Bush Blames Teenagers for Rising Unemployment

You know, as soon as I put this out I fully expect some dunder-headed neo-con to take up the same call, saying rising unemployment numbers last month were caused by teenagers seeking summer jobs. I know you are out there - so convinced that your man George can do no wrong that you will fall right in line with his idiotic logic that he wants to sell you.

It's important to remember that new job entrants go into the job market all the time. Without a level of growth not even the status quo will me maintained. If that level isn't met, you have job loss. If you stop your "logic" there, maybe you could, if you suspend reality enough, draw the same conclusion. Of course, there are too many problems with this line of reasoning to even consider it.

The unemployment numbers are already rigged to be lower than the actual levels. Unemployment figures are only reported for those listed with unemployment services and receiving benefits, or "jobless claims." Those whose claims have expired or who have suspended their job search aren't counted. Neither is anyone who has had to settle for less hours or lower pay. It's safe to assume the real rate to be substantially higher.

The real joke comes when Bush tries to blame teenagers entering the summer job market. If they are just entering, they can't be counted as unemployed. Even if they don't find a job all summer they won't be added to the number of unemployed as defined. The only way a teenager entering the summer job market could bring a rise to jobless calculations is if they forced another employee to get laid off so they could have that summer job. Nice try, Mr. Bush.

The Bush Administration continues to put out propaganda aimed at anyone dumb enough to buy it. The problem for them is that more people are waking up to just how badly they have been lied to and mislead. Stop listening, people. Deficit spending, bad fiscal policy, bad trade policy, bad energy policy - those are some of the real reasons for the bad job market. Of all the very bad qualities George Bush demonstrates on a regular basis, his absolute inability to recognize his mistakes is among the worst.