Rick Perry's government job's 'miracle'
By: Cahir O'Doherty | Published Tuesday, November 1, 2011, 7:13 PM | Updated Tuesday, November 1, 2011, 7:13 PM
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.
22 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seanomelbourne | Sep 22, 2011, 08:35 PM EDT
Your on
maloney | Sep 21, 2011, 07:18 PM EDT
How about it Niall? $100 was the sum I was thinking also. American, Euro or Rooland is OK with me. Loser pays transfer.
seanomelbourne | Sep 21, 2011, 07:14 PM EDT
No response?
seanomelbourne | Sep 20, 2011, 09:37 PM EDT
If you wish Maloney. I would love $100 dollars (Australian)from your coffers. If Niall is Happy as a go between I'll take the wager.
maloney | Sep 20, 2011, 06:46 PM EDT
seano, it's a shame you can't put your money where your mouth is. Remember what I said. Perry WILL be the next President. It doesn't matter what is said, found out or discovered. Perry WILL be the next President. Maybe Niall could be the go between on a small wager.
seanomelbourne | Sep 19, 2011, 07:25 PM EDT
Perry the executioner will never be POTUS. The GOP are in for one big fall next year.
hollabackgurl | Sep 18, 2011, 11:13 PM EDT
Maureen Dowd on Rick Perry: 'The Republicans are now the “How great is it to be stupid?” party.' And by any reckoning Perry - like Bachmann - is a semi-functional halfwit. What the hell has happened to the GOP? Isn't there an intelligent conservative left in the country?
maloney | Sep 18, 2011, 05:18 PM EDT
Cahir, you have finally found the one you need to fear. Perry will be the next President. Now that you've seen the light, finally. You may begin your attacks on your real target, the next Potus!! Waist no more time on the other wannabees.
pilib04 | Sep 17, 2011, 08:07 AM EDT
Rick "Merck" Perry, need I say more? Elect him President so he can mandate HPV vaccine for all.
jamthecat | Sep 16, 2011, 08:32 PM EDT
FYI, Texas has a weak governor form of government. The Lt. Governor has more actual power than the Governor does. That said, Governor Dick has misused his power very effectively to turn Texas into a Third World state that executes the innocent while rewarding the thieves (thanks to its Good Ol' Boy system). He is a diseased, despicable excuse for a man and the sooner he is gone from politics, the better we all will be. And I say that as someone who lived in Texas most of his life.
seanomelbourne | Sep 16, 2011, 07:42 PM EDT
Rick perry the devil of the unchristian right has no concept of truth or integrity.
Nicomax | Sep 16, 2011, 01:38 PM EDT
Hey, what are we complaining about, sharecropping is making a comeback, except in Texas where the ground is moon-like.
MichaelJJ | Sep 16, 2011, 01:19 PM EDT
Where'd this O'Doherty get his degree in Economics, anyway?
EphraimKibbey | Sep 16, 2011, 01:11 PM EDT
Pt. II - "Bad" deficit spending occurs when it is used for things that weaken America like nation building in places that do not wish our interference. The "bad" deficit spending done under the Bush administration left our military weaker, our safety weaker and our economy in ruin. The "good" deficit spending under the Obama administration would have done more to bring us out of our recession if it had not been held back by the republicans who refused to accept a larger stimulus package when it was proposed. The current jobs bill will help keep us out of further decline if the parts of it that require domestic hiring are not stripped from the bill by the republicans. Sadly, it is not big enough to actually get back all the jobs lost because of the 8 years under Bush. It does not do enough to repatriate money that businesses and wall street stole from our economy and have hidden overseas. Also sadly, the trade deals, supported by the Obama administration, will do little to widen our foreign markets while opening three new sources of cheap labor to further erode American jobs. Americans and Irish alike need to send a message to their elected officials that anything that does not create new jobs in their respective countries is viewed, by us, as unpatriotic in this time of crisis.
EphraimKibbey | Sep 16, 2011, 12:57 PM EDT
Pt. I - I fail to see why people give any credence to republican trickle down economic theory when it was that policy that got us here during the Bush administration. Their crying about the deficit is in stark contrast to what they have done everytime they were in control of the government. Of the 14 trillion we owe, only about 2 trillion is actually due to the "Obama" stimulus which, as this article shows, actually helped create jobs and prevented a second depression. The other part of the deficit that some claim as Obama's was actually Bush's since it was not until Obama took over that the actual cost of Bush's two wars was included in our deficit and budget calculations. Bush was very careful to keep war costs a secret. When you buy a house you probably do not pay cash and when a business buys equipment they would never pay cash. Both situations involve "deficit" spending and are viewed as appropriate uses of credit. "Good" deficit spending involves using the money for stuff that makes America stronger like jobs, bridges, education and research.
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.
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???
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.
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.
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
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."
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.