We're Number 7! We're Number 7!

Oh boy, the figures are rolling in on The One's stimulus package and that unbelievable recovery we're in! And the Enchanted Mitten is number 7 in the latest rankings!

All 50 states have been studied, comparing The One's projection of jobs created through December 2010 with the actual change in jobs through September 2009, using state payroll figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you remember the euphoria when The One said we would create 3.5 million jobs? The actual number, when you add up the state-by-state projections, was 3,460,000. Well, the figures are in so far, and it turns out the nation has actually seen jobs decline -- there are now 2,708,600 fewer people working, or a net loss of 6,168,600 jobs, compared to the projection.

Okay, I know the projection is for December 2010 and we still have a year to go, so it could still happen, couldn't it? After all, we're off to a flying start!

Here in the Enchanted Mitten, we were projected to gain 109,000 jobs. We've actually lost 137,300, for a net loss over the projection of 246,300 jobs. Still, this fine performance (guess we're just not making enough movies, or green products, or green movies, or whatever) only puts us at 7th worst among job losers. Here are the six ahead of us:

1. California, -732,400
2. Texas, -494,300
3. Florida, -371,100
4. New York, -326,800
5. Georgia, -291,900
6. Illinois, -256,900

Yes, we're only 10,600 lost jobs behind Illinois, a gap I think Gov. Tinkerbell and the rest of the Lansing think tank can easily close, but we'd better watch out -- Pennsylvania is only 100 lost jobs behind us, and Ohio is lurking in 9th with a net of 230,500 lost jobs.

I know what you're thinking, and you're probably right. It's not fair to compare Michigan's dismal performance against the failed stimulus, because the Mitten got out in front and started shedding jobs almost as soon as Tink could say, "You're gonna be blown away." But hey, rules are rules, and we have to take the rankings as we find them.

And so it goes. We're number 7! We're number 7!

Shovel Ready? Oh. Never Mind.

The centerpiece of The One's economic "stimulus" program was financing for infrastructure improvement nationwide, the idea being that needed roads, bridges, and buildings would be built or repaired, creating jobs and boosting the economy. Many experts, including the Congressional Budget Office -- hardly a bastion of conservatism -- disputed The One's absurd claims of job creation and preservation, pointing out that much of the proposed spending would not happen until 2011 or later.

The One and his minions countered that there are many, many, many projects that are "shovel ready," needing only the cash to get things moving. This cash, they promised, would be funneled through the states and all would be rosy.

Not so fast. As it turns out here in the Enchanted Mitten, our governor has decided not to put the shovel in the ground and has cancelled 137 projects worth $740 million, on the grounds that Michigan does not have the cash.

So, where's the stimulus money? Why were these projects, presumably "shovel ready," scheduled in the first place if the money wasn't in hand? How much have we lost just getting these 137 projects to this stage?

I have a good idea -- let's shut down state government for 9 weeks, just like GM is being forced to do. That should save us roughly 9/52 or a little more than one-sixth the annual cost of state government, about $7.5 billion. Isn't that enough to address our cash flow problems?

Look, I know this is an overly simplistic approach, but isn't it better than leaving the entire machinery of government in place while the governor and her pals slap band-aids on our hemorrhaging economy?

Democratic Party Honor Roll

Today, 7 Democrats joined all of the Republicans in the U.S. House of Representative to vote no on the Generational Theft Act, a/k/a the stimulus bill. They should be recognized as the only 7 Democrats to vote no on a bill that none of them read, in a vote that was rushed so Nancy Pelosi could leave the country.

The seven Democrats to vote no are:

Bright, Bobby, Alabama
DeFazio, Peter, Oregon
Griffith, Parker, Alabama
Minnick, Walt, Idaho
Peterson, Collin C., Minnesota
Shuler, Heath, North Carolina
Taylor, Gene, Mississippi

This was a courageous vote for these seven representatives. Take a moment to thank them. Pray they will remain courageous and their example will inspire a few of their lesser colleagues on the left to grow and learn.

And, of course, thank you to ALL of the Republicans who stood strong in the face of this monstrosity.