The neoconservatives – a name they gave themselves – have diligently worked their way into positions of power and influence. They documented their goals, strategy and moral justification for all they hope to accomplish. Above all else, they were not and ARE NOT true conservatives dedicated to limited, constitutional government.
If the neocons retain control of the conservative, limited-government movement in Washington, the ideas once championed by conservatives of limiting the size and scope of government, will be a long-forgotten dream.
Here is a partial summary of what neocons believe:
1. They agree with Trotsky on permanent revolution – violent as well as intellectual.
2. They are for redrawing the map of the Middle East and are willing to use force to do so.
3. They believe in preemptive war to achieve desired ends.
4. They accept the notion that the ends justify the means.
5. They express no opposition to the welfare state.
6. They believe lying is necessary for the state to survive.
7. They believe a powerful federal government is a benefit.
8. They believe pertinent facts about how a society should be run should be held by the elite and withheld from those who do not have the courage to deal with it.
9. They believe neutrality in foreign affairs is ill-advised.
10. They believe imperialism, if progressive in nature, is appropriate.
11. Using American might to force their ideals on other nations is acceptable.
12. They endorse attacks on civil liberties, such as those found in the Patriot Act, as being necessary.
Background Articles and Videos
The History of NAFTA and the Council on Foreign Relations
The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.
Neoconservatism: An Obituary for an Idea (Cato Institute Book Forum, 2011)
Ron Paul Explains Neoconservatism
Neoconservatism: An Obituary for an Idea
“…An obituary—so soon! Surely the reports of neoconservatism’s death are greatly exaggerated. C. Bradley Thompson has written (with Yaron Brook) the most comprehensive and original analysis of neoconservatism yet published and in the process has dealt it a mortal blow.
Neoconservatism reveals publicly for the first time what the neocons call their “philosophy of governance”—their plan for governing America. This book explicates the deepest philosophic principles of neoconservatism, traces the intellectual relationship between the political philosopher Leo Strauss and contemporary neoconservative political actors, and provides a trenchant critique of neoconservatism from the perspective of America’s founding principles.
The theme of this timely book—neoconservatism as a species of anti-Americanism—will shake up the intellectual salons of both the Left and Right. What makes this book so compelling is that Thompson actually lived for many years in the Straussian/neoconservative intellectual world. Neoconservatism therefore fits into the “breaking ranks” tradition of scholarly criticism and breaks the mold when it comes to informed, incisive, nonpartisan critique of neoconservative thought and action. …”
Mike Ryan, SVP of Madison Performance Group Discusses August Unemployment Rate on Fox News Live
September 2nd 2011 CNBC Stock Market Squawk Box (August Jobs Report) Part 1 of 2
Unemployment Rate Unchanged at 9.1% — September 2, 2011
Where are the Jobs? The Parallels between Today and the Great Depression
US to face long-term crisis if unemployment rate continues around 9 percent
Edwards Says New U.S. Budget Data to Be `Depressing’
Lew Rockwell – “Politicians Are Just Bank Employees! We Need To Overthrow The Banks!”
Milton Friedman – The Great Depression Myth
Milton Friedman – Socialism vs. Capitalism
Background Articles and Videos
Ron Paul on Future of Unemployment
US economy created no job growth in August, data show
First time since 1945 that government has reported net monthly job change of zero
“…Nonfarm payrolls were unchanged last month, the Labor Department said Friday. It was the first time since 1945 that the government has reported a net monthly job change of zero. The August payrolls report was the worst since September 2010, while nonfarm employment for June and July was revised to show 58,000 fewer jobs. …”
“…Employers stopped adding jobs in August, an alarming setback for an economy that has struggled to grow and might be at risk of another recession.
It was the weakest jobs report since September 2010. The unemployment rate remained at 9.1 percent.
Stock futures plunged on the news. In the 15 minutes after the report was released, Dow futures fell 94 points, from 11,401 to 11,318.
A strike by 45,000 Verizon workers lowered the job totals. Those workers are now back on the job.
The weakness in employment was underscored by revisions to the jobs data for June and July. Collectively, those figures were lowered to show 57,000 fewer jobs added. The downward revisions were all in government jobs.
The average work week also declined and hourly earnings fell by 3 cents to $23.09. …”
Series Id: LNS13000000
Seasonally Adjusted Series title: (Seas) Unemployment Level Labor force status: Unemployed Type of data: Number in thousands Age: 16 years and over
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Annual
2001
6023
6089
6141
6271
6226
6484
6583
7042
7142
7694
8003
8258
2002
8182
8215
8304
8599
8399
8393
8390
8304
8251
8307
8520
8640
2003
8520
8618
8588
8842
8957
9266
9011
8896
8921
8732
8576
8317
2004
8370
8167
8491
8170
8212
8286
8136
7990
7927
8061
7932
7934
2005
7784
7980
7737
7672
7651
7524
7406
7345
7553
7453
7566
7279
2006
7064
7184
7072
7120
6980
7001
7175
7091
6847
6727
6872
6762
2007
7100
6900
6721
6836
6766
6980
7149
7085
7191
7272
7261
7664
2008
7653
7441
7781
7606
8398
8590
8953
9489
9557
10176
10552
11344
2009
11984
12737
13278
13734
14512
14776
14663
14953
15149
15628
15206
15212
2010
14842
14860
14943
15138
14884
14593
14637
14849
14746
14876
15041
14485
2011
13863
13673
13542
13747
13914
14087
13931
13967
Official Unemployment Rate U-3
Series Id: LNS14000000
Seasonally Adjusted Series title: (Seas) Unemployment Rate Labor force status: Unemployment rate Type of data: Percent or rate Age: 16 years and over
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Annual
2001
4.2
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.3
4.5
4.6
4.9
5.0
5.3
5.5
5.7
2002
5.7
5.7
5.7
5.9
5.8
5.8
5.8
5.7
5.7
5.7
5.9
6.0
2003
5.8
5.9
5.9
6.0
6.1
6.3
6.2
6.1
6.1
6.0
5.8
5.7
2004
5.7
5.6
5.8
5.6
5.6
5.6
5.5
5.4
5.4
5.5
5.4
5.4
2005
5.3
5.4
5.2
5.2
5.1
5.0
5.0
4.9
5.0
5.0
5.0
4.9
2006
4.7
4.8
4.7
4.7
4.6
4.6
4.7
4.7
4.5
4.4
4.5
4.4
2007
4.6
4.5
4.4
4.5
4.4
4.6
4.7
4.6
4.7
4.7
4.7
5.0
2008
5.0
4.8
5.1
4.9
5.4
5.6
5.8
6.1
6.2
6.6
6.8
7.3
2009
7.8
8.2
8.6
8.9
9.4
9.5
9.5
9.7
9.8
10.1
9.9
9.9
2010
9.7
9.7
9.7
9.8
9.6
9.5
9.5
9.6
9.6
9.7
9.8
9.4
2011
9.0
8.9
8.8
9.0
9.1
9.2
9.1
9.1
Labor Force Participation Rate
Series Id: LNS11300000
Seasonally Adjusted Series title: (Seas) Labor Force Participation Rate Labor force status: Civilian labor force participation rate Type of data: Percent or rate Age: 16 years and over
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Annual
2001
67.2
67.1
67.2
66.9
66.7
66.7
66.8
66.5
66.8
66.7
66.7
66.7
2002
66.5
66.8
66.6
66.7
66.7
66.6
66.5
66.6
66.7
66.6
66.4
66.3
2003
66.4
66.4
66.3
66.4
66.4
66.5
66.2
66.1
66.1
66.1
66.1
65.9
2004
66.1
66.0
66.0
65.9
66.0
66.1
66.1
66.0
65.8
65.9
66.0
65.9
2005
65.8
65.9
65.9
66.1
66.1
66.1
66.1
66.2
66.1
66.1
66.0
66.0
2006
66.0
66.1
66.2
66.1
66.1
66.2
66.1
66.2
66.1
66.2
66.3
66.4
2007
66.4
66.3
66.2
65.9
66.0
66.0
66.0
65.8
66.0
65.8
66.0
66.0
2008
66.2
66.0
66.1
65.9
66.1
66.1
66.0
66.1
66.0
66.0
65.8
65.8
2009
65.7
65.7
65.6
65.6
65.7
65.7
65.5
65.4
65.1
65.1
65.0
64.7
2010
64.8
64.8
64.9
65.1
64.9
64.7
64.6
64.7
64.7
64.5
64.5
64.3
2011
64.2
64.2
64.2
64.2
64.2
64.1
63.9
64.0
Total Unemployment Rate U-6
Series Id: LNS13327709
Seasonally Adjusted Series title: (seas) Total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of all civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers Labor force status: Aggregated totals unemployed Type of data: Percent or rate Age: 16 years and over Percent/rates: Unemployed and mrg attached and pt for econ reas as percent of labor force plus marg attached
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Annual
2001
7.3
7.4
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.9
7.8
8.1
8.7
9.3
9.4
9.6
2002
9.5
9.5
9.4
9.7
9.5
9.5
9.6
9.6
9.6
9.6
9.7
9.8
2003
10.0
10.2
10.0
10.2
10.1
10.3
10.3
10.1
10.4
10.2
10.0
9.8
2004
9.9
9.7
10.0
9.6
9.6
9.5
9.5
9.4
9.4
9.7
9.4
9.2
2005
9.3
9.3
9.1
8.9
8.9
9.0
8.8
8.9
9.0
8.7
8.7
8.6
2006
8.4
8.4
8.2
8.1
8.2
8.4
8.5
8.4
8.0
8.2
8.1
7.9
2007
8.4
8.1
8.0
8.2
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.4
8.4
8.5
8.8
2008
9.1
8.9
9.0
9.2
9.7
10.1
10.5
10.9
11.2
11.9
12.7
13.6
2009
14.1
15.0
15.6
15.8
16.4
16.6
16.5
16.8
17.0
17.4
17.1
17.2
2010
16.5
16.8
16.8
17.0
16.5
16.5
16.5
16.7
17.1
17.0
17.0
16.7
2011
16.1
15.9
15.7
15.9
15.8
16.2
16.1
16.2
Unemployment Rate For 16-19 Years of Age
Series Id: LNS14000012
Seasonally Adjusted Series title: (Seas) Unemployment Rate – 16-19 yrs. Labor force status: Unemployment rate Type of data: Percent or rate Age: 16 to 19 years
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Annual
2001
13.8
13.7
13.8
13.9
13.4
14.2
14.4
15.6
15.2
16.0
15.9
17.0
2002
16.5
16.0
16.6
16.7
16.6
16.7
16.8
17.0
16.3
15.1
17.1
16.9
2003
17.2
17.2
17.8
17.7
17.9
19.0
18.2
16.6
17.6
17.2
15.7
16.2
2004
17.0
16.5
16.8
16.6
17.1
17.0
17.8
16.7
16.6
17.4
16.4
17.6
2005
16.2
17.5
17.1
17.8
17.8
16.3
16.1
16.1
15.5
16.1
17.0
14.9
2006
15.1
15.3
16.1
14.6
14.0
15.8
15.9
16.0
16.3
15.2
14.8
14.6
2007
14.8
14.9
14.9
15.8
15.9
16.3
15.3
15.9
16.0
15.4
16.2
16.8
2008
17.8
16.5
16.0
15.8
19.0
19.2
20.8
18.7
19.2
20.0
20.3
20.6
2009
20.8
21.9
22.1
22.1
23.3
24.6
24.4
25.4
26.1
27.1
26.9
26.8
2010
26.2
25.0
26.0
25.4
26.4
25.8
26.1
26.2
26.0
27.1
24.5
25.4
2011
25.7
23.9
24.5
24.9
24.2
24.5
25.0
25.4
Employment Situation Summary
Transmission of material in this release is embargoed USDL-11-1277
until 8:30 a.m. (EDT) Friday, September 2, 2011
Technical information:
Household data: (202) 691-6378 * cpsinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/cps
Establishment data: (202) 691-6555 * cesinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/ces
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- AUGUST 2011
Nonfarm payroll employment was unchanged (0) in August, and the unemployment
rate held at 9.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
Employment in most major industries changed little over the month. Health
care continued to add jobs, and a decline in information employment reflected
a strike. Government employment continued to trend down, despite the return
of workers from a partial government shutdown in Minnesota.
Household Survey Data
The number of unemployed persons, at 14.0 million, was essentially unchanged
in August, and the unemployment rate held at 9.1 percent. The rate has shown
little change since April. (See table A-1.)
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (8.9
percent), adult women (8.0 percent), teenagers (25.4 percent), whites
(8.0 percent), blacks (16.7 percent), and Hispanics (11.3 percent) showed
little or no change in August. The jobless rate for Asians was 7.1 percent,
not seasonally adjusted. (See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)
The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was
about unchanged at 6.0 million in August and accounted for 42.9 percent of the
unemployed. (See table A-12.)
The labor force rose to 153.6 million in August. Both the civilian labor force
participation rate, at 64.0 percent, and the employment-population ratio, at
58.2 percent, were little changed. (See table A-1.)
The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes
referred to as involuntary part-time workers) rose from 8.4 million to 8.8
million in August. These individuals were working part time because their
hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.
(See table A-8.)
About 2.6 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force in
August, up from 2.4 million a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally
adjusted.) These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were
available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months.
They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work
in the 4 weeks preceding the survey. (See table A-16.)
Among the marginally attached, there were 977,000 discouraged workers in
August, down by 133,000 from a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally
adjusted.) Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work
because they believe no jobs are available for them. The remaining 1.6
million persons marginally attached to the labor force in August had not
searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey for reasons such as
school attendance or family responsibilities. (See table A-16.)
Establishment Survey Data
Total nonfarm payroll employment, at 131.1 million, was unchanged (0) in
August. Employment changed little in most major private-sector industries.
(See table B-1.)
Health care employment rose by 30,000 in August. Ambulatory health care
services and hospitals added 18,000 and 8,000 jobs, respectively. Over the
past 12 months, health care employment has grown by 306,000.
Employment in mining continued to trend up in August (+6,000). Since reaching
a trough in October 2009, employment in mining has risen by 144,000, with
mining support activities accounting for most of the gain.
Within professional and business services, computer systems design and related
services added 8,000 jobs in August. Employment in temporary help services
changed little over the month (+5,000) and has shown little movement on net so
far this year.
Employment in the information industry declined by 48,000 in August. About
45,000 workers in the telecommunications industry were on strike and thus off
company payrolls during the survey reference period.
Manufacturing employment was essentially unchanged in August (-3,000),
following a gain of 36,000 in July. For the past 4 months, manufacturing has
added an average of 14,000 jobs per month, compared with an average of 35,000
jobs per month in the first 4 months of the year.
Elsewhere in the private sector, employment in construction; trade,
transportation, and utilities; financial activities; and leisure and
hospitality changed little over the month.
Government employment continued to trend down over the month (-17,000).
Despite the return of about 22,000 workers from a partial government shutdown
in Minnesota, employment in state government changed little in August (+5,000).
Employment in local government continued to decline. Since employment peaked
in September 2008, local government has lost 550,000 jobs.
The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged
down by 0.1 hour over the month to 34.2 hours. The manufacturing workweek
was 40.3 hours for the third consecutive month; factory overtime increased
by 0.1 hour over the month to 3.2 hours. The average workweek for production
and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged down to 33.5
hours in August, after holding at 33.6 hours for the prior 6 months. (See
tables B-2 and B-7.)
In August, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm
payrolls decreased by 3 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $23.09. This decline
followed an 11-cent gain in July. Over the past 12 months, average hourly
earnings have increased by 1.9 percent. In August, average hourly earnings
of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees decreased by
2 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $19.47. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)
The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for June was revised from
+46,000 to +20,000, and the change for July was revised from +117,000 to
+85,000.
_____________
The Employment Situation for September is scheduled to be released on Friday,
October 7, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).
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