The depressing reality of ‘the recovery’: Americans aren’t getting jobs. They’re retiring.

WaPo ^ | 7/24/13 | Dylan Matthews

[Nachum]

For most of his presidency, President Obama has been focused on the economic short run — which makes sense, given that he took office in the midst of the biggest recession since the 1930s. With his big economic speech today, he’s shifting to the long-run, talking about the structural changes he thinks the economy needs to see for the U.S. to prosper going forward.

But anyone who thinks that the short-run battle is over should take a look at a new report by Daniel Alpert over at the Century Foundation. Alpert notes that while the headline unemployment number is well below its recession-era peak, that’s almost 100 percent due to declines in the labor force participation rate — that is, the share of the population that’s either employed or actively looking for work. Don’t believe him? Take a look at this chart:

The dotted red line is the U-3 unemployment rate, or the number you see everywhere. It can go down for one of two reasons: either more people are working, or fewer people are in the labor force. So which is it?

You see that solid blue line? That’s the employment/population ratio, or the number of employed people divided by the civilian noninstitutional population (aka everyone over 16 who’s not in prison, a mental institution, the military, or a nursing home). It’s barely changed since the nadir of the recession. The share of adults who are working isn’t going up; it’s stagnating. More people aren’t working.

[Nachum]

I know, let's socialize medicine, spend more money than we have on stimulus projects, get everyone else on welfare and things will be rosy.

[Nachum]

The list, Ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/

[RC one]

Detroit: What happens when you finally run out of other people’s money.

[WeatherGuy]

Yep, a lot (too many) Americans are saying “screw it, I'm going to let the government take of me” even if it means a barely subsistance-level existence....

..and you know what?

Obama couldn't be happier about it.

[Teacher317]

which makes sense, given that he took office in the midst of the biggest recession since the 1930s.

Caused by the Democrats taking over Congress in 2006. Reid and Pelosi were told that raising the minimum wage would increase unemployment. They did it anyway. Unemployment doubled. They blamed Capitalism (for it apparent inability to succeed in the face of the 14,000 obstacles that Democrats toss in its way). They were told that there would be a housing bubble if they kept forcing banks to give home loans to those who didn't qualify. They did anyway. Barney Frank stated, "We want to roll the dice." Trillions were lost worldwide on their obviously bad bet. They blame Republicans and greedy banks.

I wish some journalists would finally start telling the actual story.

[hal ogen]

I retired as early as I( could. F’em. Goin’ Galt.

[GeronL]

It will all collapse sooner or later

[fulltlt]

I’m doing some serious thinking about retiring. I would have to move out of Illinois to do it though.

[21st Century Crusader]

When you get to a certain age, around the early 60s and become unemployed, it is almost impossible to get a job. You don’t get told “ you’re too old”, or “we won’t hire you at your age” because anyone knows they’ll get sued, but thats the reality. What’s left? Retirement.

[DoughtyOne]

For most of his presidency, President Obama has been focused on the economic short run — which makes sense, given that he took office in the midst of the biggest recession since the 1930s. With his big economic speech today, he’s shifting to the long-run, talking about the structural changes he thinks the economy needs to see for the U.S. to prosper going forward.

How many times to we have to read this dusted off article on Obama and his plans for the future, and I'm not taking you to task Nachum.

They all start out with Obama being absolved from anything unsavory. He has nothing to do with what happened. It was all Bush's fault and he just dealt with it like a pro, but there was only so much he could do... blah blah blah blah blah!"

We've been reading something to this effect for the last four years. Our poor boy did his best. It was a heroic effort. Nobody could have done better.

If these bastards would spend 1/10,000th as much energy on creating jobs rather than killing more of them and covering Obama's ass, we'd have full employment today.

Instead we're headed into year six, with this guy not doing a damned thing to get us back on track. Instead he does his damnedest to destroy any jobs we do have. It's figuratively over his dead body that oil fracking and oil shale are taking off. It's a miracle we're not all peddling to work each morning, and peddling back each evening.

The Commies have their five year plans. We're still waiting for Obama's eight year plan. We may get a one year plan out of him yet, but I'm not holding my breath.

He's hyperventilating right now hoping economic figures are able to prove him a sage, despite the fact he has fought against them at every turn.

I'd like to say he's a enigma, but the most I can get out is, "He's an enema!"

I pray to God that when this guy is jettisoned, our nation's bowels will be clean once again, and we can head back toward good health. Instead, we'll probably ingest another Clinton, always good for another bout of national constipation.

Good citizens of this nation, have you no shame? Are you incapable of seeing, noticing, even buying a clue, that would tell you this man is a failure? It's your nation too. Are you happy with what is happening to our nation?

Are you happy seeing this guy create one million jobs in four years when it should seven? Are you happy 40 million of your fellow citizens who should be working aren't? Are you happy over half our citizens who should be working, are either unemployed or making about half to three-quarters whey they were eight years ago?

This is not working. You must know it on some level. This man has to go. Wake the hell up. Pinch yourself. Do something. Do anything, but help get this nimrod out of there. Do it for those you love, if you're too fricken stupid to do it for yourself.

This is a national tragedy. We need a day of mourning, weeping and gnashing of teeth on the Mall in Washington, D. C. It needs to be a day where we take off our party affiliations and simply shake hands and let it be known that we as a nation have always done better, and it's time to do that again.

This IS NOT working! Media players, what the hell are you thinking? If there's no nation, there's no need for you. Do you want there to be a need for you, or not?

Evidently there isn't a collective brain among you, to realize that.

[Mr. Jeeves]

When you get to a certain age, around the early 60s and become unemployed, it is almost impossible to get a job.

That age is now 40.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

“When you get to a certain age, around the early 60s...”

In 1996, at age 60, I lost my job. I was hired by another company within a couple months. But I have skills...

[doorgunner69]

Add me to that list. Once Obunga destroyed NASA funding and basically my future and then the 'rats passed Obungacare, I said to hell with it, not another dime of income tax from me.

Had another outfit that wanted to talk to me after I quit, but I had enough of the whole charade and bailed from working while I could. Your health is not a permanent thing.

Surfing fortuitious home sales and a few family events has helped, wish other conservatives could give the finger to Zero and his corrupt schemes as well as we did.

[21st Century Crusader]

1996 was a long time ago - and before the socialist moved into the white hut. It’s a brave new world now even if you have skills.

[Chode]

"Business? In this business, you're always one step away from bankruptcy. Funny money, credit, speculation...

"Somewhere in this country there's a little old lady with seventy-nine dollars and twenty-five cents.
And the five cents is a Buffalo nickel...

"If she cashes in her investment, the whole thing'll collapse -- General Motors, the Pentagon, the DuPont Sisters and the whole shebang...

"We're all runnin' downhill. Gotta keep runnin' faster all the time or it'll all fall down..."

— the late great character actor, Dub Taylor, as disgruntled gas station operator in 1974 film, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot

[cicero2k]

In the job world 55 is the new 65.

[nascarnation]

When you get to a certain age, around the early 60s and become unemployed, it is almost impossible to get a job.

Correct, unless you are at the bottom (or very top) of the spectrum of wages. People in their 60s get hired at McDonalds or as corporate CEOs.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

I know, let's socialize medicine, spend more money than we have on stimulus projects, get everyone else on welfare and things will be rosy.

It would be worse if Bush was in charge.

We haven't spent enough.

Republicans in Congress are blocking Obama's recovery plan.

Leftists are impervious to reason and reality.

[nascarnation]

not another dime of income tax from me.

Now that's impressive. Do you have all your investments in tax free bonds?

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

Yes, I do not disagree with you, but the age relationship still applies. It is harder now, and especially if you are twenty something.