US Economy lost another 533,000 jobs in Nov.

[SpiritAlight 1]

Someone needs to analyze this situation further. The country has literally gone from morally bankrupt to financially bankrupt.

If people ever get over the pissing contest, did GWB ever have a mandate in the Senate or House where he could pass and literally do anything he chooses. The president is powerless without the Senate and House approval.

He has the presidential veto...

And he used it!

[Peikko 1,575]

With less and less job available and more and more people needing work, and with more and more people losing the homes they could not afford, and the new unemployed about to maybe lose their homes...well....

not lookin' too good for those of us new here lookin' for worky.

It is time to resharpen our pencils and get back to basics.

What skills do we have and what kind of entrepreneur are we really.

Yup.

The US is not morally bankrupt - if you actually look at the behaviour of the majority as apposed to the minority that are splashed in the news in order to sell, well just about anything, you would understand that in reality, today's society is pretty fine. Yes, there are things that could be improved, even now, but for the most part - the US is doing a fantastic job. Now, I am not quite sure BY which century you would prefer to live in, but I am seeking a time machine especially to transport you back to the time you believe was 'morally' superior.

Who me Madame Cleo?

A time machine would be cool.

I doubt there was ever a century where things were completely moral.

Only people.

And those types still and will always exist.

Not you spirit

[Heracles 417]

Has the bottom fallen out yet?

Is this just the beginning?

Was Chicken Little right?!

I swear if those scum sucking USian "big three" get a dime I'll scream.

Mid Summer sometime NPR was interviewing Ford CEO (I believe it was Ford, maybe they hot GM too).

They asked about the models that Ford was making in Europe.

The economical ones, the ones better for the environment.

They asked when Ford would bring these models to the U.S.

Ford said they were doing the best they can and that they would start to bring them in 2010.

You know what that means: NEVER.

Because when people throw around dates like 2010, we never get there.

It could have happened "yesterday".

Why did it not?

They have not merited a handout.

Damn these multinationals and their lining up for welfare!

Maybe I should package and mail the "big three" the DVD, "Who Killed the Electric Car?", so they could be reminded that some of us remember.

Simple reason actually. People don't want to drive those cars here. Americans have gotten used to monstrosity vehicles. The only way around that is if the government legislate and taxes against it. The other reason is much like Canada, the US is a huge country. Can you imagine driving in a Fiat Punto from Vancouver to Toronto?

The auto CEO's made a bad call and should not be punished for it. Whereas many on wall street were downright fraudulent yet we gave them $700 billion. The senate was grilling the three CEOs for flying in a jet but said nothing when the management team of AIG, for example, took a $400,000 holiday after receiving their first bailout. The auto industry has become the scapegoat while the crooks running these financial firms walk away scott free, no questions asked.

Edited December 5, 2008 by Aficionado

[Sister Fracas 5]

The US is not morally bankrupt - if you actually look at the behaviour of the majority as apposed to the minority that are splashed in the news in order to sell, well just about anything, you would understand that in reality, today's society is pretty fine. Yes, there are things that could be improved, even now, but for the most part - the US is doing a fantastic job. Now, I am not quite sure BY which century you would prefer to live in, but I am seeking a time machine especially to transport you back to the time you believe was 'morally' superior.

Isn't Australia morally superior? No time machine needed... lol

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

... the unemployment rate bolted from 6.5 percent in October to 6.7 percent last month, a 15-year high.

So 1993 was worse?

The worst employment figures since the last time that the economy was in the toilet.

No, 1993 was worse. As were 1991 and 1992.

I went to the BLS website and retrieved the monthly unemployment data series from 1948 to now.

Here's a screenshot of the data in Excel, with all values 6.7 or above in red (6.7 is 'now') and all values below 6.7 in green.

Red is as bad as today, or worse.

Green is better than today.

[SpiritAlight 1]

Has the bottom fallen out yet?

Is this just the beginning?

Was Chicken Little right?!

I swear if those scum sucking USian "big three" get a dime I'll scream.

Mid Summer sometime NPR was interviewing Ford CEO (I believe it was Ford, maybe they hot GM too).

They asked about the models that Ford was making in Europe.

The economical ones, the ones better for the environment.

They asked when Ford would bring these models to the U.S.

Ford said they were doing the best they can and that they would start to bring them in 2010.

You know what that means: NEVER.

Because when people throw around dates like 2010, we never get there.

It could have happened "yesterday".

Why did it not?

They have not merited a handout.

Damn these multinationals and their lining up for welfare!

Maybe I should package and mail the "big three" the DVD, "Who Killed the Electric Car?", so they could be reminded that some of us remember.

Simple reason actually. People don't want to drive those cars here. Americans have gotten used to monstrosity vehicles. The only way around that is if the government legislate and taxes against it. The other reason is much like Canada, the US is a huge country. Can you imagine driving in a Fiat Punto from Vancouver to Toronto?

The auto CEO's made a bad call and should not be punished for it. Whereas many on wall street were downright fraudulent yet we gave them $700 billion. The senate was grilling the three CEOs for flying in a jet but said nothing when the management team of AIG, for example, took a $400,000 holiday after receiving their first bailout. The auto industry has become the scapegoat while the crooks running these financial firms walk away scott free, no questions asked.

Arrrrrr....they SUCK!

Ahem.

Okay here is a more legible response:

You are right about "Wall Street".

Ne'er a worse group to allow to handle more money.

Free money.

Damn it.

Warped sense of self-worth...these CEO types.

Power and $$ went to their heads.

[Heracles 417]

The US is not morally bankrupt - if you actually look at the behaviour of the majority as apposed to the minority that are splashed in the news in order to sell, well just about anything, you would understand that in reality, today's society is pretty fine. Yes, there are things that could be improved, even now, but for the most part - the US is doing a fantastic job. Now, I am not quite sure BY which century you would prefer to live in, but I am seeking a time machine especially to transport you back to the time you believe was 'morally' superior.

That is funny because every single person I have met from the UK would disagree with that.

Edited December 5, 2008 by Aficionado

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I heard on business news that the unemployment rate could top 8-9% by this time next year.

1 in 10 out of work. Doesn't bear thinking about...

My job security is looking pretty shaky right now - as there have been huge job-cuts in publishing across the city.

Thankfully the wife's audit job is looking pretty secure. When retail sales are bad - you always need shortage auditors.

The US is not morally bankrupt - if you actually look at the behaviour of the majority as apposed to the minority that are splashed in the news in order to sell, well just about anything, you would understand that in reality, today's society is pretty fine. Yes, there are things that could be improved, even now, but for the most part - the US is doing a fantastic job. Now, I am not quite sure BY which century you would prefer to live in, but I am seeking a time machine especially to transport you back to the time you believe was 'morally' superior.

That is funny because every single person I have met from the UK would disagree with that.

This reasoning is not unlike those old detergent commercials - "1 in 10 mothers agree that Daz makes their clothes brighter and fresher".

Suffice to say this UKer doesn't hold with that (frankly bizarre) opinion.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I heard on business news that the unemployment rate could top 8-9% by this time next year.

1 in 10 out of work. Doesn't bear thinking about...

My job security is looking pretty shaky right now - as there have been huge job-cuts in publishing across the city.

Thankfully the wife's audit job is looking pretty secure. When retail sales are bad - you always need shortage auditors.

I hear you. My job is never secure, after all IT is just a cost center.

[Heracles 417]

is it a good time to mention that the OECD has predicted Australia and Canada with weather the financial storm (again) as they did with the Asian financial crisis and dot.com bust. No bank failures. Property prices have fallen about 2%..

Edited December 5, 2008 by Aficionado

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I heard on business news that the unemployment rate could top 8-9% by this time next year.

Oh, and did you ever listen to that Pippa Malmgren (sp?) audio clip I posted a few weeks ago? She used to work for GWB, and she forecasted mid-single-digits unemployment in the short term.

[Heracles 417]

The US is not morally bankrupt - if you actually look at the behaviour of the majority as apposed to the minority that are splashed in the news in order to sell, well just about anything, you would understand that in reality, today's society is pretty fine. Yes, there are things that could be improved, even now, but for the most part - the US is doing a fantastic job. Now, I am not quite sure BY which century you would prefer to live in, but I am seeking a time machine especially to transport you back to the time you believe was 'morally' superior.

I was thinking about your viewpoint. How and where is the country doing a fantastic job? Can you show me any international study that backs your point of view? Education maybe? Reducing Poverty? crime prevention? Standard of living? Overall wealth?

I came from a city of 4 million where I read about a murder once every few weeks, if that. Whereas people are murdered in the DC metro area every few days. Forget Chicago, the murder capital. What kills me about you and six is that you play dumb and act as if this sort of stuff is the norm in places like London. Or that what is culturally acceptable in various US communities is also the norm in London. I don't know what city / area you live in, your circumstances, your upbringing etc but I would hardly say what is going on in many American cities is the norm abroad. Sorry Madaaaam Cleo but being a gansta for example is not culturally cool abroad and you know it. Don't either of you (including six) dare pretend this is isolated in America. Heck I have seen kids from Manhattan who are gansta wannabes.

The thirst for the quick buck, at any cost, is clearly not as prevalent abroad as it is here. Everything has it consequences (side-effects), including overall attitude which plays a big part in shaping a society and determining its priorities. What is the easiest way to get into an argument with a European, say you are from the US. Happens every single time.

Edited December 5, 2008 by Aficionado

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The flaw in your thinking BY is that you seem to want to apply a scientific, quantitative rationale to a concept that cannot possibly support one (how does one quantify "moral bankruptcy" exactly) - while at the same time the opinion you are pushing is not one that you are supporting with much more than "I saw it on the news" anecdotes.

What is the easiest way to get into an argument with a European, say you are from the US. Happens every single time.

This European hasn't experienced that.

[Heracles 417]

The flaw in your thinking BY is that you seem to want to apply a scientific, quantitative rationale to a concept that cannot possibly support one (how does one quantify "moral bankruptcy" exactly) - while at the same time the opinion you are pushing is not one that you are supporting with much more than "I saw it on the news" anecdotes.

What is the easiest way to get into an argument with a European, say you are from the US. Happens every single time.

This European hasn't experienced that.

Well your views are hardly supported by any Britt I have met. Quite the contrary actually. I don't need to justify my observations. Hence the concept of an observation. Whereas you clearly feel that one should justify their observation / opinion, while you are entitled to your own opinion.

I guess the only way you and I would ever settle our opinions is to meet-up somewhere in the UK and ask random people (on the street) which viewpoint they support, yours or mine. Clearly everything is anecdotal unless one of your buddies makes a statement. Then, obviously, it is fact and well thought out.

Edited December 5, 2008 by Aficionado

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well your views are hardly supported by any Britt I have met. Quite the contrary actually. I don't need to justify my observations. Hence the concept of an observation. Whereas you clearly feel that one should justify their observation / opinion, while you are entitled to your own opinion.

I guess the only way you and I would ever settle our opinions is to meet-up somewhere in the UK and ask random people (on the street) which viewpoint they support, yours or mine.

Yeah - that's classic BY reasoning that is...