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Here’s a quotable quote popularized by Mark Twain. In fact, Benjamin Disraeli was the original author.
In addition, we are easily confused when we can’t bring different statistics together in one place or find that their darned footnotes still don’t explain what’s included. And, data is filtered through talking heads and reporters who often don’t know what any of it really means. In other words, the true picture is lost. Statistics are never turned into information. We’re simply misinformed. Take the job situation. What follows is a suggestion of why it is worse than reported. College Grads
First, what’s the impact of all those new college grads? There are millions who are thrown into the labor market each year. According to the Digest of Education Statistics, the following were degrees conferred within the United States for the 2008-2009 academic year. This is the breakdown by degree type.
That’s a total of over 3 Million college graduates. Of course, that does not tell us how many were attending night school and already working or not. The National Association of Colleges and Employers said job offers for 2009 college graduates ran 22 percent behind 2008’s. So, right out of the box, it seems that their unemployment level is over 20%. High School Grads
Then, there are approximately 3 Million new graduates from high school. Some percentage are headed to academic and vocational colleges and not seeking long-term employment. However, most high school grads are trying to join the workforce right away. That’s a grim prospect. From April, 2009 to June, 2009, the unemployment rate for that age range (16-19) rose from 23.6% to 27.8%. Independent Contractors
The National Employment Law Project says, “Today, only 37 percent of unemployed workers collect unemployment benefits, which is especially low compared to prior recessions.” We NEVER hear this reported. So many people work as ‘Independent Contractors’ and are not even considered employees. All too often, it’s a phony arrangement demanded by unethical employers. Also, part-time employees are not covered, and so forth. Unemployment insurance is a moth-eaten system. Working People
Economist Nouriel Roubini said, “. . . consider that the total value of labor income is the product of jobs, hours and average hourly wages–and that all three elements are falling right now.” The trend is down. Even working people are going through reductions in weekly hours worked and hourly wages. The forecast for the next year and a half is that more working people will be joining the ranks of the unemployed. New Unemployed People
Here’s one of the ways in which statistics are turned into ‘damned lies.’ Here’s the number of NEW claims for unemployment after the ‘adjustment’ by the Bureau of Labor Statistics: “In the week ending July 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 522,000, a decrease of 47,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 569,000.” The ‘real, unadjusted’ number is in the OPPOSITE direction. BLS also said, “. . . actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 667,534 in the week ending July 11, an increase of 86,389 from the previous week.” So 133,000 unemployed people got adjusted under the rug and out of existence. The trend is exactly the opposite of what was reported by our dear American media. Conclusion
The Bureau of Labor Statistics could do a far better job of research. And, the media reporting is mostly shallow, if not mindless. Again, Mark Twain says it so well: Your comment below is welcome.
Click here to contact your representatives in Washington, D.C.: – Byron |
Archive for July, 2009
The Many Kinds of Lies
Saturday, July 18th, 2009What Would Thomas Jefferson Say Today?
Saturday, July 4th, 2009|
Happy Independence Day! Remember the American Revolution! While skirmishes and battles were taking place in 1775 and 1776, the pressure built for a stated public policy of complete separation from the rule of Britain, its King and Parliament. The Declaration of Independence served that purpose by having a spectacular effect on the colonists And, of course, the genius Thomas Jefferson, at age 33, was its principal author. Before, and for decades after, Jefferson did and said a lot. It is unmistakable that we can see how so many of his values are lessons for us today. Here are a few quotable quotes from Thomas Jefferson.
In the Declaration itself, Jefferson had many complaints about the King. Here are just two.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained, and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. A link to the entire Declaration is included in ‘References’ at the bottom of this page. Jefferson lived another 50 years and died on July 4, a few hours before John Adams died. These next Jefferson quotes were taken from other sources.
“There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents… There is also an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents; for with these it would belong to the first class… The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government, and provision should be made to prevent its ascendency.”
“The country is headed toward a single and splendid government of an aristocracy founded on banking institutions and monied incorporations and if this tendency continues it will be the end of freedom and democracy, the few will be ruling and riding over the plundered plowman and the beggar.”
“I hope we shall crush in its infancy the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.” In conclusion, it does appear that Thomas Jefferson’s sentiments could equally apply to the way business is being done in Washington, D.C. Do you think Mr. Jefferson would approve? Or, have some of Jefferson’s worst fears come true?
Click here to contact your representatives in Washington, D.C.: – Byron
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