Harry Reid: ‘Private Sector Jobs are Doing Just Fine; It’s the Public Sector Jobs Where We’ve Lost Huge Numbers’


Remind me again who it is that funds the public sector?

UPDATE: Jim Geraghty crunches some numbers in this post on the topic.

Via Adam Bitely, that direct quote can be seen in the video below:

For context, here’s Sen. Reid’s (D-NV) statement from the Senate floor today:

“The massive layoffs we’ve had in America today-of course they’re rooted in the last administration-and it’s very clear that private sector jobs are doing just fine. It’s the public sector jobs where we’ve lost huge numbers, and that’s what this legislation’s all about. And it’s unfortunate my friend the Republican Leader is complaining about that. I would also note that my friend said the House passed another bill. Well, they pass lots of bills, but they rarely go anyplace.”

Here’s a fact that Reid should look over before he opens his mouth again. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, government workers have the lowest unemployment rate of any industry or class recorded, at 4.7%, while the national unemployment rate is 9.1% – nearly twice that of public sector workers.

Further, I seem to recall – contrary to Reid’s assertion that the private sector is “doing just fine” but that public sector employment funding has been overlooked – an almost $1 Trillion ($1,000,000,000,000.00) “stimulus” bill being passed and signed into law early in the Obama administration whose major purpose was to fund “shovel-ready” public-sector jobs and to “save essential government services.” Now, Harry Reid is telling us that the public sector needs another fiscal shot in the arm, while Vice President Joe Biden (D-DE) is telling audiences that a failure to pass another stimulus bill to follow the first, utterly failed one will lead to mass rape and murder of…somebody.

Via Michelle Malkin, here’s a graph from the Mercatus Center’s Veronique de Rugy showing just what Obama and Reid’s last attempt to implement their version of economic reform has wrought on employment across the board in America:

Here’s a video from the Senate Republicans, juxtaposing Reid’s statement with financial reporters declaring the private sector to be stuck in a rut of unemployment and growing financial strain:

Additionally, recent Census Bureau figures show that the top median household income in America is now…in Washington, DC. That obviously includes contractors, consultants, and the K Street lobbyists who keep flowing in and out of the Obama administration’s revolving door of ultimate government insiders, but it also boasts the highest percentage of government employees to total population in the nation. According to Bloomberg:

The U.S. capital has swapped top spots with Silicon Valley, according to recent Census Bureau figures, with the typical household in the Washington metro area earning $84,523 last year. The national median income for 2010 was $50,046. … . The unemployment rate in the Washington metro area in August was 6.1 percent, compared with 10 percent in San Jose, according to Labor Department figures.

Despite these simple facts – as well as the fact that the public sector is only able to exist through the presence of a prosperous, employed private sector to fund it – Washington Democrats continue to peddle the myths that public sector employment is hurting worse than private sector – a blatant lie based on the data provided by the government itself – and that the job of a union dues-paying teacher is more important to the nation than any form of private sector employment.



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19 Comments Leave a comment

Apparently senility or incompetence is not a disqualifying factor for being a Senator...

anotherindyfilmguy (Diary) Wednesday, October 19th at 2:32PM EDT (link)

But then I have a sometimes feel I have keen grasp of the obvious…

Razz Etc!
“Best Poker book written ever!!!” – Author’s unbiased opinion…

It is a positive point on a "D" resume

YnotNOW (Diary) Thursday, October 20th at 10:11AM EDT (link)

Just look at Nancy Pelosi et al

YnotNOW
If not me, who? If not now, when?

 
 

he doesn't know

northernrockiesguy Wednesday, October 19th at 2:50PM EDT (link)

As the old time cowhands used to say, “he don’t know if his A$$ is punched or bored”.

 

Call the Dem's bluff,

texas214 (Diary) Wednesday, October 19th at 3:57PM EDT (link)

this whole thing is to get more funds to unions, so that the union dues can go to Democratic causes prior to the election. The GOP ought to give the Dem’s what they want, yet add two riders 1) if any funds go to a union or their employees, that union will be barred from contributing to political campaigns for 1 year, and 2) add national right-to-work legislation to the Act.

That requires HONESTY

eddie74 Thursday, October 20th at 9:41AM EDT (link)

How are YOU gonna find an Honest Democrat or an honest Union Thug that will assure & promise us that our Taxpayer Money will only go to a Job action and not to a Democrat Political Action..?? Every Democrat I know comes across as a devious – double-talking – deceiving – cunning – liying – prevaricating – forked-tongue – sweet-talking Nice Guy. Take your Pick & apply any of these Labels, – they all fit perfectly..
NOW – my assessment of a typical Republican Politician: repeat the above..
As long as these Scoundrels can write there own Rules & Laws of Conduct and decide on their own Pay & Bennies, – we will have con-men & bank robbers that call themselves Honorable Senator & Honorable Congressman..
So, naive little American Citizen, – just Pay up & Shut up if you know what’s Good for you. – Because We know what’s good for you even if you Don’t..

 

That's only one channel!

cwfoster Thursday, October 20th at 10:06AM EDT (link)

Solyndra was a political kickback scheme, there’s another, twice as big (over a billion $) that is being pushed through, has anyone investigated and seen which campaign bundler stands to profit from THIS one? it would be a good shot to call the ball before it leaves the bat, as it would demonstrate the absolute corruption in play in the Obama administration.

2012… Time to raise Cain!

 
 

It's Impressive....

Batman Wednesday, October 19th at 4:07PM EDT (link)

That you can lie, and then lie about the lies, and make people believe it’s the truth. That’s almost a superpower….

Not at all

Menlo (Diary) Wednesday, October 19th at 4:29PM EDT (link)

It’s worked quite successfully for the judicial branch of government, “law” schools, and elected officials, with regard to the Constitution.

“The ultimate touchstone of constitutionality is the Constitution itself and not what we have said about it.” -Felix Frankfurter

 
 

Typical blathering from that clown...

anjinconsulting Wednesday, October 19th at 4:20PM EDT (link)

you can only lie so many times before your begin to believe your own lies. It is a neccesary character trait for any politician serving more than a couple of terms.

But, it is a great ad for a campaign…..

Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. – George Santayana

No man has any more intrinsic right to offical station than another. Those who hold government jobs for a long time are apt to acquire a habit of looking with indifference upon the public interests, and of tolerating conduct from which an unpracticed man would revolt. – Andrew Jackson

 

Then there's this

Locked and Loaded (Diary) Wednesday, October 19th at 7:36PM EDT (link)

from December, 2010:

Washington, D.C. leads the nation, with 21.5% of the population on food stamps.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/21/news/economy/food_stamps/index.htm

So to arrive at the nation’s highest median income, Washington, D.C. has to have greatly enriched some of its denizens, thereby offsetting the number living in poverty.

Quite a nasty juxtaposition, this.

No GM, GE, or any GSE for me.

Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?
Matthew 20:15 NIV

DC Metro area ...

skorrent1 (Diary) Thursday, October 20th at 9:19AM EDT (link)

Includes the wealthy MD and VA counties. DC itself includes a high population of the welfare crowd with (because of) comparitively high benefits.

 
 

A Progressive who does not believe his own BS. . .

msctex (Diary) Wednesday, October 19th at 7:38PM EDT (link)

. . .is no Progressive at all.

Now the scary part is, one can only believe so much that is palpably not so before one begins to essentially lose one’s sanity, as there is no longer anything on which to base it.

See Gore, Al.

That does explain a lot (nt)

YnotNOW (Diary) Thursday, October 20th at 10:15AM EDT (link)

:)

YnotNOW
If not me, who? If not now, when?

 
 

Economy bad in Nevada

eddie74 Thursday, October 20th at 9:09AM EDT (link)

What Harry Reid & the people of Nevada fail to notice is that people like myself and many others are quietly boycotting Nevada as long as crooked little Harry Reid is their Senator blocking the good legislation of every other State Senator. We did NOT elect Harry Reid from Nevada to have dictatorial Power over 49 other States, yet He has the POWER to Block Out our own State Senator who should have EQUAL Status and also EQUAL Power in the Senate.
I have avoided going to or through Nevada for Four years now and wonder how many other citizens are also in a quiet boycott of Nevada because of crooked, little Harry Reid.. BTW – Have you been to Branson, MO..??

I forgot to add:

eddie74 Thursday, October 20th at 9:57AM EDT (link)

When going to Branson,MO for all the FUN you could ever have, – you will notice that YOU only need HALF the Money to have TWICE the Fun..
I’m for leaving Nevada & Harry Reid “High & Dry.”until they elect an Honest & Patriot American Senator.. But then, I – We may be asking the “Impossible.”

 
 

Reid does believe what he says-

johnCV (Diary) Thursday, October 20th at 11:13AM EDT (link)

and that’s the most frightening aspect of this whole sad situation. DC, THE wealthiest area in the country has no inkling about the rest of us. It’s totally isolated from reality because they have the ability to shape their own fiscal environment by simple fiat. They have arranged that all of our wealth flows through the power channels of DC, with the attendant parasites feeding off of the hard work of the nation.

The credo in DC is “feed the parasite and damn the host”.

I don’t see this ending well.

 

Mini-Czar Reid Is An Idiot

billstanley Thursday, October 20th at 11:57AM EDT (link)

Harry Reid: ‘Private Sector Jobs are Doing Just Fine; It’s the Public Sector Jobs Where We’ve Lost Huge Numbers’ — I wish it were true … the way it should be. www.newsandopinions.net

 

What Harry really said

daniel22 Thursday, October 20th at 1:12PM EDT (link)

was Sit down, shut-up, and listen to your betters. He does believe his own garbage and expects us to do the same as well. I wonder if he remebers the often repeated phrase in vegas ” ante up.”

 

Harry is a Propagandist Extraordinaire

doctorbob Thursday, October 20th at 3:07PM EDT (link)

Harry is simply lying through his teeth, hoping that if he tells a big enough lie, SOME people will believe him. He’s a Big Government advocate, and this is his ploy to justify growing the government even larger. Fact is, the private sector is NOT doing “just fine.” We are in a very serious recession, and we could very easily tip over into a full-blown DEpression without much of a push. We need to SLASH the size of government by a SIGNIFICANT amount. ALL jobs must be on the chopping block for potential elimination, and ALL government agencies (except the military) must be trimmed, and trimmed some more. Harry is fighting back against this because it’s not in the interests of a raging, demented Socialist to let that happen. That’s where his comment came from. He is lying, just like all Socialist do.