Initial jobless claims were unchanged for the week, suggesting that jobs continue to be produced albeit at a slow pace. We have recovered more jobs than were lost in private sector from the Bush crash, even in “slow“ months. Obama can take credit for half again what was Bush‘s average month before the crash. If you include the jobs Bush lost at the end (including the early months of Obama‘s term), Bush’s average month was zero new jobs created.
The problem is that Red States have laid off 700,000 teachers, social workers, cops, firefighters and bridge inspectors. This probably killed another two million more private sector jobs that would have produced supplies used by these government workers, or would have benefited from the workers’ spending. Trickle down from the top doesn’t work, but you can drain the economy from the bottom.
Amid much bluff and bluster, House Speaker Boner announced his plan to sink the economy by refusing to authorize any new government borrowing in September without a trillion in new cuts, and with no new taxes of course. If this were actually done, it would kill a minimum of 1.8 million jobs just in time for the election.
Fortunately it’s just noise, - the Treasury Dept. having seen this nonsense before has laid plans to keep the government operating until the new Congress is sworn in 2013. Even if Boner hangs onto his seat, he will likely be watching Speaker Pelosi swing the gavel.