Don’t petition the White House, Use Change.org

Nov 18, 2012 Aaron Krager No Comments

Secessionists. I first want to say thank you for finally learning something from history. The last time so many desired to rid themselves of a tyrannical president they declared war on the Union. Thus, your use of a peaceful means through petitions on the White House’s site is commendable. Furthermore, each state now finds themselves represented by a petition and signatures from people possibly wanting to secede from the United States. Texas leads the way with more than 100,000 people asking the White House to address the issue. This is the same state governed by Rick Perry who drummed up his base of supporters with calls for seceding prior to his Republican bid for President. The irony seemed lost on him. Governor Perry is obviously not a viable option to lead the cause. He hardly put up a fight against a weak group seeking his party’s nomination. I also question...

The Country Moved to the Left Last Night

Nov 7, 2012 Aaron Krager No Comments

The whole campaign season did not just depend upon the presidential race that finally came to an end last night. Yes, the country voted clearly to give Barack Obama another four years in the White House. He received more than 50 percent of the vote and won handily in the electoral college. Yet, it is what happened down the ballot that shows the nation’s move toward progressive values. It appears that Democrats will pick up a couple seats in the lower chamber but the real change happened on the senatorial level. Voters said no way to Republicans Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock after they attempted to scapegoat women and downplay the trauma of rape and sexual abuse. Furthermore, women won in Massachusetts, North Dakota, Hawaii, and Wisconsin for their first terms. All four of them will be more progressive legislators than their predecessors. In Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin will be the...

Republicans, Rape, Life, and Control of Women

Oct 24, 2012 Aaron Krager No Comments

During last night’s Indiana Senate debate the Republican candidate, Richard Mourdock, did more than stick his foot in his mouth. I believe life begins at conception. The only exception I have for to have an abortion is in the case of the life of the mother. I struggled with myself for a long time but I came to realize life is that gift from God, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape. It is something that God intended to happen. Mourdock joined a club made exclusively of Republicans but a club that seems to be growing as the November election nears. Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh made a reprehensible comment about exceptions for the life of the mother following his debate. “There is no such exception. With modern technology and science, you can’t find one instance.” Complete crap as this woman explains. Of course who can forget Missouri...

An unemployed worker ant

economy / politics

Jun 30, 2011 Aaron Krager No Comments

Admittedly, I have a small phobia of ants but their ability to work together and just do what needs to be done is something to behold. They follow their destined roles to build the colony and find food. At times companies seem to function in the same manner. Workers go along and do their work – for employers it would be ideal if they did not ask questions and just did their duties. Nonetheless, they build and fulfill their duties as they are able.

Worker ants, or bees if you prefer, are busy being more productive than ever before.

One of the great surprises of the economic downturn that began 27 months ago is this: Businesses are producing only 3 percent fewer goods and services than they were at the end of 2007, yet Americans are working nearly 10 percent fewer hours because of a mix of layoffs and cutbacks in the workweek.

That means high-level gains in productivity — which in the long run is the key to a higher standard of living but in the short run contributes to sky-high unemployment. So long as employers can squeeze dramatically higher output from every worker, they won’t need to hire again despite the growing economy.

So a fellow worker ant is running around a little quicker and find a little more food and forcing other to remain unemployed or expendable. The unemployed ant is just not needed for the colony and would be a waste of valuable resources.

With that comes slower job creation and the possibility that it could take more than a decade to recover from the Great Recession. According to the chart above it could take six years even if we are some how able to sustain the best job growth average we’ve had in the last 20 years – but we would need to do it six years running!

What is there to do? Sitting here at the Clinton Global Initiative – America leaders from around the country are sitting in rooms together trying to do figure it out. The plenary sessions are leaving more to be desired. Their focus seems to be on longer term projects and coming up with smaller initiatives that serve as tests before moving into a larger scale model.

That is not going to get people into full-time jobs – there are more than 25 million people who need one! They are looking for a leg up right here and right now. This conference is certainly not for their short-term futures but more so for long-term possibilities for them and their children.