Is The Great Recession Actually A Depression?

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U.S. Unemployment Varies Significantly Based on Income Levels


The one word our worthless mouthpiece for the government media doesn't use to describe the current `new normal'; ie: `the jobless recovery' - is DEPRESSION. But, what do you call unemployment and underemployment rates of 28-50% for certain segments of our society? Is there a reason you find this data on a blog in the far corner of the blogosphere - and - not on your hometown front page; or, as the lead story in your worthless local TV news?

Could it be that the story of `haves' and `have-nots' doesn't make a good lead in to the commercial break?

Here's some additional findings of this study:
The total number of unemployed and underemployed has doubled in the last two years


Four year collage graduates, many managers, government employees, professionals are well protected from job losses

Blue-collar workers particularly in the construction sector, teenagers and black men have higher unemployment rates

From the chart above, we can infer that workers in the top two deciles have unemployment rates of just 4.0% and 3.2%

Workers in the lowest decile - those earning $12,499 or less - faced a Great Depression era unemployment rate of about 31% and the second lowest declie had an unemployment rate of about 20%

Both unemployment and underemployment rates increase dramatically from high income to low income levels

The study above clearly shows that lower-income Americans are affected greatly by the current recession while people at the top of the pyramid have almost negligible unemployment rates.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/189739-u-s-unemployment-varies-significantly-based-on-income-levels

Are There Really 'Continents' of Floating Garbage?

Welcome to Real Heavy Politics - thanks for visiting today. As you can see - Pacific pollution is the RHP today - and - as usual - not really a major concern of our pussy-whipped media - http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2007/12/are-there-reall.html .

Jackpot Anchor Babies: Runaway Fraud on American Citizens - Yet another issue our worthless politicians ignore - http://novakeo.com/?p=6006

It Wasn't a Mortgage Recession After All: So Why Don't We Feel Better? - Here folks is some REALLY scary info about The Great Recession we are all in - and WHY we may not be coming out anytime soon - http://www.housingwatch.com/2010/02/26/it-wasnt-a-mortgage-recession-after-all-so-why-dont-we-feel-b/? A WTF link.

Marijuana Contributes to Baby Boomers’ Karma - Here's a strange little take on things - http://www.karmasutranews.com/2010/02/23/marijuana-contributes-to-baby-boomers-karma/ But, then again, what do you expect from a `karma sutra news'?

20 Years for Growing Pot to Treat M.S.? - Example #3,456 of bloated government in action - led by our worthless politicians. http://reason.com/blog/2009/12/11/20-years-for-growing-pot-to-tr
Click Picture

Unemployment Rate Increases in 29 States in October

Does the media cheerleading ever end? How much of this did you hear? http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2009/11/unemployment-rate-increases-in-29.html It's over 15% in Michigan; and that is only the `soft' number.

Palin holding anti-Obama rallies on military bases - http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/11/19/806106/-Palin-holding-anti-Obama-rallies-on-military-bases What is up with this? Why has she and seemingly she alone been granted this right?

The great jobs-stocks disconnect - http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/11/18/stock_market/index.html?source=newsletter It's getting more shameless by the day - don't you think?

U.S. Homes Powered Partially by Russian Nuclear Weapons - http://gajitz.com/u-s-homes-powered-partially-by-russian-nuclear-weapons/ Here's an amazing story that is seldom mentioned.

Thanks for visiting today. If you liked the mix of stories - please bookmark and return.

Big Media Economy Cheerleading Ignores Small Business Data

At some point, the big media will stop cheerleading data that indicates a literal depression in some areas of the nation. At some point, the big media will stop cheerleading data that ignores what has happened to small businesses in this The Great Recession. That said, you can have that data right here - http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2009/10/small-business-and-employment.html

http://www.australia.to/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14379:looming-global-debt-crisis&catid=80:news-1&Itemid=288 If the denied so called secret meetings to dump the US Dollar from the world scene are enough to get your attention - amid the economy cheerleading by the big media -- how's this detailed look at what is going on.

Middleville woman threatened with fines for watching neighbors' kids - http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=114016&catid=14# Another example of bloated government at its finest.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/33003868 Housing Recovery at a Crossroad - Understand the real numbers - not the media cheerleading numbers.

Today's fun link - Negro Entertainment, 1941 style, http://www.shorpy.com/node/6865?size=_original

Will Media Cheerleading Of Economy Continue With `Depression' Level Unemployment?

As a regular listener to CNBC and user of their website - and - a regular user of the cable newschannels -- it's strange to consider the continuing language they use concerning the economy -- specifically, the term `green roots'. To the common man in America, that term implies `an improvement' or a sign of better things happening. This in an economy and government that is often borrowing nearly 100 billion a MONTH - just to keep the whole ball rolling at all.

Cheerleading the economy with a backdrop of Michigan's official unemployment rate now exceeding 15% -- the first state since West Virginia in the mid 1980's. Cheerleading the economy with a backdrop of 15 states with an unemployment exceeding 10% - and with 38 states showing increases in unemployment last month. Cheerleading the economy while knowing that certain counties in California have unemployment nearing 20% and one county, Imperial, OFFICIALLY at over 27% unemployed.

Cheerleading the economy while the `official' U-6 - government unemployment figure exceeds 16% - (this includes the those underemployed and those who have given up looking) and in Michigan the number is now over 22%. Cheerleading the stock market rally, while knowing the biggest rallies that ever happened before happened in the Great Depression. Cheerleading the economy while knowing that the `wealth destruction' in this downturn - The Great Recession - is unmatched by any recent `recession'; indeed, palling in comparison.

Finally, cheerleading the economy while knowing that much of the `stimulus money' - isn't spent - and what is appears to be wasted or inefficient in it's allocation. And, lastly - cheerleading the economy while knowing that the `stimulus money' `saved' state and even local government jobs - such as teachers and firemen - and knowing that they will be lost jobs within a year without MORE `stimulus'.

Here's some links used in putting this post together:

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/percent-84524-county-unemployment.html Proof of 27% official unemployment in a California county.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iG41E9cl-hj1iLR6_ln6q-z8FY4QD99GEABO4 Proof of Michigan's official soft unemployment over 22%.

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2009/07/02/broader-unemployment-rate-hit-165-in-june/ Proof of U-6 unemployment in USA now over 16%.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123836938251967565.html "How a Modern Depression Might Look -- If the U.S. Gets There"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(economics)

http://baselinescenario.com/2009/01/15/intrade-market-betting-depression/ 56% betting ON a depression based on this definition. Real betting.

Today's Fun Link: (just hit the red x for a cool picture)
http://drewt333.deviantart.com/art/Undead-and-In-Love-70233797

What IF Pot IS Performance Enhancing?

Decades Ago, there was a High Times magazine cover that had a question posed to a baseball star - the question was something like - If Bowie Kuhn had 100 dollars for every ball player that smoked pot what would he be - the answer - a rich man.

I start today's essay off with that little ancedote about the natural plant many in the country use daily as medication - or - for even the forbidden side of usage `recreation'. But, the real super secret side of usage - is the `esoteric' side of pot. The seeming `enhancement' of food. The seeming `enhancement' of music. Indeed, the seeming `enhancement' of enjoyment itself. It's really quite a remarkable, below the surface in mentions, `benefit' - one that few if any legal drugs offer - an enhancement to consciousness.

Indeed, one of the often mentioned `qualitative' benefits for smokers - is a clarity of mind. A oneness focus.

Isn't that `oneness focus' - something that athletes use for success; a side benefit of usage? Especially for athletes at the very top of their sport?

Wouldn't it be ironic if one day a sophisticated system really did ban usage due to it's potential mind benefits - the unfair advantage it gives for concentration? In a fortean world like ours - don't be surprised.

More links below:

http://www.bwcitypaper.com/Articles-i-2009-05-28-229395.113121_Obama_Loses_His_Cool.html Covers the obvious - that republicans and democrats different only by symbol - jackass or bloated elephant.

http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2009/05/27/tennessee-house-affirms-sovereignty/ I'm predicting the day will come when parts of the country refuse to pay for states with a huge drain of dollars going into them.

Are Wall Street speculators driving up gasoline prices? http://www.miamiherald.com/business/nation/story/1057972.html Will this be another example where the only way to make money is in commodities?

http://www.smartmoney.com/investing/economy/acclaimed-economist-says-the-recession-is-over/ Interesting graph, one problem - in the other recessions - wealth destruction wasn't a real issue - only now and the depression have that.

Finally, a little humor and tease to end your stay - I'd love to hear your comments.

Future NY Times Headline - National Marijuana Tax Revenue Far Short Of Expectations

As we head into the holiday weekend - lets take a moment to relax our minds - and travel into the future to Dec. 2014; two years after a re-elected President Obama legalized marijuana. Indeed, to refresh your memory - in early December 2012, with the increased diversion of the `end of the world on Dec. 21st crowds' dominating the news - the President decided that he would `free every marijuana prisoner' in the nation and legalize and nationally tax the herb.

As you remember, by 2012, largely because of the Great Recession (as the downturn from the bank crisis of 2008 came to be called) 6 states had already legalized the plant and started to depend on the generated revenues and even on some increase in tourist trade (increases to the conventions in states with legal pot took off in comparison to `strict' states -as they - the non legal states - became to be known as). Indeed, the states that adopted the progressive `smoking bar' rules (letting over 21 age smoker establishments exist - like alcohol bars) - as opposed to the states which only allowed legal consumption in the home - did especially well in the revenue department. The `bar' states were also states that allowed advertising on billboards and most sold the herb in local shops and shut down the medical marijuana facilities. In these local shops, the product was sold at the price the market would bear and taxed at a higher rate than other goods and services - about 40%.

But, all states were not the same. By 2012, in 23 states, one could get a prescription for pot via ones personal doctor - but - still 28 states (The District Of Columbia became a state in 2011) were routinely arresting those in possession of pot. Interestingly, all of these arrest states had especially strong bar associations that had ties with local politicians.

But, the farce of readily available pot in one state and arrest in another - often - of course - within miles due to state lines - was becoming a little too much for even the worthless media and politicians to stand up in support of anymore. America was beginning to look like a place with no standard or morals when it came to justice -or marijuana policy. And, eventually, as you know, when the 4th budget with a trillion dollar deficit was announced - there was an outroar of protest to start ending the prosecution of all drug users - of `housing' millions at taxpayers expense.

The politicians in Washington knew they had to act and knew they had to compromise - so they passed on Dec. 4th 2012 - the National Marijuana Act (NMA). The NMA immediately declared marijuana a legal plant - and immediately set up a national chain of state run marijuana sellers stores - who would sell cannabis grown by the major tobacco companies (by this time the alcohol companies had bought the remaining tobacco firms) - in nearly every town with a population over 10,000.

The politicians were also pleased that as part of the negotiations over the NMA, they were able to still keep the prisons full (only a small % of those with longer sentences were pot users/sellers) and the lawyers busy with no change to the cocaine laws or sentences. Indeed, the prison industry said nary a word.

But, the best news - as it was sold to the non-marijuana smoking public - was that the price would be set at 50 dollars to 100 dollars an ounce and 85% was a TAX collected and split between the state and the national government (The stores were to run on the 15% of revenue as the rents were free - all were commercial properties that had been acquired by the banks the government owned since the Great Recession.) The other provision, of course, was the release of EVERY pot prisoner - no matter the charge - as long as the sentence was based solely on pot. Indeed, the joy of the 10's of thousands that December day two years ago was truly a proud moment in America. Real justice and just in time for Christmas. Indeed, the whole `legal pot thing' would quickly be swallowed up in the typical brainless media holiday spin. It was also expected that the new `low' price would keep home growing to a minimum. (Homeowners with children under 21 could only grow in a locked room was part of the NMA too.)

And, for a few months of 2013 - the added revenues were fairly significant. But, the politicians didn't figure on one thing - when they made possession of plants legal, totally legal, - a significant % of smokers started to grow their own needs - and found that it was very easy to do as most smokers needed less than a pound for a whole year - - even those that wanted more had no problem meeting their needs -as there was no limit on growing. (Outside growing on your own property was legal too.) And, by fall 2013 - with the first homegrown domestic crop - the sales in the stores began to dry up - as did the `revenue' the government wanted to make off the smokers backs. The same smokers they had ravaged the rights of for decades.

Because, those with lots of pot would give it to friends now - not even charge for it.

Oh, I forgot to say - when the NMA was passed - to satisfy the democrats concerns for `our children' and in deference to the republicans `religious right' - the law shut down all the smoker bars nationwide. Pot would NOT become an entertainment industry - this was not the first step down the slippery slope, the politicians promised - we would NOT be putting more druggies onto our nations roads. It would also guarantee the government as the sole legal source - I forgot to say that private selling was still illegal punishable with fine and `probation' (probation meant a monthly fee and contact with authorities for up to five years). Yes, the politics of the whole affair was complicated, but, done as only politicians can - wrongly.

Regardless, the free market price - rapidly returned to `the good old days' of the 70's -- regular smoke 15 an ounce, excellent smoke 35 an ounce. And, grown by a person one knew. And still sold in the friend network that worked so well for decades.

So, what was evident a year ago - winter 2013 - is now much worse. Virtually none of the oldtime smokers wanted to deal with the government in any way - even in a shop with killer 100 dollar an ounce pot. Indeed, almost 90% were now home growers and totally out of the market and tax scheme fostered by those who didn't know how smokers would react. Who didn't understand the remaining latent anger felt by them.

Indeed, about the only industries that directly benefited were the companies that made light systems and growing systems - because within a years time - the National Sales Stores were beginning to close. And, the anti-smoking forces had come out in force to discourage new pot smokers - who quickly dried up too. It seemed as if the laws really didn't discourage many from lighting up after all - despite decades of oppression and beyond stupid laws. If one wanted to smoke in 2011 before national legalization - one did.

And, then, I vaguely remembered an article I read on the internet. It had to be at least five years ago - perhaps in 2009. I swear, it had the same headline as I read here today December 14th 2014 - "National Marijuana Tax Revenue Far Short Of Expectations".

And, I chuckled to myself.

California Realitors Predicts Home Prices To Fall ANOTHER 28%

To me, one of the things the media doesn't bother to put emphasis on - is the sucking sound that was caused by the folks and banks in California - and what they have done to this country. The hole that was dug there for ALL of the rest of the country to payoff - is disgusting and perhaps criminal. I say that because in NO WAY do I believe that builders, appraisers and banks weren't aware that what they were doing wasn't sustainable or even REAL - and smacked of FRAUD. To the rest of the country - what was going on in the heyday of California housing price rise was BEYOND BELIEF - and everyone but California (and Florida perhaps) - knew a crash was going to be the end result. Welcome to the result.



And, as amazing as it sounds - the headline above states just how much MORE things have to go to straighten out at some level in California. Can someone tell me why the entire country, indeed, the entire world - has to bail out a corrupt free-for-all that occurred in California? Can anyone doubt that if the `downturn' of The Great Recession continues for years, as it might, that Texas or other states not involved in the organized housing fraud in the west - might want to pull out of the USA? Just how many folks would be upside down on their mortgage if the values fell another 25%? Is California an endless pit of need? Will the media ever lay blame where it belongs?

This data is worth your two minute read.

http://housing-kaboom.blogspot.com/2009/05/realtors-predict-another-28-fall-in.html

Montana Nullifies Federal Gun Laws!

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=17935 We can only hope that enough states start to push for their own rights - before the sheeple will gain any.

Thanks for visiting my NEW blog again today - if you are of a similar mind - please bookmark me and return - and please send my link to friends you have of a similar mindbent.