It seems that every month, economic indicators are released that take the elites and the MSM (redundant?) by surprise. Hence, the MSM leads with headlines like, “unexpected,” “surprising,” and the like. Here is the latest “unexpected” story, from CNBC.
New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly climbed to a nine-month high last week, yet another setback to the frail economic recovery.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 500,000 in the week ended August 14, the highest since mid-November, the Labor Department said on Thursday.
Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast claims slipping to 476,000 from the previously reported 484,000 the prior week, which was revised up to 488,000 in Thursday’s report.
A Labor Department official said there was nothing unusual in the state level data. The data covered the survey week for the government’s closely watched employment report for August, scheduled for release early next month.
“There are some technical factors out there and the seasonal factors seem to be pushing it up a little bit. But given the trend of claims it looks like the economy ran into a wall in August,” said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at Bank of Tokyo-MitsubishI UFJ in New York. (Emphasis mine)
I think the title says it all, why is our government and their media lapdogs surprised by economic reality? ObamaCare, with its increased costs and requirements, hangs over the heads of business owners like the Sword of Damocles. The pending expiration of the Bush tax cuts will increase costs. If a lame duck Congress passes Cap and Trade, the costs to businesses will increase exponentially. If card check passes, workers will be subjected to intimidation tactics until they signed a card to join a union. Given all of these factors, would you start hiring? Would you expand?
The “progressives” say that capitalism causes the problems that we face. However, we evil capitalists have been predicting exactly what is happening right now. None of this is “unexpected.” It’s reality! The more the government tampers with the market, the worse it performs. Every tax and regulation increases costs, which, in turn, costs jobs. Either people are laid off, or businesses refuse to hire. Since the left denies reality, they are surprised when the results of their activities come to fruition. Our government has introduced a great deal of uncertainty into the market, and are then blindsided by the results of that uncertainty.
The only solution is to embrace reality and accept that the free market creates wealth and jobs, not the government. However, I don’t see our “progressive” friends understanding this anytime soon. They’ll just continue to run “unexpected, surprising, and unanticipated” headlines.
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Matt
I believe that future generations should have the same opportunities that myself, and those that came before me, had. My parents taught me that I could do anything I wanted to do. I don’t want to have to tell my daughter, “You can do whatever the government tells you to do.” We are at a crossroads in this country; are we going to be free, or are we going to be slaves to the nanny state. I choose freedom.
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Frustrating to know what they plan to do is destroying us, but not being able to stop it. The progressives will never “embrace” the free market. Hopefully in November we can begin to turn it around.
That’s my hope as well, TCL. It’s going to be an uphill battle though. Thanks for the comment.
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I know full well of what you speak, Matt. My employer is constantly worried about his increased costs, due to the expiring tax cuts and the coming requirements of “health care reform”. I am afraid there are far too many people who fail to fully understand what is about to happen, if this all comes to fruition.
Honestly, how can they seriously expect our private sector to prosper and create jobs, when they are continually increasing the cost of doing business by adding tax increases and other costs, such as more regulation? Until this trend is slowed down or stopped altogether, we can not expect this “economic recovery” to be anything but frail.
That’s the problem, Larry. You can’t pile on small business and expect the economy to recover. It’s kinda like asking the QB to win the game, and then tying his arms behind his back.
The problem is that the media is full of the same tyoe of leftists that are running our country, so they also believe in Obama’s economic policies so to them this is unexpected.
To those of us in the real world, this is not unexpected, this is exactly what we knoew was going to happen.
This is where that whole process of “demoralization” comes in. As the former Soviet KGB agent has said; even when exposed to actual reality, our left will still refuse to see what is going on. So, they’re going to continue to advocate for more and more of the same failed policies.
The nation’s overall birthrate fell 2 percent from 2007 to 2008, when about 4.2 million babies were born. The dip pushed the fertility rate below 2.1 per woman, meaning Americans were no longer giving birth to enough children to keep the population from declining.
The nation’s overall birthrate fell 2 percent from 2007 to 2008, when about 4.2 million babies were born. The dip pushed the fertility rate below 2.1 per woman, meaning Americans were no longer giving birth to enough children to keep the population from declining.
And now you know the rest of the story.
The economy in order to expand must have new consumers entering the force each year. With declining births allowing instant consumers to sneak over the border each year is perfect for politicians.
This is precisely why we all scratch our heads and wonder why no one. Left right center. Liberal conservative libertarian do anything to stop the inflow of instant consumers into America.
As a famous politician once stated. “It’s the economy, Stupid”
And he was absolutely right. Everything in America is about the economy in some form or shape.
This is an argument that I have heard in the past.
It is all about the economy, no matter the factors involved.
Thanks for the comment, W.
The day after we stomp them in the next elections these things will once again be “anticipated” and “expected.”
So true sir. So true.
Headline day after election: Racist teabagging Americans wins UNEXPECTED landslide victory.
The media will have an unparalleled conniption. In fact, I hope they do so. It will only drive more and more audience away, hastening their own demise.
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I’ll give you unexpected…
2013 investigation finely proves BO is not an American citizen after all.
Every bill he signed is made Null and Void.
Journalist becomes hit list.
Those who hide, violated laws to protect BO and other wise subvert justice are placed in jail.
We don’t do “hit lists.” We aren’t violent. Leave that to the left.
Well, when the guy they rammed down your throat as a savior and transformational figure, even some super human being, falls flat on his face with a team that makes the Keystone Cops look like a well oiled machine… it’s unexpected!
But if you didn’t swallow any of that dung, and perhaps rather looked for historical precedent to suggest a Keynsian spree and cowardly appeasement overseas would bring us peace and prosperity… well, it’s no surprise at-all.
Not only is it not a surprise, we’ve been predicting it. After all of that, they still don’t get it.
You know where I stand Matt. They are achieving the desired results of their economic plan. You cannot expand the size and role of government if people have economic freedom. They believe government is the answer, in order to prove that flawed theory they need dependency. The way to create dependency is to implement economic policies that simply do not work…sound crazy. Trust me this is expected.
I think that you’re onto something. There are people that know this is going to be Cloward-Piven. However, there are the useful idiots in the MSM and at lower levels of their organisations that actually thought this crap was going to work, even though it never has.
That figures… these people live in fantasy land, and are quite literally out of touch with reality.
Which is the basic definition of psychosis.
I don’t know if we can ethically medicate that many people.