Subj : Keeping Earl happy by giveing Krugman Credit.
To   : EARL CROASMUN
From : BOB KLAHN
Date : Mon Oct 14 2013 03:15 pm

EC> While on the subject of Paul Krugman, some interesting
EC> comments from John C. Goodman at the Health Policy Blog:

Notice, this is a blog, not an economist's report.

EC> "Since Barack Obama took office almost 10 million people
EC> have dropped out of the labor force. More than half a
EC> million dropped out in the last month alone. Today, a



I will assume that Krugman is talking about those listed in the
govt employment stats, not the total population. Since 90
million of the total population could be accounted for by
children alone, that seems likely.

...

EC> Mulligan estimates that roughly half of the excess
EC> unemployment we have been experiencing is due to the lure

EC> compensation, disability benefits, etc. In other words, we
EC> are paying people not to work. In a separate analysis,

That is easily disproved by the simple mentioning of the fact
that the unemployment rate, those looking for jobs, is still at
7%, and the real unemployment rate is more like 15%. When the
numbers who need a job now but are not looking are about 6
million, and the number unemployed or under-employed is
somewhere around 25 million, then you can't ascribe any
unemployment to govt benefits. Also, notice Krugman was talking
about those not in the labor force, not those unemployed.

Look back at the stats on working age in America not in the work
force. That 90 million record can be accounted for largely
because there is a record number of people in this country.

Then look at the numbers, which I found on the Dept of Labor
site. I downloaded my copy in 2010, so it's not quite up to
date, but it goes back to 1947. From 1947 the number not in the
workforce was about 42 million. In 2010 it hit 85 million. A
whole lot of that is just the increase in population.

Then you add in those who have retired, after all, when someone
is laid off at age 60, and can't find a job by age 62,
retirement may be the only option.

I have downloaded the CBO report he cited, but what he said and
what is supported by the material he provided is widely
seperate.

EC> Mulligan estimates that much of the remaining unemployment
EC> may be due to other Obama administration policies,
EC> especially the Affordable Care Act.

Mulligan can estimate until the cows come home, but it's all BS
until proven. Esp since most of the ACA, the part that might
affect employment that way, hasn't taken effect yet.




EC> conclusion by claiming that the fall in labor force
EC> participation




EC> unemployment benefits should be treated with the contempt
EC> they deserve.'

And he's right. Recently I got involved in researching some
programs for a young man who is clearly handicapped, and unable
to find work he is capable of doing. In doing the research I got
a good idea just how poor the benefits are.

When I was working I also learned about how poor unemployment
benefits are from some of my co-workers who were laid off at
varying periods.

So, I am not impressed with anyone claiming that people are
unemployed deliberately because of government benefits.

Hell, food stamps and medicaid should not even be mentioned when
right wing supporting Wallmart is the biggest corporate food
stamp and medicaid parasite in the country. Recently I learned
they hired consultants to help their employees sign up for food
stamps and medicaid. Seems a decent pay check is unreasonable to
expect.

The reason so many people are out of the workforce is the jobs
just aren't there.

EC> Hmmm. Last time I looked, economics is a science.

No, it isn't.



BOB KLAHN [email protected]   http://home.toltbbs.com/bobklahn

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