This year, taxpayers could receive another Economic Stimulus Payment.
This is very exciting and I will explain using the Q and A format:

"Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?
"A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

"Q. Where will the government get this money?
"A. From taxpayers.

"Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
"A. No, they are borrowing it from China . You children are expected to repay the Chinese.

"Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
"A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

"Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ?
"A. Shut up."

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:

If you spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China .

If you spend it on gasoline it will go to Hugo Chavez, the Arabs and Al Queda

If you purchase a computer it will go to Taiwan .

If you purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico , Honduras , and Guatemala (unless you buy organic).

If you buy a car it will go to Japan and Korea .

If you purchase prescription drugs it will go to India

If you purchase heroin it will go to the Taliban in Afghanistan
If you give it to a charitable cause, it will go to Nigeria .

And none of it will help the American economy.

We need to keep that money here in America . You can keep the money in America by spending it at yard sales, going to a baseball game, or spend it on prostitutes, beer (domestic ONLY), or tattoos, since those are the only businesses still in the US.

Let's not worry about that yet. Rumors can be a very dangerous thing...

An insider told me Sears and Home depot are leaving Janesville as well! Just what we need!

Actually Beloit is the city in Wisconsin with the highest unemployment rate 11.4%, Racine is 2nd with 10.8%. The Janesville with 9%, followed by Green Bay 8.3% and Milwaukee 7.9%.

The Janesville metro area (MSA) which includes all of Rock County is the highest MSA in the state. Madison MSA is 4.2% (3.6% city).

The highest county rate is Iron 10.7%.

I look at my 89 year old grandparents and listen to them....they lived through the Great Depression and none of this seems to surprise them at all. IF they can get through it, we certainly can. It may suck, but maybe people will finally learn from this and we'll have a little less greed?

Maybe someone should tell the underpaid electric union workers that are pickiting out on milton ave that they should be GLAD to have a job. in these hard times now days I cant beleive these poor workers would rather strike over a little wage than be glad they have work. I hope the company they are strikeing against just lets them go then see how much they will complain.

One more note: They said Racine's unemployment was a little over 10%

I just watched on the local Milwaukee news that Racine has the highest unemployment rate, then Beloit is second they said. So who's really right?

I totally agree with fedupfreddy! I applaud and give credit where credit is due to MY employwer as well. Cygnus Business Media in Fort Atkinson treats us employees very well, and I'm very very grateful and proud to be a part of Cygnus! Thank you!

ktaustin: I don't know the legality behind how many people need to be laid off before they are required to notify the media... where I worked prior to lay off, we were staffed at approximately 200... the company has laid off all but roughly 35 people, and yet, has managed to stay out of the news... there may not be anything in the state stats specifying this being a requirement... I don't know...

P.S.
Along the lines of discussions about employment, I just have to thank the employers who are, even in this crazy economy, treating their employees well. Special shout-outs to Data Dimensions, Beloit Memorial Hospital, and Blackhawk Tech. I know different people have varied opinions (which I respect) but the family and friends I have who work at these three organizations have been very well treated and are very grateful to these three exemplary employers - especially in these troubled economic times. I think it's important to support the businesses and organizations who are doing well and treating their people well - thank you!!

P.S.
Along the lines of discussions about employment, I just have to thank the employers who are, even in this crazy economoy, treating their employees well. Special shout-outs to Data Dimensions, Beloit Memorial Hospital, and Blackhawk Tech. I know different people have varied opinions (which I respect) but the family and friends I have who work at these three organizations have been very well treated and are very grateful to these three exemplary employers - especially in these troubled economoic times. I think it's important to support the businesses and organizations who are doing well and treating their people well - thank you!!

The Beloit Daily News webpage for today's news reports that Beloit has the highest rate in the state and Janesville is third...yet this article reports Janesville's as the highest. Did I misread something on either of the websites or does one of them have their facts off a bit? Not that it much matters - both cities are in desperate need of funding for education and new employment opporunitites and business incentives.

Believe it or not, it could be even worse. Jobless rate in northern Illinois (Winnebago and Boone counties) is 12.5 percent.

armyof3, smaller corporations may choose to not report layoffs, but it is my understanding that corporations are required by WI state law to report lay-offs exceeding some number (50?), so they have no choice.

not too surprising... there are many other corporations in Janesville that prefer to keep their lay off information out of today's media... it's not just GM and it's suppliers, even though they are the largest contributer...

i'm shocked

beeferer, who has publicly expressed a desire for high unemployment? I also find that confusing.

ihavealife: your statement about the bars is stupid. if i stop after work and have A beer i am not a drunk on the road. so you are saying screw the bar owners and their employees they don't need to make money because you deem it an evil. get a grip.

It's kinda like that idiot Rush L. hoping that Obama fails. Oh, ya, it's " the key word "rational"...

sorry...

Slow down there beeferer...

It's a sad situation- that is for a lot of people in this community. But I understand that there will be a lot of rejoicing upon hearing these statistics among the GM bashers. They got exactly what they were hoping for. I still can't believe any rational human being would publicly express their desire for a high unemployment rate in their very own community. Oh wait. I think I just figured it out. The key word is "rational".

I think we should get some sort of a prize for this...