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jwirr

(39,215 posts)

21. Of course - for instance - when they tell us that the rate is "5.5 percent" that is overall - it

Sat Jun 6, 2015, 12:04 PM

Jun 2015

hides the real rate in chronically unemployment areas such as the inner cities and reservations. That is the point of the cartoon. And it does not help us understand a damned thing about what is really going on or what is needed.

Imagine you are one of the 1% and you see the "5.5" stat. To you it looks good and you wonder what all the hype is about no jobs. After all the unemployment rate is no different than it was back in the 60s. Things were good then - what are they complaining about now?

IMO we should never use an overall figure for unemployment. Jobs need to be targeted to some areas regardless what the overall stat says. We do not do that and what has happened is that the New Deal never reached many of these areas. It has allowed some areas to thrive while other areas are ignored.

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Unemployment rate hocus-pocus (cartoon) [View all] marmar Jun 2015 OP

Haven't there always been "hidden" unemployed?? DCBob Jun 2015 #1

No, everything bad started when Obama became president Democat Jun 2015 #2

You forgot the sarcasm gif, right? nt brush Jun 2015 #3

Seems alot of people want to change the way we calculate unemployment now. DCBob Jun 2015 #4

I don't know who those people are. raouldukelives Jun 2015 #17

I think its simply a very difficult number to determine accurately. DCBob Jun 2015 #18

Infaltion rates that don't include food or energy, CrispyQ Jun 2015 #23

Crazy, right? And yet, they always seem to be telling us to live in reality. Yikes! nt raouldukelives Jun 2015 #39

Yes, the CPI includes food and energy. I wish this zombie would die Recursion Jun 2015 #41

The cartoon never even mentioned Obama nxylas Jun 2015 #5

It suggests the government is not taking into account the millions of "hidden" unemployed. DCBob Jun 2015 #7

Which is true nxylas Jun 2015 #14

Well, did this cartoon ever run prior to the current administration? DCBob Jun 2015 #15

But that's pretty circumstantial evidence nxylas Jun 2015 #19

You mean did it run before 2015, 7 years after the 2008 financial crises, right? Pooka Fey Jun 2015 #20

After six years of Obama Derangement Syndrome, SCVDem Jun 2015 #12

The cartoonist's work is regularly featured at Townhall.com MADem Jun 2015 #28

Well, that changes things nxylas Jun 2015 #31

DU didn't trust unemployment figures back when Bush was prez. CrispyQ Jun 2015 #24

The way it is tallied awoke_in_2003 Jun 2015 #26

No. it started under JFK. Then Reagan took it several steps further. Then Clinton. Luminous Animal Jun 2015 #35

Thanks, didn't know it went back that far.... awoke_in_2003 Jun 2015 #36

JFK removed "discouraged workers" from unemployment figures in 1961. Luminous Animal Jun 2015 #37

I've been complaining since Reagan. Though, since JFK, the govt. has been fudging the numbers. Luminous Animal Jun 2015 #33

Thanks for the info BuelahWitch Jun 2015 #38

Of course - for instance - when they tell us that the rate is "5.5 percent" that is overall - it jwirr Jun 2015 #21

Yes, but not to the extent there are today. hifiguy Jun 2015 #30

Yes, I am sure it worse today than before.. DCBob Jun 2015 #32

Nop. Started with JFK who removed discouraged workers in 1961. But Reagan did more to fudge the Luminous Animal Jun 2015 #34

Great cartoon Gothmog Jun 2015 #6

I am one of those shadows at the end of the line. SmittynMo Jun 2015 #8

Sorry to hear that.. I was almost there too being an IT guy in mid 50's. DCBob Jun 2015 #9

The official unemployment rate almost always SheilaT Jun 2015 #10

Those who aren't looking for work are counted, in the U-4, and it's 0.5% of the population Recursion Jun 2015 #42

K&R Pooka Fey Jun 2015 #11

We need a policy of full employment Agony Jun 2015 #13

There will NEVER be 'full employment'! relrod Jun 2015 #40

Full employment for those able to work. uppityperson Jun 2015 #43

Toon shows,,,, Cryptoad Jun 2015 #16

You did--see post 28! nt MADem Jun 2015 #29

Homeless rate...er um sputter...FREEDOM! AMERICA! WE'RE NUMBER #1!!!! Rex Jun 2015 #22

Of course suggested alternatives are either a) already given or b) fucking stupid whatthehey Jun 2015 #25

K&R WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2015 #27