Somewhere on Facebook I addressed the criticisms and complaints of a woman named Rosemarie:
Rosemarie, do you remember what was happening four years ago? Try to remember how difficult things were back then in the fall of 2008 and the winter of 2009.
We were losing 700,000 jobs a month when Obama took office, and weekly first time unemployment claims kept increasing to over 600,000 to 700,000 a week. We had lost a total of 4,400,000 jobs BEFORE Obama took the oath of office.
The stock market had tanked, the banks were virtually insolvent, the auto industry was bankrupt and on its last legs, and people were scared. I didn't know anybody in those months and weeks who wasn't terrified and unsure of what the future was going to bring.
Deficit? Certainly you realize that you can't put a dent in the deficit when the economy is in a shambles and there are millions of people out of work and plenty without enough money to pay for their basic necessities; surely you understand that, Rosemarie? As it is, the percent increase in the federal deficit in the past fiscal year is one of the lowest increases on record, which is actually pretty amazing. Remember that the GDP, the Gross Domestic Product or all products and services produced in this country, was DECREASING when Obama took office and, within 6 months, it had turned around. But if you are watching Fox or listening to right-wing talk radio or reading right wing blogs, you won't know these things.
Jobs: As I said above, we were losing 600,000 to 800,000 jobs a month the last few months of the Bush administration and the first few months of the Obama administration. We now have added 4,500,000 new private sector jobs since that time. Yes, we need more jobs, but considering that we lost 8 million jobs, regaining 4,500,000 jobs while the Republicans plotted to make Obama fail, obstructed decent laws with impunity, and created the most relentless, nastiest opposition for decades, is actually quite an accomplishment. Too bad you can't see that.
Considering the situation of the economy (and knowing the problems of the Great Depression), it's clear that we were right at the edge of an abyss. That things are as well as they are now is an accomplishment. Now, if you were driving down the street and saw a house on fire, would you obstruct the fire department when they come to put it out? You know it takes time to get that fire under control, to put it out, to clear the debris, to start rebuilding, right? If the fire fighters don't put the fire out fast enough, would you heckle them? Would you blame them the firefighters or the clean up people or the rebuilding people for the fire in the first place? And think about how long it takes to pull a car out of a ditch and fix it so that it is again driveable.
How long do you think it would have taken McCain and the despicable P woman to start adding jobs? How many jobs would you have had to see by now to feel that job growth was adequate?
Yes, many people are still struggling, particularly older people due to serious age discrimination, and some parts of the country are experiencing more problems than other parts. However, the business people that I know have all said the worst is over. I see new businesses popping up in empty store fronts all over town. I don't know any young people with degrees right now who are still unemployed, and some of the people I know who lost jobs and started mini businesses a couple of years back are now seeing earnings and profits from those businesses. Are things as they should be? Of course not! The middle class has been decimated for decades now, since the Republicans began increasing power in the 1980's, and it is going to take a lot of work to get things turned around.
Rosemarie, it is absolutely shameful that you have such a poor understanding of the issues of this country. Rampant income and wealth inequality, which will only get worse with the policies of the Vulture and the Voucher, should scare all of us unless we are filthy rich. Please review that Ryan Budget and tell us why you think it will help you and your loved ones.
No comments:
Post a Comment