Vanessa Carlton- A Thousand Miles
It will change your life.

At least we have the freedom to complain about how sucky we have it here.

I really could care less about how badly the rest of the world is doing or how much better it is here in Wisconsin than in California, etc. It is long over due for this nation, the midwest, Wisconsin, and Rock County in particular to return to the role of beign a leader in manufacturing. Manufacturing creates & sustains jobs that pay living wages, create wealth, and supports families. All of which are needed here in Rock County. The heck with the rest of the nation or the world - lets focus on taking care of ourselves .....

"The voting here is being manipulated."

I agree! There's weird stuff happening all over this site. Stories with no sources, the votes here, articles from two years ago popping up in the popular discussions... I call shenanigans.

Without jobs there is little income without income there is no housing, food, clothing, personal hygiene etc. to be able to find a job. I don't think there's been enough done by city, county, and state officials to promote Rock County to potential employers. This affects financing for schools, city, county, and state services. I know I don't spend as much as I used to, and I'm more diligent in finding the lowest prices too.

We suck a lot less than the rest of the world.

This mess will not go away until good management plays a roll in the job market. We have people who play with employees lives, having total disregard for work ability. The ones being paid are less qualified, but that makes the bosses in some companies less fearful.
The problem is that older knowledgeable workers took the fall to help the bottom line, leaving poor performance to save the bottom line.
Now we watch these companies squirm to make there bad and greedy decisions pay dividends.

I would have to agree w/ others that the votes are rigged some how. This year is the worst I've seen in the past five in our line of work. We've lost 70% of our employees in the last 2 years and are on a week on week off basis now. I think we are all slowly bleeding out. But the money the government (all gov. not just dems)is getting spent faster than it can be printed much less the 30% they taking from all our checks.

andre_linoge: I think you're right. I went to vote and it said I already did. And I KNOW I didn't.

In nominal dollars the public debt rose and then fell between 1992 and 2000 from $3T in 1992 to $3.4T in 2000. During the administration of President George W. Bush, the gross debt increased from $5.6 trillion in January 2001 to $10.7 trillion by

Holly, can I ask where there is a better economy? I thought the whole U.S. was in trouble, not just Janesville. JMO

Currently we live week to week with no sign of it getting any better; however, we're moving out of state soon to a better economy and I couldn't be happier! Janesville just can't seem to get it right and I'm tired of the circus side show that runs this town. In the twelve years that I have lived here, they have been utterly clueless as to what this town needs to survive the hardships that come and go and waste so much time and energy on trivial things that have no impact on the community. It would be nice to see them set their selfish motives aside and focus on the community for a change, but that hasn't happened and I don't see it happening anytime soon. Good luck Janesville!

*personal stretched comment.
I think if all of us that are having a difficult time finding work in this NON Growing, NON Providing Location that used to be called Janesville MOVED and restarted somewhere before the second wave of recession hits in a couple months?
City officials should stop their dumb stuff and put effort towards seriously drawing more industry to the area NOW. Or, as necesity demands, we will bring down this city. Then all those whom THOUGHT they had it safe with their employment, would face a stiffy reality check and they would change their tune about their status.

Rock County needs a new economic engine and a new identity before any long term job growth will happen. Right now, you don't have either one.

To all those graduating with your new 2 year Blackhawk degrees, good luck. I'm finding that the minimum educations levels have been upped to bachelors degrees for many of things I apply for. Why? Because there is a glut of applicants and they can pick an choose.

The Financial Modernization Act of 1999, signed into law by President Bill Clinton, is when this boondoggle, that we are living with today, started. An overwhelming majority of both houses and both parties voted yea.

You last two posters are exactly right! I wish everyone would jump on this bandwagon to help put Janesville back on the "positive" side. So many haters nowadays, it is unreal! Good luck finding a job, I also pray for everyone, not just unemployed. Everyone with a soul!

janesvillegirl72: You're absolutely right. Not everyone is trying to live off unemployment. My husband just graduated with honors and has been putting apps here in Janesville, Madison, Stoughton, anywhere where he can get a decent living wage to pay our mortgage and bills. No one has even called for him to get an interview yet. If he can't get a job soon, guess what?, we will be filing for all kinds of finacial aid that the taxpayers will pay for. Do you think we want to? H**l no! We never asked for help before, we are hard working people. But we have to do what we have to do to survive. We NEED good jobs here or Janesville will go down the tubes soon.

crafty-are you kidding, do you really think that the vast majority of people on unemployment are sitting around with their thumb in the bum? If so please rethink...being unable to get work is very very dehumanizing. I have found that more and more companies are hiring part time, no benefits positions. Then you have to get a second job that will work with the first to get a compete income, then find insurance that you can afford or just pray to God that you and your kids dont get sick or hurt. It sucks, you apply, send resumes, go to interviews. My son was told after he made arrangements, got to his interview early, showed up smiling to hear, we already hired someone else, sorry. I actually saw an ad that wanted a bachelors degree for a file clerk, really come on.

Why is BuSh like BP? They both made a mess of things and won't take responsibility for their screw ups.

Experts? How on earth can you consider anyone an expert where the economy is involved anymore. Just because a bunch of numbers show up doesn't mean that income flow is better. In general...that improvement doesn't mean squat to the majority of the united states who have no jobs as of yet, and just because a FEW have gotten jobs, doesn't stop that forclosure! I wish our government would stop with the false hopes. Until it is nationwide, there shouldn't be anything but concern consistently. For example, look at this ridiculous oil situation that most probably could have been prevented if the money hungry out for themselves owners were more on top of the daily maintianence ... but nope....don't care, it's all about how comfy THEY are while they are here, and poo on all the others and the future.

These Dem politicians do everything they can to ruin the economy. Starting with Barney scumbag Frank who created the mortgage crisis and we saw our retirement in stocks lose thousands. Then there's crazy Obama who was coaching people on how to get loans when he worked for Acorn another corrupt evil criminal crap organization. It's a wonder this country is holding up. Get these crazies out of office before we're all stone broke and another GREECE.

What's that? Another unemployment extension? Now I don't have to look for a job for another year! Now where'd I leave my patchouli?

I am going to ask why again. Why does everyone think that a natural disaster OR a man made disaster is Obama's fault? I just don't get it. Watching CNN this morning, they are hiring a lot of people to clean up the oil, any unemployed can go there and help and EARN money at the same time. JMO

The well of wisdom whybesad belies

The wicked whip of wit gonefishin is.

Obama couldn't run a 7-11 let alone the world's largest economy.

I think the next poll should ask if we really think BP is going to pay the entire bill for the disaster they are creating.

Just a question? Why does the Gazette post these polls and then never have a follow up article discussing the final results? Or am I missing the point?

IMO, kind of silly place to ask this question in what is still the employment sinkhole of the Wisconsin.

Things are getting better compared to 2 years ago when this all started. Summer of 08, if memory is correct is when things started falling apart and I see that we have hit bottom and are heading to better times.
.
Even if only 53K jobs were added last quarter considering how many thousand we were losing not that long ago...things are better.
.

I spent 30+ years in Quality Assurance. I learned you can prove anything you want if you collect the right data. I was watching CNN this morning and the "experts" were touting the 463,00 jobs created last quarter. Then CNN broke it down and explained that 411,000 jobs were temporary census jobs. You have to read past the headlines, if you want the whole story.

Of course these "experts"? just happened to work for the Nobama administration......

gimmegimmegimmemore!

With the added sense of stability, to procure Spending, we shall have false numbers to go by; insuring governmental success. No, nothing is better for the average 4.5 family. Prices are about to head north with global events, weather disasters, our great oil-slick down south, Euro and Asian market tie-ins to the USA, increases for hammer prices for military supplies, and yet to be observed recourse from fiscal aid to job creation and supplimental aid for the unemployed. Yah all are counting your chickens before they *fully* hatch.
Economy. Thats a two way street. Spending/ or Supplying. Meeting demand or falling by the wayside. Overstocked, or empty warehouses? The true balance is not known, and accountability is only impartial. Wake up and smell the cheep coffee, The worst is yet to be faced.
If your doing well for now, great. I do not get disgruntled with those who are maken it well. They earned it. I would suggest that these same people be cautious for the next 3 economic reports, and do not jump the gun on future investments before it is safe/stable. This would only prompt a new wave of consumers that get themselves into trouble feeling it is a safe time to do so.
Good luck to those whom are NOT fairing better now. Keep a tight belt and stick to your plans. The roads about to get bumpier very soon.

We will be completely debt free before i am 30, (besides a mortgage). Things are great for me. Hoping others people's situation will turn around like mine has the past 24 months.

Gee, am I the first poster? Please don't rip on me, I am having a good Friday. Our income has slightly improved, just slightly. I know there is still a lot of work to be done in bringing jobs back to this area. I wish the economy would hurry up for the sake of us all. JMO