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Old 06-07-2008, 07:16 AM
 
Location: Sherman Oaks, CA
6,588 posts, read 17,522,586 times
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In terms of the job market for teenagers, although the low-paying retail jobs are where most teens get their jobs, especially first jobs, retail doesn't seem like it's the place to go these days! Certain stores will always have traffic (Wal*Mart, Costco, The 99 Cent Store), but the higher end and specialty stores are feeling the pain as consumers cut back to deal with higher fuel prices. That extra $100-$200 a month in gasoline has to come from somewhere. David Rosenberg, a Merrill Lynch economist, likened it to an average of a 3% pay cut for everyone.
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Old 06-07-2008, 07:53 AM
 
Location: America
6,993 posts, read 17,333,272 times
Reputation: 2093
Quote:
Originally Posted by SandyCo View Post
In terms of the job market for teenagers, although the low-paying retail jobs are where most teens get their jobs, especially first jobs, retail doesn't seem like it's the place to go these days! Certain stores will always have traffic (Wal*Mart, Costco, The 99 Cent Store), but the higher end and specialty stores are feeling the pain as consumers cut back to deal with higher fuel prices. That extra $100-$200 a month in gasoline has to come from somewhere. David Rosenberg, a Merrill Lynch economist, likened it to an average of a 3% pay cut for everyone.
I am not 100% sold on Walmart because, as wages in Asia rise and cost of transport rises, there will come a point when it is uneconomical to keep getting goods from over there. I think mom and pop shops are going to make a come back. Not right away but they will.
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Old 06-07-2008, 09:39 AM
 
Location: Texas
5,012 posts, read 7,858,368 times
Reputation: 5698
Quote:
Originally Posted by skytrekker View Post
Dick Cheney could not have stated this better- in the end totalitarianism has no limits- be if from the far right or left.

Sadly to say the dictionary definition of Fascism certainly fits GW Bush and most of the Republican party.

Fascism is a government, faction, movement, or political philosophy that raises nationalism, and frequently race, above the individual and is characterized by a centralized autocratic state governed by a dictatorial head, stringent organization of the economy and society, and aggressive repression of opposition. In addition to placing the interests of the individual as subordinate to that of the nation or race, fascism seeks to achieve a national rebirth by promoting cults of unity, energy and purity.

Fascists promote a type of national unity that is usually based on (but not limited to) ethnic, cultural, national, racial, and/or religious attributes. Various scholars attribute different characteristics to fascism, but the following elements are usually seen as its integral parts: patriotism, nationalism, statism, militarism, totalitarianism, anti-communism, economic planning (including corporatism and autarky), populism, collectivism, autocracy and anti-liberalism (i.e., opposition to political and economic liberalism).

Fascism also operated from a Social Darwinist view of human relations. Their aim was to promote "superior" individuals and weed out the weak.In terms of economic practice, this meant promoting the interests of successful businessmen while destroying trade unions and other organizations of the working class. Fascism also makes protection of corporate power an essential part of its economic philosophy. Economic fascism makes taxpayers responsible to private enterprise, because "the State pays for the blunders of private enterprise... Profit is private and individual. Loss is public and social. The sounds like the 'Independent' Federal reserve bailing out the Wall Street banks and brokerage houses; while nearly 50 million Americans are without adequate health care.

Also see George W Bush and the 14 points of fascism - Project for the OLD American Century
you are familiar with the Marx's ten planks of communism? I'd say we've been under leftist statism since the signing of the federal reserve act. FDR's new deal forever changed the way Americans viewed the role of the government. We've become a people of self reliance to a people of government reliance. We've become a nation that protected the rights of the individual to a nation that makes sacrifices at the alter of collectivism for the "greater" good. Funny thing is, this nation has gone no where but down hill since we've embraced collectivist policies. Social security and medicare are in shambles. Those in power have abused it for the purpose of fattening their own wallets, the walllets of their campaign contributers, and steal from the very people they are supposed to be serving. Democrat or republican, it doesn't matter how you vote. This nation is too far gone to save and Americans are too stupid to see it.The Ten Planks of the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx
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Old 06-07-2008, 10:15 AM
 
Location: America
6,993 posts, read 17,333,272 times
Reputation: 2093
Quote:
Originally Posted by TexianPatriot View Post
you are familiar with the Marx's ten planks of communism? I'd say we've been under leftist statism since the signing of the federal reserve act. FDR's new deal forever changed the way Americans viewed the role of the government. We've become a people of self reliance to a people of government reliance. We've become a nation that protected the rights of the individual to a nation that makes sacrifices at the alter of collectivism for the "greater" good. Funny thing is, this nation has gone no where but down hill since we've embraced collectivist policies. Social security and medicare are in shambles. Those in power have abused it for the purpose of fattening their own wallets, the walllets of their campaign contributers, and steal from the very people they are supposed to be serving. Democrat or republican, it doesn't matter how you vote. This nation is too far gone to save and Americans are too stupid to see it.The Ten Planks of the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx
That sir is incorrect. NOTHING that is happening now is the result of collectivism or anything else. We have based our economy on consumer debt and THAT sir is the problem. Faux wealth and a fiat system. All this other political talk is just that, talk. Look into what a F.I.R.E. economy is and what it has done to us. When you understand that, you will understand why we are in the shape we are in.
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Old 06-07-2008, 02:45 PM
 
Location: Texas
5,012 posts, read 7,858,368 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild Style View Post
That sir is incorrect. NOTHING that is happening now is the result of collectivism or anything else. We have based our economy on consumer debt and THAT sir is the problem. Faux wealth and a fiat system. All this other political talk is just that, talk. Look into what a F.I.R.E. economy is and what it has done to us. When you understand that, you will understand why we are in the shape we are in.
I know full well why we are in trouble. We've been living on borrowed money far too long and the federal reserve has been monetizing debt in a vain attempt to keep this consumer economy afloat. Eventually lenders will stop lending when they realize there is no way the borrower will ever be able to pay back the debt. Fractional reserve banking is a complete scam and when you have nothing backing the currency, the money supply can grow without any checks in place.

When collectivist policies make up over half of our government spending (social security and medicare), and the bureaucrats have already spent the "trust" money elsewhere when the voted to open the money to the general budget, there are going to be astronomical tax increases in the future. 56 trillion in unfunded liabilities. The government will make us slaves to it's own debt that went into making the bureaucrats and the people that financed their campaigns rich. We never should have given up so much of our hard earned dollars so people that will use it to serve their own self interest instead of putting it to use for the interests of real Americans. The second the leftists try to sieze my weapons is the day I'll go down shooting as many feds as I can. They are already trying, but thanks to organizations like the NRA, JBS, and various militia movements, they haven't been able to rob us of our second amendment rights (yet).
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Old 06-07-2008, 03:42 PM
 
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
2,883 posts, read 5,878,986 times
Reputation: 2762
Just amazing how the press continues to spin this story..

Unemployment, oil prices advance, piling on economy - Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/business/careers/work/la-fi-economy7-2008jun07,0,6643459.story - broken link)

Other places do a more accurate job of reporting (saw the new york times story and it was much better).

But in the LA Times, notice that the headlines are always dampened. The aim is to always lessen the impact.

-It doesn't tell you the total unemployment rate.

-It doesn't tell you how many are unemployed this year.

-It doesn't tell you the number of part time workers.

Leads off, "Economists looking for signs of trouble". The stories never lead off with Joe or Jane Smith looking for work. Yet its a story about unemployment. Makes you wonder about who it's really written for.

Five economists and analysts are quoted. They never tell you why they're interviewing them or the relevancy.

Four politicians are interviewed. A short little plug for the Obama and McCain campaigns.

And they don't tell you what kinds of jobs have been lost. Everything gets reduced down to a catch phrase or buzzword or a headline. Instead of saying, good jobs are leaving, or breaking down pay and benefits. With some real analysis...I guess that's too hard for them.

The story contradicts itself, saying "the largest one month increase since 1986". Then this quote at the bottom...

"As for unemployment, some economists agreed with Bush that a larger-than-expected wave of entrants into the labor market -- primarily college and high school graduates -- appeared to swell the numbers of unemployed counted in May.

"These figures should be taken with a grain of salt, as school-leavers probably skewed them this month," Joshua Shapiro, chief U.S. economist at economic forecasting firm MFR Inc., wrote in a note to subscribers."

It doesn't reconcile the two. How can it be the largest increase in 22 years. But then...."school leavers skewed the figures". Kids always leave school.

If we get 10 or 20% unemployment in this country, don't expect the press and media to give you the straight story.
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Old 06-07-2008, 04:02 PM
 
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
2,883 posts, read 5,878,986 times
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Here's the Wall Steet Journal's version.

Recession Fears Reignited - WSJ.com

Much better, probably the best financial reporting that you'll get. But if you think about it, it's still extremely biased.

They put all the official stuff up front. Quoting the DOW, the Labor Department, the "misery index" (adding unemployment and inflation, but who believes the inflation numbers). Then the economists and portfolio managers get quoted. Then Obama, Bush and Congress.

Then the official talk...

"The decline in nonfarm payrolls -- calculated from a separate survey of businesses -- was unwelcome, but well below the levels of job losses that usually mark recessions. Although job losses are spreading, the pain is concentrated in construction and manufacturing, which shed 34,000 and 26,000 jobs respectively in May and have been dropping steadily for over a year.

Service-sector employment, by contrast, gained 8,000 jobs last month. That reflects continued strength in education, health services and hospitality industries, offsetting losses in business and professional services and retail trade."

So, you had a loss of 60,000 "good" jobs, and a neglible increase in service sector. But it's still suppose to be good.

Then, they save the worst news for the end...

Describing the job market as "a disaster," Mr. Ambrosini says: "I have a resume full of worthless skills and 10 years of experience basically down the drain." He says he has applied for more than 50 jobs without success, including at retailers like Home Depot and Lowe's, and fast-food restaurants. A Burger King near his home "actually had a 'No Hiring' sign," he adds.

Funny, the skills and experience part never gets emphasized.
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Old 06-07-2008, 04:15 PM
 
Location: America
6,993 posts, read 17,333,272 times
Reputation: 2093
Quote:
Originally Posted by John23 View Post
Just amazing how the press continues to spin this story..

Unemployment, oil prices advance, piling on economy - Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/business/careers/work/la-fi-economy7-2008jun07,0,6643459.story - broken link)

Other places do a more accurate job of reporting (saw the new york times story and it was much better).

But in the LA Times, notice that the headlines are always dampened. The aim is to always lessen the impact.

-It doesn't tell you the total unemployment rate.

-It doesn't tell you how many are unemployed this year.

-It doesn't tell you the number of part time workers.

Leads off, "Economists looking for signs of trouble". The stories never lead off with Joe or Jane Smith looking for work. Yet its a story about unemployment. Makes you wonder about who it's really written for.

Five economists and analysts are quoted. They never tell you why they're interviewing them or the relevancy.

Four politicians are interviewed. A short little plug for the Obama and McCain campaigns.

And they don't tell you what kinds of jobs have been lost. Everything gets reduced down to a catch phrase or buzzword or a headline. Instead of saying, good jobs are leaving, or breaking down pay and benefits. With some real analysis...I guess that's too hard for them.

The story contradicts itself, saying "the largest one month increase since 1986". Then this quote at the bottom...

"As for unemployment, some economists agreed with Bush that a larger-than-expected wave of entrants into the labor market -- primarily college and high school graduates -- appeared to swell the numbers of unemployed counted in May.

"These figures should be taken with a grain of salt, as school-leavers probably skewed them this month," Joshua Shapiro, chief U.S. economist at economic forecasting firm MFR Inc., wrote in a note to subscribers."

It doesn't reconcile the two. How can it be the largest increase in 22 years. But then...."school leavers skewed the figures". Kids always leave school.

If we get 10 or 20% unemployment in this country, don't expect the press and media to give you the straight story.
being that the unemployment numbers come most in part by jobless benefit claims, the whole college grad and teenager theory is absurd as you have pointed out.
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Old 06-07-2008, 06:07 PM
 
Location: Great State of Texas
86,052 posts, read 84,321,515 times
Reputation: 27718
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild Style View Post
being that the unemployment numbers come most in part by jobless benefit claims, the whole college grad and teenager theory is absurd as you have pointed out.
Yes, the college grad and teenage stuff is absurd because these are MAY numbers..kids are still in school in May.

June's numbers, out in July will reflect those numbers, but those numbers are called out specifically as "new entrants into the labor force" and their number is given so you can easily see if there is a so called glut of teenagers in the job market.

The big problem is that no one goes and reads the report..they are content to hear it from the MSM that always puts a "spin" on the numbers.
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