Job Killing Regulations?

David Brooks, writing in the New York Times ( Dec. 5, 2011) discusses the issue. Presidential candidates would have us believe our economic mess is due to excessive regulations that are job killers. Brooks reminds us of the down side of painting any issue with a broad brush.

He states that the Bureau of Labor Statistics asked companies why they laid off workers. Only 13% said regulations were a major factor. And that number has not increased in the past two years. According to the bureau, roughly 0.18% of the mass lay offs in the first half of 2011 were attributable to regulations.

Brooks goes on to state that - in fact - some industries that are subject to new rules have been doing more hiring. Examples: energy and health care. end

Could It Be?

Could it be that one of the factors in people who are 35 or under in age are found to be leaders in the anti meat, anti farm, anti livestock groups is that they have not been educated about where their food comes from?  Most of these people have matriculated after 1980.

The kids television show Captain Kangaroo, was a staple of young people during the late 50's and continuing on into the early 80's. His show was educational and entertaining in a low key way. One of the regular characters on the show was Mr. Green Jeans the resident farmer. He instilled a sense of animal appreciation among viewers by bringing a stream of farmyard visitors to the show. This gave children a sense of - enjoying milk which comes from a cow, enjoying eggs which come from a chicken, and yes, enjoying hamburger which comes from a butchered steer. No one said it was not messy - but food coming from animals is reality and the other reality is that animals make the ultimate sacrifice.

Too bad there is not an "app" for the educational wonders which Captain Kangaroo gave us.end

Do As I Say, Not As I Do?

Gosh it is difficult to take the Minnesota Republican Caucass leaders as being genuine when they talk about not spending more than is in the checkbook when their party does not live up to that principle. end