Political Commentary

When it was just the poor who were affected by an economic meltdown, nobody really paid much attention to them because they had no political clout. Now that the middle class and even wealthier people are being thrown into the economic sewer, the poor might actually start exercising more clout after all.

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Why is our dictator worse than Herbert Hoover? It's because he has a personality flaw which made matters worse.

In short, it's his inability to admit he made mistakes, or stubbornness, or rigidity that made him such a piss-poor president:

For whatever reasons--his difficult family history, his problems with addiction, his failed careers before entering politics, his strong religious convictions--Bush has seemed to be comfortable only when he could make quick and firm decisions, however complicated the issue, and then move on. Admitting mistakes or changing course seems almost contrary to his nature. The "unitary executive," which Dick Cheney has so energetically implemented and defended, was the perfect vehicle for Bush's tendency to prefer conviction over practicality. When Congress passed laws that challenged his convictions, the White House changed them through signing statements. When the Supreme Court struck down policies Bush believed in, the White House largely ignored the decisions. When military leaders pointed out the futility of wartime strategies, Bush ignored the generals and waited for Rumsfeld to replace them. When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Bush was not only slow to act, but also never took any significant steps to repair the damage that his administration had done to the agency that was supposed to have helped rebuild the city. FEMA today is little better prepared for another Katrina than it was in 2005.

Since

the Rogue Valley's (Oregon) wage base consists mainly of seasonal or real estate or health care jobs, adults, especially those with children, and especially those who don't know English, can't make it.

This is one of the reasons I moved from there nearly 24 years ago:

Up to 85 percent of jobs in the Rogue Valley are not paying a living wage, and for Latino workers, the situation's even worse, according to "The Race for Wages: Living Wage Jobs in the Current Economy."

The report, released this week, highlights the role that race plays in the employment system. Released by Oregon Action, the report is the latest in a series of studies from the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations that studies the job gap.

"There are still levels of discrimination," said Rich Rohde, Rogue Valley organizer for Oregon Action.

A living wage allows families to meet basic needs without public assistance, and provides them some ability to deal with emergencies and plan ahead. It is not a poverty wage.

The Booming Economy Casualty List for 12/7-12/15.

It is no surprise at all the rich are getting much, much richer while everybody else can go hang for all they care.
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The dog business is still doing well despite the slumping economy.
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The Elites,

including the media, have been waging a class war for at least twenty-five years, and the masses are losing.

As the World Turns.

Mexico City is about ready to legalize abortion.
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The income gap has widened, not surprisingly.
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Judith Regan might not be able to bail him out of this jam.
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