President proposes half-steps as usual, Rome continues to burn

Last week new unemployment claims rose to 500,000, the highest level in nine months, according to the Labor Department.

The drop is attributable to three factors, in order of importance:

1. State and municipal workers are being let go in record numbers. Nearly a million such jobs are expected to be lost this year. This is a problem that will be with us for some time as so many states and cities are now effectively bankrupt.
2. Manufacturing is down. The sector lost over 2 million jobs in 2008-2009 but had added about 128,000 jobs in 2010. It was one of the only bright spots in this economy, and it wasn't all that bright.
3. Temporary census workers are being let go. This is not all that significant a contributing factor and is one that will wane over time.

President Obama responded to the report by pushing a bill to provide tax incentives for small businesses to hire workers. Pardon the editorial, but this is a half-measure, just the kind of weak, half-stepping, equivocating, butt-kissing-the-greedy-rich crap I've come to expect from this incredibly disappointing president. It is not sufficient and sort of a slap in the face. Tax incentives are not going to cause any business to hire in this economic climate. It shows how out-of-touch these career politicians are with the real world. If you run a business and you're barely surviving, are you going to hire new workers just to get a little tax break? Common sense, guys and gals, that's all we're asking from Washington. It seems to be in short supply there.

Mr. President, please, grow a pair!

What this president should be talking about is a massive infrastructure bill. This is the sort of bold step that can build a legacy and secure his place in history for something other than being the first African-American president. The great presidents were the ones who took risks, who had the guts to be ambitious and propose radical ideas: Thomas Jefferson with the Louisiana Purchase, Teddy Roosevelt with the national parks, FDR with the New Deal, JFK with the moon project -- all of these were considered radical in their times. In times like these, we need a radical president who is willing to stand up to his pay masters and do the right thing by the people.

I mean, tax cuts? Really? Are you sh!tting me? That's the solution to unemployment? If anything we should be RAISING taxes on businesses that OUTSOURCE American jobs. Crikey.

A massive infrastructure bill would kill two birds with one stone: Create jobs and shore up the embarrassingly decrepit infrastructure in the U.S. Seriously, it's embarrassing. Brazil isn't supposed to have nicer trains and roads than we do here in the "richest country in the world." It's just not right (not that I begrudge the Brazilians their fine roads).

And while we're at it, maybe we could find some money for states and cities so that all those good jobs aren't lost and services aren't cut. I mean Jiminiy H. Cricket on a crutch, did anyone ever believe that we could get to a situation where some municipalities are having trouble keeping their 911 emergency lines open? What happens next, outright anarchy?

Wall Street reacted to the news with triple-digit drop. Oh-- wait... this just in: Who the hell cares? We have other things to worry about these days. Stop trying to party like it's 1998, mainstream media. Stop half-stepping, Mr. President. Be the great president we need, the one we elected you to be!