Wednesday, March 14, 2012

I understand completely, and agree...

...but not because it's Obama. No president's face should ever appear on the American flag.

Vets angry over American flag featuring Obama

Why the BLS' Unemployment number is misleading


"…it’s useful to understand how the Bureau of Labor Statistics calculated the 243,000 increase in employment that it reported for January. Total non-farm employment in the U.S., before seasonal adjustments, fell by 2,689,000 jobs in January. However, because it’s typical for the economy to lose a large number of jobs after the holidays, largely in retail trade, construction, and manufacturing, the BLS estimated that the “normal” seasonal decline in employment should have been 2,932,000 jobs in January. The difference between the two numbers, of course, was 243,000 jobs, which was reported as an increase in employment. The fact that the size of the seasonal adjustment was more than 12 times the number of reported jobs, and more than 30 times the “beat” in economists’ expectations, should provoke at least some hesitation in taking the number at face value."

--Dr. John Hussman, February 6, 2012 -  Notes on Risk Management - Warts and All ,
under the heading: The economy: weak leading, lukewarm lagging

As with the CBO's incessant bungling of the country's projected anything (there's a lot of chicanery and outright deception involved in their conjurations), the Bureau of Labor Statistics is likewise besotted by the same fuzzy math techniques. In the CBO's defense, it can only calculate a number based on the information given them by lawmakers. The BLS, however, is much more the political animal; it has an agenda, and the truth is not necessarily at the top of its integrity list.

In a previous post I pointed out that the BLS and the administration conveniently (for their narrative) ignore certain peoples when it comes to calculating the unemployment number they give us each month.

Unemployment is expected to remain at 8.3 percent in February, as jobs creation barely outpaces population growth. Over the past three years, the percentage of adults participating in the labor force –those employed, self employed, or unemployed but looking for work – declined significantly. If the adult participation rate was the same today as when Barack Obama became president, unemployment would be 11 percent.


Adding adults on the sidelines, those who say they would reenter the labor market if conditions improved and part-time workers who would prefer full-time positions, the unemployment rate becomes 15.2 percent. Factoring in college graduates in low skill positions, like counter-work at Starbucks, and unemployment is closer to 20 percent.

--Dr. Peter Morici, March 7, 2012,  
Report Expected to Show Fewer Jobs Added in February

I'll grant you, working behind the counter at Starbucks is work, but not particularly meaningful, however, unless you're the franchise owner, or a manager with aspirations. So it's one thing to say the real unemployment rate is closer to 11% because we've stopped counting those who want to work but have given up looking for work, or because adult participation, if it was the same today as when Obama took office, would be 11%-- either/or, both are essential the same.


When Barack Obama entered office in January, 2009, the labor force participation rate was 65.7%, meaning nearly two-thirds of working age Americans were working or looking for work.


When the recession supposedly officially ended in June, 2009, the labor force participation rate was still 65.7%.


In the latest, much celebrated, unemployment report, the labor force participation rate had plummeted to 63.7%, the most rapid decline in U.S. history.  That means that under President Obama nearly 5 million Americans have fled the workforce in hopeless despair.


The trick is that when those 5 million are not counted as in the work force, they are not counted as unemployed either.  They may desperately need and want jobs.  They may be in poverty, as many undoubtedly are, with America suffering today more people in poverty than in the entire half century the Census Bureau has been counting poverty.  But they are not even counted in that 8.3% unemployment rate that Obama and his media cheerleaders were so tirelessly celebrating last week.


If they were counted, the unemployment rate today would be a far more realistic 11%, better reflecting the suffering in the real economy under Obamanomics.

--Peter Ferrara, March 9, 2012 - Forbes.com, 
Don't be fooled: the Obama unemployment rate is 11% 


Want to know what's wrong with America? None of our politicians (the current elected batch, and especially the entrenched apparatuses of government) will tell us the truth. They have their own agendas and we are only important to them during election years.


CBO Rescores Obamacare: Cost Nearly Doubles

From the Washington Examiner...

Obamacare to cost $1.76 trillion over ten years

President Obama's national health care law will cost $1.76 trillion over a decade, according to a new projection released today by the Congressional Budget Office, rather than the $940 billion forecast when it was signed into law.

Democrats employed many accounting tricks when they were pushing through the national health care legislation, the most egregious of which was to delay full implementation of the law until 2014, so it would appear cheaper under the CBO's standard ten-year budget window...

As I stated in comments here, trusting the government to tell the true cost of things-- trusting their accounting numbers --is foolish in the extreme, especially when deciding whether or not to embark on a new social safety net/entitlement program. If we can't trust the government to tell us the truth about employment in this country, we certainly can't trust them when to sell us universal healthcare on the cheap. Not as cheaply as they claimed.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

U.S. Unemployment Up in February

Of course, anyone with a lick of retail/restaurant experience knew this was coming-- it happens every year no matter who sits in the oval office. Unemployment is up to 9.1% for the month of February. Since December, each month's number has climbed. The question now is, will it continue to climb? Let's hope not; things are tough enough as it is.

This is what get's me, and only proves to show how disconnected politicians are to the real national work picture. Few of these men and women seem to have ever worked a retail or restaurant job. If they had they'd know that hiring always picks up in the Fall, building up for the holiday shopping season. When shoppers stop shopping in January and February, all those extraneous workers to pay are shown the door; it's not fair, but that's the nature of business-- neither is it fair, however, for businesses to keep workers they don't need on the payroll.

Politicians either don't realize it, or don't care to point it out when they tout how well the jobs market is improving during the holiday season. For the sake of short-lived uptick in the polls politicians will gloss over this known-to-all-who-work-real-jobs fact. What they do realize is that people want to believe what their leaders are telling them; they want to believe unemployment is coming down. They want to believe the economy is improving.

If the unemployment rate continues to climb, and gas prices actually hit the five and six dollar mark analysts are touting for this summer, what does that say about president Obama's reelection chances?

Every word out of his mouth is a calculated lie


But then, this is true of most everyone.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

What's Wrong with America? [Updated]


Liberalism.*

Prime example... Mike Malloy, a liberal talk show host, had this to say on Friday last:

“Their God … keeps smashing them into little grease spots on the pavement in Alabama, and Mississippi, and Arkansas, and Georgia, and Oklahoma... You know, the Bible belt, where [in a mocking voice] they ain’t gonna let no goddamned science get in the way, it says in the Bible, blah blah blah blah blah. So, according to their way of thinking, God with his omnipotent thumb reaches down here and so far tonight has smashed about 20 people into a grease spot on highway 12, or whatever the hell highway they live next to.”

On this same day, Rush Limbaugh stooped to the Left's level and called a woman advocating that government provide free birth control for promiscuity in addition to genuine medical need (some physical conditions suffered by women are greatly ameliorated by the use of birth control pills). Rush has since apologized, spending more than 30 minutes on air doing so. Will Mr. Malloy do likewise? Whether he will or not is beside the point. And that point being, there is something very wrong with America.

Liberalism is what is wrong. Liberalism has turned everything moral on its head; everything that was once immoral is now moral, and what was once moral is now immoral. Liberalism now (and has ever) pushes its new morality, and demands the rest of us both accept it as moral, and pay for it. All this while bashing everyone who disagrees; who cling to the genuine morality, and God's standard.

Homosexuality used to be an abomination; a public shame. Now it is a badge of honor, to be paraded every year in the city streets, and protected from discrimination every day. Homosexuality is now celebrated.

Out of wedlock births used to be considered a public shame because it violates God's standard of chasteness until marriage. Now it is rewarded with government benefits and grants, and is viewed as completely acceptable, despite studies which show that children born to single mothers, with no involved father figure tend to do more poorly in life (education, socially, and career-wise) than children born to involved married parents.

Abortion used to be considered a terrible moral crime, and a shame upon the women who got them. Today it is still considered such, by and large, but largely by Liberalism.

Usury has always been immoral, yet everyone who provides you credit or loan, practices it daily.


I could cite more.

The point is, Liberalism is the problem*. It's mindset is aberrant and reprobate.

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.  --Romans 1:18-32

This is the why; the foundational reason for why America has fallen so far from God's grace; why judgment lies, even now, at the door. Edmund Burke said 'all that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.' And this is why America is in the sorry shape that it is... good men, for decades, have chosen to do nothing to fight back the encroachment of morality-eroding Liberalism.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!  --Isaiah 5:20,21

And isn't this where we are today, in America? Liberals like Maher can call Sarah Palin a "c^nt" and not feel the slightest need to apologize; in Maher's case specifically, no pressure from HBO to apologize. Mike Malloy can mock Christians and the states they live in; in effect mocking God himself, but will likely never feel any personal remorse for having said the evil things he did. All the while Rush Limbaugh, recognizing a serious mistake on his part, is personally compelled to issue a written apology on Saturday, and take up considerable time on air yesterday to apologize further. 

Why is it Liberalism feels no remorse for it's daily slander of the right? for the millions of unborn murdered in what should be the safest place on earth... their mother's womb? How is it that Liberalism sees nothing immoral about forcing conscientious objectors to Obama's healthcare mandate to provide abortions and contraception to employees? How is it they cannot see that taxing one segment of society and increasingly exorbitant rates is immoral? How is it that there is one standard of conduct for Liberals in the public arena and quite another for Conservatives?

I'll tell you. Based on the verses quoted from Romans above, Liberalism is, as Michael Savage so apted stated, a mental disorder.

Here then is a warning to Liberals everywhere...

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption...  --Galatians 6:7,8

And with that warning comes hope...

...but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  --Galatians 6:8b 

It doesn't have to end badly for you individually, or America. You have a choice. WE, as a nation, have a choice to turn away from our wickedness, repent, and turn again to God.


------------ UPDATED - 2:54pm -------------

This is what's wrong with Liberalism. It asks questions of people to which it already knows the answer. Case in point...

Christian actor Kirk Cameron was a guest on “Piers Morgan Tonight” over the weekend to discuss “Monumental,” his new project on the roots of America coming to theaters later this month, when the British host of the program suddenly turned subject and asked Cameron his views on homosexual marriage.
Cameron’s calm answer explaining his view that marriage “was defined by God a long time ago … one man, one woman for life” has drawn a firestorm of criticism from fellow celebrities, homosexual organizations and even rock musician Nikki Sixx, who blasted Cameron as “a–hole of the week” for his answer, and Roseanne Barr, who called Cameron “an accomplice to murder with his hate speech.”

Nikki Sixx? Reprobate. Roseanne Barr? Ditto. That's not a slam, it's a statement of truth. Why should folk with good moral values care about the opinions of those without? To a point because these folk are darlings of the media, and their voices carry weight with the rest of the unregenerate/degenerate populace, but we should only care to the point of being personally ready to give an answer for what and why Godly men and women believe. No Godly man or woman ever, except to confirm that righteousness and holy standards do exist in the mind of God, need care what the unregenerate think of them. People who spend their entire lives in the dark will invariably shield their eyes when the light of truth is shone upon them. Some will respond and desire the light but, sadly, many will not.

Cameron's response:

“In a recent interview about my film, “Monumental,” I was asked to share my views on homosexuality, gay marriage and abortion,” Cameron says. “I spoke as honestly as I could, but some people believe my responses were not loving toward those in the gay community. That is not true. I can assuredly say that it’s my life’s mission to love all people.

“The only way to properly answer these kind of questions is to begin the discussion with another question: Is life and sexuality sacred or are they not?” he continues. “If they are, then God has something to say about these things. If not, then everyone is entitled to their own opinion on the matter.

“I believe that freedom of speech and freedom of religion go hand-in-hand in America,” he continues. “I should be able to express moral views on social issues – especially those that have been the underpinning of Western civilization for 2,000 years – without being slandered, accused of hate speech and told from those who preach ‘tolerance’ that I need to either bend my beliefs to their moral standards or be silent when I’m in the public square.

“In any society that is governed by the rule of law, some form of morality is always imposed. It’s inescapable,” Cameron asserts. “But it is also a complicated subject, and that is why I believe we need to learn how to debate these things with greater love and respect.
 
This much is so true of Liberalism... it demands, as Kirk Cameron says, that those of us whose moral underpinnings greatly differ from those of Liberalism must bend our beliefs to their moral standards or be silent. Tolerance to Liberalism is an oxymoron; it only tolerates its moral positions.

And this is a fine illustration of what's wrong with America.

--------------



*Liberalism is not the sole enemy of a would-be moral America. But it is pervasive throughout America's culture, its attitude toward God, and all things holy.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

"...the Sound of Inevitability."

Bernanke warns lawmakers country headed for 'massive fiscal cliff'
--By Peter Schroeder, Feb 29, 2012

Congress risks taking the economy over a “massive fiscal cliff,” Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned lawmakers on Wednesday.

In remarks that hit Wall Street stock prices, the central bank boss suggested the economy could hit a serious roadblock if Congress allows the Bush tax rates and a payroll tax cut to expire and $1.2 trillion in spending cuts to be implemented simultaneously in January.

“Under current law, on Jan. 1, 2013, there’s going to be a massive fiscal cliff of large spending cuts and tax increases,” Bernanke told the House Financial Services Committee. “I hope that Congress will look at that and figure out ways to achieve the same long-run fiscal improvement without having it all happen at one date.“All those things are hitting on the same day, basically. It’s quite a big event.”

The tax hikes and spending cuts could knock GDP growth in 2013 down from 2.6 percent to 1 percent, according to Andrew Fieldhouse, a federal budget policy analyst with the liberal Economic Policy Institute.


Prediction:    Both Obama, and Reid's senate are going to sit on their hands in regard to actually passing legislation that will fix this problem; they'll wait till after Obama's win in November to even address the problem, and then they'll destroy any hope of getting out fiscal house out of the debtors house. Only trouble is, Obama's not likely to win reelection, and the lame duck congress (because of petulant senate democrats who are likely to lose control of the senate) won't be unable to do anything before the new congress is sworn in. Republicans, of course, will be blamed by liberal media and democrats alike for the gridlock, but the blame falls squarely of democrat's and Obama's shoulders.



"Do you hear that Mr. Anderson? That is the sound of Inevitability."
Media finally paying attention to eligibility
See which major networks plan on covering Cold Case Posse results
--WND, March 1, 2012

Follow the link to read the article. Click Here to sign up for the official report when it is delivered to the media after 3pm Mountain time today, March 1st.


Question: As I write this the meeting is just beginning. When all is said and done in the Arizona meeting today, and it becomes clear that Obama is NOT eligible to hold his office, what happens if Arizona chooses to strike him from the ballot this fall? Will it make a difference in his election chances (he didn't carry the state in '08)?