Get ready for another round of new language

[Gaspar]

Ok, I will try one more time - listen carefully!

Here is the Federal Debt History directly from the treasury department.  Going back to the 90's... 1790's!
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm

Bush's next to last year spending ended Sept 2008 - with $10.024 trillion in debt.
Bush's last year spending ended Sept 2009. - with $11.909 trillion in debt.
Simple subtraction - which you should have learned in about 4th grade - leaves a difference of $1.885 trillion.

Obama's first year ended Sept 2010 - with $13.561 trillion in debt.
Again, simple subtraction shows a difference of $1.652 trillion - or an actual decrease in the deficit of roughly $300 billion.

The projections that I have been hearing are estimating about $1.1 trillion in deficit for this year.  That is over 40% reduction in deficit, and comes very close to the noise Obama made when he originally said deficits would be down to $1 trillion in his first term.

I know you are really just trying to jerk my chain with this - it's tough to imagine actually being that obtuse.  But there would be a tremendous benefit to pull your head out of the Fox "environment" once in a while and just casually indulge in the bright, brilliant fresh air of reality.


If you are big into graphs, I have posted an excellent source that has an amazing array of graphical information that shows an extremely wide variety of information about many, many things.  Finding the reference in past posts is another LAE - "leave as exercise" for you - if you are into true enlightenment.  Some of the info shows good things, some shows bad things.  It is a good overview of what is happening in our economy.  It is much more nuanced than you will ever get from Fox, MSNBC, CBS, or here.

Dude!  That's debt.  Not the same subject at all!  He's talking about federal spending. . ."Deficit". 

Different critter.

[Gaspar]

They already lost the house, and are just trying to pay rent in the trailer park.

Counting 'underemployment', I bet it is higher than 14.  And with engineers, it is over half a million who have given up and moved on.  So much for technical talent "shortages" as touted by the supporters of the H1-B....

Well, I was trying to be kind.  Some have it as high as 21% - 22%.  I know several Civil engineers doing landscaping, and one that is selling Amway.  Unemployment is more realistic when you break it apart and look at various professions.  Construction unemployment is in the mid 20% range as compared to government sector unemployment which is hovering around 4%.  When you throw in the rather subjective and difficult to quantify underemployment numbers those totals are much higher.

The president likes to tout current hiring trends, but what he fails to mention is that we are not even keeping up with population when it comes to job growth.  Once the number is adjusted, the US shows negative job growth.  Until we clear that hurdle the REAL unemployment numbers will continue to rise.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Well, I was trying to be kind.  Some have it as high as 21% - 22%.  I know several Civil engineers doing landscaping, and one that is selling Amway.  Unemployment is more realistic when you break it apart and look at various professions.  Construction unemployment is in the mid 20% range as compared to government sector unemployment which is hovering around 4%.  When you throw in the rather subjective and difficult to quantify underemployment numbers those totals are much higher.

The president likes to tout current hiring trends, but what he fails to mention is that we are not even keeping up with population when it comes to job growth.  Once the number is adjusted, the US shows negative job growth.  Until we clear that hurdle the REAL unemployment numbers will continue to rise.

Amway is great stuff!  Love the toothpaste and the laundry detergent!  Dish washing liquid used to be great for chocolate cake, too, but don't know if they have changed it. 

The problem I have with them is that in EVERY single instance of me contacting someone from Amway, they will not talk to me about buying product - that's ALL I want to do - and want me to go through all the sales pitches and join the pyramid!  Geez,... does anyone ever actually sell anything from that company?  So, I gave up, and have found the alternates that I will use from now on.


Jobs in this country are a much more complex situation.  We have spent literally decades "outsourcing" jobs to the point that now, labor has become as fungible as oil.  The job recovery is not happening because of the global nature of labor, and until we put some barriers back in place - to even the playing field - the job creation machine that was the US economy will not happen.

[erfalf]

I honestly had no idea there was a unemployment problem with engineers. I was always under the impression that it was a much larger problem for lower skill value workers. Is the same true for math/science fields? I'm an accountant, so as long as we have a government, there will always be a need for accountants. They seem to pass an Accountant Employment Bill (Sarbanes-Oxley) every so many years.

[Gaspar]

I honestly had no idea there was a unemployment problem with engineers. I was always under the impression that it was a much larger problem for lower skill value workers. Is the same true for math/science fields? I'm an accountant, so as long as we have a government, there will always be a need for accountants. They seem to pass an Accountant Employment Bill (Sarbanes-Oxley) every so many years.

Anything related to new construction, development, or even the introduction on new products is in a bad spot right now.  I don't know a single engineer that doesn't feel like a goldfish living in a blender right now.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I honestly had no idea there was a unemployment problem with engineers. I was always under the impression that it was a much larger problem for lower skill value workers. Is the same true for math/science fields? I'm an accountant, so as long as we have a government, there will always be a need for accountants. They seem to pass an Accountant Employment Bill (Sarbanes-Oxley) every so many years.

If you are young, no problem.  Over 50 and it is brutal.  As noted by the local division of mult-national oil related company - saying they have to get the average age down.  From 42.

Luckily, I am with a really great company that turned a blind eye to my age and lets me design products that go in moderate volume products.  Couple hundred thousand per year type things.  Very fun, but much stress, too.  Who knows - you may have some of my electronics and software in your house (less likely)!  Or in a building you go in sometime during your day.  Ever been to Kum & Go?  Or Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Kohl's?  Even the occasional Quik-Trip.  Scared??

[Red Arrow]

Ever been to Kum & Go?  Or Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Kohl's?  Even the occasional Quik-Trip.  Scared??

I wasn't until now.   

[heironymouspasparagus]

I wasn't until now.   

Good!  Be afraid...be very afraid!!!