The loss of commen sense

[repete]

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Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: - Knowing when to come in out of the rain; - Why the early bird gets the worm; - Life isn't always fair; - and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.





It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights; I Want It Now; Someone Else Is To Blame; I'm A Victim!

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

[golfhobo]

Reports of my demise are wholly unfounded... and greatly exaggerated.

If you actually seek the truth... join the minority and ask me.

[MichiganDriver]

The year was 1980. America had had enough of unions. They were out of control and it was time to reel them in. We elected a man to do that, but in a totally unrelated story that same President doubled the national debt. In and of itself, that wasn't the end of the world. The problem is that at least half the country pretends it didn't happen.

The problem with pretending and otherwise living in the land of make-believe is that cause and effect no longer exist. People are free to believe whatever they choose to just because it makes them feel good. When accountability dies, common sense dies too.

[Roadhog]

Common sense gave way to PC liberalism.
Moral decay followed with increased liberal secularism.

[repete]

The year was 1980. America had had enough of unions. They were out of control and it was time to reel them in. We elected a man to do that, but in a totally unrelated story that same President doubled the national debt. In and of itself, that wasn't the end of the world. The problem is that at least half the country pretends it didn't happen.

The problem with pretending and otherwise living in the land of make-believe is that cause and effect no longer exist. People are free to believe whatever they choose to just because it makes them feel good. When accountability dies, common sense dies too.

Get with the times driver, we've been blameing Bush for years and now it's Obama's turn

[Windwalker]

Get with the times driver, we've been blameing Bush for years and now it's Obama's turn

And, from where I'm sitting, Obama doesn't seem to be doing as well as Bush did. Not that Bush deserves "Honorable Mention". But, Obama claims the recession is over, and people are still losing their jobs around here, and those that haven't had jobs aren't finding any.

Read an article yesterday that said the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) released figures stating that the actual unemployment is at 40%. Somehow, that doesn't sound to me like anything is over yet. And, their suggestions to reduce the unemployment rate aren't entirely realistic either... By making it more difficult for people to collect unemployment to give them more incentive to find jobs... Common sense says that if the jobs aren't there, you might as well try to squeeze blood out of a rock.

[golfhobo]

Not even CLOSE to 40%. Obama has already "re-created" more jobs in 3 years than Bush did in 8. By the definition of a recession (not one that Obama invented,) the recession IS over. However... I haven't heard him claim any such thing. But, all honest economists agree things are getting better.

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/108xx/doc10871/Summary.shtml

[mitchno1]

is common sense why the second mouse got the cheese

[Windwalker]

Not even CLOSE to 40%. Obama has already "re-created" more jobs in 3 years than Bush did in 8. By the definition of a recession (not one that Obama invented,) the recession IS over. However... I haven't heard him claim any such thing. But, all honest economists agree things are getting better.

Summary

May I suggest you go back and read a bit more than just the "SUMMARY"? That says nothing about where they came with figure of 40%. They didn't just go with those collecting benefits. They also included those whose benefits ran out, AND THOSE THAT HAVE TAKEN PART-TIME JOBS just to have some kind of income. The official unemployment number is hovering around 9%, but when you add in the other figures, it goes up much higher. I did not read the summary until you posted it here. What I read said 40% "total unemployed". That means Obama's job record is not as rosey as you would like it to sound, but you can bet your bottom dollar that he'll be hiding behind that 9% figure for his campaign. But, it's going to take much more than the "hokus pokus" he's been plying so far to honestly say "he" created jobs at all.

Biggest problem I see is that there is nothing better coming from the Republican camps either. Everybody is still trying to "get the leaves out of the way" so that, maybe, they can find the roots.I'll have to do some serious digging and see if I can find an excellent article on "WHAT'S WRONG WITH AMERICA TODAY". I have little doubt you'd find PLENTY to say about it. But, if I post it here, you'll find that someone can actually be longer winded than you.

[Windwalker]

I have a copy of the report on my computer in PDF form.

This Congressional Budget Office (CBO) study, which examines the state of the labor
market and a broad array of policy approaches designed to reduce unemployment, was
prepared at the request of the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Ways and
Means. In keeping with CBO’s mandate to provide objective, impartial analysis, this study
makes no recommendations.
Gregory Acs and William Carrington of CBO’s Health and Human Resources Division wrote
the study under the supervision of Linda Bilheimer. David Brauer and Benjamin Page con-
tributed significantly to the analysis. Christi Hawley Anthony, Molly Dahl, Wendy Edelberg,
Matt Goldberg, Heidi Golding, Michael Levine, Joyce ManchesteCompounding the problem of high
unemployment, the share of unemployed people looking
for work for more than six months—referred to as the
long-term unemployed—topped 40 percent in December
2009 for the first time since 1948, when such data began
to be collected; it has remained above that level ever
sincer, and Jonathan Schwabish
of CBO provided helpful comments on the report. Jimmy Jin provided valuable research and
production assistance.
Diana Furchtgott-Roth of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Harry Holzer of
Georgetown University, and Betsey Stevenson of the University of Pennsylvania also reviewed
the report. The assistance of external reviewers implies no responsibility for the final product,
which rests solely with CBO.
Loretta Lettner edited the study. Maureen Costantino prepared the report for publication and
designed the cover. An electronic version is available on CBO’s Web site (Congressional Budget Office - Home Page).
Douglas W. Elmendorf
Director
February 2012

The Preface was one of the things omitted in your Summary. This tells who prepared the report.

The rate of unemployment in the United States has
exceeded 8 percent since February 2009, making the past
three years the longest stretch of high unemployment in
this country since the Great Depression. Moreover, the
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that the
unemployment rate will remain above 8 percent until
2014. The official unemployment rate excludes those
individuals who would like to work but have not searched
for a job in the past four weeks as well as those who are
working part-time but would prefer full-time work; if
those people were counted among the unemployed, the
unemployment rate in January 2012 would have been
about 15 percent. Compounding the problem of high
unemployment, the share of unemployed people looking
for work for more than six months—referred to as the
long-term unemployed—topped 40 percent in December
2009 for the first time since 1948, when such data began
to be collected; it has remained above that level ever
since.

This is the very first paragraph of the report. Not a "SUMMARY". It is stating that the total unemployed is above 40% today, and has been there since December of 2009.

Something else that the report talks about is "PARTICIPATION". The number of people that actually have jobs. I don't remember seeing any percentages, but it did say that (something like) there are 11 million less people employed today than there were in 2007.

Now, would you mind telling us just where in all of this do you see anything even remotely related to a "RECOVERY"? The economy turning around??? All over this country, there are people that are "PARROTING" Obama's claims, but when looking at the figures from other sources (and independent sources), they do not back up his claims. Where in bloody, blue blazes is the recovery????? You have just over 58% of the American Work Force that actually is employed.

And, it doesn't stop there. We HAVE to "*****-FOOT" around China, because if they call their note on us, we're in DEFAULT. We've been operating IN THE RED for a long time. But, never as much so as in the last 3 years.

[Windwalker]

is common sense why the second mouse got the cheese

Actually, it's the "lack of common sense" that had the first mouse pass it by without a taste.

[Roadhog]

keep changing the bait, and they get the second mouse too.

[Windwalker]

Hobo......?

Did I give you a coronary?????

[Orangetxguy]

Hobo......?

Did I give you a coronary?????

Now..........

Windy.............


I think yer just being CHURLISH now!!

[golfhobo]

Hobo......?

Did I give you a coronary?????

No, Windy. I just got home from Cali. It takes two days of solid team driving to get coast to coast.

However.... you ARE inflating my blood pressure as you continue to misunderstand the information you are quoting. I will clear it up for you very soon.

[golfhobo]

keep changing the bait, and they get the second mouse too.

Sure am glad that isn't a Coors Light bottle! However... I've figured out a solution. Just carefully twist off the cap without dislodging the bottle.... then, insert straw! Bingo! Line 5 time!

[Roadhog]

.... Just carefully twist off the cap without dislodging the bottle.... then, insert straw! Bingo! Line 5 time!

sip sip SIP...... ~< SNAP

hmm hmm hmm

[golfhobo]

sip sip SIP...... ~< SNAP

hmm hmm hmm

A very LOOOOONNNNNGGGGG straw silly!

[golfhobo]

Windwalker said:

I have a copy of the report on my computer in PDF form.

I'm happy for you. I found the link to that PDF and decided to just save the LINK to my notepad on this subject.

The Preface was one of the things omitted in your Summary. This tells who prepared the report.

I ONLY posted that summary link as an afterthought to give SOME reference for my post. I don't CARE "who" prepared it... I sure wouldn't recognize any of the names... but, I suppose the CBO accepts them and that's fine with me.

This is the very first paragraph of the report. Not a "SUMMARY".

The first "paragraph" of any report or essay is a "topic paragraph" and, as such is a "summary." Just like a topic sentence is. The important point is... I think we are BOTH quoting the same "report."

It is stating that the total unemployed is above 40% today, and has been there since December of 2009.

No.... it's NOT! This is where you misunderstood the statistic. I'll try to make this quick and dirty so you don't pee yourself.

The rate of unemployment in the United States has
exceeded 8 percent since February 2009, making the past
three years the longest stretch of high unemployment in
this country since the Great Depression.

That's not entirely true, but I don't have time to address it right now. Previous recessions and periods of high unemployment might have been a few months shorter. But, everyone knows this is the "Mother of all Recessions" .... just a decision or two away from a full blown depression!

Moreover, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that the unemployment rate will remain above 8 percent until 2014.

Again... I am pressed for time but, CBO "estimates" are based on current policy decisions and laws. NONE of the recent hiring increases, or tax incentives, are figured in. The CBO is better at figures and analysis then they are at prognostication.

The official unemployment rate excludes those
individuals who would like to work but have not searched
for a job in the past four weeks as well as those who are
working part-time but would prefer full-time work; if
those people were counted among the unemployed, the
unemployment rate in January 2012 would have been
about 15 percent.

There are some misstatements here, but I'll have to address them later. For the most part.... I don't disagree with this. The "total unemployment" rate has historically been about double the "official" numbers. Under Reagan, this figure would have been about 23% (and I CAN provide links.)

HERE is where you make your mistake:

Compounding the problem of high unemployment, the share of unemployed people looking for work for more than six months—referred to as the long-term unemployed...

Meaning.... listen up now... the PERCENTAGE of the "official" unemployed [8.3%] who have been looking for work for more than 6 months... a SUBSET of the total "official" unemployed.... "has now topped 40 percent in December 2009 for the first time since 1948, when such data began to be collected."

IOW... nearly (but well BELOW half) of those filing for benefits have NOW been filing for over six months. This is why we needed the extension of U.I. benefits for those people. It is 40% of the official unemployed that are now unemployed for that much LONGER. NOT.... nearly HALF of the workforce is unemployed!

You "GOT IT" now?

it has remained above that level ever since.

Well, of COURSE it has! MOST recessions in our history were recovered from in an average of 12.3 weeks of unemployment. These are considered "cyclical" recessions in a free market society. EVERYONE agrees this was just a hair shy of a depression like the "Great One." MOST agree that only the NEW DEAL government intervention put an end to THAT one.... and if Obama's stimulus had been BIGGER, we'd have recovered much sooner.

Consider this:

If the percentage of "actual" (not total) unemployed... by those unemployed for 6 months before Obama was inaugurated... in a given month finally broke the 40% barrier.... what was it the month BEFORE? Or for years before? [ Chuck Yeager beat his OWN speed record at least 3 times in one year!]

How many months longer than the LAST "long term unemployment" situation [under Reagan] are required to break the record? [About two years under Reagan.] Answer: ONE.

Obama inherited a DEEP recession, widely accepted as just SHORT of the Great Depression. NONE of us really know much about that time... but, we know we didn't want to go BACK there! And.... we DIDN'T!

Something else that the report talks about is "PARTICIPATION". The number of people that actually have jobs. I don't remember seeing any percentages, but it did say that (something like) there are 11 million less people employed today than there were in 2007.

2007 is recorded as the beginning of the recent "recession." WHO was president then? I don't blame DUBYA himself for all of it! But... you gotta stop trying to put this on Obama's shoulders!

Now, would you mind telling us just where in all of this do you see anything even remotely related to a "RECOVERY"? The economy turning around??? Where in bloody, blue blazes is the recovery?????

Well... you DID ask! But, I'll give you a potty break before I take on this question. I just found out I have to "go out" tonight at 9 instead of tomorrow morning. I'll wait until I see you post an acknowledgement that you understand the discussion so far!

You have just over 58% of the American Work Force that actually is employed.

Nope. Not true.

And, it doesn't stop there. We HAVE to "*****-FOOT" around China, because if they call their note on us, we're in DEFAULT.

They cannot and will not DO that. IF I have to explain WHY... I will need more line 5 time and another 2 or 3 posts.

We've been operating IN THE RED for a long time. But, never as much so as in the last 3 years.

I share your concern.... but NOT your hysteria. But, this is another discussion.

Down and dirty.... in case you didn't get it.... 40% of the "official unemployed" have been so for more than 6 months. [Thanks to Dubya...] That's less than half of the "official" rate of 8.3%. NOT nearly half of the workforce!

What's the TITLE of this thread? Loss of Common Sense?

... how appropriate.