Anyone here skeptical of the unemployment numbers just released?

[peggy]

So, basically what the republicans are crying about is, despite their very best efforts to tank the economy, it still is actually improving, bit by bit.
You know, given their constant declarations about 'concern' for the economy, you'd think even one republican would be happy for some positive news. Instead they insult and defame the Bureau of Labor statistics, and piss and moan about even this small gain.

Yeah, Obama managed to fiddle with this firewalled institution, but Romney-bot didn't cheat on his taxes? Now which is more likely?
I think it's pretty slimy that republicans, who absolutely know better, would defame and insult this non-partisan institution to manipulate their low information voters by planting this absurd idea in their heads.
You know what, adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it. And this election cycle, or even the last 4 years, has revealed the republican character to be void of honesty, integrity, or anything even approaching concern for their fellow Americans. It's a slash and burn mentality, and they don't care who gets crushed as long as they win.

[bae]

That dog won't hunt.

[peggy]

You're right bae, that conspiracy 'dog' won't hunt! But that isn't going to stop some from trying. Apparently everything this man does, including being born, is a liberal conspiracy!

[bunnys]

Peggy, I think most people (regardless of their political leaning) are reasonable. I think that when Republicans spout the birther crap (yes, this is a variation on that theme--another corrupt conspiracy) most people who hear it just kind of shake their heads.

It depends on what the agenda is for the Republicans. If they want to convince middle of the road independents, their intended audience probably thinks it sounds desperate and absurd. But if their agenda is to throw out some red meat for the base--then this strategy is perfect.

[The Storyteller]

Given how many nations around the world are busily developing their economies these days, given how many educated willing workers they have that now directly compete with our workers, given how easy it is to move goods and capital around the world, why exactly do we expect USA unemployment to go down? Supply-and-demand, as you say.

I suspect quite a few of the "lost" jobs don't exist anymore in this country, and never will again.

So if you were keen on lifelong career in buggy-whip manufacturing, it might be time for some rethinking.

Personally, I think the best way out of this mess is to pay a lot more attention to our basic infrastructure, so our citizens can create jobs for today's world: education, transportation, communication, ... Maybe one of the Presidential candidates would be so bold as to offer up a way of doing that, perhaps by cutting 1/2 the military budget and spending it on schools, roads, railways, ports, telecommunications, hospitals, energy production, ...

I have a dream.

Commie.

[iris lily]

I wanna see that birth certificate.

My friend shouted at the beginning of the debate "Forget the birth certificate, we wanna see that marriage license!!!" when they were making reference to the Obama's wedding anniversary. I thought that was funny.

[artist]

Unemployment numbers always drop a bit this time of year due to seasonal hiring.

[peggy]

Peggy, I think most people (regardless of their political leaning) are reasonable. I think that when Republicans spout the birther crap (yes, this is a variation on that theme--another corrupt conspiracy) most people who hear it just kind of shake their heads.

It depends on what the agenda is for the Republicans. If they want to convince middle of the road independents, their intended audience probably thinks it sounds desperate and absurd. But if their agenda is to throw out some red meat for the base--then this strategy is perfect.

Oh I agree that most people are not only reasonable, but solidly middle of the road, politically. But I can only answer to the voices i hear right now. The reasonable, middle of the road republicans are remarkably quiet about all these shenanigans. Voter ID laws (voter suppression), birtherism, truthism, the war on women's rights, the lies, Romney's tax cheating, his lies, his flip flopping, his total lack of conviction, on anything! and now this. The problem is, too many people have absolutely no clue how these things work, and don't realize how ludicrous it is to accuse the BLS of 'cooking the books' to favor a politician. they just hear their congressman say how 'suspicious' it is, and suggest that the President of the United States, as well as the BLS somehow faked these numbers.
This is how manipulation works. It isn't a literal gun to the head, but planted ideas and suggestions to grow that little kernel of doubt. Think about it. Even here people are 'questioning' seriously this conspiracy theory. I mean really! Are we to consider seriously every bit of conspiracy diarrhea that dribbles out of Glen Beck's mouth? Does every nut now have equal credibility? There was a time when we all recognized nut jobs and nut job theories (which have always been with us) and dismissed them for what they were.
This is the only voice I can speak to because these are the only ones talking (shouting).

[creaker]

The decrease in wages may be caused by market forces. Supply and demand. With the number of unemployed employers can pay almost what they want. As the unemployed decreases the rate of pay will go up or should go up.

I doubt it - it's a world economy, now. Maybe that will apply when wages are low enough that Foxconn would find it economically advantageous to open factories here, but we have long way to go before we're there. Although by then I don't know who's going to able to afford to buy all this stuff.

[ApatheticNoMore]

A true peak oil scenario would force relocalization also since the cost of shipping everything everywhere would just be too high, but I'm not holding my breath, they'll deplete ever bit of the tarsands and fry the planet before then probably. Still cheap transportation is subsidized.