19 June 2013 (14:19 UTC-07 Tango)/10 Sha’ban 1434/29 Khordad 1391/12 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the percentage of men with jobs had dropped to 88%, in 2012.  There are several factors, but it seems there’s a correlation with the record breaking incarceration rates of men.

By the end of 2011 more than 2.2 million U.S. citizens, overwhelmingly men, were in prison.  And of those released from prison at least half will be imprisoned again.  That’s according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice (BoJ).

On top of that almost 5 million U.S. citizens are on parole, or some other form of ‘justice’ monitoring!

The BoJ also states that incarceration rates increased by 20 times from 1920 to 2006, even though the total U.S. population grew by only 2.8 times.  This is clear evidence that there is some kind-o-conspiracy to put people in prison.  Perhaps free labor for those corporate run for profit prisons?

“Louisiana is the world’s prison capital. The state imprisons more of its people, per head, than any of its U.S. counterparts. First among Americans means first in the world. Louisiana’s incarceration rate is nearly five times Iran’s, 13 times China’s and 20 times Germany’s.  The hidden engine behind the state’s well-oiled prison machine is cold, hard cash. A majority of Louisiana inmates are housed in for-profit facilities, which must be supplied with a constant influx of human beings or a $182 million industry will go bankrupt.”–The Times-Picayune

In 2009, two county judges in Pennsylvania pled guilty to accepting bribes, in exchange for illegally imprisoning children, mostly boys, in for profit corporate prisons.  It was called the Kids for Cash scandal.

An estimated 17% of federal prisoners are forced to work for UNICOR, aka Federal Prison Industries.  They make between 23 cents to $1.15 per hour, and 50% of that income goes to court ordered payments!

According to Harvard sociology professor, Bruce Western, 1.2% of white men and 9% of black men born right after the end of the Second World War (1945) had been to prison.  But when you look at men born just after 1975 the incarceration rates jump; 3.3% of white men and 20.7% of black men had been to prison!

Human Rights Watch says 56% of imprisoned people are mentally ill!

As of 2008, the official incarceration rate in the United States is 743 out of every 100,000 citizens.

The entire eastern half of the U.S., and the West Coast states, house the most prisoners.

Yes folks, the numbers are record breaking, and have made the United States of America the top country for imprisoning its own population, which, according to the propaganda we were told during the Cold War, is proof of an oppressive authoritarian regime!

What U.S. automotive industry recovery?  After more than 74 years of service to South Boston and Southern Virginia, car dealership Wyatt Chevrolet ends operations.  The owner blames crashing sales on the bad economy, saying it’s a sign that he needs to retire.

In New York, the Bay Shore School District laid off 40 teachers.  It’s blamed on a $5 million USD budget gap.  The Ticonderoga Central School District could layoff between 11 and 15 people, and cut some sports programs.  In DeKalb Junction, Carvel Hardware closed due to the owners retirement.  The owner said he’s been trying to sell the building, but so far no takers.  After 45 years of business, Bleecker Bob’s Golden Oldies record store shut down in Greenwich Village.  The owner blamed internet competition and a landlord that keeps jacking up the rent.

In Florida, Edison State College laid off at least eight staff.  Officials said their contracts will not be renewed.  The college is undergoing a revue of its accreditation.

In California, Coast Community College District is considering letting go “dozens” of employees.  It’s blamed on public and private funding cuts.

In Indiana, the Indianapolis Public Schools will layoff 59 people.  Officials blame a $30 million deficit!  After 92 years, Crownover Jewelry closed up shop.  The current owner says changes in the jewelry market is forcing him to find a new career.

In Missouri, another of god’s Christian schools went down. Christ the King School in Kansas City shut down, after 68 years of operations.  Church officials say student enrollment has declined to the point that they are losing money.

In Michigan, 42 teachers with the Grand Blanc school district, now unemployed. Detroit Medical Center laid off 300 people!  Those still with jobs will see their pay cut!  Blame Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Plan!

Delaware Hospice laid off 52 employees (after laying off 104 employees starting in January).  Company officials blame it on reorganization of the company.

AbbVie, to layoff hundreds of sales staff.   The drugmaker is switching from ‘primary care’ drugs to ‘specialty’ drugs.

In Kentucky, the Blue Grass Army Depot laying off 182 people!  It’s blamed on reduced federal spending.

50 people lost their jobs at the U.S. Army’s Fort Rucker, in Alabama.  The employees work for contractor Army Fleet Support, their layoffs being blamed on new contract requirements.

In North Carolina, non-profit Industries for the Blind laid off 40 employees.  Turns out the non-profit is a contractor for the U.S. Army, making moisture absorbing T-shirts.  The contract recently ended.

In Texas, the San Antonio Housing Authority laid off 16 people.  Officials blame federal funding cuts, and warned that more layoffs were possible.

MV Transportation, a Texas based company is ending transportation service in Greenbelt, Maryland, laying off 188 people!  Too Big to Jail Bank of America closed its Muddy Creek Road branch office in Churchton.   Local news reports said no reason was given.

In Iowa, Linn County laying off 22 employees, due to state funding cuts.

Minnesota based scrapbooking company, Creative Memories, warned of bankruptcy.  150 jobs threatened!

In Illinois, SRNTY Jewelry out-o-business.  The owners say they will focus on wholesale orders only.

In South Carolina, Lisa’s Country Corner gift store, and Cathleen’s Daughter antique store, both closed down in Lexington’s Old Mill.  The owner of the gift store is switching to internet sales only.  The antique store owner blamed the bad economy for her store going out-o-business.

After 30 years of service the homeless shelter, Richmond Freedom House, shut down in Virginia.  It’s blamed on reduction in public and private funding.

In Pennsylvania, Seidenburg Luggage and gift store closed down after 75 years of business.

Einstein Bros. Bagels closed three stores in Portland, Oregon.  In Salem, Davidson’s Garden Store shut down.

Cheese maker, Sargento, closing its Bellingham, Washington, operation.  34 to 54 employees affected.

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.

Drug maker, Eli Lilly, to layoff 1000 people in Indiana!  They blame crashing sales.

In New York, Tetra Tech in Schuylerville laid off an undisclosed number of people.  Xerox owned student loan processing plant, ACS, will close in August.  149 people out-o-work!  Pizza Box restaurant closed.  It started in 1957, a Spanish restaurant is willing to pay more for the lease (reported to be $19500 per month).  Frontier School District wants to get rid of 35 employees, and raise taxes by 3.5%, for this coming school year.

In Ohio, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools wants to layoff employees.  No numbers given.    Dale’s Bike Shop closed in Oberlin.   The owner says he can make more money renting out the shop, and selling bikes on the internet.

In California, the Orcutt School District wants to layoff ten people.   School officials blame uncertain state funding.

School supplies, equipment and furniture company, School Specialty, closing its operations in Pennsylvania.  148 people unemployed!  Company officials blame crashing sales.  Scarlet Fiorella clothing store closed up.  The owner is moving out-o-state.

In Illinois, O’Fallon School District to layoff 90 people.  School officials blame it on voters who rejected a tax hike. Cahokia School District #187 to layoff at least 87 employees.  The district is facing the loss of nearly $5 million USD in state and federal funding.  Johnsburg School District #12 cutting 39 jobs.  Contact lens maker, CIBA Vision, laying off 262 people starting in June!  It’s blamed on a merger with Alcon.

FairPoint Communications laying off 90 people in three northeastern U.S.  states.  Company officials said it’s necessary to stay competitive.

Government contractor, General Dynamics, laying off 110 people by July, at their Saco, Maine, factory: “It’s primarily a result of a sharp decline in the U.S. Army’s demand for heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers.”-Karl Johnson, General Dynamics

100 years old Hamilton Jewelers closed in Lawrence Township, New Jersey.  The owners said it was in response to customer surveys and recent thefts.  The Newark Museum laid off 14 people.  They blame the bad economy: “We are coming to terms with the economic realities. We are grateful for the public and private support we receive, but we must be realistic and not operate beyond our means.”-Mary Sue Sweeney Price

Boeing warned the engineers that fixed the flaming battery problem on their new 787 Dreamliner, that they’re going to be laid off.  Boeing wants to layoff 700 engineers by the end of 2013!  At least 100 are in Washington.  Boeing officials say the mass layoffs are because orders aren’t coming fast enough.  Analysts speculate that Boeing is moving work from union strong states to states that are ‘right to work’.

In Tennessee, electronics maker Cerrowire warned of layoffs.  They gave no numbers.  Company officials blame “…the economic condition.”

In Montana, Vann’s appliance seller closed two stores.  The new owner of the retailer said they could not get the landlords to agree to a cheaper lease.

In Connecticut, Klaff’s lighting and decorative hardware store and Chic Jolie women’s clothing store closed down due to flooding fears after hurricane Sandy.  After 48 years, The Emporium eclectic gift store closed in Mystic.

In Florida, Governor Rick Scott signed a bill into law that bans internet cafes!   It could shut down 200 businesses in the Sunshine state: “We never broke a law, we always obey the rules, all the sudden we became illegal, I think it’s just dirty politics, I think somebody who wrote the bill who is responsible for it should be kept accountable somehow, it’s a travesty really.”-Chris Firleg.

Amcor Tobacco Packaging closing in Virginia.  At least 35 employees laid off.

In South Carolina, the Summerville Plaza Piggly Wiggly grocery store closed.   Company officials say sales aren’t good enough to justify renewing the lease.   Jewelry Warehouse closed in West Columbia.

The Three Streams Family Health Center, which helps people without insurance, closed down in North Carolina.  They blame out-o-control health care costs.

In Greenville, Michigan, Julie’s Coffee House closed up.  The owner is moving to Arizona.

Unconfirmed reports that the Las Vegas Club and Gold Spike hotels shutting down in Nevada.   Hundreds of people will be out-o-work!

In Maryland, Jake’s Steaks out-o-business.  The owner said she tried everything but the economy is too bad: “I have tried everything. I have done healthy items. If someone orders something that isn’t on the menu, I do my best to make that. I even did lunch specials trying to get people in the door. It just didn’t work.”-Barb Gossett

Skyburgers closed in Vermont.  The owners claim business was so good that a corporation offered to buy their restaurant, and the owners agreed.

In Oklahoma, Days Inn motel closed down in Norman.  Employees said little or no notice was given.  The motel had a lot of long term residents, mainly elderly and disabled, who’re now homeless.  The motel was also part of local government plans for emergency housing in case of natural disaster.  The greedy owners sold the property to a car dealer.

LandoZ Hometown Grill, in Massachusetts, closed after only one year.  The owners blame medical reasons.

In Missouri, Dierdorf & Hart’s Steak House closed at the Westport Plaza.  The owners did not want to renew the lease.

In Hawaii a 54 years old shoe store, The Slipper House, closed down.  The owners were forced to close by mall company GGP (General Growth Properties), which is the same company that shut down the biggest Sears store in the Aloha state.