Easy. Sick, old people get social security, pensions, sometimes even disability payments. Many of them have equity in their homes and have savings. If the choice is between spending $50,000 a year on a nursing home, or having a relative take care of you, many will prefer the relative, even if it means supporting them for a time.
So these 8.2 million people in the work force who've can't find work and have dropped off the unemployment roles have all moved back in with their parents or are letting their wives support them.
Some of them probably have become stay-at-home mothers as well. The net result is that peoples' standards of living seriously decline. If they decline too much around November 2004, it *will* become a factor in this election.
Some of them probably have become stay-at-home mothers as well. The net result is that peoples' standards of living seriously decline. If they decline too much around November 2004, it *will* become a factor in this election.
Only problem with this is that "peoples' standards of living" are NOT declining.
Average incomes and benefits are UP...and the economy continues to grow.