PP GREEN POST! "Official" Unemployment Rate in Californeeeah is 12.3%

[fingpilot]

I truly do hope this doesn't end up in PARF.


It's a GREEN POST. I was going to post it PARF originally (and save Wayne some server time and electricity by putting it there directly), but the software was not 'accepting' posts to PARF 'at this time'.....

OK, now down to business. Or maybe not if you are one of the 12.3%.

When you read the fine print (as you have to these days of dubious government statistics) it says that this figure is derived by taking the quantum negative value of uranus divided by the Wilson fudge factor... , You get my point.

It basically comes down to everyone on unemployment at this moment.

Hmmmm.

Translated, that means the people whose unemployment benefits have run out are not in that group. The millions of illegal and resident visitors to this country who had no unemployment benefits, or had them and no longer do are not in that number. The people who have given up the hope of ever finding a job are not there. The under-employed; not on that list.

You want to know what did make headlines above that number?

Unemployment filings are down.

Hmmmm. Translation?

Saw this morning that Jack-In-The-Box stores were closed all across NorCal. Seems the immigrint owner of the largest franchise in the state had not been playing nice by keeping the state sales taxes and state employee benefits payments to pay for his 'lifestyle'. He had become one of the States' largest scofflaws, and the state had put a lien on his franchises. He simply shut them down, no notice. All 70 of them.

Get this. No unemployment for those folks. Estimated payroll for each store; 30-ish. The State Franchise Tax Board grabbed ALL cash assets (including payments made to employee unemployment insurance fund). Supposedly 'negotiations are underway', but a bankrupcy filing may interfere.

I'll bet those people are not included either.

No wonder the sticker on my large Coke for "JacksBigRipoff" game didn't win anything this morning.

[fingpilot]

I think Corporate stepped in and guaranteed the payments. Jack In The Box stores of this franchise are open again.

[idontknow]

So really, 12.3% of the people in Cali are on unemployment benefits?

[CurtEgerer]

12.3% is child's play. Detroit is at 28.9%, Highland Park is 38%, Pontiac is 35%, and Flint is 28%. There's not even the flicker of a candle at the end of this tunnel. Well, I take that back. There was a huge announcement at a local GM plant 2 weeks ago. They won a 'Green' contract to produce parts for the Chevy Volt - the savior of the environment, General Motors and the economy all wrapped in one!! All the glitterati were there of course taking credit for this major coup. This is great, I'll bet it means 1000's of new local jobs. I had to do some digging but finally found the number: 35 new jobs, Green jobs just as promised .....

The next several months are going to be brutal around here as small businesses who have been operating on their reserve funds finally throw in the towel. But let's not focus on trivial issues like this - all our resources need to be directed to implementing national healthcare as quickly as possible.

[jyl]

Why do you think that a person is not included in the "unemployment rate" if his state unemployment benefits have run out? To my knowledge, that is not how the statistic is determined. Similarly, where did you read that resident aliens are not included in the statistic?

It is correct that persons who have given up looking for work, or who are working part time because they cannot find full time work, are not included in the conventional "unemployment rate" statistic. There is an alternative statistic that measures this.

[Tobra]

For most of Fresno Co, California the unemployment rate is 40% and they are cutting down fruit and nut trees because the water they might be getting is going to save snail darters, or some such thing.