And here we go again with more of “America by the Numbers.”
While some of the larger chain book stores have closed the number of independent booksellers in the U.S, has grown more than 20 percent in the past five years. Even with competition from Internet discounters, their book sales have steadily climbed about eight percent every year. And you? I know all about you. You’re waiting for the movie.
Andrew Tahmooressi, 26, was held in a Mexican jail for accidently crossing the border into Mexico with guns in his vehicle. Here are two numbers that you might find interesting. The Marine reservist spent 214 days in a Mexican jail. How many telephone calls did our President make to the president of Mexico on behalf of our American hero?
None! Zero! Zip!
President Obama, you should be ashamed of yourself. You traded five terrorists for one deserter but didn’t lift one finger to assist our hero.
In this so-called war on women, men’s starting salaries are, on average, 7.6 percent higher than women’s. According to a study of Carnegie Mellon business school graduates, 57 percent of men negotiated their salaries and benefits while only 7 percent of women did, despite being coached to do so. It’s only my opinion, but women should speak up for themselves instead of settling early on. Ya hear that Carol?
In a recent speech, my President proudly stated that we have turned the corner. Really? Tell that to the owners of 9.7 million homes in the U.S. that are still “under water.”
Tell it to the 30,000 part-time Walmart employees who will soon lose their health-insurance coverage.
Before you jump all over Walmart about this, you might want to know that it is the last of its peers to cut insurance for part timers. As of last year, two-thirds of large retail chains did not offer them insurance at all.
Going back to the imaginary corner we were supposed to have turned, Time Warner Broadcasting Company, the home base of CNN, TNT, and TBS is eliminating 1,475 jobs. Ratings are one of the reasons for its attempt to save money. While competitors, such as the Fox News Channel, have been kicking them in the gut, so many of you still shout about how you hate Fox. Somebody out there must be watching O’Reilly, Greta, Megyn, and Sean.
Now, for more numbers that you will not like, let’s look at Hewlett-Packard, the world’s largest tech company, and its latest plan to split into two separate corporations. H.P. was already planning to reduce its workforce by 36,000 jobs. It changed its mind. That number has climbed to 55,000 jobs.
Headline: “U.S. services sector growth slows in October.” The gauge of service sector activity fell from 58.6 to 57.1.
Mr. President, Please tell us again about the corner we have turned.
This column is dated Nov. 24th. If you are reading it on the 24th, stop what you are doing right now. At this very minute, walk 10 steps over to the freezer and take out the 15-pound turkey. Put it in the warmest part of the refrigerator and let it defrost. Thawing will take three-and-a-half days. We remember what some of you did last year. You forgot all about the several days it takes for the frozen bird to become roast-ready. Not a problem. You sent your husband for Chinese takeout and served it all, buffet style, while five men watched the football game and seven women yacked away in the dining room. I am StanGershbein@Bellsouth.net telling you that I heard the turkey lo mein really was pretty good.
