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Sometimes "good news" doesn't sound much like good news. And such is the case with the latest unemployment figures, which officially rose to 9.9%...but are actually 17.1% according to the government's broader (and more realistic) U-6 measurement standards.
Perversely, the Obama administration is trumpeting this as good news, citing the likelihood that unemployment numbers rose because people who had previously given up all hope have now re-entered the job market...without, of course, finding a job.
In other words, rising unemployment is good because it shows that the jobless now have hope. Misguided, unfulfilled hope, but still...hope! Granted, they'd probably rather have change, but that won't happen until November 2012.
Bonus: From the Hope n' Change Gift Shoppe, expert economic analysis from Inigo Montoya.
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9 comments:
I can't wait to see what good news our emperor has for us next month!
The continuous insanity from this president is raising MY hope for a sweeping change in November.
"I do not think it means"
O-M-G that's good!
That was an absolutely brutal punch line -- its not like the baby is yours! Wow!! For Mother's Day no less! Isn't that hitting below the belt, just a little?
I am all for taking a dig at The Won(tm), but this seems to me to dishonor the role of responsible parents on a day specifically honoring Mothers. I think you could have done better.
On a serious note, look for an upward jump in the Unemployment rate either June or July. Most school districts across the nation will be laying off staff or not offerring renewed teacher contracts at the end of the school year - it didn't happen last year because of the Stimulus Bill. I have seen estimates as high as 300,000 jobs to be lost in the education sector.
Google "teacher layoffs nationwide" - maybe we haven't been hearing real much about it yet, because if no action is taken now, at a later date it becomes a "crisis" that can be taken advantage of. I can't imagine that the White House would allow so many layoffs to happen in a sector of the economy that they could rather easily resolve. In the big scheme of things, all it would take would be "chump change".
I predict that there will be a "crisis" (underfunded schools, larger class sizes, facility deterioration, etc.) that the public will demand resolution. Then whatever amount of $$$ is needed to resolve the school crisis will be multiplied by a factor of 3 by attaching a whole bunch of other crap (more high speed trains, windmills, cultural building projects, green initiatives, Cash for Clunkers, etc.), ala the Stimulus Bill.
Dr. D- Today's cartoon wasn't intended to show any disrespect to mothers or responsible parents (although it's admittedly somewhat edgy for Mother's Day). Depending on how long you've been visiting HopeNChange Cartoons, you may start to recognize certain recurring characters and their characteristics. In this case, we have a man who is habitually discouraged by his unemployment, and his wife who always finds a way to make him feel worse under the guise of comforting him. And usually by implying that she (ahem) "gets around" a lot. So the joke was about unemployment and this couple only...not mothers in general. And while we're on the subject, you've given me the perfect opportunity for a big Mother's Day shoutout to my wife, Mrs. Jarlsberg, and my mother, Mom Jarlsberg. I love them both!
alan markus- interesting stuff, and I'm sure you're right. The pattern currently seems to be to run up debt to crisis levels, subsequently allowing the government to take "emergency" bailout measures which really amount to redistribution of wealth.
That made me snortle. I just made that word up, yo. "Word Up". Get it? Nevermind.
All hail the DalaiBama.
NOT!
Hog Whitman- It is our honor and sacred duty to make you snortle. Glad to be of service!
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