Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright in the Forest of The Night ..

Since the drive-by news outlets have been obsessed this past week with the revelations of one Mr. Woods, I was not going to be outdone but the only tiger I'm going to mention is the real one and you will find a factoid at the very end of this post.

In the meantime, though, I concerned myself with other matters because I have little interest in the game of golf and even less in the evasions of a spoiled little boy. We've got quite enough of that with the current occupant of the Oval Office and with this in mind I was intrigued to learn of someone who actually has a picture of Obama in their kitchen.

Now that alone scares me to death. Just the idea that any one external influence, especially a mortal one, can make a difference in a life is surely doomed to failure. Someone once advised against falling in love with any politician. They will break your heart every time. A much better idea is to look at a face before you ever get to the kitchen namely your bathroom mirror. Because inside your head is the source of happiness. Yes, even at 5 in the morning..

A few weeks ago, I told you a story of a little town in Texas and now I’m going to write one about another little town called St Francis, Wisconsin who received a grant from Obama’s Congress to the tune of $1 million. And that’s a lot of money, unless you’re inside the Beltway, and the city did not know how to spend it but, the conditions were clear, it must create jobs.

Eventually someone decided that the best idea was to widen the main street. And, ever eager to comply, they drew up plans, they scrubbed out all the existing lane markings and they laid out new ones. And all that activity provided temporary jobs for a few people for a week or so. And that has to be a start at least, Right?

Before the widening project, there was on-street parking on both sides and now there isn’t because that’s how the extra traffic lanes were created.

But in the middle of that street there was a bar and restaurant called Carlton Grange but now that’s gone as, without parking, the owner was forced to close and lay off his permanent employees. So $1 million bought a few jobs for a few days and closed a business which had been there for years and lost permanent jobs.

Well done Obama.

Perhaps he tested out of the class on unintended consequences or more likely he flunked it.

No wonder that today’s unemployment numbers ring hollow with me.

So, we’re down to 10% which the New York Times heralded as good news because, according to them, it means we are not shedding. Now, we’re not creating but what the heck? As long as they can spin the numbers, they will. Of course, what the NYT did not print was the fact that the sector with the biggest increase was in “Temporary Help” presumably for the Holiday shopping season. Was there ever a year when that number didn't increase to a greater or lesser extent?

The more important question becomes, why do employers hire temps in the first place? Because it’s cheaper than to hire permanent employees and then lay them off. And the reason that companies are not hiring is simple. They are scared.

At Obama’s much vaunted “Job Summit” at the White House yesterday he dared to ask the question about what could be done. One CEO there, and he must have snuck in under the Secret Service screen, dared to respond. His company is a medical systems manufacturing company from Utah but he dared to tug on the anointed one’s gown and tell the truth. “You Sir. And your policies are the problem”. And he went on as he explained his inability to care for his company and his stockholders when he was unable to plan 2 or 3 years out.

Somehow, I don’t think he’ll be invited back. And so Obama went on the road again today. But, as he wasn’t abroad, he only groveled a bit. And this time the theme was if you have ideas, please send ‘em in because I and my naïve team are all out.

Obama and his cohorts ran out of ideas when they realized that governments federal/, state and local can only create just so many jobs. And our tax dollars have to pick up their paychecks and their benefits.

I will sign off with a few thoughts

You do not create more wealth tomorrow by dividing up what exists today.

Go, check the records. The lowest unemployment numbers this nation has ever seen were during a World War or under a Republican Administration or when the taxation rates were at their lowest.

Which would you like to sign up for?

Or try this. Everybody knows that tigers have striped fur but did you know that beneath all that lovely fur, they also have striped skin.

The things you learn from reading this Blog.