once benefits run out, we stop counting unemployed. we also don't count the dozens of people I know in tech for example, who have lost permanent jobs with wages and benefits, and are now lucky to work on contract 6 months out of the year.
to be sure, we are doing better then europe because we have a large service economy. the numbers shown in the article indicating where job growth is occurring is fairly consistent, including the growth of government. but those jobs are lower wage, and the government jobs non-productive.
how does someone become a "stockholder" and benefit from this? I need money to buy stock, where do I get it? most people have only one thing to trade for money - work. unless our party is going to cater to people who come into large inheritances, family fortunes, or lottery winnings - we better come up with a new economic message.
Okay, we're so stupid , who's doing better, who has higher overall productivity?