Friday, January 5, 2007

Wages and the Economy

Today the big economic news was that the American economy is headed for some tough times but corporate profits are doing pretty well.

According to news reports workers received a "hefty" wage increase over the past year. Where the term "hefty" came from I don't know since I don't find that description anyplace among any of the research or findings that these news reports alluded to.

Anyways, the "hefty" wage increases amounted to one-half of one percent.

I don't know if those receiving minimum wages received this "hefty" increase in their wages, whatever. For most workers that did receive this "hefty" pay increase they are lucky if they received an additional $50.00 a year... compare that to the robbery at the pumps... I notice no one is talking about the "hefty" profits of the oil industry.

Then we have been hearing all day about how George Bush is going to be sending in reinforcements to try to get control over the war in Iraq... the project kind of reminds me of the "pacification" program in Vietnam... Bush's "surge of troops" in Iraq will prove to be just as successful. I heard where Amy Klobuchar and Norm Coleman have similar ideas about the war... neither wants to bring the troops home now or cut funding for this dirty war... Klobuchar and Coleman make us painfully aware of how voters are disenfranchised from the political process. Its no wonder so many people are saying there isn't much difference between the two major parties.

It looks like the "circus in the Cities" is again under way as Minnesota politicians have stated their intent to undermine the November Elections by putting forward mandatory health insurance legislation instead of single-payer, universal health care.

Driving through Grand Rapids today I saw a great sign in someone's yard, it said: End the war in Iraq; Impeach Bush. I agree.