Grandview Area Republican Club

The Democrats’ Nautilus Shell economy plan seems to be working – as the economy continues to spiral downwards before it goes upward.

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

The nation’s unemployment rate in September rose to 9.8 percent, its highest level since June 1983, as 263,000 jobs were cut from payrolls, the Labor Department announced Friday

The 263,000 jobs lost during the monthwere far more than most economists had expected. The consensus forecast was that around 175,000 jobs had been shed in September.

“One job lost is one job too many,” said Vice President Biden this morning, flanked by chair of the Council of Economic Advisors Christina Romer; OMB Director Peter Orszag; Director of the National Economic Council Larry Summers; and Executive Director of the Middle Class Task Force Jared Bernstein.

Meanwhile, here in the great state of Ohio, Unemployment still hovers around 11% – August’s Unemployment numbers were reported at 10.8%. While that is down from the high of 11.2% in July, there’s still no reason yet to celebrate – One in Ten Ohioans still do not have a job.

Here in Central Ohio, the picture doesn’t look any better. The area (Franklin County & Surrounding Areas) has an average unemployment rate of 9%, with Pickaway County reporting 11% unemployment in August alone. Other areas of concern throughout the state:

• Meigs County: 16.6% Unemployment
• Highland County: 16.3% Unemployment
• Williams County: 15.9% Unemployment
• Pike & Morgan Counties: 15.6% Unemployment
• Noble & Adams Counties: 15.0% Unemployment
• Scioto County (Gov. Strickland’s Home County): 13.1% Unemployment

The Administration may want to call this “Change.” If this is the change the Cult of Barack Obama was talking about…its change in the wrong direction.

Click here to read the full ABC News Article

Click here for Localized Ohio Unemployment Statistics

What do YOU think? Is there hope yet, or will it get worse before it gets better? Leave a comment!

GARC’s level of activism continues to be recognized by Central Ohio. Not because we’re screaming at the top of our lungs and using epitaphs and slurs that are uncalled for (as certain outlets of the mass media would have you believe) – but rather, by having intelligent, thought out arguments that explain our position.

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!

So much for change.

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