Think Progress

Unemployment rate rises as 51,000 jobs were lost in July.

By Ali Frick on Aug 1st, 2008 at 9:59 am

Unemployment rate rises as 51,000 jobs were lost in July.

The Department of Labor released its employment figures this morning, finding that the companies eliminated 51,000 jobs in July. The unemployment rate also rose to 5.7 percent, from 5.5 percent in June, the highest rate since March 2004. This is the seventh straight month of job losses, raising the total number of jobs lost since the beginning of this year to 463,000.

Comments
100

83 Responses to “Unemployment rate rises as 51,000 jobs were lost in July.”

ralph the wonder llama says:

I wonder if any of the trolls will try to make the claim that unemployment is still lower than it was under Clinton?
August 1st, 2008 at 10:07 am
the Lone Voice of Reason says:

No worries. When McCain gets elected and closes the southern border there will be plenty of apple and tomato picking jobs.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:12 am
BestGovEmp says:

Don’t you silly people know we are NOT in a recession just listen to Faux News.

When other people are out of work it’s a “economic slowdown”…when YOUR out of work it’s a “recession”
August 1st, 2008 at 10:15 am
spencers mom says:

These folks just think they’re suffering financially. It’s all in their heads! The economy is robust… don’t they know that?

PEACE
August 1st, 2008 at 10:16 am
BestGovEmp says:

I count myself as one of the lucky ones. Making more money than I ever have before. Wife just started new position making more money than she ever has before. Mortgage and two car payments aren’t a problem for us in Oklahoma.

I only wish the rest of the country was fairing as well.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:18 am
unbelievable says:

As soon as we again make individual right the priority in this country, rather than corporations or profits, this will change. Until then, we should get used to it. People in China and India will work for $4 a day and no bathroom breaks.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:20 am
Wayne A. Schneider says:

Let’s remind the trolls up front that unemployment figures count the number of people receiving benefits, not the number of people unemployed. Many more people have exhausted their benefits but are no longer counted in these unemployment figures, even if they are still jobless.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:21 am
Badmoodman says:

51,000 jobs were lost in July.

– - Inexplicably though, Michael Savage still has his.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:23 am
tom says:

51,000 jobs were lost in July.
- – Inexplicably though, Michael Savage still has his.

Worse yet, so do GDumbya and Darth Cheney.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:25 am
And the beat goes on says:

This really scares me. If my disability is not approved, I too will be joining the ranks of the unemployed. The small private school I have taught at for over 15 years is suffering from enrollment issues and can’t renew my contract this September. Since I had already started my disability claim I can still qualify for it. The school has already filled out their paperwork and now my doctor is doing his part.

I am 57 and am not sure there is a lot available right now. Here I am, 5 years from when I hoped to retire facing losing a lot more than my job. There are so many others like me out there. I had done a lot of planning for my retirement but hate to have to dip into it early. Taxes and penalties are just ridiculous and I hoped to leave it alone for 5 more years. At least, though, I do have that safety net — what are those who have never been able to this going to do?
August 1st, 2008 at 10:27 am
5th Estate says:

“Still, the decline in the job market has softened since the spring. The number of layoffs was less than the 75,000 that economists had expected, and the government said that businesses cut fewer jobs in June and May than previously reported.”

Approximately 25,000 economists cheered as their expected pink-slips failed to materialize.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:32 am
Wayne A. Schneider says:

5th Estate Says:

Approximately 25,000 economists cheered as their expected pink-slips failed to materialize.

August 1st, 2008 at 10:32 am

The Capitalist Pigs who worship the Free Market will usually see this as good news, since announcements in layoffs usually means the market goes up. But since they did not lay off as many as expected (promised?), they’re probably a little disappointed.

I hate Capitalist Pigs who worship the Free Market.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:39 am
tom says:

Yup, dary11. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s the headlight on the “Straight Talk Express” heading right at you, pant-load.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:41 am
misshusseinmolly says:

Can somebody help me out? I know there’s a figure out there somewhere that represents the number of jobs that must be created each year just to keep the unemployment figure level (jobs must increase as population increases). I can’t find it — must be because it’s toward the end of the week and I have very few functioning brain cells left.

You can’t miss it — it’s the number the GOP always ignores when they brag about how many jobs have been created under their watch (and it’s always under the magic number of jobs that MUST be created just to break even).
August 1st, 2008 at 10:43 am
Marie says:

11 beat
I believe yours is an all-too-common scenario.
Dipping into your retirement savings now will penalize you, yes, but you acknowledge that at least you have that emergency outlet. Then what?
People in your situation can postpone catastrophe today but what about ten years from now?
The threat of decreased social security, compounded with diminished if not liquidated savings, is a grim picture of the future that many will face.
But, take a few happy pills (courtesy of big pharma) and recognize that your worries are all “in your head” (courtesy McCain’s economic advisor, Gramm), and have “faith” (courtesy of evangelical rightwingers) that all will be just fine.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:44 am
Marie says:

#11, beat
BTW – I hope your situation improves – soon!
August 1st, 2008 at 10:44 am
unbelievable says:

dary11 Says: There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Yes there is. Five months, two weeks and four days until Obama is President and begins to turn this thing around by creating jobs in the alternative fuels industry.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:46 am
Marie says:

#16, mhm
The answer to your question is not readily available, and I have to run off now, but I believe the figure in my recollection is that we need 150,000 just to keep up with attrition.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:47 am
5th Estate says:

Dary11: “There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Payroll cuts weren’t as deep as the 72,000 predicted by economists, and job losses for both May and June were much smaller than previously reported.

“Despite losing massive amounts of blood, two limbs and being deprived of oxygen for 20 minutes, economists suggested the victim had enough limbs and sufficient mental capacity left to work-off the hospital bill”.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:47 am
misshusseinmolly says:

Wayne A. Schneider Says
August 1st, 2008 at 10:21 am
Let’s remind the trolls up front that unemployment figures count the number of people receiving benefits, not the number of people unemployed. Many more people have exhausted their benefits but are no longer counted in these unemployment figures, even if they are still jobless.
_________________________________________________________

Let’s also remind the trolls up front that the unemployment figures don’t count the number of people UNDERemployed because they can’t get work anywhere else.

As people’s unemployment benefits run out, they often will take ANY kind of job, even if it’s not enough to live on, and even if it doesn’t offer any kind of benefits, because it’s still better than no income at all. This is why you have people working part-time jobs (not counted in unemployment stats), or irregular temp work through an agency (not counted in unemployment stats) or a skilled worker such as a network administrator flipping burgers or greeting at Wal-Mart because he can’t get a job in the line of work he was trained for (also not counted in unemployment stats).

The “official” unemployment figure is only a small part of the picture.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:48 am
unbelievable says:

Wayne A. Schneider Says: The Capitalist Pigs who worship the Free Market will usually see this as good news, since announcements in layoffs usually means the market goes up.

But I thought Adam Smith’s idea of a free marekt was that wealth and power would be distributed to the masses, where they would make informed decisions that would lead to a balanced economy?
August 1st, 2008 at 10:49 am
MCMetal says:

dary11 Says:
——————————————————————————–

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Payroll cuts weren’t as deep as the 72,000 predicted by economists, and job losses for both May and June were much smaller than previously reported.

August 1st, 2008 at 10:37 am

I’m sure those who have lost their jobs will be over-joyed with that news , you GOP/Chimpy tool……….
August 1st, 2008 at 10:49 am
JMOHR says:

GM announced a quarterly loss of $15 billion for the past quarter due to tanking auto sales. It takes about 120,000 in new job creation to keep up with the growing population. The employment ratio continues to go downwards. Despite the job losses being lower than anticipated, there are disturbing signs that we are no where near bottoming out. Real wages and income are not increasing, the consumer can not continue holding up the economy and now we see job losses impacting retail and other sectors of the economy that had not been impacted thus far.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:57 am
unbelievable says:

dary11 Says: No; the estimate of unemployment is based on a monthly sample survey of households.

A ’sample survey’? Hardly scientific.

How exactly do you reach all the unemployed people who live in their cars or with family members because they lost their homes bas a result of having lost their jobs? Didn’t think about that did you? You never do.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:03 am
5th Estate says:

From the NY Times: The payroll report is the second major snapshot of the economy in 24 hours: on Thursday, the government reported that the economy grew 1.9 percent from April to June, less than economists had hoped. The disappointing number came despite the injection of billions of dollars into the economy from the government’s tax rebate program.

So ‘the economy’ grew 1.9 per cent in three months AND the ‘unemployment’ rate rose from 5.5 to 5.7 percent in two months, and there have been seven straight months of job losses?

So less people are apparently generating more, ergo ‘productivity’ must be UP! Yay!
August 1st, 2008 at 11:06 am
the Lone Voice of Reason says:

dary11, what about people struggling to get by that are in job training programs that aren’t actively seeking work? Believe me the community colleges are full of these people who have had their jobs ripped out from under them. They aren’t any closer to having a job than the next person seeking work.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:12 am
ralph the wonder llama says:

I suppose we should get Gigi (aka dary 11) credit for at least acknowledging that we are in a tunnel.

Now, getting her to recognize that BushCo dug the tunnel, that might be a bit trickier…
August 1st, 2008 at 11:16 am
DallasNE says:

It could have been worse. I think these numbers show that the rebate checks helped with consumer spending and that helped keep these numbers from being even worse than they are.

But those rebate checks were a one-time thing and recent layoff announcements indicate that in future months we will see a resumption of larger lay-off’s. This down-cycle has not yet bottomed.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:20 am
Fred says:

Dary11: “There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Payroll cuts weren’t as deep as the 72,000 predicted by economists, and job losses for both May and June were much smaller than previously reported.

5th Estate Says:
“Despite losing massive amounts of blood, two limbs and being deprived of oxygen for 20 minutes, economists suggested the victim had enough limbs and sufficient mental capacity left to work-off the hospital bill”.

Best response to the stupidity that I have seen so far. You use their own sick humor to point out thier lack of compassion and understanding and you didn’t address the fool directly…..great post by 5th.

There is no way to make these figures look good for the gop, therefore they want to talk in circles or change the subject.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:27 am
Saint Augustine says:

From idiot daryll’s link:

Both the number of unemployed persons (8.8 million) and the unemployment rate (5.7 percent) rose in
July. Over the past 12 months, the number of unemployed persons has increased by 1.6 million, and the
unemployment rate has risen by 1.0 percentage point.

In July, the number of persons who worked part time for economic reasons rose by 308,000 to 5.7 million
and has risen by 1.4 million over the past 12 months. This category includes persons who indicated that
they would like to work full time but were working part time because their hours had been cut back or they
were unable to find full-time jobs.

Why do we get the really, really stupid trolls?
August 1st, 2008 at 11:28 am
Wayne A. Schneider says:

Is the count of unemployed persons limited to just those people receiving unemployment insurance benefits?

No; the estimate of unemployment is based on a monthly sample survey of households. All persons who are without jobs and are actively seeking and available to work are included among the unemployed. (People on temporary layoff are included even if they do not actively seek work.) There is no requirement or question relating to unemployment insurance benefits in the
monthly survey.

If this is accurate, then I probably was misinformed. IF.

And, if true, then this “survey” is meaningless as a way to measure unemployment. When they release figures each month, they seem to have such precision to them, but it is nothing more than statistical sampling, and not accurate counting. Why not simply release the figures of people receiving unemployment benefits and those who stopped looking for work (for whatever reason), or whose benefits expired before they found work? Why try to couch all this in science, when it is just numerical trickery?
August 1st, 2008 at 11:29 am
WaltTheMan says:

dary11,
You should read the next Q/A in your reference:

“Does the official employment rate exclude people who have stopped looking for work?

Yes; however, there are separate estimates of persons outside of the labor force who want a job, including those who have stopped looking because they believe no jobs are available (discouraged workers). In addition, alternate measures of labor underutilization discouraged workers and other groups not officially counted as unemployed) are published each month in the Employment Situation news release.”

So much for urban legends.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:33 am
bob hussein lablah says:

dary11:

What sort of rosy spin would you be putting on this for us if we had a democratic president?
August 1st, 2008 at 11:49 am
bentley1 says:

Why do we get the really, really stupid trolls?

August 1st, 2008 at 11:28 am Recommend (1) | Report Abuse

Thats all McSame will pay for. If it’s more than two cents it’s still too much.
tony and lido

August 1st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
dbadass says:

Morning Dary11:
I was sort of interested in the same question which bob hussein lablah asked. I am not convinced that you believe the agenda that you try to project here as I sort of think you are more about “pot stirring” but let’s assume you do for the moment. Is there anything you might fault this administration for or the right in general?
August 1st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
5th Estate says:

#35 fred…

thanks for the knd comments fred!

“There is no way to make these figures look good for the gop,”

Ignoring my gripes with the GOP, I have a HUGE gripe with how economics are reported in general–the NY Times article is a case in point–full of glib generalizations that about to mere verbiage that doesn’t inform and worse yet through repetition allows for glib interptetations.

Example: If “the economy grew” what does that actually mean?
If I earn $1000, I have assets of $1000 and debts of $500, doesn’t that constitute an “economy” of $2500?

And if I then earn $1250 in the next period, my assets devalue to $750 and my debts increase to $1000 hasn’t my economy “grown” to $3000?

The trouble is my increased earnings and decreased assets balance each other out whilst my debts have doubled, but my “economy’ has still “grown”, so supposedly everything is hunky-dory.

I’m no economist but this seems to be how economic reporting tends to works.
The same goes for estimates: “the good news is that job losses were below economists predictions”–SO WHAT?!!

“Hey honey I lost my job and we’re going to lose our house, but the important thing is that there aren’t as many people in our situation as economists guessed there might be!”

I mean…really!
August 1st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
5th Estate says:

bentley1 Says: Why do we get the really, really stupid trolls?

Because opposites attract?
August 1st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
RUCerious says:

So when is Darlyy going to lose his cushy contractor job with the DOD?
I’m sick and tired of paying his lazy ass his war profiteering salary.
August 1st, 2008 at 12:35 pm
bob hussein lablah says:

Dary11—?

*crickets*

……..
August 1st, 2008 at 12:49 pm
trollsbwild says:

BTW, the stats also do not address the mix of jobs that are low pay, without benefits.

But don’t worry. GM lost $15 bil, so you know there will be trickle down effect there.
August 1st, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Fred says:

dennis Says:

Someone sent you on a fools errand. minimum wage is at near slavery levels and you want to tell me that 50 cents more on thier check has bankrupted companies? Try again but if you don’t mind, try to say something that makes sense.

Sucessful companies are doing just fine on the backs of working class Americans living in poverty…..just ask Wal Mart.

Other civilized…..and I’m not sure that applies in America any more, manage to pay their employees a good living wage and provide health care…..American companies don’t because they don’t have to….

Those international companies based in countries other than the US are doing just fine and the companies here are so mismanaged that they must cheat their workers to survive?

What ever happened to fair trade…..a fair day for fair pay?

It’s easier and more profitable to cheat than to bargain in good faith.
August 1st, 2008 at 1:01 pm
bluefish says:

More proof that the surge is working!

Oh wait, I may have gotten my talking points mixed up.
August 1st, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Fred says:

trollsbwild Says:
GM lost $15 bil

Point for dennis the dummy, if GM hadn’t moved everything in the direction of hummers and big gas consuming vehicles instead of seeing what has been obvious to most people, that we need more fuel efficient cars they would not be in financial trouble today.

case in point……GM has mismanaged thier company and deserve to go down and be replaced by someone who is smarter….shouldn’t be hard to do.
August 1st, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Fred says:

TripleKick X Says:
Sorry, 5.7 is still virtually full employment. That number is actually a blessing compared to most economies in the world today.

You mean keep trying to convince everone that all is well when we know better, right?

5.7 is pathetic even if it were accurate. Unemployment was near 1% under JFK and he didn’t include the military to make the numbers look better as nixon did.

Keep trying though, it’s fun to watch you thrash and knash…..
August 1st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Fred says:

TripleKick X Says:
Sorry, 5.7 is still virtually full employment. That number is actually a blessing compared to most economies in the world today.

So you aspire for America to look like a 3rd world country?

This is your defense?
August 1st, 2008 at 1:11 pm
dbadass says:

Hi TripleKick X:
Might you be so kind as to deal with the same query asked of Dary11 at #41? Thanks…
August 1st, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Fred says:

TripleKick X Says lets change the subject……Clinton did it.

At least under Clinton we were gaining jobs and people’s unemployment wasn’t running out and minimum wage was going up……what part of that do you not understand?

Remember Clinton inherited the recession from bush I and did a magnificent job of turning things around…….you can’t deny it but I understand if you can’t say it out loud……being full of hate and not wanting to face facts and all………I have kids who show more decorum than you can muster.
August 1st, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Fred says:

TripleKick X Says:
I’m here to point out glaring inconsistencies which are routinely ignored in TP.

May I suggest that you find something to do that you might be qualified to do. You are failing miserably so far. Maybe shoeshine boy for mcsame would be a good job for ya.
August 1st, 2008 at 1:45 pm
dbadass says:

Why the need to add some sort of derogatory Kennedy remark? It defeats any sincerity you may have wished to imply? Now as to glaring inconsistencies here might you assure me that there are right leaning sites whose consistency you are concerned about and regularly post your ideas at in order to help guide them toward a better grasp of reality?
August 1st, 2008 at 1:52 pm
dbadass says:

Trust me TripleKick X I ahve a long standing no flagging policy. If you don’t believe ask around…
August 1st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
ralph the wonder llama says:

Um… TK… you might want to check out your “unemployment rate higher under C;inton” meme…

it’s not really working for you.

Clinton inherited a 6.9 unemployment rate, true. But just like with the poverty rate, unemployment decreased every year under his administration, until it hit 3.97 in 2000 — the lowest since 1969.

I’d say statistics are on Clinton’s side in this argument — as they are in most when Bush is considered.
August 1st, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Fred says:

TripleKick X Says:
Fred,
The unemp rate according to you is “pathetic” under Bush but a *higher rate* under Clinton gets no criticism from you. Instead, you defend and apologize for B.C. That’s laughable and sorry, just like all your posts.

You can’t face reality and facts…you are the one who is pathetic and a hack. You will say anything to make your point whether it is true or not..
August 1st, 2008 at 2:24 pm
dbadass says:

I’ll field this one ralph. It had nothing to do with Clinton who sucked ass in every and all ways. The excellent economic conditions and low unemployment were the result of other factors and must never in anyway be linked to one of the most successful administrations in modern times. Got It? Good!!!
August 1st, 2008 at 2:27 pm
dbadass says:

“In spite of Clinton”?

Did TripleKick forget to mention Kennedy or any other Dem? This is exactly why I have to endlessly call bullshit. There is no logic/thought just attempts to aggreviate. I used to think ODD was a made up diagnosis…
August 1st, 2008 at 2:35 pm
ralph the wonder llama says:

TripleKick X Says:
Ralph

http://data.bls.gov/ PDQ/ servlet/ SurveyOutputServlet
No one doubts the economy was fairly good in the 90’s in spite of Clinton. However, my point is that the numbers aren’t working for the partisan hack Fred, since he apologized for Clinton’s higher unemployment rates when it was higher than today’s “pathetic” 5.7% for two and a half years! Its yet another inconsistency.

“In spite of” Clinton, huh?

There’s some testament to your lack of bias. The economy was great “in spite of Clinton”, now it’s crap “in spite of” of Bush and his tax cuts. Is that how it goes? Why do we bother with economic plans at all with presidential candidates, then? It doesn’t appear they can do squat to affect the economy?

I didn’t see Fred “apologize” for higher rates under Clinton (in the first two years of his administration only). Can you quote his apology?

Thanks. By the way, thanks for taking the bait I set (snicker).
August 1st, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Leftside Annie says:

Why, it is, dbadass, just like autism. Just ask Michael Savage. He’ll tell ya.
August 1st, 2008 at 2:49 pm
ralph the wonder llama says:

TripleKick X Says:

when the economy was good during Clinton, I praised the GOP congress and a *little bit* to Clinton. Now that the economy is waning, I blame the democrat congress and a *little bit* Bush. That’s consistent.

Let’s see… find a way to praise Republicans no matter what and blame the “democrat congress”… yeah, that’s consistent all right.

So the tax hikes that Clinton pushed through… somehow the “republic congress” was able to overcome those… how?

And in eighteen months the “democrat congress” has been able to sabotage the Bush tax cuts… how?

But at least you tacitly admitted that Fred had never “apologized” for high unemployment under Clinton. You didn’t come right out and say so, but I figure your round-about explanation says pretty much the same thing.
August 1st, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Fred says:

You just want to call me names because you have all of your facts wrong and don’t want to admit it. You can’t put words in my mouth and then say I’m a hack.

If you don’t want to deal with facts and insist on taking peoples statements out of context to suit your own needs then this probably isn’t a good place for you. It will be embarrassing for ya.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
texaslady says:

Our one paper town announced yesterday that unemployment figures have not changed, we have great economy. Can you tell which political persuasion this paper is ? I e-mailed them the corrected figures from the DOL…but probably will end up in the deleted file.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Fred says:

tripppllldumb would probably say the economy now is bad in spite of bush…..

don’t call me a hack for sayin it….it’s in your post:

You said:

Now that the economy is waning, I blame the democrat congress

and you call me a hack….
August 1st, 2008 at 3:11 pm
ralph the wonder llama says:

Okay, TK, then if you consider the Reagan years boom times, you must give credit to the “democrat congress” of that era, right?

The reported rate of 5.7% unemployment is not the crisis number — it’s that the number has been steadily climbing. A two-term president’s second term is supposed to be marked by good economic conditions. Business loves predictability, and by the final years of an eight-year cycle, patterns are familiar, governing style is set, and big initiatives are unlikely.

Moreover, the president absolutely sets the economic agenda. The president staffs the government agencies, the president can push for tax hikes or cuts, and his cabinet implements nationwide economic policies that have nothing to do with legislation.

What you saw as “anti-business” policies in Clinton’s presidency were “pro-consumer”. Businesses need consumers with money in their pockets in order to thrive. But they’re reluctant to part with that money in the form of higher salaries or domestic production.

Under Clinton, the middle class grew, and income grew across the board. Plus the government ran a surplus, so it wasn’t sucking capital out of the credit markets. Everyone gained.

Under Bush, the gap between rich and poor has grown, the middle class has shrunk, and real incomes for middle-class Americans have actually decreased. That’s a big reason why the economy sucks today. And it does suck.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
ralph the wonder llama says:

By the way, TK, the reason I keep putting your use of “democrat congress” in quotation marks is that it is improper and makes you look ignorant.

Right-wingers give themselves away with that childish ploy. The adjectival form of the proper noun “Democrat” is “Democratic”.

Like I say, you guys give yourselves away when you use “democrat congress”. It’s consistent, which you seem to value, but it’s consistently ignorant.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Fred says:

TripleKick X Says:

ok smartass……you now have a chance to prove to us that the economy has taken a downturn because of the democratic change in congress in 2004. Please tell us exactly what they did that destroyed our economy.

Truth is this was happening for 8 years and being covered up and lied about and it is finally out in the open. You are a gop hack if I ever saw one.

can we say deregulation…..gop
can we say record deficits…gop

get real or get lost. bush and the gop have done this and if you can’t accept that simple reality then you are a hack and if you continue to defend the gop and attack democrats you will just strengthen the case against you.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:38 pm
dbadass says:

Sorry TripleKick X but I have assisted you as best I can. I remain convinced that you are mostly full of shit and just want attention. There is no way that a real person can possible honestly belive that weird partisan drivel which streams endlessly without any indication of objectivity.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:42 pm
dbadass says:

Actually no one has a clue about your drift other than it is made up bullshit.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:44 pm
dbadass says:

Whose been bashing the GOP? I have just asked you to show some indication of objectivity. Dumb arse? We both know that you get the point of each pointed query posed of you. That you seem to need to dodge them due to what many might read as inferior critical thinking has nothing to do with me or my needs. Show some degree of consistent cognition and I will offer you ever resppect not that I have not already
August 1st, 2008 at 3:51 pm
ralph the wonder llama says:

TripleKick X Says:
Ralph, Give me a break. Fyi, just so you know, its Replicans, not “repukes”, “reich-wingers”, nazis, neocons, etc. Don’t presume to correct me on some silly technicality regarding the democratic party when TP oozes hyperbolic pejoratives regarding the republican party.

I’ll give you a break, TK when you show you deserve one.

I don’t use any of the terms you cited for the Republican Party.

And i only sought to correct you because the construction you use is wrong and makes you look foolish. It’s either a really childish little dig, or it’s ignorant. I figured if you were going to dig you’d use something at least a little more clever, or with a little more bite.

As it stands, you either look really, really petty, or ignorant. And if you’re ignorant, it’s stupid to have someone point out where you’re making a mistake, and snap at them for it, without correcting the mistake. Then it’s willful stupidity.

however, your answer that the economy is “relative” demonstrates that you’ve found a home with the Republican Party. As long as you’ve got yours, who cares how many home are foreclosed on, or how many people lose their jobs? As long as you don’t feel it, it ain’t happening.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Fred says:

tripple has earned a flag from me. I am done with it’s drivel.

Why else would he continue to post personal attacks and defenses for the gop here, speaking of silly ideologies.

I haven’t used the word rebukes, etc. once in this thread and you have not answered one of my questions. You are a phony.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Fred says:

Oh, and for the record trippleescum. I am doing ok too but that doesn’t mean I am oblivious to the plight of my fellow Americans. Guess it’s all ok with you. You got yours, right?
August 1st, 2008 at 3:56 pm
RUCerious says:

While this is totally anecdotal, two of the homeowners in our neighborhood have recently been laid off. One is a mid level manager, the other a support desk person.
Their unemployment is about to run out, and they are going to lose their homes.
These aren’t freakin mansions, median price paid four years ago was $300,000.
Even if they could get a job, it wouldn’t be at a salary that would allow them to keep their homes.

P.S. They both have fixed rate mortgages at < 6.0%…
August 1st, 2008 at 4:00 pm
dbadass says:

It’s okay TripleKick I wasn’t looking to impress you or anyone else. I am more just a student of behavior and thought. I find your’s odd on both levels. Why is it that all you do is come around and rant as if you have some sort of clue? If you believe you are more knowledgable might I ask to what causes you to believe this? If it is not for attention, what is it? Earlier you claimed that it was to correct inconsistencies. I asked if you did the same at conservative sites so as to be intellectually consistent. You never got back on that or did I miss it? Why link me to Obama when you might have fallen back of maybe a drunk Kennedy line? It all just smells of such weakly thought out partisan hackery…
August 1st, 2008 at 4:23 pm
ralph the wonder llama says:

TripleKick X Says:
Ralph,
Its inherently liberal to forcefully take responsible people’s money to pay for the financial irresponsibility of people who bought houses that they couldn’t afford. Screw-em, they deserve their foreclosure because many lied on their no-documentation loan applications. You should never buy what you can’t afford.

It’s true what they say — you really ARE dense, aren’t you?

When did I say anything about “forcefully take responsible people’s money to pay for the financial irresponsibility of people who bought houses that they couldn’t afford”?

What the hell does that have to do with the ailing economy? Are you saying that because there are no innocents facing foreclosure, that the economy is not ailing?

I’m not trying to put words in your mouth, I’m just trying to figure out how you got from my comment to your response. It just seems a little disconnected, is all.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:24 pm
dbadass says:

reverse concern troll sounds a lot like Think Progress Watch Watch Watch Watch. Take Care TripleKick Part Whatever We Are At and the rest of you good folk. I have to get to work so I can happily contribute some taxes to the common good. I really do feel great inside knowing my labors assist those less fortunate than I.

cheers-
August 1st, 2008 at 4:32 pm
ralph the wonder llama says:

dbadass Says:

I have to get to work so I can happily contribute some taxes to the common good. I really do feel great inside knowing my labors assist those less fortunate than I.

But — but — db, don’t you realize that your taxes only go to support lazy folks who smoke reefer 24/7???

You should be ashamed.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:36 pm
ralph the wonder llama says:

No, TK, you were “going too fast” for me.

You’re on an entirely different road, and going backwards, by the look of it.

It appears that you’re saying that, because (in your estimation) everyone who has lost their house because of foreclosure is guilty, then there will be no wider repercussions in the neighborhoods where those houses sit vacant, in the communities where banks are failing, and in the stores where people are spending less money because their houses are worth less and they’re worried about getting laid off.

Nice moralistic fairy tale you tell yourself.

Consider this: in 2005 and 2006, the nation’s personal savings rate was negative two years in a row for the first time since the Depression. What was fueling consumer spending in those years of supposedly “robust” growth? Credit cards and homeowners “taking equity” out of their homes — i. e. borrowing on the value of their homes.

Why? Because their president told them to. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, Bush didn’t ask anyone to sacrifice, except for the men and women of the military. The rest of us he told to “go shopping”.

Consumer debt was the only thing keeping the illusory Bush “recovery” afloat. It wasn’t wage growth, and it wasn’t productivity. Lax lending regulations (and enforcement) allowed the housing bubble to form and people thought they were a lot richer than they actually were.

The nation benefitted, short-term, from the conditions that led to the housing crisis.

But more to the point, foreclosured houses affect far more than just the people who are now renters, or out on the street. You can self-righteously condemn them as “greedy” if it makes you feel better (and apparently, it does) but that doesn’t change the fact that the ripple effects of a housing collapse have an impact on the whole economy.

But as long as you’re not suffering (yet) and as long as you have a scapegoat, it seems you’ll be fine.

So party on!
August 1st, 2008 at 5:00 pm
ralph the wonder llama says:

Sorry, you WEREN’T going too fast for me.
August 1st, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Mycelium says:

TripleDick,

Where are you at with corporate welfare? Bear Sterns bailout et al? Just curious.
August 1st, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Mycelium says:

Kinda OT but…

I’d like to see a list of the largest violators then see how much they spent on lobbying efforts. Bet that would be interesting. Try not paying your taxes once.

More OT…
People like TripleDick like to blame the victim. Mortgage brokers made billions off questionable loans and when they went bad they recieved what amounts to welfare. Joe blow loses his job then his house and folks like our trolls call them fools for living above their means.

A nearby Wisconsin paper mill just closed putting 700 blue and white colar workers out of a job. Another WI. paper mill anounced its closing yesterday. (Due mostly to China’s dumping of cheap paper into the market.) These are/were good jobs. A few engineers I know have had no luck finding a job and when they did get offers the pay was less than half of what they were making at the mill. I expect a few more houses up for sale soon…nice ones too.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Mycelium says:

Don’t know how the link screw up happened…but if ya click on the paragraphs it gets you there.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Word_Smith says:

The reality is, we’ve had such great employment numbers, overall, since the 1980’s, compared with the pre-Reagan years, that anytime employment numbers approach 6%, there is a tendency to panic. We are still doing great, compared to France and other countries that do their best to stifle entrepreneurship and innovation. That’s why so many people from around the world continue to emigrate here and start businesses here, to have their chance at the American dream. Let’s keep taxes low, encourage innovation and instill in our children the desire to always dream big.
August 2nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Evil Spaniard says:

Word_Smith Says:

The reality is, we’ve had such great employment numbers, overall, since the 1980’s, compared with the pre-Reagan years, that anytime employment numbers approach 6%, there is a tendency to panic. We are still doing great, compared to France and other countries that do their best to stifle entrepreneurship and innovation. That’s why so many people from around the world continue to emigrate here and start businesses here, to have their chance at the American dream. Let’s keep taxes low, encourage innovation and instill in our children the desire to always dream big.

August 2nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm Recommend (0) | Report Abuse

Hello? Sorry to burst your bubble, but Europe (including France) receives also a great number of immigrants seeking for a good job (and universal healthcare, FYI). This only explains that countries in the third world have lots of poor people willing to travel to countries in the first world to eat and clothe, no matter the sitting President. And, comparing unemployed people in France is somewhat misleading because France doesn’t use all the tricks used by the GOP to hide unemployed people. You’re comparing apples and oranges, and not very well.
August 2nd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Word_Smith says:

With respect, Evil Spaniard:

People in the United States are certainly free to emigrate elsewhere. Very few do, however, as they love the freedoms and possibilities that America offers. That’s why people risk their lives to come here.

I only mentioned France because (a)I worked for a French company for nearly 9 years (b) my wife is from Bordeaux, France. I’ve spent a great deal of time in France and with French people. America is quite transparent with its employment figures compared with France. French companies “employ” countless young people on free internships? How do I know this? I was the supervisor for several of these non-paid interns. Why do they allow themselves to be used like this? To enhance their resumes and portfolios, as good-paying jobs are so scarce. These young interns, as well as my wife’s niece (a brilliant, hard-working engineering graduate who spent nearly 18 months trying to find a good paid position), explained to me that nearly all French college graduates do this. It’s a huge part of the French economy. To get a decent paid position in many firms requires lengthy contracts that are extremely adversarial in nature (cannot work for any competitor if you leave, etc), that pits employee against employee as if they are somehow enemies.

In the United States, most of us don’t view employers or employees in adversarial roles. Good companies treat their employees as partners and valuable assets. Good employees view their employers as partners, as well and do their best to contribute.

This is a great country. There is always room for improvement, better safety & working conditions, etc. But the best thing the government can do to keep the employment figures low is to keep taxes low and stay out of the way. Most new jobs in the United States are created by small businesses. Most small businesses are being created by successful individuals who risk their own money. The more you tax and regulate, the more people have little incentive to risk their own capital to start new businesses.

I had lunch with my wife in a lovely, quaint crepe restaurant in Bordeaux once and had a nice conversation with the owner. I complimented her on her delicious crepes and asked her how things we going. She said, “I’m being taxed to death. The government interferes with everything I do. I don’t know how I can survive. Things are easier for small businesses in America, no?” Well, right now they are. Let’s keep it that way.

Peace.
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Word_Smith says:

Sorry for the typo’s. I tend to type fast and forget to proofread sometimes:

French companies “employ” countless young people with free internships. How do I know this? I was the supervisor for several of these non-paid interns. Why do they allow themselves to be used like this? To enhance their resumes and portfolios, as good-paying jobs are so scarce. These young interns, as well as my wife’s niece (a brilliant, hard-working engineering graduate who spent nearly 18 months trying to find a good paid position), explained to me that nearly all French college graduates do this. It’s a huge part of the French economy. To get a decent paid position in many firms requires lengthy contracts that are extremely adversarial in nature (cannot work for any competitor if you leave, etc), that pits employer against employee as if they are somehow enemies.

In the United States, most of us don’t view employers or employees in adversarial roles. Good companies treat their employees as partners and valuable assets. Good employees view their employers as partners, as well and do their best to contribute.

This is a great country. There is always room for improvement, better safety & working conditions, etc. But the best thing the government can do to keep the unemployment figures low is to keep taxes low and stay out of the way. Most new jobs in the United States are created by small businesses. Most small businesses are being created by successful individuals who risk their own money. The more you tax and regulate, the more people have little incentive to risk their own capital to start new businesses.
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:25 pm

Unemployment rate rises as 51,000 jobs were lost in July.

Unemployment rate rises as 51,000 jobs were lost in July.

83 Responses to “Unemployment rate rises as 51,000 jobs were lost in July.”

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