Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics, Idaho, Technology, U.S.

More Economic Decline: Red State Idaho ripped off by Blue Blood Washington DC? Or is it that Red State politicians got caught cheating? Idaho schools shorted by $7-million & growing!

01 February 2014 (16:44 UTC-07 Tango)/30 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/12 Bahman 1392/02 Bing-Yin (1st month) 4712

“All contracts made in violation of these statutes are void and any money advanced by the state, must be repaid.”-Justice Jim Jones, Idaho Supreme Court

Old mister poopy diaper pants supposedly for improving education, Barack Obama, is once again living up to his lying liar reputation!  Or is it the lying liar Republican officials in Idaho?

The Idaho legislature has just been informed that the Obama regime’s FCC (Federal Communication Commission) has withheld $7-million in tax dollars from Idaho’s high speed internet system for the Gem State’s High Schools!

It took Idaho’s Department of Administration’s Teresa Luna (a Mormon) this long to tell ‘elected’ officials about the missing funding!

Luna has known that the primary contractors, CenturyLink and Education Networks of America have not been paid, by the Obama regime, since March 2013!  Teresa Luna just happens to be the sister of Tom Luna (a Mormon), former George W. Bush regime official and Idaho’s current State Department of Education boss!

Oh but wait, there’s more to this story:  Turns out that Syringa Networks is suing the Gem State on the grounds the CenturyLink contract for the Idaho Education Network is illegal!  The case has been stuck in the Idaho Supreme Court since last year, and the Obama regime’s FCC says they are not going to pay their share of the funding until the case is settled! (it’s expected that Idaho schools will lose another $7-million during the 2014-15 school year)

So maybe this is actually another case of corrupt Idaho ‘elected’ officials screwing things up by playing favoritism and awarding contracts under the table?  It wouldn’t be the first time.

By the way, Teresa Luna was appointed to her position by corrupt governor Butch Otter in 2011, to replace the guy that suspiciously awarded the contract to CenturyLink.   Tom Luna miraculously won elections after the fact in 2007 (and suddenly Tom Luna has announced he won’t run for re-election!).  I could’ve sworn that Tom Luna was initially appointed to the position by Otter, but everything on the internet says he was ‘elected’.  Like George Carlin said, “You voted them in. You caused the problem.”

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

More Economic Decline: Idaho bank becomes 3rd to fail in 2014!

01 February 2014 (16:25 UTC-07 Tango)/30 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/12 Bahman 1392/02 Bing-Yin (1st month) 4712

Syringa Bank of Idaho has become the 3rd U.S. bank to officially fail in 2014! On 31 January 2014, the bank was seized by the by the Idaho Department of Finance and turned over to the FDIC.

No explanation was given as to why the bank failed.  Also, no warning of bank closures are legally required.

The FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) took the Gem State’s Syringa Bank assets and gave them to a California bank, Sunwest Bank.  FDIC officials say Syringa’s failure will cost them $4.5-million USD!   The FDIC is also warning that more banks will fail, saying by 2016 that $10-billion could be spent on failed banks!

DuPage National Bank, in Illinois, was the first bank to fail in 2014.  The Bank of Union, in Oklahoma, was the second.

In 2013, 24 U.S. banks failed and were shut down.

Business/Economics

Exceptional Failed State: Sears to kill 600+ more jobs!

30 January 2014 (09:57 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/10 Bahman 1392/30 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

A Kmart in Missouri will close by April.  Reports that the Kmart at the FairOaks Mall in Indiana to close down.

Sears Canada has announced that an additional 624 jobs are being killed, this is on top of the 16-hundred call center cuts announced a few weeks ago, and on top of the 800 job cuts announced back in November!  Sears Holdings controls 51% of Sears Canada.

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost),  Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost).

California:   El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart,  Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost),  Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down.

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40).

Connecticut:  Waterbury Big Kmart.

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost),  Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost).

Guam:  Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost),  Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!!!),  Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost),  Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Vacant bedroom/bathroom section.

One corner of the half vacant Chubbuck, Idaho, Sears. No official closing announcement was made.

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).  No official announcement, but it’s painfully obvious the Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears going’ down. Or, maybe it’s preps for Shop within a Shop, or one of those domestic spy data storage centers?  On 07 November 2013, GGP sold off the Pine Ridge Mall for a paltry $9 million USD.

Ever since the Kmart bankruptcy, this pad site for sale sign has been seen in the Pocatello, Idaho, Big Kmart parking lot. The Kmart is the only building on the lot.

Ever since the Kmart bankruptcy, this pad site for sale sign has been seen in the Pocatello, Idaho, Big Kmart parking lot. The Kmart is the only building on the lot.

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), recently revealed FairOaks Mall Kmart.

Illinois:  Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost),  Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost),  Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost),  Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost).  58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale.  By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state.  The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost),  Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!),  Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Sears (80 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears (115 jobs lost).

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed.

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost),  Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost).

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), recently revealed Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials,  Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost).

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost),  Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost).

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost),  West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard,  London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost),  Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost),  Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost),  Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost).   Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost),  both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two),  Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin CoolSprings Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost).

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors.

Utah:  Orem Kmart (no details reported).

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost),  Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown.

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost),  Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost),  Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall  (see update above, GGP will close Sears store by 2014)

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center (see update above, GGP closing store)

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: The Hell of ObamaCare Lies! Secret court documents reveal plan by Idaho hospital and Blue Cross to jack up costs by 60%! Reveals Idaho insurance payments higher than national average!

30 January 2014 (09:22 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/10 Bahman 1392/30 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

“By 2012, Saint Luke’s had three of the top five highest paid hospitals, and its top hospital was receiving reimbursements 21% higher than the average Idaho hospital.”-statement made during secret federal court trial

A federal judge ruled that Boise’s Saint Luke’s Regional Medical Center violated antitrust laws when it took over the Nampa’s Saltzer Medical Group.  On top of that, the now public court documents show the takeover was part of a sinister plan by the ‘Christian’ Saint Luke’s to jack up health care costs by as much as 60%!

The scam was revealed by a lawsuit filed against Saint Luke’s by Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, and the Federal Trade Commission.

The secret trial revealed that Saint Luke’s had been advised by consultants (from health insurance company Blue Cross) that if they killed off Saltzer Medical Group, thereby forcing many Idahoans in the area to go to Saint Luke’s, they could increase their billing rates.

The trial was kept secret at the request of Saint Luke’s and Blue Cross.  Both Saint Luke’s and Blue Cross begged the court keep the details of the trial secret once the trial concluded, but U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ignored that request and “unsealed” the court documents!

The trial also revealed that for some reason Blue Cross pays Idaho hospitals and doctors much more than the national average: “Across the United States, the average commercial insurance plan pays about 120% of what Medicare pays. For overnight hospital stays in Idaho, (Blue Cross) pays between 150% to 200% more than Medicare pays. For outpatient hospital services, (Blue Cross) pays 300% more than Medicare. For routine office visits, (Blue Cross) pays 140% more than other commercial plans.”

Blue Cross and Saint Luke’s have appealed the ruling.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: Idaho news media misleads public on unemployment! Is it all part of your ‘elected’ officials’ plan to justify ending unemployment assistance?

28 January 2014 (17:00 UTC-07 Tango)/26 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/08 Bahman 1392/28 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

For the past few days Idaho news media have been painting a rosy picture, saying Idaho’s unemployment rate dropped by one percent.  And some even went as far as declaring the bad local economy dead!

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that Idaho’s unemployment rate for December fell to 5.7%.   Some Idaho news sources must’ve got hit with complaints about their initial interpretation of the unemployment rate, because some local news sources went on to admit, in later reports, that December’s jobs were almost all temporary end of year holiday hires.

(An east Idaho TV station actually re-edited their initial report.  The initial report had Idaho Department of Labor employee, Will Jensen, saying the unemployment rate went down because “more people found work and there was an increase in people filing for first time unemployment benefits”.  A seeming have your cake and eat it too scenario.  The new version of their report, which is now on their website, not only edits out that comment, but also points out the temporaryness of December’s jobs.)

Here’s a reality check:  The ‘official’ unemployment rate reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the one that the news media and politicians love to point to, is called U-3.  This stat does not include everybody who is unemployed or underemployed.  The stat that tries to included all the unemployed (usually meaning those not getting unemployment assistance and those who quit looking for a job) and underemployed (meaning those working part time when they should be enjoying retirement or those working part time but needing full time hours/pay) is called U-6.

For Idaho, at the end of the 3rd quarter 2013 the U-3 rate was 6.9%, hence why so many ignorant Gem State news sources were virtually declaring the bad economy over when December’s U-3 rate came in at 5.7%.  But what about the U-6 rate?

At the end of 3rd quarter 2013, Idaho’s U-6 rate was at 13.2%!  The U-6 rate for December has not been published, yet.

‘Elected’ Idaho politicians in Washington DC are calling for a halt in an emergency extension of federal unemployment assistance.  They claim it will cost “taxpayers” (keep reading to see who those taxpayers really are) $6-billion USD if it passes.

The unemployment system in Idaho (aka Idaho Job Service) is actually paid for by employers, who’re charged a tax based on how many successful (that’s the key) unemployment claims are made against them.  Some companies even end up getting a tax rebate!

This creates an incentive for companies to lie about the person filing for first time unemployment claim.  In 2011, a PBS program, called Need to Know, reported on the growing problem of TPAs (third party administrators) working to deny unemployment benefits for those who qualify.  Many unemployment  benefits are being denied because the employers are falsely claiming the employee was fired, when they were actually laid off.  Or, in the case of wrongful firings, the TPAs are appealing those cases, even when it is obviously the fault of the employer.

Now realize that federal unemployment assistance is also paid for by unAmerican Corporate America, not employees or individuals paying their individual income tax!  Now you know the real reason Idaho politicians (who actually work for unAmerican Corporate America, the real “taxpayers” they are talking about) want to kill unemployment compensation!

People should be out in the streets with torches and pitchforks!  UnAmerican Corporate America created the mess, and they continue to find new ways to weasel their way out of paying for it, and your ‘elected’ officials are their lapdogs!

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: Obama Care Layoffs 2013, part 5!

Incomplete list of publicized healthcare layoffs and closings 01-14 June 2013.

Alabama:  The Christian God couldn’t stop Catholic Providence Hospital from laying off 35 employees.  Hospital officials say they’ve lost $2 million USD in Medicare funding!

California:  In San Diego, Palomar Health laid off 84 hospital workers.  They blame cuts to Medicaid/Medicare caused by the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act.

Connecticut: The Christian God couldn’t stop Saint Vincent Medical Center from laying off 50 employees, and eliminating 100 other positions!  Catholic hospital officials blamed it on competition and decreased federal funding due to the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act.

Florida: The Christian God couldn’t stop 150 people from losing their jobs with Sacred Heart Health System.  Hospital officials blame it on Obama: “….facing daunting challenges because of a decline in revenues caused by government cuts in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.”

Louisiana:  Health care staffer Schumacher Group laid off 32 employees.  This after laying off 41 employees in May.  Company officials blamed in on changes to Medicare/Medicaid due to the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act.

Maryland:  The University of Maryland Medical Center laying off an undisclosed number of employees.  Hospital officials are directly blaming the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act.

Massachusetts: The Jordan Hospital closed the third floor of its East Wing.  64 jobs affected.  Hospital officials blamed it on declining customers and the Obama/Romney Affordable Care Act cuts to Medicaid/Medicare.  (the ‘Obama Care’ was co-written by the same guy that wrote Romney’s ‘Romney Care’ when he was gov’na of Massachusetts)

Missouri: The non-profit Boone Hospital Center laid off 13 employees, and reduced hours for seven others.  It’s part of non-profit BJC Healthcare’s 160 employee layoffs at several of its hospitals!  It’s blamed on Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act: “…experiencing reductions in our reimbursement for the healthcare services that we provide…”-June Fowler, BJC Healthcare

New York:  ProHEALTH closed its North Massapequa location.  24 people unemployed.  In Johnson City, the Methodist Grand Care Children’s Center shutdown.  Lakeside Memorial Hospital Emergency Department and Inpatient Unit shut down, 343 people unemployed!

Ohio: The Christian God couldn’t stop the closing of the Mercy Mount Airy Child/Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit. 

Virginia: Wellmont Health Systems laid off 50 employees, officials expect to lose $25 million next year, no thanks to the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act.   Virginia based Inova Health Systems laid off 147 people throughout their hospital network.  Inova is considered one the most financially sound hospital systems in the U.S. Hospital officials are preparing for loses next year due to the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act.

Wisconsin:  The Christian God couldn’t stop Saint Joseph’s Hospital from  closing its drug and alcohol addiction treatment center.  40 employees affected.  It’s blamed on changes to Medicare/Medicaid due to the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

ObamaCare Layoffs 2013, part 4!

ObamaCare Layoffs 2013, part 3! 

ObamaCare layoffs 2013, part 2!

 ObamaCare layoffs 2013, part 1:

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 18-19 October 2013. More hospitals killing jobs! Obama Care killing health insurance jobs! GMO seed maker kills jobs! Golf course killed to make room for homeless children!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Arizona: In Tucson, tax sucker and baby killer, Raytheon Missile Systems, warned of an undisclosed amount of layoffs.  It’s blamed on reduced government spending.

California: In Sylmar, Ralph’s (Kroger owned) grocery store shutdown, 58 jobs lost.  In Laguna Beach, Sundried Tomato American Bistros and Catering shutdown, the owners say business isn’t good enough to keep up with the rent!  In Thousand Oaks, evil GMO seed maker Ceres laid off 18 people (some in Texas) and will probably layoff more.  The GMO seeds they make are mainly for bio-fuel production, which isn’t really taking off  like everybody thought it would. In El Segundo, it was revealed that Direct TV laid off 100 employees! Company officials said it was necessary “…to remain healthy and competitive”.  Who said the internet is killing video rental stores? In Los Angeles, on demand video service Chill laid off 40% of its employees and canceled their “self serve” premium movie service. This just days after getting good reviews. Company officials said “We discovered that the sales/acquisition cycles around premium content to be somewhat inconsistent……”  What housing market recovery? Real estate data and consulting service, CoreLogic, closed two offices, killing 150 jobs! In Irvine, more layoffs for Labcorp, this time 24.

Connecticut: In New London County, Big Brothers Big Sisters shutdown.  United Way said it could no longer fund the operation due to crashing donations, caused by the bad economy.

Florida: In Orlando, the Holiday Inn laid off 63 employees.  The new owners claim they are remodeling the hotel.  In Tampa, health insurance company WellCare Health Plans killed 150 jobs! They focus on Medicare and Medicaid managed care, which is affected by Obama Care. In Captiva, reports that Joey’s Hot Dog Boat shutdown.

Georgia: In Macon, Bowen Brothers men’s clothing store shutdown after 31 years.

Illinois: In Elmwood Park a Blockbuster video store shutdown.

Michigan: In Lansing, McLaren Greater Lansing hospital laid off an undisclosed amount of employees.  Hospital officials also cut work hours and are reducing the amount of supplies they buy.  They blame Obama Care saying they need to “…position our hospital for long-term sustainability in the face of these unprecedented changes in health care.”

Minnesota: In Lafayette, after 54 years of service the Good Samaritan Society old folks home shutdown. Officials blame the last three years of the suck ass economy!

Missouri: In Jackson, Pioneer Orchard’s Market shutdown.

New Hampshire: In Berlin, Catello and Sons Music Store shutdown after several decades of sales.  The owners say that the past three years of the bad economy killed them.

New Mexico: In Farmington, after 33 years Zia Sporting Goods shutdown.

New York: In Newburgh, Saint Luke’s Cornwall Hospital eliminated 60 jobs.  Hospital officials expect to lose $10-million USD in 2014, no thanks to Obama Care.  In Amherst, the Frog Hair Grille shutdown, despite $500-thousand in renovations in 2012!  In Elmira, American Customer Care call center shutdown, 43 jobs lost.

Oklahoma: What housing market recovery?  Mortgager Adfitech laid off 320 people! Company officials called the crashing demand for home loans “abrupt changes in customer needs”.

Pennsylvania: The Hersey Links golf course shutdown to make room for grade school student housing for low income and homeless children attending the Milton Hersey School.  Yeah, there’s that much need folks!!! More proof the economy sucks!

Wisconsin: In Madison, health insurance company WPS Health Insurance continues to slash and burn jobs despite Obama Care. This time 175 jobs killed!  In January 2013 they announced 415 layoffs, and in November 2012 they killed 600 jobs!!!  The reason is that WPS focused on providing health insurance to people who were refused coverage by other insurance companies because of preexisting health problems.  Obama Care now forces insurance companies to cover anybody with the money to pay, regardless of health problems.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 17 October 2013. Spice prices going up! The Big banks just keep killing jobs! More British empire caused job cuts! No more led?

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Too Big to Jail, Wells Fargo, laid off an additional 925 people!  This brings the total announced layoffs since July 2013 to 6511!  Bank officials finally acknowledge the bad economy: “We are reducing staff as we continue to align our workforce based on current market conditions…”-Angela Kaipust, Wells Fargo spokeswoman

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association laid off 12 employees. Officials acknowledged the bad economy saying they need to bring “…expenses in line with revenue.”

U.S. spice seller McCormick announced drastic closures or cut backs to its European, Middle East and Asian operations.  The company warned it will mean layoffs.  Company officials said they need to consolidate operations.

California: Yet another video game maker goes down.  2K Marin laid off a “majority” of employees, and some unnamed inside sources say the company actually shutdown.  In Oakland, Sutter Health laid off six more employees.

Connecticut: 85 jobs lost as the 160 years old Stafford Springs Warren Corporation textile mill shutdown.

Florida: In Jacksonville, evil British empire owned school bus service First Transit shutting down.  138 jobs lost.  First Transit is owned by the British First Group. First Group also owns another school bus company called First Student.  The British empire is the mortal enemy of the United States, if you work for them you’re a traitor.

Georgia: In Augusta, Rooster’s Beak restaurant shutdown.

Kentucky: In Butchertown, Blind Pig restaurant shutdown. The property owner kicked out the restaurant owner.  The restaurant owner says for some reason the property owner began refusing to accept his rent checks. Sounds like another case of a greedy property owner looking to sell out to a property developer.

Michigan: Recently formed Catholic Health East Trinity Health laid off another 45 employees.  CHE Trinity Health was behind the layoffs at the non-profit Crittenton Hospital. Pennsylvania based CHE merged with Michigan based Trinity Health, and now they’re drastically cutting costs to deal with Obama Care.  Mount Clemens Community Schools laid off 12 teachers: “When you lose students, you’re going to lose teachers.”-Deborah Wahlstrom, superintendent

Minnesota: In Minneapolis, Heidi’s restaurant shutdown.

Missouri: In Herculaneum, the last led [sic] smelter in the U.S. has shutdown!  145 jobs lost! Doe-Run says the cost of meeting the latest U.S. EPA regulations will kill them, anyway.

New York: Too Big to Jail, International Foreign Exchange Concepts Holdings, has failed.  Now bankrupt.  Company officials are blaming the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System for pulling more than $450-million USD from one of their investment funds.

Pennsylvania: In Scranton, The Bon-Ton department store shutdown.  50 jobs lost. Company officials said it was not worth it to renew the lease. In Manor Township, 53 years old Furniture World Carpet One shutdown two stores (one is in Indiana)! The owner blamed the bad economy and greedy landlords: “We lost the lease…..and we couldn’t afford to buy it.”-Andrea Solomon-Eller

South Carolina: In Charleston, La Fourchette restaurant shutdown. The property owner sold the space out from under the restaurant owner.

Texas: Tax sucker Port San Antonio eliminated 17 jobs, blaming declining U.S. Air Force spending.  In Pasadena, an ALCO store shutdown: “The economy has clearly had an impact on store sales, and we’ve made the very difficult decision to close.”-Ricardo Clemente, Store Operations

Virginia:  The newspaper Virginian-Pilot laid off 32 employees.

Washington: In Bellingham, game and model kit hobby store Eagles Games shutdown.

Wisconsin: In Racine a Sears will close down, 52 jobs lost.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics

Exceptional Failed State: Kmart shuts em down! Sears bankruptcy next? Sears pipedream of hiring 6500 new employees!

24 January 2014 (10:03 UTC-07 Tango)/22 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/04 Bahman 1392/24 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

A Washtenaw County Kmart in Michigan, to close by April. Two Kmarts shutting down in Pennsylvania, hundreds of jobs killed.  A Westlake, Ohio, Kmart-Sears closing in April, as well as a Kmart in Xenia.  Another Kmart shutting down in Iowa, this one in Mason City.  Another Kmart in North Carolina closing down.  A Sears closing in South Carolina.  In Illinois, two Sears going down by April.

In Pennsylvania, the Sears at the King of Prussia Mall has rented out its upper floor to Dick’s Sporting Goods.

There are rumors that Sears Holdings is about to file for bankruptcy.

Despite rumors of bankruptcy, continued store closings and record losses, Sears Holdings officials claim they are going to hire 65-hundred military veterans or military spouses in 2014!   Sears even claims they somehow hired 6-thousand veterans/spouses in 2013!  Sherry Nolan-Schultz, of Sears Holdings, says they were hired for “…logistics, store management, loss prevention and home services.”  That’s hard to believe when you know how many stores they’ve shutdown.

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost),  Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost).

California:   El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart,  Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost),  Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down.

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40).

Connecticut:  Waterbury Big Kmart.

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost),  Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost).

Guam:  Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost),  Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!!!),  Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost),  Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Vacant bedroom/bathroom section.

One corner of the half vacant Chubbuck, Idaho, Sears. No official closing announcement was made.

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).  No official announcement, but it’s painfully obvious the Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears going’ down. Or, maybe it’s preps for Shop within a Shop, or one of those domestic spy data storage centers?  On 07 November 2013, GGP sold off the Pine Ridge Mall for a paltry $9 million USD.

Ever since the Kmart bankruptcy, this pad site for sale sign has been seen in the Pocatello, Idaho, Big Kmart parking lot. The Kmart is the only building on the lot.

Ever since the Kmart bankruptcy, this pad site for sale sign has been seen in the Pocatello, Idaho, Big Kmart parking lot. The Kmart is the only building on the lot.

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost).

Illinois:  Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost),  Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost),  Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost),  Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), recently revealed Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), recently revealed Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost).  58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale.  By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state.  The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), recently revealed Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!),  Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Sears (80 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears (115 jobs lost).

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed.

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), recently revealed Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost).

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials,  Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost).

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost),  Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost).

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost),  West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), recently revealed Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard,  London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost),  Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost), recently revealed Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost), recently revealed Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost).   Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), recently revealed Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), recently revealed Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost),  both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two),  Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), recently revealed Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin CoolSprings Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost).

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors.

Utah:  Orem Kmart (no details reported).

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost),  Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown.

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost),  Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost),  Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall  (see update above, GGP will close Sears store by 2014)

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center (see update above, GGP closing store)

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: 2013 sees record high U.S. corporate profits & record low U.S. worker wages?

24 January 2014 (09:05 UTC-07 Tango)/22 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/04 Bahman 1392/24 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

The U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis is reporting that at the end of 2013 unAmerican Corporate America has made record after tax profits!  $1-trillion 868-billion USD!

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median wage at the end of 2013 was $786 USD per week.  Keep in mind that was for full time employment.  The Bureau points out that only 104.8-million U.S. workers are considered full time or on salary, and there’s almost 318-million people in the United States.

In December 2013 there were 7.8 million part time workers, mostly for the holiday season which means they’re very likely unemployed now.  There were 10.4-million officially unemployed people in December, and 1.5-million had quit looking for work!  Another 2.4-million people are counted as “not in the labor force”, but looking for work (many who did not qualify for unemployment assistance).

The Bureau also reports that actual earnings for those who had a job in December 2013, went down slightly.  Yet worker productivity went up by a full 3%!  These are some reasons why corporations made bigger profits while the average worker made less “Real” wages.

How can unAmerican Corporate America continue to claim it cannot afford to raise wages, or hire more people, when it’s making record after tax profits?

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013