The BLUEPRINT for JUSTICE ANSWER to UNEMPLOYMENT Woes!

UnEmployment Smart: Legislation to create community jobs for College tuition credits

TheBluePrintforJustice proposes an increase (that's right an investment) funding to create new volunteer programs focused on building the communities, such as making them cleaner, providing safety details, volunteer, fire and police, community parks and recreation, healthcare: prevention, and so on... the bill would

• Establish a Rebuild American Workers program for those unemployed over one year. A person would earn 1 year of tuition credits redeemable at any institution for courses focused on management or leadership positions in non-profit organizations. There would be a maximum of 3% of the current unemployment rate persons eligible;

• Allow non-profit organizations who hire these individuals to receive 15% of their employer taxes back as an "America Works Again" grant, 2 years from the date of employment of those who graduate from said particular college programs;

• Create Scholarships that would provide the unemployed with opportunities to enhance their skills in mathematics, and sciences based on a minimum of 450 volunteer hours a year. The scholarship is transferable to their spouses or children between the age of 18-25.

11.9% UNEMPLOYMENT..... WHAT?

WHAT YOU GONNA DO BUT HUSTLE ! .....

11.9% UnEmployed + 22.3% Under-Employed = A REAL BIG MESS !

THE ECONOMY

Unemployment in California hits post-World War II high

The state's rate jumps to 11.9% in July as the U.S. rate declines to 9.4%. Job losses have an outsize effect on Latinos in the state as work in the construction and hospitality sectors vanishes. (LA TIMES 8/22/09)

Thanks for following my blog, but really. First, over 33% of the LA county population have NO reference to WWII. I mention this because the reference point of WWII is used in the article to emphasize the impact of the state's unemployment rate, however, If WWII has no tweet on your twitter, then this serious issue just blows in the wind. However,. . . this is some important stuff. We need for newspapers to hold relevance to our day to day lives, but I guess you get what you can get.....So in my attempt to relate to those most affected by the 11.9% unemployment rate in Cali.... here are some post Vietnam War references..

Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise Version 11.9; Logitech QuickCam Software Informer version 11.9; WinHex Software version 11.9;Wave MP3 Editor software Informer version 11.9.... now with these references, this generation of workers understand the impact.... just ask a post Vietnam War Californian what it means to have a software package advance to its 11.9 version....

Or, to place the severity of California's unemployment rate in comparison to countries of which many Californians have family, California's unemployment rate is higher than that of Colombia 11.1%; Bulgaria 11.5% ;Bolivia 7.50%;Brazil 8%; Chile 7.5%; El Salvador 6.40%;Guatemala 3.20%.

.... I could go on with the point that it's bad in Cali... however, talking about what everyone can feel, doesn't get us anywhere, so here's a BLUEPRINT for JUSTICE suggestion to well known issue of unemployment in Cali....

-"BOOST COMMUNITY SERVICE JOBS for 'EDUCATION TUITION FEE CREDITS'" redeemable at any university or college in California. I mean let's take the situation of "not working" and turn it into building a more humane, just, and fair society, while ensuring that American workers become the more literate, hence building the opportunity for our country to become a leader again in world innovation.

Stay tuned as I highlight on my next blog how this works.....

Jobs are Scarce ! And Some aren't worth the hassle!

I am back from bloggation [meaning: 10 or more days without blogging]. I had many wonderful conversations with my mom about many issues and as promised I will share those discussions with you. They are.... to say the least... the real deal. But first, let's get back on this unemployment stuff.


Here's the good news [if you want to call it that] fewer jobs were lost in July, the unemployment rate is expected to rise to 9.7% from June's 9.5%. Most economists now expect the jobless rate to peak above 10% later this year or early next year. It is possible that the post-World War II record high of 10.8% could be breached, although few are predicting that. Already, the unemployment rate has risen from 4.4% to 9.5%; the 5.1-percentage-point increase is the largest in any recession since the 5.2-percentage-point increase in the 1948-49 recession.

At 9.7% everyone is feeling the pressure of the rise in unemployment. For example, when I was back in Pittsburgh at a local hang -out in the "Hood' on Frankstown Ave., many of the patrons, would jokingly state the only job that was available was that of becoming a rapper- "because they make mad loot". Well, my dear friends back in the "Hood" and for those young cats, who believe the statement, "rappers make mad loot".

I want to provide you with some facts before interviewing for this job.

#1...rappers are ALWAYS the last to get PAID. The label, the manager get 15%-20% of all the rappers income; the lawyers 5%-10%; accountants get 5% of all income; and UNCLE SAM always gets 30% or more....

#2.... the rapper then gets paid about 12% on average, then after paying back all the advance allowances, he/she is usually in the negative. The results in the artist having to produce on average 3 albums before he/she can see any real income.

Here's an example: (assumption: rappers makes 3 albums, and produces his/her own tracks)

Suggested retail list price (CD) $10.98 (7 tracks or less per unit) less 15% packaging deduction = $9.33. This means the that all mentioned in #1, and #2 above gets paid on 85% of records sold =$7.93.

Yeh, see the point, The rapper's 12%(point #2 above) is equal to 96 cents per record sold. And if the rapper didn't produce all the tracks he/she would have to pay 3% of 96 cents to his/her producers. What does this pan out in real money ? Well take a deep breath.... on a gold album (that means having sold 500,000 copies) a rapper makes about $19,333.

My point, this isn't a job worth the hassle!

The real deal, ....Our youth need to focus on participating in the economy of "real jobs" and the

BLUEPRINT for JUSTICE in seeking "good" jobs.

California Budget Cuts: Equal JobLessness...

The red circle(s) indicate(s) "job lost" California's job loss is so large....... it falls off the chart!

I know this, "the budget cuts" = job loss= high unemployment= lost tax revenue = more budget cuts = more job loss= more unemployment = more lost revenue...... getting the picture

       $250 million in 2009-10 General Fund ($546 million total funds) cut from IHSS

It's Time for the BLUEPRINTforJustice:

What are your thoughts for creating jobs ?

Hit me up !

I asked my "mom" this question and she agreed to share our conversation with you....(I will share it during my next blog.) 

Do You Care About Poverty ?

The CONNECT

Ethanol → corn → food → POVERTY

Look, I am well aware that an alternative to oil dependency is of utmost importance, however when a Dash for green fuel pushes up price of meat in our country, well then.... then it's time to take a pause....The price of meat is set to rise again across the country as the nation’s helter-skelter dash to convert corn into road fuel begins to take its toll on the supply of food.

The US Department of Agriculture has said that meat supply will fall this year because of the high cost of feed. Output of beef, pork and chicken is expected to decline by one billion pounds as farmers react to the soaring cost of feeding their livestock.

The biofuel revolution’s unpleasant negative consequence was first noticed in our community of South Central Los Angeles , when the escalating price of corn affected the cost of Thanksgiving turkeys a year and a half ago. (Note. This is when Councilman Barnard Parks of the Los Angeles City Council, offered "freebees" at a non-union grocery store. I am happy to say, he paid for all those discounts by remaining a council member.... Some of you know what I mean...) ooohhh. Here is another note. Did you know that the unemployment rate has increased 9.2% in the 8th council district, since Councilman Parks was elected.. WOW!

.....Now back to the CONNECT...

In Washington, the International Monetary Fund added its warning about the consequences of a mass conversion of food crops into fuel. Vast US government subsidies for the production of ethanol, used as a petrol additive in America, has encouraged the expansion of ethanol distilleries. The indirect subsidy to ethanol on the 4.9 billion gallons produced in 2006 comes to $3.9 billion. Together with the direct subsidies of $0.9 billion for corn and $2.5 billion for ethanol the grand total is $7.3 billion. That's $1.50 per gallon of ethanol, or $2.28 per gallon of gasoline replaced.

• 
  In 2006, the total subsidies for ethanol came to roughly $7.3 billion, which is $1.50 per gallon of ethanol produced or $2.28 per gallon of gasoline replaced. These subsidies have produced an enormous boom in ethanol. Between August 2006 and January 2007, the capacity of existing plants and plants under construction grew from 7.4 billion gallons to 11.4 billion, a 54% increase in six months. Collins (USDA, 2006) describes the state of the market as ethanol euphoria.

Here's why the BLUEPRINT for JUSTICE wants to highlight the CONNECTION between Food and Fuel.

Sharp increases in food prices over the last few years have impoverished millions. In the up coming blogs(now that you have some facts) I will outline the inadequacy of states and federal government safety nets and propose means by which the progressive community might help poor consumers cope with rising food prices.

Keep this in mind--- food commodities prices increased 130% from January 2002 to July 2008. Individual agricultural commodities show even more pronounced increases: corn (up 190%), wheat (162%), rice, (318%) and soybeans (246%) rose dramatically. Food prices began to fall in July '08, bringing some relief, but prices are likely to stay high for the foreseeable future. What does this mean for the poor?

Turn to the BLUEPRINT for JUSTICE.

Food vs. Fuel

As this week's topic comes to a close on Tuesday. I felt it important to provide some interesting facts to a debate of which I am sure will continue. The BLUEPRINT is dedicated to raising one's intelligence on issues that have an impact on the poor.

Here are some facts regarding our GROCERY bills relationship to GAS Prices :

Fact#1

Ethanol is commonly made from sugar, but it can also be fermented from starch in crops like corn, wheat, canola and sorghum and then blended with existing oil-based fuel. It's one of the key alternatives being introduced around the world to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Fact #2

By 2028, world demand for oil is expected to increase by a whopping 70 per cent. The price, supply and climate change implications are enormous. But the scramble for solutions is creating new concerns as more and more food is diverted into the fuel chain. In the United States, up to a third of the corn crop is now being used to make fuel.

My Commentary:

The food-vs-fuel argument shows no signs of going away. The latest contribution to this debate comes from Oil World, the global oilseed analyst. “A downward adjustment or a postponement of higher biofuel targets appears indispensable. If this does not happen, more social unrest due to escalating food prices is to be expected,” it asserts. It is, therefore, high time for governments promoting the use of crops for energy purposes to rethink their policies. If such a process starts, it could indeed trigger a sharp setback in prices of vegetable oils and oilseeds. But as long as the targets are maintained, there will be little downward scope for prices, it has pointed out. “When millions of people are going hungry, it’s a crime against humanity that food should be diverted to biofuel,” said finance minister Palaniappan Chidambaram in an interview in Washington recently. While many are worrying about filling their gas tanks, many are struggling to fill their stomachs, and it is getting more and more difficult every day. Food or GROCERIES. the BLUEPRINT.