Archive for March 11th, 2010

More Tea For The Baggers

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

One of the most troubling aspects about today’s Know Nothing Party is the clear tinge of racism, particularly by the so-called Tea Baggers (who are nothing much other than what used to be called the extreme right).

It’s very clear in the eyes and minds of these nutjobs that the only real Americans are white Americans.

The feeling that the “other” is getting some unfair advantage, principally because the country’s done the unthinkable and elected a black man, is pervasive in the diatribes of mainstream Know Nothings and Tea Baggers alike.

So, today’s report from the Census Bureau will no doubt strike terror in the hearts of these racists: in terms of birth rates, within the next couple of years the majority will be the minority!

Gorilla says: “Time to learn Spanish at the John Birch Society!”

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This Week’s George T. Platter And Bait

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

The tidetime folklorist wonders why the only hiring solution in Washington involves giving tax credits to those who don’t need them.

The Platter: “Sleep The Clock Around” by Belle and Sebastian (cheaper to reduce labor by 20% than payroll by 15%)

The Bait: The Persuader Double Buzzer Buzzbait (especially when demand’s falling by 50%)

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It’s Still Not Good News

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Spin, spin, spin away, but the unemployment numbers are terrible!

Where are the “signs of stablilizing” or the “rising optimism that payroll jobs growth could start as early as March”?

Dunno!

The 4-week moving average of claims is at 475,000, or roughly 150,000 more claims than you would see if the economy was growing at a sufficient pace relative to population.

The number of continuing claims rose last week by 37,000!

In Washington, there’s another round of unemployment comp extension, but there remains no serious effort whatever to hire people. The federal government is virtually the only source of demand in the current economy.

In the states, thousands are being laid off, whole school systems are being dismantled, and there’s no end in sight to the housing crash.

Gorilla thinks: “We keep cueing Miss Rosy Scenario, but Miss Rosy Thorns remains at center stage!”

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Don’t Touch Our Hedge Funds

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Cross border financial regulation? Dream on!

Timmy our Treasury Secretary says he will sick Lassie on the EU if they go ahead with plans to regulate more strictly the activities of hedge funds and other US-based “offshore” entities.

Apparently, protecting against another financial meltdown could be seen as a protectionist measure!

Gorilla says: “What’s that boy? You say there are speculators whistling with the canary in the old mine?”

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