How is all that Climate Crisis denial working for you folks?

Collapsed Plutocratic icon domes, freezing produce, record highs in the summer, record lows in the winter.

Well, it would seem as though things are GETTING worse, wouldn't you say?

MIAMI — Parts of Florida (click title to entry - thank you)  woke up to freezing temperatures on Tuesday, with some cities setting records for a Dec. 7 and others expecting to break records on Wednesday.

Fort Lauderdale at 40 degrees (42), and Vero Beach at 31 degrees (38), the National Weather Service reported.....

Sadly, the GOP is about as corrupt as it comes.

Cuccinelli, (click title to entry - thank you) who was elected to his current post in 2009, had brought the suit -- insisting that requiring people to purchase insurance violated a Virginia statute.
The case, which now seems almost certainly headed for the Supreme Court, will cast Cuccinelli -- already a conservative darling -- as the face of the attempts to repeal the president's signature policy achievement of his first two years in office....

Attorney General Cucinnelli took office in January of 2011 and already his ambitions are taking him for a Governor's race in 2013.

Ken Cuccinelli for Governor 2013 (Facebook - click here)

Now I realize simply being an Attorney General and having political ambtions does not indict wrong doing, but, MORALLY this guy is more about his own ambition than he is about the people.

The Cuccinelli EXTREMISM is even too much for the Virginai Governor.

By From staff and wire reports
Published: March 11, 2010

RICHMOND — Gov. Bob McDonnell directed state agencies not to discriminate against gay people in employment practices Wednesday, essentially overriding the Virginia attorney general’s advice to public colleges....

I believe Cucinnelle is seeing his strength as a Tea Bagger and not a Republican, actually.

Cuccinelli looks like presidential timber; but is Christie dead wood? (click here)

Published: Monday, December 13, 2010, 9:12 PM     Updated: Monday, December 13, 2010, 11:24 PM

The decision by a federal appeals court in Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's effort to reverse the individual health-care mandate has a lot of peopletouting Cucinellie for president in 2012.
That's not good news for Chris Christie. Our governor has been famously noncommittal on the mandate, which is perhaps the greatest expansion of the federal government's power since the New Deal.
All conservatives reacted reflexively in opposition to the mandate. The federal government has never before required all American citizens to contract with a private company to buy a product we may or may not want.
The mainstream Republican Party was a bit slow to get the point. The Beltway Republicans backed Mitt Romney in 2008, despite the fact that the health-care plan he initiated as governor of Massachusetts was the forerunner of Obamacare....

So, at this point, there are serious concerns to the focus of the Attorney General of Virginia.  It would seem as though his ambition was in place before his run for AG and that office is meerly a stepping stone.  To say his focus is dangerous is an understatement.  At this point if his extremism continues and is followed up by leagal action against civil rights, etc., impeachment should be a focus.  Cucinelli and his ambitious, activist Judge are excercing abuse of power with little concern for the citizens of Virginia or otherwise.

Obamacare victory launches Cuccinelli to national stage  (click here)

By: Stephen Groves 12/13/10 8:05 PM
OpEd Contributor

"What you see with Cuccinelli is what you get," say fans, foes and observers of Virginia General Attorney Ken Cuccinelli, R, who scored a victory in round one of his lawsuit against the health insurance mandate on Monday. In the 4th District Court in Richmond, Judge Henry E. Hudson ruled the insurance mandate, a part of Obamacare that hasn't yet gone into effect, is unconstitutional.
"This case is not about health insurance. It is not about health care. It's about liberty," Cuccinelli said at a press conference on Monday. "We've won the first round of this particular fight, but we know there are others to come."
This is the first serious case against the health insurance mandate that a judge has ruled in favor of those challenging its constitutionality. And conservatives say there isn't a better person to carry the banner.
"He's bold," said Richard Viguerie, the conservative direct mailer who runs ConservativeHQ.com and mentors Cuccinelli. "He doesn't wait for others to take action."...

Wouldn't it be nice to be the ONLY Judge to rule against the Federal government, have the AG plaintiff become president and then receive a nomination into the Supreme Court when Scalia retires.

My, my.  What ambition we actually have. 

What are we going to do without him? So, sorry.

Deepest sympathies to Ambassador Holbrooke's family, friends and colleagues.

His passing is sincerely tragic.  He leaves a huge void in the USA State Department and the USA efforts in some of the most turbulent lands on Earth.

We will all miss him. 

A remarkable career to secure the nation he loved.

Thank you, Richard.

"Tonight America has lost one of its fiercest champions and most dedicated public servants," Clinton said, confirming the death at age 69 of a troubleshooter that the Obama administration named as its main diplomat for the conflict in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  (At the title, please.)

Boner has a lot of reasons to cry. Both he and Beck can't 'handle it.'

...We (click title to entry - thank you) watched a clip of Boehner crying, then Boehner cried again when Leslie Stahl asked him about crying. Stahl took him to the bar he used to work at as a child. She didn't mention the apartment Boehner rented (still rents?) from a lobbyist who represented the restaurant industry and lobbied Republicans to oppose minimum wage increases.
And oddly, the name "Jack Abramoff" never came up once! (I know, that was like a billion years ago, we can't expect our journalists to still care.)
The man who heroically hand-delivered money from tobacco lobbyists to Republican members on the floor of the house is presented as a sensitive family man....

I mean give me a break.  If he can't handle the job, then resign and go home.  He can't see 'little children' at SCHOOLS where they are all getting an ENFORCED education without crying? 


...Emotionally, (click here) crying is often our “temperature light”. When we live under a lot of emotional, social, and personal pressure from jobs, family, money, relationships, etc. — we are emotionally stressed and running hot. Like the auto, it doesn’t take much to start a crying spell. These frequent and uncontrollable crying spells are high stress indicators and warnings. Like the temperature light in the auto, frequent crying spells tell us we are emotionally operating under a lot of stress....

It is an "Anxiety Disorder."

If there is any prohibiton to the new Health Care Reform at all, it is due to the fact a Public Option is mandatory to any private offering.

It might just be that the courts will have to order a public option be an intricate aspect of the new health care reform laws, because, where federal authority has used the Commerce Claus 'historically' is in regard to Medicare. 

Needless to say the court issuing the opinion in Virginia is a "W" appointee.  Henry Hudson does not have the authority to over rule precendent in regard to TRADITIONAL roles for the federal government in regard to health care.  He could have been PROGRESSIVE and relieved the higher courts of the burden, but, he rather cause political chaos.  He won't succeed in doing that because there are already federal mandates for Medicare and Medicaid.  This health care reform is 'missing' the PUBLIC OPTION and therefore 'understates' the urgency of implimenting such health insurance.

What Hudson has done is OPT for 'State Rights' in regard to 'insurrance' rather than addressing the PARTICULAR clouts of 'health insurance.'  Previous to pasasge of the current law the tenents were put through constitutional measures and passed the test.

The fact that Hudson did not stand in the way of implementation while the law is 'on appeal' is because he already knows there is a basis for the law.  He's just being a jerk and deciding to rule with tradition rather than being prudent to the needs of a nation.

It is my opinion the brevity of the need for insuring the nation while citing the gross malpractice of 'corporate' insurance companies which have caused the deaths of Americans will order to bring the law into compliance the people of the USA will have to be offered a Public Option along side the private offerings simply because the corporate health insurance carriers have IN FACT carried out 'homicidal' decisions regarding the well being of Americans, including children.  Why the CEOs aren't up on charges given the completely obvious infraction to laws of Manslaughter it beyond my understanding.  They chose to allow people to die to collect greater profits for their companies.  If that isn't manslaughter than I don't know what is. 

So, in that light, the law is probably going to be stated to have to offer Americans a public option in addition to the private health care industry offering.  The evidence just points in that direction.

The Hudson dialogue, if allowed to stand, could be a threat to Medicare. 

"Morning Papers" - Its Origins

The Rooster
"Okeydoke"

"Good Night Moon"

On December 12, 2010 at 2358 (military time) the Moon of Earth is visible of 44% at a distance of 404,327 kilometers or the equivalent of 251,237.15 miles.

So, let's end this on a high note. The Supreme Court robbed the vote from the people of the USA in 2000.

The Plutocracy is dangerous to the American landscape. 

Al Gore won the popular vote by more than 500,000. But it was the contentious recount in Florida – halted by the Supreme Court – that gave it to Bush. What that meant still is being argued.  (click title to entry - thank you)

By Brad Knickerbocker, Staff Writer December 12, 2010

Some battles in American history and politics never end, at least in terms of passionate public argument. The Civil War. The Vietnam War. Abortion. The Red Sox and the Yankees. Bush v. Gore....

...Depending on one’s point of view the 5-4 Supreme Court vote cutting off the Florida recount was either as it should have been (given how messed up the balloting and recount procedure had become there) or a political travesty as bad as the 1857 Dred Scott decision denying constitutional protections to slaves of African descent....

...“What made the decision in Bush v. Gore so startling was that it was the work of Justices who were considered, to greater or lesser extents, judicial conservatives,” writes Toobin, a lawyer and legal analyst for CNN. “[But] the Court stopped the recount even before it was completed, and before the Florida courts had a chance to iron out any problems – a classic example of judicial activism, not judicial restraint, by the majority.”

For political junkies who appreciate the ironic and the fanciful, New York magazine has “Memories of the Gore Administration.” Written by “five (sometime) novelists” – Kurt Anderson, Kevin Baker, Glenn Beck, Jane Smiley, and Walter Kirn – it’s an imaginary look at the last ten years as if the 2000 election had gone the other way....


Ten years ago this month, (click here) a Supreme Court ruling ushered in George W. Bush as our 43rd president. We asked five (sometime) novelists to imagine the past decade as if the election had gone the other way. America: This is your parallel life....

The next highest unemployment rate in recent history was inherited by Former President William Jefferson Clinton.

He had very little to work with, the manufacturing sector of the USA was mostly destroyed by Wall Street and its abandonment of the American work force.  So, he focused on the strongest part of the economy, 'A Service Economy.'

It worked.  (click title to entry - thank you)

He moved the unemployment rate from February 1992 at 8.2 percent to a rate of 3.2 % in December of 2000.

The current rate as of November 2010 is 9.3 percent.  An AVERAGE for the USA is about 4 to 5 percent.  Of course everyone wants to see it better than that, but, at this point in time achieving 'the average' would be nice.  That means we have to move it by approximately 4.8%.  It sounds like a lot, but, Clinton did it.  We can, too.

Personage.  Service Economy.  The appreciation of WORK. 

The empowerment of our youth and the Middle Class.  I don't know of a more noble pursuit, do you?

The return of gentry.  I don't want to hear complaints about tips either.  Inching an economy back to prosperity is a thankless job and no one knows that better than our President. 

Speaking of energy efficiency in building design and effective use of space...

... did you know the Conservatives in the country are calling environmentalists WATERMELONS? 

According to the Righties in the country environmentalists are communists in disguise.  They are green on the outside and red on the inside.

Now, if one is familiar with old watermelon references, it is easy to say it is more than propaganda, but, down right racism.

But, there isn't any sense in going there really.  It isn't productive.  What also isn't productive is calling environmentalists communists.

Because.;

Because the sincerely communist enthusiasts are the Red Party GOP Republicans.  Don't know about the Tea Party, but, it is my guess they are just as red on the inside as the GOP.

It was the Republicans that sold out the USA to China.  It is due to the Chinese influence in the USA that our wages are so low, our benefits are so poor and our pay scales low.  The Republicans couldn't break down the unions by themselves, so they had to out sourced American jobs in order to LEVERAGE pressure in the American work force to bring down wages so they can increase their bottom line AT ANY COST.

So, when Republicans and their right wing media decide to call environmentalists 'Watermelons' perhaps they sincerely should take a long look in the mirror.

Small Climate Deals Forged Outside Int'l Talks  (click title to entry - thank you)

Climate change action forges ahead, regardless of treaty talks. World Bank: We can't wait

The Associated Press

By ARTHUR MAX Associated Press

CANCUN, Mexico December 12, 2010 (AP)

Walmart is going green in its Chinese factories. George Soros is exploring investments in the restoration of drained peatlands in Indonesia. Denmark is joining South Korea in a new fund to transform developing economies.
As delegates to the latest U.N. climate talks struggled to come up with a modest pair of global warming accords, governments, businesses and individuals working behind the scenes forged ahead with their own projects to cut emissions....

Now, do I think there should be a turbulent over throw of the current economic PICTURE in regard to quality of life?

Thursday October 18, 2007 Cheboygan, MI

Photographer states:

Tornado over Black Lake, Michigan, during the October 18, 2007 tornado outbreak. This tornado was rated EF1 with winds up to 94 mph. Damage consisted of a barn destroyed just north of M-68. The sporadic damage path up through Black Lake was 1/8 mile wide and around 10 miles long. Some tree damage was seen around Black Lake. The photo taken by Nathan Krinsky from the back deck of his home on Black Lake in northern Michigan, 15 miles southeast of Cheboygan. The sun was setting at 5:25 pm EDT when this photo was taken, and if you look closely, you can see a rainbow, thanks to the spray kicked up by the tornado.

Of course not. 

I think it this way.  There is a lake in the USA.  A real lake.  It contains a significant amount of an aquatic invasive species of plant.  Now that plant does not supply the best nutrition for the fish in the lake.  A real lake with real fish.  But, it does provide a place where fish feel secure from sunlight and boat traffic and fishing hooks, so it is a place where they sleep and socialize and breed.  Basically, the WEEDS are important to the fish, but, the landowners surrounding the lake want to rid the lake of this invasive species of plant so the fish will grow bigger and more abundantly.

Good idea.

But, how exactly does a community go about changing the plant populations without destroying the fish?

Over time.  The current plant populations will have to be supported until the new native species of native species TAKE OVER the area and overrun the invasive plants.  During that time the native fish will start to thrive better.

Now, I don't believe the USA economy is like a lake or fish, but, the concept of 'incremental' and 'meaningful' change can occur rather painlessly. 

See, recessions since Reagan were reversed by government spending.  George Walker Bush buoyed his economy through chronic job bills.  So it isn't really fair to say the spending currently being used to reverse the trend of The Great Recession is wrong.  It isn't.  It saved this country and put it back on the right track.  But, it isn't enough.  It isn't going to be enough unless the American landscape includes 'personage' and the appreciation for that personage in the equation again. 

We know for a fact and it was mentioned on this blog that since the Small Business Loans have returned in September of 2010, the number of jobs generated by those businesses are growing.  We know that for a fact.  That didn't occur because Investment Banks decided to return to lending, it was due to sincere legislation that created opportunity for lending to Small Businesses.  And these are 'faux' small businesses that front for corporations such as Bechtel.  These are sincerely small businesses that 'real people' build and hire other real people to work.

How we define our values and our lifestyles are important.  How we appreciate the quality of life and the ability to reduce stress and embrace community is important.  These are all 'value' judgements. 

There is absolutely no reason why a favorite BIG BOX STORE could not provide PROPER 'personage' to assist customers.  EXCEPT.  It cuts into their bottom line. 

Is their bottom line truly important to us or are we allowing 'cheap life styles' override what is best for ourselves and the USA's economy.

I don't trust them and I want an infrastructure that lasts.  Not one that simply feeds the wealthy and diminishes the quality of life for Americans.

This is a Main Street in the USA. Not a Hollywood set, but, a Main Street.

Now, it is possible that every Main Street can contain the same exact stores or type of stores found in the Shopping Mall.  I think there is a basic understanding about that.

But, think for a minute.  About the WASTED SPACE in a mall.

Lots and lots of wasted space. 

It would be like putting a dome over the Main Street and calling it progress or an improvement. 

Now, think about the ENERGY it would take to keep that dome warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

What is more energy efficient, Main Street or a Shopping Mall?

I just love those trees, don't you?

I believe most Americans have been in a shopping mall. Do you find many specialists there?

Yeah, specialists.  Sales clerks that actually assit in helping with finding clothes you have in mind.  Can size a person up and know exactly which rack of clothes to shop.  Or the seamstress that can ALTER the clothes for THE BEST fit.

Are any of those specialists in a shopping mall?  Not in any mall near me.

How about a shoe shine?

Or that facial everyone needs from time to time?

No?

Hms.

Do you find them on Main Street? 

Should you find them on Main Street?

You know, like The Newsstand.  Boy, did I used to enjoy that.  Looking at all the magazines and finding the perfect one to read.  It was an adventure as well as a chance to find reading material that I would enjoy.

What happened to the personage in THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE?

Oregon and New Jersey (click title to entry - thank you) are the only two states in the United States that require attendants to pump gas at gas stations. There are many arguments for it, but many are not very well substantiated. It is claimed that it should not matter because gas prices are lower in these two states. Insurance costs for gas stations go down slightly if a "qualified attendant" is pumping the gas, but they must also pay for the cost of hiring an extra worker. Combined with varying taxes on gasoline between states, its true affect on gas price is anyone's guess....
Oh, yeah.  Self-service.  God forbid a FULL SERVICE GAS STATION should ever exist in the USA again.

If you’re used to pulling up to the pump and filling up your own tank, (click here) you may not even remember what a full service gas station is. On the other hand if you live in certain parts of the US, like Oregon or New Jersey, you may have never pumped your own gas, since these states mandate that each gas station is a full service gas station. For those not in the know, and as a reminder for those who fondly remember, a full service gas station is a gas station where an attendant pumps your gas....

Pump the gas, check the oil, wash the windows and tell anyone asking where the bathroom was.  The driver and passengers actually have time to use the bathroom, too. 

Oh, yeah, about that nonsensical stuff.  The picture.  I need to make one more point about malls.

What is better for the USA Main Street or Shopping Malls?

The history cited here begins wtih 'shopping centers' which is more or less a Main Street.  It isn't UNDER GLASS or any of those nonsensical things.

History of the Shopping Mall (click title to entry - thank you)

1956	Open	Southdale Center Edina, Minnesota	The first fully enclosed shopping center was designed by Victor Gruen and developed by the Dayton department store, which was one of the two anchors.
1966	Open	The Galleria Houston	One of the largest malls in the US features a vaulted glass ceiling, inspired by Italian arcades.

Oh, did I say Malls are nonsensical?  I guess I did and I mean it.

Think about it.  Keep this picture in mind for the next entry.

Then there are the lies about the health care legislation. When does it stop?

Another Hannity rant is about Health Care Exemptions for all the cronies of the DNC. 

Really?

The exemptions I know of are the ones written into the bill are for reliigous consciousness. (click title to entry - thank you)

All the other LIES about crony issues have been completely dispelled except in HANNITY'S WORLD.  Yet, the guy continues to say the same garbage over and over and over again.

Media falsely claim Obama and staff are "exempt" from health care reform (click here)

March 25, 2010 11:06 am ET — 13 Comments

Media have falsely claimed President Obama, members of his administration, and certain congressional staff are "exempt" from the recently enacted health care bill.  In fact, the bill subjects the White House, members of Congress, and their staffs to the same reforms and requirements as the rest of the American people....

There is an issue with a program called "e-Perscibe" that is addressed by Secretary Sebelius and that is discussed in this PDF. 

...Financial penalties should only be levied in 2012 and 2013  (click here)

against Medicare eligible physicians who fail to qualify for an exemption and fail to

e-prescribe ten permissible prescriptions by the end of 2012 or by the end of 2013....

The new health care law has many, many reforms and until the laws are completely 'online' by 2014, there are going to be stumbling blocks.  Exemptions are simply an the issue.  It is allowing physicians and others to incorporate the provisions into their practices so PATIENTS and their QUALITY OF LIFE are at the heart of the law.

The health care legislation is going to open avenues for new doctors, physican assitants, nurses and other health care professionals to be educated and help take care of the nation.  There is absolutely NO REASON to stop this legislation.

Sean Hannity is a liar. I never thought I would actually say it with such conviction, but, he sincerely is.

On Friday, he stated, "Obama now believes the tax cuts for the wealthy are important to the country's economy."

He was referring to a statement made by the President that went like this.  "The Tax Cut Package will bring about economic growth."

Hannity decided that since the Tax Cuts for the Wealthy were part of that package President Obama was making an apology for 'missing the opportunity' to grow the USA economy the way the Republican Ideologes see it, through 'trickled down and supply side' economics.

The President could have said the same words WITHOUT the tax cuts for the wealthy as that is simply adding to the national debt and even harmful to the American economy, possibly the global economy.  But, Hannity was once again, taking the President's words OUT OF CONTEXT.

When he was caught doing this, he stated, 'the truth is what it is and the tax cuts are part of the package.' 

Manipulation, lies, innuendoes and blantant misuse of the 'spirit' of the words of a United States President.  This is what Mr. Hannity has to do in order to keep his show prospering in an attempt to carry out propaganda against the people of the USA.

Where is the FCC?  How do these liars get away with this?  By calling it Infortainment?  At the expense of the dignity of our President and the truth that is vital to the American people.  President Obama clearly stated, the tax cuts for the wealthy is not on his agenda for economic growth but necessary to appease the Republicans to protect the nation from their exploitve hostage taking. 

What of that didn't Hannity understand?


...columnist Karl Rove, was to gloat: (click here) the president was "repudiating the heart and soul of Obamanomics as the price of giving himself a chance at a second term," and "implicitly admitted that his economic strategy has flopped."...

Another one.  Former Assitant to a President of the United States of America has no dignity, no self respect, no respect for the people of this country and participated in even more propaganda to decieve the people of this country.

This is a "Bell Boy." In the year 2010, he would be called a 'Bell Person' I suppose.

Income, Expenditures, Poverty, & Wealth (click here)

He is usually supervised by a 'Bell Captain.'  That means when the 'age group that currently can afford to travel, DOES,' there are people there to assist them with their luggage.

It is a simple job and one that might be best served by teenagers or people seeking supplemental income.

I don't believe the laws surrounding the disabled goes far enough.

But, alas, the RETIRED and HANDICAPPED don't know the luxury of actually being able to have a BARRIER free economy that allows them to travel.  See, handicapped folks that might be able to drive a vehicle would have to rely on others to assist them in fueling their autos and helping them to with the luggage.  So,  to some extent (and I consider the retired persons of the USA an equivalent to handicapped in their needs) the economic captains of our 'tourism' economy are grossly negligent to providing a full range of services to ALL potential customers.

They are also increasing the 'incompetency' in our youth by not allowing such opportunities for employment or the ability to 'work an extra job' in order to find that 'down payment' for a house or other QUALITY OF LIFE issues.

Instead of Americans appreciating 'personage' they OPT for 'Self Serve.'  Self serve airline tickets, self serve money machines (ATMs), self service online SECOND mortgages, 'at the touch of a button' ANYTHING.  Absolutely anything. 

Personage to the average person these days is an annoyance.  People rather isolate their liviing experience and be brainwashed in front of their televisions by the likes of Murdoch than ever before. 

The computer has become not an enhancement to society, but, a barrier to QUALITY OF LIFE and effective community. 

There isn't anything wrong with 'live streaming.'  Teleconferences are far better than flying polluting aircraft chronically over the country.  But, to reduce the potential of having OPPORTUNITY for a quality of life for Americans is ludicrous and stupid. 

That Bell Hop will purchase goods, but, not without the job to do it. 

The current economy of the USA is government supported and has been for a long, long time.  Bush and Cheney ran up debts in order to FLOAT their economy.  They destroyed quality of life in the USA and it time to come terms with it.

There is a better way to 'view' the unemployment picture. FTE.

full time equivalent (FTE)

Ratio of total number of paid hours during a period (part time, full time, contracted)  by the number of working hours in that period Mondays through Fridays.

 

How to Calculate FTE Hours (click title to entry - thank you)

By Bradley James Bryant, eHow Contributor

updated: May 10, 2010

Measuring the number of hours worked in terms of full-time equivalents--or FTEs--is a way to compare and benchmark the total hours worked by a workforce. The metric provides a standard way of measuring a company's workforce across industries. For instance, a company could have 500 people on staff, but only 400 FTEs if some of the workers are part-time employees. Comparing just the number of employees, rather than looking at FTEs, may give the wrong impression and lead to poor decision-making....

A lot happened in the last quarter of 2008.  Companies were bailout of the American Paradigm so they could use any excuse to 'do as they please.'  Some of what is occurring with the unemployed in the USA is manipulation 'in favor' of maximized profits at the cost of a strong consumer base and wider tax base.  Basically, the CEO 'Bonus' is the worst invention Wall Street ever invented.  It allows for exploitation of any aspect of a business, including downsizing and outsourcing, that is completely detrimental to the company as well as the country and the overall economy. 

In today's work force, there is less stability for 'a job' and less, far less 'benefits' that insure a quality of life through retirement and beyond.  I don't care what kind of 'retirement' venue Wall Street advocates in REPLACEMENT of SSI and Medicare, there is no stability, no guarantees and absolutely no trustworthiness that can find ground for any change in the 'structure' of the 'entitlements' for the USA's population.

When understanting the sincere depth of unemployment in the USA, one has to look at the entire picture and the demoralization of 'personage' in the work force.

Personage is a collage of society. It's values. It's determination to make every life count.

Merrium-Webster (click title to entry - thank you) has a definition that simply states, "a human individual."

This is not an abstract concept.  It is a foundation understanding to any society. 

Government is suppose to serve and protect, while the private sector is ALLOWED to provide quality of life.

That was QUALITY OF LIFE.  It is why aspects of criminal law prosecute fraud, embezelment, corruption, etc.

Many, many moons ago, I sat in a friend's house sipping on a cup of tea after he just returned from work.  They had three children and were working very hard to improve the house so they could sell it.  The year was about 1995 or so.  Two of the children were perfectly normal, but, the third had problems.  Needed care beyond simple babysitting, so I was there to help that evening. 

The house was full of all kinds of educational signs for the two Pre-K children.  There were signs like "DOOR," "CHAIR," "TABLE," and "TOY BOX."  You get the picture.  The couple loved their children beyond any imagination.  They were moving because they were convinced the nearby 'High Tension Electric" wires caused the congenital problems with their youngest child.  This.  After the husband's parents, whom lived two miles away, both died within years of each other from cancer.

But, I sat there giving a report on the children before going home.  His wife would be at work until morning and then he would be leaving for his 'day job.'  We began to talk about the economy and he stated, "You know, one day this country will be sorry it ever stopped valuing its' personage."

"Personage, I replied."

"Yes.  You see, the automation of the American lifestyle is completely depersonalizing the 'life experience' of many people and while advancement is always an aspect of growth of any country, the depersonalization of society to allow 'persons' to become unimportant to its government, its businesses will result in economic losses and potentially collapse."

We talked for a while and I excused myself to leave for home.  I stated if they found themselves in a bind again they should feel free to call. 

Today.  Some 15 years later, I now reflect on that conversation and realize what a brilliant man told me at a time in his life when 'loss' surrounded him.

It's Sunday Night