NC on watch after jobless rate tops 10 percent

[WorseBeforeBetter]

"North Carolina's unemployment rate rose in July to more than 10 percent, the same rate as a year ago. The national average in July was just over 9 percent.

Layoffs of public workers were the big story the past two months.

Private companies added nearly 7,000 jobs in July, but state and local governments shed more than 12,000 workers. Schoolhouse workers made up a majority of the layoffs by the state's local governments.

July marked the first month the state's $19.7 billion 2011-12 budget took effect, and the spending plan included planned layoffs throughout state government.

http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/10140303/

Yep, November 2012 is gonna be quite interesting...

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[WorseBeforeBetter]

2. This state is taking hits from all directions. (n/t)

[xchrom]

6. sure seems like it.

i'm in durham -- and things SEEM fine here -- but we have 2 big unis -- a huge medical/teaching complex and rdu triangle.

appearances can be deceiving.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

8. Edwards was right re: Two Americas.

Spotted a Bentley in Raleigh the other day, and noticed a bunch of new $800K+ housing developments. Right down the road are public housing, beater cars, and shoppers using food stamps at Kroger. And the middle class, sustained by those state and local government jobs, is hanging on for dear life.

Sanity has *got* to prevail, but I don't have much hope (ugh, I detest that word now).

[barbtries]

3. will the local media

put this together with the republican government? they came in slashing and burning and going after women and the LGBT community big time. and we ALL get to suffer.

it gets harder to express how much i despise these FUCKS.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

5. No, the local media will fawn over Scotty McCreery.

It boggles my mind that this state was a leader during the civil rights movement (Greensboro sit-ins), and here we are 50 years later with this abomination against gays. The NC NAACP needs to step up and speak out against this, and get voters to the polls in May 2012. Progressive groups will be doing it; if you hear of any good ideas/efforts, please post.

Oh, and Nancy McFarlane for mayor -- vote October 11th!

[barbtries]

10. no shit

i am amazed at the press the kid got. don't watch tv, don't matter to me. but apparently a good distraction for many.

i will vote Oct 11, as always.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

11. Good, because the Teabaggers are loaded for bear.

Have you seen that massive Baptist church being built on Newton? I think Billy Graham's daughter is involved in funding -- another *lovely* influence on our state.

[blm]

4. Republicans promised jobs would increas by September after their budget was enacted in June. Instead

that GOP budget CUT jobs - teachers, first responders, and deep, DEEP cuts at universities.

The newsmedia won't hold GOP accountable - they're too afraid of them.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

7. The local media is painful to watch--I can stomach only about 5 minutes of weather.

The N&O does some excellent reporting (SBI in particular), but dear God, the Teabagger freedom-ain't-free letters to the editor are head explosion-worthy.

The university cuts are sickening:

UNC system will lose $414 million from state
http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/07/08/1328998/unc-system-will-lose-414-million.html

Leave it to Republicans to damage something considered a jewel of this state. They hate UNC-TV, too (one of the things I love best) -- can't have an educated electorate!

[xchrom]

9. +1