Day 28

I do not care if it is a Democrat or a Republican who gives us states rights universal health insurance, just that it happens.

Some statistics in my world as a retired California real estate broker.

Number of Contractors whose licenses have been revoked: 2007 average 30 per month, 2011 average 65 per month. One of the biggest factors of revocation is insolvency. source: CA Contractor License Board 2007 and 2011.

Number of new single family homes built: Averaged 6300 from January to September in 2007, less than 1800 average thus far in 2011. One of the biggest factors of new home starts is lending and a healthy workforce. source: CA building industry assoc 2007 and 2011, statewide SFR.

Number of licensed real estate agents: November 2007 high of 398716 agents, to August of 2010 of 327341. The licensed agents are directly coupled to the vibrancy of the economy.source: CA DRE 2007 and 2011

Number of statewide single family residence home sales: Approximately 616,000 homes sold in 2007 as compared to 398,106 for 2011. The driving factor of homes sales are three axioms: Low unemployment, high consumer confidence, and low inflation. source: CA MLS 2007 and 2011

Unemployment: 2007 rate was 5.4%, today we have 12.3%. source: CA Edd 2007 and 2011
Consumer Confidence: 2007 rate was 101.9% to 2011 70% source: San Jose State statistic consumer indices 2007 and 2011
Inflation: 2007 4.1% to 2001 3.2%. source: US Inflation Calculator 2007 and 2011 inflation statistics

All these three elements point to needing a fix here. 2007 was just before the financial mess. We need to cure the unemployment mess and Massachusetts clearly shows us that healthy workers are happier and more productive and they have less than the US average in unemployment. Consumer confidence for a 4th straight year is not doing well enough. Again happier healthy employed workers points to greater consumer sentiment. Inflation is under control and is still less than the 2007 high. Add in mortgage rates and the cost of real estate things should be looking up, but they don't. I again point out we need a similar shot in the arm like the GOP did in Massachusetts. We are lagging and will continue to do as UCLA economists are precluding. Universal health insurance is the needed shot in the arm.