Rick Perry's government job's 'miracle'

Posted on Friday, September 16, 2011 at 09:53 AM

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When is a miracle not a miracle? When it's a Texas job's miracle.

The truth is that Texas' job creation record is actually one point below the national average, up to 30 other states are doing much better.

But if you don't mind working for minimum wage then fully a sixth of the jobs created under Governor Rick Perry will be just the ticket. Texas is the minimum wage capital of the nation.

The rest of the jobs appear to be government jobs created by the economic stimulus that Perry still swears didn't work, yet received billions from open handed.

But if you look at Perry's net job creation record between 2007 and 2010 it becomes clear that government jobs kept Texas solvent.

Since the economic stimulus Texas has added 125,000 public sector (government) jobs - nearly half of all government jobs created in this period nationwide. What would you call that if not a federal stimulus?

So, in fact, it turns out President Obama should really take the credit for the 'miracle.' I'm sure Ricj Perry will give him credit any day now.

Of course the truth is the Texas miracle has nothing to do with the state’s system of government or its leadership, it's mostly just dumb luck: they have oil and oil prices have exploded, that is all.

Far from something to celebrate, in the process Texas has become our own private China: they will undercut wages, strip worker protections, tell environmental protections to go hang and a myriad of other regulations that American workers used to insist on.

It's the miracle that isn't a miracle at all, it's a mirage.

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hollabackgurl | Sep 16, 2011, 11:35 AM EDT

Political brinksmanship is one thing; but the GOP have damaged the economy and lowered our international credit rating in an attempt to damage the president. That's unprecedented and it shows how desperate they are for power at any cost, even if it hurts fellow Americans.

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jamieLM | Sep 16, 2011, 11:28 AM EDT

Hel-lo - the goal of both parties has always been to make the other party's president a one-term president. That's been going on with the 2 party system since Day One. If it's a Rep. pres. running for re-election, do you think the Democrats aren't going to try to get him ousted and vice versa???

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hollabackgurl | Sep 16, 2011, 11:24 AM EDT

The phrase "Texas Jobs Miracle" should enter the language as a way to describe something that's blatantly false.

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jamieLM | Sep 16, 2011, 11:18 AM EDT

Padraig8 - you don't have a clue about me or what I think about Perry. SHAME ON YOU for your accusation. I see failures in both Democrats and Republicans. As a proud American, I don't give a hoot about which party delivers - I just want SOMEONE to have some commonsense and business sense and get the job done and do what's best for America. There's plenty of blame to go around - it's not just one pres. or just one party. FYI, I'm a registered Independent and I've never voted a straight ticket. I'm just pointing out that politicians from both parties are capable of NOT being honest with the Am. people and of squandering taxpayer money. If you're the Pres. and you and your administration "lay an egg" (Solyndra), you've got to own it, just like every past Pres. has to take ownership of their mistakes. Btw: I'm not a Tea Party member, but they rightly point out problems that need to be fixed. The U.S. can't keep spending more money than it takes in. That's what American politics is about - political dialogue and debate between people with differing viewpoints on HOW best to fix our problems. It's important to look at issues from all angles. Mr. O'Doherty, in my opinion, writes only from a liberal viewpoint and there's always 2 sides to every story.

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Padraig8 | Sep 16, 2011, 10:36 AM EDT

Jamie LM You love to see him fail dont you? even at the expense of your fellow Americans SHAME ON YOU. genemowry you are right its called Propaganda ask Hitler about ltelling a Lie long enough

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jamieLM | Sep 16, 2011, 10:13 AM EDT

Here's another political mirage - being employed at Solyndra in CA. You know, that solar energy co. that received $528 million in federal loans under the Obama administration, who ignored repeated warnings about its viability, and is now "belly up."

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genemowry | Sep 16, 2011, 10:04 AM EDT

Perry belongs to a party, republican that's sole purpose is to make Obama a one term president period! Never mind what is best for the country. They have refused to work with him and it's disgusting.Tell a lie long enough and people will believe it.

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