My friends, I was wrong.

[Savannahmann]

For weeks now I've been saying that we had 55 million americans that were out of the workforce, and uncounted, forgotten by our party.

I was wrong. http://bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t16.htm

I misread the table, and I apologize. I was using the women not in the workforce number, not the total. The total is 92 million forgotten, uncounted, and ignored people.

I wanted to set the record straight, and I apologize for my stupidity.

[joshcryer]

1. But it looks like just under 7 million want work.

[okaawhatever]

8. They don't care about that. That is the truth and the truth doesn't serve their purpose. nt

[joshcryer]

33. .

edit: got confused by other poster, thought I was wrong but I wasn't

[Gormy Cuss]

41. No, I was wrong.

In the OP link those are subcategories. The 10.5 million in this other source is a different measure.

[mathematic]

42. No that's the # that are in the labor force and want a job

AKA the "unemployed". The total number of people that want a job but don't have one is the sum of the unemployed and the not-in-the-labor-force-but-wants-a-job numbers.

Easily found in this table:
http://bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t01.htm

I usually keep my eye on this total number because it really is everybody that wants a job, labor force definitions be damned.

[joshcryer]

48. Ahh, thanks, mixed info screwed me up.

So my initial statement was correct, that's what I thought, too, because I agree, the BLS is a survey, that's the real number. Some may just not want to work. I totally sympathize with that.

[mathematic]

36. Indentations are sub-categories

Those numbers are included in the 6 million that want work and is down over 10% from last year.

[Gormy Cuss]

39. Yes, I missed the first indent.

The 6.8 is total from that source. Was just going to correct myself for the other poster.

[woo me with science]

2. They. Don't. Care.

It is an OUTRAGE.

Over a MILLION American schoolchildren homeless.

SECOND HIGHEST CHILD POVERTY RATE in the developed world....better only than ROMANIA.

Middle class DEVASTATED. Inequality INCREASING. Wealth of billionaires DOUBLED since 2009.


This is a much bigger national emergency than 9/11. 9/11 was considered urgent. We got speeches, bullhorns, national days of observance, urgent new legislation, And an entire new way of life.

This is BIGGER. And what do we get from Washington?????? Any urgency whatsoever? Anything even APPROACHING the urgency of 9/11. No. We get nonchalance. Actually, we don't even get nonchalance. We get active protection of the thieves and we get our own government, under a DEMOCRATIC President, targeting those who protest the theft.

Why?

Because it wasn't a recovery. It was a restructuring. Not only are there no urgent plans on the horizon to address and reverse and punish this theft, we are on track for the most predatory "free trade" agreement in history, that will force Americans to compete with workers in Third World countries, kill jobs, reduce wages for over 90 percent of American workers, restrict freedom on the internet, make obtaining life-saving medications more difficult and more expensive, and allow multinational corporations to sue for profits and overrule national decisions on everything from wages to regulations for environment and safety.

We are under ASSAULT by our own government, both parties.

We have been bought and sold to banks and corporations.

[djean111]

3. [phone]

Did have to laugh at the thought of how eagerly some here may have clicked on the title......

[zeemike]

20. Tell it Woo.

That is a fact...they just don't care.
There are a lot of advantages to living in a third world country...you can get people to cut your grass real cheap...lots of people that will work for food...and it makes you feel real special.

[green917]

21. A-fucking-men!

[joshcryer]

25. The 10% richest in Romania are among the 10% poorest in the UK.

For perspective.

The US is #16 on the income inequality adjusted human development index: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_inequality-adjusted_HDI

Romania is 38.

On the non-adjusted for human development index the US is #3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index

Romania is 56.

Your faux outrage is noted.

[woo me with science]

37. Our poor even have refrigerators!

You don't do the president or the party any favors by labeling outrage as "faux," when millions of Americans have been driven out of the middle class and into poverty, are losing their homes and their futures, and are struggling to feed or provide medicine for themselves and their children.

If the Third Way spent half as much time working for Americans as they do propagandizing them, scolding them, and mocking their pain, the Democratic Party could be unstoppable. As it is, messaging like the posts you are making here only drive home for people the utter contempt with which we are viewed by those claiming to want to represent us.

Top 1% Got 121% of Income Gains Since 2009
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2013/02/yes-virginia-the-rich-continue-to-get-richer-the-1-got-121-of-income-gains-since-2009.html

Since 2009, 88 Percent Of Income Growth Went To Corporate Profits, Just One Percent Went To Wages
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1874619
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/06/30/258388/corporate-profits-recovery

DOW Up 153 percent since 2009. Wages up 2 percent.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024265744

Wealth of Billionaires has Doubled Since 2009
http://www.upi.com/blog/2013/11/12/Billionaire-wealth-doubles-since-financial-crisis/5011384268135/?spt=hts&or=12

September 2013 - US income gap reaches its widest point since the 1920s
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023644406
http://www.chicoer.com/ci_24061870/us-income-gap-reaches-its-widest-point-since

"Obama Admin’s TPP Trade Officials Received Hefty Bonuses From Big Banks"
http://billmoyers.com/2014/02/20/obama-admin%E2%80%99s-tpp-trade-officials-received-hefty-bonuses-from-big-banks/

Study: "Trade" Deal Would Mean a Pay Cut for 90% of U.S. Workers
http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2013/09/the-verdict-is-in-the-trans-pacific-partnership-tpp-a-sweeping-free-trade-deal-under-negotiation-with-11-pacific-rim-coun.html

95 percent of the economy’s gains have gone to the top 1 percent
http://billmoyers.com/2014/01/10/why-conservatives-old-divide-and-conquer-strategy-%E2%80%94-setting-working-class-against-the-poor-%E2%80%94-is-backfiring/

The Totally Unfair And Bitterly Uneven 'Recovery,' In 12 Charts – HuffPo
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023662029

Billionaire wealth doubles since financial crisis
http://www.upi.com/blog/2013/11/12/Billionaire-wealth-doubles-since-financial-crisis/5011384268135/?spt=hts&or=12

The Top .01 Percent Reach New Heights
http://www.demos.org/blog/9/13/13/top-01-percent-reach-new-heights

Rates of unemployment for families earning less than $20,000 - have topped 21 percent
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_JOBS_GAP_RICH_AND_POOR?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-09-16-08-11-23

Obama Appoints Bain Capital Consultant Jeff Ziets to Top Post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023662209

Obama appoints industry insider to head the FCC
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024521140

Obama selects former Monsanto lobbyist to be his TPP chief agriculture negotiator
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023662210

Larry Summers Gets 'Full-Throated Defense' From Obama In Capitol Hill Meeting
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014553343#post1

Wall Street will get away with massive wave of criminality of 2008 - Statute of Limitations
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022516719

Income gap widest ever: 95 Percent of Recovery Income Gains Have Gone to the Top 1 Percent
http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/09/10/one_percent_recovery_95_percent_of_gains_have_gone_to_the_top_one_percent.html

Older Workers:.Set Back by Recession, and Shut Out of Rebound
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/27/booming/for-laid-off-older-workers-age-bias-is-pervasive.html?smid=tw-share&_r=3&

Incomes Flat in Recovery, but Not for the 1%
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014400736

Top 1% get 121% of income gains since 2009 (100% of new income + 21% from your old income)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022384139

U.S. corporate profits stronger than ever, workers' wages fallen to lowest-ever share of GDP (CNN)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021922334

U.S. Income Inequality Now Worse Than Many Latin American Countries
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022268073

Ranks of working poor increasing
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022200197

Inequality Rages as Dwindling Wages Lock Millions in Poverty
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022198286

The Middle Class In America Is Being Wiped Out – Here Are 60 Facts That Prove It
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022144851

Child poverty rates increase unabated
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022268450

40 Percent of Americans Now Make Less than 1968 Minimum Wage
http://www.democraticunderground.com/111631016

Corporate Profits Have Grown By 171 Percent Under ‘Anti-Business’ Obama
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014372334

US poverty on track to reach 46-year high; suburbs, underemployed workers, children hit hard
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002998131

Poverty, hunger among retirees increasing
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002748342

The Economy is "Recovering" By Creating More Low-Wage Jobs... Increasingly Filled By Graduates
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022602162

"Recovery" in US is lifting profits, but not adding jobs
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014414149

Obama to use pension funds of ordinary Americans to pay for bank mortgage settlements
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002205218

What Recovery? Across America, People in Distressed Cities and Small Towns Face Economic Catastrophe
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022545596

Real wages decline; literally no one notices
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11172387

Wall Street Soars with Wealth as Wages Stagnate, Jobs Remain in a Slump
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12526154

Wages for bottom 90% declined 1.2% during 2009-2011 recovery, top 1% income grew 8.2%
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022271466

Three Minimum Wage Jobs Needed To Afford Two-Bedroom Apartment
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022578738

Wages have fallen to a record low as a share of America’s gross domestic product.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022183930

[joshcryer]

45. The world is exploited by American hegmony.

You mock those who don't have access to mere clean drinking water, as is typical by your false sense of caring.

Would it be that Americans had to actually make stuff for themselves rather than tearing down the rest of the world and indulging due to its military and economic hegemony.

Funnily, many in the Democratic party agree with you, the US should continue its hegemonic influence. It's why corporate influence is so vast, because the almighty markets demand it.

[woo me with science]

54. Shame on you.

It is the Third Way vultures who want to continue American hegemony, for just as long as American hegemony is profitable to them. Then they will move to to whatever is profitable next.

It is your Third Way vultures who want to keep feeding the MIC, expanding corporate tyranny, and trading the blood of human beings for profit. It is your Third Way vultures who want to vastly expand the power of these corporate monsters through the TPP and other trade agreements. Pretending that empowering them will help *anyone* in the long run is a vicious falsehood. No country is special to them, and the more powerful they become as they purchase governments and move across the globe, the more want and pain and blood and devastation we will see.

Corporations don't have empathy. They use human beings, they squeeze them for profit, and they leave devastation in their wake. It is unconscionable to suggest that anyone will benefit in the long run by increasing their power...And increasing their power is exactly what the predatory policies of the corporate-bankrolled Third Way are designed to do.

[joshcryer]

57. Spare me the faux shaming.

I know where I stand on these issues and it's not with the third way. The purists who carry water for Republicans by bashing each and every small incremental improvement are with the third way. I merely objected to your false equivalence comparing Romania's impoverished to American. No wonder American hegemony isn't going away.

[woo me with science]

68. "Incremental improvement"

Last edited Sun Mar 23, 2014, 03:08 AM - Edit history (1)

In other words, 2+2=5.

Absolutely false. Overall, this country is moving relentlessly in the wrong direction.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4712258

To claim that progress is being made but is merely incremental is overwhelmingly untrue in the most important areas of policy. We are being thrown bones on social issues but inequality has been escalated viciously through policy, the power of corporations is being relentlessly increased, our fundamental civil liberties are being dismantled, journalism is under assault, peaceful protesters are being surveilled and brutally suppressed, whistleblowers are being persecuted, our president has claimed the right to imprison indefinitely and even kill without due process, militarization of our police forces has been expanded, our public education system is being corporatized and even dismantled, corporate power over the internet is being enabled, our environment is being opened to drilling and fracking, and a new pipeline is on the horizon. In addition to all this, this government is engaging in mass surveillance against its own citizens and assaulting us with propaganda and disinformation.

Corporatists have been installed in virtually every area of government by our Democratic president.

The most significant policy proposal on the horizon is the most predatory free trade agreement in history, which will force Americans to compete with workers in Third World countries. It will kill jobs, reduce wages for over 90 percent of American workers, restrict freedom on the internet, make obtaining life-saving medications more difficult and more expensive, and allow multinational corporations to sue for profits and overrule national decisions on everything from wages to regulations for environment and safety. It is an assault on all of us, and it is unconscionable coming from a Democratic president. However, it is wholly consistent with this administration's long record of working on behalf of corporate interests.
....
Nothing is fixed until we are honest about what is happening. All the propaganda notwithstanding, more and more courageous liberals are standing up to do just that. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Robert Reich....the launch of FirstLook....Bill Moyers' excellent work. The new statement at the Daily Kos that they will work to defeat the malignant influence of the Third Way in our party....These are all positive signs.

People who care deeply about this country are telling the truth about what we really are facing...the corporate hijacking of our party and our government....because the rose-colored glasses are malignant. The rose-colored glasses are a corporate lie, and they prevent real change.

[joshcryer]

75. Gapminder.

Capitalism is winning. The faux outrage will not change that. Equality is going to happen without you, because you keep throwing stumbling blocks into the process. We don't need you. Carry on.

[Democracyinkind]

90. What, exactly, is Capitalism winning regarding poverty?

And what stats are you looking at when you conclude that "equality will happen"? Every statistic that I have read tells me that the chance of equality actually happening is diminishing by the hour.

[joshcryer]

91. Absolute economic dominance.

Go to http://www.gapminder.org/

What's happening is that capitalism is following a pesuedo-Marxist historical roadmap. Marx predicted it somewhat sooner than it will happen (primarily because he failed to understand industry and didn't really have an understanding of the capitalist mode of production). But it will happen and without a "collapse of the capitalist system." We'll simply stop from going from screwing people over to everyone being equal, economically, socially, etc.

Here's one of many Gapminder videos:

It fucking sucks. But just because capitalism is succeeding doesn't mean it's a good system. But water carrying talking heads for the Republicans are almost certainly not going to get us off capitalism. For us socialists, for us informed socialists, we have to recognize the power of capitalism and its hegemony on global progress. Unless we do that, then we will fail.

[Democracyinkind]

93. That's a very interesting post. Thanks.

I still believe that Capitalism is destroying itself, through the steady rise in productivity, though that in itself is not necessarily caused by Capitalism.

I agree that this OP is not well thought through.

[joshcryer]

97. Capitalism is definitely destroying itself.

It is whether it happens sooner rather than later.

[tea and oranges]

40. It Saddens& Enrages Me to Agree. Well Said. nt

[Hortensis]

104. First step to empowerment is knowledge.

[Art_from_Ark]

4. How many children, retirees, college students, etc., are included in the statistics?

I don't see anything in that table that mentions age.

[alittlelark]

5. uuuhhhhh, why would CHILDREN be included??

.... I think we passed laws against that awhile ago.

[Art_from_Ark]

6. It just says "persons not in the workforce"

Children are not in the workforce, at least, most of them aren't, although high school-age minors, technically "children", working in retail, etc., could probably be considered "in the workforce".

Think about it-- 92 million people out of the workforce, out of 320 million people. That's roughly 2/7 of the US population. The child population (17 years or younger) of the US is approximately 74 million.

http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/tables/pop1.asp

Subtract 74 million from 320 million, and you get 246 million adults. If the statistics include only adults, then 92 million of those adults aren't in the workforce. That would be more than 37% of the adult population not working for wages, which sounds a bit high. Without additional information, it is hard to interpret the numbers in the table.

[joshcryer]

9. Yep, the labor force is 155 million.

For 90 million to be out of work is completely stupid yet this thread has over 15 recs already.

It is so monumentally asinine.

http://bls.gov/news.release/empsit.htm

[okaawhatever]

24. All the anti-American, anti-Democratic party stuff always has a lot of recs. In fact, they usually

come from the same group of people.

[joshcryer]

26. People must be recing now just to spite facts.

I think they see the "usual suspects" of "people who actually post facts" and have a knee-jerk reaction. "Oh noes, it's them again! Posting facts!"

[aggiesal]

34. Are these numbers accurate? ...

If there are 155 million in the workforce
and that there are 90 million looking for work,
that means that there are 245 million total either
working or looking for work.
90 million out of 245 million means that our
unemployment is approximately 36.7%

Is this correct? Because the unwritten highest estimates
have been in the high teen's low 20's

36.7% is almost double those estimates.

[NuclearDem]

51. Labor force means employed and unemployed.

About 246 million are counted in BLS statistics as eligible to work by age, noninstitutionalization, and not on active duty. The ~91 million figure is the 246 million minus the 155 million either classified as employed or unemployed.

That number does include people who have just given up looking for work, but it also includes retirees, the disabled (who are unable to find work as a result), high school and college students who haven't looked for work because of school responsibilities, stay-at-home parents, and people who have decided they don't need to work.

91 million sounds like a big scary number, but it's nowhere near as bad as the OP is suggesting.

[joshcryer]

88. Importantly, it includes those who *want* to work.

Those who don't want to work aren't included because they might not want to work for a variety of reasons, stay at home parents (mom or dad or mom or mom or dad or dad, even!), students, or even hobos (though not sure how BLS would get a hold of a hobo BLS statistics are the best and most coveted on the entire planet; there was a fascinating article I once read about how closely held they were and how well rounded and accurate they were; wish I could find that article as I thought it was really good and maybe worth posting in Good Reads again).

[aggiesal]

94. So the 91 million also includes ...

about 47 million disabled and retirees.
so the actual number is around 44 million.
Making the actual unemployment around 22.5%

Which is a lot closer to the numbers I'm seeing.

Thanks

[okaawhatever]

96. The Labor Force is 155,724 as of Feb 2014, # employed is 145,266 unemployed is 10,459

unemployment rate is 6.7%

http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost

[DebJ]

46. You beat me to it. I just rounded and thought 100 million out of 300 million, HUH????? Duh.

Americans SOOOO suck at math.

[NuclearDem]

53. The 37% is right. 63% labor force participation rate.

[SheilaT]

7. 92 million is about a quarter of our total population.

How many are too young to work, too old, otherwise voluntarily not in the workforce? What is the real number of the actual workforce? Is it all those over age 17? Is it only those ages 18-65? How many are full time students? And so on.

92 million forgotten, uncounted, and ignored sounds suspiciously high.

[joshcryer]

10. I feel like this thread is some caricature.

It's clearly people not in the labor force.

[stevenleser]

13. See my #12 below. I wish OP had checked a few more links on the BLM site. nt

[Luminous Animal]

30. So looking forward to you seeing you again on anti gay fox news.

[stevenleser]

32. You just said a lot more about yourself than about me. nt

[Luminous Animal]

58. Here's to you kid on Fox New!

[joshcryer]

38. Not looking forward to seeing GG on anti-gay RT.

[stevenleser]

47. LGBT issues are a game to that person only to be used to attack perceived enemies.

That person's only posts in the LGBT group in the last 4 years were two posts in May 2012 to bash Obama.

Other than that, nothing.

Here he goes completely off topic to use them to attack me.

[joshcryer]

50. LGBT issues are a huge wedge for many Obama detractors.

Obama's finally evolved on the issue to the point they can't use it anymore, but they still have that deep rooted insult and keep trying to peddle it somehow.

[stevenleser]

52. Yep, I'm sure that poster is upset he can't use LGBT rights to attack Obama anymore.

But he is not above trying to use them to attack me.

Of course not only will it not work, LGBT folks will not appreciate their rights being used this way. A true ally would know that right off the bat.

[Luminous Animal]

55. Have you ever seen him there?

[stevenleser]

56. Googling greenwald rt is not hard... nt

[Luminous Animal]

59. Ok. Give me the links. And then I will google you.

[stevenleser]

62. Josh Cryer beat me to it below. nt

[stevenleser]

64. That implies payment. I was never paid and I am currently boycotting Russian media.

Last edited Sun Mar 23, 2014, 02:39 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024687336

[bravenak]

69. Here you go.

On Sun Mar 23, 2014, 07:10 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

You were an RT whore. Google yourself.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4712853

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Really?

JURY RESULTS

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sun Mar 23, 2014, 07:18 AM, and the Jury voted 6-0 to HIDE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Clearly an outrageously egregious personal attack. Does DU no longer have any standards of civility? We'll see. (probably not.)
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: This post is beyond unpleasant. Time to hide.
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Out of control today!! Someone needs a time out!!! Whore!!! Whats up with the name calling this week?? Is everything okay now?? Anything we can't say on here?

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[joshcryer]

60. Not until now. I was right, didn't look forward to it.

[joshcryer]

65. And I care, why?

I think your original insult was petty and uninspired. Mind you, I'd never give either channel the time of day (or defend either channel for that matter). I understand why Steve goes there, he has to get his name heard somehow. That might make him a whore in that respect.

[stevenleser]

66. Actually, I was never paid and I always spoke my mind. When Russia became anti-gay, I stopped going.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024687336

[joshcryer]

67. "Getting your name heard" is not "getting paid."

I think you should quit FOX News because of their reluctance to cover Russia's crackdown on gays.

I know why all these people go on the talking head shows, it's to get TV space and be controversial, and maybe someone will buy their book or let them speak or whatever. It's just another opportunity. I used to be a huge, huge fan of the talking heads, particularly when Crossfire was around before Stewart crushed them and around when Media Whores Online was still around. But I have long stopped watching cable TV.

[stevenleser]

70. We're in agreement on the "not getting paid" part.

And to the point, it was never about "getting my name out there". I never expected politics to be a money making enterprise for me. Obviously, somewhere along the way, that changed.

Now, regarding what media networks and outlets I will engage in, my policy regarding media until last summer was, I will go anywhere and debate anyone on any legitimate political topic.

I never expected to have to change that.

When one of the media I had been attending turned out to be an official state media of a country that just took a dramatic negative turn in civil rights, I needed to re-evaluate that position and my friends in the LGBT community urged me to re-evaluate that position.

And I did. That is my one exception to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Because it is the official media of a country that is actively becoming dramatically worse in equality.

[joshcryer]

74. If I could make money doing political stuff, it'd happen so quick.

I probably spend about 20% of my free time chatting on a forum, for free! Telling people my ideas, for free!

I'm not going to come down on anyone who manages to make money from it. Though if they get rich from it- not talking about you as I don't think you're big enough yet- they need to drop the shit and pretenses and go full out against all the others who do get rich from it and keep fomenting BS to continue being enriched. Say, once you hit $5 million, you are set for life.

Note: I understand that RT will actively deny LGBT defenders on their show, so I understand why you stopped going on there. But you and I both know that Fox News won't really cover LGBT to the extent we want.

[bravenak]

71. Another one.

On Sat Mar 22, 2014, 11:15 PM you sent an alert on the following post:

Now look up Steve.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4712845

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

YOUR COMMENTS

This poster keeps calling another poster a whore. This is unacceptable. Namecalling is small minded a does nothing to further the debate. Please hide.

JURY RESULTS

A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of this alert at Sat Mar 22, 2014, 11:20 PM, and voted 6-0 to HIDE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: The whole thread is toxic; but this does not justify the post, and the constant repetition of 'whore' accusations.
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you.

[stevenleser]

73. Thanks for the results on both. That person's attentions were... interesting.

First he completely changes the subject to attack me and then the nastiness just escalated to the point where it was ridiculous.

Looks like this has exposed his transparency page and he will be getting a 5 day or so timeout that he clearly needs.

[joshcryer]

77. FYI, they are a she.

Thought it bore correction.

[stevenleser]

82. Just goes to show you one can't assume. I tend to think of stalkers and rage-a-holics as male/men

but it doesn't seem so in this case.

[joshcryer]

85. I agree it is unusual a woman would stalk you.

But then again I've had two on DU, two of the most virulent, hateful people I have ever encountered in my life (not talking about Luminous, the stalkers know who they are, very hateful, mean, cruel people).

[bravenak]

80. No problem.

Sometimes people need a break to calm down for a minute. I don't know what it is about you but....
People think it's perfectly fine to call you names. I do not like it.

[stevenleser]

81. I think it's because I am the closest they can come to getting at someone with national media

exposure so they feel like it somehow gets them something if they are able to vent all of their political and media frustrations on me.

It probably doesn't help that I am politically pragmatic. So I'm a double lightning rod for those here who feel powerless against the status quo.

That doesn't make it right but that's the best I can come up with.

[bravenak]

83. I feel for you.

The last two times i was on a jury it was someone trashing you. The first time i had no idea what was going. This time was way overboard. You do not deserve to be bullied just because you go on TV. Maybe you are used to it by now, but you shouldnt be.

[stevenleser]

84. Really? What was the time before this?

and thank you for the nice comments, but another attack on me was recently alerted/juried?

Sheesh

[bravenak]

89. Maybe night before last?

I got that one wrong because i didnt read the thread first. Something about sit up and beg. I didn't know what that was about. Sounded weird but it got hidden despite my bad judgement. I decided to always read the whole thing first after that. Glad i did, otherwise i would have missed the other whore post. Terrible business this name calling.

[stevenleser]

92. Ugh. Found it.

What can I say that we haven't already said in this thread.

Some folks clearly think that my being on TV gives them a special right to be nasty to me.

[bravenak]

95. Exactly.

Sorry about that. I should have guessed what was going on.

[joshcryer]

86. You are the kind of poster DU juries need.

Thanks for your service.

[bravenak]

87. You're welcome.

I like DU, and i love the fact that we have juries to serve on. On my top ten list of best things about DU, the jury systen is about number 3. MIRT is number 2.

[joshcryer]

76. Two 6-0 hides? Amazing.

Maybe DU is finally getting tired of the name calling bullshit.

Also, amazing you were on two juries bravenak, because you don't have a star and all, must be a very slow night.

[bravenak]

78. I was only on the one jury.

I was the second alerter. The name calling is getting out of hand lately.

[joshcryer]

79. Good for you.

That makes sense.

[closeupready]

98. I've met Steven, and he's a first-rate friend to GLBT people.

And I base that not only on having met him, but his history here on DU and also in his media appearances - tireless, committed, fair, pro-equality.

So I'm really disappointed in seeing anyone here attempt to malign his integrity, as you are trying to do here. Really a shame.

[TBF]

99. And a good journalist.

Steven and I don't always agree on issues but he is always respectful and explains his positions clearly. I am glad he is in our corner.

[closeupready]

100. Yes. Completely agree.

I also disagree with him on some things, but there is no question in my mind that he is a committed Democrat.

[William769]

101. To be fair Steve is a great LGBT ally.

Although it may not do any good with their bigotry, at least it will not go unchallenged.

[Barack_America]

14. My lazy 3 year old won't get off his ass and find a job.

I imagine he's one of the 92 million.

[Mr.Bill]

23. Yeah, and he's probably a "taker", too.

One of the 47% that pays no taxes.

[2naSalit]

22. Many FT students also work for wages. I did. n/t

[joshcryer]

11. C'mon we need to get this thread to 100+ recs.

More people need to see this!

[stevenleser]

12. Yes, but, 23.4 mil are disabled and 23.5 mil are over 65 (retired) so,you're back down to 45 million

http://bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t06.htm

Many of the rest of what BLM categorizes as "not in the Labor force" in the 16-64 range are folks in high school or college, stay at home moms and dads or the wealthy.

[SheilaT]

17. Bingo!

It's my vague impression that at any time the actual workforce is about half of the total population. I have no idea where I got that idea from, but it's stuck in my brain.

I know that the population pyramid makes a different. If a huge number are under 16 or over 65, it's quite different from a more even pyramid, where each age group is similar in size.

While these days the presumption is that all able-bodied adults are of course in the workforce, it becomes important to note how many are not able-bodied, or how many are women at home with young children. That of course would have been a much greater percentage fifty plus years ago, but again I vaguely think that a noticeable percentage of moms with young children are not in the workforce.

[hfojvt]

18. but the Democratic Party sucks

if it doesn't find jobs for all the elderly and disabled.

[stevenleser]

19. I know, right? If we don't force the lazy nursing home residents to earn their keep, we're fascists.

This continued manufactured outrage against the administration is ridiculous.

[DebJ]

49. Ha ha ha.

[freshwest]

102. And that many are underage:

http://www.ask.com/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States

But if it doesn't fit the meme, it'll all be ignored anyway.

[ErikJ]

15. GOP PROPAGANDA!! - dont swallow it

The RW propaganda talking point right now is "the labor participation rate is lowest ever! Obama is horrible!"
Theres a very good reason why. THE huge BABY BOOMER population is retiring at record rates! People over 55 have (always had) a lower labor rate than 24-55 and more people are passing 55 than ever before in US history.

[okaawhatever]

16. Why do you write about your objection to propaganda and then turn around and create it? Your

claim that "55 million Americans are out of the workforce, and uncounted, forgotten by our party" is pure bullshit propaganda. It's also a lie. First, when you cite a number created by the gov't entity that is responsible for counting numbers, they are NOT uncounted. Second, you claim they are "forgotten" by our party. No, MY PARTY, the Democratic party, knows what the various numbers mean and would never put the bullshit propaganda out that you have.

Total not in the labor force 90,100 92,058 35,937 37,352 54,163 54,707
Persons who currently want a job 6,842 6,091 3,131 2,984 3,712 3,107 Marginally attached to the labor force(1) 2,588 2,303 1,344 1,295 1,244 1,008
Discouraged workers(2) 885 755 527 466 358 289
Other persons marginally attached to the labor force(3) 1,704 1,548 817 829 886 719


From the BLS, you can see that the people currently looking for a job are less than one half of what they were last year. Marginally attached to the labor force, down 60%, Discouraged workers about one third what they were last year. Sorry, take your bullshit elsewhere. Here at DU we concern ourselves with FACTS, DATA, and REALITY. Not some bullshit propaganda.

[fleabiscuit]

29. I'm not getting what you are saying. The yr to yr are beside each other.

What am I missing?

[stevenleser]

31. See my #12 above. BLM provides additional tables to allow you to break this down. nt

[fleabiscuit]

35. OK thanks.

I've been up 18 hours, I better look again in the morning.

[okaawhatever]

43. Yes, please click on Steve's link. I straightened out the data table, and then when I clicked post

all the numbers ran together again.

[fleabiscuit]

28. errr, Table A-16. [Numbers in thousands] ~eom

[taught_me_patience]

44. utter dreck.

a complete misinterpretation of the chart.

[Bobbie Jo]

72. That's how they roll. nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

103. Huh./NT