Reason TV: Still Unfocused on Jobs

Here's Reason TV's report on the "laser-like focus" on jobs...

Poll: Most See Unemployment Lingering For Years

In an unscientific poll by Business Journal, a large marjority see the current unemployment rate staying for several more years. 

More than two-thirds of those who responded (67 percent) said they believe it will take three years or more. The unscientific online survey was conducted between Dec. 21 and Dec. 27.  About 15 percent said "never" and about 13 percent said two years.  Only 5 percent believe it will happen in the next year.

One reader opined that, 

"The American economy will only recover once we realize that our economic problems reside in Washington and the state capitol. Mr. Obama and his supporters whether they be on Capitol Hill or the state legislature continue to cling desperately to the failed economic ideals of Keynes. Keynesian economics has never worked. When you looked at the failure of Keynesian economics along with the fact that Mr. Obama, his economic team, most of Congress along with many state legislators have never participated in western capitalism; i.e. owned a business, had to make a payroll, or produced anything of material value, it is obvious why the economy continues to remain in the tank."

My comment is that, Robert B is exactly correct. Until Washington and the local state capital politicians get their collecctive heads out of their a$$es, then relatively high unemployment will continue to linger...possibly as long as a decade. BUT, if the new GOP majorities can roll back the both the size and regulatory scope of big government (at least back to "medium" government) then the recovery will pick up steam.


Keynesian economics is a failed model. It has never, ever worked in any instance that it has been tried. Herbert Hoover attempted it in 1930-32 and failed. FDR's attempts in 1934-5 extended by the Great Depression by at least 7 more years. Mr. Obama's (and Reid/Pelosi's) attempt at Porkulus last year was devastating to the economy. Until we relent the chokehold government now has on buisness...this will continue to linger.

The Recession Is Over? Says Who?

If you listen to the network news (I have to, I can't afford cable any more), you'd think that the recession was over.  It's not.  Despite "a growing economy" no one is actually hiring.  Because of all the uncertainty, there really aren't any jobs around.  Most of those are merely seasonal for the holidays.  The competition for those is so fierce that it's almost frightening.

How do I know?  I'm working all of 14-16 hours a week...for a catering company.  That's all the work I've been able to find.  I have 10 years experience as a cabinetmaker/carpenter and 22 in restaurant, but the best I've been able to find is part time work as a bartender...no tips straight hourly wage.  My wife isn't doing much better.  She works 22 hours a week for a big box department store as an HR clerk.  That's despite having 23 years experience in retail management. 

On Tuesday, November 23, at 10 am, we are scheduled to be evicted unless we can raise $873.50 to pay October's rent.  I don't know what I'm going to do about November's rent at this point either.

With the largest tax hike in history looming come January 1st, I don't think I'm going to be able to find a job any time soon. We tried applying for food stamps.  But here in Maryland the system is so screwed up, we were notified that we would have a "telephonic hearing" two days after the hear was scheduled.  Needless to say, our application was denied. 

I worked for just under 30 days as with a company as a cabinet maker, but what I thought was a permanent position, was only to finish a deadline job...and was laid off as soon as that work was completed.  To compound it all, I didn't work long enough to qualify for unemployment!  What makes it  even worse, is that I turned down a position with a new restaurant in downtown Baltimore that just opened in October as "Service Lead" (head waiter in prepolitical correctness days).  About the only good news I have is that I do have a job interview on Tuesday morning with a company that assembles office furniture. A friend has recommended me to a couple of the incoming Congressmen and I am supposed to undergo an FBI background check in the next few weeks, but I've not heard anything directly on that as of yet.

I this point I don't know what to do.  We can't even afford to rent a storage unit to what few things we have left since I closed my cabinet shop in December of 2008 when we lost the house.  So we'll pack up this weekend, and hope we can find someone who will allow us to use their garage to store our things.

I don't want a free ride, I want to work...but what do you do when there's no work to be found?  It's not like I'm not putting our 20-30 resumes a day.  I've long since begun applying to jobs all over the eastern US...but so far I've only had "thanks for applying if anything meeting your qualifications opens up we'll..." 

If you can afford to do so, I'd appreciate you're hitting the tip jar to the right.

UPDATE:  I would like to thank everyone who has been so kind and generous to help my wife and I.    I will be contacting everyone who donated, directly in the next day or two, but wanted to get something up here now.   Thank you again for all your generosity, you have no idea how much it means to us.

Rich Vail
Pikesville, MD

The Real Unemployment Rate

The real unemployment rate is nearly double the official rate published by the US Government.  I know, because I just lost my job.  I'm a cabinetmaker with 10 years experience and in the past 2 years, I've worked 4 weeks in my profession.  The rest of that time, I've been waiting tables or working as a bartender.  Yet the recession is "over"...right.  Over for who?  Not me.



The video is by bankruptingamerica.org they also have a Youtube channel.   The government, just like everything else they do, is gaming the unemployment numbers.  Officially, unemployment is 9.6% while the more widely accepted U6 rate (which includes those who have given up looking for work as well as those who can only find part-time work--like my wife) is nearly double that rate at 17.1%.  What that means is more than 27 million workers are out of work or under employed. 

This is what the economic policies of the Democratic Congressional leadership have given us.  After all, they have had control of congress for 2 election cycles, or 4 years.  They have had control of the White House for two years, and yet, the economy continues to "unexpectedly" lose jobs.  Business is sitting on $5,000,000,000,000.00, but won't spend it because they are waiting to see if ObamaCare will stand. 

Additionally, they are waiting to see what the Lame Duck Congress will do after large numbers of the Democratic majority have been "retired by the voters". (gotta love Jimmah Carter for coming up with that phrase).   After all, there is really no guessing what insanity a soon to be lost Democratic Leadership will ram through just before they lose their majority.  Because of all this uncertainly in what it will actually cost to hire workers and sharply taxes will rise come January (a minimum of 13%).  No businessman who has to answer to a board of directors or shareholders will do much of anything.  In the mean time, those who are unemployed, or under employed will bleed...and bleed some more.