Quote:
Originally Posted by Guest
First it is important to understand the author of this piece. He is Jim Clifton, the President and CEO of Gallup and to my knowledge, NOT a political mouthpiece for any party at all. Fact is this article was shocking in its candid approach.
Just read it and how worried should be be, not only about the stats involved but the absence of candid and honest information coming to us...
"Here's something that many Americans -- including some of the smartest and most educated among us -- don't know: The official unemployment rate, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, is extremely misleading.
Right now, we're hearing much celebrating from the media, the White House and Wall Street about how unemployment is "down" to 5.6%. The cheerleading for this number is deafening. The media loves a comeback story, the White House wants to score political points and Wall Street would like you to stay in the market."
The Big Lie: 5.6% Unemployment
Read it all please, and will leave you with this from the article....just keep in mind, you cannot solve problems if you do not admit you have them.
"And it's a lie that has consequences, because the great American dream is to have a good job, and in recent years, America has failed to deliver that dream more than it has at any time in recent memory. A good job is an individual's primary identity, their very self-worth, their dignity -- it establishes the relationship they have with their friends, community and country. When we fail to deliver a good job that fits a citizen's talents, training and experience, we are failing the great American dream." |
I may not have gotten off base as far as the point behind your post. If I made a clear miss, I'm apologize.
For some reason I cannot go to the link you provided. Are you suggesting that the way that the unemployed are counted is somehow different that it has been since they started reporting such things? If so, how are they different? Or, are you suggesting that the whole process has been broken since it was established?
I think we might be in agreement that our growth and worth as a nation is strongly focused on a vibrant and attainable middle class. The numbers don't mean much at all if the majority of employed people are not able to set their goal on becoming part of the middle class.
By the way, today on the news it was announced that there are now 341 (I think in the world) new Billionaires in 2014. Doesn't that make us all warm and fuzzy. I wonder how much smaller the middle class has gotten. The wealth of this nation is strongly gathered in the top 2 percent.
Xavier