You know . . . . the real unemployment rate is still well above 20%

[Stinky The Clown]

I really hate how our government keeps obfuscating by all the various "U" brackets. The fact is, if you want a job and can't get one, you're unemployed.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. And even if you've given up and are no longer looking...

If you're out of work, you're unemployed.

These people need to be counted too...

[Vincardog]

3. And even if you've been unemployed for years and still are looking...you're unemployed.

All people need to be counted!

[Stinky The Clown]

5. I totally agree. You may well have stopped looking. That doesn't mean you don't want a job.

The only people I think ought not be counted are those who consciously choose not to work.

[sfwriter]

2. I got dropped from the account in December...

I and two kids get by on $500 a mo freelance income and the wife's paycheck.

I am not counted as unemployed.

-Sandy

[IndyPragmatist]

4. I see the purpose of having multiple unemployment rates...

but they are usually just abused. In a perfect world, anytime unemployment is mentioned they would either provide all the different categories, or explain what is put into the stat being used.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. Or, better yet, they would cite the TOP number.

All the others are subsets of the top number.

This is an institutionalized way to lie. Nothing more than that.

[tridim]

10. But the lie about the "top number" has been used forever.

Or at least since the 80's.

So only using that number now is disingenuous based on the recent past. The only result will be unfair Obama/Democrat bashing.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Good lord. That's quite some objection.

Yes, this lie has a long history.

I recall talking about it when bush was president.

I recall talking about it when Clinton was president.

I recall talking about it when Bush was president.

I recall talking about it when St. Ronald sanctified the white house.

But now you're worried it might sully Obama?

Really?

Right is right. Wrong is wrong.

Lying about unemployment is wrong.

But you're worried about Obama. That's pretty sad.

[tridim]

17. I just stated that it is unfair. You did too.

You and I both know the Republicans and the media will use it to bash Obama and the Democrats.

[ixion]

7. Yep... I agree

it's very bad right now.

[Skittles]

8. CORRECT

[Life Long Liberal]

9. +1 n/t

[bvar22]

11. Combine THAT number with the number of Americans...

...who are Under-Employed,
those forced to accept Low Paying Jobs with no or few benefits,
and you would approach and accurate representation of the damage our Politicians and Wealthy Overlords have done to the American Working Class over the last 30 years.

In the 50s/60s/70s, a non-college educated Blue Collar Working American could:

*Enjoy long term job security, and advance within a company, even up to management

*Earn enough to raise a family in relative comfort

*Provide good Health Care to the family

*Buy a new American car every few of years

*Buy and Pay Off a comfortable home in the suburbs

*Take a REAL vacation every year

*Send his children to the State University without going into debt

*Save enough to retire in relative comfort

The above was The NORM, not the exception.


We could have the above again,
IF we had a political party that represented the Working Class.




Who will STAND UP and FIGHT for THIS American Majority?
Lofty Rhetoric, Empty Promises, and Excuses are meaningless now.

"By their WORKS you will know them,"
And by their WORKS they will be held accountable.

[BOG PERSON]

12. if you have given up your search for a job, you have exited the labor market

so it would not be correct to count you as unemployed.

[Stinky The Clown]

14. Giving up the search does not mean you don't want a job.

If you **want** a job, you're unemployed. Why is that hard to understand, BOG PERSON?

[BOG PERSON]

15. i just don't think you should fault the BLS for not being mind-readers

(n/t)

[Stinky The Clown]

16. I fault whoever tells the BLS how to promulgate the numbers

The BLS do what they're told to do. The issue is not the BLS. It is the political leadership. Both parties have done this to obfuscate and deflect. Obama is no better or worse than any of those who came before him.

It is disingenuous to say some group of career civil servants are doing this.