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<< Does Bush Understand the Word "Stimulus"? | Main | Florida Redux: International Voting Scandal by GOP firm >> May 02, 2003Surging Jobless- and Fake Unemployment NumbersWell, the official unemployment number is now up to six percent. Years back, such a number would not have been so bad, but then years back it didn't ignore so many people who are jobless but don't count as unemployed. Let me stop to explain that last sentence for those not clear on this bit of Department of Labor flimflam. One reason the US unemployment rate often looks lower than other countries is that the government only counts as unemployed those who say they are "actively looking" for work. If they are disabled, in jail, or just hopeless about finding work-- kazamm, they are no longer unemployed. They just disappear from the total workforce. How big is this non-employed but not unemployed group? Well, some are retired but the total number is shockingly large. More than 74.5 million adults were considered outside of the labor force last month, up more than 4 million since March 2001, the Department of Labor says. They are people who fall outside the government's definitions of either employed or unemployed: they do not hold jobs, but they also have not gone out seeking work within the past month.And catch the key number-- a 4 million person increase in the number of people now without work compared to 2001, yet not counted as unemployed in the statistics. As I noted last fall, since 1990, the number of people receiving disability pay has nearly doubled, to 5.4 million and we now have 2 million people in jails and prisons today, up from 1.1 million in 1990 and 500,000 in 1980. What you find is that the miracle job economy of the US is really a disability welfare state and a prison-industrial system which kept the unemployment rate down in the 1990s by keeping unskilled workers out of the labor pool to make the numbers look good. Now, Bush's disasterous economic policies are making even those political patches ineffective and job numbers are in complete freefall. The lie of the unemployment rate mumbo-jumbo just can't disguise an economy unable to provide decent jobs for larger numbers of the population. Posted by Nathan at May 2, 2003 09:50 AM Related posts:
Trackback PingsTrackBack URL for this entry: CommentsI for one am supporting myself, my two adult children and their two kids on my retirement income. As long as inflation stays low we will be ok but I fear what will happen if the deficit continues to grow. I have no faith that the tax cuts will create any kind of good jobs in this country. How can a man who claims to support the creation of such jobs sign rules that allow corporations to broaden the concept of a manger to avoid them having to pay overtime? Please examine the fact that the average work week continues to shrink month after month. This is also an indication of how troubled our employment picutre is. Temporary jobs are on the increase at the same time that corporate profits are soaring? Certainly this trend is as ominous as the actual numbers of people out of work or who have given up. Posted by: Mother of Blog Baby at May 2, 2003 05:41 PM Dubya says tax cuts create jobs, and the bigger the cut the more jobs for the masses. So, he says, if you don't want to pass a huge tax cut, you don't want to create jobs for 'mericans. I wonder if anyone has questioned the president about eliminating taxes outright. In Dubya's view of things, without taxes those who are counted as unemployed, discouraged workers, and collectors of disability insurance would all have jobs. Posted by: Kaya at May 4, 2003 07:54 AM Please someone answer a dumb question for me. Is the 6% number the percentage of the country's whole population that is unemployed or is it the percentage od the labor force? How many people does that 6% represent? Nearly 18 million? Or less? Posted by: biz at May 5, 2003 02:06 PM This is the problem. Unemployment is the percentage of the imaginary number calculated by the labor department to be "looking for work." So it is far smaller than the real labor force, since it does not include anyone who has given up looking for work because the economy stinks-- is a "discouraged worker" in DOL terms. Posted by: Nathan Newman at May 5, 2003 02:15 PM I've been working since I was 15 years old, but in the past two years, I've been laid off three times. I've been out of work since November, barely qualified for the next unemployment benefits extension, and for the first time in my adult life, I'm scared to death. The only bright spot is that if it's as bad as I think it is, we'll take the White House, Senate and Congress in 2004. Posted by: Uberblonde at May 9, 2003 11:27 AM I have two degrees from two of the best schools in the world, and I was just delighted to finally get a job after 8 months of unemployment. I am a glorified receptionist. My baby sister who is a junior at one of the top schools in the nation bemoaned the state of the day yesterday, telling me over the phone that she couldn't find a summer internship, as most of her friends as well, and would likely be without work this summer. Why? Because I took her job. With the downward pressure on job creation (more flimflam language which is more easily said straight out as wretched supply-side economic policy that didn't work for Regan and has no chance of working now...) you have way overqualified people scrounging for ANYTHING that pays the rent, which puts increased pressure on people of lower skills who would normally have no problem getting these jobs. This effect is disasterous, not just because it keeps the people most in need of hand-to-mouth income-- without stable work, but because it demoralizes a Nation. Since the whole world is becoming increasingly interconnected, Confidence plays a bigger and bigger role than ever before. Dubya has no grasp of the reality complex systems dynamics is in today's world. Since the government has given us a neat little rainbow chart so we can tell how soon it will be before Dubya trumpets additional increases in defense budget levels, we ought to have a general mood ring indicator chart for the Nation... because we would then see just to what extent people are giving up. We don't need ad campaigns saying how great America is, we need jobs. We don't need to be watching wars on TV--as if "foreign-policy" has ever been this salve that will magically create jobs in that sophisticated program called trickle-down supply-side economics via defense funding-- we need a President who has a clue about economics and the importance of system dynamics as a method to orchestrate ongoing positive momentum; this means putting together a team of people who aren't has-beens now getting their chance even though their window of greatest utility was during the Cold War and they got passed up, only to get a second life working for Dubya, with dusted off programs of engagement and economics that were questionable in the 80's, much less the 21st Century. Posted by: kidpacific at May 15, 2003 08:38 PM It's worth noting that the Bureau of Labor Statistics keeps several alternate measures of unemployment that adjust for the type of people Nathan is writing about--sometimes labelled "marginally attached to the labor force"--as well as "involuntary part-time workers" who would like full-time work. Go to stats.bls.gov and click on the unemployment link, then look for a table with a label like "alternate measures of labor underutilization." Posted by: Mark at May 22, 2003 04:07 PM I am a 40% disabled veteran who has had a great deal of experience with federal employment and the REALITY of federal agencies' unwillingness to hire Vets. 1.06% of all fed employees are VRA appointees - over 50% of all fed vets are Vietnam Era (meaning retirement in 5 to 15 years) and greater than 30% disabled make only 1.7% of the total federal workforce (there is the 10 point preference at work) I am sick to death of the lies from the OPM and the rest - can you help me get this out as many vets as possible - The idea is to let vets know what they are up against before they get caught in the system, like me 40% and an inch away from homeless AND nobody will or can help! Welcome home soldier, 1 GS 8 and below - the names of 10-point preference eligibles who have a compensable, service-connected disability of 10 percent or more are placed ahead of the names of all other eligibles on a given register per OPM 2 Email letter from Carol Green from the OPM Oversight Committee. 3 Veterans’ Day address to American Legion, flag and general officers 4 Taken from www.mspb.com The following is a list of all Congressmen/women who have been contacted to for inout on this article and their response. Senators on Veterans Committee Posted by: mark mcccan at July 31, 2003 11:38 AM i have always heard that there are companies that hire people to work from home i am willing to work hard for any company that may hire me. i enjoy meeting people and makeing friends if you have any ideas please let me know i am not only looking for work but i have the following problem below if you can help with eather ishue please write me
rember capital one refuses to work with me because www.aaafaircredit.org has been been sending all i can afford. i am on welfair i always have been and my wife lost her job and ever sence she did i have been faxing capital one at 1-888-259-3021 for about 2 and a half years i faxeed capital one at 1-888-259-3021 disibility papers and papers different people wrote different companies proveing i am on a limited income. when i turned card 5291-2318-9920-5106 over to www.aaafaircredit.org i only owed around 700 dollars. i want to pay them off but as long as the late and over limit fees are added i can not i had instructed www.aaafaircredit.org to pay 20 a month till the account was paid off 9 months ago it was my understanding that when i got involved with www.aaafaircredit.org that late and over limit fees would be waved considering my income is next to nothing sence my wife lost her job i do not know why they can not be more understanding. my doctor kenneth power at 765-6592590 can provide proof of my disibility an so can attorney david little at 765-654-4340 and so can susan kaspar at 765-659-5678 and so can pastor tennyson fitch at 765-659-4662 and so can burnie lochal cpa at 765-654-8110 my wife brought in 80 persent of the household income 3 years ago she worked atwesley manor 1555 north main st frankfort in 3 years ago there phone is 765-659-1811 up untill about a week ago capital one was calling me about every day driving me close to epileptic seizures from i was hopeing all the 20 a month www.aaafaircredit.com is sending would go tward what i owe not late and over limit fees. i even faxed 35 pages of my wifes mri and disibility papers to capital one at 1-888259-3021 Posted by: charles at August 5, 2003 06:16 PM i have always heard that there are companies that hire people to work from home i am willing to work hard for any company that may hire me. i enjoy meeting people and makeing friends if you have any ideas please let me know i am not only looking for work but i have the following problem below if you can help with eather ishue please write me
rember capital one refuses to work with me because www.aaafaircredit.org has been been sending all i can afford. i am on welfair i always have been and my wife lost her job and ever sence she did i have been faxing capital one at 1-888-259-3021 for about 2 and a half years i faxeed capital one at 1-888-259-3021 disibility papers and papers different people wrote different companies proveing i am on a limited income. when i turned card 5291-2318-9920-5106 over to www.aaafaircredit.org i only owed around 700 dollars. i want to pay them off but as long as the late and over limit fees are added i can not i had instructed www.aaafaircredit.org to pay 20 a month till the account was paid off 9 months ago it was my understanding that when i got involved with www.aaafaircredit.org that late and over limit fees would be waved considering my income is next to nothing sence my wife lost her job i do not know why they can not be more understanding. my doctor kenneth power at 765-6592590 can provide proof of my disibility an so can attorney david little at 765-654-4340 and so can susan kaspar at 765-659-5678 and so can pastor tennyson fitch at 765-659-4662 and so can burnie lochal cpa at 765-654-8110 my wife brought in 80 persent of the household income 3 years ago she worked atwesley manor 1555 north main st frankfort in 3 years ago there phone is 765-659-1811 up untill about a week ago capital one was calling me about every day driving me close to epileptic seizures from i was hopeing all the 20 a month www.aaafaircredit.com is sending would go tward what i owe not late and over limit fees. i even faxed 35 pages of my wifes mri and disibility papers to capital one at 1-888259-3021 Posted by: charles at August 5, 2003 06:16 PM i have always heard that there are companies that hire people to work from home i am willing to work hard for any company that may hire me. i enjoy meeting people and makeing friends if you have any ideas please let me know i am not only looking for work but i have the following problem below if you can help with eather ishue please write me
rember capital one refuses to work with me because www.aaafaircredit.org has been been sending all i can afford. i am on welfair i always have been and my wife lost her job and ever sence she did i have been faxing capital one at 1-888-259-3021 for about 2 and a half years i faxeed capital one at 1-888-259-3021 disibility papers and papers different people wrote different companies proveing i am on a limited income. when i turned card 5291-2318-9920-5106 over to www.aaafaircredit.org i only owed around 700 dollars. i want to pay them off but as long as the late and over limit fees are added i can not i had instructed www.aaafaircredit.org to pay 20 a month till the account was paid off 9 months ago it was my understanding that when i got involved with www.aaafaircredit.org that late and over limit fees would be waved considering my income is next to nothing sence my wife lost her job i do not know why they can not be more understanding. my doctor kenneth power at 765-6592590 can provide proof of my disibility an so can attorney david little at 765-654-4340 and so can susan kaspar at 765-659-5678 and so can pastor tennyson fitch at 765-659-4662 and so can burnie lochal cpa at 765-654-8110 my wife brought in 80 persent of the household income 3 years ago she worked atwesley manor 1555 north main st frankfort in 3 years ago there phone is 765-659-1811 up untill about a week ago capital one was calling me about every day driving me close to epileptic seizures from i was hopeing all the 20 a month www.aaafaircredit.com is sending would go tward what i owe not late and over limit fees. i even faxed 35 pages of my wifes mri and disibility papers to capital one at 1-888259-3021 Posted by: charles at August 5, 2003 06:16 PM i have always heard that there are companies that hire people to work from home i am willing to work hard for any company that may hire me. i enjoy meeting people and makeing friends if you have any ideas please let me know i am not only looking for work but i have the following problem below if you can help with eather ishue please write me
rember capital one refuses to work with me because www.aaafaircredit.org has been been sending all i can afford. i am on welfair i always have been and my wife lost her job and ever sence she did i have been faxing capital one at 1-888-259-3021 for about 2 and a half years i faxeed capital one at 1-888-259-3021 disibility papers and papers different people wrote different companies proveing i am on a limited income. when i turned card 5291-2318-9920-5106 over to www.aaafaircredit.org i only owed around 700 dollars. i want to pay them off but as long as the late and over limit fees are added i can not i had instructed www.aaafaircredit.org to pay 20 a month till the account was paid off 9 months ago it was my understanding that when i got involved with www.aaafaircredit.org that late and over limit fees would be waved considering my income is next to nothing sence my wife lost her job i do not know why they can not be more understanding. my doctor kenneth power at 765-6592590 can provide proof of my disibility an so can attorney david little at 765-654-4340 and so can susan kaspar at 765-659-5678 and so can pastor tennyson fitch at 765-659-4662 and so can burnie lochal cpa at 765-654-8110 my wife brought in 80 persent of the household income 3 years ago she worked atwesley manor 1555 north main st frankfort in 3 years ago there phone is 765-659-1811 up untill about a week ago capital one was calling me about every day driving me close to epileptic seizures from i was hopeing all the 20 a month www.aaafaircredit.com is sending would go tward what i owe not late and over limit fees. i even faxed 35 pages of my wifes mri and disibility papers to capital one at 1-888259-3021 Posted by: charles at August 5, 2003 06:16 PM i have always heard that there are companies that hire people to work from home i am willing to work hard for any company that may hire me. i enjoy meeting people and makeing friends if you have any ideas please let me know i am not only looking for work but i have the following problem below if you can help with eather ishue please write me
rember capital one refuses to work with me because www.aaafaircredit.org has been been sending all i can afford. i am on welfair i always have been and my wife lost her job and ever sence she did i have been faxing capital one at 1-888-259-3021 for about 2 and a half years i faxeed capital one at 1-888-259-3021 disibility papers and papers different people wrote different companies proveing i am on a limited income. when i turned card 5291-2318-9920-5106 over to www.aaafaircredit.org i only owed around 700 dollars. i want to pay them off but as long as the late and over limit fees are added i can not i had instructed www.aaafaircredit.org to pay 20 a month till the account was paid off 9 months ago it was my understanding that when i got involved with www.aaafaircredit.org that late and over limit fees would be waved considering my income is next to nothing sence my wife lost her job i do not know why they can not be more understanding. my doctor kenneth power at 765-6592590 can provide proof of my disibility an so can attorney david little at 765-654-4340 and so can susan kaspar at 765-659-5678 and so can pastor tennyson fitch at 765-659-4662 and so can burnie lochal cpa at 765-654-8110 my wife brought in 80 persent of the household income 3 years ago she worked atwesley manor 1555 north main st frankfort in 3 years ago there phone is 765-659-1811 up untill about a week ago capital one was calling me about every day driving me close to epileptic seizures from i was hopeing all the 20 a month www.aaafaircredit.com is sending would go tward what i owe not late and over limit fees. i even faxed 35 pages of my wifes mri and disibility papers to capital one at 1-888259-3021 Posted by: charles at August 5, 2003 06:17 PM i have always heard that there are companies that hire people to work from home i am willing to work hard for any company that may hire me. i enjoy meeting people and makeing friends if you have any ideas please let me know i am not only looking for work but i have the following problem below if you can help with eather ishue please write me
rember capital one refuses to work with me because www.aaafaircredit.org has been been sending all i can afford. i am on welfair i always have been and my wife lost her job and ever sence she did i have been faxing capital one at 1-888-259-3021 for about 2 and a half years i faxeed capital one at 1-888-259-3021 disibility papers and papers different people wrote different companies proveing i am on a limited income. when i turned card 5291-2318-9920-5106 over to www.aaafaircredit.org i only owed around 700 dollars. i want to pay them off but as long as the late and over limit fees are added i can not i had instructed www.aaafaircredit.org to pay 20 a month till the account was paid off 9 months ago it was my understanding that when i got involved with www.aaafaircredit.org that late and over limit fees would be waved considering my income is next to nothing sence my wife lost her job i do not know why they can not be more understanding. my doctor kenneth power at 765-6592590 can provide proof of my disibility an so can attorney david little at 765-654-4340 and so can susan kaspar at 765-659-5678 and so can pastor tennyson fitch at 765-659-4662 and so can burnie lochal cpa at 765-654-8110 my wife brought in 80 persent of the household income 3 years ago she worked atwesley manor 1555 north main st frankfort in 3 years ago there phone is 765-659-1811 up untill about a week ago capital one was calling me about every day driving me close to epileptic seizures from i was hopeing all the 20 a month www.aaafaircredit.com is sending would go tward what i owe not late and over limit fees. i even faxed 35 pages of my wifes mri and disibility papers to capital one at 1-888259-3021 Posted by: charles at August 5, 2003 06:18 PM i have always heard that there are companies that hire people to work from home i am willing to work hard for any company that may hire me. i enjoy meeting people and makeing friends if you have any ideas please let me know i am not only looking for work but i have the following problem below if you can help with eather ishue please write me
rember capital one refuses to work with me because www.aaafaircredit.org has been been sending all i can afford. i am on welfair i always have been and my wife lost her job and ever sence she did i have been faxing capital one at 1-888-259-3021 for about 2 and a half years i faxeed capital one at 1-888-259-3021 disibility papers and papers different people wrote different companies proveing i am on a limited income. when i turned card 5291-2318-9920-5106 over to www.aaafaircredit.org i only owed around 700 dollars. i want to pay them off but as long as the late and over limit fees are added i can not i had instructed www.aaafaircredit.org to pay 20 a month till the account was paid off 9 months ago it was my understanding that when i got involved with www.aaafaircredit.org that late and over limit fees would be waved considering my income is next to nothing sence my wife lost her job i do not know why they can not be more understanding. my doctor kenneth power at 765-6592590 can provide proof of my disibility an so can attorney david little at 765-654-4340 and so can susan kaspar at 765-659-5678 and so can pastor tennyson fitch at 765-659-4662 and so can burnie lochal cpa at 765-654-8110 my wife brought in 80 persent of the household income 3 years ago she worked atwesley manor 1555 north main st frankfort in 3 years ago there phone is 765-659-1811 up untill about a week ago capital one was calling me about every day driving me close to epileptic seizures from i was hopeing all the 20 a month www.aaafaircredit.com is sending would go tward what i owe not late and over limit fees. i even faxed 35 pages of my wifes mri and disibility papers to capital one at 1-888259-3021 Posted by: charles at August 5, 2003 06:18 PM as a 25 year union member i find some of your stuff repulsive, unions have quit working for their members long ago and are not worth a damned. i've tried to work within to change things but just as they have been taught by the democratic big brothers, they'll cheat lie and do whatever they have to to remain in power. in my experience they have aligned themselves with management and all the talk of looking out for us is superficial, really it's all about collecting money.. Posted by: mel moss at July 29, 2004 01:09 PM Post a comment
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