Mitt Romney has used this talking point in the debates and he uses it all the time on the campaign trail. He never states where this information came from, because accurate information is not necessary in Republican world. And his mouthpieces are now using the same talking point, but today, one person stood up for the truth.
Her name is Neera Tanden. She was a guest on the Melissa Perry Show this morning, and responding to the talking-point, Ms Tanden said, “23 million people aren’t unemployed. This is something that Mitt Romney says, it’s not true. We have an under-employment problem.”
And the record reflects Neera Tanden’s point. According to CNN reporting, “the U.S. Labor Department, which puts out the official government jobs data, counts 12.8 million people as unemployed — not 23 million.
“Even if you add in unemployed people who are not counted in that total because they are not actively looking for work — a category the Labor Department terms “marginally attached” — that number rises to just over 15.3 million.”
But again, Republican never let facts get in the way of a good talking point.
Michele Bachmann, one of the Republicans trying to get nominated to go against President Obama in 2012, said in a recent speech at the Family Research Council, “…if anyone will not work, neither should he eat.”
“Our nation needs to stop doing for people what they can and should do for themselves,” she said. “Self reliance means, if anyone will not work, neither should he eat.”
But this is not just an opinion held by Bachmann, it is a guiding principle in the Republican party.
For decades, Republicans have been on a mission to make reality exactly what Bachmann is suggesting. It is their passion, their burning belief that the jobless, the sick, even those who are mentally incapable of doing a job, must not eat or survive for that matter. Republicans believe that the poor and suffering are a burden on society and the rest of society bears no responsibility for the general welfare of these people.
Apparently, Bachmann – who considers herself a Christian called by God to run for president – never read the story of Cain and Able and has no idea where the “am I my brother’s keeper” phrase originated. It’s in the very first book of the Bible. But somehow, based on the reverse stance of her take from the rich and give to the poor attitude, I don’t believe she’s ever read the good book.
Mitt Romney is running for President of the United States, and the Republican candidate recently met with a group of unemployed voters in Tamper Florida back in June, and told them of his hardships, claiming that he too was unemployed.
Well luck must have smiled on Mr. Romney since that encounter with the people of Florida, because reports have surfaced saying that the same “unemployed” Romney is breaking down his $12 million California home, which is a 3009 sq foot beach front home in La Jolla, and is replacing it with an 11,062 sq foot mansion.
It is absolutely amazing what a little luck can do. Apparently, since Romney’s “unemployed” admittance, the poor slob dabbled into some real estate.
In addition to the California house and a townhouse outside of Boston, which is their official primary residence, the Romneys own a $10 million vacation home on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro, N.H.
In 2009, they sold the 6,400-square-foot colonial in Belmont, Mass. where they raised their five sons for $3.5 million and their 9,500-square-foot Deer Valley, Utah ski lodge for close to $5.25 million.
It is simple math, really! The primary incentive for any Corporation is to make money, to make a profit. But in order for these companies to achieve their goal, their products or services must be in demand and then purchased. When the demand is there and consumers are able to purchase these products or services, companies make a profit then produce more to satisfy consumer demand, thus more profits.
The problem with this economy is not a matter of supply and demand. Records show that Corporations are sitting on a collective financial nest egg of about $2 trillion in cash, so the ability to produce is there. And the problem is not a lack of demand either, for as long as there are consumers, there will always be a demand. The problem with this economy is the ability of consumers to purchase. It’s a vicious cycle – take away consumer’s ability to purchase, and the company’s profit incentive is no longer achievable. If the company can’t see a way to be profitable, they lay off workers and sit on their nest-egg. These laid off workers then join a population of non-consumers who don’t have the ability to purchase and the cycle continues.
What then, is the answer? As far as I can see, the answer is simple – give consumers the ability to purchase.
The best, most ideal way to do this is with jobs. If consumers are working, they get a paycheck and thus, are able to purchase. But in this economy, jobs are becoming scarce because Corporations are trying to hold on to their profits and are laying off. If we can’t attack the problem by making Corporations hire, then we must attack it from the other end – creating the ability for consumers to buy, thus, increasing demand. When this demand is increased, the profit margin is realized by these Corporations, and hiring is increased to meet the demand of the consumers.
How do you empower the consumers? There are two ways:
The government must pick up the slack and take the initiative. A perfect example of this was the actions of President Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression, where the government took more of an active role in The New Deal and was able to reduce unemployment by converting auto manufacturing plants into factories to meet the demands of World War 2. This action alone employed millions of unemployed Americans, giving them a paycheck and essentially reversing the effects of the Great Depression.
A massive direct Stimulus Bill – This will put real dollars into the hands of consumers, thus, giving them the ability to consume. Because of the nature of this method, it is not a long-term sustained effort to get the economy going, but it will provide a necessary needed jolt that can get corporations hiring again to meet the sudden demand by these newly empowered consumers. More hires will eventually lead to more paychecks, thus reversing the effects of this recession.
Can this government employ these two measures now to get the economy back on the right track? Yes, they can, but it takes both sides to come to the table with a real genuine goal to get America back to work. We’ve heard a lot about “shovel ready projects.” These are real areas where people can get work and begin the process of ending this recession. Bridges, roads, schools and America’s communication infrastructures need repair. We talk about green technology and clean energy, well now is the time to put people to work getting these ideas implemented. If Roosevelt had the ability to do it back in the 1930/40’s, there is no reason why it can’t be done now.
So if a simple person like myself can figure this out, why can’t the elected elites in Washington do the same?
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