Category Archives: U.S.

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 15-16 October 2013. ObamaCare kills ice cream factory? Crashing home loan demand continues to impact housing market! No more bras?

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Tax sucker and Big Brother ass kisser, FLIR (forward looking infrared) Systems to consolidate ops in Europe and the United States.  Company officials said they need to reduce staffing to save $20-million USD, due to reduced government spending on their thermal spying optics.

Tax sucker Lockheed Martin laid off 600 employees at their Mission Systems and Training business!  This is on top of the already 367 layoffs announced two months prior!

Mobile phone application maker, Path, laid off 13 employees.  Company officials said it was necessary to “support continued innovation”.

 California: In Poway, Chicken Pie Diner shutdown. The owner tried to sell the restaurant, but the sale fell through and he couldn’t afford to keep it open.

Colorado: In Fort Collins, Famous Runza Sandwich shutdown.  The owner, sensing the deteriorating economy, said he wanted to finish on top.

Florida: What housing market recovery? Mortgage Investors Corporation, which targets military personnel and  veterans, laid off 476 employees!  It’s blamed on crashing demand for home loans.  The company also had to pay a $7.5-million USD settlement to the FTC for harassing military personnel in violation of a Do Not Call List.  In Jacksonville, Hardee’s fast food joint shutdown after more than 20 years in business.

Illinois: Nonprofit Elgin Opera shutdown.  Operators said donations and ticket sales crashed.  In Belvidere, a Kmart shutdown, 91 jobs lost.

Indiana: In Elkhart, Bonnie Doon ice cream factory shutdown. Company officials said Obama Care health insurance rules will jack up their operating costs so high that it’s not worth it to stay in operation.  Elkhart city officials told local news media that Obama Care is threatening dozens of big employers in the area.

Louisiana:  The University of New Orleans shutdown its daycare center.  It’s blamed on taxpayer funding cuts and declining student enrollment.

New Jersey: Bra maker Maidenform shutting down their HQ, and killing  1330 jobs over the next year!  It’s blamed on the takeover by Hanesbrands.

Nevada: In Yerington, Marathon Equipment shutdown.  35 jobs lost. They’re moving to Arizona.  In Green Valley, Bank of the West shutdown their local office.  The California based Too Big to Fail bank blamed it on lack of business.

North Carolina:  What housing market recovery? Too Big to Jail SunTrust Bank laid off 800 employees!  It’s blamed on crashing demand for home loans.

Ohio: In Trotwood, Sears is shutting down, at least 67 jobs lost.  In Bidwell, BEF Foods shutdown, 52 jobs lost.

Oregon: In Reedsport, Pennsylvania based American Bridge steelworks shutdown, 51 jobs lost.  The company opened their Reedsport ops in 2005, helped by massive local tax breaks, and promised to hire 120 people.  In 2006 a rail line crucial to the steel plant’s operations was shutdown, but then re-opened in 2011.  But it was too late, American Bridge was able to get only one west coast contract to build a bridge, not enough to justify keeping the factory open.

South Carolina: A Mount Pleasant Kmart will shutdown.  43 jobs lost.

Texas: San Antonio, Trinity Mining & Construction Equipment laid off 86 people as part of their shutdown.  In Conroe, US Foods shutdown a distribution center.  84 jobs lost.   In Sealy, Bilderberg British empire tax sucking company, BAE, shutdown it’s M2 Bradley IFV factory.  325 jobs lost, but good riddance to the evil Red Coats: “Through its [BAE] acquisition of American companies it has increased its penetration of the U.S. market and has become the prime contractor for the M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle….”-Defense Procurement News

Washington:  TOP Food and Drugs shutdown three stores throughout the Evergreen State. In Yakima, Bemis Stereo First and TV shutdown after 34 years.  The owner blamed crashing sales on the internet, even though there are plenty of examples that even internet stereo and TV sales are crashing (it’s just a bad economy).

Wisconsin: MetJet shutdown, all flights canceled, many passengers stranded.  Company officials blamed it on crashing ticket sales.

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, Idaho, U.S.

Idaho call center shutting down, or just more of the same BS game by Center Partners?

23 January 2014 (04:47 UTC-07 Tango)/21 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/03 Bahman 1392/23 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

“Awesome products extremely bad job. Management sucks and the people your trying to help take things overboard crying about there gaming systems. It’s almost a pointless job.”–Customer Support Technician (Former Employee), Idaho Falls – January 20, 2014

“I wouldn’t recommend anyone working for this corporation.”-Inbound Sales Associate (Former Employee), Fort Collins, CO – January 2, 2014

Local east Idaho news reporting that Center Partners’ call center in Idaho Falls has told employees they will be losing their jobs.

Unnamed employees immediately called local news sources after they were ordered by Center Partners not to talk to the news media.  The layoffs begin now and run through to the end of March, because word is the place is shutting down by 31 March.  Apparently the company is consolidating operations.

Center Partners refuses to respond to local news media inquiries. But you can find plenty of bad comments from former employees on the internet.

“….I joked with a coworker during training saying, 'I like it here to an extent, but it seems that it's just a bunch of uneducated Idahoans vying for the few semi-decent paying jobs that are here.' We laughed of course, but I didn't realize how true it was until after I finished training.
I also think this is where the unprofessionalism and nepotism come into play. Perhaps if some of the supervisors or managers had experience with other work environments the site would have a more professional tone. But it doesn't. And I think it's particularly unprofessional and UNETHICAL to have a married couple be management level employees, both employed at the same site, and working in the same project.“–SCEA Tier One Agent (Former Employee) Idaho Falls, ID

The Colorado based company touts itself as being a top contracted call center operator, first going into business in 1997.  It has operations in Colorado, Idaho and Washington.

There is little info about the company out there.  The company contracts with major corporations to handle calls from their customers.  Center Partners say they specialize in the following “customer touchpoints”:  Inbound/Outbound calling, Chat, Email, Social and @Home.

“I have worked at multiple call centers in different cities, and I have NEVER encountered a call floor as loud as theirs in Idaho Falls. It’s not the agents that are loud, it’s the trainers and the managers and the helpers who REFUSE TO BE QUIET while they are on the floor. It’s the Trainers and their buddies who carry on full-blown non-work-related conversations (gossip) behind the agents who are trying to deal with (for the most part) upset consumers. The agents need back-up who understand the need for a quiet work area. Consumers who call in deserve to have the full attention of the agent they are speaking with, not one who is constantly distracted by the people that wander the floor.”-CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT (Former Employee), Idaho Falls, ID – December 5, 2013

“I worked for this company for over 2 years….Management…were extremely egotistical, and socialized only with each other…..Benefits are overpriced and a joke….Some employees and management were clearly inebriated at work, and some were known convicted felons…….”-Sales Representative (Former Employee), Liberty Lake, Washington – December 3, 2013

Basically most Center Partners employees report, on internet employer rating sites, the same news that you hear from employees of other call centers; overall it’s a lousy job.

In 2013, Center Partners began laying off and shutting down it’s few call centers, or so it said.  In July 2013 the company announced it would layoff 578 employees in Washington, and 600 employees in Colorado.  Company officials blamed “changing business needs”.

At that point they were not sure what they would do with their Idaho operations.

In August 2013, it was revealed that Center Partners lost their contract with Capital One.  That contract apparently covered the pay for 42% of the company’s employees.

Then, suddenly in October 2013 Center Partners said not only were they not shutting down their Washington operation, but they would hire almost the same amount of staff they were going to fire!  Company officials credited “internal restructuring”.  It turns out that many employees had left the Washington office anyway!  The company also admitted they were still cutting management jobs.

Also in October 2013, Center Partners reported that thanks to “…efforts to reposition people internally…” they were actually going to add 400 jobs in Colorado, instead of layoff 600.  That’s a clear sign of inefficiency and incompetence when on one hand you say you have to kill 600 jobs, then magically on the other hand with some simply repositioning of employees you can suddenly add 400 jobs?  Oh but wait, it turns out that many employees in Colorado had already left as well.

It’s interesting that employees quit simply because they heard they were going to be laid off.  A local Spokane, Washington-Coeur d’Alene, Idaho TV station did interview management for the call center there and they confirmed that many employees quit just because they heard there would be layoffs.  So what this means is the company didn’t really create any new jobs they’re just replacing the people that quit.

The company also says they got new contracts, but didn’t specify.

It sounds like what’s happening is Center Partners is using the threat of impending layoffs to scare some unwanted employees away.  It’s an old trick, if you have a number of employees who’ve been with you long enough to pester you for a raise and benefits or a promotion, you lay them off for whatever reason.  And under Idaho’s Right to Work you over laws an employer is not required to give a reason for laying you off.  And by the way, In Idaho if an employer times their layoffs just right then they can get out of paying unemployment assistance!  They just need to make sure the employees never worked over a certain amount of hours, or never went over a certain amount of pay under Idaho Department Of Labor’s “reporting period”, and the laid off employees don’t get any unemployment assistance!  I know, it’s happened to me.

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: ObamaCare Layoffs 2013, part 4!

Incomplete list of publicized healthcare layoffs and closings 16-31 May 2013.

The biggest insurance company in the U.S., MetLife, has laid off 2500 people since 2012!  The insurance and investment company said the United States is no longer the place to do business and will focus on other countries for growth opportunities!!!

California: In San Mateo, reports that Mills Health Center closed its 4th floor Senior Health Services operations, 76 people unemployed.

Connecticut: The Christian God can’t stop an undisclosed amount of layoffs at Saint Vincent’s Medical Center!  It’s blamed on the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act!

Delaware: The McCready Memorial Hospital/Alice Byrd Tawes Nursing Home laid off 18 employees, and turned five full time jobs into part time jobs.

Illinois: The Roseland Hospital laid off 68 employees.  Another 47 people had their workweek reduced by one day.

Kansas: 400 layoffs at the Christian health care organization known as Via Christi Health!  They blame it on declining hospital admissions and physician visits, as well as the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act cuts to Medicare/Medicaid.

Maryland:  50 jobs lost as the Maryland General Hospital shut down its obstetrics and gynecology services.

Michigan: Catholic Ascension Health laid off 350 people at Saint John Providence hospital, and 350 people at four other operating units and seven hospitals throughout Michigan!  Officials with the largest Catholic health care system in the United States blamed it on declining customers and “lower reimbursement from Medicaid and Medicare” caused by the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act!

Minnesota:  500 people lost their jobs with medical device maker Medtronic!  It’s blamed on a decline in demand for heart devices, and, the new Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act medical device tax doesn’t help either.

Nebraska: Novartis Consumer Health laid off 72 employees, and closed 41 open positions in their Lincoln factory.  Apparently these new job cuts are in addition to the 300 layoffs announced in April.

New Jersey: Toms Rivers Hospital laid off 68 employees and eliminated 85 positions!  They blame it on the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act!

New York: The Orange Regional Medical Center laid off 80 employees.  They blame it on the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act!  The Catskill Regional Medical Center laid off 60 employees.  They blame it on the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act!  Sound Shore Health System now bankrupt: “As is true with many community hospitals serving a working-class constituency, the Medical Centers have been beset by the financial pressures caused by cuts in Medicare and Medicaid funding.”-Court filed bankruptcy statement

North Dakota: Trinity Health closed its clinic in Parshall.

Oklahoma:  The Christian God can’t stop 210 layoffs at the non-profit health care organization known as Saint John Health System!  Governor Mary Fallin is being blamed for refusing to expand Medicaid coverage, and they also blame the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act cuts to Medicare/Medicaid.

Rhode Island: Lifespan healthcare system laid off 107 employees! They blame a $150 million shortfall on the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act!

Wisconsin:  250 layoffs at the Christian hospital system known as Ministry Health Care!  They blame it on 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 3! 

ObamaCare layoffs 2013, part 2!

 ObamaCare layoffs 2013, part 1:

International, U.S.

World War 3, Asian Front-Afghanistan, 15-18 January 2014: France makes military pact with Afghanistan! Poland gets out early! IMF boss assasinated by Mujahideen! Red Coat kills own daughter in ecstasy of violence!

Ghazni Province: NATO member Poland announced they are pulling out their troops early.  Instead of waiting until the end of 2014, Poland will withdraw about half of their troops by May.

Kabul Province: In Kabul City, a woman has become the first police chief for the city’s 1st District.  Police seized 3.5kg of heroine (packaged in 409 capsules) at the international airport. They say the traffickers were heading to India. An Afghan National Police (ANP) vehicle was hit with a magnetic bomb.  Cops say the vehicle was damaged but nobody was hurt. An area of Kabul City frequented by foreigners was hit by a suicide bomber and two Mujahideen gunmen.  People from Canada, Germany, Lebanon, United Kingdom and United States were killed or wounded.  One of those killed was the head of the evil International Monetary Fund’s Afghan operations!  The attack on the upscale restaurant in the city’s 14th District lasted at least five hours.  Afghans were also killed. At least 29 people killed, dozens wounded.  For some reason, the police chief and two other cop commanders from the city’s 10th District were fired.  Government officials say the three cop commanders are being investigated for negligence in connection to the attack.  Mujahideen say the attack on the city’s 14th District was a vengeance attack for what happened in Parwan Province (see below).

Kandahar Province: A U.S. Army Specialist, from the U.S. state of North Carolina, died from “non-hostile” injuries.  The U.S. Army is investigating the cause.  In Maiwan District, three children playing football (soccer) were killed when the field they were on got hit by an artillery rocket.  Four children wounded.  Of course local government officials blame Mujahideen, but have no proof.  In Spin Boldak District, a bicycle bomb exploded wounding three people.

Maidan Wardak Province: In Syed Abad District, a residential compound was hit by a missile believed fired from a U.S. drone.  One person was killed.  There was also a report of an Israeli style invasion (possibly by the Obama regime’s Presidential Guards) in which a university student was kidnapped.

Nuristan Province: In Kamdish District, a U.S. drone strike killed nine people.  Afghan government officials say most of the nine people were from Pakistan, planning attacks against the Afghan government.  Of course they presented no proof of their claim.

Parwan Province: A U.S. Army Special Forces Sergeant, from the U.S. state of Tennessee, was shot and killed by Mujahideen.  Mujahideen say five of their own were killed in the attack.  U.S. Special Forces and Afghan National Army (ANA) retaliated by calling in an airstrike killing at least 14 civilians including three women and five children, and wounding dozens more, according to government officials investigating the incident.  U.S.-NATO-ISAF officials admitted to killing only two civilians.  But there is some confusion; ISAF says the incident took place in Ghorband District, while the Afghan investigators say the U.S. airstrike hit Siagh Gerd District.  Witnesses confirm the U.S. airstrike hit four homes in the Waz Ghar valley of Siagh Gerd District.

Tahkar Province: In Darqad District, an Israeli style home invasion (possibly by the Obama regime’s Presidential Guard) resulted in ten people being kidnapped.

Uruzgan Province: In Chinartu District, reports that a mortar round landed on a house, killing one girl and wounding another girl inside.  It happened while government forces were locked in battle with Mujahideen.

The Indian government is asking U.S. led NATO not to go through with the 2014 pullout.  Indian officials would also like to see President Hamid Karzai sign the Obama regime’s security deal for 2014 and beyond.

Afghanistan has agreed to a military “Friendship” pact with France.  The military pact continues French presence in Afghanistan beyond the 2014 NATO pullout.

Germany’s ambassador to Pakistan, Cyrill Nunn, said “NATO forces will be moving out soon but that does not mean that the international community will abandon Afghanistan and stop taking interest in its affairs. Germany will continue to be involved in reconstruction and provide economic help. It will also train Afghan security forces. So nobody should worry that the friends of Afghanistan will leave the region.”

The German NGO, Welthungerhilfe, is asking that taxpayers fork over even more aid money for Afghanistan!

A former Red Coat Bilderberger British empire soldier who lost his right eye when he was shot in Helmand Province, and then was medically kicked out of the Red Coat army, savagely killed his 20 month old daughter.  At first he blamed PTSD, but then admitted to police that he always liked to hurt people and that was why he became an evil Red Coat soldier.  He was sentenced to six years in prison.

Barack Obama issued an executive order, creating a new Department of State office in Afghanistan, to be called Afghanistan and Pakistan Strategic Partnership Office.  The office will be in charge of “further security and stabilization” after the 2014 pullout!

The U.S. Department of Defense claims there is a “new” video of the U.S. Army Sergeant (from Idaho) who was captured by Mujahideen.  For some reason it hasn’t been made public.  In previous statements, Afghan Mujahideen say they are not the ones holding the POW, that he was actually captured by Pakistani Mujahideen (aka Haqqani Network).

150 militiamen from the Army National Guard’s 276th Engineering Company 203rd Engineers, from the U.S. state of Missouri, deploying to Afghanistan in February.

110 militiamen from the Army National Guard’s 237th Military Police Company, from the U.S. state of New Hampshire, returned home from Afghanistan.

 

Idaho, U.S.

Idaho kicks out for profit prison operator CCA! Not for human rights violation, but for ripping off taxpayers!

20 January 2014 (16:19 UTC-07 Tango)/18 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/30 Dey 1392/20 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

The Gem State’s legislative budget writers have approved funding the state takeover of the notorious Gladiator School.

The state prison has been run, for more than a decade, by Corrections Corporation of America.  It has been plague by lawsuits and accusations of prisoner abuse and medical neglect.  Former victims say prisoners were encouraged to beat the crap out of each other, hence the nickname.

But that’s not what got CCA kicked out of Idaho.  Turns out, as usual, money is more important than human rights.

A 2012 Associated Press investigation accuses CCA of lying to taxpayers about how many employees were actually staffing the Idaho Correctional Center.  AP accuses CCA of falsifying the number of employees at the prison.  The Idaho Department of Corrections admitted they never verified any of CCA’s paperwork! The AP investigation also said Idaho taxpayers were not saving any money by having the prison managed by a for profit private contractor (no shit Sherlock, that’s why it’s called “for profit”).

Also, CCA never explained why it fired some employees.

But note, the AP reported its findings in 2012, and here it is 2014!  The Right to Work you over state officials decided to just let CCA run the place until the contract expires in June 2014.  Oohh, so it’s not like your ‘elected’ officials really care about doing the right moral thing, it’s all about the money, your money!

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

More Economic Decline: Idaho’s Coldwater Creek shuts down first store in 2014! As leases expire stores will close! Warning from NASDAQ!

20 January 2014 (11:38 UTC-07 Tango)/18 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/30 Dey 1392/20 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

The Sandpoint based women’s clothing retailer Coldwater Creek is shutting down a store in the NorthPark Mall in Davenport, Iowa.   It’s all part of their plans to layoff at least 100 employees in 2014.

In December 2013, company officials stated they had shutdown 50 stores since 2011.  They also said they are adopting the Sears Holdings plan of action, as leases expire stores will close: “the actual number and timing of planned store closures depends on a number of factors that cannot be predicted, including among other things the future performance of our individual stores and negotiations with our landlords“-Third Quarter of Fiscal 2013 Operating Results

NASDAQ has given Coldwater Creek until 01 July 2014 to get its stock price back above $1 USD per share, or the company will be de-listed from the stock exchange.  Being de-listed will allow stock holders to buy and sell Coldwater Creek shares anywhere, not just the NASDAQ.  It could be possible to buy a share for less than one penny!

Company officials also said they are halting all quarterly “guidance” until their financial situation becomes more “predictable”.   That’s funny, because it is very predictable, as in 13 consecutive quarterly losses!  I predict sales will continue to go down.

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: ObamaCare Layoffs 2013, part 3!

Incomplete list of publicized healthcare layoffs and closings 01-15 May 2013:

Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance laid off 55 people across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Utah (some reports said 56).

Medtronic ended about 230 jobs!

The merger of U.S. Analogic with Canadian Ultrasonix Medical resulted in 140 people losing their jobs in Colorado and Vancouver!

The labs of Astellas’ OSI Pharmaceuticals subsidiary at the Broad Hollow Business Park in Farmingdale, New York, and of the Perseid Therapeutics subsidiary in Redwood City, California, closed.  At least 200 jobs lost!

California: The not for profit doctor and hospital network known as Sutter Health announced 169 people lost their jobs! 54 employees at the Porterville Developmental Center laid off.  Dignity Health laid off 150 employees in Sacramento, and 300 in Stockton!

Florida: Liberty Medical Supply laid off 211 employees!  Liberty Medical already laid off 260 employees in January, then went bankrupt in February!

Indiana:  Eli Lilly, announced drastic cuts.  At least 1624 people lost their jobs!  Orthopedic products maker Zimmer laid off at least 50 employees.  Company officials blame it on that damned Affordable Health Care Act (Obama/Romney Care), which created a new federal medical device tax. Warner Transitional Services shut down and laid off 112 people!

Kentucky: Hospice of the Bluegrass got rid of 16 jobs.  They blame it on cuts to Medicare and Medicaid no thanks to Obama/Romney Care (Affordable Health Care).  Kentucky Spirit Health Plan laid off all its 145 employees!  The company focused on providing Medicare covered care for children.  Company officials say the drastic cuts to Medicare funding by the Affordable Health Care Act (Obama/Romney Care) forced them to shut down because the new Medicare payments don’t cover the basic costs of operations!

Louisiana: Schumacher Group shut down its Patient Financial Management Services, 41 people laid off.   Blame Obama/Romney Care (Affordable Care Act).

Massachusetts: Blood management systems provider Haemonetics, shut down operations in Braintree. 320 jobs lost!  New England Baptist Hospital in Boston laid off 12 managers.

Minnesota: 79 people lost their jobs with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings.

Missouri:  Liberty Hospital laid off 129 employees!

New Mexico:  The Gila Regional Medical Center converted 70 full time jobs to part time only.  The hospital has also stopped the $40 million expansion project, postponed a new health information software system and shut down its Home Health Services in Luna County as well as Home Health’s D&E wavier and Helping Hands programs in Grant County!  Hospital officials blame it on the increase in uninsured customers who can’t pay and the Affordable Health Care Act (Obama/Romney Care) which drastically reduces Medicare and Medicaid payments.

New York: Arnot Health laid off 22 employees at Saint Joseph’s Hospital.  They shut down a surgical unit.  Ulster County warned employees at the Golden Hill nursing home that layoffs were coming. The Malone Veterans Affairs clinic closed down.  And 22 people laid off by MVP Health Care: “The health care marketplace is changing rapidly, and MVP must constantly adapt….”   Saint James Mercy Hospital cut 50 positions: “SJMH is continuing to experience significant declines in patient volumes, patient days and revenues, as well as reduced state and federal reimbursement and we cannot continue to support our current operation under these conditions.”-Mary LaRowe, Saint James Mercy Health System

Ohio: Mercy Hospital eliminated 18 jobs.

Pennsylvania:  In Sellersville, Israel based Teva Pharmaceutical shutting down its research and manufacturing facility by 2017.  472 employees affected!

Rhode Island:  Westerly Hospital eliminated 45 jobs.

Tennessee: Pfizer operations in Bristol laid off 25 employees.

Texas:  Galt Medical shutting down their Garland factory over the next two years.  139 people unemployed!  Galt specializes in medical devices, which are going to be hit with a massive tax under the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act!

 Washington: The Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital laid off 19 employees.

“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 2!

 ObamaCare layoffs 2013, part 1:

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 11-14 October 2013. ObamaCare kills children’s programs! Big time university layoffs! City taxes killing off grocery stores!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Savient Pharmaceuticals now bankrupt.  It’s being sold off to Sloan Holdings.

Alabama: What automotive industry recovery?  France based Michelin laying off 100 people at its BF Goodrich tire factory in Tuscaloosa.  Company officials said there was too much inventory sitting on shelves, due to the bad economy.

Arizona: In Tucson, 63 years old Arizona Mail Order shutdown.  59 jobs lost.  The Massachusetts based owner is moving ops to Pennsylvania.

California: What housing market recovery?  Across the Golden State JPMorgan Chase Mortgage shutdown offices and laid off at least 897 people!  It’s blamed on crashing demand for home loans. In San Diego, LPL Financial laid off 31 employees.

Delaware: What automotive industry recovery?  Evraz Claymont Steel shutting down their steel factory.  375 jobs lost!  Company officials blame declining sales and a steel market flooded with foreign products.  They made steel plate for other industries.  In Harrington, Georgia-Pacific shutdown its Color-Box packaging facility.  95 jobs lost.

Florida: A Kmart in Panama City Beach will shutdown. 54 jobs lost.

Illinois: The city of Galesburg warns it will have to layoff more than a dozen employees in 2014, to save $1-million to $2-million USD.  Dominick’s grocery store shutdown all 72 stores!  Dominick’s was owned by Safeway, which had warned they were “exiting” the Chicago market.  In Sterling, the Kmart will shutdown.

Maine: Electronic mapping company, DeLorme, laid off 10 employees.   Company officials said they were not in financial trouble, but “in transition”.

Maryland: In Frostburg, Acropolis Restaurant shutdown.  The owner blamed his health, the bad economy and the fact that the local fire marshall reduced his legal seating capacity to 49.   The dumb ass city of Baltimore jacked up its “bottle tax” in 2010, and now Santoni’s Supermarket is dead!  80 jobs lost.  The grocery store first opened in the 1930s.  “Since the beverage tax levy went into effect in July 2010, Santoni’s has realized total store sales loss in excess of $4 million….”-Robert Santoni Junior

Massachusetts: Home grown food maker, Joseph’s Gourmet Pasta and Sauces, laid off 73 employees.  The company was sold to Switzerland based Nestle in 2006.  In Somerset, a Wendy’s fast food joint was shutdown after customers complained and it failed a health inspection.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? In Grand Rapids, Bentler Automotive shutdown, 200 jobs lost!  In Vassar, Metavation shutdown, 113 jobs lost! The company was taken over by Dayco Products.

Missouri: Paper products maker, RockTenn, shutdown their Saint Louis factory. 50 jobs lost. It’s blamed on the company’s purchase of Smurfit Stone Container in 2011.

New Jersey:  After 44 years of art education the Matawan Student Enrichment Program shutdown.  Student enrollment crashed.

New York: In Colonie, a Kmart is shutting down.  72 jobs lost.

North Carolina: Residential treatment facility The Children’s Home and Peek-A-Moo Child Development Center shutdown, 79 jobs lost.  It’s blamed on Obama Care funding cuts.

Ohio: The Dayton Daily News warned of more layoffs. At least 22 people this time.  It’s blamed on declining sales, which company officials blame on the internet.  In Cleveland, iconic Peabody’s and Rascal House live music clubs shutdown. It’s blamed on Cleveland State University, which annexed the properties.  In Solon, Park View Federal Savings Bank laid off 57 employees. In Columbus, what housing market recovery?  Too Big to Jail JPMorgan Chase Mortgage shutdown, 97 jobs lost!  In Springboro, tax sucker General Dynamics laid off 31 employees.

Texas: The University of Texas laying off 500 people!   University officials expect continued declines in taxpayer funding and student enrollment for the next ten years!  In Denton, Conn’s appliance and furniture store shutdown. Local news media say employees were given two weeks notice, but the company refused to explain the shutdown.  The company actually reported a profit to investors.   What housing market recovery?  In Coppell, Too Big to Jail JP Morgan Chase Mortgage shutdown, 52 jobs lost.  In Fort Worth, JPMorgan Chase Home Lending shutdown, 451 jobs lost!

Wisconsin: In Milwaukee, JPMorgan Chase shutdown, 94 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

International, U.S.

World War 3, Asian Front-Afghanistan, 11-14 January 2014: 4-thousand+ U.S. personnel heading to Afghanistan! Obama corrupted 2009 elections! Obama regime shutting down state militias, stealing their airborne firepower! Preps for U.S. civil war?

Badghis Province: Three employees of the government Rural Rehabilitation and Development Directorate were kidnapped.

Kabul Province: In Kabul City, a suicide bomber exploded near the police academy.  At least 3 people killed, 21 wounded.

Kandahar Province: In Maiwand District, reports say a man and woman were shot and killed as they walked past a U.S.-NATO-ISAF base.  Witnesses say the shots came from the base.  The members of 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery, Oklahoma Army National Guard, arrived for duty at the Kandahar Airfield.

Nangarhar Province: In Jalalabad City, three children died when a propane gas cylinder exploded. Two other children, along with the parents, were wounded.   In Khogyani District, a family of six were wounded when a mortar round landed on their house.

Sar-e Pol Province: In Balkhab District, the British empire controlled (London based) Afghan Gold and Minerals Company has been awarded a contract to develop a huge copper mine.  The copper vein was originally discovered by the Soviets during the Cold War.

Uruzgan Province: In Charchino District, three local cops were stabbed to death (see, you don’t need guns to kill, it’s called hand to hand combat).  Apparently the cops were stabbed by two other cops who joined the Mujahideen.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan is reporting skyrocketing incidents involving foreigners hunting rare animal species in Afghanistan.  It is illegal to hunt animals declared as rare in Afghanistan.  Ministry officials said most of the illegal hunters are from Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, Kashmir and Bangladesh.

Despite foreign tax funding and deals with mining companies, The New York Times is reporting that many Afghan cops have not been paid since November 2013!  The report says Obama regime and UN officials are not aware that many cops were not being paid.  So where’s the money?

In Halifax, Canada, people are asking government officials why their war memorial still does not reflect the Canadian involvement in the U.S. led occupation of Afghanistan?

Former chief of Afghanistan Independent Election Commission Secretariat, Daud Ali Najafi, revealed that in the 2009 Afghan elections, Obama regime officials Richard Hallbrooke and Peter Galbraith tried to oust Hamid Karzai by influencing Afghan voters.  Najafi also said the U.S. officials threatened him, saying he should not announce the election result because Karzai won with 55% of the votes. A second election was held at the insistence of the Obama regime.

More than 4-thousand members of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force deploying to Afghanistan from California.

10 air-militiamen of the Air National Guard’s 282nd Combat Communications Squadron, from the U.S. state of Rhode island, returned home from Afghanistan and Qatar.

15 militiamen from the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 924th Engineer Facilities Detachment deployed to Romania.  The east European country is the new final landing point (Forward Operating Site Mihail Kogalniceanu) for planes carrying U.S. personnel bound for Afghanistan, since the Central Asian country Kazakhstan kicked out the U.S.

About 50 members of Alpha Battery 2-146th Field Artillery Regiment, Washington Army National Guard, returned home from Afghanistan.

The U.S. state of Oregon’s 186th Infantry 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Army National Guard is undergoing training for deployment to Afghanistan.

The Army National Guard’s 262nd Engineer Company, from the U.S. state of Maine, undergoing training for deployment to Afghanistan.

After returning from Afghanistan with their AH-64 Apache gunships, the Army National Guard’s 1-211th Attack Helicopter Battalion, in the U.S. state of Utah, were told they will probably lose their Apaches plus 100-200 jobs!  Supposedly it’s part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s plans to cut military spending.  Or is it really a conspiracy to deprive state militias of firepower when the 2nd U.S. civil war starts?

As they are just about to deploy to Afghanistan with their OH-58 Kiowa recon ‘copters (based on the Bell civilian JetRanger), the Army National Guard’s 1-230th Air Cavalry Squadron, in the U.S. state of Tennessee, were told they will probably be shut down by the Obama regime when they return home: “This will have a tremendously negative impact on the Tennessee Guard. If the Army follows this course of action, Tennessee will lose 30 helicopters and the 692 soldiers who support them. It will also eliminate 113 full-time jobs and possibly two of the three Army flight facilities across the state.”-Major General Max Haston, Tennessee National Guard

Tennessee National Guard was also told Obama will probably take their newly acquired German designed LUH-72 Lakotas! (the LUH-72 was originally built in the 1990s by Messerschmitt before that company was absorbed into the new Eurocopter)

After returning from another deployment to Afghanistan the Army National Guard’s 1st 104th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, revealed that the Obama regime is about to steal their Apaches, Chinooks, Kiowas and Lakota ‘copters!  It will affect at least 450 jobs, one officer says it’s a plan to destroy state militias’ airpower: “It’s a very bad deal for Pennsylvania and the entire National Guard……It leaves nothing in reserve in Army aviation. If they get shot up, there’s nowhere else to go to pull in….”-Major General Wesley Craig, Pennsylvania adjutant general

The official U.S. Army (aka Regular Army, RA) reason for stealing Apaches from state militias is that RA units will be replacing their lightweight recon birds with the anti-tank gunships. But that doesn’t explain why Obama is also ordering the RA to take Chinooks as well as the lightweight Kiowas and Lakotas.

It’s not just me, but members of the National Guard state militias suspect a coming civil war with the federales: “The Army chief of staff disparaged the Army National Guard last week by telling reporters in Washington DC, that, essentially, the Army National Guard just isn’t good enough to be relied upon more in the future.”-Major General Gus Hargett, National Guard Association of the United States

The U.S. state of Indiana’s Army National Guard gave several expensive MRAPs ($600-thousand USD each) to the West Lafayette Police Department.  The ‘gift’ will actually cost taxpayers another $4-thousand for modifications to demilitarize them.

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: ObamaCare layoffs 2013, part 2!

Incomplete list of publicized healthcare layoffs and closings from 26 February to 20 April 2013:

California: In Modesto, Memorial Medical Center laid off 39 office employees.

Connecticut: The New Milford Hospital closed its Family Birthing Center.

Delaware Hospice laid off 52 employees (after laying off 104 employees starting in January).

Florida: Rotech Healthcare now bankrupt after being accused of ripping off Meidcare-Medicaid.

Indiana: Orthopedics company, Medtronic, laid off 50 people in Warsaw.  Company officials blame the Obama/Romney Care medical device tax.

Kentucky:  Murray-Calloway County Hospital laid off 28 employees.  Hospital officials blame Obama/Romney Care and a huge decrease in customers ($7.5 million USD decrease)!

Maryland: Obama/Romney Care being blamed for layoffs at Frederick Memorial Hospital.  40 people let go: “What hospitals are doing nationwide, and in Maryland in particular, are to find ways to adjust the provision care models to adjust to the decreasing amount of Medicare reimbursements.”-Harry Grandinett, Frederick Memorial Hospital

Massachusetts: The Cape Cod Hospital closed its endoscopy center. At least 20 employees laid off.  You can blame Obama/Romney Care for reduced reimbursements for services rendered.  Quincy Medical laid off 30 nurses.  Tuell Nursing Home shut down after four decades of operations.  The operators blamed skyrocketing health care costs, and reduced Medicare payments under the Obama/Romney Care.

Michigan: Detroit Medical Center laid off 300 people!  Those still with jobs got pay cuts!  Blame Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Plan!

New York: Oswego Hospital closed its pediatric unit.

New Jersey: The Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center announced the ending of 15 positions and reduction in services due to reduced funding.

New Mexico: 57 UNM Hospital employees lost their jobs.  The hospital contracted out their jobs to try and save money under Obama Care.

North Carolina: Three Streams Family Health Center, which helps people without insurance, closed down.

Ohio: Maker of home healthcare products, Invacare, laid off 68 people.  Company officials are blaming the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Oregon: Easter Seals closed their Children’s Therapy Center in Salem.

Pennsylvania: Reading Eagle, owner of Reading Hospital, laid off 210 medical staff, plus eliminating another 181 jobs through attrition!  Officials blame the Obama/Romney Care (Affordable Care Act) cuts to Medicare/Medicaid!

Texas: In Houston, the DePelchin Children’s Center shut down its Elkins residential treatment center.  44 people unemployed. The owners blamed the closing on the changes being made to how federal and state governments reimburse for the treatment of children with severe mental, emotional and behavioral problems (Obama Care).

“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 1: