US job-count failures

Caroline Baum on effects of the US Healthcare reform, with respect to the Obama administration's claims of job creation. (Bloomberg)


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How many small businesses are holding off on hiring additional employees until they know what additional burdens Congress will impose on them in the name of health-care reform? How are expectations of higher health-care costs affecting consumers’ current spending, which in turn affects output and employment? (Only in government la-la land can you provide more health care for less money.)

In the face of a 10.2 percent unemployment rate and growing doubt about government claims of jobs created, the administration is standing by its 640,329. After all, Devaney has “no doubt that there’s a lot of jobs being created.” It’s just a question of how many.

One million? 640,329? It’s close enough to zero for government work.

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Having the above coupled with the coming "Climate-Gate" carbon-tax policies, no actual economic recovery would likely commence until the wrongs are put right. Here too, politics in NZ presently has largely followed American, Euro-centric influence.

Recent revelations on Climate-Gate,

Somebody must address these tough issues, and voice hard questions! Truth conquers all.

Protein powders over-valued

Having interest in natural bodybuilding, I visited a local supermarket today and checked out some protein source prices, with unexpected results. Typically “top of mind” protein supplement powders actually presented highest costs per gram of protein, and many came with undesirably high sugar content. What the heck right?

Prices broken down

OK, these are the rough unit prices available at the local supermarket (all generic brands).

Blanched Peanuts: $0.02/gram

Canned Mackerel: $0.03/gram

Eggs: $0.04/gram

Ground/Minced Lamb: $0.05/gram

Protein Powder: $0.10/gram

So what gives? Some may suggest that the protein supplement adds value with convenience. Does it really take that much work to open a can of fish or bag of nuts? They don’t even require a blender.

The high sugar content seen in the supplement product does not help either. Keeping simply sugar intake minimized remains one of few critical means to keep the body relatively lean while putting on muscle.

Therefore, while some folks may find protein powders helpful, I’d say not.