About the best summary of "the way things are" I've seen.

Mesquite

A worthy read.

mhammerman

Hummm...Idonno. Been looking at the numbers myself during the week and came up with something different but I used different methods.

Pop per '10 census is 308 mill.
Remove the >65 and <18 and you get 114,449,451 that aren't in the workforce. Not that there aren't some geezers working or that there aren't any kids out there hammering the burger grill but just for the sake of getting a number of citizens (or census filers) that are eligible, I came up with 194 mill (194.5 actually) eligible to work or 63% of the possible workforce; ages 18+ to <65. Author states there are 142 mill working and I have to accept that because I'm too lazy to research the fact but it seems about right so 142 working divided by 194 eligible to work gives a participation rate of about 73% which would leave 27% not working. Are those 27% unemployed, are half of them on disability, are they on the dole and off the unemployment books and don't count...Idonno but I'm pretty sure that the unemployment number of eligible workers is a lot higher than 8.6% as reported. My take on the article is that it seems a bit sensational. It would be very interesting to get a real number from someone but I somewhat agree with the article that someone is blowing sunshine up someone elses hiney.

Baley

Wonderfully sarcastic, cynical, and profanity laden rant! I believe every word! Soo.... now what? what should I DO about it?

mhammerman

I agree, Baley. It seems that everyone that has a vehicle for submitting copy for mass public consumption is sensationalizing their drivel with BS numbers and extreme circumstances. Best to just believe what you can verify and glean what reasonable information you can.

Edited to add: There are only three positions...buy, sell, hold.

Mesquite

<< <i>Wonderfully sarcastic, cynical, and profanity laden rant! I believe every word! Soo.... now what? what should I DO about it? >>



I did not see a bunch of profanity - I do remember the word Bull$hit being used. A rant? I don't think so. Cynical? I did not catch that. You may believe everything (or not) in the article if you wish. What you do with it is your call. Fact is, you will not see this presented in very many places. Check the "facts"? Certainly.

The only thing we can really do about it is refuse to buy the government's Bull$hit about the state our current economy. (The following is non-political.) Does the man who occupies the top office for the next four years matter? Realistically, probably not a lot in the long run - I'm not convinced that we can avoid going over the falls at this point in the game (that's not pessimistic, or cynical, simply, I think, a realistic concern). I've read the last chaper of the Book. I am struck the the USA is not mentioned. Prepare. If you have a job - don't carelessly leave it (not a heartless statement; I realize that some lose their jobs through no fault of their own). If you're out of work get a job - any job - if you can find one. Don't willingly go into debt (personal) and if you have debt, work towards paying it off. If you have the means, keep on stackin' - it will give you something to do and likely turn out to have been the right thing to have done.

Baley

alright, now we're getting somewheres, stay employed, get out of debt, put something away for a rainy day...

also,

"Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations."

-Monty Python

Mesquite

You're a treat to converse with Baley.

gsa1fan

" When you watch a CNBC talking head interviewing a Wall Street shyster realize you have the 1% interviewing the .01% about how great things are."

I tend to agree with this statement from the article. 99 weekers are falling off the dole. The numbers mixers are having a field day as to how good things are getting.