tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-337572562024-03-18T19:53:10.243-07:00Safe Work SpaceHow safe is your work space Physically and Psychologically? What's really going on?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-73776987561707073122019-09-14T12:09:00.000-07:002019-09-14T12:09:57.924-07:00Businesses Quietly Laying Off Workers Ahead of Anticipated RecessionDon't be fooled by the small numbers because many of them are layoffs at corporate headquarters.<br />
Here's a list of the latest layoffs:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Boston Business Journal 09/13/2019: <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2019/09/13/state-street-lays-off-250-it-workers-in-latest-job.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">State Street lays off 250 IT workers in latest job cuts</a> </li>
<li>Variety 09/12/2019: <a href="https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/rooster-teeth-layoffs-13-percent-warnermedia-1203333556/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WarnerMedia’s Rooster Teeth Cuts 13% of Staff, Laying Off About 50</a> </li>
<li>ARS Technica 09/11/2019: <a href="https://arstechnica.com/cars/2019/09/uber-lays-off-another-435-people-to-stem-big-losses/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Uber lays off another 435 people to stem big losses</a> </li>
<li>Splinter 09/12/2019: <a href="https://splinternews.com/newspaper-owned-by-richest-man-in-the-world-lays-off-no-1838057638" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Newspaper Owned by Richest Man in the World Lays Off Non-Union Workers</a> </li>
<ul>
<li>SJ-R 09/13/2019: <a href="https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190913/whole-foods-ending-health-benefits-for-part-time-workers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Whole Foods ending health benefits for part-time workers</a> </li>
</ul>
<li>Journal Sentinel 09/11/2019: <a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2019/09/11/harley-davidson-lays-off-40-workers-milwaukee/2296066001/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Harley-Davidson lays off 40 workers in Milwaukee</a> </li>
<li>NBC5 09/13/2019: <a href="https://www.mynbc5.com/article/intrapac-lays-off-more-than-90-employees-without-notice/29024959#" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Intrapac lays off more than 90 employees without notice</a> </li>
<li>Silicon Valley Business Journal 09/12/2019: <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2019/09/12/symantec-layoffs-broadcom-acquisition.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Symantec lays off hundreds in California, including at Mountain View HQ, amid buyout talks</a> </li>
<li>Channel Partners 08/16/2019: <a href="https://www.channelpartnersonline.com/2019/08/16/oracle-lays-off-hundreds-more-workers-this-time-in-flash-storage/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oracle Lays Off Hundreds More Workers</a> </li>
<li>Trib Live 09/10/2019: <a href="https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/eqt-corp-lays-off-196-people-slashing-workforce-by-nearly-25/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EQT Corp. lays off nearly 25% of its workforce</a> </li>
<li>GeekWire 08/28/2019 <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2019/cloud-services-company-skytap-lays-off-25-workers-first-major-change-new-ceo/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cloud services company Skytap lays off 25 workers in first major change under new CEO</a> </li>
<li>Inside Higher Ed 09/06/2019: <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2019/09/06/marquette-lays-25-faculty-staff" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marquette Lays Off 2.5% of Faculty, Staff</a> </li>
<li>Promo Marketing Magazine 09/13/2019: <a href="https://magazine.promomarketing.com/article/staples-hires-new-head-of-promotional-products-lays-off-175-from-hq/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Staples Names New Head of Promotional Products, Lays Off 175 From HQ</a> </li>
<li>The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register 09/14/2019: <a href="https://www.theintelligencer.net/news/community/2019/09/gas-producer-eqt-lays-off-nearly-200-employees/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gas Producer EQT Lays Off Nearly 200 Employees</a> </li>
<li>Multichannel News 09/11/2019: <a href="https://www.multichannel.com/news/axs-tv-lays-off-at-least-40-in-wake-of-anthem-deal" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AXS TV Lays Off at Least 40 in Wake of Anthem Deal</a> </li>
<li>USA Today 09/04/2019: <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/09/04/sears-layoffs-transformco-lays-off-around-250-headquarters/2215321001/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sears and Kmart corporate workforce is shrinking with around 250 layoffs</a> </li>
<li>CNN Business 08/20/2019: <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/20/business/us-steel-layoffs-michigan/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">US Steel temporarily lays off 200 workers in Michigan</a> </li>
<li>WRAL TechWire 08/23/2019: <a href="https://www.wraltechwire.com/2019/08/23/cisco-lays-off-whole-teams-at-rtp-campus-confirms-employee/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cisco lays off ‘whole teams’ at RTP campus, confirms employee</a> </li>
<li>CMS Wire 08/29/2019: <a href="https://www.cmswire.com/digital-experience/sitecore-lays-off-a-reported-70-employees/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sitecore Lays Off a Reported 70 Employees</a> </li>
<li>Reuters 09/05/2019: <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bunge-layoffs/bunge-lays-off-grain-traders-in-geneva-as-company-seeks-to-minimize-risk-sources-idUSKCN1VQ2RL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bunge lays off grain traders in Geneva as company seeks to minimize risk: sources</a> </li>
<li>Richmond Times Dispatch 09/12/2019: <a href="https://www.richmond.com/business/local/manufacturer-of-store-fixtures-abruptly-closed-three-plants-in-henrico/article_950b160e-5893-5e74-8f5c-2803e0264341.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><i>Manufacturer of store fixtures</i></b> abruptly closed three plants in Henrico, lays off 190 employees</a> </li>
<li>SJ-R 09/10/2019: <a href="https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190910/gamestop-lays-off-14-of-workers-closing-up-to-200-stores" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GameStop lays off 14% of workers, closing up to 200 stores</a> </li>
<li>Deadline 08/22/2019: <a href="https://deadline.com/2019/08/exhibition-giant-amc-lays-off-35-workers-as-profit-improvement-plan-begins-1202702006/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Exhibition Giant AMC Lays Off 35 Workers As “Profit Improvement Plan” Begins</a> </li>
<li>Plastics Recycling Update 09/11/2019: <a href="https://resource-recycling.com/plastics/2019/09/11/revolve-recycling-closes-and-lays-off-employees/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Revolve Recycling closes and lays off employees</a> </li>
<li>Burbank Leader 08/30/2019: <a href="https://www.latimes.com/socal/burbank-leader/news/story/2019-08-30/disney-lays-off-employees-in-tv-distribution-and-national-geographic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Disney lays off nearly 60 employees in media distribution units following Fox purchase</a> </li>
<li>Altoona Mirror 09/03/2019: <a href="http://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2019/09/norfolk-southern-planning-another-layoff/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Norfolk Southern lays off approximately 100 workers</a> </li>
<li>MediaPost 08/29/2019: <a href="https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/340020/gatehouse-media-lays-off-24-newsroom-staffers.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gatehouse Media Lays Off 24+ Newsroom Staffers</a> </li>
<li>Decrypt 09/10/2019: <a href="https://decrypt.co/9074/substratum-burns-through-13-million-in-ico-funds-in-two-years-lays-off-staff" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Substratum burns through $13 million in ICO funds in two years, lays off staff</a> </li>
<li>BC Local News (<b><i>Canada</i></b>) 09/13/2019 (<b><i>Weak Timber Market</i></b>): <a href="https://www.bclocalnews.com/news/shut-down-lays-off-dozens-of-forestry-workers-at-honeymoon-bay/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shut down lays off dozens of forestry workers at Honeymoon Bay</a> </li>
<li>Argus Leader 08/30/2019: <a href="https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/business-journal/2019/08/30/poet-lays-offs-fortune-magazine-sioux-falls-south-dakota-ethanol-biofuel/2150900001/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Poet laid off workers, limited biofuel production in August. Then, it was honored in Fortune magazine</a> </li>
<li>ABC13 News 09/03/2019: <a href="https://wset.com/news/local/northern-southern-lays-off-130-roanoke-employees" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Northern Southern lays off 130 Roanoke employees</a> </li>
<li>Animation Magazine 08/22/2019: <a href="https://www.animationmagazine.net/people/netflix-lays-off-five-top-kids-family-execs/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Netflix Lays Off Five Top Kids & Family Execs</a> </li>
<li>6WBRC 08/15/2019: <a href="https://www.wbrc.com/2019/08/15/goodyear-gadsden-lays-off-union-president-blames-nafta/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Goodyear Gadsden lays off 175; Union president blames NAFTA</a> </li>
<li>Business Standard (<b><i>India</i></b>) 09/05/2019: <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/top-realty-player-lodha-group-lays-off-400-people-119090401347_1.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Economic slowdown fallout: Realty major Lodha group lays off 400 employees</a> </li>
<li>WHYY 08/20/2019: <a href="https://whyy.org/articles/with-closure-of-pes-refinery-imminent-workers-and-politicians-call-for-secure-transition/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PES refinery lays off all but select few union workers, despite safety concerns</a> </li>
</ul>
<div>
This was just a partial list from the first page of a Google search using the key words "lays off"</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-54511645487443866512019-03-04T14:29:00.000-08:002019-03-12T09:15:42.755-07:00Job losses in 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3TgZueGl7c0/XH2mdWOJ7-I/AAAAAAAAagQ/h5NouSp6iOsZB1SYd9hdP-M37ZPkJJt6QCKgBGAs/s1600/2016-12-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3TgZueGl7c0/XH2mdWOJ7-I/AAAAAAAAagQ/h5NouSp6iOsZB1SYd9hdP-M37ZPkJJt6QCKgBGAs/s320/2016-12-13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Money just posted the article <a href="http://money.com/money/5637426/retail-store-closures-2019-jc-penney-sears-gap/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Retail Apocalypse Is Heating Up in 2019. Here Are the Major Stores Currently on Deathwatch</a>. The list is getting long and some of the stores are already gone, but I thought I would do a little research into how many jobs will be gone after all is said and done:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Sears</li>
<ul>
<li>1,575 stores closed. 425 remain for the time being.</li>
<li>Chicago Tribune 03/23/2018: <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-sears-employee-cuts-store-closures-0324-story.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sears slashed more than 50,000 jobs last year</a>.</li>
</ul>
<li>Payless Shoes</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ktla.com/2019/02/19/16000-workers-to-lose-their-jobs-as-payless-plans-to-close-all-2500-u-s-canadian-stores/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">16,000 Workers to Lose Their Jobs as Payless Plans to Close All 2,500 U.S., Canadian Stores</a> </li>
</ul>
<li>JC Penny</li>
<ul>
<li>Money 02/28/2019 <a href="http://money.com/money/5637153/jc-penney-closing-stores-2019/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">J.C. Penney Just Announced It Will Close 24 More Stores This Year</a> (2,200 jobs)</li>
</ul>
<li>Victoria's Secret</li>
<ul>
<li>Business Insider 04/07/2016: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/victorias-secret-announces-restructuring-and-layoffs-2016-4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Victoria's Secret is laying off hundreds of workers</a> </li>
<li>USA Tuday 02/28/2019: <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/02/28/victorias-secret-store-closings-l-brands-shuttering-53-locations/3020995002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Victoria's Secret says it is shuttering 53 more stores</a> (plus the 30 stores closed in 2018)</li>
</ul>
<li>Gymboree</li>
<ul>
<li>CNN 01/17/2019: <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/17/business/gymboree-bankruptcy-filing/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gymboree's second bankruptcy will kill the brand</a>. </li>
</ul>
<li>Gap</li>
<ul>
<li>CNBC 02/28/2019: <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/28/gap-to-shut-230-stores-over-2-years-posts-mixed-holiday-results.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gap says it will shut 230 stores over the next two years, posts mixed holiday results</a> </li>
<li>Fashionista 06/15/2015: <a href="https://fashionista.com/2015/06/gap-store-closures-layoffs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GAP to close 175 Stores, Lay Off 250 Corporate Employees.</a> </li>
<li>NPR 02/28/2019: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/02/28/699143911/gap-to-split-into-two-companies-with-old-navy-as-separate-firm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gap To Split Into Two Companies, With Old Navy As Separate Firm</a>. </li>
</ul>
<li>Ann Taylor</li>
<ul>
<li>Dayton Daily News 06/13/2017: <a href="https://www.daytondailynews.com/business/parent-company-ann-taylor-lane-bryant-close-667-locations/1VGMJb6Q749ElcMSRedpkL/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Parent company of Ann Taylor, Lane Bryant to close 667 locations.</a> </li>
</ul>
<li>Dollar Tree</li>
<ul>
<li>The State Journal-Register 03/06/2019: <a href="https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190306/dollar-tree-inc-to-close-up-to-390-family-dollar-stores" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dollar Tree Inc. to close up to 390 Family Dollar stores</a> </li>
</ul>
<li>Newspaper Journalists</li>
<ul>
<li>Illinois Times 03/07/2019 <a href="https://illinoistimes.com/article-21005-dont-let-the-door-hit-you.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Don't let the door hit you - SJ-R employees offered buyouts</a> </li>
<li>Illinois Times 03/11/2019 <a href="https://illinoistimes.com/article-21006-sj-r-cuts-sports-editor.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SJ-R cuts sports editor</a> </li>
<li>NPR 03/??/2019: <a href="http://www.nprillinois.org/post/watch-listen-goes-journalism-so-goes-community" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WATCH - LISTEN : As Goes Journalism, So Goes the Community</a> </li>
</ul>
<li>Rural Hospitals Closing</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.hrsa.gov/enews/past-issues/2017/october-19/hospitals-closing-increase.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hospital Closings Likely to Increase</a> </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
Markets Insider just posted at 3:00 PM (03/04/2019): <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/store-closings-2019-retail-apocalypse-drags-on-mall-giants-not-worried-2019-3-1028002413" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The retail apocalypse will claim 4,300 stores this year. Here's why mall giants aren't freaking out.</a> </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The trouble I'm having is discovering precisely how many total jobs are at stake. Fit Small Business explains "<a href="https://fitsmallbusiness.com/retail-analytics/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Top 10 Retail Analytics Every Store Needs to Measure</a>." Number 10 is the Payroll Percentage, It says that "<b><i>Businesses with low margins have to spend less on payroll</i></b>," but following this advice may have had dire consequences according to Forbes which posted an article on 12/16/2017 complaining that "<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2017/12/16/too-few-retail-workers-on-the-floor-too-few-retail-sales-and-profits-on-pl-statement/#22089723152e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Too Few Retail Workers On The Floor, Too Few Retail Sales And Profits On P&L Statement</a>"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Businesses couldn't lower wages, so what other choice did they have? Cutting hours for part-time workers, cutting store hours to peak traffic times only, or layoffs.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UouAEtR8rgY/XIJ8wZTztxI/AAAAAAAAajc/LnzK9_7r86cQkTn2swZtpP0_t9k8ckCeACLcBGAs/s1600/JobPocalypse_v001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="1024" height="96" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UouAEtR8rgY/XIJ8wZTztxI/AAAAAAAAajc/LnzK9_7r86cQkTn2swZtpP0_t9k8ckCeACLcBGAs/s400/JobPocalypse_v001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
<div>
Unfortunately nobody seems to be able to think outside the balance sheet to the larger economy and consider that all these retail employees losing their jobs might have been good customers if they were paid enough to have disposable income.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
XIIID Research explains <a href="https://latest.13d.com/destabilizing-truth-of-retail-apocalypse-more-about-inequality-than-ecommerce-c3293220d28d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the shift of service infrastructure from a middle class into a form of poverty class</a>. But the worst is yet to come, according to Michael Hudson we are currently in an "Extraction Economy" which is permanently siphoning money from the Working Class into the pockets of the Financial Class.</div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dXqL1Hp42k0" width="560"></iframe>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-652522821736159072019-02-20T10:52:00.001-08:002019-02-20T10:52:56.758-08:00Businesses Decry Illinois Minimum Wage Increase<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q10Ijo1V98M/XG2fFNCZoOI/AAAAAAAAaXY/AxqV2JSUgDEm1Jf_K2igrmhpSoxsgdX8ACLcBGAs/s1600/RipVanWinkle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="640" height="198" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q10Ijo1V98M/XG2fFNCZoOI/AAAAAAAAaXY/AxqV2JSUgDEm1Jf_K2igrmhpSoxsgdX8ACLcBGAs/s320/RipVanWinkle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rip Van Winkle (artist unknown) composited with<br />
<a href="https://www.deviantart.com/jonasdero/art/New-York-Ruins-190388716" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">JonasDeRo's Ruined New York</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed into law recently a state minimum wage increase to $15 per hour over a period of several years, during which inflation will keep up, rendering this action nothing more than just a political ploy.<br />
<br />
Ideally for Springfield, Illinois alone this is alleged to affect the wages of over 36,610 people who currently earn less than $15 per hour.<br />
<br />
If the minimum wage was pegged to inflation since it's inception, in today's dollars it would be over $23 per hour anyway. If the minimum wage was pegged to productivity we probably wouldn't have so much inflation.<br />
<br />
So businesses trot out their pundits with the stale threats that they would do the following which have consequences:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Leave the state of Illinois</li>
<ul>
<li>Start over from scratch somewhere else with build-out expenses and zero regular customers in an area potentially already occupied by competitors? Not likely.</li>
</ul>
<li>Close their businesses</li>
<ul>
<li>And do what? Find a Job? Not likely.</li>
</ul>
<li>Lay off their employees</li>
<ul>
<li>And sacrifice customer service, quality production and morale? Not likely.</li>
</ul>
<li>Cut their employees hours</li>
<ul>
<li>Already working with a bare-minimum staff, just how much more efficient can you get beyond replacing your full-time workers with only part-time workers?</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
Another stale argument is that minimum wage jobs are meant only for young students getting entry level experiences. Well I have news for you <b><i>Rip Van Winkle</i></b>, those jobs are not as upwardly mobile as they once were after World War II up through the 1970's. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), <a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/2017/may/oes_44100.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Food prep and retail workers</a> represent the largest group of employees earning less than $15 per hour and the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat18b.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">median age is 37</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So for businesses planning on leaving the state I recommend the following GIF:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="353" src="https://giphy.com/embed/mm2iiv5MzG1yw" width="480"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/the-truman-show-mm2iiv5MzG1yw">via GIPHY</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-15749077135983451832019-01-04T10:23:00.001-08:002019-01-04T10:23:51.151-08:00More New Jobs Created is Fakenomics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/e/2PACX-1vT7rqOJ9pkI7SgPIH3bys3C_1w2MzIUahWaQsj_wIjfHJA9EpDmsLfZG1qXhModx2xpStXMxF16M5Gq/pub?w=960&h=540" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/e/2PACX-1vT7rqOJ9pkI7SgPIH3bys3C_1w2MzIUahWaQsj_wIjfHJA9EpDmsLfZG1qXhModx2xpStXMxF16M5Gq/pub?w=960&h=540" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The media is reporting new jobs created. I don't believe it. I believe that more of the same jobs are split into part-time jobs and divided up among desperate unemployed people willing to work below their means and go further into debt. The more part-time jobs are created, the more the hours dwindle until finally the capitalist system collapses in on itself because nobody will have enough money to buy what the market has to offer.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-3363383699796468792018-12-13T11:32:00.000-08:002018-12-13T11:32:08.067-08:00Blog Identifies Fake Staffing Companies Phishing For Your DataCalled <b><i>Fake Staffing</i></b>, <a href="http://fakestaffing.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://fakestaffing.blogspot.com/</a> just saved me from clicking on a link sent by someone claiming to work for forusajobs.com. I hovered over the link and it looked way too long to be anything remotely safe. So I googled forusajobs.com and Fake Staffing came up as one of the top ten Google search results, so Fake Staffing, congratulations for a job well done and getting near the top of Google's search results!<br />
👍Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-2633784467694450052018-11-18T14:17:00.002-08:002018-12-13T11:25:09.647-08:00What's really going on.Here is what has happened since 2001 in Sangamon County, regarding the workforce:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OA2K2NrRKLQ/W_Hk7dgfMUI/AAAAAAAAZss/XHHMYILEwU4hPOYqUGj7NYX3qiGNjD_YwCLcBGAs/s1600/Employment2001-2018.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="905" height="325" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OA2K2NrRKLQ/W_Hk7dgfMUI/AAAAAAAAZss/XHHMYILEwU4hPOYqUGj7NYX3qiGNjD_YwCLcBGAs/s400/Employment2001-2018.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-40335395542245054572018-10-31T14:30:00.002-07:002018-10-31T14:30:42.353-07:00Applying for work online can be troublesomeI went to Lowe's for some replacement parts. While I was checking out I casually mentioned I previously worked there and was wondering if there was a position open in the Building Materials department.<br />
<br />
One of the Customer Service Associates said that someone had transferred from there to the flooring department so a position might be available.<br />
<br />
I came home to go online and fill out an application for that position, but it wasn't posted on Lowe's website. I figured 'well it won't hurt to just submit an application' but they make it impossible because they would be flooded with and endless stream of online applications.<br />
<br />
I walked into the Capital City Center on Mason Street with my CMS-100 form filled out, just to submit my information, but you can't proactively submit any information without a specific position. There was a time when you could submit your CMS-100 online, but they've since turned that off.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-25286041324649464542018-10-02T11:29:00.003-07:002018-10-02T11:29:58.533-07:00No. I live in Springfield, Illinois.Last year I also signed up at Kelly Services online, went in and took their tests and performed moderately well on their Microsoft Office tests. I get regular updates from Kelly Services via email, but all the jobs they list on their updates are from every state except Illinois. Are they being funny?<br />
<br />
Then recently the Illinois Department of Employment Services has been sending me notifications about hiring events not in Springfield, but in Decatur. Their system must be automated but they need to work on their algorithms.<br />
<br />
I couldn't figure out what was going on. I thought it was me, but then just the other day Fox Illinois 55/27, the television station posted a news story on their website: <a href="https://foxillinois.com/news/local/report-springfield-4th-slowest-growing-mid-size-city-in-us" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Report: Springfield 9th slowest-growing city in U.S</a>.<br />
<br />
Aha! That must be why I never hear from local employment agencies. But get this: According to <a href="https://wallethub.com/edu/fastest-growing-cities/7010/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the report</a>, the city with the lowest overall ranking for growth in the United States is... That's right, Decatur, Illinois.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-5083517623925349372018-10-02T11:11:00.000-07:002018-10-31T12:48:43.045-07:00Express Pros I Don't Know What to Think.I started working for them again last year and after months and months they finally had someone who could use my skills.<br />
<br />
I had the job interview and I really liked the boss at HPR Marketing Group and he hired me to start a few days later.<br />
<br />
The day I was supposed to start, I caught a severe cold. What was I supposed to do, call them and tell them I'm sick on the first day of work?<br />
<br />
I struggled through that first day and everyone knew I had a cold. By lunch there was a bottle of hand-sanitizer on my desk. That night I got a call from Express telling me I just wasn't a good fit. The boss liked me, but his partner who I never met did not.<br />
<br />
The cold was so bad it lasted for five weeks. I don't remember if I ever bothered to go pick up my paycheck for that one day of work, but I sure got a W2 for my taxes. I never heard from Express again about any other work.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-56337259510492093252018-10-02T10:57:00.001-07:002018-10-31T12:49:39.771-07:00What's with Hy-Vee?A job search engine to which I subscribe sends me a flurry of notifications about jobs opening at Hy-Vee, but over the last few months many of the same positions keep reappearing.<br />
<br />
The increased frequency of turnover suggests an increase of intolerable stress, especially for a company that's supposed to be "employee owned."<br />
<br />
I applied for a job there as a night stocker. At the interview they looked at my aging obese body and said "we like to people to hustle." Then they fast-walked me back to the service desk.<br />
<br />
I've seen how the employees hustle, some employees are much heavier and slower than me, but they were younger. Despite the fact they would have received a <a href="https://www.sba.gov/blogs/tax-credit-hiring-veterans-0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tax credit for hiring a veteran</a>, they sent me a rejection email.<br />
<br />
No, I'm not going to tell you which store.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-88483297373676810172018-07-04T02:33:00.001-07:002018-07-04T02:33:30.430-07:00Blog Layout Update and New HelpI updated the blog with some Reddit links and a warning page about signing up at one of those websites that are supposed to help you find a job. It includes a video at the end of one experience.<br />
<br />
I was inspired by r/Unemployed at Reddit because I keep seeing posts about people on their last thread. I want you to know that you are not alone, so I included links to some Reddit communities where you can connect with people in your situation.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-72425127688372945062018-03-17T21:24:00.000-07:002018-03-18T21:03:39.344-07:00Live Internet Town Hall March 19 7PM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4u5xAzPRDMc/Wq3pkG8SDWI/AAAAAAAAWm8/Gx6thVT6AbMrnGCPdLgmcfAhSk5VvcyKwCLcBGAs/s1600/InternetTownHall_March19_v001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4u5xAzPRDMc/Wq3pkG8SDWI/AAAAAAAAWm8/Gx6thVT6AbMrnGCPdLgmcfAhSk5VvcyKwCLcBGAs/s640/InternetTownHall_March19_v001.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Coming to the Internet on 3/19/2018<br />
Live Internet Town Hall<br />
Featuring Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Michael Moore<br />
<br />
Information Sources:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The Hill (03/08/2018): <a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/377397-sanders-to-host-town-hall-on-economic-inequality" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sanders to host town hall on economic inequality</a></li>
<li>Huffington Post (03/08/2019): <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-economic-inequality-town-hall_us_5aa0cb2fe4b0d4f5b66d608e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sanders to host town hall on economic inequality</a> </li>
</ul>
<div>
Where to watch</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/?utm_term=.smAXZWjjX#.jaY0qZ660" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buzzfeed</a></li>
<li><a href="https://nowthisnews.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Now This</a></li>
<li>The Young Turks</li>
<li><a href="http://act.tv/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">act.tv</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Guardian</a></li>
<li>Facebook pages for</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/senatorsanders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bernie Sanders</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethWarren/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elizabeth Warren</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mmflint/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Michael Moore</a> </li>
</ul>
</ul>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-59485137989515838102017-05-17T16:20:00.002-07:002018-10-31T12:51:25.546-07:00Why finding work is hard for me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C3KHJwltlc8/WRzarQjf9bI/AAAAAAAASVI/f31VApOFjAk_F_Qb_jAOh773MJtvC9i_wCLcB/s1600/NoJobProspects_v001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C3KHJwltlc8/WRzarQjf9bI/AAAAAAAASVI/f31VApOFjAk_F_Qb_jAOh773MJtvC9i_wCLcB/s320/NoJobProspects_v001.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
The simple answer most people around me don't want to hear is that I'm over 50 years old.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>CNN Money: <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/26/news/economy/over-50-unemployables/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Workers over 50 are the new 'unemployables'</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
I uploaded my resume and applied for work at these sites for years, but I think 35 is the new cutoff point where employees are less and less desirable as they get older.</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://hrcenter.tempworks.io/en/ManpowerIllinois?inactivity=False" target="_blank">Apply Now - HRCenter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.expresspros.com/" target="_blank">Express Employment Professionals</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.careerbuilder.com/" target="_blank">CareerBuilder</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.usajobs.gov/" target="_blank">USAJOBS - The Federal Government's official employment site</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ides.illinois.gov/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">IDES - Home</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.jobcase.com/" target="_blank">Jobcase</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.illinoisjobdepartment.com/" target="_blank">Illinois Job Department - Your Source For Illinois Job Information</a></li>
<li><a href="https://career4.successfactors.com/portalcareer?career_company=GFS&company=GFS&site=&lang=en_US&navBarLevel=HOME&_s.crb=4KrZ4YtBiI48Jl7mHdtyd4mnmfI%3d" target="_blank">Career Opportunities: Home</a></li>
<li><a href="https://memorialmedical-openhire.silkroad.com/epostings/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.res_login&jobid=10715&CFID=9051069&CFTOKEN=35953ecf4e3c9d8a-374DFDE5-F243-AAB3-6EA0F1E4C1CA0088" target="_blank">https://memorialmedical-openhire.silkroad.com/epostings/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.res_login&jobid=10715&CFID=9051069&CFTOKEN=35953ecf4e3c9d8a-374DFDE5-F243-AAB3-6EA0F1E4C1CA0088</a></li>
<li><a href="http://us.jobs/" target="_blank">US.jobs - National Labor Exchange - USA Jobs Search Engine</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.careersinfood.com/" target="_blank">Food Jobs and Careers in the Food Industry | CareersInFood.com</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ziprecruiter.com/" target="_blank">Job Search - Millions of Jobs Hiring Near You | ZipRecruiter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.careerbliss.com/" target="_blank">CareerBliss - Search Jobs, Salaries and Company Reviews | CareerBliss</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.beyond.com/" target="_blank">Beyond.com | The Career Network | A better way to manage your career.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.acstaffing.com/" target="_blank">Alice Campbell Staffing - Springfield, Illinois</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thumbtack.com/" target="_blank">Thumbtack - Consider it done</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ziprecruiter.com/" target="_blank">ZipRecruiter</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
Despite my stellar qualifications, exemplary military service record and grade point average and my not having any kind of criminal record, Nobody wants me. I even applied for a dish washing job at MCL and never heard back.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If I didn't have the support of my family I would be dead by now, but thing may be looking up now. No wait, the following article was from June of 2016:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>CNN Money (again): <a href="http://time.com/money/3725034/jobs-older-workers-improved/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Suddenly Hot Job Market for Workers Over 50</a></li>
<li>The Week: <a href="http://theweek.com/articles/462270/how-job-when-youre-over-50" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How to get a job when you're over 50</a></li>
<li>Huffington Post: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/over-50-and-unemployed-i-know-youre-invisble_us_58a75a9de4b0b0e1e0e20a74" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Over 50 And Unemployed: I Know, You’re Invisible</a></li>
<li>Net-Temps: <a href="http://www.net-temps.com/crossroads/?id=2770#axzz4hNVvEJ4U" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Over 50 and Unemployed. There is Hope!</a></li>
<li>Daily Plate of Crazy: <a href="https://dailyplateofcrazy.com/2015/06/25/over-50-unemployed-depressed-and-powerless/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Over 50, Unemployed, Depressed and Powerless</a></li>
<li>Washington Free Beacon: <a href="http://freebeacon.com/issues/labor-force-participation-not-returned-pre-recession-levels-americans-no-degree/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Labor Force Participation Has Not Returned to Pre-Recession Levels for Americans With No Degree</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-7891407227742643602017-05-11T06:40:00.002-07:002017-05-11T06:40:28.589-07:00Are H-1B workers taking minimum wage jobs in the U.S. for less?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3738/9444544156_8564ab9b57_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3738/9444544156_8564ab9b57_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ari/9444544156" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Photo by Steve Rhodes</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Guess What! The employment numbers in the United States are looking great! Care to wager why?<br />
<br />
I walked into a Panda Express the other day and I saw not a single American worker. It was completely clear that English was their second language. There was a sign on the door that said "We're Hiring" too. This was Springfield, Illinois.<br />
<br />
American students are still in school until the last week of May, what are they going to find when they get out? What will happen to the H1B visa workers who were temporarily hired? Well I think there are some differences in the pay work H1B visa workers and American workers.<br />
<br />
If the State of Illinois passes a $15 per hour minimum wage hike, will business owners simply jump through the H1B loophole and hire outside workers at a lower rate, leaving Americans out of work?<br />
<br />
It doesn't sound very patriotic, but <a href="http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170405/illinois-house-committee-advances-15-minimum-wage-proposal" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">since lawmakers seem willing to pass this law,</a> it seems obvious that a huge loophole exists for business owners which they will execute and then laugh their asses off at unemployed Americans.<br />
<br />
How much of the employment report put out by the DOL actually consists of foreign workers and are unemployed Americans even counted anymore? I wish I had time to find this out just now but I have to run off to a Lobby Day for Moms Demand Action this morning.<br />
<br />
I'll just have to leave this here for now:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.dol.gov/whd/immigration/h1b.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DOL: H-1B program</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://cis.org/Immigration-Maps/H1B-Dependent-Willful-Violator-Debarred" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">H-1B Employer Map</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/04/18/technology/h1b-reform/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trump takes first step toward H-1B reform</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/trump-sign-executive-order-reform-1b-visas-170418041959704.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trump to sign executive order to reform H-1B visas</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.marketplace.org/2017/03/23/business/employers-struggle-h1bs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Employers struggle to make H-1B visas work</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/11/us/large-companies-game-h-1b-visa-program-leaving-smaller-ones-in-the-cold.html?_r=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Large Companies Game H-1B Visa Program, Costing the U.S. Jobs</a> </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-62401167896871144522016-05-27T11:20:00.001-07:002016-05-27T11:35:36.435-07:00Robot Minimum Wage Workers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hnYa9_tsUNI/V0iTbDbIbaI/AAAAAAAAPAM/hmDoV_GujGAqotPCkCfz-NQlRP-qUCzdgCLcB/s1600/WendysRobotWorker_v003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hnYa9_tsUNI/V0iTbDbIbaI/AAAAAAAAPAM/hmDoV_GujGAqotPCkCfz-NQlRP-qUCzdgCLcB/s400/WendysRobotWorker_v003.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
Business who happily replace minimum wage workers with robots probably won't need to worry about local tax increases needed to subsidize unemployment, low-income nutrition and housing programs. That comes out of the pockets of the franchise owners.<br />
<br />
Businesses really have two choices: They can know to whom their money goes when they pay a living wage, or they can not know to whom their money goes by paying higher taxes.<br />
<br />
They complain about government regulation and taxation, but they can't understand that they and their predecessors earned it through their avarice.<br />
<br />
Now about Wendy's:<br />
<ul>
<li>Tech Insider: <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/wendys-workers-will-lose-jobs-to-robots-2016-5" target="_blank">Wendy's is replacing its lowest-paid workers with robots</a></li>
<li>RedState: <a href="http://www.redstate.com/leon_h_wolf/2016/05/12/minimum-wage-robots-zero-wendys-hires-bunch/" target="_blank">The Minimum Wage for Robots is Zero so Wendy’s Hires a Bunch</a></li>
<li>Government Slaves: <a href="http://www.govtslaves.info/wendys-to-switch-to-self-ordering-and-automation-to-avoid-15hr-wage-hike/" target="_blank">Wendy’s To Switch To Self Ordering And Automation To Avoid $15/hr Wage hike</a></li>
<li>The Wall Street Journal: <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/another-minimum-wage-backfire-1439249236" target="_blank">Another Minimum Wage Backfire
Wendy’s explains what mandated wage hikes do to jobs at burger joints.</a></li>
<li>MarketWatch (June 2015): <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wendys-shares-surge-on-news-of-14-billion-buyback-long-term-outlook-2015-06-03" target="_blank">Wendy's shares surge on news of $1.4 billion buyback, long-term outlook</a></li>
<li>Current MarketWatch data on Wendy's: <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/wen" target="_blank">http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/wen</a></li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-91804607442173302612015-12-04T13:20:00.001-08:002015-12-04T13:20:30.830-08:00Gun Violence is Gun Violence No Matter How You Define the Word 'Mass!'<style type="text/css">
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MASS SHOOTINGS OR NOT, GUN VIOLENCE IS STILL GUN VIOLENCE</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
The Patriot Post</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://patriotpost.us/posts/39293" target="_blank">The Truth About Mass Shootings</a></div>
<div class="note">
Now keep in mind the difference in population between the countries listed.</div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Reason.com</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="https://reason.com/blog/2015/12/03/choose-your-own-mass-shooting-statistics" target="_blank">Choose Your Own Mass Shooting Statistics</a></div>
<div class="note">
A comparison between sources with different definitions of what is considered a mass shooting. Finally, without directly mentioning a correllation, the article alludes to economic conditions as a major driver of violence.</div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Washington Examiner</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/press-distorts-with-inflated-mass-shooting-statistics/article/2577626" target="_blank">Press distorts with inflated 'mass shooting' statistics</a></div>
<div class="note">
Same Talking Points as Reason.com</div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
NBC News</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/san-bernardino-shooting/staggering-stats-there-have-been-more-mass-shootings-days-year-n473436" target="_blank">Staggering Stats: There Have Been More Mass Shootings Than Days This Year</a></div>
<div class="note">
The Washington Examiner claims the press is citing ShootingTracker.com but NBC is citing the F.B.I. </div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Gun Violence Archive</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.gunviolencearchive.org/" target="_blank">The Gun Violence Archive Website</a></div>
<div class="note">
While the Right and the Left Quibble over the definition of 'mass shooting' and blame each-other for distorting facts, it just doesn't matter because gun violence is still gun violence.</div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Washington Post</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/03/weve-had-a-massive-decline-in-gun-violence-in-the-united-states-heres-why/" target="_blank">We’ve had a massive decline in gun violence in the United States. Here’s why.</a></div>
<div class="note">
Note</div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Live Science</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.livescience.com/52970-federal-gun-research-still-stalled.html" target="_blank">Federal Gun Research Still Stalled</a></div>
<div class="note">
The CDC and NIH are banned from conducting research into gun violence.</div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
</div>
<!--end of blogbox content-->
The Left and the Right are accusing each-other of distorting the facts when it comes to mass shootings or mass murder, but it's still gun violence, so stop deliberately distracting us.<br />
<br />
Mass shootings can be divided into five basic classes; foreign political agents, naturalized citizen sympathizers of foreign causes, religious zealots, revolutionaries and the mentally ill, I don't know where <a href="http://crooksandliars.com/2015/12/nra-board-member-nugent-calls-cleansing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ted Nugent</a> fits in, but it's definitely one or both of the last two categories.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-44610288179164777262015-11-06T22:04:00.002-08:002015-11-06T22:04:22.106-08:00Why I'm Incredulous of Polls and Union Endorsements<style type="text/css">
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<img src="http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/af13/qrsqy1032ps3r7z6g.jpg" width="261" /></div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Fortune</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://fortune.com/2015/11/06/bernie-sanders/" target="_blank">Why the Bernie Sanders Campaign May Have Peaked</a></div>
<div class="note">
Article cites Bloomberg politics polls, not the rate of campaign cash donations.</div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Los Angeles Timmes</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/la-na-bernie-sanders-labor-20151106-story.html" target="_blank">Bernie Sanders' momentum stalls in an unlikely place: union halls</a></div>
<div class="note">
Union leaders seem to be ignoring their members cries for supporting Bernie Sanders</div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
In These Times</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/18564/labor-bernie-sanders-union-endorsements-hillary-clinton" target="_blank">Labor For Bernie Sanders Activists Say They Are Undeterred By Union Endorsements of Hillary Clinton</a></div>
<div class="note">
Examples of grass-roots union support for Bernie Sanders</div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
U.S. News</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/pat-garofalo/2015/10/09/bernie-sanders-v-hillary-clinton-for-labors-2016-endorsement" target="_blank">Will Labor Feel the Bern?</a></div>
<div class="note">
A Union President chose Hillary over Bernie because <i><b>"we need to win."</b></i></div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Forbes</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffreydorfman/2015/10/26/bernie-sanders-ben-carson-use-internet-to-show-campaign-donation-limits-are-irrelevant/" target="_blank">Campaign Donation Limits Are Irrelevant, Just Look At Bernie Sanders And Ben Carson's Small Donor Cash-In</a></div>
<div class="note">
Small donors are far from reaching their contribution limits, and they can donate again.</div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Open Secrets</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pres16/candidate.php?id=N00000528" target="_blank">Candidate Summary, 2016 Cycle</a></div>
<div class="note">
Look how much cash Bernie Sanders has raised so far.</div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
</div>
<!--end of blogbox content-->
When I saw the headline at Fortune, I had to do some digging and sure enough, the media is relying on polling data, because after all, polls can tell you what you want to hear if you know who to ask.<br />
<br />
Other media outlets are glomming onto the the counter-intuitive union endorsement of Hillary Clinton, who hasn't really been fighting for labor as much as Bernie Sanders.<br />
<br />
One union leader said he personally loved Bernie but endorsed Hillary because he thought she had a better chance of winning, but the media and the union leadership cannot see the groundswell of support for Bernie coming from the rank-and-file.<br />
<br />
It appears the media are presupposing a Clinton advantage based on the assumption that union leaders held a vote among the members. I couldn't find the rules for endorsing candidates, but <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2015/07/31/hillary-and-bernie-fight-for-support-at-private-union-meeting/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Daily Caller reported that Bernie and Hillary met with union leaders in a private meeting</a>. which suggests that the rank-and-file union members don't have much of a voice in the matter.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-88306813276172470272015-11-03T18:02:00.001-08:002015-11-03T18:02:20.375-08:00Raising the Minimum Wage<style type="text/css">
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<div class="image">
<img src="http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/78ca/2sq7c7xde25ybt96g.jpg" width="271" /></div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
AlJazeera</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/10/28/despite-15-law-labor-group-finds-serious-problems-at-seattle-restaurants.html" target="_blank">Seattle restaurant workers report 'serious problems' despite $15 wage law</a></div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
PJ Media</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2015/10/25/seattle-15-an-hour-phased-in-minimum-wage-law-has-cost-700-jobs/" target="_blank">Seattle $15 an Hour Phased-In Minimum Wage Law Has Cost 700 jobs</a></div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Western Journalism</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.westernjournalism.com/seattle-raises-minimum-wage-to-15-what-immediately-happened-next-will-have-them-regret-it/" target="_blank">Seattle Raised Minimum Wage To $15- What Immediately Happened Will Have Them Regretting It</a></div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Independent Journal</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.ijreview.com/2015/10/454521-seattles-minimum-wage-hike-underway-heres-thats-working/" target="_blank">Seattle’s Minimum Wage Hike Is Underway. A Damning Chart Shows How That’s Working Out…</a></div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Economic Policy Instutite</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.epi.org/publication/briefingpapers_bp150/" target="_blank">Employment and the Minimum Wage—Evidence from Recent State Labor Market Trends</a> AND <a href="http://www.epi.org/publication/ib368-basic-family-budgets/" target="_blank">What Families Need to Get By</a></div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Civic Skunk Works</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://civicskunkworks.com/you-should-read-this-story-about-seattles-minimum-wage-meltdown-that-never-happened/" target="_blank">YOU SHOULD READ THIS STORY ABOUT SEATTLE’S “MINIMUM WAGE MELTDOWN THAT NEVER HAPPENED”</a></div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
The Stranger</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/how-a-15-minimum-wage-would-make-everyone-richer/Content?oid=19138455" target="_blank">How a $15 Minimum Wage Would Make Everyone Richer</a></div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
One Seattle Coalition</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.oneseattlecoalition.org/" target="_blank">OneSeattle Coalition is a growing and diverse coalition of local businesses, non-profits, manufacturers and restaurants.</a></div>
</div>
<!--end of subject content-->
</div>
<!--end of blogbox content-->
I recently started a poll at Google+ asking "what if every minimum wage worker had an extra $7 per hour to spend?" It sparked a discussion about costs of doing business, inflation and potential reduction in employment.<br />
<br />
I decided to collect some articles about it and I was not really surprised where the line was drawn on opinions and research "findings."<br />
<br />
If you ever wanted to know which media source was liberal or conservative, looking up their opinions about raising the minimum wage is a glaring test.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-2194441590198007492015-09-15T17:47:00.000-07:002018-10-31T12:54:36.809-07:00INVENTORY FULL<style type="text/css">
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<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Reuters</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/15/us-usa-ge-eximbank-idUSKCN0RF1KF20150915" target="_blank">GE to move U.S. jobs overseas in fight over export credits</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Yahoo Finance</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/hewlett-packard-expects-cut-30-205420021.html" target="_blank">Hewlett-Packard expects to cut up to 30,000 workers, save $2 billion in restructuring</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Recode.net</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="https://recode.net/2015/09/15/nine-of-the-worlds-biggest-banks-form-blockchain-partnership/" target="_blank">Nine of the World’s Biggest Banks Form Blockchain Partnership</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Daily Press</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.dailypress.com/business/newport-news-shipyard/dp-newport-news-shipbuilding-lays-off-480-20150915-story.html" target="_blank">Newport News Shipbuilding lays off 480, more to come in 2016</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Aljazeera</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/9/15/us-virgin-islands-sues-oil-company-over-shuttered-refinery.html" target="_blank">US Virgin Islands sues Hess over shuttered refinery</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Poynter</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.poynter.org/news/mediawire/373014/big-cuts-coming-to-l-a-times-likely-other-tribune-papers-amid-tumult/" target="_blank">Big cuts coming to L.A. Times, likely other Tribune papers amid tumult</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Reuters</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/14/us-deutsche-bank-restructuring-idUSKCN0RE1GD20150914" target="_blank">Exclusive: Deutsche Bank to cut workforce by a quarter - sources</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Bethesda</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/2015/Lockheed-Martin-to-Lay-Off-500-Workers/" target="_blank">Lockheed Martin to Lay Off 500 Workers - Update</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
SiliconeBeat</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.siliconbeat.com/2015/09/10/seagate-to-lay-off-1050-workers/" target="_blank">Seagate to lay off 1,050 workers – 100 in valley</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Daily Times</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.delcotimes.com/business/20150909/qvc-will-lay-off-147-at-chesco-distribution-center" target="_blank">QVC will lay off 147 at Chesco distribution center</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
San Diego Reader</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2015/sep/10/ticker-layoff-czar-takes-over-union-tribune/#" target="_blank">Layoff czar takes over Union-Tribune</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
The Hawk Eye</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.thehawkeye.com/business/cnh-s-burlington-plant-faces-q-layoffs/article_e8a38473-904e-570d-a3ee-8abf8412de57.html" target="_blank">CNH's Burlington plant faces 4Q layoffs</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Cedar Valley Business</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://wcfcourier.com/business/local/update-shell-rock-manufacturer-announces-layoffs/article_55f22799-5072-520d-a683-28708b6596cb.html" target="_blank">UPDATE: Shell Rock manufacturer announces layoffs</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Computerworld</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.computerworld.com/article/2983914/it-outsourcing/california-delays-the-backlash-over-it-layoffs.html" target="_blank">California delays the backlash over IT layoffs</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Source</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.omaha.com/money/furloughs-grow-as-union-pacific-battles-drop-in-demand/article_6a2c3a66-56f4-11e5-901e-3f6392885357.html" target="_blank">Furloughs grow as Union Pacific battles drop in demand</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Independent Record</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/deer-lodge-sawmill-lays-off-workers/article_59e2d2c5-5008-5e6b-8fad-c40413f5974b.html" target="_blank">Deer Lodge sawmill lays off 50 workers</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Oak Ridger</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.oakridger.com/article/20150911/NEWS/150919955" target="_blank">145 layoffs reported</a></div>
</div>
<!-- /*End of Subjects List*/ -->
</div>
According to many of the stories collected here, things aren't selling so well. I finally had to stop collecting. There were even layoffs in Canada.<br />
<br />
Many of the stories list "market conditions" as the primary reason for their cutbacks.<br />
<br />
Newspapers are facing a more permanent evolution as they lose their readers to death by natural causes from old age, and migration to the Internet.<br />
<br />
The price of cut lumber is dropping due to a surplus of construction materials. This indicates a potential slow-down in construction.<br />
<br />
Even QVC is cutting workers at a distribution center in Pennsylvania, which may be an economic indicator of what's going in within the distribution range of that center.<br />
<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-24586524423111819582015-08-17T17:02:00.003-07:002018-10-31T12:57:31.808-07:00Strange Business Logic<style type="text/css">
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<div class="blogbox">
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<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Mother Jones</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2012/02/mac-mcclelland-free-online-shipping-warehouses-labor" target="_blank">I Was a Warehouse Wage Slave</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Salon</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.salon.com/2015/08/17/amazons_orwellian_anytime_feedback_tool_makes_defenses_of_the_companys_bruising_workplace_culture_hard_to_swallow/" target="_blank">Jeff Bezos, Orwellian overlord: Why his defense of Amazon’s “bruising” workplace culture is so hard to swallow</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
The New York Times</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/18/business/dealbook/why-amazon-may-take-a-page-from-walmarts-labor-playbook.html" target="_blank">Why Amazon May Take a Page From Walmart's Labor Playbook</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Economic Policy Institute</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.epi.org/publication/manufacturing-job-loss-trade-not-productivity-is-the-culprit/" target="_blank">Manufacturing Job Loss</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Chicago Tribune</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-amazon-joliet-jobs-st-0811-20150810-story.html" target="_blank">Amazon to open distribution center in Joliet</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Vox</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/8/17/9166035/amazon-warehouse-worker-conditions" target="_blank">The real Amazon scandal has nothing to do with its white-collar workers</a></div>
</div>
<!-- /*End of Subjects List*/ -->
</div>
When manufacturing was moved to far away lands out-of-sight and out-of-mind of American business owners and consumers, it eased their consciences.<br />
<br />
American didn't have to confront the worker abuse, safety hazards, and child-labor issues common overseas. Now they discovered a way to isolate the abuse closer to home.<br />
<br />
When retail operations arrived on the Internet, customers and even some retail stores that ordered their supplies online no longer crossed paths with disgruntled employees.<br />
<br />
Distribution centers are typically located in rural areas at major intersections of interstate highways, railroads, or by airports. With great distances and long hours, there's not much chance that a warehouse worker will have the energy or time to complain,Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-82989350301031849382015-08-07T02:10:00.002-07:002018-10-31T12:58:52.812-07:00What Does The GOP Want With Your Money?<style type="text/css">
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<!--Copyright 2015 Fred D. Slocombe Jr.-->
<br />
<div class="blogbox">
<!--/*Beginning of Subjects*/-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
CBS News</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gop-republican-debate-2015-republicans-face-off-cleveland/" target="_blank">GOP debate 2015: Republicans face off in Cleveland (Transcript)</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
International Business Times</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/jeb-bush-next-president-should-privatize-social-security-1969720" target="_blank">Jeb Bush: Next President Should Privatize Social Security</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
The Fiscal Times</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2015/08/06/Fight-Over-CEO-Pay-Disclosure-May-Not-Be-Over-Yet" target="_blank">The Fight Over CEO Pay Disclosure May Not Be Over Yet.</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Fortune</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://fortune.com/2015/08/07/fox-news-debate-livestream/" target="_blank">In GOP debate blooper, Fox News takes down its own livestream</a></div>
</div>
<!-- /*End of Subjects List*/ -->
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They keep saying they want to cut taxes, and when they can, they do, for millionaires and billionaires. They keep saying they want to end "Entitlements" or "Welfare." What do they really mean?<br />
<br />
If they privatized Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, where would that money go? Just answer this question: Where do the fees charged to your 401(k) go? Where do the fees charged to your investment accounts go? When the Stock Market crashes, and it will, what happens to all of the privatized, invested money formerly known as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid?<br />
<br />
Probably exactly where the fund managers want it to go. Then they throw up their arms and say, "that's the stock market," then later they pay themselves massive bonuses.<br />
<br />
At the debate on Fox News August 6, 2015, throughout the entire debate, the word "healthcare" was mentioned once, followed by the word "system" only seven times. The transcript at the CBS website had within it<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"10:06 p.m.: Huckabee and Christie had a back and forth on whether the government should alter entitlement programs like <b><i>Social Security</i></b>. Huckabee has pledged not to, while Christie argues for reforms like raising the retirement age."</blockquote>
A Generalized description such as this does not a legitimate transcript make. According to this document there was no mention of any kind about privatizing Social Security. However, Jeb Bush previously stated that the <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/jeb-bush-next-president-should-privatize-social-security-1969720" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">next president should privatize Social Security</a>.<br />
<br />
Fortune reported that <a href="http://fortune.com/2015/08/07/fox-news-debate-livestream/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fox News was technically unable to continue their online livestream video of the debate, but they also cut off YouTube and Sky News which were actually working</a>. Since the transcript from CBS is not Verbatim, and any video recording on the Internet is incomplete, who knows if we we ever see what really happened, unless of course you still have cable television.<br />
<br />
This may or may not have been by accident, but these candidates will do much better in the polls with less rather than more exposure.<br />
<br />
As the discussion about "Entitlements" gets quietly swept under the rug due to the growing popularity of Bernie Sanders, I still have the urge to understand why the GOP wants to stop the flow of money into the local economy.<br />
<br />
Who cares if welfare recipients are lazy? Who cares if the minimum wage goes up to $15 per hour? That money is going to be spent at your business if you own one. That money is going to be taxes for improvements in the infrastructure you use as part of your local business.<br />
<br />
Why would entrepreneurs be so opposed to raising the minimum wage? That would raise the tide of income for everyone evenly. The Trickle-Downers love to say "A rising tide lifts all boats." but over the last thirty or forty years it never happened. It has to start from the bottom-up.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-4657992549905937822015-07-26T13:01:00.000-07:002015-07-26T21:53:35.413-07:00The Economics of Prison Labor: A Dirty Little Secret Legacy from the Left<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DQwfbmLLHlU/VbVGKRPdhII/AAAAAAAANJI/DEJFmuiMsAA/s1600/PrisonLaborInTheUS_v001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DQwfbmLLHlU/VbVGKRPdhII/AAAAAAAANJI/DEJFmuiMsAA/s400/PrisonLaborInTheUS_v001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I follow Robert Reich on Facebook, This morning I saw this article posted by him from the New Orleans Times Picayune: <a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/07/bernie_sanders_pitches_louisia.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bernie Pitches Louisiana Dems on His Presidential Bid (with audio)</a>.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Of course Robert Reich does not control the content of the Times Picayune. But the events that follow not only raised more questions, but raised the hair on the back of my neck.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Time Picayune article covered Bernie Sanders's speech and covered some of his positions, But the obvious omission from the article was Bernie's statements about Sandra Bland and the unemployment rate and economy of African Americans,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was compelled to post a comment because of the omission. My question was simple and not rhetorical: "What is the economic impact of prison slave labor?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Immediately, within minutes I got two "likes" and the response comment "Good question, Fred."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Later, I saw the red notification dot and checked the responses There were some from another comment, on a different post, but the notifications about my question completely vanished. That never happened to me before.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I went to my activity log and looked for a record of my posting the comment, and that too was erased from my activity log. I went to Robert Reich's Facebook page to find the article again so I could see if my comment-question was there, and it was gone as if it never happened, along with the responses to my comment from the other users.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Clearly something was up. The deletion of my comment and my activity on Facebook suggests that someone reported my question as offensive or spam. It could be anyone. On some of my comments on past posts, some people have misconstrued in their responses to my comments that what I was writing was racist, but that didn't result in my comment and activity being deleted</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What Happened to my comment on Robert Reich's post was extraordinary. So I looked into my own question. "What is the economic impact of prison slave labor?" Here is a list of some enlightening Google search results?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogbox">
<!--/*Beginning of Subjects*/-->
<br />
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Wikipedia</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_labor_in_the_United_States" target="_blank">Penal Labor in the United States</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Global Research</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-prison-industry-in-the-united-states-big-business-or-a-new-form-of-slavery/8289" target="_blank">The Prison Industry in the United States: Big Businss or a New Form of Slavery?</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Mother Jones</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2008/07/what-do-prisoners-make-victorias-secret" target="_blank">What Do Prisoners Make for Victoria's Secret?</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Huffington Post</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/prison-labor/">Prison Labor</a> A list of many articles about Prison Labor</div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Prison Policy Initiative</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.prisonpolicy.org/prisonindex/prisonlabor.html" target="_blank">Section III: The Prison Economy</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
The Guardian</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jul/06/prison-labor-pads-corporate-profits-taxpayers-expense" target="_blank">How US prison labour pads corporate profits at taxpayers' expense</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Alternet</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.alternet.org/story/151732/21st-century_slaves%3A_how_corporations_exploit_prison_labor" target="_blank">21st-Century Slaves: How Corporations Exploit Prison Labor</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
RT (YouTube Video)</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CySzoJFkTA8" target="_blank">Prison Labor Booms in US as low-cost inmates bring billions</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Ella Baker Center (Ella's Voice)</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://ellabakercenter.org/blog/2013/06/prison-labor-is-the-new-slave-labor" target="_blank">Prison Labor: Three Strikes and Your're Hired</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Atlanta Black Star</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://atlantablackstar.com/2014/10/10/12-mainstream-corporations-benefiting-from-the-prison-industrial-complex/" target="_blank">12 Mainstream Corporations Benefiting from the Prison Industrial Complex</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
Daily Kos</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/12/14/928611/-INSOURCING-Identifying-businesses-involved-in-prison-labor-or-supporting-those-who-are#" target="_blank">INSOURCING - Identifying businesses involved in prison labor or supporting those who are</a></div>
</div>
<div class="subject">
<div class="source">
The Society Pages</div>
<div class="headline">
<a href="http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/04/04/prison-labor-and-taxpayer-dollars/">Prison Labor and Taxpayer Dollars</a></div>
</div>
<!-- /*End of Subjects List*/ -->
</div>
<div>
<br />
Oh, I can't leave out one dissenting opinion about this which was picked up by CounterPunch: <a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/08/09/the-myth-of-prison-slave-labor-camps-in-the-u-s/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Myth of US Slave Labor Camps in the US</a>. I have CounterPunch on my list of sources, but I question whether or not to keep it.<br />
<br />
Anyway, did something catch your eye? Something in the second article listed? The link to Global Research? An obscure reference to a law signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996?<br />
<br />
Solitary Watch: <a href="http://solitarywatch.com/2010/06/22/two-clinton-era-laws-that-allow-cruel-and-unusual-punishment-redux/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Two Clinton Era Laws That Allow Cruel and Unusual Punishment (redux)</a>.<br />
<br />
Who was Bill Clinton's Economic Adviser at the time? <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Reich" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Robert Reich</a>.<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-78106095809691906002015-07-24T07:15:00.002-07:002015-07-25T11:28:32.204-07:00Bernout: The logic of Barney Frank about Bernie Sanders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Rb2CWx7d4c/VbI_pgdt3AI/AAAAAAAANGs/T8XYQjAuqXw/s1600/Barney_on_Bernie_v002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Rb2CWx7d4c/VbI_pgdt3AI/AAAAAAAANGs/T8XYQjAuqXw/s400/Barney_on_Bernie_v002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Former Congressman Barney Frank posted an Op Ed at Politico.com titled "<a href="http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/07/why-progressives-shouldnt-support-bernie-120484.html#.VbI_P7NViko" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why Progressives Shouldn't Support Bernie Sanders</a>." His opening salvo was to paint a picture of Right Wing Pundit William Kristol grinning at him when he mentioned Bernie Sanders, from across the table at Morning Joe on MSNBC.<br />
<br />
Here is the analysis of the Op Ed from <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/online/barney-frank-to-progressives-ditch-bernie-sanders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mediaite</a>;<br />
<a href="http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/barney_frank_thinks_supporting_sanders_20150723" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Truthdig</a> also has a review of the article:<br />
Secular Talk on YouTube suggests "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl_6xCbEcXM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barney Frank Tries To Kneecap Bernie Sanders Momentum</a>"<br />
<br />
The subtitle of Barney Frank's article is "Wishful thinking won't win the White House." However, "Hope" won twice.<br />
#FeelTheBern<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-67739727100306778142015-07-19T14:01:00.002-07:002015-09-14T22:24:03.745-07:00The Latest Lie about Bernie SandersBecause so many young voters are unfamiliar with Bernie Sanders, the powers that be are scrambling to make him out to be racist because he's focused on economic inequality, which by the way has everything to do with racism.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vox_(website)" target="_blank">VOX</a> recently posted an article titled '<a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/5/27/8671135/bernie-sanders-race" target="_blank">Why Bernie Sanders Doesn't Talk About Race'</a> and falsely claimed that Bernie Sanders is ignoring race. In fact he had been fighting for civil rights his entire adult life. <a href="http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/sanders-civil-rights-record" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Al Sharpton's interview of Bernie</a> which is posted on <a href="http://www.sanders.senate.gov/" target="_blank">Bernie's Senate website</a> was overlooked apparently because VOX researched <a href="https://berniesanders.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the campaign site</a> instead.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Bernie has a consistent record on civil rights, so much so that the <a href="http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Bernie_Sanders_Civil_Rights.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NAACP rated him at 97%</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Somehow, media outlets are attempting to bifurcate economics from race just to attack Bernie Sanders. Apparently that's all they've got. Senator Sanders, unlike most politicians, does not fly like a flag in the winds of political polls. He has been steadfast in his message despite its unpopularity among the corporate-owned media outlets.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At the recent Netroots Nation gathering, protesters continuously interrupted Martin O'Malley and Bernie Sanders so much so that the intent seemed to be to not get a response from the candidates at all, but to simply put them off-balance, and that's exactly what <a href="http://time.com/3963692/bernie-sanders-martin-omalley-black-lives-matter/" target="_blank">Time Magazine glommed onto</a>. Instead of placing criticism on the disruption, Time saw fit to render O'Malley and Sanders impotent on the stage.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is the kind of protest behavior agent provocateurs who are paid by an opponent would do. If these same protesters show up at Bernie's next gathering we may safely assume they are plants by opponents seeking to undermine Bernie's reputation.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The difference is that Bernie Sanders has been <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders" target="_blank">consistent on his ideals throughout his entire career</a>, and anyone who puts a modicum of effort into the research will know that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-crowd-phoenix_55abdc8ce4b0d2ded39f4061" target="_blank">Senator Sanders is a juggernaut 50 years in the making.</a> #FeelTheBern</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33757256.post-89462017801480910522015-06-30T14:04:00.000-07:002015-07-02T07:56:24.848-07:00The inverse logic of vaccination fear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Reconstructed_Spanish_Flu_Virus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Reconstructed_Spanish_Flu_Virus.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
When a person is vaccinated, he or she will build up an immunity to various forms of infection, meaning the immune system will be prepared for battle more readily than for people who are not vaccinated.<br />
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This does not mean the person who is vaccinated does not have the virus. The person may very well have the virus in large quantities on areas on the body where the immune system cannot reach it, or where it cannot cause symptoms, such as on the surface of the skin, hair, clothes, cell phone, keys, water bottle, credit cards, money, any surface on which a virus may survive.<br />
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The danger isn't to those who were vaccinated, but to those who are not vaccinated; those whose immune systems are not prepared to fight off the infection, not the reverse where everyone seems to fear getting infections from non-vaccinated people. They will show symptoms much faster and most likely be isolated sooner than people who are vaccinated, still have the virus on them, but show no symptoms.<br />
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The phenomenon of inverse logic was prevalent during the 1980's AIDS crisis. The <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/Reagan-s-AIDS-Legacy-Silence-equals-death-2751030.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">lack of public information about HIV/AIDS</a> created a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misconceptions_about_HIV/AIDS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">legacy of rumors and misconceptions</a> which often become conceptual templates for other forms of infection.<br />
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The fear of people who are not vaccinated should in reality be a fear for people who are not vaccinated. Parents who don't want to vaccinate their children, but still send them to public schools should be aware that their own child will suffer more than the students who are vaccinated.<br />
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The <a href="http://calcoastnews.com/2015/06/california-governor-signs-mandatory-vaccination-bill/" target="_blank">mandatory vaccination law signed by the California governor</a> had nothing to do with public health, but all to do with profits for the providers of the vaccines.<br />
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