THE US REPORT

U.S. employers are in a bind, but in keeping with my bloated government theory, I’m culling the most significant stat from the U.S. Bureau of Labor. Government grew 23,000 new jobs in October, the sharpest increase of any sector. That single statistic says it all.

Over the years, government on local, state and national levels has methodically grown the coffers, increasing taxes at every turn, from gasoline to tobacco to increases on higher income earners. Approximately 52 percent of American voters just elected a president who promises to increase taxes again for those higher earners and for a significant number of employers. I saw a comment yesterday on a discussion board—a hair stylist said her business was off.

What did we really expect? Most who have managed to tuck away savings will hold on to it, in anticipation of higher taxes. Small businesses can’t add employees in a downturn. Add in the fact employers are a target right now for every trial lawyer in the land. Toss in the unions and face facts. The U.S. has become hostile to every type of employer except the government. And we all know about government jobs—you have to know an insider to get one. It’s worth noting politicians love to spread the taxpayer’s wealth but not their own.

If Democrats have their way on energy policy, you can kiss more jobs goodbye and say hello to increases in your utilities and food costs among other things. That party’s energy policy has already contributed to increases. Why should we expect anything different?

It’s no surprise the economic news is gloomy. The fact that we continue to grow government jobs that the hair stylist and I will subsidize is mind-boggling. Perhaps Sen. John McCain could lend President-Elect Barack Obama a hatchet and maybe teach him how to use it? I think our new president should lay his scalpel aside. I admit—expecting anyone to get a grip on federal spending or to institute accountability is a pipe dream. The last 8 years failed in that regard. And the next 4 years, despite rhetoric, will probably be the same. We have two major political parties and they both cling to the porker government ideal.