Category Archives: Unemployment

Obama a Christian?, Media protects Obama slams Romney, Real economy numbers reported in late November 2012, John Hammer Rhino Times, August 9, 2012

Obama a Christian?, Media protects Obama slams Romney, Real economy numbers reported in late November 2012, John Hammer Rhino Times, August 9, 2012

“My whole family was Muslim,” …Maya Soetoro-Ng

“A light will shine through that window, a beam of light will come
down upon you, you will experience an Epiphany…and you will
suddenly realize that you must go to the polls and vote for Obama.”…Barack Obama

“There is no evidence that Barack Obama is a Christian”…Citizen Wells

Real reporting about Obama, in print, in NC,

From John Hammer of the Rhino Times August 9, 2012.

“The presidential campaign is still not officially underway – since neither candidate is the official candidate of their party until after the party conventions – and it is already ugly and is going to get worse. Obama, with an unemployment rate of 8.3 percent, cannot run on his record. He spent the $1 trillion in stimulus money to get the unemployment rate down and it didn’t work. If Obama talks about the $1 trillion in stimulus he opens the door for a mistake that he has admitted to making – there is no such thing as a shovel-ready project. So the $1 trillion that was for shovel-ready projects was for fantasy projects. It reminds voters how little Obama knows about how the government works, how business works or, really, how anything other than a political campaign works. And the indications are that he really doesn’t understand political campaigns either.

Four years ago Obama ran what appeared to be a flawless political campaign, but in retrospect it appears that he was running against a Republican that all the other Republicans had beaten when he ran in his campaign mode. It was only when he ran as Sen. John McCain that anyone could tolerate him. When McCain went back to being the Republican presidential candidate, instead of himself, he had already lost. Also Obama could have been caught in the act with a creature from outer space and the media would not have reported it. How many photos did you see of Obama smoking? Do you think the media would have run photos of Sarah Palin smoking if they had them? The media was only going to report good things about Obama and they did. It is why we still know so little about Obama.

The only real source of information we had about Obama was his own book, and then we found out that it is far from a memoir in that he has a composite girlfriend. If the press vetted Obama at all we would know whether or not he was really Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s protégé as he once said, or was he just someone who attended that church on occasion because of its political clout in the black community in Chicago. If he was a protégé then Obama needs to explain when he realized that Wright’s racist rants against white people in general and Jews in particular went too far and he decided not to be a follower.

If the truth is that he was never really a follower of Wright’s, and that is the only church he has ever been a member of according to his book, is he really a Christian? He wasn’t raised as Christian. Neither of his parents were Christians. If Wright did not bring him to Christ, who did? And why did he decide not to practice his religion in a formal manner while president.

These are the kinds of questions that you would expect to have answers to about the president of the United States, but evidently asking any question about Obama that he has not already answered is wrong.

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Along those same lines, it is no surprise, but worth noting, that the mainstream media have become even more liberal and partisan. Back in 2010 and even 2011, with the election at least a year away, the mainstream media were willing to be critical of Obama and to admit that whoever the Republican nominee was that he or she might have some redeeming qualities.

Now that the election is less than three months away, the mainstream media pundits are back to proclaiming Obama the messiah, and Mitt Romney is just some rich guy who inherited a bunch of money, has never really done anything and now wants to buy the presidency. Four years ago when Obama raised more money than any presidential candidate ever had it was because he had the support of the people. Now that Romney is raising more money month after month than Obama it is because Romney is rich. It’s amazing how things get reported.

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One thing that has changed in this election is that no one can argue that Obama doesn’t have the experience to be president. He now has more experience than anyone still in the game. He will soon be tied with both George Herbert Walker Bush, and James Earl Carter Jr., but it is unlikely that either one of them will decide to run for another term.

Experience was a good issue for Republicans in 2008, since Obama had not completed a full term in the US Senate and had never been the chief executive of anything other than the Harvard Law Review and his own political campaigns, both of which are a little different from being president. But this time around Romney’s experience running a business, running a state and running the Olympics are all good preparation but Obama has him beat when it comes to experience being president.

Now it is easy to argue that Obama’s experience as president proves that he shouldn’t serve another term, because he hasn’t been able to get the economy back on track. It will be interesting to see what the real numbers are for the economy when the election is over. It will be a real surprise if the figures released by the government are not revised in November after the election.

I have no doubt that the government in late November will reveal that the economy is in worse shape than the figures released earlier would indicate. Unemployment will turn out to be higher and economic growth will turn out to be lower, and not reporting it earlier was simply due to an unfortunate mathematical error.”

Read more:

http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/Articles-Columns-c-2012-08-08-212799.112113-Under-the-Hammer.html

Obama job facts August 5, 2012, Obama lies about jobs created, Fewer jobs since Obama and Democrats took control, Higher unemployment, Lower labor force participation

Obama job facts August 5, 2012, Obama lies about jobs created, Fewer jobs since Obama and Democrats took control, Higher unemployment, Lower labor force participation

“The United States economy has lost more jobs than it has added since the recovery began over a year ago.”…NY Times Sept. 20, 2010.

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. His heart sank as he thought of the enormous power arrayed against him, the ease with which any Party intellectual would overthrow him in debate, the subtle arguments which he would not be able to understand, much less answer. And yet he was in the right! They were wrong and he was right. The obvious, the silly, and the true had got to be defended. Truisms are true, hold on to that! The solid world exists, its laws do not change. Stones are hard, water is wet, objects unsupported fall towards the earth’s centre. With the feeling that he was speaking to O’Brien, and also that he was setting forth an important axiom, he wrote:

Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984”

Obama is the biggest liar to ever occupy the Oval Office. One of his big lies is misleading the American Public on job creation. He only touts the jobs created, not the net impact of his policies. Not the jobs lost. Not the people dropping out of the labor force.

Here is a simplified example that explains what is happening.

Smallville USA, a fictional town, has five companies.

During the last month company A hires 2 people and company B hires 3. The mayor, interviewed by the local newspaper, brags about job growth in the town and states that 5 jobs were added.

What the mayor fails to mention is that company C dismisses 7, company D dismisses 5 and company E dismisses 3.

Smallville has a net loss of 10 jobs. The local economy is impacted. The mayor failed to mention that. So has Obama.

The misleading information, the lie, that Obama has been touting in his speeches can be found at BarackObama.com. Everything about the presentation of job creation leaves one with the impression that Obama has netted job gains.

For example:

4.5 million private sector jobs added in past 29 months.

The graph indicates many jobs lost prior to Obama taking office and the Recovery Act being signed.

The net jobs gained is not provided and no mention of the fact that the Democrats controlled congress beginning in January of 2007 until the Republicans took the House in 2011.

http://www.barackobama.com/jobsrecord?source=om2012_PR_G_gm-jobs-bg-search_core_&omtype=ofa&subsource=mkwid%7CXWIcSPIC%7Ckw%7C%5Bobama%20jobs%5D%7Cmatchtype%7Ce%7Cpcrid%7C15823272973%7Cpl%7C%7C&gclid=CN2Z5dLT0LECFW1j7Aod-SMAnw

Here is the acid test, the bottom line on Obama and the Democrats impact on jobs.

When the Democrats took control of congress in January 2007, the unemployment rate was 4.6 percent.

When Obama  took control of the White House in January 2009, the unemployment rate was 7.8 percent.

The stated current unemployment rate is 8.3 percent.

That is job creation???

http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000

And that is not all.

The Labor Force Participation Rate has dropped. If that rate had not dropped, the unemployment rate would have been significantly higher.

When the Democrats took control of congress in January 2007, the Labor Force Participation Rate 66.4 percent.

When Obama took control of the White House in January 2009, the Labor Force Participation Rate was 65.7 percent.

The Labor Force Participation Rate currently is 63.7 percent.

http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS11300000/

My reason for quoting Orwell’s “1984” should be crystal clear.


AP awarded 4 Orwells for Obama bias, Jobs data, Unemployment, Stronger job creation could help President Barack Obama’s reelection hopes??

AP awarded 4 Orwells for Obama bias, Jobs data, Unemployment, Stronger job creation could help President Barack Obama’s reelection hopes??

“I am convinced that if squirrels had opposable thumbs, that based on their superior intellect, they would be overqualified to be journalists in the mainstream media”…Citizen Wells

“If I had my choice I would kill every reporter in the world but I am sure we would be getting reports from hell before breakfast.”… William Tecumseh Sherman

“And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed
–if all records told the same tale–then the lie passed into
history and became truth. “Who controls the past,” ran the
Party slogan, “controls the future: who controls the present
controls the past.”…George Orwell, “1984″

Stronger job creation could help President Barack Obama’s reelection hopes.

Well duh, if we actually had stronger job creation and someone in the White House who gets it, and an honest media to report the facts, economic conditions in this country would improve and everyone would be happier.

But for the moment, we don’t.

From Breitbart August 3, 2012.

“AP: ‘STRONGER JOB CREATION COULD HELP OBAMA’S RE-ELECTION'”

“That headline is not made up, it comes from a quote from the very same Associated Press that just last week completely fabricated Mitt Romney’s Palestinian ‘gaffe’. Today the AP is spinning a rise in unemployment and a measly 165,000 jobs created as the kind of “stronger job creation” that could win Their Precious One reelection.

The writer of this nonsense is Christopher S. Rugaber and the shilling is nothing more than propaganda. Rugaber not only wrist-flicks the second uptick in unemployment in just a few month, he tries to pretend the increase is statistically meaningless.

Emphasis mine:

Stronger job creation could help President Barack Obama’s re-election hopes. Still, the unemployment rate has been above 8 percent since his first month in office — the longest stretch on record. No president since World War II has faced re-election with unemployment over 8 percent. …

The government uses two surveys to measure employment. A survey of businesses showed job gains. The unemployment rate comes from a survey of households, which showed fewer people had jobs. Economists say the business survey is more reliable.

Not that any of this surprises me, but watching the media hit new low after new low is nonetheless amusing.

In my lifetime, this is without a doubt the first time the media has ever celebrated a rise in the unemployment rate as a good thing.

Drudge was the first to find this AP story and includes the rare comment on his site:

THEY BOTH CANT BE RIGHT:

Reuters: Labor market slowed sharply after strong gains in winter, spelling trouble for Obama…

AP: Stronger job creation could help Obama’s re-election hopes…

And it’s only August.”

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2012/08/03/AP-Says-Unemployment-increase-good-for-obama

On August 3, 2012 the US Labor Department reported the following:

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 163,000 in July.

The unemployment rate is 8.3 percent.

The labor force participation rate is 63.7 percent.

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

The unemployment rate rose .1 percent in July and .1 percent dropped out of the labor force. Those are large numbers of people not employed. Do the math.

On August 2, 2012 the US Labor Department reported the following:

“In the week ending July 28 the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 365,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 357,000. The 4-week moving average was 365,500, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 368,250.”

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/current.htm

Using the 4 week moving average of 365,500 times 4, we get a general idea of jobs lost during July.

From the the US Labor Department.

“What do the unemployment insurance (UI) figures measure?

The UI figures are not produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Statistics on insured unemployment in the United States are collected as a by-product of UI programs. Workers who lose their jobs and are covered by these programs typically file claims (“initial claims”) that serve as notice that they are beginning a period of unemployment. Claimants who qualify for benefits are counted in the insured unemployment figures (as “continued claims”). Data on UI claims are maintained by the Employment and Training Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor, and are available on the Internet at: workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/claims.asp.

Some countries base their estimates of total unemployment on the number of persons filing claims for or receiving UI payments or the number of persons registered with government employment offices as available for work. These data are also available in the United States, but they are not used to measure total unemployment because they exclude several important groups. To begin with, not all workers are covered by UI programs. For example, self-employed workers, unpaid family workers, workers in certain not-for-profit organizations, and several other small (primarily seasonal) worker categories are not covered.

In addition, the insured unemployed exclude the following:

  1. Unemployed workers who have exhausted their benefits
  2. Unemployed workers who have not yet earned benefit rights (such as new entrants or reentrants to the labor force)
  3. Disqualified workers whose unemployment is considered to have resulted from their own actions rather than from economic conditions; for example, a worker discharged for misconduct on the job
  4. Otherwise eligible unemployed persons who do not file for benefits

Because of these and other limitations, statistics on insured unemployment cannot be used as a count of total unemployment in the United States. Indeed, during 2008, only 36 percent of the total unemployed received UI benefits. The weekly data on UI claims do have important uses, however, and provide a timely indicator on labor market conditions.”

http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm#ui

The AP, Associated Press, is awarded 4 Orwells for their pro Obama bias and attempt to misrepresent the unemployment situation with the jobs added. The reason the AP did not receive 5 Orwells is because they included the unemployment rate.

Unemployment rate 8.3 percent August 3, 2012, Labor force participation rate 63.7 percent, Black Latino Asian drops don’t compute, Numbers rectified?

Unemployment rate 8.3 percent August 3, 2012, Labor force participation rate 63.7 percent, Black Latino Asian drops don’t compute, Numbers rectified?

“The United States economy has lost more jobs than it has added since the recovery began over a year ago.”…NY Times Sept. 20, 2010.

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011
“the Times of the nineteenth of December had published the official forecasts of the output of various classes of consumption goods in the fourth quarter of 1983, which was also the sixth quarter of the Ninth Three-Year Plan. Today’s issue contained a statement of the actual output, from which it appeared that the forecasts were in every instance grossly wrong. Winston’s job was to rectify the original figures by making them agree with the later ones.”…George Orwell, “1984”

From the US Labor Department August 3, 2012.
“THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION — JULY 2012

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 163,000 in July, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 8.3 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment rose in professional and business services, food services and drinking places, and manufacturing.

Household Survey Data

Both the number of unemployed persons (12.8 million) and the unemployment rate (8.3 percent) were essentially unchanged in July. Both measures have shown little movement thus far in 2012. (See table A-1.)

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for Hispanics (10.3 percent) edged down in July, while the rates for adult men (7.7 percent), adult women (7.5 percent), teenagers (23.8 percent), whites (7.4 percent), and blacks (14.1 percent) showed little or no change. The jobless rate for Asians was 6.2 percent in July (not seasonally adjusted), little changed from a year earlier. (See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)

In July, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was little changed at 5.2 million. These individuals accounted for 40.7 percent of the unemployed. (See table A-12.)

Both the civilian labor force participation rate, at 63.7 percent, and the employment-population ratio, at 58.4 percent, changed little in July.”

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

From the Employment Situation Summary Table A. Household data, seasonally adjusted.

 
Category     July 2011  May 2012  June 2012 July 2012
 
Participation rate      64.0     63.8     63.8              63.7                
 
White                                8.1      7.4           7.4          7.4
 
Black                               15.9     13.6   14.4         14.1
 
Asian (not 
seasonally adjusted)  7.7       5.2      6.3           6.2 
 
Hispanic                         11.3       11.0   11.0         10.3

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.a.htm

The white unemployment rate remained at 7.4 percent. The Black, Hispanic and Asian dropped by a combined 1.1 percent. They must be using new or fuzzy math or perhaps the numbers have been rectified as in “1984.”

Perhaps part of the reason is the drop in the Labor Force Participation Rate which is .3 percent lower than a year ago.

And speaking of Labor Force Participation Rate. Have you noticed the rate in West Virginia?

Michelle Obama UNCG speech August 1, 2012, Obama lies, Job lies, Tax lies, College tuition lies, Health care lies, Student loans and records hidden

Michelle Obama UNCG speech August 1, 2012, Obama lies, Job lies, Tax lies, College tuition lies, Health care lies, Student loans and records hidden

“The United States economy has lost more jobs than it has added since the recovery began over a year ago.”…NY Times Sept. 20, 2010.

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

“Because I’m capping greenhouse gases, coal power plants, you know, natural gas, you name it — whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, uh, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers.”…Barack Obama

I do not usually write about Michelle Obama. However, yesterday at UNCG, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, in Guilford County, Michelle Obama continued the tradition of Obama family lies in a political speech.

From the Greensboro News Record August 2, 2012.

“First lady talks up president’s successes in Greensboro”

“Michelle Obama on Wednesday ticked off President Barack Obama’s accomplishments during his nearly four years in office: passage of health care reform; more financial aid for needy college students; ending the Iraq War; and killing Osama bin Laden.

But Obama told the 2,400 spectators inside UNCG’s Fleming Gymnasium that the president needs their help to finish what he started, and she encouraged them to get other people involved when they campaign and go to the polls.

“We cannot turn back now,” she said. “We’ve got to keep moving forward.”

Obama’s visit comes just two weeks after Ann Romney, the wife of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, visited Greensboro.

This is the first lady’s second stop here in recent months. She gave the commencement address at N.C. A&T in May.

North Carolina is considered a battleground state for 2012; President Obama narrowly won the state in 2008.

Obama attended a fundraising event in Raleigh after her appearance in Greensboro. She will return to North Carolina in September for the Democratic National Convention, which will be held in Charlotte.

The first lady touted her husband’s values and drew on their own working-class roots to relate to the audience.

Neither of her parents had a college degree, she said, but they saved and sacrificed so that she and her brother could attend college.

“Education was everything in our family. It was everything,” she said. “It was our ticket to the middle class. It was our pathway to the American dream.”

Obama said her family is a testimony to the “basic American promise” of a better life, no matter who you are or how you started out in life.

“Your president, my husband, understands that promise because that’s the story of his life as well,” she said, noting the president was raised by a single mother who put herself through school.

“Barack knows the American dream because he’s lived it,” she said. “And he believes that when you work hard and you’ve done well and you’ve walked through the doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you,” the first lady said to thunderous applause.”

“Cam Choiniere of Winston-Salem said the first lady came across as dynamic, warm, genuine and personable. “I just truly believe her and think that their (the Obamas) values and motives are so spot on,” she said.”

http://www.news-record.com/content/2012/07/29/article/tickets_for_michelle_obama_popular

If Michelle Obama had really spoken of Barack’s successes, it would have been the shortest speech ever.

From the transcript provided by the News Record.

“It means all of our kids should be able to go to college without a mountain of debt.”

“So, trust me, Barack Obama knows what it means when a family struggles.”

“This election is a choice about our economy. It’s about building a strong and growing middle class. So I want you to remind folks that Barack has cut taxes for working families by $3,600. Cut them. (Applause.) And also people need to understand he has cut taxes for small businesses 18 times. That’s what he’s done. (Applause.) Because Barack understands that rebuilding our economy starts with the restaurants and the stores and the startups that create two-thirds of all new jobs in this economy. ”

“This election is a choice about the health of our families. And listen to this — the fact is that over the past century — okay? — 100 years, so many of our Presidents have tried and failed to meet the challenge of health reform. But your President was determined. (Applause.) See, but Barack was driven by the stories of the people he met — the grandparents who couldn’t afford their medications; the families going broke because a child got sick; the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company wouldn’t cover her care. And that is what kept him going day after day. That’s why he fought so hard for this historic reform.”

“Because of this reform, our children can stay on our insurance until they’re 26 years old. (Applause.) So they don’t have to lose their health care when they graduate and they’re out there looking for a job, trying to build their lives.”

“This election, it’s a choice about whether our kids can attend college without a mountain of debt. Now, believe it or not, back when Barack and I were first starting out, and we were building our lives together, and we were so in love — (laughter) — we still are — (laughter and applause) — but our combined student loan bill each month was actually higher than our mortgage. Now, I know there are people out there who can relate to that. So, believe me, when it comes to student debt, Barack and I, we’ve been there. And that is why Barack doubled funding for Pell Grants and fought so hard to stop student loan interest rates from increasing. (Applause.) Because he knows how important it is for all of our young people to get the education they need for the jobs they deserve. ”

“I want you to tell them how many jobs he created. Tell them how much money he’s put back in the pockets of American people. You can tell them that more of our kids can afford college;”

http://www.news-record.com/content/2012/08/01/article/first_lady_michelle_obamas_written_remarks

If you listened to this horse crap, these political platitudes, or as we refer to them in NC, lies, I urge you to read and yes research what is presented here. The audacity of the Obamas has no bounds. To present those lies in Guilford County, with an unemployment rate over 10 percent!

First, the latest unemployment data from NC.

From Citizen Wells July 27, 2012.

“Unemployment Rates Increase in 84 Counties in June”

“North Carolina’s statewide unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) was 9.9 percent in June. This was a 0.4 of a percentage-point increase from May’s revised rate of 9.5 percent, and a 1.0 percentage-point decrease over the year.

Over the month, the unemployment rate increased in 84 counties, decreased in 11 and remained the same in five. Thirty-nine counties had unemployment rates at or below the state’s 9.9 percent rate.”

“Guilford County, containing both Greensboro and High Point had an increase from 9.6 to 10.3 percent.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/07/27/nc-unemployment-rate-9-9-percent-june-data-unemployment-rates-rose-in-84-of-100-counties-mecklenburg-home-of-democrat-convention-rises-3-percent-to-9-9/

Obama and the Democrats have been trying to do away with the Bush tax cuts. Also part of the deception from Obama, et al is taxing the “rich.” When companies are taxed more this is passed along to consumers. And perhaps the biggest impact comes from the “hidden taxes” in cost of goods as a result of high gas prices.

Gas prices have doubled under the Obama Administration and have impacted the price of nearly all consumer goods, especially food.

In 2009 when Obama took office, gasoline averaged around $ 1.85 a gallon. Here is a chart of gasoline prices for the last 3 years.

Michelle should have felt quite at home at UNCG. They have a similar mindset when it comes to spending other peoples money.

From Citizen Wells November 16, 2011.

“Tuition would rise 10 percent for UNCG students next year according to a proposal the university’s tuition and fee committee presented Tuesday night to the Student Government Association.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/uncg-10-percent-tuition-fee-hike-proposal-660-increase-in-state-university-of-nc-at-greensboro-spending-like-drunken-sailors-out-of-control-expansion/

From Citizen Wells February 12, 2012.

“Amid chants of protest from about 100 students, the UNC Board of Governors this morning approved President Tom Ross’ proposal for tuition and
fee hikes over the next two years.

Ross’ plan would raise tuition by an average of 8.8 percent across the system and keeps increases below 10 percent on every campus.”

“Today’s vote caps months of intense debate over tuition, which the system has used in recent years to help make up for legislative cuts to its budget. The
hikes have forced more students to take on extra jobs to pay for school, or drop out altogether.”

“The state mandates that at least 25 percent of the money from the tuition dollars go toward financial aid for needy students. Some board members recently have spoken out about that requirement, saying it essentially calls for students, who themselves may be struggling, to subsidize the education of other students.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/unc-tuition-hikes-university-of-nc-system-raises-tuition-costs-in-dismal-economy-working-students-and-families-pay-others-tuition-income-redistribution-unc-tuition-hikes-university-of-nc-system/

I have met and talked with many college students. Recently a UNCG student, who is struggling to support his family and attend school, confided in me that the recent tuition and health care increases (mandatory health care insurance almost doubled) could force him to leave school.

From Citizen Wells May 2, 2012.

“The UNC system began requiring students to be covered by health insurance in the fall of 2010. Students must either prove that they have their own insurance or buy a plan offered by the UNC system. Before that, 11 campuses required insurance; rates and coverage varied significantly among the schools.

On top of rising tuition and fees, those UNC system students who buy the university-sponsored health insurance plan will face steep premium increases in the next academic year.

The cost of health insurance will climb from a range of $61 to $77 monthly to a range of $118 to $133 monthly, according to a memo sent from UNC President Tom Ross to the UNC Board of Governors. On an annual basis, most students will pay about $500 to $700 more in 2012-13, depending on the campus.”

“Mallette said the insurance increases are due to the health care usage of UNC system students during the past couple of years, plus federal regulations on preventive care and pharmacy services issued in March. The process is complicated, he said, by the new provisions of the Affordable Care Act.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/05/02/obama-lies-work-on-unc-students-unc-student-health-care-increase-tuition-increase-high-unemployment-obama-uses-orwellian-language-to-sway-students-occupy-white-house/

Michelle and Barack Obama keep talking about their student loans. How do we know this is true? None have been reported on tax returns. And Obama has used many private and US Justice Dept. attorneys, at taxpayer expense, to keep all of his college records hidden.

From ABC News April 25, 2012.

“President Obama told students at the University of North Carolina Tuesday that he knows what it is like to struggle with student loan debt because he and his wife didn’t pay off their student loans until eight years ago.

That may be true, but a quick look at the Obamas’ tax returns shows they were making enough to be considered “wealthy” by the president’s own definition in
the years before his loans were paid off.”

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/behind-obamas-definition-of-wealth-and-paying-off-student-loans-2/

Ben Bernanke Federal Reserve gloomy forecast, August 1, 2012, US economy decelerated, Disappointing jobs reports and sharp slowdown in US growth

Ben Bernanke Federal Reserve gloomy forecast, August 1, 2012, US economy decelerated, Disappointing jobs reports and sharp slowdown in US growth

“The United States economy has lost more jobs than it has added since the recovery began over a year ago.”…NY Times Sept. 20, 2010.

“We tried our plan—and it worked. That’s the difference. That’s the choice in this election. That’s why I’m running for a second term.”…Barack Obama

“Because I’m capping greenhouse gases, coal power plants, you know, natural gas, you name it — whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, uh, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers.”…Barack Obama

From the Guardian August 1, 2012.

“Fed gives gloomy forecast on US recovery but no new stimulus yet”

“Fed chairman Ben Bernanke has consistently said that he is not ruling out direct action in the event of a stalling economy. Photograph: Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images
The US Federal Reserve signalled on Wednesday that it is increasingly worried about America’s fragile economic recovery – but once more stopped short of taking direct action.

After a two-day meeting, Fed officials said the economy had “decelerated somewhat” over the first half of the year, and gave a stronger signals they may take further action as they keep a close watch on the US recovery.

Weakness in the US economy has been underlined since the last Fed meeting by disappointing jobs reports and a sharp slowdown in US growth, which had led to speculation that the Fed might act. After two days of falls US stock markets had rallied ahead of the statement as investors expected action. But the Dow Jones turned negative when it became clear no action would be forthcoming.

“The committee will closely monitor incoming information on economic and financial developments, and will provide additional accommodation as needed to promote a stronger economic recovery and sustained improvement in labor market conditions in a context of price stability,” the central bank said in a statement issued at the end of the Federal open market committee’s (FOMC) two-day policy meeting.

Fed chairman Ben Bernanke has consistently stated that the Fed is considering further action should the recovery appear to be stalling.

There were fresh signs of weakness on Wednesday as a key poll showed economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in July for the second month in a row after 34 consecutive months of expansion. The Institute of Supply Management’s purchasing managers index (PMI) – which measures the acquisition of goods and services – stood at 49.8% in July, barely moving from June’s reading of 49.7%. The index must be above 50% to indicate growth.

Dan Greenhaus, chief global strategist at BTIG, said the Fed was “clearly on a knife’s edge with respect to providing additional stimulus”. Fed statements are parsed line by line for indications of change in policy.

In a note to clients, Greenhaus wrote: “Importantly, the first sentence in the FOMC statement, which noted in June that ‘the economy has been expanding moderately this year’ now says that ‘economic activity decelerated somewhat over the first half of this year.’

“They note that ‘household spending has been rising at a somewhat slower pace than earlier in the year’ while ‘inflation has declined since earlier this year.’ All told, the Fed clearly took down its assessment of the current economic situation.”

Ken Goldstein, an economist at the Conference Board in New York, said the Fed was in a fix. Republicans have already criticised the Fed’s actions and are likely to pounce on any action from the Fed ahead of November’s election.
“This is going to get increasingly political as the election approaches,” Goldstein said.

Goldstein said the economy seemed to be “muddling along rather than falling off a cliff,” and that he believed the Fed was unlikely to act unless evidence of a severe weakening in the US economy emerged.

With economy emerging as the key battleground of the 2012 election, economic indicators have seldom been more closely watched. Last week the commerce department announced that US gross domestic product (GDP) – the broadest measure of an economy’s health – stood at 1.5% in the second quarter, down from 2% in the prior three months, and 4.1% in the fourth quarter of 2011.”

Read more:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/aug/01/fed-us-recovery-stimulus?newsfeed=true

NC unemployment rate 9.9 percent, June data, Unemployment rates rose in 84 of 100 counties, Mecklenburg home of Democrat Convention rises .3 percent to 9.9

NC unemployment rate 9.9 percent, June data, Unemployment rates rose in 84 of 100 counties, Mecklenburg home of Democrat Convention rises .3 percent to 9.9

“The United States economy has lost more jobs than it has added since the recovery began over a year ago.”…NY Times Sept. 20, 2010.

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

“We tried our plan—and it worked. That’s the difference. That’s the choice in this election. That’s why I’m running for a second term.”…Barack Obama

Yesterday, July 26, 2012, we learned that NC had the second largest  initial claims for unemployment in the nation.

“The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending July 14 were in California (+26,244), North Carolina (+11,948), Georgia (+8,372), Alabama (+4,148), and Oregon (+3,019)”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/nc-unemployment-claims-second-highest-in-nation-july-26-2012-11948-claims-second-only-to-ca-nc-labor-force-decreased-and-jobs-lost/

Today the news is even bleaker.

From the NC Dept. of Commerce July 27, 2012.

“Unemployment Rates Increase in 84 Counties in June”

“North Carolina’s statewide unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) was 9.9 percent in June. This was a 0.4 of a percentage-point increase from May’s revised rate of 9.5 percent, and a 1.0 percentage-point decrease over the year.

Over the month, the unemployment rate increased in 84 counties, decreased in 11 and remained the same in five. Thirty-nine counties had unemployment rates at or below the state’s 9.9 percent rate.

Scotland County recorded June’s highest unemployment rate at 17.6 percent, 0.6 of a percentage point higher than last month. Graham County had the second-highest rate at 15.2 percent. Currituck County had the lowest unemployment rate at 5.3 percent, followed by Orange, 7.1 percent; and Chatham & Henderson,
7.3 percent.

The unemployment rates increased in all 14 of the state’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas (Metros). The Rocky Mount Metro had the highest unemployment rate in June at 13.2 percent. The Asheville & Durham/Chapel Hill Metros reported the month’s lowest unemployment rates at 7.9 percent, which increased 0.3 of a percentage point for Asheville and 0.5 of a percentage point for Durham/Chapel Hill. Raleigh/Cary followed at 8.0 percent.”

http://www.ncesc1.com/pmi/rates/PressReleases/County/NR_June2012CountyRateRelease_M.pdf

Mecklenburg County, mostly consisting of Charlotte, NC, the site of the 2012 Democrat Convention, had an unemployment rate increase from May to June of .3 to a rate of 9.9 percent. Adjacent county to the west, Gaston, went from 10.2 to 10.9 percent.  Guilford County, containing both Greensboro and High Point had an increase from 9.6 to 10.3 percent.

I am certain that Obama will portray this as utopian conditions.

NC unemployment claims increase second highest in nation, July 26, 2012, 11948 claims, Second only to CA, NC Labor force decreased and jobs lost

NC unemployment claims increase second highest in nation, July 26, 2012, 11948 claims, Second only to CA, NC Labor force decreased and jobs lost

“The United States economy has lost more jobs than it has added since the recovery began over a year ago.”…NY Times Sept. 20, 2010.

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

Remember this article from the Greensboro News record reported here on July 20, 2012?

From Doug Clark of the Greensboro News Record July 20, 2012.

“North Carolina loses or gains jobs in June, depending on which state numbers you believe, if any”

“North Carolina lost nearly 8,000 jobs in June from the previous month, the state’s Commerce Department reports this morning.”

“The unemployment rate held at 9.4 percent, but that was because the labor force decreased.”

“Note: There are two sets of numbers in the report. You will see some media reports stating the state gained 16,690 jobs in June.”

“Please weigh in on the credibility of these numbers.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/north-carolina-loses-or-gains-jobs-in-june-depending-on-which-state-numbers-you-believe-if-any-july-20-2012-greensboro-news-record-doug-clark/

From the US labor Dept July 26, 2012.

“The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending July 14 were in California (+26,244), North Carolina (+11,948), Georgia (+8,372), Alabama (+4,148), and Oregon (+3,019)”

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/current.htm

The unemployment rates for June by NC county will be released tomorrow.

July 21, 2012 Obama economy and jobs bleak, 27 states recorded unemployment rate increases, Black unemployment up 1.4 percent in 2 months, NC rate suspect

July 21, 2012 Obama economy and jobs bleak, 27 states recorded unemployment rate increases, Black unemployment up 1.4 percent in 2 months, NC rate suspect

“The United States economy has lost more jobs than it has added since the recovery began over a year ago.”…NY Times Sept. 20, 2010.

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

The Obama camp is using every opportunity to divert attention away from the dismal economy and jobs situation. Even the mainstream media has made note of the lies Obama has told about Mitt Romney. The stated unemployment rate in NC is 9.4 percent and that looks suspect, even accounting for historic low labor participation rates.

Doug Clark of the Greensboro News Record of the Greensboro News Record stated yesterday:

“North Carolina loses or gains jobs in June, depending on which state numbers you believe, if any”

“North Carolina lost nearly 8,000 jobs in June from the previous month, the state’s Commerce Department reports this morning.”

“The unemployment rate held at 9.4 percent, but that was because the labor force decreased.”

“Here’s a BLS explanation (sort of) of smoothing. Obviously, this statistical maneuvering makes a significant difference. In the state’s numbers, we either have fewer people working but are gaining jobs, or have more people working but are losing jobs.

Please weigh in on the credibility of these numbers.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/north-carolina-loses-or-gains-jobs-in-june-depending-on-which-state-numbers-you-believe-if-any-july-20-2012-greensboro-news-record-doug-clark/

On Thursday, July 19, 2012, the US Labor Department reported initial claims were up 34,000 from the prior week to  386,000. 20 states had an increase of 1,000 or more. NC was one of those states.

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/current.htm

On Friday, July 20, 2012, the US Labor Department Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary reported:

The national jobless rate, at 8.2 percent.

Twenty-seven states recorded unemployment rate increases.

“In June 2012, 11 states recorded statistically significant over-the-month changes in employment, 8 of which were increases and 3 of which were decreases. The largest statistically significant job gains occurred in California (+38,300), Ohio (+18,400), and North Carolina (+16,900).”

Note from the Greensboro News Record report:

“North Carolina lost nearly 8,000 jobs in June from the previous month, the state’s Commerce Department reports this morning.”

Citizen Wells: I smell a rat. A NC Democrat Convention rat.

Also significant from the report are the following unemployment increases from April to June 2012.

Blacks: From 13.0 to 14.4 percent.

Asians: From 5.2 to 6.3 percent.

Hispanics: From 10.3 to 11.0 percent.

North Carolina loses or gains jobs in June, depending on which state numbers you believe, if any, July 20, 2012, Greensboro News Record Doug Clark

North Carolina loses or gains jobs in June depending on which state numbers you believe if any, July 20, 2012, Greensboro News Record Doug Clark

“The United States economy has lost more jobs than it has added since the recovery began over a year ago.”…NY Times Sept. 20, 2010.

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

From Doug Clark of the Greensboro News Record July 20, 2012.

“North Carolina loses or gains jobs in June, depending on which state numbers you believe, if any”

“North Carolina lost nearly 8,000 jobs in June from the previous month, the state’s Commerce Department reports this morning.”

“The unemployment rate held at 9.4 percent, but that was because the labor force decreased.

These are “smoothed” seasonally adjusted numbers.

The picture is more positive year over year, according to the Commerce news release:

“Since June 2011, Total Nonfarm jobs gained 37,000 with the Service Providing sector increasing by 38,600 and the Goods Producing sector decreasing by 1,600. The largest over-the-year increase of major industries was in Government at 13,000, followed by Education & Health Services, 12,100 and Trade, Transportation and Utilities, 9,400.”

In case you missed it, the largest increase in employment was in government … Contrary to claims of public payroll slashing.

Unfortunately, a gain of 37,000 jobs in the past year is anemic. And now we’re slipping. Obviously, this is not an encouraging report for our state.

Note: There are two sets of numbers in the report. You will see some media reports stating the state gained 16,690 jobs in June.

The news release contains these statements:

“Seasonally adjusted Total Nonfarm industry employment, as gathered through the monthly establishment survey, increased by 16,900 to 3,963,100 in June.”

And:

“The number of people employed (smoothed seasonally adjusted) decreased by 7,909 to 4,216,644 over the month …”

Here’s a BLS explanation (sort of) of smoothing. Obviously, this statistical maneuvering makes a significant difference. In the state’s numbers, we either have fewer people working but are gaining jobs, or have more people working but are losing jobs.

Please weigh in on the credibility of these numbers.

Addendum: Please see economist Dave Ribar’s helpful explanation in the comments below.”

http://www.news-record.com/blog/54431/entry/148571

Thank you Doug Clark for this factual, reality based reporting.