John Kerry’s Claim of 3 Million Jobs Lost is False: McMahon Disproves Kerry’s Lost Jobs Claim

Special to FreeRepublic ^ | [3 April, 2004] | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

[bobo1]

“You, sir, are far too intelligent to believe what you just said. I am therefore compelled to conclude that you are a liar.”

That is definately a keeper.

Blessings, Bobo

[Jorge]

Those are some great stats.

It would help to have some documented sources referenced to back them up. Otherwise the Rats will just say they are lies.

[skr]

I recall reading and hearing that it takes a year after the end of a recession for job growth to occur, apparently a fairly basic economic principle.

[Congressman Billybob]

Every statistic has been documented in gummint research articles posted on FR in the last few days. The only exception are the statistics from the Heritage Foundation (which in turn used gummint statistics). But that, too, was posted on FR yesterday or the day before.

Golly, one can learn a lot just by clicking on FreeRepublic. Who'd a thunk it?

Thanks, diligent FReepers.

John / Billybob

[Jorge]

Every statistic has been documented in gummint research articles posted on FR in the last few days.

I believe you and I believe the stats.

However, documentation should preferably be referenced along WITH the stats when they are quoted.
Who's going to dig through thousands of FR posts researching to find supporting documentation? Not me.

[Felicity Fahrquar]

Hey, BB -- you've got Freepmail. You still out there?

FF

[CyberAnt]

Thank you so much for this great info. I have been hoping somebody would be able to prove Bush didn't lose 3 million jobs.

[jennyp]

Excellent points!

Here's another data point: Two weeks ago I drove over to Seattle's fashionable University Village mall, near oh-so-lefty University of Washington campus, and I couldn't find a parking place to save my life. It was like the Christmas rush all over again. I muttered to myself...

"Darn this recovery! It's all Bush's fault!"

[ANDY72632]

I heard John Kerry claim today that in four years the Bush Administration has caused the loss of over SEVEN MILLION JOBS. Can somebody find and post this newest fabrication?

[ANDY72632]

UPDATE... John Kerry quote from ABC Radio News 3AM CST 04/03/2004. "The Bush Administration has fallen SEVEN MILLION jobs short...."

Also John Kerry wants to take credit for the "ten million" IRS Form 1099 [and other self employment and contract] jobs not included in the current employment figures. Because,if he gets elected, those are the "ten million" jobs he said he would immediately create.

[Fresh Wind]

I've been wondering how many of these "discouraged" workers who have "dropped out" of the job market are actually making their livings (or supplementing other income) selling stuff on eBay? The company claims 2003 sales via eBay is $24 billion, 971 million individual item listings, with 41 million "active" registered users. I'd wager that all this activity is totally absent from the employment statistics.

[Peach]

My letter to the editor was published over a month ago.

At that time, I posted the letter on FR as well as the stats. I'm not going to go look them all up again.

The left can say what it wishes but the stats all came from Wall Street articles, census data, Larry Kudlow, and government web sites regarding unemployment information.

[ANDY72632]

John Kerry wants to claim credit for the ten million EMPLOYED people that are not included in the 138+ million employed workers total (estimate). These currently working employees are IRS Form 1099 (sub contract and self-employed).

Now you know how John 'Fudging' Kerry plans to CREATE "ten million jobs".

[White Eagle]

I'm a consultant, but most of my work goes through a consulting firm that treats me like an employee, because of IRS regulations. So I have FICA deducted along with medical insurance. But I only get paid when I am actually consulting. Otherwise I use my accrued vacation and the savings account we have for just this purpose.

When I find my own work for fees, I need to get back on the consulting firm payroll every now and then to keep the medical insurance functional. Our regular health care providers don't like the idea that I go on and off COBRA every now and then, but their admin costs should be built into their rates, or else they could hire me to consult on how to improve their margin.

One more point - 30 years ago my Economics professors told me that 6% unemployment was average, and 4.0% was full employment - the economy actually suffers if unemployment goes under 4.0%. I guess things have changed since then.

And, if we (the politicians) really wanted to get 200,000-500,000 AMERICANS back to work in high-paying computer technology jobs, all we (the politicians) need to do is revoke all the H1B visas and send those people back to get in line for a normal visa. And those would be jobs that Americans want.

[eeriegeno]

Excellent analysis.

[Enduring Freedom]

If 5.7% is coupled with historically-low interest rates and almost no inflationary pressure, it is just about perfection in real terms for an economy.

Those who are currently unemployed may not agree with the philosophy of STEADY SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, but the effect of even lower unemployment is an euphoric BOOM followed by an agonizing inevitable BUST.

People can be hurt permanently by the BUST phase, but Clinton didn't give a phuck, as he was looking for the spotlight and a legacy other than Sink Emperor.

I'll take a predictable and rational BUSH BOOM anyday.

[alwaysconservative]

Bump for later reading!

[Luis Gonzalez]

Nice job Congressman.

Nice job.

[lelio]

Here's another data point: Two weeks ago I drove over to Seattle's fashionable University Village mall, near oh-so-lefty University of Washington campus, and I couldn't find a parking place to save my life.

When hasn't it been like that? There's a lack of adequate parking all over Seattle.

What's really annoying is that some lot owners (in particular the I Love Sushi / Bluwater one on Lake Union) just shrink down the size of each space to magically make "more" of them. Nevermind that 1/3 of all cars are SUVs that go there.

[EQAndyBuzz]

My take on this.

We lost many manufacturing jobs because:

1. Corporate owners are sick of being blackmailed by unions are are either shutting down or moving jobs.

2. Chain reaction. It is cheaper to manufacture overseas and the industries that tie into manufacturing also lose jobs.

3. The dot.com explosion created many technology jobs. Dot.com bubble burst, jobs gone. Of course companies like EMC, Lucent, CISCO provided all the dot.coms with hardware. These were the companies that had to lay off. When you go from 200k employees to 40k that's a big hit.

4. Plain ole stupidity. You have to let companies do what they do best. Create product, market product, make money. This way they can add jobs, create more product.....