exploitation rises

LA  times :


"last year
 the consumer price index rose 2.7%.
             But wages rose only 2.5%"

     (  Meanwhile  up in the tower...)

" corporate profits 
hit record highs 
as companies got 
more and more 
       productivity 
   out of their workers "

=========================================

 
and then the times 
  goes on to the  usual 
                  boo hoo  for the boobs
                                         fest 
 

" workers' wallets are being pummeled
 by something of a perfect storm
 of economic forces:
 a weak job market
 rising health insurance premiums 
fuel cost spikes ...."

-----------------------------------------

but then we get a  ( R.A.U. PIT )
                      mention...


"The biggest factor 
is the slack employment market"

---SO SLACK IN FACT THAT ---------------

"people are  dropping
 out of the labor market 
at a greater rate 
than anytime since 1988 "


----------- SINCE  BEFORE 
            THE LAST BUSH BUILT RECESSION -----------------

------------------------------------------


THE BENE COST BINGE 


 " Although pay rose 
  only about 2.4% last year
 benefit costs jumped almost 7%" 



" employers also are requiring 
workers to pay a greater share 
of their premiums"

A PUNDIT QUOTE:


"In the long run 
           things
 can't continue like this....
 If healthcare
 keeps crowding out wages 
             forever
 something's got to give"


INDEED


-----------------------------------------------
  A FACT:


" for  47% of the workforce
  employers 
don't directly provide 
their health insurance"

 ANOTHER FACT:


"Historically
 periods 
     when wage growth 
       is outpaced by inflation
         rarely last
          more than 18 months"


are u re- assured mates?

--------------------------------------------

  not so bad as it might be .....



"Despite the failure of their wages 
to keep pace with inflation
 American consumers 
            have kept shopping.....

 Consumer spending 
    has continued to rise"

----------- 
                 WHY ? 
                   -------------------


" Home prices rose 
   9% nationwide 
from February 2004 to February 2005.....

 sheltering consumers
 and the economy
 from much of the pinch 
             of stagnant wages 
                    and higher prices"


---------- the joy inside
              greenspans  neat  mortgage rate
                             trick explained --------------------


"There's been a  home value driven
         wealth effect
          afoot throughout
       much of the recession 
               and the recovery" 



-------------- better 
   called still got
         the ability to borrow effect -----------


==========================================================