse?: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dreaming-of-a-better-gini/
That's rich: Poverty level under Obama breaks 50-year record: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/7/obamas-rhetoric-on-fighting-poverty-doesnt-match-h/?page=all
How Did the Clintons Become So Rich? [and help their rich friends at the same time]: http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/how-did-clintons-become-so-rich
pb
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Strong Retail Sales Does Not Mean A Growing Economy
Last Thursday, the retail sales numbers saw a surge; prompting the news agency Reuters to state this:
The fact is, that American national retailers are suffering. Dozens of them are announcing store closures. CNBC predicted this a year-and-a-half ago with their story titled "A 'tsunami' of store closings expected to hit retail". Since that story was run, Radio Shack has announced the closure of 1784 stores due to bankruptcy. McDonald's is shuttering 700. The combined Office Depot/Office Max operation is closing 650 retail operations, and their chief competitor Staples, 225. Others include 200 Walgreens; 338 Wet Seal; 77 Sears; 100 Pier One's, 300 Deb Shops; 40 J. C. Penney's; and on and on with a list too long to enumerate (See References).
In addition, shopping malls are also shuttering their doors. Forbes is predicting 300 Mall closures in the next 10 years, mostly because they are losing their "anchor" stores like J.C. Penney, Sears, and Macy's. But, when a mall closes its doors, so do the dozens of small retail stores that probably won't survive without the large amount of foot traffic a mall provides.
We're six years passed the end of the Great Recession and we are seeing national chain store closures as if we were still in the midst of it; leaving us to question whether or not small local retailers are also closing at that same high rate.
I personally believe that "retail" is hitting the proverbial "brick wall". You have a consumer who has so little money to spend after necessities, that you would have to go back 20 years to see the real median household incomes this low.
Then, retail prices are being driven higher by a variety of factors. For starters, this is the first year that the employer mandate of ObamaCare kicked in. Thus large national chains are being forced to provide health care insurance or pay a fine of between $2000 and $3000 for each employee not properly covered. On top of that, liberal state legislators and city councils are raising the minimum wage. For example, California's minimum wage was raised to $9 this year; and will go to $10 as of January 1st. Additionally, President Obama, through executive order, is expected to force any employer, whose salaried workers make less than $52,000 a year, to pay overtime (time-and-a-half) when they work more than 40 hrs/wk..
The increase in retail sales is more about higher prices and not increased sales. Simply, the consumer is cash strapped and marginal retail operations are being forced to close their doors due to declining foot traffic.
References:
Strong U.S. retail sales boost growth outlook: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/11/us-usa-economy-idUSKBN0OR1H720150611
A 'tsunami' of store closings expected to hit retail: http://www.cnbc.com/id/101353168
Store Closings Index 2015 of Largest US Brick-and-Mortar Retail Chains: http://retailindustry.about.com/od/USRetailStoreClosingInfoFAQs/fl/All-2015-Store-Closings-Stores-Closed-by-US-Retail-Industry-Chains_4.htm
Some 300 malls should close in the next decade: http://fortune.com/2015/01/28/2015-mall-outlook/
Real Median Household Income in the United States - FRED: https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/MEHOINUSA672N
ObamaCare Employer Mandate - ObamaCare Facts: http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-employer-mandate/
State Minimum Wages | 2015 Minimum Wage by State: http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/state-minimum-wage-chart.aspx
White House plans to force business to pay more overtime: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/white-house-plans-to-force-business-to-pay-more-overtime/article/2556692
U.S. retail sales surged in May as households boosted purchases of automobiles and a range of other goods even as they paid a bit more for gasoline, the latest sign economic growth is finally gathering steam.What I take issue with is the "finally gathering steam" statement. Quite simply, a retailer can have stronger sales, not just because of more foot traffic to their store, but also because they may have been forced to raise prices. If a retailer doesn't have enough sales to pay the bills, it will have no other choice but to close its doors. This is a reality that is growing in strength, and which, belies the "gathering steam" comment.
The fact is, that American national retailers are suffering. Dozens of them are announcing store closures. CNBC predicted this a year-and-a-half ago with their story titled "A 'tsunami' of store closings expected to hit retail". Since that story was run, Radio Shack has announced the closure of 1784 stores due to bankruptcy. McDonald's is shuttering 700. The combined Office Depot/Office Max operation is closing 650 retail operations, and their chief competitor Staples, 225. Others include 200 Walgreens; 338 Wet Seal; 77 Sears; 100 Pier One's, 300 Deb Shops; 40 J. C. Penney's; and on and on with a list too long to enumerate (See References).
In addition, shopping malls are also shuttering their doors. Forbes is predicting 300 Mall closures in the next 10 years, mostly because they are losing their "anchor" stores like J.C. Penney, Sears, and Macy's. But, when a mall closes its doors, so do the dozens of small retail stores that probably won't survive without the large amount of foot traffic a mall provides.
We're six years passed the end of the Great Recession and we are seeing national chain store closures as if we were still in the midst of it; leaving us to question whether or not small local retailers are also closing at that same high rate.
I personally believe that "retail" is hitting the proverbial "brick wall". You have a consumer who has so little money to spend after necessities, that you would have to go back 20 years to see the real median household incomes this low.
Then, retail prices are being driven higher by a variety of factors. For starters, this is the first year that the employer mandate of ObamaCare kicked in. Thus large national chains are being forced to provide health care insurance or pay a fine of between $2000 and $3000 for each employee not properly covered. On top of that, liberal state legislators and city councils are raising the minimum wage. For example, California's minimum wage was raised to $9 this year; and will go to $10 as of January 1st. Additionally, President Obama, through executive order, is expected to force any employer, whose salaried workers make less than $52,000 a year, to pay overtime (time-and-a-half) when they work more than 40 hrs/wk..
The increase in retail sales is more about higher prices and not increased sales. Simply, the consumer is cash strapped and marginal retail operations are being forced to close their doors due to declining foot traffic.
References:
Strong U.S. retail sales boost growth outlook: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/11/us-usa-economy-idUSKBN0OR1H720150611
A 'tsunami' of store closings expected to hit retail: http://www.cnbc.com/id/101353168
Store Closings Index 2015 of Largest US Brick-and-Mortar Retail Chains: http://retailindustry.about.com/od/USRetailStoreClosingInfoFAQs/fl/All-2015-Store-Closings-Stores-Closed-by-US-Retail-Industry-Chains_4.htm
Some 300 malls should close in the next decade: http://fortune.com/2015/01/28/2015-mall-outlook/
Real Median Household Income in the United States - FRED: https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/MEHOINUSA672N
ObamaCare Employer Mandate - ObamaCare Facts: http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-employer-mandate/
State Minimum Wages | 2015 Minimum Wage by State: http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/state-minimum-wage-chart.aspx
White House plans to force business to pay more overtime: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/white-house-plans-to-force-business-to-pay-more-overtime/article/2556692
Friday, June 12, 2015
A Disturbing Trend: Increasing Numbers of Job Openings Go Unfilled
Every month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics generates a report called the "Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey" (JOLTS). Unlike the monthly employment report which looks at job creation and the unemployment rate, JOLTS addresses numbers from the employer's perspective. In it, we see how many job openings go unfilled each month, as well as how many workers lose their jobs and how many are hired.
This month, the number of job openings hit a record 5.4 million by the end of April. This is the highest number since this report was initiated in December of 2000, and it follows a rather disturbing trend of a growing number of unfilled jobs since the beginning of 2014.
This is despite the fact that we have 17 million workers who are either unemployed; working part time in lieu of getting a full time job; underemployed based on experience or education; or, simply frustrated with the job market and have given up looking for work (data derived from Table A-15, U-6 of last month's employment report).
As such, why aren't the jobs being filled?
The simple fact is that we have too many people out of the 17 million, that are unqualified to take those 5.4 million jobs. According to the report, 1/5 of those openings are for Business and Professional Services. Another fifth is in Education and Health Services. All of these are higher paying jobs that require specialized experience and/or education. In addition,the balance in manufacturing, transport, leisure services, etc. with limited experience and education needed, are also going unfilled.
With a 3-to-1 ratio of unemployed/underemployed/discouraged workers for every job opening, we have a serious problem; leaving many employers to look overseas to fill those positions through work visa applications or, simply moving those jobs overseas. Either way, this is bad news for the American worker.
References:
April JOLTS Report: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/jolts.pdf
May Employment Report: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
pb
This month, the number of job openings hit a record 5.4 million by the end of April. This is the highest number since this report was initiated in December of 2000, and it follows a rather disturbing trend of a growing number of unfilled jobs since the beginning of 2014.
As such, why aren't the jobs being filled?
The simple fact is that we have too many people out of the 17 million, that are unqualified to take those 5.4 million jobs. According to the report, 1/5 of those openings are for Business and Professional Services. Another fifth is in Education and Health Services. All of these are higher paying jobs that require specialized experience and/or education. In addition,the balance in manufacturing, transport, leisure services, etc. with limited experience and education needed, are also going unfilled.
With a 3-to-1 ratio of unemployed/underemployed/discouraged workers for every job opening, we have a serious problem; leaving many employers to look overseas to fill those positions through work visa applications or, simply moving those jobs overseas. Either way, this is bad news for the American worker.
References:
April JOLTS Report: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/jolts.pdf
May Employment Report: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
pb
Thursday, June 11, 2015
The Latest Re-Write Of History: Bush and Hawkish GOP Created ISIS
In the latest attempt to "cleanse" Obama's legacy of any blame, the political left is perpetuating a lie that George W. Bush created ISIS. The genesis of this current untruth is an accusatory commentary that was aired by the left-wing MSNBC host Chris Matthews on September 10, 2014. In that commentary, he claimed that the success of ISIS on the battlefield was a direct result of the Bush administration's disbanding of Iraqi army leaders who eventually joined ISIS. The problem with this theory is that, never once, has either Chris Matthews or MSNBC been able to substantiate any of their so-called facts. See fact check below which gives him a big fat "mostly false" for the claim.
Now, here's the truth.
ISIS was founded under the name Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad in 1999 by a Jordanian by the name of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi with the intent of establishing a Sunni Caliphate in the ancient area known as the Levant. This was 2 years before Bush came to office and 5 years before we went to war in Iraq. The group which was headquartered in Fallujah, Iraq had set up operations and was growing in size hoping to eventually take over Jordan. Once done, Jordan would become the base of operations from which the rest of the Levant could be seized and forced to join the Caliphate. However, once Fallujah fell to U.S. forces, they were forced to flee to Syria. They reconstituted themselves with the new name ISIL in the vacuum of the civil war that was then raging. After growing in size and taking more and more territory in Syria, they used the removal of U.S. forces in Iraq as an opportunity to move back across the border and overtake Fallujah as part of the Islamic State. Obama ignored them and called them a JayVee team. Now, just how does Bush fit into that whole scenario?
Still, the lie lives on. Recently, a 19 year old girl verbally attacked Jeb Bush at a campaign event challenging him on the fact that his brother created ISIS. That video then went viral; spreading to millions. Something that the source, Chris Matthews couldn't do, because of his small audience.
The saddest fact about all of this is that this fabricated story is also being perpetuated by an idiot Senator by the name of Rand Paul who is attempting to win the GOP nomination. While not mentioning Bush's name directly, he claimed that ISIS was a product of a "hawkish GOP". A statement that he is now trying to walk back. It's bad enough that the political left is perpetuating the lie. Now, we have a republican Presidential candidate fueling it with his own rewrite of history. That is irresponsible and another reason why Rand Paul should never be a candidate for the Presidency.
References:
Matthews: [Bush and] Cheney's post-Saddam tactic created ISIS: http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2014/sep/15/chris-matthews/matthews-cheneys-post-saddam-tactic-created-isis/
Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad [ISIL]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jama%27at_al-Tawhid_wal-Jihad
Video Exclusive: Student who confronted Jeb on ISIS | MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/exclusive--student-who-confronted-jeb-on-isis-445900867908
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) backtracked on his recent comments that hawkish Republicans were responsible for creating the Islamic State: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/02/rand-paul-isis_n_7492994.html
FLASHBACK to January: Obama Calls ISIS 'JV Team': http://www.tpnn.com/2014/08/22/flashback-to-january-obama-calls-isis-jv-team/
Now, here's the truth.
ISIS was founded under the name Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad in 1999 by a Jordanian by the name of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi with the intent of establishing a Sunni Caliphate in the ancient area known as the Levant. This was 2 years before Bush came to office and 5 years before we went to war in Iraq. The group which was headquartered in Fallujah, Iraq had set up operations and was growing in size hoping to eventually take over Jordan. Once done, Jordan would become the base of operations from which the rest of the Levant could be seized and forced to join the Caliphate. However, once Fallujah fell to U.S. forces, they were forced to flee to Syria. They reconstituted themselves with the new name ISIL in the vacuum of the civil war that was then raging. After growing in size and taking more and more territory in Syria, they used the removal of U.S. forces in Iraq as an opportunity to move back across the border and overtake Fallujah as part of the Islamic State. Obama ignored them and called them a JayVee team. Now, just how does Bush fit into that whole scenario?
Still, the lie lives on. Recently, a 19 year old girl verbally attacked Jeb Bush at a campaign event challenging him on the fact that his brother created ISIS. That video then went viral; spreading to millions. Something that the source, Chris Matthews couldn't do, because of his small audience.
The saddest fact about all of this is that this fabricated story is also being perpetuated by an idiot Senator by the name of Rand Paul who is attempting to win the GOP nomination. While not mentioning Bush's name directly, he claimed that ISIS was a product of a "hawkish GOP". A statement that he is now trying to walk back. It's bad enough that the political left is perpetuating the lie. Now, we have a republican Presidential candidate fueling it with his own rewrite of history. That is irresponsible and another reason why Rand Paul should never be a candidate for the Presidency.
References:
Matthews: [Bush and] Cheney's post-Saddam tactic created ISIS: http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2014/sep/15/chris-matthews/matthews-cheneys-post-saddam-tactic-created-isis/
Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad [ISIL]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jama%27at_al-Tawhid_wal-Jihad
Video Exclusive: Student who confronted Jeb on ISIS | MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/exclusive--student-who-confronted-jeb-on-isis-445900867908
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) backtracked on his recent comments that hawkish Republicans were responsible for creating the Islamic State: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/02/rand-paul-isis_n_7492994.html
FLASHBACK to January: Obama Calls ISIS 'JV Team': http://www.tpnn.com/2014/08/22/flashback-to-january-obama-calls-isis-jv-team/
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
The Rapidly Evolving Living (Minimum) Wage
In 2007, Congress incrementally raised the $5.15 an hour minimum wage by 40% making it $7.25, effective July of 2009. At that time we were told that $7.25 an hour was a "fair" wage; or, in other words: a "living wage". In fact, the law responsible for the increase was called the "Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007". Now, if that $7.25 wage was truly a "fair wage" in 2009 and, if it had been automatically adjusted for inflation each year, then the "fair wage" of today should be about $8.
Instead, in 2013, President Obama kicked off a national debate on what is a "fair wage" by campaigning around the country promoting a 24% increase to $9 an hour. A year later, he was pushing a 40% increase to $10.10; or, more than $2 above a supposed fair wage if that $7.25 had been inflation-adjusted all these years. Meanwhile, unions, who don't have a single minimum wage earner as part of their membership, have decided $15 is a living wage and picketed company stores like those of McDonald's and Walmart to give their cause public attention.
As a result of all this, the public is left with the impression that millions of Americans earn the minimum wage and are, literally, living in poverty. Believing all this, 63% of those surveyed in a recent Hart Research poll support a $15 minimum by the year 2020.
The truth about the $15 minimum wage was exposed when the unions in Los Angeles asked the city council to provide an exception to the law for unionized operations in the City. This, after those very same unions had pushed hard by picketing and lobbying to pass the $15 wage in that city.
Suddenly, they realized that a bunch of inexperienced 16-year olds, working part time at cash registers at fast food restaurants, would earn as much or more than their supposed experienced union members. This is because 71% of the 1.25 million workers earning the minimum wage in this country are part-timers. In Los Angeles, union members can make as little as $12/hour. That apparently was a good enough "living wage" for their union members. Let's hear it for the brash hypocrisy of the union living wage argument.
References:
Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Minimum_Wage_Act_of_2007
Feb 12, 2013 · President Obama wants to raise the minimum wage to $9 an hour, the first increase since 2009: http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/12/news/economy/obama-minimum-wage/index.html
March 5, 2014: Obama pushes for $10.10 minimum wage: http://wtnh.com/2014/03/05/obamas-minimum-wage-campaign-comes-conn/
Unions and the $15 Minimum Wage: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/418936/unions-and-15-minimum-wage-kevin-d-williamson
Hart Research Poll on Minimum Wage: http://www.nelp.org/content/uploads/2015/03/PR-Federal-Minimum-Wage-Poll-Jan-2015.pdf
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Characteristics of a Minimum Wage Worker for 2014: http://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/cps/characteristics-of-minimum-wage-workers-2014.pdf
Hypocrisy Thy Name Is Union; Unions Demand Exemption From LA's $15 Minimum Wage: http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2015/05/27/hypocrisy-they-name-is-union-unions-demand-exemption-from-las-15-minimum-wage/
Instead, in 2013, President Obama kicked off a national debate on what is a "fair wage" by campaigning around the country promoting a 24% increase to $9 an hour. A year later, he was pushing a 40% increase to $10.10; or, more than $2 above a supposed fair wage if that $7.25 had been inflation-adjusted all these years. Meanwhile, unions, who don't have a single minimum wage earner as part of their membership, have decided $15 is a living wage and picketed company stores like those of McDonald's and Walmart to give their cause public attention.
As a result of all this, the public is left with the impression that millions of Americans earn the minimum wage and are, literally, living in poverty. Believing all this, 63% of those surveyed in a recent Hart Research poll support a $15 minimum by the year 2020.
The truth about the $15 minimum wage was exposed when the unions in Los Angeles asked the city council to provide an exception to the law for unionized operations in the City. This, after those very same unions had pushed hard by picketing and lobbying to pass the $15 wage in that city.
Suddenly, they realized that a bunch of inexperienced 16-year olds, working part time at cash registers at fast food restaurants, would earn as much or more than their supposed experienced union members. This is because 71% of the 1.25 million workers earning the minimum wage in this country are part-timers. In Los Angeles, union members can make as little as $12/hour. That apparently was a good enough "living wage" for their union members. Let's hear it for the brash hypocrisy of the union living wage argument.
References:
Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Minimum_Wage_Act_of_2007
Feb 12, 2013 · President Obama wants to raise the minimum wage to $9 an hour, the first increase since 2009: http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/12/news/economy/obama-minimum-wage/index.html
March 5, 2014: Obama pushes for $10.10 minimum wage: http://wtnh.com/2014/03/05/obamas-minimum-wage-campaign-comes-conn/
Unions and the $15 Minimum Wage: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/418936/unions-and-15-minimum-wage-kevin-d-williamson
Hart Research Poll on Minimum Wage: http://www.nelp.org/content/uploads/2015/03/PR-Federal-Minimum-Wage-Poll-Jan-2015.pdf
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Characteristics of a Minimum Wage Worker for 2014: http://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/cps/characteristics-of-minimum-wage-workers-2014.pdf
Hypocrisy Thy Name Is Union; Unions Demand Exemption From LA's $15 Minimum Wage: http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2015/05/27/hypocrisy-they-name-is-union-unions-demand-exemption-from-las-15-minimum-wage/
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Airport Security: "Beware of Dog" Without the Dog
Over the years, I have known people who, rather than pay a high monthly fee for a home security system, simply buy a "Protected by" sign and plunk it down in their front yard. The hope is that the sign alone, will deter burglars and vandals. This assumes, of course, that the idiot burglar can even read the sign or even cares. Others, put up "Beware of Dog" signs for a non-existent dog, hoping for the same effect.
In that same vein, it seems we are spending $7 billion a year for the appearance of airport security without a system to really back it up. In a recent testing of the Transportation Security Agency, U.S. airports had a failure rate of 95% in testing that security. Realistic looking guns and bombs were used and passed through security undetected. Apparently, while the TSA agents were checking out a body scan of some great looking babe, testers were shoving guns and bombs through checkpoints like water through holes in a dam.
On top of that miserable result, we are apparently so proud that we discovered the major flaw that we published the results. So, now, not only does every American know it, so do terrorists. Does anyone think that ISIS let this little item slip by them unnoticed?
References:
Why are we spending $7 billion on TSA?: http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/05/opinions/schneier-tsa-security/
In that same vein, it seems we are spending $7 billion a year for the appearance of airport security without a system to really back it up. In a recent testing of the Transportation Security Agency, U.S. airports had a failure rate of 95% in testing that security. Realistic looking guns and bombs were used and passed through security undetected. Apparently, while the TSA agents were checking out a body scan of some great looking babe, testers were shoving guns and bombs through checkpoints like water through holes in a dam.
On top of that miserable result, we are apparently so proud that we discovered the major flaw that we published the results. So, now, not only does every American know it, so do terrorists. Does anyone think that ISIS let this little item slip by them unnoticed?
References:
Why are we spending $7 billion on TSA?: http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/05/opinions/schneier-tsa-security/
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