Tag Archives: unemployment

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Official ‘Unofficial’ unemployment numbers way up. Nearly 100 million Americans unemployed! Record number of people who refuse to work slave wage jobs!

“At this point, the labor market is worse than people realize because people are discouraged. Certainly, a large number of workers have given up on the job market.”-Keith Hall, former commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Believe it or not the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics actually attempts to track those people who’re unofficially unemployed.

The “official” unemployment numbers count those who’ve been looking for work for the last four weeks, and people who already have jobs but are looking for better work.  The fact that “official” unemployment numbers includes people that are actually employed should be enough for you to doubt them.

But it turns out the Bureau of Labor Statistics does try to count people who’ve been out of work longer than four weeks, or who have just stopped looking for work, they just don’t include those people in the “official” unemployment reports.

One way they look at it is what they call labor force participation.  According to their latest numbers, the labor force participation rate in the United States is at it’s lowest level since 1984. There are 86 million U.S. citizens who gave up looking for work!  That’s 86 million “unofficially” employed on top of the 12.7 million “officially” unemployed!

That means there’s actually 98.7 million people known by the federal government to be unemployed in the United States!

Department of Labor officials say that at least 6 million unofficially unemployed have stopped looking for work because most jobs available are not worth taking (from the unemployed’s point of view).

Labor officials also admitted that they didn’t know why about 36 million of the unofficially unemployed refuse to look for work.  In fact the labor force participation rate has been steadily dropping since 2000, years before the credit crisis began!

To make matters worse, the Chicago Federal Reserve bank expects labor force participation rate to continue to fall.

Why is the Labor Department coming forth with this dismal unemployment announcement?  Because federal government officials and politicians have realized that with nearly 100 million people out of work, and signs that it’s going to get worse, the money the federal government steals through income taxes will continue to be less and less (don’t be surprised when they start jackin’ up taxes on those who are employed).

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

China sets Yuan at new record versus the U.S. dollar

The People’s Bank of China set the yuan’s midpoint at 6.267, meaning it could take 6.267 yuan to equal one U.S. dollar.  The more valuable the yuan is, the less it takes to equal one USD.

That’s a new record, and proof the Chinese are increasing the value of their money.  May 2, 2012, currency trading in China ended with the yuan at 6.30 for every one U.S. dollar.

The downside is that the more valuable the yuan is, the more expensive anything made in China becomes.  Better bring those jobs back in the U.S.S.A.

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

Oil & Gas Prices: Iran 100% increase in shipments! Nigeria oil & gas boom. North Dakota oil jobs draining Idaho & Washington. Ohio’s oil industry refuses to hire locals? Chevron big profits. Texas is proof that Obama is an oil man.

Despite U.S. oil sanctions against Iran, Iran experienced a 100% increase in refined petrol (gasoline) exports in 2011!

Iranian officials say their gasoline sales in 2011 hit a record $134 million USD!  Some of the countries buying Iranian petrol are Armenia, Afghanistan, the UAE, Iraq and Oman (some are U.S. puppet states).

By the end of 2010 Iran became self supporting in petrol production, ending years of dependance on foreign suppliers of refined gasoline.  Iran is now a major exporter of refined fuels.

Officials in Nigeria announced plans to increase oil production to 4 million bpd by the year 2020.  They are also close to increasing liquefied natural gas production by an additional 20 million metric tons a year, from the current level of 26 million tons.  Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa.

Texas oil and gas surplus equipment supplier, Jhump & Associates, is reporting a 117% increase in sales in 2011!  But that’s nothing compared to the 300% increase they had in 2010!!!

The Texas based company started in human resource solutions, but has seen a huge boost after they moved into surplus oil equipment sales.  They now plan to move into off shore drilling technology. They say their increased sales is due to a huge increase in oil and gas exploration and drilling in the United States.  What was that about Obama not doing enough to increase oil production?

In the panhandle of Idaho, and eastern Washington, people are leaving for oil jobs in North Dakota: “I’ve had guys come running through the door, saying, ‘I need my CDL [commercial drivers license] now! I’ve got a job lined up in North Dakota!’ .”-Tina Sykes, Sage Truck Driving Schools

Sage Truck Driving Schools now offers a shortened course for those Idahoans and Washingtonians heading for North Dakota.

North Idaho College is experiencing a jump in enrollment for electrical and plumbing programs that end with apprenticeships in North Dakota.

While educators are warning job seekers to do their homework before heading for North Dakota, there seems to be more than enough jobs available: “We’ve had both types of people, those who jumped in the car and left, and others who did prior research on companies. We’ve never had anyone who didn’t get employment.”-Tina Sykes, Sage Truck Driving Schools

In contrast, Ohio is seeing a seeming rejection of local people for consideration of employment in the oil and gas industry there.

One union member claimed that not a single contractor in Coshocton County, Ohio, has been hired by the shale oil and gas industry: “…I have been a local construction laborer for more than 30 years. I have talked with other construction laborers living in the Carroll, Harrison and Jefferson county areas. They are totally discouraged on the lack of, or in other words zero percent, work they are getting from this construction based shale gas industry.”-Timothy Mulford, Business Manager Laborers Local 134

Chevron reported a $6.5 billion USD profit for the first quarter of 2012.  High oil prices driven by speculators was one of many reasons for the huge profits.

According to Visiongain, all oil refineries around the world are now worth a combined total of $46.64 billion USD.  Visiongain expects huge investments and developments will be made in refineries until 2022.

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: More U.S./NATO deaths, more leaders captured, more battles, more money to be spent.

April 29, 2012, International Security Assistance Force announced that two U.S./NATO personnel were killed in separate explosions.

One soldier was killed in southern Afghanistan, the other in eastern Afghanistan.

At least 135 NATO service members have died since the beginning of 2012.

Yet another 24 hour seek and destroy/capture mission report from the Afghan officials. This time they claim they killed five Mujahideen and captured 21.

They also claim the usual capture of “leaders”, weapons and drugs.  The battles took place in Nangarhar, Kunar, Kapisa, Kandahar, Helmand, Khost, Ghazni, Logar, Zabul and Farah provinces.   The report was backed up by ISAF officials.

Chairman of U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Senator John Kerry, met with President Hamid Karzai. They came up with preliminary agreements on U.S. troop draw down in 2014.

They agreed the main focus should be spending more money to build up Afghanistan’s civil service.  They also agreed not to reduce spending on the Afghan military until it was clear the “security situation” improves, after 2015.

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Spain hits record unemployment, highest in Europe!

April 27, 2012, Spain’s National Statistics Institute announced that Spain’s unemployment rate is officially at 24.4%, the highest ever for Spain, and currently the highest in Europe!

That’s 5.6 million people out of work in a country with a population of 46 million people!

The 24.4% rate is for the first quarter of 2012.  It’s a 370,000 increase from the last quarter of 2011!

Now realize that Spain is considered the fourth largest economy in Europe!

The government of Spain plans on enacting even more spending cuts, and increases in taxes.  Mmmm, I think that’s whats actually making things worse?

Influenza

War on Terror shifts to War on Flu. Politicians opposed were removed before votes were cast! New law says who will get help and who won’t!

April 27, 2012, Japan’s Diet (parliament) has passed a bill that allows near martial law like conditions in response to a major epidemic.

The Japanese government can now set up a special task force to deal with an outbreak of unusually virulent influenza.  A state of emergency can be declared if the epidemic threatens the economy.

The special task force can decide who will be given priority for medical help! Education can be suspended, and public gatherings and events restricted.

Something else to be concerned about, this law was passed only because all those politicians that opposed it were not present in the parliament, including members of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Japanese media says the law passed with a majority of the votes, but that’s a given when all those opposed were not present.

The committee that debated the bill warned that provisions should be added that protected individual liberties, and that the special task force should be required to heed the advise of medical experts.

Note: Japan is part of the Trilateral Commission (Europe, North America, Japan/Asia)

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Postal Service to be fully privatized

April 27, 2012, Japan’s House of Councillors passed a bill that would merge the country’s two postal service providers into one privatized corporation.

There is already a 2005 law that requires the Japanese government to give up all financial control of their postal system by September 2017.

This new bill, a resolution to the 2005 law, drops the deadline date, but also allows the new privatized single postal service to begin operations without government approval.

There is opposition to the privatization of Japan’s postal service.  When the 2005 law was passed it was done by dissolving Japan’s House of Representatives, most of whom were opposed to privatization.  In other words it was passed by unfairly eliminating the governmental opposition.

To try and counter the 2005 law, a new law was passed that froze any further sale of government held Japan Post stock.  However, this new law overrides that and the current government says they will use the money to pay for post March 11, 2011, disaster reconstruction (which indicates the government is broke).

Note: Japan is part of the Trilateral Commission (Europe, North America, Japan/Asia)

Fukushima

One Year Later: Proof that being a refugee will kill you, more than 1600 people die in Japan. Money does not help!

More than a year after the March 11, 2011, earthquake/tsunami and nuclear disaster, 1,618 people have died.

Japan’s Reconstruction Agency announced on April 27, 2012, that living as refugees was the cause of their deaths.

Most had lost their homes and were living in makeshift housing. The Agency determined that extremely stressful and unhealthy conditions causes people to die. Some people died because they needed medical treatment, but were unable to get help.

Deaths occurred in nine prefectures. So far Fukushima leads the list with 764 deaths, followed by 636 in Miyagi and 179 in Iwate.

The Reconstruction Agency started tracking refugees only because of the money that was given out for disaster relief. Turns out the money did little to make life better for the refugees.

Note: Japan is part of the Trilateral Commission (Europe, North America, Japan/Asia)

Business/Economics, U.S.

U.S. Treasury Secretary admits Government officials & Corporate America are incompetent!

“Most financial crises are caused by a mix of stupidity and greed and recklessness and risk-taking and hope….You can’t legislate away stupidity and risk-taking and greed and recklessness. What you can do is make sure when it happens it does not cause too much damage and to do that you have to make sure you have good rules against fraud and abuse, better protections and you force banks to hold more capital against their risk.”-Timothy Geithner, U.S. Treasury Secretary, statement made after touring a factory in Portland

Realize that Geithner is talking about the political and corporate leadership of the United States.  He’s also saying, in a ’round about way, that he has been trying his best to make sure the incompetent decisions by our leaders “…does not cause too much damage…”

Those leaders include both Republican Bush Jr and Democrat Obama!

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

What Economic Recovery? Nintendo suffers first loss ever in 30 years!

April 26, 2012, Kyoto-based video game maker Nintendo reported its first ever loss.

Nintendo officials say they lost $530 million USD in fiscal year 2011.  Japan’s fiscal year ends in March.

2011 sales crashed 36%.  However, total sales was still about $7.9 billion USD.

Company officials blame the sales crash on the high asking price for their 3DS system.  They dropped the price in August, hoping to increase sales.  By dropping the price they ended up cutting their profits.

Today’s reported loss is the first loss for Nintendo since 1981!

Nintendo has a new game system that will be for sale in Europe, North America and Japan, before December 2012.