From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

MASS LAYOFFS IN JANUARY 2004


In January 2004, there were 2,428 mass layoff actions by employers, as
measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the
month, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a
single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 239,454.


This marked the most events for a January and the third highest
January level of mass-layoff initial claims since the series began.
Both the number of layoff events and initial claims were higher than a
year ago. January 2004 marked only the third time in the last two years
that initial claims had increased over the year.


-----------------------

Bush fiddles while employment burns

The Facts Show Increase of Jobs Under Bush

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004

The media and Democrats keep repeating it over and over: "2.3 million jobs
lost" since President Bush took office. His could be the worst job record
since before World War II, they claim.
One little problem: It's not true.

Not only has there been no net loss of jobs during the Bush administration,
there has been a net gain, even with the devastation of 9/11. At least 2.4
million jobs have been created since the president took office, 2 million of
those in 2003. The gains more than offset the losses.

While Democrats continue to beat their election-year drums about
outsourcing, manufacturing losses, unemployment and slow growth in
employment, America's economy has been steadily creating jobs.

At least 366,000 jobs have been created in the last five months, over
100,000 of those in January, White House press secretary Scott McClellan has
noted. And though the eight-month recession "officially" ended in November,
economic indicators are surprising economists and pointing toward a take-off
in the recovery.

The signs:


a.. The 5.6 percent unemployment rate is the lowest in two years and below
the average of the 1980s (7.3 percent) and '90s (5.8 percent), and still
continues to drop.

a.. The nation's economic output revealed the strongest quarterly growth in
20 years. The data for the fourth quarter of 2003 show that the civilian
labor force rose by 333,000, while the number of unemployed in the labor
force dropped by 575,000. Even better, the number of so-called discouraged
workers declined in December.

a.. Consumer spending grew between 4 percent and 5 percent last year, and
real hourly earnings rose 1.5 percent. Real earnings have risen over the
last three years.

a.. Exports doubled to 19 percent in the fourth quarter, compared to less
than 9 percent in the third.

a.. The number of American workers is at an all-time high of 138.5 million,
a level never before attained in U.S. history.

a.. Jobless claims are 10 percent below the average of the last 25 years and
still falling.

a.. Hiring indices are up, even in manufacturing.

a.. Productivity growth is extremely high.

Now the doomsayers are criticizing the validity of the unemployment rate,
which at 5.6 percent does not fit their gloomy story.


Faulty Counting


The problem is the areas of biggest job growth are usually not even being
counted at all.


Though 75 percent of jobs are created by small companies, according to the
Small Business Administration, this sector's entrepreneurial activity and
the jobs it creates are left out by Washington bean counters when
calculating official new job numbers.


The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does its Payroll Survey by phoning
businesses to crunch the number of jobs that have been gained or lost. This
is where Democrats grabbed onto their lifeline, the 2.3 million figure. Look
only at the Payroll Survey, and there has been a gain of only 522,000 jobs
since Bush took office.

But here's the rub. The Household Survey is used to determine the
unemployment rate and accounts for those who are self-employed, and small
emerging businesses that might be overlooked by the Payroll Survey. But the
number of U.S. firms isn't static, and the "fixed list" used by the BLS for
phoning established businesses does not reflect new entrepreneurial
activity.

People are called at home and asked if they have jobs, or if they are in the
market for a job. In contrast to the Payroll Survey, the Household Survey
shows that 2.4 million jobs have been created so far during Bush's time in
office.

As Economy.com writer Haseeb Ahmed recently wrote, "something is amiss in
the [Payroll] survey."

Credit Where Credit Is Due

That's not all. When doomsayers, and media spoiling for a fight in an
election year, laughed at Bush's prediction of 2.6 million new jobs this
year, not everyone was scoffing.

Ahmed, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and others hardly batted an
eye. Greenspan said it was "probably feasible" the economy would reach the
Bush administration's forecast of adding 2.6 million jobs this year,
provided growth continues and the productivity rate slows to more typically
levels.

"I don't think it's 'Fantasyland,'" Greenspan said.

"I agree with him," said John Ryding, chief market economist at Bear
Stearns. "I think that we will create 2.5 million, possibly more, jobs over
the balance of the year."

Ahmed is convinced that "the revision patterns of the early-1990s recovery
cycle" will be repeated. A total of 1.4 million job gains were revised
upward to 2.9 million in the first 21 months after the end of the last
recession, just after Bush Sr. was voted out of office.

Well Harry, here is more proof that your unions have made more disasters for
the west. You show your ignorance by even mentioning Bush after this
article. It is clearly obvious that this is a result of unions and labor
here in the west. Bush has never belonged to a union, he is a conservative,
who are typically not associated with unions (of course there are some
conservatives on unions).
Teachers and unions, full blame for this.






"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

MASS LAYOFFS IN JANUARY 2004


In January 2004, there were 2,428 mass layoff actions by employers, as
measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the
month, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a
single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 239,454.


This marked the most events for a January and the third highest
January level of mass-layoff initial claims since the series began.
Both the number of layoff events and initial claims were higher than a
year ago. January 2004 marked only the third time in the last two years
that initial claims had increased over the year.


-----------------------

Bush fiddles while employment burns

On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 07:43:18 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

MASS LAYOFFS IN JANUARY 2004


In January 2004, there were 2,428 mass layoff actions by employers, as
measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the
month, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a
single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 239,454.


This marked the most events for a January and the third highest
January level of mass-layoff initial claims since the series began.
Both the number of layoff events and initial claims were higher than a
year ago. January 2004 marked only the third time in the last two years
that initial claims had increased over the year.

American people with the bill."

Of course, Kerry has the problem solved, according to today's
Washington Post:

snipped

"Kerry's speech, however, underscored the challenge for Democrats on
the issue. The only new proposal he offered would do nothing to stop
companies from moving jobs overseas, but would give government and
workers more advance notification.

Kerry said he would require companies to give three months' notice
before moving jobs abroad; the notice would go to workers and
government agencies tasked with offering laid-off employees assistance
and training. He said he would also require the Labor Department to
gather statistics on the number of jobs that have gone abroad, by
company, and to report them to Congress on an annual basis.

The Kerry campaign estimated that about 1 million jobs have moved
overseas since President Bush took office. Gene Sperling, a top
economic adviser in the Clinton White House, who briefed reporters,
acknowledged that the steps Kerry proposed Wednesday would not, by
themselves, do much to change the behavior of such companies. "

snipped

Wow, three months notice and gathering statistics. That ought to solve
all our job problems. What a joke!


John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 10:49:15 -0500, " Tuuk"
wrote:

Well Harry, here is more proof that your unions have made more disasters for
the west. You show your ignorance by even mentioning Bush after this
article. It is clearly obvious that this is a result of unions and labor
here in the west. Bush has never belonged to a union, he is a conservative,
who are typically not associated with unions (of course there are some
conservatives on unions).
Teachers and unions, full blame for this.






"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

MASS LAYOFFS IN JANUARY 2004


In January 2004, there were 2,428 mass layoff actions by employers, as
measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the
month, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a
single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 239,454.


This marked the most events for a January and the third highest
January level of mass-layoff initial claims since the series began.
Both the number of layoff events and initial claims were higher than a
year ago. January 2004 marked only the third time in the last two years
that initial claims had increased over the year.


-----------------------

Bush fiddles while employment burns



How the hell, again, are teachers responsible for this?

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

John H wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 07:43:18 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

MASS LAYOFFS IN JANUARY 2004


In January 2004, there were 2,428 mass layoff actions by employers, as
measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the
month, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a
single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 239,454.


This marked the most events for a January and the third highest
January level of mass-layoff initial claims since the series began.
Both the number of layoff events and initial claims were higher than a
year ago. January 2004 marked only the third time in the last two years
that initial claims had increased over the year.

American people with the bill."

Of course, Kerry has the problem solved, according to today's
Washington Post:

snipped

"Kerry's speech, however, underscored the challenge for Democrats on
the issue. The only new proposal he offered would do nothing to stop
companies from moving jobs overseas, but would give government and
workers more advance notification.

Kerry said he would require companies to give three months' notice
before moving jobs abroad; the notice would go to workers and
government agencies tasked with offering laid-off employees assistance
and training. He said he would also require the Labor Department to
gather statistics on the number of jobs that have gone abroad, by
company, and to report them to Congress on an annual basis.

The Kerry campaign estimated that about 1 million jobs have moved
overseas since President Bush took office. Gene Sperling, a top
economic adviser in the Clinton White House, who briefed reporters,
acknowledged that the steps Kerry proposed Wednesday would not, by
themselves, do much to change the behavior of such companies. "

snipped

Wow, three months notice and gathering statistics. That ought to solve
all our job problems. What a joke!


John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!


Kerry has announced a number of plans to help stop the flood of jobs
heading overseas. Your reference is to today's speech (or perhaps
yesterday's), in which he only announced one idea he didn't previously
discuss.

If this is an example of a military man's ability to research and
abstract, it's no wonder we lost in Korea and Vietnam, and are reduced
to fighting the crappy little armies of third-rate dictators these days.
It takes smart people to win a real war, which may explain why our win
record since WW II has been mediocre.

Or are you just trying to be disingenuous?

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
news:c3dhc2g=.6411803546648fe5e76cec188a5e909f@107 7816413.nulluser.com...
NOYB wrote:

The Facts Show Increase of Jobs Under Bush

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004

The media and Democrats keep repeating it over and over: "2.3 million
jobs
lost" since President Bush took office. His could be the worst job
record
since before World War II, they claim.
One little problem: It's not true.

Puh-lease...these apologeticas

Well, then you explain the large disparity between the Payroll Survey data
and the Household Survey data. Can't? I didn't think so. The Payroll
Survey (that'd be the piece of crappola you Dems keep bringing up) is
flawed...and fails to account for those employed by new businesses...or
those who are self-employed.

Look at the Unemployment Rate. It's at 5.6%...which is 0.2% below its
*average* for the 90's.

On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 19:23:46 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

John H wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 07:43:18 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

MASS LAYOFFS IN JANUARY 2004


In January 2004, there were 2,428 mass layoff actions by employers, as
measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the
month, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a
single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 239,454.


This marked the most events for a January and the third highest
January level of mass-layoff initial claims since the series began.
Both the number of layoff events and initial claims were higher than a
year ago. January 2004 marked only the third time in the last two years
that initial claims had increased over the year.

American people with the bill."

Of course, Kerry has the problem solved, according to today's
Washington Post:

snipped

"Kerry's speech, however, underscored the challenge for Democrats on
the issue. The only new proposal he offered would do nothing to stop
companies from moving jobs overseas, but would give government and
workers more advance notification.

Kerry said he would require companies to give three months' notice
before moving jobs abroad; the notice would go to workers and
government agencies tasked with offering laid-off employees assistance
and training. He said he would also require the Labor Department to
gather statistics on the number of jobs that have gone abroad, by
company, and to report them to Congress on an annual basis.

The Kerry campaign estimated that about 1 million jobs have moved
overseas since President Bush took office. Gene Sperling, a top
economic adviser in the Clinton White House, who briefed reporters,
acknowledged that the steps Kerry proposed Wednesday would not, by
themselves, do much to change the behavior of such companies. "

snipped

Wow, three months notice and gathering statistics. That ought to solve
all our job problems. What a joke!


John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!


Kerry has announced a number of plans to help stop the flood of jobs
heading overseas. Your reference is to today's speech (or perhaps
yesterday's), in which he only announced one idea he didn't previously
discuss.

If this is an example of a military man's ability to research and
abstract, it's no wonder we lost in Korea and Vietnam, and are reduced
to fighting the crappy little armies of third-rate dictators these days.
It takes smart people to win a real war, which may explain why our win
record since WW II has been mediocre.

Or are you just trying to be disingenuous?


Oh, I just pasted what appeared to be the best of his proposals.
Others were mentioned in the article. Here's another selection:

"Sperling noted that there is not a "silver bullet" when it comes to
outsourcing. But he said Kerry has made other proposals, including a
manufacturing tax credit, a health care plan that he said would cut
corporate costs and an energy plan that would lower production costs
for U.S. companies and make it more attractive for them to keep their
plants in this country."

A manufacturing tax credit sure sounds like a tax cut for the wealthy
corporations. If health care costs were reduced by 95%, corporations
would still save money by outsourcing. Notice how specific Kerry is
about the 'energy savings' he will provide. Yeah, right!

I suppose there *are* people who believe this. I sure hope you aren't
one of them, Harry.

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
news:c1m2mm$1i79b5$1@ID-

Kerry has announced a number of plans

Oh yeah? Then name *one*.

Come on , Harry, name just *one* little plan Kerry has laid forth to stem
the flow of manufacturing jobs.

NOYB wrote:
"Harry Krause" wrote in message
news:c3dhc2g=.6411803546648fe5e76cec188a5e909f@107 7816413.nulluser.com...
NOYB wrote:

The Facts Show Increase of Jobs Under Bush

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004

The media and Democrats keep repeating it over and over: "2.3 million
jobs
lost" since President Bush took office. His could be the worst job
record
since before World War II, they claim.
One little problem: It's not true.

Puh-lease...these apologeticas

Well, then you explain the large disparity between the Payroll Survey data
and the Household Survey data. Can't? I didn't think so. The Payroll
Survey (that'd be the piece of crappola you Dems keep bringing up) is
flawed...and fails to account for those employed by new businesses...or
those who are self-employed.

Ah, yes...the newly self-employed...laid-off workers who can't find work.