Jobless Claim Drops: Recovery?

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When I see things like politicians harping that they are being successful because the reports show that jobless claims are dropping, I usually chuckle sadly. Jobless claims are not a true indication of an economy improving, in fact in this case, its most likely people dropping off the roles because their benefits have run out and they can no longer claim them. More and more people every day are facing the reality that there are no jobs, Obama’s much vaunted stimulus program did not create any jobs, and if they do get another job, its most likely a much lower paying position, where they may not be able to meet their mortgage or rent obligations. The economy is not in recovery. A recovery is much different from this. And the sad fact is that Obama knows exactly what he needs to do in order to turn around the economy and he either a) does not do it for ideological reasons  or b) is waiting until closer to the next election so he can claim the recovery as his own and be re-elected. Either way, millions will lose their cars, homes and family, while this failed leader schmoozes, dances and golfs his way through his term.

Budget Proves Obama Unfit

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This budget is a joke. There is really nothing in it which addresses the big issues, nothing that hits at what needs to be hit at: such as cuts to entitlement spending, as well as the defense budget cuts. Where is the Republican response to the budget? We need it yesterday, but it’s coming in March. If this is truly a negotiation tactic, and not a real budget (many pundits have said that this budget is not truly serious, but a starting point for negotiations) then the reality is that Obama is simply playing games with us, our country and our future. He released this budget knowing full well that it would make matters worse, so he could claim a victory by compromise. The issue is though, it tells us volumes about him, that he will never take serious steps on his own to improve our fiscal crisis. He is unfit to be president.

Why Companies Should Die

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For all Obama's talk on innovation and entrepreneurship, he sure spends a hell of a lot of out money propping up old industries which need to fail, for example all of the billions that were thrown to GM and Chrysler. If those companies were allowed to die, then maybe a number of those more enterprising employees would have started a thousand new companies, all vibrant, new, innovative concerns. And if he'd thrown off the heavy heavy yoke of regulation around the auto industry, maybe those 1000 plus new companies would be able to come up with a "green" car which gets 200 miles per gallon and does not need to use a massive, expensive battery, and come in under $10,000. But we will never know. Obama says one thing "innovation and entrepreneurship" but rewards the exact opposite.

How Government Kills Innovation

Here is a good example of how government kills innovation instead of enhancing it. There is a local transportation company called Ubercab, here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its innovation was that you call the company with your iPhone app, which automatically tells Uber where you are based on your GPS co0rdinates. A slick black limo then pulls up, takes you where you want to go - and then drops you off. No money changes hands, as the entire trip, fare and tip, are piad for by your credit card on file with them. So you think, wow, pretty cool, interesting idea, very innovative.

Until of course they got a cease and desist order from both the San Francisco Metro Transit Authority & the Public Utilities Commission of California, accusing them of operating without a license. Trouble is that everything UberCab was doing was completely above board, all the drivers were licensed, and they had done nothing to break the law. Nevertheless, they were served and said "So what? We aren't breaking any laws, so we are continuing to operate as we see fit" All they did was remove the word "cab" from their name, now they are simply Uber. Good for them. But you see, the moment theres a new innovative way of doing anything, the establishment tries to shut you down.

So much for encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.