The Real Plumbers of Ohio

By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: October 20, 2008
“But what’s really happening to the plumbers of Ohio, and to working Americans in general?“

“First of all, they aren’t making a lot of money. You may recall that in one of the early Democratic debates Charles Gibson of ABC suggested that $200,000 a year was a middle-class income. Tell that to Ohio plumbers: according to the May 2007 occupational earnings report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual income of “plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters” in Ohio was $47,930.“

“Second, their real incomes have stagnated or fallen, even in supposedly good years. The Bush administration assured us that the economy was booming in 2007 — but the average Ohio plumber’s income in that 2007 report was only 15.5 percent higher than in the 2000 report, not enough to keep up with the 17.7 percent rise in consumer prices in the Midwest. As Ohio plumbers went, so went the nation: median household income, adjusted for inflation, was lower in 2007 than it had been in 2000.“

“Third, Ohio plumbers have been having growing trouble getting health insurance, especially if, like many craftsmen, they work for small firms. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, in 2007 only 45 percent of companies with fewer than 10 employees offered health benefits, down from 57 percent in 2000.“
See fully story
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/opinion/20krugman.html?em

fromtheslide - 23 October 2008 09:57 AM

The Real Plumbers of Ohio

By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: October 20, 2008
“But what’s really happening to the plumbers of Ohio, and to working Americans in general?“

“First of all, they aren’t making a lot of money. You may recall that in one of the early Democratic debates Charles Gibson of ABC suggested that $200,000 a year was a middle-class income. Tell that to Ohio plumbers: according to the May 2007 occupational earnings report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual income of “plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters” in Ohio was $47,930.“

“Second, their real incomes have stagnated or fallen, even in supposedly good years. The Bush administration assured us that the economy was booming in 2007 — but the average Ohio plumber’s income in that 2007 report was only 15.5 percent higher than in the 2000 report, not enough to keep up with the 17.7 percent rise in consumer prices in the Midwest. As Ohio plumbers went, so went the nation: median household income, adjusted for inflation, was lower in 2007 than it had been in 2000.“

“Third, Ohio plumbers have been having growing trouble getting health insurance, especially if, like many craftsmen, they work for small firms. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, in 2007 only 45 percent of companies with fewer than 10 employees offered health benefits, down from 57 percent in 2000.“
See fully story
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/opinion/20krugman.html?em

While Krugman is a well known economist.  He looks at issues from his leftist agenda.  He recently won the prized leftist award of Europe.

If you are genuinely concerned about wages and buying power, then you realize that Obama’s tax policy is going to drive up prices/inflation & unemployment.  This program is a combination of Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter.  Probably more Carter, when you consider the decimated military under an Obama administration, that will mirror what happened under Carter.

As we all recall under Carter, we were faced with 20% + interest rates, high unemployment and high inflation.  We can not return to the policies of Johnson & Carter.

No 2nd term for Jimmy Carter!  No Obama!

Vote McCain ‘08.

You say “He recently won the prized leftist award of Europe.“  What was that Award???  And what did you win??
Now also tell us how great the last 8 years have been under George Bush!!!

That is correct we do not need a return to the malaise of the Carter era.  Sky high interest rates, sky high inflation, high unemployment. 

No 2nd term for Jimmy Carter!  No Barack Obama!!

Vote McCain ‘08

Are you not capable of answering simple questions???