Merkley: GDP Growth a Good Sign for Economy but Focus Must Remain on Job Creation

"For millions of Americans, this recession won’t be over until new businesses can open their doors and existing businesses can expand and create new jobs" -Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - Today the Commerce Department announced that the economy grew for the first time in a year. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the last three months, after falling 0.7 percent in the second quarter and 6.5 percent in the first quarter of 2009.

According to the Council of Economic Advisers, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contributed between three and four percentage points to GDP growth.

“I’m gratified that after a year of economic decline, the economy is finally growing again. However, GDP growth is not our measure of success, the creation of good jobs at good wages is. For millions of Americans, this recession won’t be over until new businesses can open their doors and existing businesses can expand and create new jobs. In order to turn this recession around on Main Street, we need to get people back to work and restore economic security for our families.”

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Mr. Ed/unsourced November 1, 2009 6:12 pm (Pacific time)

It's amazing how some get that belly-button feeling that one's opinion must be sourced to have merit. No doubt if your source is at odds with someone else's unsourced opinion, then your source is not relevant, which would be of a judgemental opinion, unsourced of course.

Henry Ruark November 1, 2009 4:24 pm (Pacific time)

Stephen: Sorry if "all" seems to you restrictively inclusive. It is intended to open dialog for each and every point made completely, with documentation to separate it a bit from pure (read: IMpure !) personal feeling, per so many without some cogitation and check for solid other-sources. ANY dialog needs detail from as many minds (and life experiences !) as possible,but with that essential differentiation missed by so many who assume they are informed simply via belly-reaction. Re "history", depends upon who interprets events, information-flow, background research and skills involved with allathat...which is WHY one MUST KNOW SOURCES. Many are fine fellows but dedicated libertarian is just that --dedicated-- and thus any interpretation must be accepted ONLY within that shadow on full, open, honest meanings --achievable by the trained historian's skills and professional dedication, surely differing from that of any dedicated politician. Keep on seeking, thinking and always-inquiring...pays off in multiple ways and not only for person directly involved... Thank you for your continued participation.

stephen October 31, 2009 4:44 pm (Pacific time)

seems to be more like: Of wall street, by wall street, for wall street. lol History is a good tool for learning. Probably the best tool of all. Looking back to see why powers collapsed, how tyranny began, and so forth. What history is relevant to our current situation? History of those who said the world was going to end? Not me. Just people who followed false predictions. History in regards to what happened in the great depression and Nazi Germany? That one seems to relate a bit more to current events. The crisis in Argentina and Iceland? That is good history. History in regards to the banks after the 1776 revolution? good history. History in regards to the Khazars? good history. Just a suggestion Henry, you might want to change your introduction in your posts. "to all" includes me I take it. I have given links, books by Ron Paul, and documentaries for answers to our current crisis. I gave good answers that were long researched. I take offense in regards to "to all". With all due respect sir.

Henry Ruark October 31, 2009 9:28 am (Pacific time)

To all: Amazing how same century-old distortions,perversions re world government and various forms of disunion and dismay, driven to extremes including bloody revolution, keep turningup among those who never ever offer any positive steps to remediate any one issue much less the big picture. American history is replete with similar situations from pre '76 days until the current flood of desperately depressed and distorted analysis. Let those screaming indescribable consequence leading to massive failures of governance protocol and pattern put up precise examples and prove up final failure (VOTE-process removed) to present fully rational and continuing reasonable true-and-testable story. Until then will bet "OF the people, FOR the people, BY the people" will continue into more historic successes than ever yet experienced.

Stephen October 30, 2009 7:51 pm (Pacific time)

Vic: My hopes are that our keyboards and cameras will do the trick, ammo is expensive. :-) Thanks so much for your thoughts tho, I am on your page..thanks again. Mike: Its only depressing at first. As the truth seeps in, by news websites such as salem-news, among many others, its simply change. I kinda think of it as the moth turning into a butterfly. It is not depressing, it is a new opportunity, but the truth needs to be told and understood, before the opportunities can arise. Even through this crisis, I still believe in the main soul of this country and what it stands for. I still have hope. Not in obama/senate/congress, but people like you, and many others who post on this website. I have faith in YOU Mike.

Mike H. October 30, 2009 2:52 pm (Pacific time)

How depressing.

Vic October 30, 2009 7:00 am (Pacific time)

Right on, stephen...our real enemies are right here, parading around like celebrities while they plunder our nation and make plans to plunder the world. Sadly, I think the only relief for Americans involves guns and bullets. Until the elitists and our so-called representatives fear us every moment of every day, we are meaningless and inconsequential to them,...slaves that think we are free. Our role is to shut up, keep struggling, learn to get by on less while they take more and more, pay our taxes, and send our kids to fight and die for big business.

stephen October 29, 2009 1:36 pm (Pacific time)

We are now in the most extreme battle this country has ever faced. Its not in the middle east. Its right here at home. The battle between those who prefer sovereignty and the constitution, with those that prefer world government. The banking elite who have been planning the world government for a century are in their final stages, owning and/or running the auto industry, the airlines, all banks, health care, education, media, president/congress/senate, carbon taxes, and so forth. And they are using our tax dollars to do it. They have slowly widdled away at the Constitution until its almost non-existent. These are the same criminals who created this economic crisis. It is a tactic they have used for many decades. Its called crisis, reaction, solution. Create the crisis, then come in as savior with solutions to further their agenda (world bank). Federal employment is booming, foreign military troops on U.S. soil, fusion centers, CCTV cameras everywhere, federalizing the police force, the MIAC report (google it), the collapse of the dollar, using the media as their mouth piece, they know exactly what is coming. They are the ones who planned it. Any talk of economic recovery from the government/mainstream media, I file in the cabinet with the "Iraq has WMD's and is best friends with OBL" rhetoric. You dont have to believe me, you will continue to watch it unfold right before your eyes. Just giving the heads up, I felt it important to share this info. Its up to you now in deciding what you are going to do with it. Thank you for your time. youtube: Fall of the Republic

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