Recovery? More Like Remission.
Just because the economy isn’t getting worse doesn’t mean it’s booming. For a good example, check out these bits from the DNC website :
Nearly the Entire Increase in Employment is Part Time. Morgan Stanley found that, “according to the household survey of the US labor market, the growth in the number at work part time - both for economic and non-economic reasons - accounted for 97% of the cumulative increase in total employment over the past four months.” [Morgan Stanley, 7/9/04]Jobs Recovery Weaker than Average Gains. Americans are currently experiencing the worst jobless recovery of the post-World War II ear. The Morgan Stanley report found, “from the trough of the last recession in November 2001 through June 2004, private nonfarm payrolls have now risen a paltry 0.2% This stands in sharp contrast to the nearly 7.5% increase recorded, on average, over the same 31-month interval of the six preceding recoveries. [Morgan Stanley, 7/9/04]
81 Percent of total Job Growth Over the Past Year Was Concentrated in Low-End Industries. The Morgan Stanley report indicates that job creation over the past year has been in low-end industries. The report shows, “it turns out that fully 81% of total job growth over the past year was concentrated in low-end occupations.” [Morgan Stanley, 7/9/04]
And if that’s not enough to convince you that Bush’s economic policies aren’t “working”, check out this map :
No that’s not the result of some election polling data (though I did use one of those interactive maps to make the chart). In the map above, the areas marked in red are states in which the unemployment rate is worse than it was when the recession began in March 2001. The three blue states are where the rate is better, and the white state in where the rate is unchanged. (Source)
With unemployment still high and new jobs being weak in terms of creation and quality, here’s what the president has to say about how we’re doing :
The economy is strong. It is getting stronger. The tax relief we passed is working
If there’s a fine line between “optimism” and “delusion”, I think the president just crossed it.
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Wow. I’ve not seen a map like that before and I’m wondering why. Thanks.
Comment by eRobin — July 23, 2004 @ 1:43 pm
Best Economy Graphic Ever
Check out the map at The Talent Show’s “Recovery? More Like Remission.” Why haven’t I seen one like that before now? John Kerry, I’m looking at you.
Trackback by Fact-esque — July 23, 2004 @ 1:47 pm
Heh. Shrub crossed that line long ago. Probably about age 4, or whenever he first became aware of that silver spoon in his mouth.
Comment by poputonian — July 23, 2004 @ 1:51 pm
Well, the president is going to attempt to say something positive, of course. The economy may be “getting stronger” since August of last year (the Bush-Cheney campaign’s preferred baseline, I wonder why), it’s just not better over the full course of Bush’s term.
Comment by Dimmy Karras — July 23, 2004 @ 1:57 pm
Hawaii - domestic tourism up because Eurpoe is too expensive thanks to the tanked dollar.
Nevada - same reason, plus gambling.
Wyoming - ranching doing better because of low carb diets.
In other words, Bush has tanked pretty much everyone else’s economy. Thanks, Mr. Preznit!
Comment by donna — July 23, 2004 @ 4:19 pm
Who Says the Economy is Strong?
George W. Bush, that’s who (in Denver, Colorado on June 1st to be exact).
However the U.S. Department of Labor tells quite a different story.
Trackback by Where the Dolphins Play — July 24, 2004 @ 8:40 am
The Cheney/Bush full unemployment plan
The economic news for the Cheney/Bush regime is bad and getting worse. Well, not for the members of the regime—they’re a rich as kings and continuing to suck up to the goverment teat. But without martial law to suspend the
Trackback by CaptainNormal.org — July 25, 2004 @ 9:22 am
http://vidiot.typepad.com/telescreen/2004/07/ever_since_the_.html
Ever since the last election, there’s been a lot of talk about the “red states” and the “blue states.” The metaphor has been invoked in service of cogent commentary about America’s urban vs. rural cultural divide, not to mention heavily
Trackback by telescreen.org — July 30, 2004 @ 6:41 am