Abbott & Costello on Unemployment numbers.

[DRAFTSTUD]

COSTELLO: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America .

ABBOTT: Good Subject. Terrible Times. It's 7.8%.

COSTELLO: That many people are out of work?

ABBOTT: No, that's 14.7%

COSTELLO: You just said 7.8%.

ABBOTT: 7.8% Unemployed.

COSTELLO: Right 7.8% out of work.

ABBOTT: No, that's 14.7%.

COSTELLO: Okay, so it's 14.7% unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, that's 7.8%.

COSTELLO: WAIT A MINUTE. Is it 7.8% or 14.7%?

ABBOTT: 7.8% are unemployed. 14.7% are out of work.

COSTELLO: If you are out of work you are unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, Congress said you can't count the "Out of Work" as the unemployed, it makes President Obama's employment numbers look bad! You have to look for work to be unemployed.

COSTELLO: BUT THEY ARE OUT OF WORK!!!

ABBOTT: No, you miss his point.

COSTELLO: What point?

ABBOTT: Someone who doesn't look for work can't be counted with those who look for work. It wouldn't be fair.

COSTELLO: To whom?

ABBOTT: The unemployed.

COSTELLO: But ALL of them are out of work.

ABBOTT: No, the unemployed are actively looking for work. Those who are out of work gave up looking and if you give up, you are no longer in the ranks of the unemployed.

COSTELLO: So if you're off the unemployment rolls that would count as less unemployment?

ABBOTT: Unemployment would go down. Absolutely!

COSTELLO: The unemployment just goes down because you don't look for work?

ABBOTT: Absolutely it goes down. That's how they get it to 7.8%. Otherwise it would be 14.7%. President Obama doesn't want you to read about 14.7% unemployment, it makes him look bad, incompetent, and makes him look like he doesn't have a clue what he is doing as President

COSTELLO: That would be tough on the Democrats running for re-election.

ABBOTT: Absolutely!

COSTELLO: Wait, I got a question for you. That means there are two ways to bring down the unemployment number?

ABBOTT: Two ways is correct.

COSTELLO: Unemployment can go down if someone gets a job?

ABBOTT: Correct.

COSTELLO: And unemployment can also go down if you stop looking for a job?

ABBOTT: Bingo.

COSTELLO: So there are two ways to bring unemployment down, and the easier of the two is to have people stop looking for work.

ABBOTT: Now you're thinking like a Democratic Economist.

COSTELLO: I don't even know what the hell I just said!

ABBOTT: Now you're thinking like a Congressman.

 

[noharleyyet]

Jay Carney could speak both parts.

 

[jryoung]

I don't get why people use the unemployment rate as fodder....after seeing the applicant my wife's office gets when she opens a rec it's clear there are far too many in society that are unemployable.

 

[Ben Lamb]

I don't get why people use the unemployment rate as fodder....after seeing the applicant my wife's office gets when she opens a rec it's clear there are far too many in society that are unemployable.

Harrumph.

They were kids that were fed cereal in an ash tray. Otherwise known as Texas public ed students.

Bazinga!

[Class of 1991, Stratford High School, Houston TX]

 

[jryoung]

My friends casually mentioned a "Documentary" (I use that term loosely because it seems to be a lot art form) to me where the topic was basically after the changes in the 1960's that this country saw they top .0001% realized that people were becoming too educated and informed so they have systematically worked to limit the education and information we get in order to keep a better control on the masses.

I thought it was an interesting topic, certainly seems to have merit given the status of much of our public institutions....but then this is a friend who tells me the Government has 90% efficient solar panels that are black ops use only.