[Sixstrings]

On one hand we have the Department of Truth about to tell tomorrow that NFP based on various seasonal and birth death adjustments increased by 250,000. On the other hand, we have Gallup which actually does real time polling without a procyclical propaganda bias. And Gallup does't have any good news: "Unemployment, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, hit 10.3% in February -- up from 9.8% at the end of January.

The U.S. unemployment rate is now essentially the same as the 10.4% at the end of February 2010." And the one indicator that nobody in the mainstream media will touch with a ten foot pole: "Underemployment, a measure that combines part-time workers wanting full-time work with those who are unemployed, surged in February to 19.9%. This resulted from the combination of a sharp 0.5-point increase since the end of January in the percentage unemployed and a 0.5-point increase in the percentage working part time but wanting full-time work. Underemployment is now higher than it was at this point a year ago (19.7%)."
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/gallup-reports-underemployment-surges-199-jobs-situation-deteriorates-bad-february-2010

Shadowstats alternate data has unemployment at about 22%, trending higher since mid '09:

The seasonally-adjusted SGS Alternate Unemployment Rate reflects current unemployment reporting methodology adjusted for SGS-estimated long-term discouraged workers, who were defined out of official existence in 1994. That estimate is added to the BLS estimate of U-6 unemployment, which includes short-term discouraged workers.
http://www.shadowstats.com/alternate_data/unemployment-charts

Oh nevermind, we're not supposed to talk about "discouraged" or "underemployed" workers since that makes the number look so bad.

[Cog]

If you look at the record numbers of people collecting food stamps that gives a great deal of evidence that that the number of underemployed people continues to grow.

We keep hearing about recovery but I'm just not seeing it for these folks.

[Sixstrings]

Yup.. if somebody is working but still so poor they cannot feed themselves then that's the same as unemployment in my book.

[Homesteader]

But, but, but. . . the market is up and corporate profits are up so that means the economy is out of the dep. . .errr. . recession and the economy is officially in recovery so STFU! (sarcasm off)

So to all you discouraged and unemployed people my advice is go out and get a job!

[Lore]

If your out of work and between the ages of 50 - 60, statistically your changes of ever getting another job in the private sector is only 39%.

[vision-master]

Not only that, but if'n one developes serious health problems, they are uninsurable and with all the medicade cuts, this spells pain, suffering and death. Ain't life grand.

[jdmartin]

Thanks for the post Sixstrings - I enjoy reading your updates. Keep up the good work!

And yeah, that statistic sucks but only confirms what I feel on the street anyway.

[kiwichick]

visionmaster

re USA health system

why does anyone still live in such a backward country?

[americandream]

visionmaster

re USA health system

why does anyone still live in such a backward country?

This is coming to a neighbourhood near you. America is the heart of global capital and what ails her will ultimately assail us.

[kiwichick]

sure ad

but why is the USA so weird already

they have always been a bit nuts but they seem to have been getting worse in the last , say, 40 years?

[Ayoob]

I just got a 20% pay raise due to a better education and a requirement for higher quality in the workplace.

[eastbay]

but why is the USA so weird already

I am always so darn happy to return home to the USA after a foreign trip. The USA's no weirder than anywhere else. Much less weird than most places, in fact. For now.

[americandream]

sure ad

but why is the USA so weird already

they have always been a bit nuts but they seem to have been getting worse in the last , say, 40 years?

Pavlov's dogs were conditoioned to act in a particular manner when a set of triggers were activated. Likewise all humanity by virtue of our cultural rules.

America's culture...a combination of bizarre religious ritual, scientific precision, stoic independence, admirable determination and manipulative domination by a small wealthy elite....has created a nation, both dynamic yet in confusion, a nation distracted yet obsessive, brilliant yet naive. We all suffer a similar state in sharing capitalism. Unfortunately, America epitomises all that we are gradually becoming for having gone where we have yet to tread.

America is what awaits us in every corner of this globe for we so long to be like her.

[vision-master]

I just got a 20% pay raise due to a better education and a requirement for higher quality in the workplace.

Pay raises don't mean much of anything, it's the benefit package that counts.

[pedalling_faster]

If you look at the record numbers of people collecting food stamps that gives a great deal of evidence that that the number of underemployed people continues to grow.


We keep hearing about recovery but I'm just not seeing it for these folks.

thank God for honest reporters like John Williams & Shadowstats.

[Loki]

NPR is reporting 8.9% unemployment. They'd never lie to me, would they?

Of course, that almost certainly doesn't include the unemployed whose unemployment benefits have expired and various sundry other "discouraged workers." But those people don't count, they might as well not even exist.

[rangerone314]

Yup.. if somebody is working but still so poor they cannot feed themselves then that's the same as unemployment in my book.

Not to the rich and not to the corporations who don't give a crap.