The presidential election this fall may hinge on what happens to people like John Mahoney and Robert Daems. Both are in their 50s, lost their jobs in December 2002 and still haven’t found work. If President Bush continues to oppose renewing federal extended unemployment benefits, their compensation soon will run out. “I don’t think the Republican Party even cares,” says… return to article
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Reader Comments (20)Page 1 of 1 pagesI remember the days when I was a kid and I would go see my dad at his job. He was a manager at a motor manufacturing plant. I remember the pride that the people had to be (1) working (2) making a halfway decent wage in this area. Now the plant that he works for cannot even afford to keep him on, and he has been unemployed since October. 1200 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Western North Carolina since last month. I can imagine that this is a common trend among similar-sized cities across the US. How are these people going to make it, especially the ones that are giving up? How are families going to survive when the last unemployment check comes in? Bush lightly says that we need to advance our skills. How are we going to do that when college tuition is rising? The rich are getting richer...Is it any suprise W wants those tax cuts made permanent? There needs to be a reassessment of the relationship between corporate America and the local communities. Greed has taken this administration and it’s corporate partners because they have the power, but I don’t think they care about the consequences of what it is doing to our country. There is such a polarization between the lower/middle-class and the upper class, and GW thinks that you reap what you sow. Well, let’s not give that SOB another 4 years and add his presidency to the pool of 3 million lost jobs!
Posted by Bob on Feb 24, 2004 at 2:21 PM Thanks for writing a great article. I am a man in my early 40’s, have worked 10 years as a Chief Information Officer for various companies, and… I have been out of work for two years.
I not only voted for Bush in 2000, I campaigned hard for him. I have voted Republican all of my life.. but will vote Democrat in November.
Bush has turned his back on middle americans… and I dont care what anyone says.. the record speaks for itself.. and it doesnt speak well of the job that Bush has done. People are out of work… the budget deficit is met with disdain.. we have botched foreign policy.. .but most importantly, we have sent brave young kids to fight a war, that in the end, seems to be pointless..
George W. Bush will be remembered as one of the worst presidents to ever hold office.
Posted by Tracy Vance on Feb 24, 2004 at 3:34 PM I worked at the same manufacturing plant for over 10 years. I had a union job manufacturing dildos and other sex toys for a large company. Unfortunately, my job was shipped over seas to China. I have seen this trend throughout America. I, like many blue collar Americans, voted for Bush in 2000. However, I will not vote for him again because he hasn’t done anything to help working Americans. His tax cuts have only benefited the rich and I’m still out of work. It’s funny how must of the people who vote for Bush (like myself) end up getting screwed the most by his economic policies. This election, I will be voting for Kerry.
Posted by Jenny Wilkenson on Feb 24, 2004 at 4:11 PM I agree with Jenny. Bush’s economic policies end up hurting the people who vote for him the most. Unless of course, you are extremely rich. I don’t think he will be re-elected. He is a liar and has no credibility. He lied to take over Iraq. In fact, he sign an order to go to war in Iraq 1 year prior to going to war. It just proves the administration was hell bent on going to war to take over Iraqi oil. And look at gas prices now, this summer its expected to hit a record high, $3.00 / gallon. Thanks Bush, you invaded Iraq, a country sitting on 300 billion barrels of oil and we are paying a ridiculous amount for gas. What a dumb ass.
Posted by Letral Cammal on Feb 24, 2004 at 4:18 PM Hmmm.. Interesting. The anti-bush take here due to his typical republican “help the rich” approach seems odd. What did you expect? Since when have the repugs cared about the economic status of the poor and the middle class?
But let’s be fair-- the current economic malaise in fact started before bush took office and is endemic of larger economic issues/problems. criticism of bushit and co. not telling us the “big picture” truth should be just as hot as their inability to provide viable solutions.
Posted by Anthony on Feb 24, 2004 at 8:47 PM Another issue is that of exec salaries in the US. The norm for bosses is the EU is 10-15x that of the worker. Here it is 410-440x. One can hope that eventually the public (and stockholders) will wake up.
When Daimler bought Chrysler the (failing) CEO in Detroit was making many times the combined salaries of Daimler’s whole governing body--yet all we read about today is coddled athletes.Austin in DC
Posted by ATS on Feb 25, 2004 at 11:17 AM This was a well written article which I enjoyed very much. But going forward, I agree with Jenny and Letral. George W. Bush is a moron and should not be able to speak to the public without a well written speech prepared for him. Off the cuff questions are totally out of his realm. Now to think about this, why would anyone with that mentality be the president of these United States. Oh, lest we forget, he stole the election and will probably try to do so again this year. In 3 years, he has almost detroyed the values of this country. I sure hope all the disgruntled readers of the column will vote for the Democratic candidate in November. In fact, whoever wins the Democratic nomination cannot do any worse than “W.”
Posted by Wilda Walker on Feb 25, 2004 at 1:10 PM Tracy Vance and other repubs, well said. . . there may be hope for this nation yet if people of common sense can band together.
Unfortunately for America, our President is a lying criminal who has never had to worry about putting food on the table or keeping the bank from foreclosing - issues that most of have to deal with every day.
If we don’t fix the voting machine debacle it won’t matter anyways, because he will simply steal the election like last time. Those machines don’t even spit out a paper reciept, we just take their word for it. . . No conspiracy theories, just plain and simple the way the world works. It’s power politics and it’s been happening for thousands of years. And this adminsitration is all about power.
**NOTE: Will someone please kick Ralph Nader in the ass? 40,000 people voted for him and Florida and Bush won the whole damn thing by 500 votes. If Nader cared more about the country than his ego, he would do the right thing and kick his own ass. As the last 3 years have vividly illustrated, there is a world of difference between Democrats and Republicans. For a pretty smart guy, the man’s ignorance is astounding.
Posted by Ed Mellon on Feb 27, 2004 at 2:22 PM Clarification: there is a world of difference btween dem and repub policies - the people use usually pretty okay.
Posted by Ed Mellon on Feb 27, 2004 at 2:23 PM TO ED THE MELLON-HEAD:
Kick Ralph in the ass? For what? What the fuck have the Demopublicans done for us lately? I mean, since at least 1965?
I probably won’t vote for Nader again this time around, but that’s because he didn’t go through the democratic process in the Green Party of running for the nomination, like everyone else.
Personally, I hope Peter Camejo of California gets the Green Party nod this time. I’d have no problem voting for him.
Posted by Kurt Hill on Mar 1, 2004 at 3:13 PM Kurt - Nice grade-school insult, asshole. In the future, please leave the name-calling to the professionals.
Pete Camejo is great - unfortunately neither he nor Nader has a chance to do anything besides ensure another 4 years of George W. Bush.
To answer your question, perhaps it would be better to phrase the answer in terms of what the Democrats have NOT done lately:
- Drop out of the Kyoto Protocol
- Appoint John Ashcroft as Attorney General
- Alter the Clean Air Act
- Loosen EPA standards for lead and mercury in drinking water
- Destroy the Constitutional ban against unreasonable search and seizureAnd this is just lately! Sometimes it’s impossible to tell if you people live in the real world or some kind of fantasy-land paradise where wishing for a green candidate to win might just make it so.
It’s that rediculous attitude that handed George Bush control of this nation’s Presidency last time. You’d think once would be enough; because in the real world it matters a great deal whether a democrat or republican controls the White House. . .
People like you and Nader do the country a disservice, and make it that much tougher for those of us doing the real fighting to unseat this oligarchy. This isn’t just a game of ideals - real people’s lives are being destroyed by this administration.
So another Nader campaign is like a godsend to the Bush people. If you really want to help, either work to unseat George Bush or get the hell out of the way. The least you could do is not be a hindrance to the effort.
Posted by Ed Mellon on Mar 1, 2004 at 4:27 PM GIMME A BREAK, ED
And the Demopublicans...?
--Helped to pass the “Patriot” Act
--Voted to invade Iraq along with the Republicrats
--Ended welfare as we knew it
--Refused to pass (again, under the Clintonites) a national health care plan, etc., etc., etc.You still don’t get it, do you Ed? As long as saps are willing to vote for the “lesser” evil, the ruling elite keeps screwing us.
If the Demopublicans want MY vote, they’re going to have to BUY IT with some decent programs. Without national health, a REAL raise in the minimum wage, affordable housing, etc., I couldn’t care less if the Republicrats win again this year. Who cares?
Posted by Kurt Hill on Mar 1, 2004 at 4:59 PM About Nader: “I urge the liberal establishment to relax and rejoice. This is a campaign that strives to displace the present corporate regime of the Bush administration”
This may be a boon to the Democrats. Also, if Nader gets to debate, it may make the debates a whole lot more interesting, and may force the democratic party to be less Demopublican.
About the economy:
* 50 years ago, my parents were able to raise a family of 7 AND have a house AND a 3-story apartment with my dad working at a tire company, and we were never without. My dad had a high school education, and was able to retire at 62 pretty comfortably with a pension from the tire company and SS.
* 30 years ago houses cost about 3x my annual salary, and were easily affordable. Companies paidd 100% dental, medical, and company paid pensions. There was no sales, water or sewer taxes, and garbage collection was free.
* Today, the same house costs 11x my salary, and I couldn’t even afford the down payment on it if I was just starting out. Companies pay typically 75% medical + dental (if you’re lucky) with huge deductibles, with NO pensions. Property + water taxes have gone through the roof recently. Sales taxes are over 5% + my insurance increases the past few years have been around 25%! And now I hear rumors that I’ll have to be around 92 to be able to collect SS, once the reforms will be passed next year.Meanwhile, alls I hear about is how great the economy is doing, productivity is up, and GDP is INCREASING!
WHO HOO!
Wait a minute. They don’t say that productivity is up because of the outsourcing debacle, + because mostly everything is being made overseas. For example, if a good is produced overseas and shipped over here productivity may appear to increase a lot, because outsourced labor costs are so much cheaper. And since productivity is defined as goods divided by labor costs, outsourcing will significantly raise productivity numbers. But this increased productivity is just another sign of accelerated exportation of labor costs.
GDP is increaasing at a strong clip. Wonderful for the markets, But it also means that we’re all paying a whole lot more for everything from fuel to insurance costs. Not good for the average Joe.
The economy is doing great? For the top 5%, it sure is. Just wish the other 95% of us were sharing in this booming economy.
Kurt Hill, change comes from the masses WANTING change. If you sit back and do nothing, nothing will change.
Posted by Concerned Patriot on Mar 2, 2004 at 7:29 PM About Nader: “I urge the liberal establishment to relax and rejoice. This is a campaign that strives to displace the present corporate regime of the Bush administration”
This may be a boon to the Democrats. Also, if Nader gets to debate, it may make the debates a whole lot more interesting, and may force the democratic party to be less Demopublican.
About the economy:
* 50 years ago, my parents were able to raise a family of 7 AND have a house AND a 3-story apartment with my dad working at a tire company, and we were never without. My dad had a high school education, and was able to retire at 62 pretty comfortably with a pension from the tire company and SS.
* 30 years ago houses cost about 3x my annual salary, and were easily affordable. Companies paidd 100% dental, medical, and company paid pensions. There was no sales, water or sewer taxes, and garbage collection was free.
* Today, the same house costs 11x my salary, and I couldn’t even afford the down payment on it if I was just starting out. Companies pay typically 75% medical + dental (if you’re lucky) with huge deductibles, with NO pensions. Property + water taxes have gone through the roof recently. Sales taxes are over 5% + my insurance increases the past few years have been around 25%! And now I hear rumors that I’ll have to be around 92 to be able to collect SS, once the reforms will be passed next year.Meanwhile, alls I hear about is how great the economy is doing, productivity is up, and GDP is INCREASING!
WHO HOO!
Wait a minute. They don’t say that productivity is up because of the outsourcing debacle, + because mostly everything is being made overseas. For example, if a good is produced overseas and shipped over here productivity may appear to increase a lot, because outsourced labor costs are so much cheaper. And since productivity is defined as goods divided by labor costs, outsourcing will significantly raise productivity numbers. But this increased productivity is just another sign of accelerated exportation of labor costs.
GDP is increaasing at a strong clip. Wonderful for the markets, But it also means that we’re all paying a whole lot more for everything from fuel to insurance costs. Not good for the average Joe.
The economy is doing great? For the top 5%, it sure is. Just wish the other 95% of us were sharing in this booming economy.
Kurt Hill, change comes from the masses WANTING change. If you sit back and do nothing, nothing will change.
Posted by Concerned Patriot on Mar 2, 2004 at 7:30 PM About Nader: “I urge the liberal establishment to relax and rejoice. This is a campaign that strives to displace the present corporate regime of the Bush administration”
This may be a boon to the Democrats. Also, if Nader gets to debate, it may make the debates a whole lot more interesting, and may force the democratic party to be less Demopublican.
About the economy:
* 50 years ago, my parents were able to raise a family of 7 AND have a house AND a 3-story apartment with my dad working at a tire company, and we were never without. My dad had a high school education, and was able to retire at 62 pretty comfortably with a pension from the tire company and SS.
* 30 years ago houses cost about 3x my annual salary, and were easily affordable. Companies paidd 100% dental, medical, and company paid pensions. There was no sales, water or sewer taxes, and garbage collection was free.
* Today, the same house costs 11x my salary, and I couldn’t even afford the down payment on it if I was just starting out. Companies pay typically 75% medical + dental (if you’re lucky) with huge deductibles, with NO pensions. Property + water taxes have gone through the roof recently. Sales taxes are over 5% + my insurance increases the past few years have been around 25%! And now I hear rumors that I’ll have to be around 92 to be able to collect SS, once the reforms will be passed next year.Meanwhile, alls I hear about is how great the economy is doing, productivity is up, and GDP is INCREASING!
WHO HOO!
Wait a minute. They don’t say that productivity is up because of the outsourcing debacle, + because mostly everything is being made overseas. For example, if a good is produced overseas and shipped over here productivity may appear to increase a lot, because outsourced labor costs are so much cheaper. And since productivity is defined as goods divided by labor costs, outsourcing will significantly raise productivity numbers. But this increased productivity is just another sign of accelerated exportation of labor costs.
GDP is increaasing at a strong clip. Wonderful for the markets, But it also means that we’re all paying a whole lot more for everything from fuel to insurance costs. Not good for the average Joe.
The economy is doing great? For the top 5%, it sure is. Just wish the other 95% of us were sharing in this booming economy.
Kurt Hill, change comes from the masses WANTING change. If you sit back and do nothing, nothing will change.
Posted by Concerned Patriot on Mar 2, 2004 at 7:31 PM Sorry about the duplicate posts. Kept on getting errors....
Posted by Concerned patriot on Mar 2, 2004 at 7:33 PM Kurt, I have a friend who always told me that there was no difference between Reps and Dems. Today he knows better. As a mother of a very ill child I had always understood who was buttering her bread (wonderful taxpayers providing for her health care bills). The Dems established the programs and have consistently protected them. Today Reps are cutting the health care program my friend runs. Today he understands but it is too late - the program is already cut. I use the programs that the Dems created - I do not agree with your suggestion that they somehow failed the poor. Not until now - when things are totally in the hands of the enemy! That could have been avoided if we had been a united party in 2002. I do think that older Dems like myself are willing to start listening to greener members since the need for change in this area is also becoming much clearer. I for one do not want to send anymore troops to fight for oil in the middle east.
Posted by Judi on Mar 4, 2004 at 12:21 AM SOME FINE LOCAL POLS
First, Patriot thinks that all I do is sit back. He’s wrong. Since I got involved in politics in 1967, I’ve been arrested at least 15 times for various issues, including housing the homeless, peace and civil rights. So I do much more than sit back.
Second, some of the best activists I know are LOCAL politicians. They speak out on the issues, and have even gotten arrested with us.
If the Demopublicans want me to vote for them in a presidential election, they are going to have to offer something for it. They are not going to get it for free.
Posted by Kurt Hill on Mar 5, 2004 at 12:03 PM SOME FINE LOCAL POLS
First, Patriot thinks that all I do is sit back. He’s wrong. Since I got involved in politics in 1967, I’ve been arrested at least 15 times for various issues, including housing the homeless, peace and civil rights. So I do much more than sit back.
Second, some of the best activists I know are LOCAL politicians. They speak out on the issues, and have even gotten arrested with us.
My point is if the Demopublicans want me to vote for them in a presidential election, they are going to have to OFFER something for it. They are not going to get it for free.
Posted by Kurt Hill on Mar 5, 2004 at 12:05 PM SOME FINE LOCAL POLS
First, Patriot thinks that all I do is sit back. He’s wrong. Since I got involved in politics in 1967, I’ve been arrested at least 15 times for various issues, including housing the homeless, peace and civil rights. So I do much more than sit back.
Second, some of the best activists I know are LOCAL politicians. They speak out on the issues, and have even gotten arrested with us.
My point is if the Demopublicans want me to vote for them in a presidential election, they are going to have to OFFER something for it. They are not going to get it for free.
Posted by Kurt Hill on Mar 5, 2004 at 12:06 PM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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