Job Growth Where Bush Didn't Want It (Gov't jobs up - private sector jobs down)

[UpInArms]

Source: New York Times

IT is not exactly a distinction that he had in mind, but seven years into his presidency, George W. Bush is in line to be the first president since World War II to preside over an economy in which federal government employment rose more rapidly than employment in the private sector.

That is not because federal government jobs have risen at an unusually rapid rate over the last seven years — although the increase did reverse a substantial decline under Mr. Bush’s most recent predecessor, Bill Clinton.

<snip>

One of the weakest sectors was manufacturing. The number of such jobs peaked in 1979, when Jimmy Carter was president, and fell in every administration since, with the exception of a small gain in the Clinton years. The decline in the current administration, at a rate of 3.1 percent a year, is the steepest yet seen.

When President Bush took office, nearly 13 percent of American jobs were in manufacturing. In November, that figure fell below 10 percent for the first time ever, and at last measure was 9.95 percent.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/09/business/09charts.html?ex=1360213200&en=95e59b714a085a5c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[bluestateguy]

1. Of course government jobs are up. Bush is a big government conservative

More jobs for the FBI, the NSA, the CIA, the Pentagon, Homeland Security. Why would anyone be surprised by that?

[Acadia Blue]

2. Really, and all those overpaid "contractors" making 5 times what

a soldier or Civilian makes are a part of that.

[bulloney]

12. Good point.

Yet another case in which conservatives really don't bring us more "market oriented" economic policies, lower government spending and greater growth in the private sector.

Yet, the media stooges on Sunday morning will perpetuate the myth that the liberals are all about big government and tax and spend economic policies. The dumb sheep who watch them and have no ability to think for themselves will just take them at their word.

[Donnachaidh]

3. Bet he's got lots of those jobs filled with incompetent cronies

What better way to eventually have smaller government than to fill those jobs with people who don't know their ass from their elbows?

[aquart]

4. And yet, no inspectors for anything. Odd.

[Thor_MN]

5. I wonder if this is some of the people who think * is doing a good job....

[shanti]

6. and let's not forget...

a LOT of boomers are RETIRING from those government jobs. much of the growth is that they are simply being filled behind them.

[ShockediSay]

7. Little discussed Fact - Re~gan increased the size of Big Government

tremendously

and what do you get w/ smaller gov?

Lobbyists ripping off this Nation, right and left

Ditto the Enrons and World Coms

w/ no serious relief for Katrina victims

bridges that collapse

mercury in our fish and salmonella on our menu

[trthnd4jstc]

14. What to do if we fall into a depression?

I think that one of the ways the conversation can be helpful is if we plan to assist our citizens to more jobs paid for by fines to corporations that have abused their power. Further, why do the Reptilians, sorry, Republicans, think it is alright to circumvent the Judicial Branch. So many Impeachments...

[Chisox08]

20. I don't know what would happen

A true leader like FDR would not elected in today's political enviroment. He would be pushed to the side like Kucinich and called a lefty socialist wingbat by our friends at Faux News. The cooperations own our Congress and the White House. So if there ever was a depression we would be told to pul ourselves up by our bootstraps and fend for ourselves because we have to bail out the "strugling" Mega-corps that will still have huge billion doller profits. The housing market and the job market and the federal interest rates are some of the major indicators to how our economy is fairing. Under the Bush adminstration the housing market has crumbled under its own wieght because or Adjustable Rate Loans (ARMS). People cannot afford to pay their mortgage because the rate went up and their payment went throught the roof. Unemployment is higher then what is reportes, part-time at Wal-mart or Mcdonald's for an adult trying to support themselves and their children is not what I considered employed. Also they don't count all of the people who are unemployed. The chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank (The Federal Reserve Bank has nothing to do with the federal government) is slashing interest rates making most government bonds gain little to no interest. Inflation is starting to creep up faster than our wages so what we take home is far less then what it was at the end of the Clinton Adminstration.
Even though I fell the Bill Clinton was the greatest Repubnlican President since Lincoln. The Economy and the job market was strong.

[Zorra]

8. Manufacturing jobs peaked in 1979, when Jimmy Carter was president.

Then we got Ronald Reagan and 22 years out of 30 of republicans in the WH, so manufacturing jobs are now at Great Depression levels.

More proof that Jimmy Carter was an awesome president that got a bad rap from fascist media.

Republicans cannot manage government, and apparently they suck at running businesses also.

Bu*h is the epitome of a failure.

[bulloney]

15. Carter took much of the rap from the bad economy left to him from Nixon and Ford.

Granted, the economy didn't improve under Carter, but the prevailing attitude around where I live is that it was all Carter. Like, Nixon and Ford didn't have inflation problems and high unemployment.

Much of Reagan's alleged economic turnaround can be attributed to the obscene levels of government spending he authorized via the defense budget.

[Zorra]

16. Corporations hated President Carter, and set out to destroy his reputation

because of his common sense pro-democracy, pro-United States, and pro-environment policies.

[Kokonoe]

18. that is the not so big secret to great republicans

Print and spend so fast it trickles out of embezzlers hands.

[sheelz]

9. say cheez

wiz

[AnnieBW]

10. Hiring at CIA, NSA, Pentagon

Fatherland Security, TSA, etc.

[tabasco]

11. Graduates of fundie bible college need jobs too!

Heil Bush!

[trthnd4jstc]

13. Hello Everyone.

Bush's tax cuts where supposed to stimulate investment into the economy. He is still saying this @#$%, but, where is the proof.

[Oldtimeralso]

17. I still say that Carter was the last Democrat as President.

Clinton's 2 terms were much like the old time GOP ie pre Ray-gun.

[Chisox08]

19. But..... But....... But....

The tax cuts for the rich. They were supposed to stimulate job growth. So in order to solve this problem lets give more tax cuts to the rich and a $600 check for everybody else (if you were lucky enough to still have a job last year).

The difinition of insanity is doing the samething over and over and expecting a differnt result. All Bush has done other than start a pointless war is give handouts to the rich. Exxon has had another record breaking year in profits. unemployment is at record numbers (Unemployment numbers by the government doesn't even come close to the real figures (They stop counting people after a few monthes)). More and more of ouir jobs are going overseas thanks to treaties like NAFTA and globalization. Bush himself said it at the State of The Union Address that you will lose your job but here is $600 to ease the blow. I wonder, how many of those government jobs are in the Armed Forces, because that ios were the poor go to get jobs when there is nothing else for them to do.

The lead paint tainted toys, poisonous dog food and baby bottles are just the tip of the iceburg. We are trading American jobs and prpoduct safty for low prices. Until we take back our country from these coorprations we will constantly see jobs go away.

First off if a company wants to sell a product in America it must be made here in America by Americans following all American laws. Second they must pay their employees a living wage not the minimum wage. LAstly they must respect the unions and allow their employees to unionize freely (Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Target and other major retailers are known for their union breaking policies).