Is this another Great Depression? If so, How Does it End? (unemployment rate, Congress)

[clb10]

It is looking more and more like the answer is "yes".

macroblog: Two more job market charts

So we do eventually get there in terms of recovering the jobs lost during the course of the past four years. The same, unfortunately, cannot be said of the unemployment rate. Because the unemployment rate has more moving pieces—like assumptions about labor force participation rates (or how many people jump in and out of looking for jobs)—back-of-the-envelope calculations are a bit more speculative than the simple employment paths in the previous chart.

[shorebaby]

With a world war, of course.

[florida.bob]

Originally Posted by clb10

It is looking more and more like the answer is "yes".

macroblog: Two more job market charts

We have the tools to prevent a long term Depression, unfortunately we have too many "tools" in Congress that refuses to use them.

[dobguy1]

I honestly believe that the so called depression stems from a number of factors, the number one being the strain on ssa to solve the problems for an aging baby boom generation who feel they have paid their dues. This generation was founded on hard work ethics, before computers, iphones and ipads. These people were brought up to believe if you work hard you will be rewarded, in the last couple of decades a new alternative thinking has taken place by generations born from the baby boomers. The thinking is think smarter not harder. This in itself has lead to skyrocketing obesity and medical costs. Exercise is something we do in living rooms and we are inundated with new forms of medications, commercials targeting depressed people etc. The days of working hard for most Americans means sitting at a keyboard clacking and crunching numbers....When I was in the Marines we would work 14 hours at times unloading mail from sealand trucks, as an electrician I would be in trenches installing conduit all day. Now that these jobs are less than desireable for your average American illegals have jumped in to perform them. They do it with pride and determination. I can remember seeig them watch me as I wired up a panel and they were learning, absorbing the information. Now that the babyboom generation has slowed the generation x's ask why are we in a recession, its because they werent taught how to work hard and keep this country in the hands of Americans. So yes the depression was caused by the inability or know how to get off the a%% and perform real work.

[florida.bob]

Originally Posted by dobguy1

I honestly believe that the so called depression stems from a number of factors, the number one being the strain on ssa to solve the problems for an aging baby boom generation who feel they have paid their dues. This generation was founded on hard work ethics, before computers, iphones and ipads. These people were brought up to believe if you work hard you will be rewarded, in the last couple of decades a new alternative thinking has taken place by generations born from the baby boomers. The thinking is think smarter not harder. This in itself has lead to skyrocketing obesity and medical costs. Exercise is something we do in living rooms and we are inundated with new forms of medications, commercials targeting depressed people etc. The days of working hard for most Americans means sitting at a keyboard clacking and crunching numbers....When I was in the Marines we would work 14 hours at times unloading mail from sealand trucks, as an electrician I would be in trenches installing conduit all day. Now that these jobs are less than desireable for your average American illegals have jumped in to perform them. They do it with pride and determination. I can remember seeig them watch me as I wired up a panel and they were learning, absorbing the information. Now that the babyboom generation has slowed the generation x's ask why are we in a recession, its because they werent taught how to work hard and keep this country in the hands of Americans. So yes the depression was caused by the inability or know how to get off the a%% and perform real work.

Read some History of Depressions.

[pvande55]

Yes we are in, or trying to recover from, a depression. Not as deep as the great one. Perhaps when the boomers are fully retired jobs will open up and we will be out of it. Also when developing countries like china get up to speed and lose their unfair advantage.

[florida.bob]

Originally Posted by pvande55

Yes we are in, or trying to recover from, a depression. Not as deep as the great one. Perhaps when the boomers are fully retired jobs will open up and we will be out of it. Also when developing countries like china get up to speed and lose their unfair advantage.

Jobs will open up when people have confidence in the future and the ability to spend. Confidence must come from Congress working to resolve Jobs problem, short and long term. The increase in confident spending will help create Jobs. The ability to spend, comes from more Jobs. More Jobs, more spending, etc, etc ..

[Boss]

Originally Posted by pvande55

Yes we are in, or trying to recover from, a depression. Not as deep as the great one. Perhaps when the boomers are fully retired jobs will open up and we will be out of it. Also when developing countries like china get up to speed and lose their unfair advantage.

Demographics are a big issue. We boomers need to move on and get out of the way. there was an article in AArp Mag. About retireing on $46,000 per year. I found it to be right on showing that people(couples) can retire and still be well off spending less. The idea of the trade agreements was to get the rest of the world up to our level. This is happening in china as their middleclass developes. My only fear is that their gov't will not be able to avoid a russian style colapse. Hopefully the chinese will be able to democrtize without war.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by florida.bob

Jobs will open up when people have confidence in the future and the ability to spend. Confidence must come from Congress working to resolve Jobs problem, short and long term. The increase in confident spending will help create Jobs. The ability to spend, comes from more Jobs. More Jobs, more spending, etc, etc ..

It's corporations, not Congress that create jobs.
And most jobs in the US are with small business.
But they are considered rich and have new mandates on them for healthcare so of course they are holding off because they don't want to go under.

[bluesjuke]

Originally Posted by florida.bob

We have the tools to prevent a long term Depression, unfortunately we have too many "tools" in Congress that refuses to use them.

The "Tool" in the White House is worthless.
Dull, without a usable edge.