Democrats are skewing federal jobless figures (my letter to the editor - vanity)

March 14, 2004 | Peach

[Peach]

Despite the Democrat’s mantra that the economy is in trouble and that over 2.3 million jobs have disappeared, the truth is considerably different.

There are two primary measures of unemployment. The Department of Labor conducts a monthly Household Survey, which has always generated the official unemployment rate used by the government. This official survey shows 2.4 million jobs have been added to the work force between November ’02 and February ‘04. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) conducts its payroll survey by phoning businesses. It is unprecedented to use the BLS unemployment statistics when discussing America’s unemployment rate and yet this is where the Democrats are getting their 2.3 million lost jobs figure.

For example, had the unofficial BLS survey been used in the mid-90’s, we would have had a 12.8% unemployment rate using the same methodology. Instead, in 1996, the unemployment rate was 5.6%, the exact same rate as we have today.

The government began collecting unemployment data in 1939. Since that time, there has never been positive job growth two years after a recession ended. Never.

Other economic indicators are just as good:

-- The number of working Americans, 138.5 million, is a level never previously attained in our history.

-- The percentage of families living in poverty today averages 9.4%, a decrease of approximately 1.1% from the 90’s.

-- Home ownership is currently 68.6% which is an increase of 1.1% from the 90’s.

-- A manufacturing survey released in February showed US factories boomed at their highest level in 17 years. The Institute for Supply Management reported more and more factories were reporting hiring although it has not yet shown up in government employment statistics. Manufacturing makes up nearly one-fifth of the US economy.

-- The combined net worth of all US households is $44.4 trillion, the highest ever achieved.

-- Consumer prices (inflation) increased just 1.9% last year.

-- The stock market has advanced 45% in the last 12 months.

--The gross domestic product, the total goods and service produced in the US, increased in the 3rd quarter last year at an annual rate of 8.2% after inflation and 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Growth in the 90’s averaged a little better than 3% annually.

-- The wealthiest five percent of our population pays more than half the taxes, while people at the bottom half pay just 4% of all taxes in the country. Economists credit the recovering economy to the Bush tax cuts as opposed to what an increased regressive taxation on the nation’s wealthiest would have had on the economy.

-- The average wage of American workers is currently $15.40 vs. $11.80 during the 90’s.

Despite 9/11 and the over $500 billion it took out of our economy, it appears the economy is booming.

I will leave it to the reader to speculate why the media seems driven to repeat unchallenged the Democrat’s unemployment numbers and constant derision of the US economy.

[Peach]

If I give you a link, my name will be published on FR and I would prefer that not happen.

[roylene]

BRILLIANT letter. Have you sent it to more than one paper? Would you want help sending it around the country? You have it all summed so well, that I could not improve on it. Anyway, way to go.

[Peach]

Go for it. The leftist lies are redux 1992 as mentioned by another freeper above.

[SW6906]

Gotcha - didn't think about that. I would want to keep my anonymity too. Thanks!

[Peach]

I wouldn't mind sending it to more newspapers, but don't have links. Thanks for your kind words.

[SW6906]

Isn't JMStein(?) our media link master? Maybe he (she?) can help you get it out......but you may end up revealing your identity after all. ;o)

[not_apathetic_anymore]

Great letter.

It was great to see "the economy stinks" mantra refuted with numbers.

I hope it's OK to pass this along. I think this is the sort of information that should be widespread.

[Peach]

jmstein7 is a guy:-)

He's a wonderful activist, just wonderful and we're lucky to have him.

I think I pinged him to this thread but will check.

[Peach]

That's why I'm posting it here. Spread the word far and wide.

[Iowa Granny]

Great letter. Nice Work!!

[TheConservator]

Would you have a problem if others used this as a basis for writing letters to the editor of their local paper?

[Peach]

Please do so and spread the word far and wide.

[Peach]

Thanks, Iowa. Coming from you that's a high compliment.

[Maceman]

The government began collecting unemployment data in 1939. Since that time, there has never been positive job growth two years after a recession ended. Never.

What is your source on this? It's a great fact if you can document it.

[andy58-in-nh]

Perhaps you might send this letter to the Republican National Committee, as they seem unable to do this sort of work themselves.

[Peach]

I'll have to look for the source in my jobs file. I will NOT forget you and will get back to you on this but right now have some other matters I have to attend to.

BTW, I took all my information from census data, government employment data and Larry Kudlow articles as well as a few other Wall Street analysts so my best guess at this point (I wrote this letter several weeks ago) is that it was Kudlow or one of those guys who cited this in their column or the Wall Street Journal.

[Peach]

I did send it to the RNC, PhiKapMom, the Bush/Cheney web site I belong to, etc.

I'm sure they get lots of stuff from people and can't manage the data flow.

They should know this stuff cold anyway, it's a matter of getting their message out which even considering the filter of the liberal press, they are doing a less than mediocre job at.

Gotta run for now...later.

[mykdsmom]

WOW Peach, great letter.

I just heard yet another RAT on Fox News spewing out this BS about how Bush has lost over 2 million jobs on his watch and how the country needs Kerry to fix the economic mess that GW has got us into. I can't help but scream "LIAR" at the TV every time I hear this. I need to control myself though, my kids are getting scared of me ; )

I for one am tired of the Republicans not getting up and giving the facts on the economy. Of course it's very possible they are and we just don't hear about it due to the media bias.

Kudos for a job well done! You aren't coming to our Support the Troops rally in Fayetteville, NC next Sat. by any chance are you?

MKM

[SwatTeam]

This is a great letter that lays out the truth honestly and in terms anyone should be able to understand. You should send it to major newspapers all over the country and see how many of them publish it. My local rag prints letters from all over the country and very few are about important (imo) issues. Good job, Peach.

[CedarDave]

Go here for links most all daily and weekly newspapers in the US, and print and broadcast media:

http://newslink.org/