Picture of the Day

From the Washington Independent, also appearing on Joe.My.God.

In response to Michael Steele...

..who doesn't feel like some jobs are "real jobs:" (thanks, JereKeys)

STEELE: You've got to look at what's going to create sustainable jobs. What this administration is talking about is making work. It is creating work.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But that's a job.

STEELE: No, it's not a job. A job is something that -- that a business owner creates. It's going to be long term. What he's creating...

STEPHANOPOULOS: So a job doesn't count if it's a government job?

(CROSSTALK)

STEELE: Hold on. No, let me -- let me -- let me finish. That is a contract. It ends at a certain point, George. You know that. These road projects that we're talking about have an end point.

As a small-business owner, I'm looking to grow my business, expand my business. I want to reach further. I want to be international. I want to be national. It's a whole different perspective on how you create a job versus how you create work. And I'm -- either way, the bottom line is...

STEPHANOPOULOS: I guess I don't really understand that distinction.

STEELE: Well, the difference -- the distinction is this. If a government -- if you've got a government contract that is a fixed period of time, it goes away. The work may go away. That's -- there's no guarantee that that -- that there's going to be more work when you're done in that job.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Yes, but we've seen millions and millions of jobs going away in the private sector just in the last year.

STEELE: But they come -- yes, they -- and they come back, though, George. That's the point. When they go -- they've gone away before, and they come back.

In a way, you're right, Mr. Steele. Government jobs do end. They have a contract date. Meanwhile, you're still a jackass. See, my dad is an architect. He lost his job because no one is building anything. Because of this, Mama had to pick up a second job as a grocery cashier, which she is actually enjoying (I love my mom :-)) but so that they can pay the bills.

This may seem silly to you, but let's look at this from your situation: building jobs are temporary, therefore are bad. But building jobs could employ my father to design them, thus giving him his real job. And, so, instead, my mother, who is a professor of history (a real job, I think, but give me the clarification -- she's also on a contract, does that not count), picks up a real job at a grocery store which doesn't pay a lot and doesn't let her use her extensive intelligence and educational background.

But... that's... ok. Because the Republicans tell me so.

I think I got it.

I think I'll quit my government funded job and go work at Jimmy John's. I love Jimmy John's. It's close by and they pay less... but, you know, at least it's a real job.