The forgotten facts

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Innibig.

You're blurring this debate by providing facts.

Please stop infusing this thread with facts otherwise many here will be upset.

“Facts” are deceiving, especially when it comes to unemployment figures. In the UK for example, a person is counted as unemployed if they are registered unemployed (in other words collecting unemployment benefits). In other words all you have to do to “reduce” unemployment is make people ineligibile for benefits or otherwise take those benefits away. As a result you can reduce the number of unemployed people (on paper) without actually doing anything about unemployment.

[Fandango 1,439]

wow..i am impressed...damn, you seen allot of action..war hero...

:lol: :lol:

What, you use kangaroos to do your fighting?!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I'm so impressed...

Sorry guys, but these were real cheap shots....you asked him a question, he answered, and now you're belittling him because his country wasn't at war?

...and Clinton enjoyed a nice economy thanks to Ronnie

as some mentioned in another thread it's stupid for someone to mention unemployment etc yet continue to purchase products manufactured overseas.. I personally try to buy American made products wherever I can.

As with organic supermarkets - the privilege of the rich.

'I want my country to flourish, it's just that I don't want to actually do anything about it other than whinge'

[kaydee457 13]

...and Clinton enjoyed a nice economy thanks to Ronnie

Yes, the fall of communism resulted in the "peace dividend" (I think that was the term used) meaning that Bill didn't have to spend on defense as heavily as in the past.....

Bill also did not have to contend with an attack on the homeland whereby 3000 of our citizens were murdered and the impending economic consequences of that.

Bill chose, consiously it appears from evidence, to ignore the threat by Islamic radicals eventually inherited by GW.

Edited October 27, 2006 by kaydee457

[Carol&Marc 0]

Robin, there as always been debt and always will be! Dems want money to spend, not pay debt!

And so to the Republicans -- Ted Stevens $223 million "bridge to nowhere" is Alaska being one of the most jaw-dropping examples of Republican pork

Clinton heath care, cant even put a price on it! and your right they both spend like crazy! My main point is we will always have debt.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Innibig.

You're blurring this debate by providing facts.

Please stop infusing this thread with facts otherwise many here will be upset.

“Facts” are deceiving, especially when it comes to unemployment figures. In the UK for example, a person is counted as unemployed if they are registered unemployed (in other words collecting unemployment benefits). In other words all you have to do to “reduce” unemployment is make people ineligibile for benefits or otherwise take those benefits away. As a result you can reduce the number of unemployed people (on paper) without actually doing anything about unemployment.

Very true, I was "out of work" yet not "unemployed" once. The difference between the former and the latter was the weekly registration for unemployment benefits. If you register, you're counted as unemployed. If you do not regsiter, you're not counted. Now, if one's benefits run out, there's really no point in registering. Benefits typically run out after 26 weeks. That means a person would be "unemployed" for 26 weeks max. After that, one is simply "out of work". And yes, in George Bush's economy, it can take upwards of 26 weeks to find suitable employment. I've experienced it firsthand.

[GaryC 7]

I have never been out of work more than 8 weeks at a time. Jobs are easy to find if you really want them.

[Carol&Marc 0]

Innibig.

You're blurring this debate by providing facts.

Please stop infusing this thread with facts otherwise many here will be upset.

“Facts” are deceiving, especially when it comes to unemployment figures. In the UK for example, a person is counted as unemployed if they are registered unemployed (in other words collecting unemployment benefits). In other words all you have to do to “reduce” unemployment is make people ineligibile for benefits or otherwise take those benefits away. As a result you can reduce the number of unemployed people (on paper) without actually doing anything about unemployment.

Very true, I was "out of work" yet not "unemployed" once. The difference between the former and the latter was the weekly registration for unemployment benefits. If you register, you're counted as unemployed. If you do not regsiter, you're not counted. Now, if one's benefits run out, there's really no point in registering. Benefits typically run out after 26 weeks. That means a person would be "unemployed" for 26 weeks max. After that, one is simply "out of work". And yes, in George Bush's economy, it can take upwards of 26 weeks to find suitable employment. I've experienced it firsthand.

26 weeks = not looking very hard!

[Alex+R 0]

I have never been out of work more than 8 weeks at a time. Jobs are easy to find if you really want them.

The more educated you are, and the more specialized your work is, the harder it is, in most cases.

If I lost my job at McDonalds, it would probably take less than 24 hours to secure another job in the fast food industry. Not all jobs are like that.

eta: I don't actually work at McDonalds.

Edited October 27, 2006 by Alex+R

[GaryC 7]

I have never been out of work more than 8 weeks at a time. Jobs are easy to find if you really want them.

The more educated you are, and the more specialized your work is, the harder it is, in most cases.

If I lost my job at McDonalds, it would probably take less than 24 hours to secure another job in the fast food industry. Not all jobs are like that.

eta: I don't actually work at McDonalds.

Ummm.... I have a very specialized job. CNC maintenance. The jobs are there. Sometime you have to go where they are like I did (I moved to Peoria) but if you really want it they are there. Now I have a kick-azz job making more than I ever did. It's all in how bad you want it.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

'I want my country to flourish, it's just that I don't want to actually do anything about it other than whinge'

Living as I currently do in a less than stellar town in New Jersey with a high percentage of poor and unemployed people – you have to wonder why it is that people would prefer to shop at the local chain supermarket which sells B-Grade produce rather than at Trader Joes or Whole Foods.

If you are well-off, you have the luxury of choice. If you are not, you can’t. Seems simple enough to me.

26 weeks = not looking very hard!

Adapting to a foreign job market (which relies heavily on networking and contacts) completely cold and without ANY contacts is not particularly easy.

Particularly as I've discovered there is a certain bias against immigrant workers (entire stretches of my UK employment history weren't counted because the companies I applied for couldn't (or wouldn't) verify my references.

Edited October 27, 2006 by erekose

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

...and Clinton enjoyed a nice economy thanks to Ronnie

I seem to recall a pretty bad recession between those 2 presidencies -- I believe Michigan had double digit unemployment.

All this talk about "i never have a problem getting a job" is great if your area has a diverse economy.

if you live in a one industry town, like Detroit, and have skills specific to that industry, if you lose your job you don't just walk right into another.

[GaryC 7]

Adapting to a foreign job market (which relies heavily on networking and contacts) completely cold and without ANY contacts is not particularly easy.

Particularly as I've discovered there is a certain bias against immigrant workers (entire stretches of my UK employment history weren't counted because the companies I applied for couldn't (or wouldn't) verify my references.

Thats part of the breaks of moving to a new country. But now that you are working and getting a track record in America when you decide you want to step up in a job it will get easier.

Building on your successes is the key.

...and Clinton enjoyed a nice economy thanks to Ronnie

I seem to recall a pretty bad recession between those 2 presidencies -- I believe Michigan had double digit unemployment.

All this talk about "i never have a problem getting a job" is great if your area has a diverse economy.

if you live in a one industry town, like Detroit, and have skills specific to that industry, if you lose your job you don't just walk right into another.

That was my point, if you can't find a job where you are then go to where the jobs are. If you are unwilling to do that then you have no reason to complain. Things change, the world is dynamic. Adapt or die.

[Fandango 1,439]

...and Clinton enjoyed a nice economy thanks to Ronnie

I seem to recall a pretty bad recession between those 2 presidencies -- I believe Michigan had double digit unemployment.

All this talk about "i never have a problem getting a job" is great if your area has a diverse economy.

if you live in a one industry town, like Detroit, and have skills specific to that industry, if you lose your job you don't just walk right into another.

From what I've been told, you could live off the interest of your accts back then

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Thats part of the breaks of moving to a new country. But now that you are working and getting a track record in America when you decide you want to step up in a job it will get easier.

Building on your successes is the key.

Of course it is. I was merely objecting to the snide comment that a person looking for work for 26 weeks isn't "trying hard".

[mawilson 2,133]

as some mentioned in another thread it's stupid for someone to mention unemployment etc yet continue to purchase products manufactured overseas.. I personally try to buy American made products wherever I can.

Great. Those that profit from the stock market high will be happy to know.

50% of Americans do (according to a TV program I saw last night.)