The U.S. Economy, Job Creation and The Unemployment Rate for April 2022.

The U.S. Labor Department reported Friday that the Economy added 428,000 jobs in April and that the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.6%.  It was the 15th straight month of positive job growth (Feb. 2021 - April 2022) for the Biden administration and its economic policy to put the economy back on track and the people back to work.  The negative voices who are still out there on their daily rant have been so wrong about Biden's policies over the l5 months.

The Labor Department reported that wages were up 5.5% in April compared to last year and up 0.3% from March 2022 and consumer spending is still strong.  Those who still claim to be surprised by the strong economy and job creation are the same ones who are ignorant on the subject matter and which party governs best.  They are the same negative voices that flood the media with misinformation and lies.  They talk about inflation being at a 40 year high but never admit that inflation today is not even close to the threat it was 40 years ago.

The greatest threat facing the economy at the present time is what will the Federal Reserve do to manage inflation.  If they over react and raise rates too high and too often it could cause an economic recession.  They have the right tools to be effective so the question is, do they have the right frame of mind to deal with the matter without destroying the economy.  

The President has sound policies to keep the economy on track and move the country and its people  forward and begin the transition to a greener environment.  Those who ask what's the rush to a greener world have been saying that for the past 25 years so only the ignorant would take them seriously.

The economy, job numbers and etc., since Biden took office confirm what precedent should have taught us in the last 100 years.  The liberal/progressive policies of democratic administrations work best for the country and its people and that democratic administrations are best at governing.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio  

President Harry Truman's Address in 1948 Are Words Of Wisdom For The Present Challenges Facing The United States.

President Truman on October 13th 1948 spoke at the St. Paul Municipal Auditorium in Minnesota and gave a campaign address that is viable today 74 years later.  President Truman knew the republican party well and called them the Wall Street Republicans, a description they have earned over the past 74 years.  The President's address covered a lot of territory and below are quoted some of his remarks the readers are sure to understand that address many of the issues being talked about today.

                                                              REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

The Republican party either corrupts its liberals or it expels them.  It drove out Teddy Roosvelt in 1912.  It drove out fighting Bob LaFollette of Wisconsin in 1924.

It was the Democratic party of Franklin Roosevelt, not the Republican party, that held out the hand of welcome to Floyd. B Olson and to that hero of progressive idealism George Norris of Nebraska.

True liberalism is more than a matter of words.  It demands more than just sound effects.  It cannot hide behind the catch phrases of the Republican candidate for President-catch phrases like "unity and efficiency."  Unity for what cause?  Efficiency for what purpose?  I wonder.

The American people in this critical year, are entitled to a full and open discussion of the issues.  They are not getting it from the Republican candidate for President.

Thomas Jefferson did not seek unity by concealing the real issues between himself and Alexander Hamilton.  He made the issue clear, so that the people could reach a decision.  And their decision determined that democracy rather than autocracy should prevail in this great country of ours.

Abraham Lincoln did not seek unity with Stephen A. Douglas.  He made it clear that this Nation could not continue to exist half slave and half free.

Franklin D. Roosvelt in 1933, did not seek unity with the economic loyalists.  He proposed the New Deal.

And today, I do not seek unity by concealing the issues between me and the special privilege groups that control the Republican Party.

I never will seek that sort of unity.

Real unity is behind basic principles and concrete programs.  Real unity cannot be achieved without a definition of the issues, and a decision by the American people.

But I serve notice here and now that I shall feel at liberty to correct distortions and keep the record straight.

We did not  have unity in foreign policy in 1940.  Even then with half the world in flames, the Republican leaders were mainly isolationists.  They were against aid to the democracies, and they called Roosvelt a warmonger. 

There must be life and hope in government.  We must achieve and pioneer in the great frontier of human rights and social justice.

Faith is much more than efficiency.  Faith gives value to all things.  Without faith, the people perish.

Today the forces of liberalism face a crisis.  The people  of the U.S. must make a choice between two ways of living-a decision, which will affect us the rest of our lives and our children and our grandchildren after us.

On the other side, there is the Wall Street way of life and politics.  Trust the leader.  Let big business take care of prices and profits.  Measure all things by money.  That is the philosophy of the masters of the Republican party.

Well I have been studying the Republican party for over 12 years at close hand in the Capital of the U.S.  And by this time I have discovered where the Republicans stand on most of the major issues.

 Since they won't tell you themselves, I am going to tell you.

They approve of the American farmer - but they are willing to help him go broke.

They stand four-square for the American home - but not for housing.

They are strong for labor - but they are stronger for restricting labor's rights.

They favor a minimum wage - the smaller the minimum, the better.

They endorse educational opportunity for all -  but they won't spend money for teachers or schools.

They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine - for people who can afford them.

They approve of Social Security benefits - so much so that they took them away from almost a million people.

They favor the admission of displaced persons - but only within shameful racial and religious limitations.

They condemn cruelly high prices - but fight to the death every effort to bring them down.

And they admire the Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.

Now my friends, that is the Wall Street Republican way of life.  But there is another way - there is another way - The Democratic Way, the way of the Democratic Party.

Of course, the Democratic Party is not perfect.  Nobody ever said it was.  But the Democratic party believes in the people.  It believes in freedom and progress, and it is fighting for its beliefs right now.

In the Democratic Party you won't find the kind of unity where everybody thinks what the boss tells him to think and nothing else.

But you will find an overriding purpose to work for the good of mankind.  And you will find a program-a concrete realistic, and practical program that is worth believing in and fighting for.

Now I call on all the liberals and progressives to stand up and be counted for democracy in this great battle.  I call on the old Farmer-labor party, the old Wisconsin progressives, the Non-Partisan Leaguers and the New Dealers to stand up and be counted in this fight.

Against us, we have the best propaganda machine money can buy.

With a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress you will have the right kind of unity in this country.

We will be united once more on the great program of Social justice which the Democratic party pioneered in 1933.

We will be united on the question of the rights of labor and collective bargaining.

We will be united for the expansion of social security, the improvement of our educational system and the expansion of medical aid.

Moreover, we will be united in our efforts to preserve our prosperity and to spread its benefits equally to all groups in the Nation.  

President Truman had it right about the Wall Street Republican Party y 74 years ago and the only thing that has changed is the party has become worse under President Trump.  It has become a traitorous party who govern by lies, misinformation and a anti-American extreme ideology.  President Truman's address is a reminder that today, the liberal progressive philosophy has proved the best at governing for the country and its people.

This writer believes that the people should take the time to read President Truman's statement.  It can easily be pulled up on the internet.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

The Supreme Court's Draft Report On Abortion.

 Politico's public release of a Supreme Court draft document concerning abortion has generated much speculation and commentary in the media and especially the Television media.  The speculation and commentary touched all the usual bases that has taken place since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973.  But most of the talk so far failed to see the most important and critical failure of the court, if indeed, the courts final published decision confirms the draft's version.  

To understand just how devastating it will be for the court if the draft turns out to be final, one needs to visit a commentary published by "Politidose" dated 8/24/19 titled, "Abortion:  The Republicans, conservatives, the anti-abortion groups and the Johnny Come Lately President Donald Trump."  The era of the THEN appointed conservative republican Supreme Court Justices decided the Roe v. Wade issue in 1973, 49 years ago.  And they considered the facts and jurisprudence of the legal system to decide.  Politics was not involved because the THEN conservatives on the court were not political.

The NOW republican appointed conservative court came along after Roe v. Wade and was used to overturn the ruling by making the issue political and divisive and using any means possible to overturn for the past 49 years.  The NOW republican appointed Supreme Court Justices are appointed with the specific thought in mind to overturn Roe v. Wade.  The NOW conservative majority court represents an extreme ideology and want the court to rule by that ideology rather than the constitutions requirements.  That way laws do not matter and authoritarian rules.

If the Politico draft turns out to be the final result of the courts than one can safely say the NOW republican appointed Supreme Court made a political decision and not a legal one because they disregarded the courts historic Stare Decisis position and the fact that Roe v. Wade was established law as they testified to under oath before Congress at their confirmation hearing.  Will the draft report confirm the final report?  We will know in just a few short months.

This  commentary written by Joe Lorio

Polling, Public Perceptions and Ron Faucheaux's Recent New Orleans Advocate Editorial Column.

 Everyone knows that polling, especially for political purposes are done to influence voter's perceptions on the issues the pollster wants to talk about and not the knowledge those polled actually have on the subject matter.  And it was evident by Faucheaux's column of April 25 concerning a poll by Politico/Morning Consult.

Faucheaux writes in his second to last paragraph,"based on public perception Democrats have lost the key issues to the GOP over the past year, especially the economy, national security and immigration."  Of course those who pay to have the polls taken and the pollsters themselves prefer to ask about perception instead of the actual knowledge and facts about the subject issue.  We see it take place everyday on the internet, in opinion columns and cable shows where misinformation is given out that is meant to have the reader or listener perceive a certain statement as being true.  And it is done simply because they know a large percentage of the public do not bother to seek the facts.

That is how Trump was elected in the first place.  The voters thought through perception he was a strong leader and we know how his administration ended with an insurrection by his urging to storm the Capitol and over turn a legitimate democratic election.  The media and pollsters have encouraged perception to prevail over facts.  And today Trump is still  trying to sell the fraud election as facts and his followers through perception, still believe him.  Facts have a way of  making the ignorant, look ignorant.  

For years, the media and pollsters have ran with the GOP claim and talking points that democratic administrations were job killers.  Yet history and the facts tells us that over the past 100 years, job creation under democratic administrations have been robust.  While job creation under GOP administrations have been anemic at best.  A good example is the Clinton administration  created more jobs in the 8 years he served than Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 and Trump created in the 24 years they served. The facts prove that but the media publishes the GOP talking points and never counter with the facts.  The same thing goes for the GOP talking point and  claim that democratic administrations are the big spenders.  Fact is in the last 42 years the largest increases in federal spending have taken place on the watch of Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 and Trump and the smallest increases have taken place on Clinton's and Obama's watch. And as of today, the media still runs with that GOP claim and talking point.

Those who push perception and those who vote by perception explain why the large issues facing the country are so difficult to correct and turn around.  It also explains why every GOP administration in the past 100 years has given the country an economic recession.  And in the last 42 years all took place on the GOP watch of Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 and Trump.  There was no recession that began on Clinton or Obama's watch.  And to think that Reagan, Bush 43 and Trump cut taxes for you know who that was going to create jobs, jobs, jobs and great economic times.  Yeah, right.

If those who were polled switched their perception over the past year in favor of the GOP does that mean they think the economy under Trump and the GOP the previous 4 years was better than the Biden economy of 2021, last year?  Those who understand the facts would never be swayed by perception.  Nor would they be swayed by perception if they knew the economic facts verified by precedent over the past 70 years and especially the last 42 years.

So the negative comments will continue to flood the media to influence voter perception before the November elections.  It has worked in the past on the un-informed and that is why major issues such as immigration reform legislation has been kicked down the road.  Maybe one day a pollster will come along and do a survey to test those polled on their knowledge of facts concerning the issues.  It may not  change their perception but the answers would provide the public with their lack of knowledge on the issues and people will more fully understand how someone  like Donald Trump  could become President of the United States.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

LSU Sports: A New Era Begins.

A quadruple history is unfolding for LSU sports with the hiring of four new head coaches in women Basketball, Men's basketball, football and baseball.  All four head coaches have a few things in common.  They have winning records, head coaching experience and none have coached an SEC team as a head coach.  So what will the future look like since all four face the same problem?

Women Basketball:  Coach Kim Mulkey is a proven winning head coach winning multiple national championships.  She has already concluded her first full season as LSU's head coach with a winning record and a trip to the NCAA playoffs.  So progress was made in her very first year.  It will take two more years to recruit the type of players she believes fits her program to see the real results.  This writer believes Mulkey's greatest challenge is that she now coaches in the SEC and how she handles that challenge.  The AP named Mulkey Coach of the Year

LSU Baseball:  Coach Joy Johnson is in the middle of his first season and there are no surprises at this juncture.  The team he inherited was inconsistent the last several years with pitching and hitting problems and those problems need to be solved.  LSU has not had a starting pitcher in years who could be counted on to win that one game when needed.  At the present time LSU has an overall winning record and are 7-5 in the SEC in Johnson's first year.  When the season ends we will know more about where the Tigers stand.

LSU Football:  Coach Brian Kelly has his work cut out for him as his first season will be starting soon.  His past winning record will be challenged as half of his schedule games will be against SEC opponents, a challenge he has yet to face.  Kelly takes over a Tiger team that went 12-12 over the past two seasons after winning the National Championship in 2019.  LSU football has too many problems to list that Kelly will have to solve.  This writer believes it is a stretch to believe that this years record will be much better than last years.

LSU Basketball:  Coach Mitt McMahon will be taking over a program that has been inconsistent and lived in the shadows of an NCAA investigation that led to the firing of Will Wade.  The team made the NCAA playoffs this year and were eliminated in the first game.  The team has not made a final four appearance since 2006.  McMahon will have the toughest job of all the four new coaches because LSU's team has been depleted.  He will have a lot to do and a lot on his plate before the first game comes around.  

This writer believes LSU sports have made little progress for the past several years.  The school's past recruiting simply did not satisfy the needs of the teams or the coaching staff.  And in a short 12 month period, LSU will have started four new head coaches to their sports teams.  All four have a past record that is already known.  Now the important question is what will be their future record at LSU?  This writers position for the past several years has been a "wait and see" thing.  Don't get excited until its time to get excited.  I will  be happy if they succeed and turn things around when LSU is able to compete every year at the highest level.  

In the meantime pay no attention to all the hype and cliches along the way because in the final analysis, it is the performance that counts.

This commentary written by Joe  Lorio

Two New Orleans Advocate Editorials That Needed To Be Said.

And it came from the Advocate's Editorial's Board and one of its own opinion writers.  Will Sutton in an Advocate story of 4/5/22 called the state legislature's override of Governor Edwards veto of the new congressional map a "slap that matters."  In reading the article it was a "slap that matters" over "fair representation.  A far different read of an earlier quote in the Advocate of 3/31 where staff writer Tyler Briges said the override was a "political defeat" for the Governor.  Mr. Sutton's commentary is more in line with Politidose"s commentary on the subject matter dated 4/2/22. 

The second editorial was from the Editorial's "Our Views" column dated 4/8/22, part of which reads and I quote.  HIGH GAS PRICES THAT ARE CHIEFLY THE RESULT OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE, THE PANDEMIC AND RELATED SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.  That is a contradiction to so many on going commentaries in the Advocate and on the internet by the GOP, the noise machine out there and those who want to see the President fail.  They also went so far as blaming it on the President's cancellation of the XL pipe line which was not scheduled for completion until some time in 2023.

The editorial also said the following about the President:  AT A TIME WHEN THE COUNTRY IS UNITED IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE BRAVE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE, IT SHOULDN'T BE A CHALLENGE TO EXPLAIN THAT HIGH GAS PRICES ARE A SMALL INCONVIENCE, NECESSARY TO PUT THE SQUEEZE ON A BLOODTHIRSTY AUTOCRAT.   Where has the editorial board been?  The President has done just that.  In fact, why has the Advocate not done a story about making that known to the public long ago?

All in all, it was two good commentaries that in reality and not the political world of mis-information and falsehoods.  The real problem still lies  in opinion columns that spread mis-information and falsehoods and outright lies.  That is not opinions, it is done to influence the uninformed.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana, The State We Are In: Hurricanes, Flooding and Power Failures. Part I

The people of Louisiana are reminded once again in a New Orleans Advocate article dated 4/3/22 by staff writer Mike Smith that flood insurance rates are about to increase again and at least 18% per year according to the National Flood Insurance Program.  And if you think that sounds familiar, it's because that is old news and nothing new except the size of the rate increase. 

Flooding has been with Louisiana, especially south Louisiana for too many years to count.  It takes place during storms and even heavy rains.  We have known that since the first rain drop fell and the authorities warn the people before it takes place.  But our leaders allow us to continue to build  slab homes on the ground which are easy targets for flooding.  So flood claims have multiplied over the past years and many claims are on the same property more than once.

If our authorities would have mandated that all new construction after hurricane Betsy had to be raised, Louisiana would not have the flooding problem we have today or the insurance problem with high increases.  It would have removed the control out of the hands of the insurance companies resulting in less claims, less rebuilding and repair cost and all the other good things for not flooding.  Any additional cost to raise off the ground would be worth the effort financially for obvious reasons.

Our leaders since Betsy had their chance to respond and failed to act also.  The flooding in Metro New Orleans has been severe as everyone knows. The same applies to South Louisiana which account for the bulk of the 10% of policy holders in the National Flood Insurance Program according to the Advocate article.  Building off the ground is the most prudent thing to do and the most financial rewarding.  Places in Louisiana close to the Gulf  of Mexico do have mandates where property has to be raised so it is nothing new.

Now, after too many years of flooding we still have those in authority who can make a difference but have failed to act and come up with a solution so simple as raised housing even though it works.  So insurance cost will continue to rise to unacceptable levels, claims will continue to rise, repair cost and loss of use will continue unabated and the media and attorneys will continue to accuse the insurance industry of not properly compensating the owners for their loss.  The noise that we are used to hearing will go on and on and the status quo will continue.

Almost 6000 years ago the Sumerians said they were taught that "understanding the mistakes of the past was the key to a better future."  Well, Louisiana has had many years in the past of flooding and has learned nothing from that failed past.  We are now in the future and there are still no plans to deal with it.  It's not to late to learn, but we must move quickly.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Note:  If raised homes were built over the past 50 years instead of slab homes, how much money would have been saved on insurance cost and etc., etc., and etc.???  It's a question worth considering.    

The U.S. Economy, Job Creation and Unemployment Rate for March 2022.

 The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy added 431,000 jobs in March and that the unemployment rate came in at 3.6%, down from February's 3.8%.  It was the 14th straight month of positive job growth under the Biden administration and so far the unemployment rate has declined 2.7% on his watch.  It was down only 1.2% in Trump's first 36 months in office (prior to COVID) and was 1.6% higher when he left office than when he took office.  

The Department also reported that the economy added 95,000 more jobs than was reported for January and February.  Wages for March were up 5.6% from the same period last year and that consumers are still spending in spite of inflation.  So the economy is still working well and growing at a healthy pace.  Too bad the negative pundits with their negative voices continue to flood the news with their negative reports in order to help the GOP take back congress in the November election.

The U.S. economy, job creation and lower unemployment is taking place just like "Politidose" commentary predicted long ago and before the President actually took office.  It was predetermined by the precedent of past democratic administrations for the past 70 plus years.  So, for those who value the facts and the real issues, stay tuned to "Politidose" for your daily dose of political commentary.  

This commentary written by Joe  Lorio

Note:  Ronald Reagan is the only GOP President in the last 70 years that left office with a lower unemployment rate than when he took office.  During that same period there was no Democratic President who left office with a higher unemployment rate than when he took office.  And if you think that is only a coincidence, you need to get a better life.   

Louisiana's GOP Controlled State Legislature Overrides Gov. Edwards' Veto Of The Latest Congressional Maps.

 In a news conference after the veto vote Gov. Edwards said, this was not our finest day and speaks so poorly of us collectively.  In a New Orleans Advocate of 3/31/22 staff writers Tyler Bridges, Sam Karlin and Blake Paterson wrote that the veto override was a "stinging defeat" for the Governor.  That statement reflects the usual BS and hype the media feeds the voting public.  

The Governor actually did his job and duty.  It was a "stinging defeat" for racial justice in congressional districts and quickly prompted a federal suit by a coalition of civil rights groups who claim the newly drawn districts dilute the voting power of black residences.  So now the decision on the matter will be made by a court of law which will be a legal decision and not a political decision.

The media has taken it upon themselves to try and define people for the purpose of influence and has contributed greatly to division.  It's not a defeat when a Governor stands for something and acts.  That is called leadership and courage. And Louisiana and its people have done well on Governor Edwards' watch because of his political decisions.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

A Democratic Administration Provides Hurricane Relief Funds For Louisiana.

 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Louisiana would be receiving $1.7 billion in federal relief hurricane funds to cover the state's needs concerning hurricane Laura and Delta from 2020 and Ida from last year 2021,   $450 million will go to Louisiana's south west region to cover the needs that followed Laura and Delta.

Louisiana's governor John B. Edwards and U.S.Senator Bill Cassidy announced the new funding.  And once again it is a democratic administration in Washington that responds to the state's needs.  Cassidy, Kennedy, Scalise and the rest of Louisiana's republican delegation in Congress failed to influence Trump and the republicans in congress to fund those needs in 2020 when hurricane Laura and Delta took place on their watch.

President Biden's administration has now provided funds for all three hurricanes that hit Louisiana in 2020 and 2021.  For those who follow politics it was never in doubt that the funds would be available because democratic administrations govern with policy and plans that address issues while the GOP govern by ideology, and a extreme ideology to boot.

John B. Edwards turned Louisiana around for the better after former governor Bobby Jindal failed the state.  And President Biden has turned around America for the better after he defeated Trump and the traitorous GOP and their failed administration.  And that really says it all.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio