U.S. Drops Report On Mass Layoffs

The Washington Post ^ | Thursday, January 2, 2003 | Kirstin Downey

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

Data Helped States Track Patterns of Industrial Demise

Citing a shortage of money, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will stop publishing information about factory closings across the country, a decision that some state officials and labor leaders are protesting.

[Willie Green]

Modeling itself after Pravda, the Rove/Bush Administration comes up with a lame excuse for suppressing "negative" information that would reflect poorly on its economic policies.

[Fred Mertz]

This economy is tubing, but I don't look to Congress or Bush to act like they are fixing it.

This ongoing holy war is taking its toll.

[Consort]

Where is Ambrose, the third stooge?

[second_half_recovery]

So how vulnerable are the unemployment statistics to these money shortages?

[dennisw]

bttttttttttttttt

[His_law_is_liberty]

They seem to be running out of excuses, so they just stop reporting the facts.

None are so blind as they who will not see.

[RS_Rider]

and by a margin of more than 2:1 we hapless soles insist that big brother not reduce his reliance on our incomes!

[TexKat]

suppressing "negative" information that would reflect poorly on its economic policies.

Are you surprised, I'm not. This administration has been practicing suppression since the beginning. The writing has been on the wall for some time now.

[MissAmericanPie]

If it's not reported it isn't happening. Evidently the real "loud sucking noise" of manufacturing leaving the nation is about to crank up full throttle. Gotta hide that event from the populace for sure.

[chance33_98]

The MLS program resumed operations in April 1995 after it had been
terminated in November 1992 due to lack of funding. Prior to April 1995,
monthly layoff statistics were not available.

[DoughtyOne]

Willie, please don't confuse folks by posting facts to the forum. Thank you.

[chance33_98]

This is the final news release for the Mass Layoff Statistics
(MLS) program. Since 1994, the Department of Labor's Employment
and Training Administration has funded the program. That funding
will end on December 31, 2002. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
has been unable to acquire funding from alternative sources and must
discontinue the MLS program.

[Willie Green]

So how vulnerable are the unemployment statistics to these money shortages?

Good question.

There is reason to suspect their accuracy and reliability anyway: Odd Farm-Sector Surge Distorts Jobs Data

[Mulder]

the Bureau of Labor Statistics will stop publishing information about factory closings across the country

I guess the policy wonks were unable to figure out a way to manipulate the numbers on something as concrete as "factory closings", so they simply decided to not report them.

[Willie Green]

ping

[DoughtyOne]

If it's not reported it isn't happening.

I believe there are a lot of people on this forum who NEVER thought this phrase would be used in reference to their fair haired boy's actions.

Welcome to reality.

[Willie Green]

Fundamentally, we believe that the U.S. government needs to devote more resources and put in place new programs to build wider expertise about China and to protect our industrial base from eroding as a result of our economic relations with China.

-- C. Richard D’Amato, chairman
U.S.-China Security Review Commission
(How to improve U.S.-China relations )

[Rain-maker]

You will be told on a need to know basis.
You need to buy, consume, obey, and know nothing.

This message brought to you by your friendly TIA.

[DeaconBenjamin]

Just look at it as a step in the direction of more limited government. ;-)

[PAR35]

Maybe you could start running a monthly tally as you post your layoff stories. That would at least give a rough picture.