Rick Lazio Speaks to the NYYRC

ADP reports that private sector payrolls declined by 10,000 in August. From MarketWatch: U.S. private-sector employment fell 10,000 in August, according to the ADP employment report released Wednesday, breaking a six-month run of increases. “The decline in private employment in August confirms a pause in the recovery already evident in other economic data,” said Joel Prakken, chairman of Macroeconomic Advisers, which produces the report from anonymous payroll data supplied by ADP,... Read More→

One in six, or approximately 17% of, Americans are now enrolled in government “anti-poverty” programs, an all-time high. That is what USA Today found in survey of state data: Government anti-poverty programs that have grown to meet the needs of recession victims now serve a record one in six Americans and are continuing to expand. More than 50 million Americans are on Medicaid, the federal-state program aimed principally at the poor, a survey of state data by USA TODAY shows.... Read More→

First time jobless claims declined by 31,000 to 473,000.  It was their first decline in 4 weeks. In other news, second quarter GDP estimates were revised downward to 1.6%, which, to give some perspective, is positively awful.  Emergence from recessions is typically marked by 4% – 8% growth rates. The second quarter runs from April – June.  In case you don’t recall, during this time the public was inundated with news of the broad based recovery and strengthening economy. Now that... Read More→

From the New York Times: In fact, Mr. Enright’s interest in the plight of young troops was growing into a passion, say those who know him. Within two months of contacting Mr. Anthony, Mr. Enright traveled to Hawaii to join a Marine unit deploying to Afghanistan, with the idea of filming a documentary about their experiences. He was already volunteering with a nonprofit group whose mission included fostering understanding between religions and cultures, veterans and civilians. Mr. Enright... Read More→

This lunatic did: Yeah, it’s sick out there these days.  Pretty damn sick.  Read More →

In this age of Keynesian based economic interventionism, when Congress and the President (and this president’s predecessor, for that matter) refuse to let large companies and banks declare bankruptcy and refinance; when each government induced market failure is “combated” with a newer, more extensive central plans; when the government ominously declares itself to be on the side of the “working man” whilst destroying his employer; when the political class is every bit... Read More→

New York’s own Mayor, his Honorable Michael Bloomberg, recently called for cowboy like, shotgun aided, justice for Indian tribes who oppose a new tax on cigarettes. Said the mayor, “I said, you know, get yourself a cowboy hat and a shotgun. If there’s ever a great video it’s you standing in the middle of the New York State Thruway saying, you know, ‘Read my lips — The law of the land is this and we’re going to enforce the law,’” he said. A... Read More→

Dutifully and solemnly I will continue to report the continuing erosion of American employment… From MarketWatch: WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — First-time filings for state unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly last week to reclaim the highest level for this key economic benchmark since the middle of last November, the Labor Department reported Thursday. For the week ended Aug. 14, initial claims rose 12,000 to 500,000. This is the highest level since the week ended Nov. 14, 2009. As... Read More→

In 2008, Americans were looking to improve Washington D.C. and make the federal government more effective in solving the problems that faced the nation both domestically and abroad.  They knew that they wanted to get away from the depressing years of the Bush presidency, which brought on 9/11, enduring wars, and a sagging economy.  Whether former President Bush is responsible for any of those circumstances is up for debate, but clearly the American people were looking to go in a new direction. ... Read More→

A few short months ago, the story in the business press was one of the “recovery.”  2Q GDP growth was estimated at 2.4%.   Inventories were rising with industrial production.  While unemployment remained stubbornly high, worker productivity was rising, but also plateauing, suggesting that new hiring would soon begin chipping away at the 9.6% rate. Now that all seems like a distant memory.  The government has revised its paltry 2.4% annual growth rate to a pitiful 1.3%.  In truth,... Read More→