The Forgotten Millions (Lefty icon Krugman blames the rookie Hussein for unemployment? Sorta.)

NY Times ^ | 3/17/11 | PAUL KRUGMAN

[Libloather]

The Forgotten Millions
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: March 17, 2011

More than three years after we entered the worst economic slump since the 1930s, a strange and disturbing thing has happened to our political discourse: Washington has lost interest in the unemployed.

Jobs do get mentioned now and then — and a few political figures, notably Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the House, are still trying to get some kind of action. But no jobs bills have been introduced in Congress, no job-creation plans have been advanced by the White House and all the policy focus seems to be on spending cuts.

So one-sixth of America’s workers — all those who can’t find any job or are stuck with part-time work when they want a full-time job — have, in effect, been abandoned.

It might not be so bad if the jobless could expect to find new employment fairly soon. But unemployment has become a trap, one that’s very difficult to escape. There are almost five times as many unemployed workers as there are job openings; the average unemployed worker has been jobless for 37 weeks, a post-World War II record.

In short, we’re well on the way to creating a permanent underclass of the jobless. Why doesn’t Washington care?

[Libloather]

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the House, are still trying to get some kind of action.

Some images will never leave once they're burned into the brain.

532 comments @ the link.

[CarWashMan]

Let me guess: Krugman thinks the stimulus wasn’t big enough?

[Popman]

Krugman is moron

The government does not create jobs they make jobs

The dumbass knows we are broke and no longer prop up the public sector
Private

[buccaneer81]

Those comments on The NYT site prove that readers of that rag are truly brain damaged.

[Travis McGee]

Krugman: the last of the true-believer Keynsians.

Govt can create millions of jobs if we just invent/imagine/borrow more money from the future!

[Lorianne]

A Paul Krugman Post [Template]
http://economicsofcontempt.blogspot.com/2011/02/paul-krugman-post-template.html

I’m troubled by this statement from Obama:

___[Insert extremely broad, generic presidential statement about the economy.]

In effect, what Obama is saying is:

___[insert Ridiculous Proposition, completely unrelated to above statement by Obama].

Let me explain why this is so ridiculous:

___[insert brutal, utterly devastating takedown of Ridiculous Proposition]

Of course, this completely vindicates me, because I said a long time ago that

___[insert warning about Ridiculous Proposition from the 2008 primaries or early 2009].

[mlocher]

So one-sixth of America’s workers — all those who can’t find any job or are stuck with part-time work when they want a full-time job — have, in effect, been abandoned.

OMG! A Liberal in the MSM that is actually coming close to the true unemployment numbers!? Unbelievable!

Unfortunately, the teleprompter does not know what to do to resolve the unemployment. And Obama holds HCR and FR too near to his heart to repeal these.

So, one six of Americans will continue to be screwed, and their numbers will increase as states move to lay off people to get budgets under control.

[2ndDivisionVet]

One sixth my Aunt Fanny! The real U6 unemployment number for February 2011 is about 23%! That’s almost one fourth!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Libloather.

More than three years after we entered the worst economic slump since the 1930s, a strange and disturbing thing has happened to our political discourse: Washington has lost interest in the unemployed.

It's called fostering dependence. Worked like a charm.