Will Unemployment Sink the Obama Agenda?

[whereismybailouttv]

Where will you get the money for a second stimulus?

[armi555mw]

It doesn't matter, both parities are corrupt. Each in power will sell out to their own special interest. Obama totally sold out with this massive spending. It wasn't a spending program for America, it was paying back those that voted him in. He talks about terrible corporate America and gives them billions, so they will help to fund his next campaign. All this money went to the rich, much of it wasted and no accountability. Both parties do it and that's why we're a screwed nation.

[randall828282]

If the president fails he doesnt get re-elected and the country moves on....

[HarveyRex23]

As far as Rush Limbaugh saying that he hopes President Obama fails. What this drug addict obese piece of human waste fails to realize is. If President Obama fails, the country's fucked.

[informedskeptic]

If Obama is holding a bomb, he is doing exactly the wrong thing. Granted, Bush's economic policies stunk as well. Spending money at a time when we have only borrowed money from China is absolute foolishness. Both gov't run healthcare and cap and trade would be extremely detrimental to whatever economy is left after our current contraction.  We will have a total meltdown soon if we don't drastically cut gov't spending. No more bailouts, dump GM and let the free market right itself.

[TheVirabhadra]

I think he is right sadly even thou I dislike obama greatly I hope he fixs this for the greater good of our country.

[moniequa]

I love our president, I voted for him. I think he'll save our country alright. He'll save it by extracting every dime from us and plunges us into the abyss of debt and misery and then when there is nothing left to take he'll probably sell our internal organs to China. Yes, he'll save the country but not us the people.

[veritasfiles]

I hope people realize that we're already in a Depression and it's about to get exponentially worse, especially over the next 2 to 3 years. I hope you're all prepared for what's coming.

[moniequa]

how do you prepare for a perfect storm that seems to envelope the entire planet. There is no place to run and no where to hide. This is going to be worse than great depression our great nation has fallen and she can't get up.

[mcplanetearth]

Watch this swine flu.. I'm telling you this economic meltdown is so rigged.. I feel this swine flu is going to be the excuse that the government needs to say "GREAT DEPRESSION" we in the freedom movement have seen this coming since 2005... The thing that got my attention was the federal reserve quit publishing the amount of money being put into circulation. BTW this swine flu is a man made virus.. this past apr - may was overhyped in the media for a reason (conditioning for the big one)

[stanjz]

The other point that I mentioned was real wages. I would rather have 20% unemployment but robust wage growth through 80% of the population rather than 4% unemployment with poor wage growth throughout 95% of the population. Why? Because 95% of the population may have a job, but they are probably deep in debt because wages haven't kept up with expenses. That means they will have a negative savings rate and they won't be there to hold up the economy in a downturn.

[moniequa]

How do you propose to keep businesses from hiring lower wage workers in a country saturated with highly qualified unemployed people? According to basic economic law, supply and demand, if the supply of work force exceeds the demand wages will decrease. If you allow the market to choose between 20%unemployment with robust wage and 4% with poor wage, the market will choose the later 100% of the time.

[JamesTCA]

Why does this country continue to import foreigners when there is not enough work for our own people?

[sjcpal]

The Republicans voted against the stimiulus,,, not one , and not because of It wasn't big enough ...They just wanted to screw over the president and his policys.....America has to open their collective eyes and see who screwing them ....and it's not the Gov...It's Repulican Senators and Rush , and hannity . and the Oreillys; of the world

[ezraathome]

"obama" has nothing to do with this craphole were in. The fact is the USA has been a declining western cntry since the sixties.

[ccasia2008]

From Asia: When lazy Americans brought Negros to your shores as slaves you were digging your graves! Your racist bigoted violent immoral Negro Democrats are very bad for the USA but your Negro Republicans are good for the USA and make good citizens! Your problem: Your Negro Democrats are 92% of your racist Negro population! There will never ever be harmony in the USA!

[familybc146]

Next presidential election people are going to ask the political question "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?" If they do then Obama will be sunk.

[shenmueryu]

Both of you guys brought up valid issues and of course the government cooks the numbers...because if you lost your job a year ago hell maybe even 6 months ago and just said screw it I'm not looking anymore I'm discouraged you aren't included. Same with people part time barely scrapping out 10 hours a week of work but they have rent/mortgage plus utilities they aren't included the whole thing is a big mess and all the talking heads that are in the media saying we are out of a recession o.O huh?

[armi555mw]

Correct, true numbers of unemployment are around 16%. Three years ago I was working over 40 people, now just six. Most haven't found work and I'm barely hanging on. Construction just died here and each week another contractor is laying off , closing or going bankrupt. I had one Contractor that owed me 100K and went bankrupt. In turn I couldn't pay some of my creditors in time and the effect continues. I'll probably be looking for a different line of work.

[stanjz]

Real wages are more important than unemployment figure. I would rather have 20% unemployment with 80% of the population having experienced real wage growth over the last decade or so with a robust savings rate. You can have 4% unemployment, but if everyone has too borrow and cut back because they cannot afford the goods/services they need; it doesn't matter. Having a job and being able to afford the things you need are two different things. China and India have eaten our lunch.

[buzzz121]

It doesn't work that way it never has,. the underlying reason for unemployment is what prevents wage growth. The only thing that creates wage growth are profits. Since they are less more people will lose their jobs and business owners will not increase wages, unless of course you own the business and that is not 80%

[stanjz]

You're party right, but mostly wrong. It's true that businesses will hire when they are profitable and most likely won't when they are not. But demand precedes profits. Real wages are being squeezed year after year. There are several reasons for this. One, businesses have more leverage over individuals because union participation rates have fallen. Businesses are now tapping slave labor in foreign countries at a greater level and they are automating production at a higher level.

[buzzz121]

Thnx for diplomatic answer, you sound like a social studies teacher I used to have. You also sound like you have socialist leanings?

Either way you are certainly very intelligent!

[bucjason]

obama's agenda will sink obama's agenda, because history has shown that socialism doesn't work.

[themightylex]

The Netherlands aren't working? Somebody better tell them to stop being so damn happy.

[shenmueryu]

every single time but this really isnt even socialism we are pushing fascism face down now with all the special interest groups having their tentacles in every single branch of government. neither work and in the end will be defeated though

[ezraathome]

Socialism??? LOL!! ur joking right?

[bucjason]

LOL!!......umm no.

[AllBobsAllTheTime]

Not necessarily but 0bama's lying about may well sink him.

[sealhunter5]

TO LATE FOR CHANGE !

What does America manufacture?

If Americans dont manufacture goods in their own back yard that they consume the this begins the slippery slope syndrome where once you start importing your consumer products you begin to loose your consumers!

Hence the term snow ball growth down hill .

To late we all have to ride this wagon into traffic and hope we dont get hit by anything BIG?

[rickbar123]

TIME TO SHUT THE DOORS ON IMPORTED SNEAKERS, TVs, SHIRTS, TOYS, COMPUTERS, CAR PARTS, FANS, BED FRAMES, BOOKS, ECT ECT ECT ECT. SCREW THE MALL OWNER IN AMERICA THAT FORCE RETAILERS TO BUY GOODS OVERSEAS SO THE RETAILERS CAN PAY THE RIP OFF RENTS THEY CHARGE. AMERICANS THAT HAVE A JOB -- SPEND MONEY

you heard it from me- rickbar123

[shenmueryu]

Might as well go ahead and throw ur computer right out the window then and smash it into bits with a sledgehammer and then probably burn the sledgehammer as well...no reason to put out the fire because we've been making fire for hundreds of thousands of years now and that isnt just made in china so yeah good to go with that. Imports isnt the problem it is the government intervention and the heavy taxes on these companies it almost promotes them leaving here. We can rebuild once govt recedes

[speciesamused]

The official rate doesn't include the 3.7 million-plus people who are reluctantly working only part time, but need full time, because of the poor labor market. It doesn't include the workers who have given up scouring want ads for seemingly nonexistent jobs.

When those folks are added to the numbers, the unemployment rate rises to 15.6%.

The employment situation on the horizon looks even worse. Obama needs to prioritize and see k all ideas. There are alot of smart people out here.

[Grey80002]

The Federal and State unemployment rates do not currently include the number of people who are no longer eligible for unemployment.

They also don't reflect the number of people who never collected unemployment. They also don't include part time employees.

The un-employment rate is near 20%... so everything that this guy is saying is utter bullshit.

Ohio has had a 20% unemployment rate for 6 years... or more. Everyone knows it except the government.

[mistergarth]

"The un-employment rate is near 20%... so everything that this guy is saying is utter bullshit"

Your data is good, but your conclusion doesn't follow. Yes, the real unemployment rate is always higher than the official unemployment rate, but the real rate is roughly proportionate to the official rate.

All Nichols is saying is that if unemployment continues to rise, Obama will be in big trouble. This is true, regardless of how you measure unemployment.

[terpis]

The always excellent John Nichols.

Talking pretty grim stuff. We think things stink now (and I for one sure do), wait 'til the GOP gets back in the saddle come 2012.

Talking nightmare scenario. Enough with the corporate Dem, blue dog, horse-and-sparrow awfulness already.

Let's see some 'audacity'.

[bravehartmman]

Obama bush

same difference !

[normalais]

huge difference.

you're ignorant if you don't see it

[iamafractal]

Will the bush aftermath sink obama? sure, if you let the republicans get away with blaming him for their mess.