Unemployment in The Age of Newspeak

Abbot and Costello on unemployment.

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COSTELLO: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America .

ABBOTT: Good subject. Terrible times. It's about 9%.

COSTELLO: That many people are out of work?

ABBOTT: No, that's 16%.

COSTELLO: You just said 9%..

ABBOTT: 9% Unemployed.

COSTELLO: Right 9% out of work.

ABBOTT: No, that's 16%.

COSTELLO: Okay, so it's 16% unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, that's 9%...

COSTELLO: WAIT A MINUTE. Is it 9% or 16%?

ABBOTT: 9% are unemployed. 16% are out of work.

COSTELLO: If you are out of work you are unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, you can't count the "Out of Work" as the unemployed. You have to
look for work to be unemployed.

COSTELLO: But ... they are out of work!

ABBOTT: No, you miss my point.

COSTELLO: What point?

ABBOTT: Someone who doesn't look for work, can't be counted with those who
look for work. It wouldn't be fair.

COSTELLO: To who?

ABBOTT: The unemployed.

COSTELLO: But they are ALL out of work.

ABBOTT: No, the unemployed are actively looking for work... Those who are
out of work stopped looking. They gave up. And, if you give up, you are no
longer in the ranks of the unemployed.

COSTELLO: So if you're off the unemployment roles, that would count as less
unemployment?

ABBOTT: Unemployment would go down. Absolutely!

COSTELLO: The unemployment just goes down because you don't look for work?

ABBOTT: Absolutely it goes down. That's how you get to 9%. Otherwise it
would be 16%. You don't want to read about 16% unemployment do ya?

COSTELLO: That would be frightening.

ABBOTT: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: Wait, I got a question for you. That means they're two ways to
bring down the unemployment number?

ABBOTT: Two ways is correct.

COSTELLO: Unemployment can go down if someone gets a job?

ABBOTT: Correct.

COSTELLO: And unemployment can also go down if you stop looking for a job?

ABBOTT: Bingo.

COSTELLO: So there are two ways to bring unemployment down, and the easier
of the two is to just stop looking for work.

ABBOTT: Now you're thinking like an economist.

COSTELLO: I don't even know what the hell I just said!

And now you know why Obama's unemployment figures are improving!


Abbott and Costello routine is great. Labor Dept uses seasonal adjustment figures for what they GUESS for jobs created and jobs lost. About 2 weeks ago Rush Limbaugh admitted he was unaware that they did that, that it was guessing. John Crudele business writer for the NY Post writes about this for many years. Each week the McLaughlin Group (PBS, John McLaughlin, Pat Buchanan, Rich Lowry, Eleanor Clift, Mort Zuckerman, et al.) discuss economic issues. One month ago they were unaware of this deception by the Labor Dept. My emails to them were not answered. As for statistics in general Mark Twain said, "There are lies, damn lies and then there are statistics." Often journalists are as clueless as civilians, in addition to the journalists who are intentionally misleading their readers.

http://www.mrconservative.com/2012/02/2224-i-cant-take-it-anymore-when-will-the-government-quit-putting-out-fraudulent-employment-statistics/

I Can’t Take It Anymore! When Will The Government Quit Putting Out Fraudulent Employment Statistics?
FEBRUARY 25, 2012
Mr. Conservative