Saturday, January 8, 2011

Hopeless and Changeless



Still glowing from his multi-million dollar Hawaiian vacation, Barack Obama happily announced that the unemployment rate dropped to 9.4% last month... but was a little skimpy on the details.

And small wonder; although jobs increased by 103,000 last month, experts had expected the number to rise by as much as 300,000. Additionally, the jobless rate went down statistically because a surprisingly large number of people simply gave up on the Obama economy once and for all, and decided to just accept the fact that they'll be watching the Oprah Network 24 hours a day for the rest of their hopeless little lives.

Which, in Obama's world, is viewed as a success. Not to mention a profitable kickback to Oprah for all of her invaluable political support.

Economists say that the tepid job numbers indicate that it will be at least five years before the economy can restore all of the jobs lost in the current downturn.

Or nine years in the tragic event that Mr. Obama is re-elected.


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Because the most important job is making Obama look good.
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15 comments:

Pete(Detroit) said...

"Making Obama look good" - there's a job for Superman! Or Joe Stalin..

Suzy said...

I'm sure passing the unemployment bill probably made a lot of people think, "Well gee, if everybody ELSE can do it....."

I guess the only thing more demeaning than accepting money from the government (talking middle class here) is not being able to provide for your family. My heart goes out to the struggling working class. (Which I am one, but thankfully we are still in jobs...)

And Pete I don't even think Superman can make Obama look good....

Jas. in Idaho said...

People keep getting things wrong on the unemployment front. For example, one of my sons lost his job a couple of months ago. Since he had not been on the job long enough to collect unemployment, he doesn't count. Likewise, all those whose unemployment checks have run out drop off the screen as well. This does not mean that they have given up looking for work. It does mean that they no longer have to report their efforts to the government ... and so, they no longer count.

Dixie Quilter said...

Jas. in Idaho is so right. Nor does this take into account people like my daughter and son-in-law. He is a college graduate and reduced to waiting tables because he cannot find employment in his chosen profession though he has applied to dozens of places for well over a year. And my daughter, after three yrs of college, has a min. wage job--they have been forced to move in with his parents because together they can't even make enough to live on. They continue the search for better jobs. I guess because they were never on unemployment, they've never been counted in the statistics.

Suzy said...

I know some people who are taking lower paying jobs because they can't find a job along their education/degree, either....sad that people pay all that for college and then have to go back to flipping burgers....

Jim L. Chitty: Chancellor, College of Common Sense; President, Institute for Political Incorrectness. said...

Flipping burgers is what Obama needs to be doing after 2012. If the American people are dumb enough to re-elect him, I'm thinking Dubai might be an interesting place to go...lol

Jim L. Chitty: Chancellor, College of Common Sense; President, Institute for Political Incorrectness. said...

Obama flipping burgers: "Would like some healthcare with that? Maybe a hot apple stimulus pie?"

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

Readers- The unemployment numbers aren't just terrible... they're also wildly inaccurate. As you point out above, people who aren't getting government assistance aren't counted, whether they're looking for work or not.

Of people who have jobs, it's estimated that 1-in-5 is severly under-employed...perhaps taking a minimum wage job despite having education and experience which would normally qualify them for a better job.

Regarding the drop in the unemployment rate from 9.8% to 9.4%, fully HALF of the number represents people who have given up. And it's likely that among those who found jobs in December, many involved wearing a Santa suit... and we'll see them back in the unemployment lines in January.

All of which Barack Obama describes as a positive "trend."

Bobo said...

Even the magic "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall" couldn't make Oblahma look good to me.

John the Econ said...

Whiners! What are you all complaining about? This the "change we can believe in"! Obamanomics is all about making us just like the the European Social Democracies where 10% unemployment, massive underemployment, and 2% growth are the expected norms.

As Dora the Explorer sez, "We did it! We did it!"

BlazinMeatball said...

If government would get out of the way with its regs and job-killing policies and stuff, the economy would turn around on its own, I feel, and jobs would return!

Rick said...

The only person that make Obummer look good is Nancy because when she stands next to any one they look a million times better. It to opposite of the ol' cute girl hanging out with ugly friends ploy.

Mr. Moron Politics said...

This particular government statistic is the worst, most wildly inaccurate of all. Although everybody knows this they seems to take an insane glee in talking about it and saying that "well, that's the number everybody goes by" etc. If Obama and the congress had not extended the unemployment benefits the number would be below 7 percent in another 30 days. It only counts people applying for unemployment. You CAN'T go to most state agencies to look for a job. They just sign you up for benefits... PERIOD. Tell them you're not eligible, just looking for work and they tell you to go away. Although this is true, NOBODY even TRIES to poll or otherwise figure out the actual unemployment numbers. If they do... it is ignored because people continue to report the wrong numbers, chuckling about how their wrong but that's the number... People ( that's YOU ) need to B&M about this if they want it changed.

People don't understand freedom. It means freedom to fail, freedom to starve, etc. The government isn't supposed to take care of your mom and dad. YOU are. I hear people talking about how independent THEY are, but what about their parents? Ready for them to move in? That's what we need to go back to if you REALLY want less government. Helping each other.. not strangers... you elderly mom and dad, your mentally ill brother or son, you injured, sick and disabled sister or cousin or whatever. Do you REALLY mean it when you talk about "smaller gov't"? Really?

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

Mr. Moron Politics- Good points throughout, though I especially want to agree with the idea that freedom includes "freedom to fail." Without it, someone else is required to make sure you can't fail...and the price is their own freedom (in the form of their money, or other fruits of their labor).

Miss Moneypenny said...

Freedom to Fail? The worst President in history has bailed out Wall Street, Banks, and Government Motors leaving taxpayers with the burden of paying for Obama's failed policies. Chairman Mao Obama removed the equal rights to 'Freedom to Fail' from Corporations who caused the financial crisis and transferred their expensive consequences to Americans.