Regarding the recent report about the improvement in the economy, a few things come to mind. For example, as one skeptic observed, “The main reason for the existence of economists is to make astrology look respectable.”
Finally, if the economy is actually improving, why is there so much month left at the end of my money?
I watched both President Obama’s State of the Union address and the Republican response from Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.
As a retired teacher, I got worried when I heard Daniels talk about cutting Social Security and Medicare. For most retirees, these are the only ways they are able to pay their bills and stay healthy.
Moreover, I don’t think it was either Social Security or Medicare that created the deficit. To me, we are in debt because big corporations have all these tax loopholes, and millionaires and billionaires actually have lower tax rates than a lot of middle-class folks here …
Let’s be fair and realistic when discussing Mitt Romney’s tax returns. The tax code gives him (and any other wealthy person) certain deductions that aren’t available to the rest of us. Why shouldn’t he take advantage of them?
I’m not his apologist (he doesn’t need one and I wouldn’t be so presumptuous, anyway), but why attack him or any other candidate for being rich? In truth, wealthy people are the only ones who can afford to run for national office these days. Anybody who clings to the romantic notion about some poor person running for president just isn’t paying attention. …
Re: “Gingrich right with ‘food stamp’ label” (letter, 1-24).
The writer criticizing President Obama’s economic record was incorrect in his assertions about Obama’s record on unemployment. The actual unemployment rate in January 2009, when Obama took office, was 7.8 percent, not 6.8.
As the Great Recession that began under President Bush gained momentum in early 2009, the rate increased and peaked at 10 percent in October 2009 – a 28 percent increase. Not until May 2010 did the unemployment rate reach a level significantly below the upper 9 percent level. But a second Great Depression was averted.
Since August of …
Re: a recent letter (TNT, 1-19) endorsing Newt Gingrich’s fantastically stereotypical imagery of Barack Obama as the “food stamp president.”
Of the 46 million people who participate in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (food stamps), 49 percent are children. Also, most are white.
According to 2010 Department of Agriculture data, most people on food stamps are white children.
Also, Obama was accused of authoring a “failed presidency” by composing “failed policies” that Gingrich and the letter writer suppose are painting our currently unacceptable jobs picture. But the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. hemorrhaged 1.9 million jobs …
After watching more republican debates than I probably should have, I have come to the conclusion that the Republican Party has written a ninth beatitude: Blessed are the job creators for they shall never know a tax burden.
But who are the job creators? We know who the Republicans think they are: corporations and the richest Americans. We also know that both of those groups are sitting on piles of money right now, thanks in no small part to Republicans’ efforts to “protect the job creators.”
But if having lots of money creates jobs, then why have so pitifully few …
I recently drove by the University Place Blockbuster and noticed the store was empty. Sure, I can rent movies from Netflix or Redbox, but it won’t be the same. Longtime Blockbuster employee Tom provided a great service by personally recommending good movies (“The Ultimate Gift” comes to mind) and steering me away from marginal ones.
Is our society better off as a result of consumers clamoring for greater convenience and lower prices?
Here’s a challenge: Try going to the Amazon website and finding a phone number to talk to someone.
Most of us Americans would like to do what we can to help our nation out the economic mess. One of the easiest ways for us to help is to “buy American,” thereby increasing the demand for U.S.-made products and, in turn, increasing the need for more workers to make those products.
The problem is we have to pick up and look at every package to see where the product is made. It’s time-consuming and frustrating.
To this end I have a suggestion. It would be easier to find “Made in America” products if the stores would place a small …