…so when you run out to your local department store; ya might want to look where it was made before the price tag..yeah right…we are our own worst enemies…

Posted by: Rob_NC at August 9, 2004 01:30 PM

Check the tag on the shirt you are wearing right now.

Posted by: Don at August 9, 2004 01:54 PM

Don’t trust the NY Times too much, folks.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the average wage for both non-Supervisory and Supervisory wages is RISING, not falling, meaning the average wage of new jobs is HIGHER than the old ones, not lower.

http://www.bls.gov

Always check out these claims before buying the Kool-Aid.

Posted by: DJDrummond at August 9, 2004 02:03 PM

DJ are you aware of what an average is?

Posted by: Lakhim at August 9, 2004 04:06 PM

If you look at the types of jobs being created rather than just the broad industry catagory, you get a different picture than what the NYT paints:

“A new set of numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics actually shows solid growth in employment in relatively higher -paying occupations including construction workers, health-care professionals, business managers, and teachers, and virtually no growth at all in relatively lower-paying occupations including office clerks and assembly-line workers. It’s the most detailed breakdown yet — looking at 154 different job and industry groupings. These statistics are a FactCheck.org exclusive — supplied to us by BLS at our request and not previously published.

Another statistic often overlooked by Bush critics is that average earnings of rank-and-file private-sector workers have increased since Bush took office, though modestly. Even after adjusting for inflation — including the rising price of gasoline —those earnings are up just over 1% since January 2001, despite the recession and the initially slow recovery.” (From FactCheck.org)

Posted by: redwell at August 9, 2004 04:18 PM

Don and Lakhim -

You are both so quick to criticize and argue, but your arguments nearly always lack substance.

I dare you or others who fly the anti-Bush flag (I know you don’t like to talk about your candidate) to address what has happened to small business since 2001. How many people (positive or negative) left or entered the job market due to the success or failure of small businesses?

Maybe those people succeeding in the American dream of owning and running their own business just don’t count to democrats, but they sure do to me. Please feel free to point out how these folks are accounted for in the employment stats (you know, only 32,000 jobs added, 5.5% unemployment) or in the pay stats for the new positions.

Come on guys, bring some numbers back and we’ll all discuss them. I’m sure if I post them it will just me right wing propaganda, so now is your chance for substance. Let’s see if you can begin to understand the changing economy that results from manufacturing efficiency.

Posted by: I collect political items at August 9, 2004 08:22 PM

Lakhim

What good is an average? Ever taken statistics?

Chads

Posted by: Chads at August 9, 2004 11:34 PM

lakhim will tell you that the best thing about the average is that it is not keeping up with the cpi. and so long as it is not keeping up, you can ignore that average weekly wages increased 0.6%(!) from the previous month.

and you can ignore that the median wage growth exceeds the cpi.

and you can then contend that the new jobs pay less than the old jobs even though it is impossible to state that with this data. and you can contend that haves are outpacing the have-nots even though the median and average values makes this less likely.

the use of the average is akin to using jobs created rather than unemployment rates. it indicates your agenda. excuse me for speaking out of turn, lakhim.

Posted by: wafflestomper at August 10, 2004 10:45 AM