US Unemployment Claims Hit 4-Year Low of 357K

[Drunken Irishman]

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/us-unemployment-claims-hits-year-low-357k-16077642#.T33gCKsS2Ag

We're finally getting to the level we were before the recession. Still not good enough, but it makes it increasingly difficult for the Republicans to make a substantial argument that the economy has not improved under Obama. It's taken time, of course, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a majority of Americans who believe we're not better off than we were four years ago.

Poor Mitt Romney.

[mother earth]

1. Republicans and Romney aside, I am very doubtful or inspired by the bogus numbers. I just don't see

that there's been growth of much of anything...while these numbers may be the lowest of 4 years. I believe we are always lied to and mislead by the real numbers that simply do not take all factors into account.

Isn't this just another way of saying, we are losing jobs at a slower rate than the past four years? If we are to be happy, let's not even bother with this measurement.

As for ANY republican claiming Obama can be at fault for the dire economic situation, they are living in a friggin bubble if they believe or expect people to believe that grand lie. Although, truth be told, the stimulus should have gone big first time around, since we aren't likely to see another one at least until after the election.

Hey, we are in a sad state of affairs all way around, mostly thanks to the lying and thievery of the enabled 1%ers who have hijacked our "democracy", and continue to do so with help from their bought and paid for lying and thieving politicians.

I guess I'm just not that thankful today. We deserve better and more...life should not be about getting by and being thankful for the crumbs thrown our way.

Poor clueless Romney & any other fools who believe this current state of existence is sustainable, I think they will be in for a few eye openers themselves. I hope for an all out ousting of the republicans - large scale, and all the corporate blue dogs who think our current brand of capitalism is still working.

[phleshdef]

2. "Isn't this just another way of saying, we are losing jobs at a slower rate"... Um, no.

And could you explain to me what factors aren't being taken into account? There is only one factor here, the number of people that filed for claims last week. There is no other factor to miss. And this is a measurement that we've been tracking for decades. Nothing has changed in regards to it. Its tracked the same way in the best economic times and the worst economic times. Its meant to show the trend. A certain level of unemployment and claims for it ALWAYS exist, even when our economy is at its best.

And no, whenever this particular number is under 375,000 (based on current working-age population estimates), it means that jobs are likely being created. And whenever it goes below 360,000 (as it did this time), it means that they are being created at a pretty good pace. So actually this is just another way of saying that we are gaining jobs at a faster rate, pretty much the exact opposite of what you said.

[mother earth]

5. Weekly applications are new claims being filed. The 100,000 less receiving the weekly benefit does

not take into account those that have fallen off due to exhausted benefits, or those who settled for a part-time vs. full-time job, or those who took lower paying jobs just to pay the bills. Our standard of living is on the downslide and in par with this celebration of "job growth".

No matter how rosey everyone wants to paint this picture. We have had 1.6% job growth. Yes, Obama should be credited for saving us from falling into the Bush created abyss, absolutely. The unvarnished truth of the matter is that very slow growth is going to be with us for an incredible long period of time.

We are in a new era, we have to create a new way to encompass an end to unsustainable capitalism. We are so very far from that ideal, and yet we continue to trudge along thinking we will get back to what it once was. Low growth is with us long term, talk of austerity, and very little to encourage or save a dying middle class.

Kudos to Obama for this, it's better than nothing. I'm sorry I'm not more grateful. I know it could have been a lot worst and could be even moreso if a republican were in the WH.

Make no mistake, I know these numbers are taken into account the way they have been for some time, however, they do not give us a true representation of the unemployed. This is not Obama's doing, this is how it's done.

[phleshdef]

21. Its not designed to take into account people that have fallen off.

The idea is to report new and existing claims. There are other reports designed to report other numbers, such as the number of people who no longer qualify for unemployment benefits, yet are still seeking work. If you want that number, then you refer to a report designed to give that piece of data.

An example of such a report would be the big one that we get every month that tells us the percentage of people that are unemployed. Thats based on a survey of 60,000 households on a rotating schedule and it takes into account every person thats looking for work, regardless of whether they receive benefits or not.

Historically, it takes around 5 years to see a real recovery from a bad recession and the recession didn't really start to lift until around 2 years ago. Thats just the way it is.

[mkultra]

27. Gish Galloping from half truth to halft truth isnt a viable response

We know people get hired and fired everyday. If the number of people getting fired spikes, we end up with high UE. if it goes down, we have the opportunity to start eating away and the unemployment rate at full speed.

Your unusually presented argument discusses Unemployment numbers NOT new claims. there are different. It should be obvious from the fact that they have different names.

Standard Unemployment called UE3 refers only to full time unemployed and is gathered by a large household survey. yes, its very accurate. In the best of times it hovers around 5.5%. In the worst it hit 10.1, right now we are down below 8.

The "Hidden/True" number you refer to is neither hidden nor "true" (whatever the hell that means). It is refereed to as UE6,also done by survey, also accurate, and does count all teh categories you mentioned. In good times, its usually 7.5%. At its worse its recent worse it was 17%, it is now down closer to 13%

Please strive to research these topics so that you can avoid spreading misinformation accidentally or otherwise.

[mother earth]

30. Refer to my first post then, this merely means we have lost less jobs - hence the less claims filed.

[mkultra]

31. which is totally incorrect

and has been shown.

[mikekohr]

14. Here is the proof that things are getting better -GRAPHS-

?
The blue line is tracking jobless claims. Job loss was skyrocketing under the previous administration's policies, and has been steadily declining since President Obama's economic policies took place. The next time you hear that the President's stimulus failed, call bullshit, call it out loudly.

And then think of how much more successful the President's efforts to increase job creation could have been had we had even a little co-operation from the other side of the political divide.

source: http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/09/10361363-jobless-claims-continue-to-improve


?
23 straight monthes of private sector job growth as of 2/2/2012 (it's 26 months now)

?

?
President Obama took over at the depths of the George W. Bush Great Recession and immediately stopped the stunning increase in monthly job loss and reversed the trend.

?
Republicans have been in control of the House for one year now. Their record shows there is only one job they are interested in, President Barack Obama's, remember that when they ask for your vote and support in 2012.


cached at: http://bureaucountydems.blogspot.com/

[Samsung12]

3. It's Time To Be Objective Not Partisan

I can't even believe anyone would think we are better off today than 4 years ago. From a long term 8% unemployment rate over 4 years to gas prices to how many people currently work for state, local and federal government we continue to lose ground. I'm not even interested at looking at what Republicans are doing, we are doing enough to ourselves.

You add this to fighting with Republicans on every single issue of the day, from energy, to big government, illegals in America, the US Supreme court, entitlements and the budget. We can't seem to agree on anything of importance. The idea that we though health care could pass without one Republican vote is an indictment on who we are as a party.

Heck, we own the Senate and have not had one budget from it in over 3 years.........when do we stop the madness. Our party has been hijacked by people who think they are entitled to benefits without effort. The wake up call to our party will be when the republicans own the house and senate and change the super-majority rule to override presidential veto's.

We need to lean to really do whats best for our country, not 10 or 20 percent of it. Until we do, we will continue to be controlled by a small part of our party for the worst reasons.

[Drunken Irishman]

4. You can't?

You really can't believe people are better off today than they were 4 years ago? That's not a partisan or objective comment - that's just flat out ridiculous.

Four years ago, we were going through the worst recession in a generation, the financial market was about to collapse and millions were losing their homes. While the latter is still a problem, the recession has subsided and the financial markets are at record highs. Unemployment, which skyrocketed between '08 & '09, has steadily declined and fewer Americans are claiming unemployment than we've seen since the recession.

If you think we were better off four years ago, then I'm assuming you weren't hit all that hard by the recession. To be sure, we're nowhere near out of the woods - but we're climbing again. Four years ago, we were in a constant decline.

To say that's better off than today's situation is just silly.

[Kahuna]

24. Where is MIRT when we need them?

[mother earth]

7. You are a troll, that much is obvious. nt

[cyberswede]

12. "Our party has been hijacked by people who think they are entitled to benefits without effort."

To what people are you referring? What benefits are you talking about?

[Drunken Irishman]

15. Aww, it's cute, he's pretending to be a Democrat.

Don't you love how it's 'our party' doing all the bad stuff. Uh huh, our party my ass.

[cyberswede]

19. Yeah...

the "concern" is noteworthy.

[quaker bill]

25. Enjoy your stay

as brief as it may be.

BTW the senate does not make budgets, it is a little thing called the constitution....

[mkultra]

28. Its much easier to believe research and data

Than it is to believe the anecdotal griping of people on internet forums. We are very clearly better off. I see it everyday with my own eyes.

[Samsung12]

6. Better Is Not Close To Acceptable

If I take a snapshot of 4 years ago or look at the improvements of today. I laugh. Saying were better today or moving in the right direction is a play on words. This is only going to get worse. I indicated we have become the party of lets fight over everything, negotiate nothing, and double down on more government. From a future standpoint, If your talking about the majority of Americans today, they all say we will lose the senate. Do you think when the republicans own the house and senate that any policy we want has a chance. My point is we as a party have been confrontational with the republican party for two long on issues that are not the concerns of most of us. We allow small groups in our party to be over represented in almost all aspects of our nation. Its killing our ability to come to agreement, its bad for the country and we wont win over time doing it. Our own senate has not passed a budget in 3 years. There is no way we can come out of this with that attitude.

[maddezmom]

8. could you tell me what are the small groups you're referring to here?

[mother earth]

9. You are a troll defending republican obstructionism. That's all. nt

[JoePhilly]

10. Vote out the GOP and maybe we can get more done.

[mother earth]

11. Yes, it's the only solution. nt

[Drunken Irishman]

17. But then that'd be voting out this poster's party and I'm sure they don't want that!

[mother earth]

18. Yes, our little troll is def. rethuglican, spouting all the right lies as they are known to do.

[Drunken Irishman]

20. Must be desperate.

[mother earth]

26. No doubt, given that Romney is their man, lol.

[JoePhilly]

22. Its fun to play with them like cat toys.

I have my own "troll test" ... I simply take the issue in question and punch the GOP in the throat and see if I get any agreement, or no response.

They like to nibble around the edges. I try to see if I can get them to bite off something bigger.

[Drunken Irishman]

13. I think you're lost.

[mkultra]

29. What evidence do you have that says things are now getting worse?

any?

[denem]

16. Find a cave Sammy.

[Tarheel_Dem]

23. DU Rec!