Earlier today I posed the question to my friends on Facebook and Twitter – asking for views on Right to Work in hopes of helping me establish my own opinion based on a mix of feedback. What I have established thus far is:

I’m a big believer in everything and everyone – NO MATTER Who ya are – having checks, balances and accountability!

I do believe unions, for their TRUE and intended purposes have (or did have) value. However, the world we live in, where so many are looking for an excuse – looking to place blame someplace besides the mirror – and looking for a $25 an hour job for $2 quality work make it damn near impossible for those who DESERVE unions to benefit from them.

If we had politicians, corporations, lawyers and judges with moral fiber greater than that of a mushroom we wouldn’t have to worry about who’s getting bought – who is playing "blow job for votes" and be able to actually trust that decisions were being made in the best interest of people, for the right reasons and not because someone’s ego needs polished.

I have heard stories from my dad of unions keeping jobs for drunkards, wife beaters, whore chasers, cheaters, etc. In fact, someone I knew very well was a chairman of a UAW – he drank himself to death. Unions keeping jobs for those kinds of people when there are 10 hard working men and women eager to take their place is WRONG!

That I do NOT agree with.

I’m still on the fence with this one – perhaps if unions would adjust with the times and fight for those WORTH fighting for, I might be a little more supportive. But then again, I’m one who thinks they should put a CAP on the number of pregnancies that can be covered by welfare so being a baby machine wouldn’t be such an appealing career option.

I’m such a "Three Strikes You’re F*cked" kinda girl!

As the 2012 elections and debates heat up, I’m hearing more and more on this “Right to Work” thing.

I’ve never claimed to be overly knowledgeable when it comes to politics – I just know what’s important to me.

When I don’t know something, I seek to learn. I don’t want to read about it through websites that are pushing or pulling in the interest of political gain. I want to hear about it from real people!

Enlighten me. Give me your views on what it is – what is good or bad about it – help me develop an opinion.

It was only two days ago when my mother asked me what I thought of the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations. Honestly, I didn’t know a thing about them since I’d made a conscious decision to avoid news and controversial television while working on some personal projects.

This morning I saw an image on a friends Facebook that I “Liked” and following the breadcrumbs just like Zuckerberg planned when he designed Facebook, I found more signs, more commentary, more detail on what is Occupy Wall Street.

As I piece together my own thoughts surrounding these demonstrations and the messages behind them, I am finding a few stand out facts that make me think this may be something I want to look into more. Keep in mind I’m a simple person – not one of strong political background and understanding, but one who simply gathers evidence and forms an opinion of my own based on my own needs as it pertains to various issues.

I’ve always been sort of a square peg trying to live in a round world.

According to Wikipedia Rush Limbaugh told his listening audience on his October 5th show that: “When I was 10 years old I was more self-sufficient than this parade of human debris calling itself Occupy Wall Street.”

Rush Limbaugh was born in 1951 so he’s claiming to have been ‘self-sufficient’ in 1961.

Based on that information Rush Limbaugh was ‘self-sufficient’ somewhere around the time marked by the red arrow shown here:

Image via Wikipedia btw

Okay, so I’m poking a bit of fun. I realize the limits of independence Rush in 1961 was likely being able to put on his own Lone Ranger undies, pouring his own bowl of Corn Flakes and riding his bike around the block without supervision.

In all seriousness, take a look at the chart and think back to a time when you saw our economy thriving, when you felt most secure, when the job market was good and tell me, where would you place that big red arrow?

Interesting Economy Facts to Chew On:

In February 2000, the United States entered the 107th consecutive month (and the longest stretch in history) of economic expansion. [National Bureau of Economic Research and Council of Economic Advisors]

In 1992, the deficit was $290 billion, the largest in history.

In January 1993, it was projected the deficit would grow to $455 billion by 2000. To the contrary, in 2000, the Treasury Department paid off $221 billion in debt — the largest one-year debt paydown in American history. That concluded three consecutive years of debt reduction and lead to:

• a surplus of $69 billion in 1998
• a surplus of $126 billion in 1999
• a surplus of $236 billion in 2000

The first surplus our country had seen since the late 60′s.

More than 22 million new jobs were created between 1993 and 2000.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that was the most jobs ever created under a single Administration. There were more jobs created under the Clinton Administration than those created under Presidents Reagan and Bush Sr. combined.

In June 2000, the National Economic Council reported the fastest and longest real wage growth in over three decades.

The United States saw five consecutive years of wage growth – the longest since the 1960′s.

From 1993 to 2000, real wages were up 6.5 percent after they had fallen 4.3 percent during Reagan and Bush years.

In 1999 household income levels broke $40,000 for the first time in history.

Income for median households rose 2.7 percent in 1998 and marked the fifth year of significant growth in income ever recorded. [Census Bureau]

By the time we enter into our 40’s, we learn there’s much to be said about the old saying “history repeats itself” – it’s actually quite true. With that in mind, I wanted to conduct my own research looking back at the economy and higher unemployment rates as they pertained to seated Presidents, when they took office (i.e. how responsible they really were for the numbers) and their political party affiliation.

Unemployment percentages (6+ percent) [U.S. Census] and seated President/Party [Wikipedia] at that time:

* Note – Federal Fiscal Year begins in October

Franklin D. Roosevelt 3/1933 – 4/1945 (D)

1940 (14.6%)
1941 (9.9%)

– I consider these high rates to be all that of FDR since they appear well within his term

Dwight D. Eisenhower – 1/1953 – 1/1961 (R)

1958 (6.8%)

– I consider these high rates to be all that of Eisenhower since they appear well within his term

John F. Kennedy – 1/1961 – 11/1963 (D)

1961 (6.7%)

– Inherited since they appear early in his term

Gerald Ford – 8/1974 – 1/1977 (R)

1975 (8.5%)
1976 (7.7%)

– I consider these high rates to be all that of Ford since they appear well within his term

Jimmy Carter – 1/1977 – 1/1981 (D)

1977 (7.1%)
1978 (6.1%)
1980 (7.1%)

– I consider one year to be inherited while noting an inability to recover, Carter owns the rates of 1978 and 1980.

Ronald Reagan – 1/1981 – 1/1989 (R)

1981 (7.6%)
1982 (9.7%)
1983 (9.6%)
1984 (7.5%)
1985 (7.2%)
1986 (7.0%)
1987 (6.2%)

– I consider these high rates to be somewhat inherited while noting an inability to recover even slightly for over 7 years, Reagan owns the high rates from 1982 through 1987

George H. W. Bush – 1/1989 – 1/1993 (R)

1991 (6.8%)
1992 (7.5%)
1993 (6.9%)

– I consider these high rates to be all that of Bush since they appear well within his term

Bill Clinton – 1/1993 – 1/2001 (D)

1994 (6.1%)

– Coming off nearly 12 years of high unemployment rates, and considering the economical boost that occurred during the Clinton years, I consider these rates to be entirely inherited

George W. Bush – 1/2001 – 1/2009 (R)

2003 (6.0%)

– I consider these high rates to be that of Bush since they appear well within his term

Barack Obama – 1/2009 – Incumbent (D)

2009 (9.3%)
2010 (9.6%)

– I consider one year to be inherited while noting an inability to recover thus far. Obama owns the rates of 2010.

Highest Unemployment Rates:

Highest rate for a single month – November & December 1982 with rate of 10.8%

Highest rate in a year – In 1982 the average unemployment rate was 9.71%

Lowest Unemployment Rates:

Lowest rate for a single month – May & June 1953 with a rate of 2.5%

Lowest rate in a year – In 1953 the average unemployment rate was 2.93%

Eisenhower was President in 1953, however, when I look at the economy of a year, I always consider who held that office the preceding year since realistically the term begins in October.

Look at how unemployment shifts so drastically with the change of Presidents.

Sharpest Trends:

Unemployment rates down with Truman – Eisenhower takes office and they escalate sharply

The same occurs with Johnson to Nixon

Rates were already up with Carter, but saw a huge increase under Reagan

Then again, rates down with Clinton and increased under Bush

The same pattern that emerged with Carter to Reagan is seen in the Bush to Obama transition

Could this be history repeating itself?

Other Interesting Economical Facts:

Highest homeownership rates:

Second Quarter 2000 – 67.2% (highest ever recorded)

Homeownership rates fell from 65.6 percent Q1 1981 to 63.7 percent in Q1 1993

Not long after the horrible events of September 11, 2001 unfolded before our eyes, variations of an email titled “Where was God on 9/11?” began circulating that gave a bit of perspective to such a soul-numbing tragedy.

Have you ever thought, "Where was God on 9/11 when the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked?" Well, I know where my God was on the morning of September 11, 2001, and He was very busy!

He was discouraging people from taking those four flights. Together they could accommodate more than 1,000 passengers, yet there were only 266 aboard. He was on those four flights giving the terrified passengers the ability to stay calm. Not one of the people who was called by a loved one on one of the hijacked planes mentioned that passengers were panicked, nor was there any screaming in the background. And on one of the flights, God gave strength to the passengers to overcome the hijackers.

God was also busy creating obstacles to prevent people who worked in the WTC from getting to work on time. The work day had begun, more than 50,000 people worked in the two towers, yet only 20,000 were at their desks. On that beautiful morning, God created scores of unexpected traffic delays, subway delays, and commuter train delays. A PATH train packed with commuters was stopped at a signal just short of the WTC and was able to return to Jersey City. And far more meetings were scheduled elsewhere than was usual.

God held up each of the two mighty towers for a half hour so that the people on the lower floors could get out. And when He finally let go, He caused the towers to fall inward rather than to topple over, which would have killed so many more people. The foundations of six surrounding buildings were demolished by the fall of the towers, but God held them up for many hours until all the occupants were safely evacuated.

And when the WTC and Pentagon buildings went down, my God picked up almost 3,500 of His children and carried them to their home for all eternity. He also sat down and cried that 19 of His children could have so much hate in their hearts, that they did not choose him, but another god that doesn’t exist, and now they are lost forever.

He sent people trained in dealing with earthly disasters to save those that were injured. And he sent in thousands of others to help in any way they were needed. And He brought people together across the world in a way that moved thousands to tears and hundreds of thousands to prayer—and caused millions to turn to the one true living God.

He still isn’t finished. Every day He comforts those who lost loved ones. He is encouraging others to reach out to those who don’t know Him or believe in Him. He is giving the leaders of our great nation the strength and conviction to do the right thing, to follow His will, not a popular poll.

So if anyone ever asks, "Where was your God on 9/11?" you can say, "He was everywhere! And, in fact, he is everywhere today and every day." Without a doubt, this was the worst catastrophe most of us have ever seen. I can’t imagine getting through such a difficult time without God at my side. Without God, life would be hopeless.

Additionally…

As you might know, the head of one company survived 9/11 because he took his son to kindergarten.

Another fellow is alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.

Another lady was late because her alarm clock didn’t go off on time.

One was late as a result of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.

One more survivor missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.

One’s car wouldn’t start.

One went back to answer the telephone.

One had a child that dawdled and didn’t get ready as soon as he should have.

One couldn’t get a taxi.

The one that, struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, went to work by his usual way but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.

Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone…all the little things that annoy me….I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.

Next time your morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, you can’t seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don’t get mad or frustrated; God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose.

Original Author unknown – there were so many variations that circulated it’s difficult to say where it originated. If you know, I’d love to give proper credit where it’s due.

In a small way, I understand the decision of Mayor Bloomberg to exclude religious leaders from the upcoming 10th Anniversary ceremonies of 9-11. I’m sure there are an abundance of religions and beliefs that are represented by the massive number of lives lost. As the political leader, essentially in charge of this event, it would be difficult to determine what religions would be represented and which would not.

That Does NOT however, mean I agree with it.

Here we are, a couple of weeks out from the 9-11 ceremonies and Hurricane Irene is making her way up the coast with her targets including New York City. I have to wonder if Mayor Bloomberg has considered including God in the day(s) leading up to her arrival by offering up a prayer for protection and forgiveness.

What are your thoughts on the exclusion of God from the ceremonies? Good decision? Bad decision?