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Balladeer
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0 posted 2010-02-11 08:31 AM


Bipartisan jobs bill short on making jobs
AP


WASHINGTON � There's a problem with the bipartisan jobs bill emerging in the Senate: It won't create many jobs.

The bill includes tax cuts to please Republicans and its passage would hand President Barack Obama a badly needed political victory. But even the Obama administration acknowledges the legislation's centerpiece � a tax cut for businesses that hire unemployed workers � would work only on the margins.

Tax experts and business leaders said companies are unlikely to hire workers just to receive a tax break. Before businesses start hiring, they need increased demand for their products, more work for their employees and more revenue to pay those workers.

Tax experts and business leaders said companies are unlikely to hire workers just to receive a tax break. Before businesses start hiring, they need increased demand for their products, more work for their employees and more revenue to pay those workers.

"We're skeptical that it's going to be a big job creator," said Bill Rys, tax counsel for the National Federation of Independent Business. "There's certainly nothing wrong with giving a tax break to a business that's hired a new worker, especially in these tough times. But in terms of being an incentive to hire a lot of workers, we're skeptical."

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office recently concluded that reducing Social Security taxes for companies that add workers would be among the most efficient ways for the government to create jobs. However, in showing how difficult it is to create jobs through tax policy, CBO estimates that such a tax break would generate only eight to 18 full-time jobs per $1 million in tax breaks.

The Senate proposal, which is more narrow than the one analyzed by CBO, is estimated to cost about $10 billion. That would add 80,000 to 180,000 jobs over the course of a year. The U.S. economy, meanwhile, has lost 8.4 million jobs since the start of the recession.

At a hearing last week, House Democrats peppered Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner with questions about whether a tax break for hiring workers would increase employment. Geithner defended the idea but acknowledged that businesses won't start hiring until demand for their products and services increases.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100211/ap_on_bi_ge/us_what_jobs

Obama report: 95,000 jobs to come each month

WASHINGTON � The United States is likely to average 95,000 more jobs each month this year, while personal savings will remain high as credit remains tight, according to a White House report released Thursday.

The Council of Economic Advisers also trumpeted the $787 billion economic stimulus package, which it said has saved or created about 2 million jobs.

In a message to Congress, President Barack Obama pointed out that the economy he inherited was losing 700,000 jobs each month.

Recognizing voters were likely to hold Obama to account for the economy, the White House team cast blame on their predecessors and unpopular Wall Street bankers.

"I think there's just no way to understate how huge the economic challenges facing the country have been this past year," said Christina Romer, head the Council of Economic Advisers. "So everything obviously from the financial crisis, the terrible recession, but the longer-run problems � the stagnating middle-class incomes, soaring health care costs, the failure to invest in education, innovation, clean energy � we certainly inherited an economy with a number of economic problems."

It's not clear whether the it-didn't-break-on-my-watch message would resonate with voters. Republicans were quick to describe the document as propaganda masquerading as governing.

"The Obama administration's report is full of blame for the policies of years past, praise for its own failed policies of the past year and promises about their ideological agenda to grow government," said Republican House Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia.

"Instead of praising themselves and blaming others, a greater focus on small businesses and smart solutions to reduce uncertainty and create jobs would be welcomed and is long overdue," Cantor said.

Indeed, even adding an average of 95,000 jobs each month, unemployment is likely to remain around 10 percent through this year and not fall below 6 percent until 2015. And while Americans are likely to save more for big-ticket items such as homes or cars, it means a slower recovery for a nation that has lost 8.4 million net jobs since this recession began in December 2007.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100211/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama_economy


IN short, the CBO predicts 80,000 to 180,000 jobs per year.
Obama's council of Economic Advisors predicts 1,1000,000 per year.

They conclude the stimulus package a roaring success.
We have lost 8,000,000 jobs with unemployment topping 10%

They  claim to have saved 2 million jobs.
Completely unverifiable.

Obama lays it all on Bush.
So what's new?



© Copyright 2010 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved
JenniferMaxwell
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1 posted 2010-02-11 09:51 AM


Just curious, Balladeer, re global warming/climate change, do you seriously believe that something like 90% of the world’s climatologists are wrong and Glenn Beck is right?

[This message has been edited by JenniferMaxwell (02-11-2010 10:36 AM).]

threadbear
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2 posted 2010-02-11 02:41 PM


Jennifer, can you state exactly what their case is?  
Balladeer
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3 posted 2010-02-11 03:27 PM


Jennifer, I'll answer you briefly but if you want to expound on it, I suggest you open a new thread on the subject. We have had at least a half dozen so another one won't hurt. This thread is dealing with the job situation.

My answer is that there has always been global warming, global cooling and climate change since the beginning of time. The question is...is it man-made and can man do anything about it to change it significantly? That is where you will find the difference of opinion.

Now about those jobs.....

JenniferMaxwell
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4 posted 2010-02-11 05:59 PM


I'll take that as one for Beck's side.

PS - If you don't want us to respond to part of what you post in the thread opener, Balladeer, might be a good idea to add some sort of disclaimer stating something like your zingers are just rib jabs meant to provoke and responses aren't allowed.


Balladeer
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5 posted 2010-02-11 06:15 PM


No problem, Jenn. I didn't think anyone would ignore the 60 or 70 lines of the subject and key in on the last line only. I'm really not into getting provoked into another argument so I will eliminate the last line and ignore the provocations.

Have a nice evening.

JenniferMaxwell
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6 posted 2010-02-11 06:58 PM


That's one way of dealing with it, Balladeer. Not to be provocative, but don't you think it's a bit unfair to readers to delete the zinger?  Leaves them in the dark re what we’re talking about. I mean, they might think you said a yo momma or something.

As for the 60 or 70 lines, (I haven’t counted but will take your word on it) most of them were copy and paste, written by someone other than yourself. Why should I bother responding? This is a discussion forum. The authors of those articles aren’t here. I’d be talking to myself more than I usually do.

You have a nice one, too.

PS - I'm off to try and finish Palin's book. Pray for me.


Balladeer
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7 posted 2010-02-11 08:00 PM




WASHINGTON — The Senate jobs-creation package that was unveiled Thursday and hailed by President Barack Obama may do more to help politicians who want to be seen trying to help the economy than it does to shrink the nation's unemployment rate.

"This is intended to show government is doing something, but it's hard for me to believe (that) a lot of this stuff is going to have a big impact on job creation," said Robert Bixby, the executive director of the Concord Coalition, a fiscal watchdog group.

The measure also faces rough political terrain. Prodded by some Senate Democrats' concerns, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada plans to hold votes on only a small part of the package by month's end. Lawmakers in the House of Representatives passed a more extensive package in December.

Reid pared down the original $85 billion blueprint that was unveiled Thursday by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and the panel's top Republican, Charles Grassley of Iowa, because of Democratic concerns that it includes items that aren't directly related to job creation but are eagerly sought by business and physicians' groups.

Reid said he wanted to move ahead on the most explicit job-creating parts because, "We feel that the American people need a message. The message they need is we're doing something about jobs."

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/84361.html

threadbear
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8 posted 2010-02-11 09:20 PM


Mike, I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to ask a question that will kind of put you on the spot a bit:

what do you think are the best ways that job growth can either be stimulated or created, by the government?

(I mean, that's the essential question, right?)

Ron
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9 posted 2010-02-11 10:23 PM


quote:
Reid said he wanted to move ahead on the most explicit job-creating parts because, "We feel that the American people need a message. The message they need is we're doing something about jobs."

Mike, you already quoted the answer to your unasked question.

Short of hiring more Air Marshals or some such, the Feds can't "create" jobs; there's an inherent limit to how much infra-structure we can rebuild. All the government can really do is try to create an environment that encourages the creation of jobs. And that still comes right back to consumer confidence.

People spend money. Businesses make money. Businesses hire more people so they can meet the demands of the people spending money. It's not rocket science.

Balladeer
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10 posted 2010-02-11 10:57 PM


People spend money. Businesses make money. Businesses hire more people so they can meet the demands of the people spending money. It's not rocket science.

Actually, Ron, you gave the same answer I was preparing to answer Jeff with. No, it's not rocket science at all.....but it's not as easy as it sounds, either. People have to have confidence that the government is working in their best interest and that they are not going to have the football moved or the rug pulled out from under them before they spend that money. Businesses have to feel the same way. Do they? We have the health care issue on the horizon, along with cap and trade and also the push on the assault of the nefarious global warming, all of which will carry high price tags on businesses and the general populace. People don't know what they are going to be hit with. Businesses especially don't know what they are going to be hit with. This is not a favorable environment for confidence and all polls indicate the the people don't have it. We have a president who is considered by the majority to be anti-business, who attacks Wall Street and the banks and people are nervous. This atmosphere has to change, I think, before things improve.

If you want people to spend like there's no tomorrow, you have to assure them that there will be a tomorrow. (I should copyright that one!)

Thank you both for addressing the topic.

threadbear
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11 posted 2010-02-11 11:23 PM


so, let me paraphrase:

the solution is financial 'faith?'

surely it can't be that easy
or is it...??

Balladeer
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12 posted 2010-02-11 11:27 PM


Yep, it's that easy....and that hard.
Balladeer
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13 posted 2010-02-12 08:03 AM


As in my original post, when you see Obama's council of Economic Advisors predict almost 900,000 jobs to be created per year more than CBO estimates, that does not lead to confidence in the government, either. Obama came out yesterday to claim he is "pro-business". Obviously, he saw the polls, also.
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