Payrolls in U.S. Rose 162,000 in March; Unemployment at 9.7%

Yes, I'm sure that all those temporary census workers will be rolling out their new technological inventions any time now.

 

We are talking about the present.

The government is not hiring new scientists and engineers.

The government is currently hiring part time temporary census workers.

Let's try to stick to the topic at hand - which you started.

 

Where is my dishonesty, Bob ?

 

Actually, the guy who is credited with the internet invention was a professor at M.I.T., Sir Tim Burners Lee.

Targus is quite correct. The folks that are being hired right now will not advance any science, they will advance government. To compare the two is silly.

Also, by C.T.Boy's own admission, private companies worked with the military to get packet switching done. Which means to me the private companies did the work, funded by military money.

 

>Yes, I'm sure that all those temporary census workers will be rolling out their new technological inventions any time now.

Yes, but 80% or so of the increased productivity created by the post WW2 inventions went to union workers in union states. In the last 25 years around 80% of the net value of increased productivity has gone to stockholders.

Can anyone explain to me why the net increase from new inventions should NOT go to the stockholders?

 

I was not posting on the current events or the politics forums very often. These areas are generally more caustic in my opinion.

 

>Reason: A government job costs money to fund--via tax dollars. Not so with a private job.

Doesn't compute. You may argue that there is a psychological or social reason that private jobs are more efficient than public jobs but the balance sheet is the same no matter the source of the investment funds.

The BIG RIP-OFF is that public funds are used by private contractors and, somehow, the private contractors are permitted to patent the results of the experiments and investigations. I think this mostly true in the medical industry.

 

Crabby, getting four computers to talk to each other is not the internet. Origins, perhaps. But we all know origins are not finalized product. That's like saying the jumbo jet was invented by the Wright Brothers. And there were several companies working on networking computers together, we would have it with or without the military.

Also, you should source your wikipedia quote.

Baloney. There is no way to prove that, anyway. Just you tring to switch subjects.

 

No, I did not say that.

What benefit to the economy will come from the census anywhere near to the examples that you have cited like the internet and email?

 

Please do not attempt to derail the discussion.

The question is what economic benefit to the economy will come from temporary part time hiring by the government for the census?

You said that government hiring results in new inventions, new technological advances and new uses of technology developed by government spending that in turn are used by the private sector.

Please support your position by citing the advances that will come to the private sector by the the work done by these temporary census workers.

 

Ok...so now, have you considered:

• All the man-hours given to satisfying all the government regulations?
• Or the fact that just because a government contract employs folks...that doesn't mean it should happen...or that those people wouldn't be employed through other means?
• The number of individuals who might have been discouraged from further acheivements...all because of pedantic, cumbersome, or discriminatory government demands?

This is where our disagreement manifests itself at the most basic level. I think that America (and Americans) are great because of their effort--their determination--their self-reliance. You think America is great because of government.

And to be blunt, your side is in control right now of our country, and your side is wrecking us as fast as it can.

Apparently, you think that in a perfect world, everyone will be employed by the government. You think that government employement is the apex of employment...and government-directed jobs are the highest calling when it comes to available jobs.

Only problem is...your encomic Ponzi scheme has a tipping point. Can I say precisely when it will occur? No...but I promise you: It will occur. Unless there is drastic change--the number of "takers" will overwhelm the number of "givers" at some point. You can only fund so much before there is a collapse.

But hey...you're convinced I'm just a right-wing fringe bumpkin...what do I know? Too bad you're not right...because if I am right, tough times are coming.

 

The 1890 Census used punch cards which were tabulated by machine. So, the Census Bureau invented the computer, just like Al Gore invented the Internet. :tongue3:

In all seriousness, the non-response follow up operation is fairly low-tech on the front end. Enumerators will be using reams of paper maps, paper census forms, letters, logs, etc. Once the Enumerator has the information from the resident on the form, the information is imputed into a computer system by a Census Clerk. The data is then compiled and delivered to the President by December 31, 2010 and to the States in the spring of 2011 for reapportionment. The individual responses are only seen by Census employees who are bound by oath or affirmation to secrecy. The forms and computer files are then sealed for 72 years, after which they become public record.