611,000 gov't jobs slashed since 8/2008 - July was the 9th consecutive month, and the 29th out of the last 35, in which total gov't employment shrank

[웃 910]

State and local jobs losses in one graph

By Ezra Klein “Since August 2008, state and local governments have slashed 611,000 positions, and the cuts have been getting worse — 340,000 of those jobs were lost in the last 12 months. July was the ninth consecutive month, and the 29th out of the last 35, in which total state and local employment shrank.” That’s from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Here’s the graph:

[Ironman140 45]

How's that hope and change working for ya

Miss me yet ????

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

State and local jobs losses in one graph

By Ezra Klein “Since August 2008, state and local governments have slashed 611,000 positions, and the cuts have been getting worse — 340,000 of those jobs were lost in the last 12 months. July was the ninth consecutive month, and the 29th out of the last 35, in which total state and local employment shrank.” That’s from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Here’s the graph:

You wouldn't know this if you listened to the RWNs and their propaganda organ. There, you always hear about the government growing.

[Dan J 277]

How much did all that add to the unemployment rate?

[mawilson 2,133]

Unlike the federal government, state and local governments actually have to balance their books.

Spending cuts are possible after all! Too bad the boys in Washington haven't figured it out.

You wouldn't know this if you listened to the RWNs and their propaganda organ. There, you always hear about the government growing.

Federal government is growing. State and local governments are being fiscally responsible.

[Dan J 277]

Unlike the federal government, state and local governments actually have to balance their books.

Spending cuts are possible after all! Too bad the boys in Washington haven't figured it out.

Federal government is growing. State and local governments are being fiscally responsible.

This is true, however balancing under Republican controlled states usually looks like this:

1. Use one time federal money (Pass the problem to the next budget cycle)

2. Use accounting tricks (Pass the problem to the next budget cycle)

3. Cut aid to local governments (Force cities/counties to raise property taxes)

The Republican strategy is often less about cutting spending, and more about passing the problem to someone else to deal with.

[scandal 951]

Unlike the federal government, state and local governments actually have to balance their books.

Not in Illinois they don't. We even have one of them-there "Balanced-Budget Constitutional Amendment" thingamabobs here.

Doesn't do a lick of good. We're still in hock to our eyeballs. One-time this and special-appropriation that, and next thing you know we're billions in the red. And we're not the only state that can't balance a ledger, by any means. Have you seen California's budgets lately?

[mawilson 2,133]

Not in Illinois they don't. We even have one of them-there "Balanced-Budget Constitutional Amendment" thingamabobs here.

Doesn't do a lick of good. We're still in hock to our eyeballs. One-time this and special-appropriation that, and next thing you know we're billions in the red. And we're not the only state that can't balance a ledger, by any means. Have you seen California's budgets lately?

States are still doing a better job than Washington.

"611,000 state and local government jobs slashed since 8/2008"

How many federal jobs were slashed since the crisis began? The federal government has added hundreds of thousands new federal jobs.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

it is a good start.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The federal government has added hundreds of thousands new federal jobs.

No, it hasn't. Civilian federal employment was 2.69MM in 2008 and is 2.78MM in 2011. That's up 80K. Short of 100K and well short of hundreds of thousands. A little more fact and a little less drama would help.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

10 States Where An Absurd Percentage Of The Population Works For The Government

#10 Nebraska

% of all employees: 16.0

#9 New York

% of all employees: 16.3

#8 Idaho

% of all employees: 16.4

#7 Kansas

% of all employees: 16.5

#6 West Virginia

% of all employees: 16.7

#5 North Dakota

% of all employees: 16.8

#4 Mississippi

% of all employees: 18.9

#3 New Mexico

% of all employees: 19.9

#2 Alaska

% of all employees: 20.8

#1 Wyoming

% of all employees: 22.0

So much for the fiscally responsible states. Lot of red one's, too. Commie Alaska and Wyoming leading the list of states with people living off the taxpayers. Anyway, they, along with heir local governments actually had their public payrolls rise much, much more than the federal government over the past few decades. They are accounting for over 80% of all public employees. But here I am again with pesky facts. My bad.

[Ban Hammer 13,395]

#7 Kansas

% of all employees: 16.5

nevermind that there's two military bases in kansas, and the population isn't that high here to begin with!

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

nevermind that there's two military bases in kansas, and the population isn't that high here to begin with!

I hear the same stuff about Alaska in regards to Fed spending here. Three air force bases, two army bases, a naval base, some sub naval bases, Coast Guard everywhere on the coast. More coast line here than the rest of the US combined, and all the Fed spending on the Alaska natives where most all of them live in remote villages where it's fly in only.

Yet the population here is less than a million.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

nevermind that there's two military bases in kansas, and the population isn't that high here to begin with!

Nevermind that these percentages are state and local government employment as a share of total employment - not federal government employees which is where the military falls. Or does Kansas and it's municipalities actually have it's own military?

I hear the same stuff about Alaska in regards to Fed spending here. Three air force bases, two army bases, a naval base, some sub naval bases, Coast Guard everywhere on the coast. More coast line here than the rest of the US combined, and all the Fed spending on the Alaska natives where most all of them live in remote villages where it's fly in only.

Yet the population here is less than a million.

See above. 20% of employment in Alaska is state and local government employment.

Edited August 11, 2011 by Mr. Big Dog

[Ban Hammer 13,395]

Nevermind that these percentages are state and local government employment as a share of total employment - not federal government employees which is where the military falls. Or does Kansas and it's municipalities actually have it's own military?

state and local only - the link doesn't specify that.