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...Worth checking Out...
I caught a glimpse of a news conference by the Heritage Foundation's Michael Franc. He is the Government Relations VP for the Foundation. I am well aware of some of the support the Heritage Foundation receives. However, I have been of the view of that any idea that would help provide a roadmap is absolutely crucial to be looked at. I would be analyzing the report annouced by Heritage and providing guidance on it as part of OV's Election Watch Series over the ensuing weeks.
I welcome the Heritage Report because it is how things should be. There was one thing that Michael Franc also noted that I also agree with: incremental change is simply not acceptable. There needs to be the courage to truly work to transform for the greater good.
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Is there any hope at all!?!?!
Someone once told me that being an optimist is a gift, but one has to be a realist too. That realism is born out of the fact that one has to understand what is going on "out there" and be able to somehow bring it to bear here. This is ever more so now as we are faced with an economy that continues to be tough as nails. Hope and optimism has to sustain us. There is no other way. The realities on the ground, though, continues to be ever more scary.
By now, the fact that the U.S. Senate did not pass Unemployment Insurance Extension is well known. Some 1 Million People will lose their benefits today. In my visits to the Local California One Stop Center, I have overheard folks repeatedly asking about extensions and assessing their status. I dread the day to see the face of those who had counted on this and will no longer be able to do so. There are some who say that this unemployment stipend helps to perpetuate a cycle of unemployment and dependency. I can understand that if the jobs were out there. But unfortunately they are not. I suppose that the fact that those who had depended on this stipend will go hungry and homeless is not as important as being fiscally responsible.
The first solution, of course, is to attack "Washington". The Corporate Mainstreat Media is beginning to go after it big time. For instance, Dylan Radigan on MSNBC has this "Fix It Week" thing to come up with solutions and to fight the "corruption" of Government. Fox continues its' quest to simply tell its' version of the way things are. There are also the same old tired solutions that are coming out of the U.S. Conservative Community. There is a continued call for more tax cuts, tax breaks, etc. etc. In the meantime, the man on Main Street continues to struggle to figure out how to survive it all!!!
As America gears up to celebrate the 4th of July, Cities are starting to cancel fireworks to save money. The reports I have seen are quite distressing. Some cities have supposedly depended on business contributions which have also dissipated as a result of the nervousness shown. I won't even go into the reports on the continued nervousness in World Markets and the dip in Treasury Yields. Although I respect what Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana has done not to include "Funny Money" in his budget, States have profound challenges that somehow has to be met. Fiscal responsbility is commendable and has to be planned for long-term. I have to again wonder what will happen to all who have no hope and are increasingly despondent.
As "Main Street" continues to suffer, false prophets of hope continue to figure out ways to swindle their way to profit. The classic Work From Home Scamms are continuing to spring up. Yesterday's USA Today article made me mad beyond words about how people can be so cruel: Really Long Link
When will it all change? Will we be able to see better days ahead? I wonder.
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..and we think things are improving....
As I begin the third year of "Outsiders" I will be relaunching the Economy Watch Series because of the continued calamity being faced in the United States. I view the possiblity of a double-dip recession to be ever more present as the signals I assess are not good at all.
The number of new home sales dropped 3.3 percent. Retail Sales were disappointing. The number of first time unemployment filings went down, slightly. But, one has to only see the job postings at the local unemployment office to realize that there is not much going on. In visiting the local One Stop Center, I see a continued stream of folks going in to assess what is at hand. There is a waiting list to use the system resources. Career Counselors have an increasingly larger case load as the budget is cut. That's the reality on the ground
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....and the Republican Beef is?
The Republicans have been on a continued warpath to circumvent Barack Obama's agenda at every turn. The healthcare debate has shown that all they are interested in an outright power grab to implement their narrow idelogical vision on the country. They are opposed to anything that remotely insures that the average person has a fighting chance. Paul Ryan's plan to replace Medicare with vouchers is just one of those extreme examples.
While the Republicans have continued to dominate the airwaves and win the public relations war, the real world goes on. There was a spike in unemployment not withstanding the 51,000 hires for the Census temporary jobs. The "real" unemployment rate stands at 16.8 Percent, on par with Spain. What Republicans should take notice of is a speech by the US Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue. He spoke and made five key points
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The Lines Are Clearly Drawn....
I was pleased to see the reports that the Economy is on the mend. The President talked about it during the State of the Union. I especially was jazzed about the 5.7% growth of GDP during the 4th Quarter of 2009. Jobs, though, continue to be lost--albeit at a slower pace. But, if anyone thinks we're out of the woods--I have a bridge in Alaska that I really want to suggest that they go out and check out. The point is that this growth is not translating into much.
President Obama hit the road noting that there is a lot yet to be done. He noted that 1 in 10 Americans can't find work. The President needs to be reminded that the actual number is almost 1 in 17. In California, it is almost 1 in 20. I think the President was brilliant in how he went on the offense with the Republicans during their Policy retreat on Friday
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Mike Pouraryan
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