Do you know the REAL U.S. unemployment rate is 12.5%, NOT 5.5% as the government claims?

Question

And that the U.S. has lost 60% of its manufacturing base? And that McDonalds has been the creator of the most new jobs? Do you know that if we use the REAL statistics to calculate unemployment (the way we used to in 1980), the actual U.S. unemployment rate IS 12.5%? Washington's NEW WAY of calculating unemployment rates doesn't include workers who can't find jobs. After 6 months of searching, those unemployed job seekers just fall off the books. So far, about 5,000,000 workers have earned this "invisible" status. So, when Washington tells you how GREAT things are, do you believe them?

Answer 1

I doesn't surprise me at all. There is so much the government does to make themselves look better, I"m class of "84", and I have seen new text books, I learned sentence structure in 6th grade, the English they teach now is not what I learned, the "leave no child behind" thing only drops the level of quality the children are getting, and the California lottery was suppose to use most of the money for the school system. is it? An uneducated and uninformed society is an easily controlled society. And all this is because we promote carrier politicians. They will tell us anything to keep their jobs, because they like the money and bonuses they get. Until we do something to make it so they get no monetary growth from being in office, we will continue to get lied to. If we had people that wanted to be in office to make a difference and not make money, we would hear truth and see things happen for the good of the average "Joe's"

Answer 2

McDonalds has not created the most jobs. Wal-Mart has created the most jobs and continues to be the largest private employer in the United States. We have been losing manufacturing jobs for a long time and attempt to blame this on the Bush administration without considering the overall historical picture is just ridiculous. Some jobs have been outsourced this is true, but we have also insourced jobs a fact which Democrats never state in their little tirades. I don't know if unemployment figures are properly representative or not, but this idea that the economy is bad is false. The stock market is at record level and the GDP is up. Where unemployment is concerned there are a couple of good questions you should ask yourself.

How many people do you know that are unemployed?
Are these people actively searching for work?
Are these people willing to take jobs that are available, or are they demanding a job that meets their criteria (wages, benefits, job title, chosen field ect)?

I am not in the top 2% of earners in the country. I do not know anyone in the top 2% bracket. What I do know is almost everyone I know is employed, most of them own houses and have bought them in this so called terrible economy. Most people I know are making more money than they were 5 years ago and are paying less in taxes. You can scream unemployment and the economy are bad all you want, but frankly I do not see any evidence of it. Lastly I agree with athe nswer about immigration. If the economy is so bad why are Democrats constantly telling us we need illegals to the jobs Americans won't do. This is and always has been political in nature. The fastest way to win an election is to convince people they are one paycheck away from doom and only the other side can save them.

Answer 3

Why should we believe you? First of all McD is NOt the biggest employer in the US, Wal-Mart is. You are doing what a loyal Democrat is suppose to do, confuse the issue.. Yes manufacturing jobs have gone away but they were also leaving under Clinton. These companies move to were ever they can get their products made at a cheaper price.All businesses are in business to make money (even me). we try to buy at a decent price & make a profit by selling at a decent markup. Some people say we just goudge the public but they dont know our overhead.As for 5,000,000workers being off the unemployment rolls & "invisable" they must be on walfare or getting paid under the table, but according to the Democrats the have reduced the number of people on welfare so I dont believe the 5,000,000 thing. Show me the proof & mybe I will believe you. ROCH COP; I am with you. you said it much better then I could. Thank you//

Answer 4

I guess I am one of those people who fell off the list. I decided 5 years ago to stay home with my children. I am not looking for a job. If I was, I would have certainly found one within 6 months without having to resort to McDonalds. I know dozens of others like me, as I am sure every other stay-at-home mom does. Wouldn't that be just a little dishonest to count us in the unemployment statistics? I also have a couple of retired military friends. They retired in their 40s, so under the old guidelines, they would have been counted as unemployed. If you have the numbers to determine how many of us that are in your extra 7% that are not actually looking for a job, then you would have a much more accurate statistic.

Answer 5

I knew this, it is comparing apples to oranges, not a good indicator of unemployment if you do not count all of the unemployed. I did not know that exact numbers, Michigan is at a little over 7% my best guess was near 10% was the real number.
I have an indicator that I use, I go to the local papers classified section I open it to the help wanted. In 1999 there was almost a full page of jobs, all kinds of jobs. When I open the page today I am lucky to see 5 job openings. I am not counting the temp agency's as they are not full time permanent jobs with benefits. No Mr. Bush the economy is not good except for the very rich and we the United States have you to thank for a poor economy.

Answer 6

Hmmmm? I wonder what the true figure was during the Clinton years then? Can you answer that? Then compare that to the Bush years. In other words what is your point? More so called "McDonald's jobs" were more of a reason for low unemployment during Clinton then now. Bush has made great headway in creating an enviorment for high paying technical jobs for math and science majors. Heaven forbid the Democrats create wealthy citizens.

Answer 7

I love it! these people are so ignorant!
Buzz-you re 100% correct. Furthermore the LARGEST creator of jobs bar none are government sectors.(McDonald's is the largest private). The National Restaurant Association predicts 465,000 new restaurant jobs will be created this year. By far the largest employers in the country.
If you like the skew gov puts on employment figures, you should LOVE the way they determine inflation.
Over the last five years, the median price of a home has increased annually at a rate of 13% a year (median in my area from 180K to 300K) and gas prices have risen 150%. The average price of a basic new car has gone from 13,000 to 18,500 a 45% increase. How can all of these costs rise so much yet the government stance is "inflation is less than 3%? Because they base their figures on "durable goods". They discount the largest costs in our lives (cars and homes) and replace them with the cost of a washer and drier.


Anyone need more lube?

Answer 8

So if the 5000000 as you say have fallen off the books how do you know they still do not have a job.

By the way what would mean all the numbers for the last 26 years are off. I big problem with your statement is Mac Dee's is closing stores so they are not adding numbers.

Answer 9

I actually thought it was somewhat higher than 12.5%. It is true that this government hides the facts from the people. They would have you believe that the economy has never been better, and that Iraq is a "critical battle' in the war on terror.

In reality, the economy is great if you are in the top 2% income bracket. The lower classes have to suffer with a minimum wage that has not been increased for over 10 years, and the loss of employer health care plans. (among many other factors).

Answer 10

the goverenement always manipulates statics, they learned from the media how to do so. No one who is unemployed after their unemployment runs out is counted, thats always been the case. Unfortunately too many Americans won't work what they consider jobs beneath them or enlist