Is the economy really improving?

[coloradodem2005]

To me, the most important aspect of the economy is jobs. The job market still sucks, at least from where I sit. Why can't the Republicans get it through their thick skulls that saying that things are good to the out of work and people taking shit jobs doesn't amount to shit? Things still suck.

[soothsayer]

1. No, they are referring to the great prices on gas and milk

It's GOT to be improving if folks can afford that.....!

[St. Jarvitude]

18. Great prices my ass!

It's up to $2.20 a gallon for unleaded around here (Chicago suburbs). it's gotten to the point where I will only walk/rollerblade/bike unless I absolutely must have a car (i.e. lug stuff around).

I'm old enough to remember when unleaded was below $1 a gallon. :mad:

[leftofthedial]

2. the economy does suck

the positive numbers are lies and distortions.

the repukes have learned that by repeating lies often enough, they can get half the Murkan people to believe almost anything.

[Must_B_Free]

3. It looked like it for awhile but lately all the jobs have disappeared

My job scan usually had about 12 when bad and 24 when good -

yesterday it had 2

[Jane Austin]

4. Even WalMart CEO is worried that hight gas prices

are soaking up an extra $7 a week his customers then can't spend on "cheap Chinese toys", or so Lou Dobbs' stock reporter said last week!

[leftyandproud]

5. Well, there have been a lot of "I GOT A JOB!!!" threads lately on DU.

that may be a sign of things improving...but the high gas prices are still killing us

[coloradodem2005]

6. So, I got a job right now too.

It is not that great. Certainly not something I want to spend my life doing, but for now it should suffice.

My point is, that it does not necessarily mean things are getting markedly better because people are now saying I got a job.

[Fescue4u]

7. It is improving.

Its not like it was during the Clinton years but it is improving.

My company just announced 1,000 new jobs in the US. High Tech jobs paying $50 to $100k.

The Gas situation could sink it again though.

[napi21]

11. What jobs is your company looking to fill?

The only good news I heard lately was on Lou Dobbs when he interviewed someone from a company that is bringing Customre Service jobs back to the US. They tried the India market, and said although it was cheaper, they lost LA LOT of customer satisfaction. It wasn't worth it!

There are several things playing in this job" market now. Yes, there are new jobs, but lot are part time, or a much lower pay rate than those that were lost, or not in chosen field.

The other thing is the unemployment rate going down. Now, I heard 100,000 were dropping off the unemployment rolls every week. IF that's true, and the "new jobs" figures aren't above 400,000 per month, the job market isn't improving at all........they're getting worse. It just doesn't show because unemployment figures are based on people colloecting compensation. When they drop off, they're gone from the system and the stats!

[tritsofme]

13. Wrong...

People who drop off the unemployment rolls are considered unemployed if they are still actively looking for work.

[napi21]

14. And just how do they track that?

If you aren't collecting unemployment, how the hell does anyone, other than you and your family, know you're still looking for work?

I've heard this before on different reports, and it simply doesn't make sense to me.

About the same thing as likely voters!

[tritsofme]

23. The Household Survey,

Every month the Bureau of Labor Statistics conducts what is called the Household Survey, it is probably the most scientific telephone survey in existance. It calculates the various labor stats such as the unemployment rate and the size of the labor force.

[mhr]

17. 1000 New Tech Jobs - Where? Which Company Are You Talking About?

eom

[Crowdance]

20. Cisco, perhaps

Rise in Cisco earnings creates 1,000 jobs



Cisco Systems will add 1,000 sales and engineering jobs by the end of the year after posting successful third-quarter earnings numbers which included a $1bn (£566m) increase in sales and net income of $1.2bn.


here's the rest: http://www.computerweekly.com/articles/article.asp?liArticleID=130524&liArticleTypeID=1&liCategoryID=6&liChannelID=7&liFlavourID=1&sSearch=&nPage=1

[mhr]

8. Unemployed 4 Years - No Job Prospects In My Field - Looking To Do Sales

That is all I see openings for.

[coloradodem2005]

9. I hate Sales.

[amazona]

12. unfortunately only a certain personality type can do sales

If you are not that type and you are on commission, you will actually lose money, not earn it.

[coloradodem2005]

15. I had that problem with mortgages.

This is actually why there are a lot of sales jobs. Many jobs don't require you to have a certain personality type but sales jobs, especially comission sales are another matter all together.

[i_c_a_White_Ghost]

10. you want an answer?

NO!

Fake job numbers don't cut it.

I personally know of 12 people looking for work or a better job then they have now.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

16. Not from where I sit, either. n/t

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

19. It hasn't improved in areas which directly benefit the "Average Joe"

Ask yourself if you really give a rat's ass about...

1). "Increased Productivity"...one person doing the job of two (or more), which lead to "Higher Profits," which...due to wage and hiring freezes, don't directly benefit those who are responsible (the people who fill their tanks with $2.50 / gallon gas to drive back and forth to work. Yeah. They're pretty much screwed but have to keep working to afford the gas).

2). "Reduced Overhead"...jobs done at ten cents on the dollar in India, China, Mexico, wherever...meaning greater profit for the company, but if you were fired so your job could go to India, China, Mexico, wherever, you do not care (and if you DO, why in God's name DO you). But don't forget, the workers in India are workin' on Dell computers, wearin' Nike sneakers, and sippin' bottled water from our friends at Coca Cola...so WE WIN!!!!....er...DON'T we?

3). "Executive Compensations" have not been adversely affected. Thank god for that, eh? I know the average middle class worker is thankful for that one. Because if we learned one thing from Tyco, it's that you can NEVER have too many $2 million toga parties for your mistress at the shareholders' expense.



4). "People who gave up and stopped looking for work"...thank God we don't have to count THEM anymore, right? As Ebineezer Scrooge said, "If they would rather die, . . . they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population." The only thing I can add to that is "I'm George W. Bush and I approve this message."

5). People who took suck-ass jobs to feed themselves and their families and think about opening a major artery every fifteen minutes, every day they are working that job..."but they are working"...as George 'n' Elaine would say, "Jobs Jobs Jobs!" Don't they look happy? What an attractive frigging couple. They just look so...HAPPY.



There's more to it, of course...including (but not limited to) cooking the books, spinning the numbers, etc....but that's enough for this post, right?

[swag]

21. Oil Shock + Rising Interest Rates + Inflation = Stagflation

Economy in a very dangerous place right now.

[KittyWampus]

22. It Seems Economy Improves For War Mongers

very sad :(