The U.S. Labor Department announced that the economy created close to 170,000 jobs in August and that unemployment fell from 7.4% to 7.3%. August was the 42nd straight month of positive job growth and job creation. Other reports by governmental divisions showed that consumer confidence was up and that many economic indicators were stronger that anticipated.
The GDP is still less than 3% but was stronger then predicted. Overall the economy and job creation still needs to be stronger and sustained. At the same time of those reports it was once again pointed out how the nations infrastructure was aged and that many bridges are in danger of structural failure. President Obama's jobs bill that was passed by the U.S. Senate to work on the problem has been held up in the U.S. House for almost two years. That bill if passed by the U.S. House would create 1,000,000 new jobs but republicans continue to obstruct.
As reported here before, if the House had passed that bill the nation would be at full employment by the end of this year or early next year. Republicans hate to see another democratic administration bring back the country from another republican depression. President Obama's fourth fiscal year ends on September 30 and the final deficit will be much smaller than predicted and once again it is a democratic administration who is reducing the federal deficit and putting the country back on a course of balancing the federal budget. Democrats walk the talk when it comes to balancing the federal budget. Republican administrations only talk about balancing the federal budget but the last republican President to do so was Dwight Eisenhower in 1960 and when their so called conservative leaders, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush left office they were the biggest deficit spending Presidents at the time. That really says it all.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Friday, September 13, 2013
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Louisiana's Economic Progress: Not Very Much Changed At All
The unemployment rate in Louisiana has increased for 6 straight months while the national unemployment rate has been going down. According to the Louisiana Work Force Commission unemployment for December 2012 was 5.6%, for January 2013 it was 5.9%, for Feb. 6%, for March 6.2%, for April 6.4%, for May 6.8%, for June 7% and July 7%. As of this writing August unemployment numbers have not been reported.
In two articles published August 30 in the Times Picayune and the New Orleans Advocate a study released by the Louisiana Budget Project reported the following. Worker productivity has increased 35% since 1979 but the median income in Louisiana has been stagnant and has increased only 1%. That workers in the top 10% saw their income increase in the past 34 years and the bottom 10% saw their income drop. Over all manufacturing employment in Louisiana has declined 10% since 2008 and 20% since 2000.
There has been no project boom in Louisiana to reverse or counter the larger shift from higher to lower wage jobs or for pay to rise with productivity. Louisiana needs to create 4000 jobs a month to keep up with the growing population of working age adults and are now creating half that number now.
This report actually is a mirrow image of several recent reports on the national economy that showed how the top 2% of wage earners enjoyed the benefits of increased productivity over the past 30 plus years while the average wage earner saw their wages stand still even though they made the increase in productivity happen.
These reports confirm what this writer has commented on here in PolitiDose for the past few years. That wealth is being transferred from the middle class to the wealthy. The increase in production benefits are going to the CEO's and Exectives and not the workers who are loosing benefits while their pay is going no where. It is the robbing Peter to pay Paul effect and Paul just happens to be the wealthy.
Former Labor Secretary Robert Riech who served during the Clinton administration recently reported the same information and pointed out the Walton family who own most of Walmart's stock earn more than the bottom 40% of U.S. workers. The reports are not a pretty picture of what has been happening to middle class income nationally or in Louisiana. Just think how bad it would be had President Clinton not been elected. The middle class made its best gains in income on Clinton's watch during that 34 year span and in just about every area.
Dennis Lockhart, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta on a recent visit to New Orleans in a Times Picayune article of September 6 said Louisiana has been beating the nation on indicators such as unemployment. Is it any wonder why people are so poorly informed on the issues when a Frederal Reserve Bank President makes such a false statement. The nation's unemployment rate today is lower than it was when President Obama took office, but Louisiana's unemployment rate is higher today than it was when Gov. Jindal took office. (See previous commentary here in PolitiDose concerning the subject matter.)
The economic facts tell a very different story than Gov. Jindal's press releases or Mr. Lockhart's statement.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
In two articles published August 30 in the Times Picayune and the New Orleans Advocate a study released by the Louisiana Budget Project reported the following. Worker productivity has increased 35% since 1979 but the median income in Louisiana has been stagnant and has increased only 1%. That workers in the top 10% saw their income increase in the past 34 years and the bottom 10% saw their income drop. Over all manufacturing employment in Louisiana has declined 10% since 2008 and 20% since 2000.
There has been no project boom in Louisiana to reverse or counter the larger shift from higher to lower wage jobs or for pay to rise with productivity. Louisiana needs to create 4000 jobs a month to keep up with the growing population of working age adults and are now creating half that number now.
This report actually is a mirrow image of several recent reports on the national economy that showed how the top 2% of wage earners enjoyed the benefits of increased productivity over the past 30 plus years while the average wage earner saw their wages stand still even though they made the increase in productivity happen.
These reports confirm what this writer has commented on here in PolitiDose for the past few years. That wealth is being transferred from the middle class to the wealthy. The increase in production benefits are going to the CEO's and Exectives and not the workers who are loosing benefits while their pay is going no where. It is the robbing Peter to pay Paul effect and Paul just happens to be the wealthy.
Former Labor Secretary Robert Riech who served during the Clinton administration recently reported the same information and pointed out the Walton family who own most of Walmart's stock earn more than the bottom 40% of U.S. workers. The reports are not a pretty picture of what has been happening to middle class income nationally or in Louisiana. Just think how bad it would be had President Clinton not been elected. The middle class made its best gains in income on Clinton's watch during that 34 year span and in just about every area.
Dennis Lockhart, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta on a recent visit to New Orleans in a Times Picayune article of September 6 said Louisiana has been beating the nation on indicators such as unemployment. Is it any wonder why people are so poorly informed on the issues when a Frederal Reserve Bank President makes such a false statement. The nation's unemployment rate today is lower than it was when President Obama took office, but Louisiana's unemployment rate is higher today than it was when Gov. Jindal took office. (See previous commentary here in PolitiDose concerning the subject matter.)
The economic facts tell a very different story than Gov. Jindal's press releases or Mr. Lockhart's statement.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Monday, September 2, 2013
President Obama And Syria
The President's decision to consult congress concerning U.S. action in connection with Syria's use of chemical weapons on its own citizens that killed many including over 400 children was the right decision. Now the President is catching flack from all sides because of his decision. There are many so called "hawks" in congress and the news media and many of them never wore the uniform of their country during their generations war who are leading the charge.
It goes something like this: the action if any will be too late, too little, too much, not well thought out, no end game, should not get involved, a loss of credibility or all of the above etc, etc,etc. Dispite the flack the President has handled the situation well so far. The middle east is not a place for a U.S. President to over react and think the problems of that part of the world will be solved easily when they have been going on for over 2000 years. George W. Bush found that out too late and is still in denial.
The U.S. entered WWI and WWII late, the Gulf War of 1991 late after much consultation with allies and other middle east countries; entered the Afghanistan war late after the terror attack on 9/11/0l. Those decisions by our past Presidents did not constitute weakness and neither should President Obama's decision concerning Syria. The problem today is that our political system and the news media, radio, television, print and internet are always looking to blame some one. There are not many of us from the greatest generation who are still around in our political system or the news media to act civil and responsible.
Even some in Israel took a shot at the President according to an article in the New Orleans Advocate dated September 2. Some Israeli's criticized Obama's "inaction"; some said the delays sent a terrible message to terror states; Israel" media said Obama "zigzaged." Those who made those remarks should be ashamed since Israel is as much to blame as Palestine for not solving their mutual problem and have had more than enough years to do so.
The war and occupation in Iraq over WMD that did not exist should not be forgotten. It is a stalk reminder that that war destabilized the country and created AlQueda in Iraq who were not there killing people before the invasion. They were responsible for killing more Americans in that war than the Iraqi military and are still killing people in Iraq today. We had a President who thought he could remake that country into a legitimate democracy as a model for other middle east countries and never achieved that misguided goal. To top it off there was never a real debate , instead, there was a concerted effort to demonize any one who opposed the war. And of course the outright lies about WMD and the reconstitute of Iraq's nuclear program that also did not exist. Our country, its people and especially our men and women in uniform paid an awful price for that mistake.
President Obama should continue to be cautious concerning his final decision on Syria. He still has time to act in the best interest of the U.S. and should reject the advise of those who clamored for war in Iraq and are now pushing him on Syria. He should also remember that he has a responsibility greater than his military advisers and that President Kennedy rejected his military advisers during the Cuban Missile Crisis when they wanted nothing less than an invasion of Cuba. Kennedy made the right decision with the blockade. The middle east is much more volatile than Cuba so President Obama needs to remember his over all responsibility to the country and its people when he reaches a decision on Syria.
The bible tells us that man was placed in the Garden of Eden; that God spoke to Moses and Abraham; that Jesus walked, lived and was put to death and that all that happened in what is known today as the middle east. It all happened over 2000 years ago and the land is still in turmoll. So President Obama and no one else has the answers concerning the problems in the middle east or Syria. That is why it is so imortant for the President to seek wisdom in what ever decision he decides to make. Like wise, our elected officials in congress and those in the news media should understand their responsibility in keeping a civil tongue in their head. These types of challenges require mature thought, something in short supply in today's political environment.
Just maybe, the President's decision will start a dialog that will start a change for the better in the middle east for the next 2000 years. It is a long shot but anything is possible with wisdom.
This commentary written by John Lucia
It goes something like this: the action if any will be too late, too little, too much, not well thought out, no end game, should not get involved, a loss of credibility or all of the above etc, etc,etc. Dispite the flack the President has handled the situation well so far. The middle east is not a place for a U.S. President to over react and think the problems of that part of the world will be solved easily when they have been going on for over 2000 years. George W. Bush found that out too late and is still in denial.
The U.S. entered WWI and WWII late, the Gulf War of 1991 late after much consultation with allies and other middle east countries; entered the Afghanistan war late after the terror attack on 9/11/0l. Those decisions by our past Presidents did not constitute weakness and neither should President Obama's decision concerning Syria. The problem today is that our political system and the news media, radio, television, print and internet are always looking to blame some one. There are not many of us from the greatest generation who are still around in our political system or the news media to act civil and responsible.
Even some in Israel took a shot at the President according to an article in the New Orleans Advocate dated September 2. Some Israeli's criticized Obama's "inaction"; some said the delays sent a terrible message to terror states; Israel" media said Obama "zigzaged." Those who made those remarks should be ashamed since Israel is as much to blame as Palestine for not solving their mutual problem and have had more than enough years to do so.
The war and occupation in Iraq over WMD that did not exist should not be forgotten. It is a stalk reminder that that war destabilized the country and created AlQueda in Iraq who were not there killing people before the invasion. They were responsible for killing more Americans in that war than the Iraqi military and are still killing people in Iraq today. We had a President who thought he could remake that country into a legitimate democracy as a model for other middle east countries and never achieved that misguided goal. To top it off there was never a real debate , instead, there was a concerted effort to demonize any one who opposed the war. And of course the outright lies about WMD and the reconstitute of Iraq's nuclear program that also did not exist. Our country, its people and especially our men and women in uniform paid an awful price for that mistake.
President Obama should continue to be cautious concerning his final decision on Syria. He still has time to act in the best interest of the U.S. and should reject the advise of those who clamored for war in Iraq and are now pushing him on Syria. He should also remember that he has a responsibility greater than his military advisers and that President Kennedy rejected his military advisers during the Cuban Missile Crisis when they wanted nothing less than an invasion of Cuba. Kennedy made the right decision with the blockade. The middle east is much more volatile than Cuba so President Obama needs to remember his over all responsibility to the country and its people when he reaches a decision on Syria.
The bible tells us that man was placed in the Garden of Eden; that God spoke to Moses and Abraham; that Jesus walked, lived and was put to death and that all that happened in what is known today as the middle east. It all happened over 2000 years ago and the land is still in turmoll. So President Obama and no one else has the answers concerning the problems in the middle east or Syria. That is why it is so imortant for the President to seek wisdom in what ever decision he decides to make. Like wise, our elected officials in congress and those in the news media should understand their responsibility in keeping a civil tongue in their head. These types of challenges require mature thought, something in short supply in today's political environment.
Just maybe, the President's decision will start a dialog that will start a change for the better in the middle east for the next 2000 years. It is a long shot but anything is possible with wisdom.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Friday, August 30, 2013
Steve Scalise: Louisiana's Biggest Phony
Louisiana's U.S. Representative Steve Scalise in a commentary published in the New Orleans Advocate of Aug. 27 showed just how phony he really is. Accoridng to the article Scalise was one of 80 republicans in the U.S. House who signed a letter that threaten to shut down the federal government rather than funding the ACA. Scalise then equivocated and said he opposes shutting down the federal government. One can not get any phonier than that.
Scalise is party to the republicans in congress who failed to address the health care issue even though they controlled the White House for 8 years prior to the election of President Obama. They failed to address the issue during the health care debate during Obama's first term and had no health plan or policy to present to the American people as an alternative to the ACA.
Now the little boy says the republicans have a study committee in congress drafting an alternative to the ACA that would be ready in September. (really) And republicans brag that they are best to govern. Scalise also did not speak the truth when he said, "the President admitted his own health care law has problems." The President did what a good public servant would do, delay the mandate for employers for one year. Unlike Scalise and member of congress who never ammend the legislation they pass, the President was willing to make a decision he felt would be better for health care in the long run.
The people should remember that Scalise and his party confirmed their phony ideology 40 times when they voted to defund the ACA. That is the type of substance they stand for. Four years and 8 months after the second great republican depression and Scalise and his party still have nothing to offer the country and its people. That really says it all.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Scalise is party to the republicans in congress who failed to address the health care issue even though they controlled the White House for 8 years prior to the election of President Obama. They failed to address the issue during the health care debate during Obama's first term and had no health plan or policy to present to the American people as an alternative to the ACA.
Now the little boy says the republicans have a study committee in congress drafting an alternative to the ACA that would be ready in September. (really) And republicans brag that they are best to govern. Scalise also did not speak the truth when he said, "the President admitted his own health care law has problems." The President did what a good public servant would do, delay the mandate for employers for one year. Unlike Scalise and member of congress who never ammend the legislation they pass, the President was willing to make a decision he felt would be better for health care in the long run.
The people should remember that Scalise and his party confirmed their phony ideology 40 times when they voted to defund the ACA. That is the type of substance they stand for. Four years and 8 months after the second great republican depression and Scalise and his party still have nothing to offer the country and its people. That really says it all.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Journalists E.J. Dionne and Michael Barone
Both journalists recently had a commentary published in the New Orleans Advocate of Aug. 26 and 27. Mr. Dionne's article titled, "GOP Threat Would Bring Armageddon" and Mr. Barone's article titled, FDR Could Teach Obama Effectiveness" were generations apart.
Dionne's Liberal philosophy and commentary showed his understanding of what is happening today in America and how the republican party is obstructing the ability of President Obama to move the country forward. It is a commentary of daily events to keep the people informed and accurately describes how the republican party today has been held hostage by a radical right tea party faction.
On the other hand, Barone with his conservative ideology trys to compare President Obama with FDR, a democratic President who Barone and conservatives never did support. Like conservatives in general today Barone can not comment about the daily events that are happening today as Dionne articulated. He can not talk about the real issues facing the country at the moment so he finds any excuse to avoid the issues.
Liberal journalists and the democratic party continue to be the best hope for America and its people because they believe they have a responsibility to face the issues and place those issues before the people.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Dionne's Liberal philosophy and commentary showed his understanding of what is happening today in America and how the republican party is obstructing the ability of President Obama to move the country forward. It is a commentary of daily events to keep the people informed and accurately describes how the republican party today has been held hostage by a radical right tea party faction.
On the other hand, Barone with his conservative ideology trys to compare President Obama with FDR, a democratic President who Barone and conservatives never did support. Like conservatives in general today Barone can not comment about the daily events that are happening today as Dionne articulated. He can not talk about the real issues facing the country at the moment so he finds any excuse to avoid the issues.
Liberal journalists and the democratic party continue to be the best hope for America and its people because they believe they have a responsibility to face the issues and place those issues before the people.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
The Jindal Pledge For Louisiana: No New Taxes Or Increase In Taxes. YEAH RIGHT.
Many past commentaries by this writer here in PolitiDose pointed out how the republican's ditto head pledge of no new taxes gets into the pocket of the average citizen 100 different ways. Just two of those many ways was highlighted recently.
The expiration of the tolls on the GNO bridge along with legislation that was passed and signed into law by Jindal that would ban the use of toll money for the ferries should the bridge tolls be extended is a prime example of getting into the pockets of the average citizen. In order to keep the ferries running the City Council in New Orleans approved a new fare schedule that will dramatically increase the charge to cross the Algiers-New Orleans ferry that will fall on the backs of the average citizen to use that service.
In a Times Picayune article dated 8/23/13 by Bruce Alpert concerning a speech given by President Obama about making college affordable it was pointed out that in the past 5 years state funding for higher education in Louisiana has been cut by almost $700 million and that 70% of funding now comes from tuition and fees. The increases in tuition and fees for student is just one more example of how Jindal's policies has gotten into the pockets of the average citizen and at the same time Jindal preaches no new taxes.
Jindal's budget cuts in Louisiana represents that ditto head republican conservative ideology that pass the burden of those budget cuts to the average citizen to pay. All the while businesses in Louisiana still enjoy the $7 Billion of tax exemptions with out having to worry about loosing their social and corporate welfare status.
Jindal and the republican controlled state legislature is no friend of the people of Louisiana. The governor has spent so much time trying to create a national image for himself that his approval rating is less than 30% according to one of the latest polls. The people of America have had its best days under democratic administrations and the people of Louisiana have had its best days under democratic administrations. Some things never change.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
The expiration of the tolls on the GNO bridge along with legislation that was passed and signed into law by Jindal that would ban the use of toll money for the ferries should the bridge tolls be extended is a prime example of getting into the pockets of the average citizen. In order to keep the ferries running the City Council in New Orleans approved a new fare schedule that will dramatically increase the charge to cross the Algiers-New Orleans ferry that will fall on the backs of the average citizen to use that service.
In a Times Picayune article dated 8/23/13 by Bruce Alpert concerning a speech given by President Obama about making college affordable it was pointed out that in the past 5 years state funding for higher education in Louisiana has been cut by almost $700 million and that 70% of funding now comes from tuition and fees. The increases in tuition and fees for student is just one more example of how Jindal's policies has gotten into the pockets of the average citizen and at the same time Jindal preaches no new taxes.
Jindal's budget cuts in Louisiana represents that ditto head republican conservative ideology that pass the burden of those budget cuts to the average citizen to pay. All the while businesses in Louisiana still enjoy the $7 Billion of tax exemptions with out having to worry about loosing their social and corporate welfare status.
Jindal and the republican controlled state legislature is no friend of the people of Louisiana. The governor has spent so much time trying to create a national image for himself that his approval rating is less than 30% according to one of the latest polls. The people of America have had its best days under democratic administrations and the people of Louisiana have had its best days under democratic administrations. Some things never change.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Defunding The Affortable Care Act
The republicans cry to defund the Affortable Care Act is a continuation of their mental inability to cope and compete with democratic success in legistative matters that have helped the average American over the years. Their opposition to every thing that comes out of the Obama administration tells just how far they have gone down the road of feeling inadequate as a party and as individuals. They think very little of the American people's capacity to judge.
The republicans say they have a better answer on health care but lets examing their record. Republicans controlled the White House 20 of the 28 years prior to the election of Obama in 2008, yet they never had a plan or policy on the health care issue to introduce to congress for debate or a vote. During the George W. Bush administration they controlled both houses of congress and still had no policy or plan to introduce to congress for a debate or vote. When you add the 4 years Obma has been in office the answer is the same and as of this writing they still have not introduced any plan to replace the Affortable Care Act which means they have had 32 years of doing nothing on the issue.
When a political party stands for nothing and have no plans or policy to talk about you have a party that is mentally committed to personal attacks, obstruction and opposition with an unAmerican ideology. Normally political partys of the past had the mental capacity to compete with idea's of the opposite party, but todays republican party has chosen to obstruct rather than compete. They really are a pittiful party.
This commentary was written by John Lucia
Note: The republican party controlled both houses of congress the first 6 years of the George W. Bush administration.
The republicans say they have a better answer on health care but lets examing their record. Republicans controlled the White House 20 of the 28 years prior to the election of Obama in 2008, yet they never had a plan or policy on the health care issue to introduce to congress for debate or a vote. During the George W. Bush administration they controlled both houses of congress and still had no policy or plan to introduce to congress for a debate or vote. When you add the 4 years Obma has been in office the answer is the same and as of this writing they still have not introduced any plan to replace the Affortable Care Act which means they have had 32 years of doing nothing on the issue.
When a political party stands for nothing and have no plans or policy to talk about you have a party that is mentally committed to personal attacks, obstruction and opposition with an unAmerican ideology. Normally political partys of the past had the mental capacity to compete with idea's of the opposite party, but todays republican party has chosen to obstruct rather than compete. They really are a pittiful party.
This commentary was written by John Lucia
Note: The republican party controlled both houses of congress the first 6 years of the George W. Bush administration.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
The Speech President Obama Should Give To The Nation
Fifty four months after the election and reelection of President Obama the republicans in congress are still in their mood of obstruction and once again say they will shut government down if they do not get their way. The republican's lack of respect for the President and the people they were elected to represent is a clear case of a party out of control and mentally unbalanced in their approach to governing. Because of the republican's position, the President should call a news conference and give the following remarks.
I will not listen to the advise of the republican party concerning the budget deficit, the national debt, the economy, federal spending, job creation or unemployment because their party has the poorest record on the subject matter in the last 52 plus years. They are the party who returned the country to deficit spending and debt which was not a problem when President Clinton left office. No republican President has balanced the federal budget in the last 52 plus years. They are the party with the worst job creation record in the past 52 plus years; they are the party with the highest sustained rate of unemployment in the last 52 plus years; they are the party with the highest increase in total federal spending in the last 52 plus years; they are the party with the worst economic record in the past 52 plus years and gave the country the second great republican depression in 2008; they are the party that gave the country the greatest collapse of the financial industry in the 1929 great depression, in the early 1980's with the Homestead Savings and Loan and in 2008 with the second great depression of the Wall Street Banks. The also gave the country the very first single year federal budget deficit that exceded $1 trillion.
All of the above can be easily checked out on line at the CBO site where the official records are kept. The republicns in congress have not lifted a finger to help the country out of the second great depression and have opposed my inititives to move the country forward. In light of their past failures and their present position of obstruction I will continue to do all in my power to move the country forward and to promote the election of democrats that would return congress under democratic control.
Now a special note to all Americans. The republicans in congress are full of it when they talk of federal spending being out of control on my watch. The fact is total federal spending on my watch has seen the smallest increase in the last 52 plus years. Total year to year federal spending has actually decreased on my watch twice in my first 3 fiscal years in office. My 4th fiscal year will end September 30, 2013 and it will show that federal spending on my watch is still under control. No republican administration has had a year to year decrease in total federal spending in the past 52 plus years.
The republicans in congress can continue to play their childish games on the country and its people but I will not be a part of it. I have given them 4 and a half years of opportunity to work with a President who was elected and reelected by the American people to implement the policies I campaigned on and those policies will be pursued. The republican position of opposition and obstruction with a conservative ideology that has already proved to be a failure is the greatest insult to the country and its people. Threrfore, I as President will not seek any advise from the republicans in congress concerning the issues contained herein.
The President could articulate the above better than this writer but the substance should be retained. President Obama should take the fight to them and I would love to see the President give this speech.
This commentary written by John Lucia
I will not listen to the advise of the republican party concerning the budget deficit, the national debt, the economy, federal spending, job creation or unemployment because their party has the poorest record on the subject matter in the last 52 plus years. They are the party who returned the country to deficit spending and debt which was not a problem when President Clinton left office. No republican President has balanced the federal budget in the last 52 plus years. They are the party with the worst job creation record in the past 52 plus years; they are the party with the highest sustained rate of unemployment in the last 52 plus years; they are the party with the highest increase in total federal spending in the last 52 plus years; they are the party with the worst economic record in the past 52 plus years and gave the country the second great republican depression in 2008; they are the party that gave the country the greatest collapse of the financial industry in the 1929 great depression, in the early 1980's with the Homestead Savings and Loan and in 2008 with the second great depression of the Wall Street Banks. The also gave the country the very first single year federal budget deficit that exceded $1 trillion.
All of the above can be easily checked out on line at the CBO site where the official records are kept. The republicns in congress have not lifted a finger to help the country out of the second great depression and have opposed my inititives to move the country forward. In light of their past failures and their present position of obstruction I will continue to do all in my power to move the country forward and to promote the election of democrats that would return congress under democratic control.
Now a special note to all Americans. The republicans in congress are full of it when they talk of federal spending being out of control on my watch. The fact is total federal spending on my watch has seen the smallest increase in the last 52 plus years. Total year to year federal spending has actually decreased on my watch twice in my first 3 fiscal years in office. My 4th fiscal year will end September 30, 2013 and it will show that federal spending on my watch is still under control. No republican administration has had a year to year decrease in total federal spending in the past 52 plus years.
The republicans in congress can continue to play their childish games on the country and its people but I will not be a part of it. I have given them 4 and a half years of opportunity to work with a President who was elected and reelected by the American people to implement the policies I campaigned on and those policies will be pursued. The republican position of opposition and obstruction with a conservative ideology that has already proved to be a failure is the greatest insult to the country and its people. Threrfore, I as President will not seek any advise from the republicans in congress concerning the issues contained herein.
The President could articulate the above better than this writer but the substance should be retained. President Obama should take the fight to them and I would love to see the President give this speech.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal's Self Serving "Point of View" Commentary
Jindal's commentary published in the Times Picayune of 8/11/13 titled, "New Orleans is America's Comeback City" was a blow your own horn piece of republican fairy tale. Jindal credits his policies for the progress New Orleans has made in just about every area.
The governor shows how small a person he really is by not mentioning Mayor Mitch Landrieu in his commentary and is typical of conservatives. The facts are very obvious that the election of Mitch Landrieu as Mayor of New Orleans was the catalist that started New Orleans on the move and in the right direction. The policies that Jindal brags about and says are responsible for the city's comeback were in place when Ray Nagin was Mayor but New Orleans stood still during Nagin's term in office.
Mayor Landrieu is a people person who had plans and a policy that would lift the city and its people up and his administration has been active in carrying the Mayors plan and policy. Landrieu has actually accomplished more for New Orleans and its people in the short time he has been mayor than Jindal has accomplished for the state and people during his time in office. The Mayor is a more responsible elected official who knows government and his leadership has been outstanding. New Orleans is the comeback city because of Landrieu's hard work and understanding of government and the many problems that go along with governing. Jindal has yet to understand that.
Landrieu does not govern by ideology and that is a big reason why he has been successful in moving New Orleans forward. It is this writers opinion that Mitch Landrieu is one of the brightest and attractive young leader in the democratic party who will be successful if he seeks higher office. I believe he should also seek national office at some point in time because he has leadership, character and courage. If that happens, remember you read it first here in PolitiDose.
This commentary written by John Lucia
The governor shows how small a person he really is by not mentioning Mayor Mitch Landrieu in his commentary and is typical of conservatives. The facts are very obvious that the election of Mitch Landrieu as Mayor of New Orleans was the catalist that started New Orleans on the move and in the right direction. The policies that Jindal brags about and says are responsible for the city's comeback were in place when Ray Nagin was Mayor but New Orleans stood still during Nagin's term in office.
Mayor Landrieu is a people person who had plans and a policy that would lift the city and its people up and his administration has been active in carrying the Mayors plan and policy. Landrieu has actually accomplished more for New Orleans and its people in the short time he has been mayor than Jindal has accomplished for the state and people during his time in office. The Mayor is a more responsible elected official who knows government and his leadership has been outstanding. New Orleans is the comeback city because of Landrieu's hard work and understanding of government and the many problems that go along with governing. Jindal has yet to understand that.
Landrieu does not govern by ideology and that is a big reason why he has been successful in moving New Orleans forward. It is this writers opinion that Mitch Landrieu is one of the brightest and attractive young leader in the democratic party who will be successful if he seeks higher office. I believe he should also seek national office at some point in time because he has leadership, character and courage. If that happens, remember you read it first here in PolitiDose.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Thursday, August 8, 2013
The Affordable Health Care Act And The Republican Party
The cost of health care insurance, health care itself and the number of people with out health insurance has increased and became a problem many years before President Obama took office in 2008. Employers, employees and those retired have felt the effects long before the President's election. The republican party in congress has vowed to defund and actually voted to repeal "Obanacare" (their term) 40 times in the U.S. House. Recently they have even talked about shutting the government down if Obamacare is not defunded.
Prior to President Obama's election the republicans controlled the White House and the country 20 of the previous 28 years. Reagan 8 years, G.H.W. Bush 4 years, Clinton 8 years and G.W. Bush 8 years. During the 20 year reign of republican control no President submitted a plan to congress to address the health care issue or the escalating number of people with out health insurance. They said they knew how to handle the problem but never had a plan or policy. And as of this writing they still do not have a plan or a policy even though they say they do.
President Clinton assigned his wife to handle health care reform during his term in office and the republicans killed that idea and it went no where. President Obama in the election of 2008 campaigned on health care reform, was elected and his administration passed the AHCA. The republicans said it was unconstitutional, took it to court and the Supreme Court ruled otherwise in favor of the administration. So now, 32 years later and the republican party still has no plan or policy for health care reform nor can they articulate how they would replace Obamacare and deal with the issue. The T.V. talk shows who play to the republicans on the subject matter never question them about their lack of a plan during the 20 years of republican rule.
The republican record of failure concerning health care is a mirror image of those same three republican Presidents who said they would balance the federal budget and then gave the country and its people 20 years of record deficit spending and debt. Those who follow politics and the facts understand why the republican party troday are a sorry bunch. The leaders of the party today could not have been a part of the greatest generation of WWII. They would not have fit in. The unAmerican conservative ideology they preach today has overwhelmed their sense of decency, compassion for their fellow man and their ability to work with democrats on the tough issues facing the country and its people. They make it a priority to use divisive issues such as abortion, religion, the gay community and etc., instead of talking about those issues that unite us.
Yes, there was a time in America when the republican party put the country and the people first. That was a time when good things happened. It is getting harder to remember those good things because the tea party has moved the republican party more and more in the direction of the extreme right and there is no republican willing to stand up and say enough is enough. Obamacare is just another phony talking point that make up a phony republican agenda. Government is not the problem. The problem is elected officials who run government with an unAmerican conservative ideology. Our leaders and the people of the greatest generation would never have put up with such an ideology, and neither should todays generation.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Prior to President Obama's election the republicans controlled the White House and the country 20 of the previous 28 years. Reagan 8 years, G.H.W. Bush 4 years, Clinton 8 years and G.W. Bush 8 years. During the 20 year reign of republican control no President submitted a plan to congress to address the health care issue or the escalating number of people with out health insurance. They said they knew how to handle the problem but never had a plan or policy. And as of this writing they still do not have a plan or a policy even though they say they do.
President Clinton assigned his wife to handle health care reform during his term in office and the republicans killed that idea and it went no where. President Obama in the election of 2008 campaigned on health care reform, was elected and his administration passed the AHCA. The republicans said it was unconstitutional, took it to court and the Supreme Court ruled otherwise in favor of the administration. So now, 32 years later and the republican party still has no plan or policy for health care reform nor can they articulate how they would replace Obamacare and deal with the issue. The T.V. talk shows who play to the republicans on the subject matter never question them about their lack of a plan during the 20 years of republican rule.
The republican record of failure concerning health care is a mirror image of those same three republican Presidents who said they would balance the federal budget and then gave the country and its people 20 years of record deficit spending and debt. Those who follow politics and the facts understand why the republican party troday are a sorry bunch. The leaders of the party today could not have been a part of the greatest generation of WWII. They would not have fit in. The unAmerican conservative ideology they preach today has overwhelmed their sense of decency, compassion for their fellow man and their ability to work with democrats on the tough issues facing the country and its people. They make it a priority to use divisive issues such as abortion, religion, the gay community and etc., instead of talking about those issues that unite us.
Yes, there was a time in America when the republican party put the country and the people first. That was a time when good things happened. It is getting harder to remember those good things because the tea party has moved the republican party more and more in the direction of the extreme right and there is no republican willing to stand up and say enough is enough. Obamacare is just another phony talking point that make up a phony republican agenda. Government is not the problem. The problem is elected officials who run government with an unAmerican conservative ideology. Our leaders and the people of the greatest generation would never have put up with such an ideology, and neither should todays generation.
This commentary written by John Lucia
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