The Economy & UI

[Mad_Machine76]

Is this right wing “idea” that UI is to blame for the slow economic recovery gaining steam/traction? Starting to see it crop up everywhere in the MSM all of the sudden after some GQP Congresscritters started pushing the idea and some states like MT and SC are cutting off UI early.

[ProfessorGAC]

1. What Slow Recovery?

1Q21 showed GDP growth of 6.4% annualized.
Given the prior 5 years pre-COVID show a quarterly average of around 3%, 6.4% is not a slow recovery.
So, if they're using that as their premise, they're wrong already.
As to cutting off those benefits early, I think it's "all politics is local". Those governors don't care about GDP. They care about what their local chambers of commerce think.
The move is solely political to keep donors happy.
Don't look for logic in their stances. There isn't any. And, they don't care.

[Mad_Machine76]

2. I think it's the false perception of the recovery

Because of the lackluster jobs report today- that’s more what I was referencing .

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Jobs Were Still Net Positive

Just lower than expectations. That happens a lot.
If it's because of a "lackluster" jobs report that still shows a net jobs gain is their launching point, they've got nothing.
Yes, maybe that's what they're using, but it's nonsense.
It's also true that $12/hour & up jobs are being filled as they're posted.
Like I said before, these governors are making up excuses because their business classes are moaning about people not willing to work for below sustenance wages until they absolutely have to.
Taking a smaller personal cut, slightly raising prices & paying their staffs a reasonable wage doesn't occur to them.

[Mad_Machine76]

6. You know that. I know that.

I guess the point of this post was to see how it is playing out in the country in general. I follow Jake Tapper on Twitter and he was tweeting all day about the jobs report and the "debate" about UI and the economy and just was curious about how widespread this myth is being spread and if people are buying into it. I'm just thoroughly depressed how crummy things feel right now.

[abqtommy]

3. You know how reTHUG Fascist Insurrectionists are. Since their bestest health plan

and financial programs have been so successful NOT they think they're entitled to
complain about everything. I guess their base does eat it up, at least the ones who aren't
in jail or prison. Yet.

[MiniMe]

5. "They" think that UI is the reason that people aren't going back to work in jobs where they aren't

making shit for wages, but should risk their lives to serve others. So "they" think if they cut UI it will force people back to work. "They" are out of their minds.

[Mad_Machine76]

7. Of course they are

This stuff is common fare for Fox News and other right-wing media. It just bothers me when I see CNN correspondents like Tapper tweeting about it and treating it like a valid "debate" question, but I'm not surprised since that's just how the MSM rolls. Of course, Tapper's other obsession seems to be reopening schools and damn the teachers unions.

[Claire Oh Nette]

8. I'ts bullshit.

I listened to a business owner being interviewed on CNN this afternoon. Guy owned a pizza restaurant in Phoenix, iirc. He was bemoaning the UI benefit keeping people away, and wanted to invest in his workers, so he offered a benefit to get more applications for his staff. He'll pay their college tuition!

He wanted to invest in his workers, help them prepare for bigger and better, but keep them loyal, build a brand and a reputation as a committed caring employer:

After 90 day probationary period.

To a community college for two years.
For full time (32 hours+ week) emplyees

Community college tuition runs higher than I expected, but still not astronomical.
Arizona
$1,835

My State
$1550

US Average $1760 semester.

=========

Some math: the Federal extension of $300 a week works out to, ready for it? $7.25 an hour for a 40 hour week. $less than $10 for "full time of 32 hours or more."

The CARES Act Virus Relief payments, the first package, with the $600 a week works out to, and this is where the GOP blew it, $15/hr. $2400 a month. $31,000. For an individual.


So, a year's tuition at Community college is on average, roughly $3600. divide by 12 months, and it's...$300 a month.

The reporter asked the restaurant owner about the jobs he's offering: $4.00 an hour, plus tips! at his restaurant that is not at 100% capacity. Oh. Huh. Why don't you simply pay them rather than invest in their tuition? If you have enough to do this, you have enough to raise wages.

Ready: It's $1.50 an hour more.

Front line, general public, food and beverage servers. If their essential, pay them. Don't bait them with community college tuition and then switch to "sorry, it's not a god fit at day 85."

Worker productivity and wages separated in the late 70s, and remained flat over the next 40 years. Reagan's attack on ATC and amnesty in 87 helped break powerful labor unions, and suppress wages. Meanwhile moms went to work in droves, so it just looked lie families were doing better, but it takes two working parents to survive now instead of one, but there's not child care costs, so two salaries is really about 1.6 salaries. At the top? Upper management and C level corporate officers are making money hand over fist, and seeing double digit increases in their salaries.

I went to work at 16 for $315 and hour, then $3.35, then was making $4.00 an hour when wages went up to $3.75. Today, it should be $18-$22 based on modest COLA raises each year.

We should be asking for !8 and hour, settle for $15, instead of listening to low paying high turnover employers whine because they are cheap bastards.

The GOP's entire economic policy agenda is utter bullshit.
It's been exposed. Democrats need to hammer on this. Vote the wallet in your pocket now, not the one you hope to win after you hit lotto. Only 1.8% earn $400K a year, and a