Recovery - Not yet!

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by Charles

I can appreciate how they arrive at their figures, what I question is what they're using for data.

If you calculate in those who were dropped from the UE rolls for one reason or another, young people who would normally be entering the workforce but have moved back in with mom, under and part time employment, you wind up with a different picture.

I'm not questioning that we're down a half a point from last year, I'm questioning the baseline figures themselves.Chas

Sorta doesn't matter IMHO. If the data is analysed in the same manner every month, the fact remains that unemployment went down 0.5%. Anyone who knows a thing about unemployment figures knows that there's a difference between structural unemployment, total unemployment and these figures. It's the trend in these figures that matter IMHO.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by Charles

I can appreciate how they arrive at their figures, what I question is what they're using for data.

If you calculate in those who were dropped from the UE rolls for one reason or another, young people who would normally be entering the workforce but have moved back in with mom, under and part time employment, you wind up with a different picture.

I'm not questioning that we're down a half a point from last year, I'm questioning the baseline figures themselves.

Chas

They also gave figures for the young people who moved back home, near as I recall the number tripled from summat like 23% to 70%.

All these numbers aside does anyone honestly believe that all these dumbass bills Boehner & Co. are proposing are going to put anyone back to work?

[d-ray657]

Chas, be careful what you ask for. Here is the most current unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Standards. If you want other unemployment data, for example last year's, start hunting here. I have actually used BLS data for a few things, and it is very thorough.

Regards,

D-Ray

[merrylander]

Not to worry as we have a new elite, no less a person than Alan Greenspan says so. Note that International bankers and wall street have recovered nicely. Last year hedge fund managers made a billion a piece - and were taxed at 15%. These people have become a nation unto themselvves as they walk of with 2/3rds of the pie and leave we peons to split the rest. Actually I guess we are lucky they left us as much as 1/3rd.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Chas, be careful what you ask for. Here is the most current unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Standards. If you want other unemployment data, for example last year's, start hunting here. I have actually used BLS data for a few things, and it is very thorough.

Regards,

D-Ray

Why thank you Don, that's a little more like it.

Now they may be figures from the "lyin' goobermitt", but the government does have the most extensive database out there, and a benchmark has to be established from something.

And while a 1/2 point drop in UE is better than a sharp stick in the eye, I don't think it's time to break out the party hats just yet.

Concerning the economy, I'm beginning to grow cautiously optimistic. I actually got a couple of phone calls.

Now one of them was a wrong number, but batting .500 in a snowstorm ain't bad.

Now can you furnish me with the internals on TARP. As you've pointed out, most of it, most noticeably loans to the big banks, has almost been repaid.

I still don't understand how they've gone from being flat busted on their asses to rolling in the dough so quickly.

It's not like they have a money tree or anything.

Chas

PS: Don't get me wrong, if the Lizzards of Wall Street can pull another rabbit out of their ass and keep this house of cards from folding up, it's fine with me.

Wouldn't hurt if they were to work a little cheaper, but I understand that's the motivation for repayment in the 1st place.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Not to worry as we have a new elite, no less a person than Alan Greenspan says so. Note that International bankers and wall street have recovered nicely. Last year hedge fund managers made a billion a piece - and were taxed at 15%. These people have become a nation unto themselvves as they walk of with 2/3rds of the pie and leave we peons to split the rest. Actually I guess we are lucky they left us as much as 1/3rd.

Where do we find such men?

I know where we could put them, if only we had a decent bunco squad.

And unlike the town drunk, I would have no problem with charging them room and board for their stay at the hoosescow.

Besides, the town drunk bought his Sweet Lucy with his own money.

Chas

[d-ray657]

I don't think there are many fans of wall street around, except for those on its payroll, including many in Congress. I don't know of anyone who doesn't think the wall street types are overpaid, except for those on the wall street payroll.

I won't be jumping up and down until unemployment falls below 7%, but we probably have to wait until Obama's second term for that.

Regards,

D-Ray

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

I don't think there are many fans of wall street around, except for those on its payroll, including many in Congress. I don't know of anyone who doesn't think the wall street types are overpaid, except for those on the wall street payroll.

I won't be jumping up and down until unemployment falls below 7%, but we probably have to wait until Obama's second term for that.

Regards,

D-Ray

If this "New Elite" has its way that won't happen. We need to boost the top rate to 90% again.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by merrylander

All these numbers aside does anyone honestly believe that all these dumbass bills Boehner & Co. are proposing are going to put anyone back to work?

No. So far all I've seen from them is a pathetic Kabuki dance. Well, to be fair they did protect a handfull of the ultra rich from a tax increase. Or loss of a tax cut........or whatever you want to call it.........I guess.

When the economy picks up, it'll be because people who have money have grown tired of sitting on it.

Dave

[mossbacked]

It's never really mattered much about who has passed what bill.

Unemployment cycles up and down and most likely always will.

It's probably a safe bet that LESS legislation equals LESS unemployment, but we are unlikely to return to a point where we have less legislation, so we'll just have to get used to it.

Also, it's ridiculous that everybody always bitches about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. What in the world do thinks happens to the poor when the rich get poorer?