MediaCorps Assignment: The Bush Results on Jobs: Jobs Lost, Lower Pay

by Phil Wolff in Current Affairs, Letters To Editors, Media Watch, Writers.

Message of the week from the Kerry-Edwards Volunteer Media Corps.

The current Republican strategy is to mislead the American public by distorting John Kerry's record and accomplishments for political gain.

No matter what the Bush-Cheney campaign does, it cannot speak to the American public like you can. Your letters, your calls, and your commitment to the Kerry-Edwards ticket are the most convincing evidence to your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers that America can and will do better with John Kerry and John Edwards.

This is why, now more than ever, it is important that you continue to speak out. If you have a moment to spare, write an extra letter to the editor (or two!) between now and November 2, write and show your support for the Kerry-Edwards ticket.

For those of you who are rapid-response buffs, you are going to love your next assignment. Let's move this one out as fast as possible -- if you attended a convention party and met some enthusiastic supporters, or had a chance to meet up with other Kerry-Edwards supporters this past week, please contact them and ask them to participate by writing letters as well. Each day this week I will provide you with more writing points and statistics to use in your letters. If you have friends who are more concerned with one issue over another, send them what you think will be most convincing to them.

Your next assignment:

Bush's new campaign slogan is "results matter." We agree -- results DO matter -- that is exactly why we think America needs Kerry-Edwards. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and explain why George Bush's poor performance on jobs means that your community should vote for Kerry-Edwards.

• Statistics on the Bush economy and the jobs that have been lost are at the end of this email. Use them as proof of Bush's poor performance.
• Click here for a side-by-side comparison between Kerry-Edwards and Bush-Cheney.
• Click here to send your letter to your local newspaper. If you have the time, please consider hand writing your letter.
• Click here to share your letter with other Media Corps members.

You're the best!

Amanda Michel Internet Team

P.S. Alexa and I have been so overwhelmed with your emails and letters over the last few weeks that it has been difficult to report back to you on everything. Now that we have a database up and running that easily displays all your letters and where you sent them, we'll be in a much better position to respond to you.

The Bush Results on Jobs: Jobs Lost, Lower Pay

• 1.8 Million Lost Jobs. Since George Bush took office, the economy has lost 1.8 million private sector jobs. [Bureau of Labor Statistics]
• 7 Million Jobs Short of George Bush's Prediction. After 9/11, the tech bubble, and the recession, the Bush administration predicted nearly 6 million new jobs would be created between January 2001 and May 2004. Instead, we lost more than 1 million new jobs -- 7 million jobs short. [Bureau of Labor Statistics; Economic Report of the President, 2002]
• Jobs Are Shifting to Lower-Paying Industries, Paying $9,160 Less. On average, jobs in growing industries pay $9,160 less -- or 21 percent less -- than jobs in contracting industries. [Economic Policy Institute, "Jobs Shift From Higher Paying to Lower Paying Industries," January 21, 2004]