Economic Recover, Afghanistan and Pearl Harbor Anniversary -- December 4, 2009
Thank you for reading another edition of my e-newsletter, the Carson Courier. For additional information on these and other topics, please visit my website at https://www.carson.house.gov.
In this week's Carson Courier:
Signs of Economic Recovery
President Obama's Afghanistan Speech
Pearl Harbor Anniversary
SIGNS OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY
So far this month, we have some more signs that the U.S. economy is beginning to recover. This November jobs loss report was the best in two years. The unemployment rate fell by .2 percent and only 11,000 jobs were lost in November. While the loss of any jobs is disheartening, in October, just one month prior, 111,000 jobs had been lost. The steep decline in the rate of job loss is certainly good news, and yet another indicator of the positive impact the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is having on the economy. The non partisan Congressional Budget Office reported that through September of 2009 the ARRA created or saved between 600,000 and 1.6 million jobs, reduced unemployment and increased the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 1.2 percent and 3.2 percent in the third quarter of 2009 alone. While this news is certainly welcome, my colleagues and I understand that now is the time to dig in and ensure the momentum continues. Because while improved, our economy is still far from where it needs to be.
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S AFGHANISTAN SPEECH
To restore peace and stability in Afghanistan and the surrounding region, President Obama made a tough decision last week, after months of thoughtful deliberation, to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan.
There is no question the safety and security of the American people and our long-term foreign policy interests are still tied to Afghanistan. But the pursuit of success cannot equate to an endless commitment of money, troops and sacrifice. Simply put, the American people want to see a strategy that contains defined goals, clear benchmarks and a path to successfully ending the war in Afghanistan. I think our President understands this, as evidenced by his emphasis on the stepped-up role that the government of Afghanistan and its security forces will need to take, and his goal of beginning a phased withdrawal from Afghanistan starting in 2011.
I look forward to hearing additional details about this new direction in Afghanistan. And while there are still questions that need to be answered, I remain committed to working with our President to make sure we have an effective strategy in place in Afghanistan.
Pearl Harbor Anniversary
More than two thousand brave men and women lost their lives on the fateful morning of December 7, 1941. On Monday, we remembered everyone who fought to defend Pearl Harbor that day, including those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving this nation during one of its darkest hours.
Their courage, character and heroism set the stage for the United States to arise from this infamous day as a world superpower-resolute and determined to put an end to the largest global conflict this planet has ever seen.
We will never forget the tragedy of that day. But let us also remember the fortitude that fueled this nation after Pearl Harbor. Thanks to the lessons taught to us by the Greatest Generation, we know that, even in the face of extraordinary odds, there's absolutely nothing this nation can't accomplish if we have the will and determination, and we commit ourselves to serving our fellow Americans.
Thank you for reading the Carson Courier. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and concerns. I value your views and your input which help me to better represent the people of Indiana's 7th District in Congress.