patrick.net

Strategist says

The government creates government jobs.

The government pays for most of the drugs that pharma and biotech makes. It also pays for everything defense companies make. Those are government jobs in the hottest sectors of economy.

tr6 says

Solutions

- lower corporate tax rate (companies already pay the lowest tax rates in history)

- build a pipeline (don't worry about WTI at 75)

- don't raise minimum wage (because there is a study that proves raising it hurts economy)

Ah, such fresh, totally new ideas. Totally unlike their previous ideas, which didn't work at all.

Strategist says

All of above ends up creating jobs. We need jobs to get the economy moving again.

Did all this during Bush, and continued the caviar tax cuts under Obama. Do you remember the jobs? I don't.

Keystone is irrelevant, even in the minds of the oil-industry leaders. They have plenty of other ways to move oil. The only jobs Keystone will create are in the hazmat and soil-remediation industries, digging up broken sections of pipeline and going door-to-door telling people not to drink their well water for the next 800 years.

From Forbes:

Just Greed and Politics. Pipeline defects have been identified along a 60-mile stretch of the southern segment of the Keystone XL pipeline, north of the Sabine River in Texas (Winnsboro, Texas). 
Sections of pipe have dents, faulty welds, and pin-holes in some sections enough to see daylight through.

The installers have been digging up parts of the new southern segment of the Keystone pipeline that only recently have been installed. 
It seems that the existing leg of the Keystone has spilled more oil in its first year than any other first-year pipeline in U.S. history (HuffPost).

With the tens of billions of dollars this pipeline will make for these companies each year, you’d think they’d spend a little extra to build it right. Or that they’d care about using new pipe that’s up to specs. We do have specs.

I can just imagine the mid-level manager’s thought processes on this. ”Hmmm…I’m making a decision on a pipeline that is involved in an extremely political battle, that may have a huge impact on the American economy, that could make tens of billions of dollars a year for my company but that could, if done badly, destroy the drinking water and irrigation supply for the bread-basket of America, and that even has international diplomatic ramifications.”

Strategist says

The government creates government jobs.

Bureaucracy

Red Tape

Unfunded pensions

Low growth

More welfare

Those are pretend jobs, to fix pretend problems, the whole fucking deal is a charade.

Value = something a person will pay money for

Production = producing a product that someone will pay for

The corollary is that if no one will pay for it, it ain't production

Conclusion is that government doesn't produce anything and hampers a lot.

And don't say national defense, as that is a solution to a created enemy. Even police could easily be privatized.

tr6 says

So how is that helping middle class?

How giving corporations even higher share of profits (which are at historic highs) good for middle class jobs?

High corporate tax rates are causing companies to leave the country. This means less jobs for Americans, as well less tax dollars.

tr6 says

Tell me how building the pipeline that will lower the price of oil even more would help create jobs in a long term?

It's cheaper to transport oil via a pipeline when compared to rail.

tr6 says

How is having $5 an hour job helping the economy?

The minimum wage is much higher than $5/hour.

tr6 says

Strategist says

All of above ends up creating jobs

Tell me how building the pipeline that will lower the price of oil even more would help create jobs in a long term?

Building the pipeline itself creates construction jobs.
When oil prices are down, we have more money to spend on other things like going to the movies, vacations, and iphones.
Creates lots of jobs.

tr6 says

How is having $5 an hour job helping the economy?

It creates lots of jobs for teenagers who would otherwise roam the streets stirring up trouble. Minimum wage is an entry level opportunity to gain experience and progress down the road.

tr6 says

How giving corporations even higher share of profits (which are at historic highs) good for middle class jobs?

Corporations are there for profit only. The more profit they make the more they will invest, and more employees they hire.
@tr6

I would say that jobs are created when there is a lot of added value being generated. Any other type of economic activity is just a zero sum game from which there can be no growth.

Quigley says

I would say that jobs are created when there is a lot of added value being generated. Any other type of economic activity is just a zero sum game from which there can be no growth.

That's basically productivity.

It'll be interesting to see how this turns out. It usually seems to work out better when senate is Republican and White house is Democratic.

I'm just worried that it might get a little too one sided again, one sided has never been good.

http://www.fox8live.com/story/27263083/hot-races-high-stakes-on-big-night-for-gop

Republicans won a commanding majority, pushing their dominance to near-historic levels. They defeated the last white Democrats in the South.

FortWayne says

It'll be interesting to see how this turns out. It usually seems to work out better when senate is Republican and White house is Democratic.

Perhaps it will be Clinton versus a Republican congress again? :-)

Peter P says

FortWayne says

It'll be interesting to see how this turns out. It usually seems to work out better when senate is Republican and White house is Democratic.

Perhaps it will be Clinton versus a Republican congress again? :-)

last time that scenario went well, so I'm all for it.

Strategist says

Quigley says

I would say that jobs are created when there is a lot of added value being generated. Any other type of economic activity is just a zero sum game from which there can be no growth.

That's basically productivity.

It's not that simple. You can have lots of productivity, but be producing the wrong kind of product or too much for the market. It doesn't matter how efficiently you produce weasel condoms if no weasels are buying them. To add value, you must produce things that are needed. We don't need more rubber sporks at any price, and the market for Halloween decorations just took a major shit. Any additional production of such would negatively affect value.

zzyzzx says

Woolf is a documentary filmmaker

These are the only kind of jobs most Democrats have. They're almost never Cadillac dealers.

Strategist says

I have no reason to lie. "Real wages are ultimately determined by productivity"

Productivity improvement is a necessarily condition to any real wage increase.

However, it alone is not sufficient. Nevertheless, philosophically, a wage earner should *NOT* enjoy the fruit of productivity. Employees do not take risks, hence they need not have gains.

My message: become a risk-taker!

"I see a bad moon arisin'
I see trouble on the way
I see earthquakes and lightnin'
I see bad times today

Don't go around tonight
Well, it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise

I hear hurricanes ablowin'
I know the end is comin' soon
I fear rivers overflowin'
I hear the voice of rage and ruin

Don't go around tonight
Well, it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
Alright

Hope you got your things together
Hope you are quite prepared to die
Looks like we're in for nasty weather
One eye is taken for an eye

Well, don't go around tonight
Well, it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise

Don't go around tonight
Well, it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise

Songwriters
JOHN C. FOGERTY"

The "phantom" real wage gains in parts of the 20th century was caused by a temporary imbalance of higher productivity and a lack of labor competition. Information technology and other advances eventually allowed the global market to become more efficient. As a result, this imbalance had been corrected.

Now, to improve your life, you have to take economic risks.

A wave of red has descended upon our nation; the soviet citizens from 1917-1989 can relate...

Quigley says

That's basically productivity.

It's not that simple. You can have lots of productivity, but be producing the wrong kind of product or too much for the market. It doesn't matter how efficiently you produce weasel condoms if no weasels are buying them. To add value, you must produce things that are needed. We don't need more rubber sporks at any price, and the market for Halloween decorations just took a major shit. Any additional production of such would negatively affect value.

That's where the wonder of capitalism comes in. If a business keeps making the wrong product they will eventually go out of business. e.g.. Kodak. If a company makes the right products, they will thrive e.g.. Apple.

Peter P says

As a result, this imbalance had been corrected.

And a bigger imbalance was falsely created by mercantilism.

Peter P says

Now, to improve your life, you have to take economic risks.

Become a day trader?

dublin hillz says

A wave of red has descended upon our nation; the soviet citizens from 1917-1989 can relate...

So let's hope the Clinton brand will return. We need the balance.

Social conservatism is *NOT* better than socialism.

Let's not forget about Scott Walker's huge victory last night!

He makes union thugs cry!

indigenous says

Peter P says

Now, to improve your life, you have to take economic risks.

Become a day trader?

There are many ways. You can start a business. But if you must be an employee, you may want to see your company as your customer.

Be agile.

Moreover, seeking safety did not turn out well recently. Think AAA-rated mortgage-back securities. "Lifelong" security of employment is just as laughable in this day and age.

Too many morons go after the mirage of financial safety, and safety, for lack of a better word, is overpriced.

Peter P says

Too many morons go after the mirage of financial safety, and safety, for lack of a better word, is overpriced.

My advice, what ever you do be productive. In the real sense of the word.

zzyzzx says

Let's not forget about Scott Walker's huge victory last night!

He makes union thugs cry!

Union has no place in the modern world. They stand in the way of market efficiency.

Most people pay a net premium for having unions around.

Peter P says

Most people pay a net premium for having unions around.

Calif is that on steroids, they sure as fuck have no place in the public sector.

indigenous says

Peter P says

Too many morons go after the mirage of financial safety, and safety, for lack of a better word, is overpriced.

My advice, what ever you do be productive. In the real sense of the word.

That word has little meaning nowadays. I doubt developing yet another me-too app is a productive endeavor.

Life is a tragedy. The best one can do is to be the comic relief.

Peter P says

I doubt developing yet another me-too app is a productive endeavor.

Yup as would I, but that is beside the point.

Peter P says

Life is a tragedy. The best one can do is to be the comic relief.

I have to disagree, that sort of apathy will/is become a self fulfilling prophecy.

indigenous says

Peter P says

Most people pay a net premium for having unions around.

Calif is that on steroids, they sure as fuck have no place in the public sector.

IMO they have no place anywhere. It is really a form of labor cartel and collusion.

Peter P says

Productivity improvement is a necessarily condition to any real wage increase.

Much agreed. Walmart has been more and more productive, while at the same time their employees make less and less. If Walmart could, they'd turn it into a company store and stop paying their slaves they call "employees" while at it.

indigenous says

Peter P says

Life is a tragedy. The best one can do is to be the comic relief.

I have to disagree, that sort of apathy will/is become a self fulfilling prophecy.

It does not have to be apathetic. Like Greek tragedies. Life can build on them.

zzyzzx says

Let's not forget about Scott Walker's huge victory last night!

He makes union thugs cry!

http://dailycaller.com/2014/11/04/scott-walker-wins-in-wisconsin-2/

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker won re-election against Democratic challenger Mary Burke in a race labor unions were keenly interested in.

Back in 2011, Walker and the Republican-controlled state legislature passed a state law, known as Act 10, which significantly changed the collective bargaining process for most public employees within the state.

Peter P says

indigenous says

Peter P says

Most people pay a net premium for having unions around.

Calif is that on steroids, they sure as fuck have no place in the public sector.

IMO they have no place anywhere. It is really a form of labor cartel and collusion.

I never liked unions, they always tried to stranglehold their employees, raised taxes on private sector, and they always voted against social security because they got pensions instead so SS mattered not to them.

Nothing more than just another corporate style cartel.

Strategist says

Back in 2011, Walker and the Republican-controlled state legislature passed a state law, known as Act 10, which significantly changed the collective bargaining process for most public employees within the state.

Hopefully that would lead a global wave to dismantle unions worldwide.

Strategist says

Back in 2011, Walker and the Republican-controlled state legislature passed a state law, known as Act 10, which significantly changed the collective bargaining process for most public employees within the state.

In Calif we have a guy named JB who did the opposite back in the early 70s, and it is now Frankenstein's monster. What a fucking asshole.

FortWayne says

Peter P says

Productivity improvement is a necessarily condition to any real wage increase.

Much agreed. Walmart has been more and more productive, while at the same time their employees make less and less. If Walmart could, they'd turn it into a company store and stop paying their slaves they call "employees" while at it.

Sadly, that is probably true.

The morale: become an employee only if you have some pricing power

Only market "laws" can give any group pricing power. Legislated laws can at most provide bargaining power. However, there will be no bargaining when there is no market.

APOCALYPSEFUCKisShostikovitch says

Ballsy! The RNC will get her to file legislation to repeal the 13th and 14th Amendment so she can prove how true to party even Negresses can be

Fuck You

Peter P says

Much agreed. Walmart has been more and more productive, while at the same time their employees make less and less.

Walmart has raised the standard of living of their customers, I don't hear the customers complaining.

Those are entry level jobs like any other, comparing them to career type jobs makes as much sense as an elephant in a bird cage. Walmart actually pays quite well for management jobs.

indigenous says

Walmart has raised the standard of living of their customers, I don't hear the customers complaining.

They surely made poverty slightly more "glamorous."

I am a fan of Walmart, even though I do not shop there. Target is more pleasant.

indigenous says

Those are entry level jobs like any other, comparing them to career type jobs makes as much sense as an elephant in a bird cage. Walmart actually pays quite well for management jobs.

But sadly, many people think *any* job ought to be a career-track position.

I even think a "career" is overrated. One ought to go through many transformations. Self-actualization is the real goal.