In October, the National Unemployment Rate rose once again, from 9.8% in September, to 10.2% in October, marking the highest Unemployment has been since 1983. While the official numbers suggests 1 in 10 Americans are currently out of work, some estimates suggest that it could be closer to 1-in-5 Americans.

From The Associated Press:

The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983 — and is likely to go higher.

Nearly 16 million people can’t find jobs even though the worst recession since the Great Depression has apparently ended. TheLabor Department said Friday that the economy shed a net total of 190,000 jobs in October, less than the downwardly revised 219,000 lost in September. August job losses were also revised lower, to 154,000 from 201,000.

But the loss of jobs last month exceeded economists’ estimates. It’s the 22nd straight month the U.S. economy has shed jobs, the longest on records dating back 70 years.

While the unemployment numbers are bad enough, it has much higher ramifications for the economy in general. Without jobs, Black Friday may very well turn into Red Friday, not to mention that we’re in some of the hardest economic conditions since the Great Depression. To make things even more entertaining, the Obama administration is being questioned on just how many jobs have been saved as a result of the $700+ Billion Economic Stimulus Package.

Draw your own conclusions – but many economists are saying despite the government’s excitement to say their spending programs are working, we’re in for a very, VERY long winter.

Read the AP Article Here

It has come to my understanding that you have elected to award the Nobel Peace Prize to the 44th President of the United States, the Honorable Barack H. Obama. At the risk of sounding either slanderous or treacherous (as our great and wise President has all-but-made opposing viewpoints a characteristic of treason against his high crown), I would like to question the means by which President Obama was awarded this particular honor.

The Nobel Prizes for Peace & Science were founded by the last will and testament of Alfred Nobel, declaring that his estate would go to awarding those who give Outstanding contributions in Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Physiology or Medicine, and towards World Peace. Indeed, there have been several laureates which have done amazing things to deserve such a high honor. Among them: Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King, Jr., and UNICEF, to name a few. However, there have been several individuals whom have done very little to receive this award, and seem to be honored more as a publicity stunt than anything else. Among them: former President Jimmy Carter, former Vice President Al Gore, and President Barack Obama.

To earn this award, one must be nominated by a qualified member of the community – which includes National Government Leaders, Professors, and former Nobel Peace Laureates. Once nominations are made, they are reviewed by their peers, who are specially selected from the community. Once the reviews are complete, the candidates are voted on, with the majority candidate receiving the Nobel Prize.

To begin my argument, in order to be nominated, President Obama would have to be nominated by a qualifying member of the community by February 1 of this year. Considering that, by that date, President Obama would only have had 11 days in office by which to make any qualifying achievement towards world peace, this award is simply unfounded. That being written, one could argue that the President could be judged, once nominated, based upon what he would complete in office between his time of nomination, and the time of awarding. By those standards, the President of the United States would have 8 months by which he would do something to qualify.

In the original will of Alfred Nobel, he states that his prize for Peace shall be awarded “..to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind.” If that is the criteria by which the award is to be presented, then allowing President Obama to be a Nobel Laureate is a grave mistake against the spirit and nature of the award. Consider his contributions to mankind in the past year:

• During his campaign, President Obama promised to end American hostilities in the nation of Iraq, and to focus less on war, and more on anti-terrorism campaigns. Since taking office, President Obama has spent an additional $156 Billion USD in the nation, and has outlined plans that would continue to leave American soldiers in the country, in addition to extending his campaign promises.
• President Obama’s current crusade, a nationalized Health Care system, has done more to divide the citizens of the United States than to unite them under one goal. Furthermore, when questions are asked, ambiguous answers are given by both members of the Congress of the United States, as well as the federal administration.
• In his time as President, Barack Obama has interfered with the Laissez-Faire marketplace the United States has had since its inception, and has facilitated the purchase of the largest motor company in America, General Motors, with taxpayer money. The Government of the United States now owns 60% of the company, with no say going to the taxpayer on how to run the new company. The result kills several lines of successful automobiles (including Pontiac and Saturn), and over 100,000 jobs have been completely lost as a result.
• Unemployment in the United States has hit record-breaking highs under the Obama Administration, topping out at 9.8% nationwide in 2009. The last time we have seen national unemployment at these levels were during the recession of 1982, with 10.8% unemployment nationwide. This has been a significant rise since the President took office (at the time of President Obama’s inauguration, unemployment was down to 7.2%).
• The rise in Unemployment figures accounts for over 2 million jobs being lost since President Obama’s inauguration. When championing for his Economic Stimulus Plan, the President estimated his plan would save or create 4 million jobs.
• Despite spending millions of dollars and making a personal visit to the International Olympic Committee meeting, President Obama failed to help Chicago champion themselves as the 2012 host Olympic city. Chicago was voted out in the first round of Olympic voting.

In this spirit, I challenge the Nobel Prize Committee to acknowledge how, in fact, President Barack Obama qualifies for this award. Aside from being the first President of minority in the United States (which is a remarkable feat in itself), President Obama has done absolutely nothing to either 1) foster international peace, or 2) foster peace in the United States. Awarding the President an award of this caliber makes a mockery of the spirit of the award, and devalues it both for those laureates previous, and those that will receive the award in the future. I am incredibly disappointed in the judgement of the committee, and find no merit in this award based on the criteria given.

I would like to congratulate the committee on another controversial decision. This one will have grave effects on the award, and its validity in the international community, for years to come.

Sincerely Yours,
-Joe Cortez

Joe Cortez is a freelance writer and video production professional in Columbus, Ohio. He serves as the Chairman of Technology for the Grandview Area Republican Club. He can be contacted via Twitter @JoeCortez.

Another GARC Member had a letter printed on the Columbus Dispatch’s website in the month of August: Vice President Jamie Gentry’s comments about Representative Mary Jo Kilroy’s (D – OH 15) failed Health Care Town Hall Teleconference were published in the Online Edition. Congratulations to Jamie for his articulate comments about Kilroy’s representation (or lack thereof) of Ohio’s 15th District (which includes Grandview Heights, West Columbus, Upper Arlingon, Marysville, and West Jefferson).

You can read Jamie’s comments below, or at the Dispatch Website: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2009/08/26/webletters.html?sid=101

Kilroy’s teleconference

I am shocked and disappointed in the lack of respect Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy demonstrated to her constituents over the past week.  Specifically, I am referring to the teleconference town hall meeting that her office held Wednesday (August 19th) evening to discuss one of the health care proposals that Congress is currently considering for passage.

I am absolutely upset by her (and her colleague’s) outright refusal to engage the public on this important pending legislation.  I took the time to study the bill, formulate questions, stop by her office to register for the call and make two follow up calls to her office to confirm my information.  My efforts to be a responsible citizen were rewarded with being excluded from the discussion on Wednesday evening.

There may be a valid reason why I was not able to participate, perhaps there really were technical difficulties that hampered the proceedings.  I am most upset that our elected officials have resorted to the most cowardly means of interacting with their constituents.  We as voters and citizens of this country should be outraged that the very people we elect to represent us in Washington refuse to solicit our input on matters that impact our lives.  I understand that may require some long uncomfortable meetings and I understand it may ignite a very passionate debate, but that is the job of an elected representative.  Healthcare reform is a very complex and deeply personal issue that should be debated and discussed in an open forum, no matter how unpleasant that may be for the Congresswoman or any elected official.

I hope for the sake of all Ms. Kilroy’s constituents that she regards this issue with the seriousness and gravity that it deserves.  Much like Social Security and Medicare, this is an issue that will define a generation.  Does she really think she can vote her conscience on such an important issue knowing that she has not made every effort to listen to all of her constituents?

Maybe I am expecting too much of my elected representation, but I hope Ms. Kilroy will reconsider her position on public debate and open up the discussion to her constituents.

Jamie Gentry, Columbus

What do you think? Did Rep. Kilroy kill the public debate? Comment below with your thoughts!

On Tuesday Morning, August 25, the Federal Office of Management and Budget announced that this recession is deeper than we all expected. How much deeper? Unemployment will hit 10% nationwide in the next year, and the Federal Budget Deficit will grow to over $1.5 Trillion Dollars.

From Bloomberg Business News:

U.S. unemployment will surge to 10 percent this year and the budget deficit will widen to $1.5 trillion next year, reflecting a “deeper recession” than previously expected, White House budget chief Peter Orszag said.

The Office of Management and Budget also forecasts that the U.S. economy will shrink 2.8 percent this year, worse than the 1.2 percent contraction the OMB projected in May. For next year, the budget office said the gross domestic product will grow 2.0 percent, less than the 3.2 percent expected in May. By 2011, the economy would be well on its way to recovery, growing at a 3.8 percent annual rate, according to the administration’s mid-year economic review, released this morning.

Read the full article here