Old Federal Reserve Building, Helena Let’s look at some news stories tonight. Right now it’s just about impossible to get any real work done since everyone’s running around like chickens with their heads cut off, but we can try, we can try by God.
And that’s why we start with something close to God’s heart – employment numbers. Lord knows it’s good for everyone to have a job, but here in Montana, boy that can suck.
Yes, I’m talking about our insistence on slave-wage jobs, or what many refer to as poverty-level jobs. I’ve talked about this before, and I know this angers those in both the Republican and Democratic Party, this idea that someone would have the gall to talk about Montana jobs and how they could be better.
But I do talk about it, like I did this afternoon when the article Federal Reserve forecast predicts faster growth for Montana’s economy in 2015 appeared in the Missoulian. It’s one of those articles Joseph Kinsey Howard would have railed against when he was still railing against Federal Reserve articles.
Alas, many of those types of voices are on the rails, and that’s a damn shame.
And that’s why we start with something close to God’s heart – employment numbers. Lord knows it’s good for everyone to have a job, but here in Montana, boy that can suck.
Yes, I’m talking about our insistence on slave-wage jobs, or what many refer to as poverty-level jobs. I’ve talked about this before, and I know this angers those in both the Republican and Democratic Party, this idea that someone would have the gall to talk about Montana jobs and how they could be better.
But I do talk about it, like I did this afternoon when the article Federal Reserve forecast predicts faster growth for Montana’s economy in 2015 appeared in the Missoulian. It’s one of those articles Joseph Kinsey Howard would have railed against when he was still railing against Federal Reserve articles.
Alas, many of those types of voices are on the rails, and that’s a damn shame.
It’s my opinion that employment will rise “a solid” 1.9% as expected, but only as more people find part-time work to supplement their other part-time job. Yes, most people are like our governor and senior senator, working two jobs…just at excruciatingly low pay. Additionally, I feel the unemployment rate will drop 0.7% as expected, mainly as more people just give up looking or move away.
I have a feeling personal income will grow as people spend less on the insurance plans that were cancelled, too. Again, this is something the Democrats don’t really want to talk about because it might cause a few more people to open their eyes that the insurance companies are screwing us. Republicans don’t much want to talk about that anymore either, as they’ve found out they can profit handsomely from the insurance companies screwing us. Of course, that takes into account them not getting new healthcare plans to replace those plans, primarily because it's so cost-prohibitive. I think we know this will happen a lot, or at least the level of American debt will rise to compensate for it.
I have a feeling personal income will grow as people spend less on the insurance plans that were cancelled, too. Again, this is something the Democrats don’t really want to talk about because it might cause a few more people to open their eyes that the insurance companies are screwing us. Republicans don’t much want to talk about that anymore either, as they’ve found out they can profit handsomely from the insurance companies screwing us. Of course, that takes into account them not getting new healthcare plans to replace those plans, primarily because it's so cost-prohibitive. I think we know this will happen a lot, or at least the level of American debt will rise to compensate for it.
And hey, while we’re on the subject, how come you never see articles highlighting American debt, either that of individuals or the country at large? Guess we don’t want to talk about that, huh?
According to a report in July 2014 in USA Today, the average debt of Montanans is $53,171…which is actually $679 less than the national average. What is that debt? Turns out 70.5% of it is mortgage debt. Since the median home price is $187,498 in Montana, and since we know most people are struggling, this isn’t hard to believe.
The same report told us that average household income is $60,867 in the Treasure State, down from the $72,254 most enjoy nationally. I don't know anyone making that much, personally.
What’s more, according to Business Week’s September 2014 report, as a country we’ve added $100 billion in student loan debt since 2008. Oh, and consumer debt now equals $3.2 trillion, an all time high.
People, we’ve got serious problems here, yet why do I feel none of those things are on the agenda for the 2015 Legislature? Probably because most of the representatives there are working to enrich the upper classes further, which requires the lower classes be driven further into the ground.The boat’s sinking, and the rats are jumping off the ship, taking all with them that they can.
Getting back to our local employment numbers, small businesses can expect their sales to be flat while the behemoths gobble them up. People can expect to work more jobs for ever less money. And those that purport to represent you, telling you during election season that they’ll work for you, will continue to work against you once they don’t have to answer to you anymore.
Yes, like many on social media and in the press have said, the 2015 Legislature has indeed started.
According to a report in July 2014 in USA Today, the average debt of Montanans is $53,171…which is actually $679 less than the national average. What is that debt? Turns out 70.5% of it is mortgage debt. Since the median home price is $187,498 in Montana, and since we know most people are struggling, this isn’t hard to believe.
The same report told us that average household income is $60,867 in the Treasure State, down from the $72,254 most enjoy nationally. I don't know anyone making that much, personally.
What’s more, according to Business Week’s September 2014 report, as a country we’ve added $100 billion in student loan debt since 2008. Oh, and consumer debt now equals $3.2 trillion, an all time high.
People, we’ve got serious problems here, yet why do I feel none of those things are on the agenda for the 2015 Legislature? Probably because most of the representatives there are working to enrich the upper classes further, which requires the lower classes be driven further into the ground.The boat’s sinking, and the rats are jumping off the ship, taking all with them that they can.
Getting back to our local employment numbers, small businesses can expect their sales to be flat while the behemoths gobble them up. People can expect to work more jobs for ever less money. And those that purport to represent you, telling you during election season that they’ll work for you, will continue to work against you once they don’t have to answer to you anymore.
Yes, like many on social media and in the press have said, the 2015 Legislature has indeed started.
