Comments on: Job Losses Of Recessions Past http://donklephant.com/2009/02/08/job-recessions-of-recent-past/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:03:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: bob in fla http://donklephant.com/2009/02/08/job-recessions-of-recent-past/comment-page-1/#comment-436282 bob in fla Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:04:30 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=13323#comment-436282 IIRC, we also had some higher UR increases in the late 70s & early 89s. I know this sounds like I'm picking nits. I remember how rough it was back in the 70s & 80s. I'm just looking for a more realistic way of measuring todays problems. From what I remember, it was much worse then. But I was trying to raise a family in Michigan then & I'm retired in Florida now, so it is a little difficult to compare based on my own experience. IIRC, we also had some higher UR increases in the late 70s & early 89s.

I know this sounds like I’m picking nits. I remember how rough it was back in the 70s & 80s. I’m just looking for a more realistic way of measuring todays problems. From what I remember, it was much worse then. But I was trying to raise a family in Michigan then & I’m retired in Florida now, so it is a little difficult to compare based on my own experience.

]]> By: bob in fla http://donklephant.com/2009/02/08/job-recessions-of-recent-past/comment-page-1/#comment-436281 bob in fla Mon, 09 Feb 2009 02:55:52 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=13323#comment-436281 What I want to see is a similar graph showing unemployment rates, rather than job loss figures. That is the real story, since the workforce has increased over that time period. Thus, the green line would be flatter than the other 2 up until about 3 or 4 months ago. Not saying actual job loss figures don't count. But unemployment rates would show a better level of the relative pain. For example, last month, we had a record monthly job loss dating back to 1974. However, overall unemployment rates have been much higher a few times since then than they were in 74 or are today. What I want to see is a similar graph showing unemployment rates, rather than job loss figures. That is the real story, since the workforce has increased over that time period. Thus, the green line would be flatter than the other 2 up until about 3 or 4 months ago.

Not saying actual job loss figures don’t count. But unemployment rates would show a better level of the relative pain. For example, last month, we had a record monthly job loss dating back to 1974. However, overall unemployment rates have been much higher a few times since then than they were in 74 or are today.

]]> By: Tom Carter http://donklephant.com/2009/02/08/job-recessions-of-recent-past/comment-page-1/#comment-436265 Tom Carter Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:46:49 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=13323#comment-436265 The unemployment rate really does look bad, as do other indicators. Like others who have been hurt pretty badly by the economic crisis, I'm feeling a bit desperate for someone to do something to fix it. However, the more I read, the more confused it becomes, at least in my mind. Some say that Democrats and the mainstream media are making things worse by overplaying the problem for partisan political reasons. Others say we face catastrophe. Each side has its own array of stupefying statistics and dense charts. All we can do, really, is hope that Obama and his advisers have it right. Your comparison of Obama selling his economic ideas to Bush selling the Iraq war is interesting. Contrary to the mindless "Bush lied" chanting of the left, Bush believed what he was saying, even though he proved to be wrong on important points. I hope Obama proves to be more right. The unemployment rate really does look bad, as do other indicators. Like others who have been hurt pretty badly by the economic crisis, I’m feeling a bit desperate for someone to do something to fix it. However, the more I read, the more confused it becomes, at least in my mind. Some say that Democrats and the mainstream media are making things worse by overplaying the problem for partisan political reasons. Others say we face catastrophe. Each side has its own array of stupefying statistics and dense charts. All we can do, really, is hope that Obama and his advisers have it right.

Your comparison of Obama selling his economic ideas to Bush selling the Iraq war is interesting. Contrary to the mindless “Bush lied” chanting of the left, Bush believed what he was saying, even though he proved to be wrong on important points. I hope Obama proves to be more right.

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