All In The Same Sinking Boat

A disturbing but sadly predictable jobs report was released today [1] by the Department of Labor: 62,000 jobs lost in June, 438,000 jobs lost during the past 6 months.

This is no limited recession. The New York Times observed [2] that: "June’s job losses affected a range of industries, including banks, construction companies, manufacturing firms and car dealerships. Janitors and administrative workers were the hardest hit, with about 70,000 workers losing their jobs last month alone. Temp agencies lost 30,000 jobs."

Pain continues to trickle up, as those still working are also suffering under the weight of recession. NYT notes "employers are cutting hours for their full-time employees and shrinking salaries." USA Today [3] reports, "Wages are lagging inflation as gasoline, energy and food prices surge."

But this is not a brief bump in the road, a mere cyclical dip that will be quickly forgotten. Weak job growth, flat wages and rising costs have been the hallmark of this eight-year conservative era.

Refusing to invest in modernizing our infrastructure. Suffocating the burgeoning clean energy industry, while keeping America hooked on increasingly expensive oil. Continuing a failed global trade strategy at the behest of multinational corporations. Neglecting to exercise oversight over the mortgage and financial industries. Saddling the next generation with burdensome debt.

The destructive results of these conservative policies is plain for all to see. Because the pain is felt by all.

UPDATE: Apparently it's worse than even I thought. The Onion News Network reports: "Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Disastrous Presidency"

Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Disastrous Presidency [4]