Why can't people verify things for themselves instead of beliving right-wing lies?

Question

"Bzzzzzt WRONG... More unemployed people were created... Hence the double digit unemployment, and double digit interest..."
- con

Do you see any double digit unemployment here? Unemployment was higher under Nixon and Reagan then Carter. FACT!

1970 4.9
1971 5.9
1972 5.6
1973 4.9
1974 5.6
1975 8.5
1976 7.7
1977 7.1
1978 6.1
1979 5.8
1980 7.1
1981 7.6
1982 9.7
1983 9.6
1984 7.5
1985 7.2
1986 7.0
1987 6.2
1988 5.5
1989 5.3
1990 5.6
1991 6.8
1992 7.5
1993 6.9
1994 6.1
1995 5.6
1996 5.4
1997 4.9
1998 4.5
1999 4.2
2000 4.0
2001 4.7
2002 5.8
2003 6.0
2004 5.5
2005 5.1
2006 4.6

http://www.bls.gov/cps/prev_yrs.htm

Sweatpea,

Carter. That's 7.1%. Under Nixon, the highest unemployment rates was 7.7%. Under Reagan, it was as high as 9.7%.

Seriously cons,

You need to take a step back. You have certain beliefs about how the economy works. Liberals have different beliefs. We have REALITY on our side and data to back it up. You guys are always have to come up with EXCUSES to explain how things didn't turn out your way.

Answer 1

I agree.

The one that really bugs me is the lie that unemployment is at a record low. That is an outright lie, but they just keep parroting it.

Answer 2

Average Unemployment under Nixon (1970-1976): 6.2
Average Unemployment under Carter (1977-1980): 6.5
Average Unemployment under Reagan (1981-1988): 7.5
Average Unemployment under Bush I (1989-1992): 6.3
Average Unemployment under Clinton (1993-2000): 5.2
Average Unemployment under Bush II (2001-2006): 5.3

You may notice that although unemployment numbers may have peaked briefly under Nixon, Carter had a higher average unemployment rate during his presidency.

Further, despite what the media would have to say, George W. Bush's unemployment numbers are almost the same as Clinton's, and will end up being better, if the current trend continues.

You are correct that unemployment has not hit double digits since 1970, though. Whoever claims that would be incorrect.

Answer 3

number skewing is an artform that has grown steadily since the naive days of the kennedy government . all sorts of variables can eliminate large groups of people from the stats if you are creative. they leave welfare off the numbers in a lot of places for a start. if thats not completely bogus then what would it take to sway you?

Answer 4

Carter had double-digit inflation as well as double digit interest rates. Perhaps there were less people working because he, as a Democrat, was more accepting of people on the welfare rolls.

Answer 5

the right wingers get their info from Coulter, O'Reilly, Hannity and Limbaugh, and that is GOSPEL as far as they're concerned.

and speaking of gospel.... they also listen to their right winged, uninformed preachers and ministers which tells them to continue to follow blindly.

its QUITE sad actually, because the information is out there, the ignorant are choosing to stay ignorant...

Answer 6

Its always easier to turn on the radio at lunchtime, and call that political research, while denying any reality as : nonanswers, liberal bias, or liberal lies.

Answer 7

Who was president in 1980?

Answer 8

Any serious person of any worth understands that simply posting numbers without any contextual information is the opposite of scholarly or intellectual.