The unemployment benefit collectors rate.

[liberaldemocrat7]

Whenever the Republicans refer to the unemployment rate we should consider calling this rate actually the unemployment benefit collectors rate which reflects the percentage of people collecting unemployment benefits as a percentage of the workforce.

Once after 6 months of collecting benefits occurs, people's benefits expire by design. The Republican congress has refused to extend these benefits to unemployed people as they still seek work. The Republican labor department no longer counts these people as unemployed although they still seek work.

In my view when Republicans call this the unemployment rate, I consider this a lie.

[sui generis]

1. it's worse than that

they're using a slimeball reporting trick to post numbers from the first week of new reporting for the month, which coincidentally only reports the number of people rolling off the prior month instead of the number of additions.

There is no "live" net number.

[liberal N proud]

2. Most americans don't realize that is what they use for Unemployment rate

We have Ronnie Raygun to thank for that little economic reporting wonder. Prior to his admin, the Unemployment rate included those who were looking for work regardless if they were receiving benefits or not.
So it looks like the unemployment rate drops when people run out of benefits.

[bryant69]

3. The unemployment rate also ignores underemployment

The factory worker who goes to work for Wal-Mart is still employed, even though he's making a lot less money and still has it pretty bad.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. In the Cons' world, Panhandling is categorized as self-employment

Remember Cheney's Ebay comments?

And before I get jumped, No, I'm not equating Ebay with Panhandling.

[Captain Hilts]

5. I've never been eligible because I'm in school.

I lost my job and took the opportunity to finish my grad degree.