US job growth slowed sharply in December

… closing out the year on a surprisingly weak note and potentially complicating the Fed’s plan for its bond-buying program.

Payrolls rose by 74,000 last month (of those, 40,000 were temporary positions), a sharp dip from numbers of over 200,000 the prior two months (and job growth of 200,000+ per month sucks in a time of economic “expansion”). The unemployment rate dropped to 6.7%, which the White House jumped on as positive….. but the drop is largely the result of people leaving the work force as some 525,000 people have stopped looking for work, just left the labor force. The US labor participation rate has dropped to 62.8 percent. The lowest level in 36 years…..

In Friday’s Plain Dealer

Cleveland’s newspaper front page had the following headline

For the first time, most members of Congress are millionaires”

and went on to list the approximate net worth of Ohio’s Congress members. According to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics at least 268 of the current 534 members of Congress (one seat is vacant) have an average net worth of $1 million or more.

My dad used to say,

If one comes into office not a millionaire, and leaves office as a millionaire, he or she is likely a crook.”

Sounds about right doesn’t it? The Center for Responsive Politics should make the comparison of one’s net worth upon taking office and his or her current net worth. That might open a few eyes.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the US increased 0.8 percent in November

… following a 0.1 percent increase in October and a 1.0 percent increase in September.

The LEI continues on a broad based upward trend, suggesting gradually strengthening economic conditions through early 2014.”

  • New orders for manufactured durable goods in November, up two of the last three months, increased 3.4 percent.
  • Shipments of manufactured durable goods, up four consecutive months, increased 1.8 percent in November.
  • Unfilled orders of manufactured durable goods, up nine of the last ten months, increased 1.0 percent in November.
  • Inventories of manufactured durable goods, up seven of the last eight months, increased 0.2 percent.
Remember:

Fast & Furious-providing weapons to criminals leading to a loss of American life. No one held accountable. The president was unaware.
The loss of 4 American lives at our embassy in Benghazi, Libya. No one held accountable. The president was unaware.
The IRS targeting conservative political groups for tax-exempt status. No one held accountable. The president was unaware.
The National Security Administration eavesdropping on the phone calls of American citizens. No one held accountable. The president was unaware.
The software program created for the Affordable Healthcare Act, at a cost of $650 million (thus far) and 3 ½ years to “perfect”, has been unusable to the American people. No one held accountable. The president was unaware.
Spying on our Allies, specifically Angela Merkel of Germany. No one held accountable. The president was unaware. (although these things go on knowingly between countries all the time, the fact that our president denies knowledge of this is just another sign of his incompetence as the leader of the most powerful country on the planet).
“If you like your current insurance plan you can keep it. Period” Barack Obama
“If you like your doctor, you can keep him. Period” Barack Obama

Have a great week and….
Hug your children and grandchildren, tell them you love them.
Buy American made products whenever you can.
Hire a Veteran: they are patriots, honest, hard working, disciplined, loyal and …. They need and deserve our support.

God Bless America