The Zaftig Redhead

Monday, July 19, 2010

Timeline of GOP Opposition to Extending Unemployment Insurance in 2010 Alone

3/9/2010 Cloture vote to end GOP Filibuster and Move to Up or Down Vote
80% GOP No Votes

3/10/2010 Temporary Extension of UI
85% GOP No Votes

4/12/2010 Cloture vote to end GOP Filibuster and Move to Up or Down Vote
93% GOP No Votes

4/15/2010 Temporary Extension of UI
93% GOP No Votes

6/17/2010 Cloture vote to end GOP Filibuster and Move to Up or Down Vote
93% GOP No Votes

6/24/2010 Cloture vote to end GOP Filibuster and Move to Up or Down Vote
98% GOP No Votes

6/30/2010 Cloture vote to end GOP Filibuster and Move to Up or Down Vote
88% GOP No Votes

7/20/2010 Temporary Extension of UI
?

Copyright 2010 (text only). The Zaftig Redhead. All Rights Reserved.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Take the 2010 Ask a Working Woman Survey

The Great Recession has hit American workers in the gut—unemployment is up, jobs are scarce, foreclosures are occurring at record rates and health care costs are skyrocketing. Even if you are working, wages are stagnant and many seniors will have to work past retirement age just to pay bills.

In this brutal economy, what is on the minds of today’s working women?

The AFL-CIO’s community affiliate, Working America, is providing a chance to share those concerns through the just-launched online 2010 Ask a Working Woman survey. The biennial survey enables working women to share workplace concerns.

The Ask a Working Woman survey runs through the end of July.

More than 12,000 women responded to the survey in 2008, when they said the top item that would make their lives easier is a 10 percent raise. While issues such as affordable health care and quality child care were major concerns for working women, paying the bills, buying the groceries, filling the gas tank and paying the rent and mortgage were the concerns women said worried them the most.

AFL-CIO NOW BLOG | Take the 2010 Ask a Working Woman Survey

The Zaftig Redhead. All Rights Reserved.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Could U.S. Go The Way Of The British Empire?

Debt, deficits, and their impact on the ability of nations to maintain government spending levels is a burning issue around the globe, as national leaders try to recover from a deep recession and not break the bank.

However, according to the chart below, it's clear that as debt levels increase, the power of a nation is put at risk. According to Business Insider, the British Empire might have a thing or two to teach us upstart colonials. From World War I to the end of World War II, the British Empire's debts increased, much of it to a growing power in the U.S. that supplied it with weapons.

For the U.S. today, China could be that supplier of goods, as the U.S. government racks up debt on the way to its decline. Kinda scary, huh? Of course, this fate is far from certain, and there were many more reasons why the British Empire declined than just debt levels. However, it does make a clear statement when a nation's legislature (actually, the GOP) is unwilling to extend jobless benefits for fear of increasing debt, when such benefits are actually -- dollar for dollar -- the best investment a government can make to encourage spending. Oh yeah, it's also the right thing to do.

Copyright 2010 (text only). The Zaftig Redhead. All Rights Reserved.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Health Reform: What the Affordable Care Act means for Medicare Recipients

Go to www.healthcare.gov for more information.

Copyright 2010 (text only). The Zaftig Redhead. All Rights Reserved.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Young Americans Learn That Trying To Find Work Is Pointless

While the nation has experienced some job creation during the rebound (and I use that term lightly), the rebound so far, however small, hasn't even started for the young.

That's because the new jobs in today's market aren't open to younger workers, according to a study called "Unemployment Among Young Workers" by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee:

"Employers added over half a million jobs in the last four months, yet the unemployment rate for young workers reached a record 19.6 percent in April 2010, the highest level for this age group since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking unemployment in 1947... The youngest workers (16 to 17 years) experience the highest rates of unemployment. The unemployment rate for 16 to 17 year olds was 29 percent in April."

The chart below shows how the unemployment rate for America's youngest workers (in red) continues to get worse, even while other age groups' unemployment rates have plateaued or slightly declined (in blue or green).

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-unemployment-by-age-young-americans-2010-7?utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CS_COTD_070710#ixzz0t83zs5kC

Copyright 2010 (text only). The Zaftig Redhead. All Rights Reserved.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Introducing HealthCare.gov: Take a Video Tour of the Website that Helps You Understand Healthcare Reform

Curious about what the new health care reform law means for you and your family? Wondering when certain key provisions of the law kick in -- and when you can take advantage of them? Wondering which options are best for you and yours? The government has launched a comprehensive new web site designed to walk you through these questions and much more.

Copyright 2010 (text only). The Zaftig Redhead. All Rights Reserved.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Dan Gilbert's open letter to fans: James' decision a 'cowardly betrayal'

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert issued the following statement on LeBron James' departure from the franchise:

Dear Cleveland, all of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers supporters wherever you may be tonight:

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several-day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight: "I personally guarantee that the Cleveland Cavaliers will win an NBA Championship before the self-titled former 'king' wins one."

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our homegrown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland. Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day...

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue...

Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

Thursday, July 8, 2010

LeBum: By rejecting his hometown team, LeBron James earns his slot on the Modell list of shame

LeBron James is free to go to Miami. He's free to market himself on ESPN. But fans in his hometown also are free to say he never should have embarrassed us by spurning Cleveland and the Cavs in front of a global audience.

One disappointed fan -- Thomas Johnson of Bridgeport, Conn. -- was prepared to express his opinion after LeBron James' announcement on Thursday night.

Check out this great piece on LeBron's unnecessarily public defection in the Plain Dealer by Bill Livingston. The LeBum is dead to the Zaftig Redhead, my friends. Not simply because he left, but because of how he did it -- and because he disappointed my mama. That's a no-no, and unforgivable.

Copyright 2010 (text only). The Zaftig Redhead. All Rights Reserved.

What People Are Actually Doing With Their Cellphones

Also in Pew's research:

* 54% have used their mobile device to send someone a photo or video
* 23% have accessed a social networking site using their phone
* 20% have used their phone to watch a video
* 11% have purchased a product using their phone
* 11% have made a charitable donation by text message
* 10% have used their mobile phone to access a status update service such as Twitter

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Great Gifts for Mother's Day: Video Stardom and $10,622

Mother's Day is just a few days away. This year, give your mom something she needs and deserves: equal pay. MomsRising.org has developed a great Mother's Day video that you can customize and send to your mom and all the moms you know. Each mom you send the video to will see her name appear in a faux news story about them winning the "Mother of the Decade" award and will be lauded by Michelle Obama and Hollywood celebrities. Celebrating the achievements of mothers everywhere, this short, funny video also educates folks about economic issues facing all women.

Honor all the women in your life this Mother's Day by urging your senators to support the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 182) and bring the bill to the floor for a vote. Imagine how happy your mom would be when she opened your gift: a giant check for $10,622, the gap between the median yearly earnings of men and women. Just think of all the things she could do with this! From paying for groceries and health care to investing in an education and saving for retirement, equal pay is the best gift that you could give the women in your life.

By supporting the Paycheck Fairness Act, you'll also be giving your mom -- and everyone who has a mom -- the gift of workplace fairness. Mom deserves the right to ask about her employer's wage practices and discuss her wages with coworkers without the fear of being fired. In addition, you'll give her the tools she needs to negotiate for fair pay and the protection of stronger federal enforcement efforts. Since her economic security throughout her lifespan is largely determined by her earnings, this truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

This recession makes pay equity even more important. With women now making up half of the workforce and more and more families dependent upon a woman's paycheck to make ends meet, ensuring that women are paid fairly is even more critical. Equal pay for equal work is not only crucial to most families' economic security, it's crucial to our nation's economic recovery. That's why it's so imperative that these tough economic times aren't used as an excuse to ignore pay discrimination.

The Zaftig Redhead. All Rights Reserved.