may joblessness…

Posted on Friday 4 June 2010

May unemployment is 9.7%, down from 9.9% in April. While it’s disappointing that it hasn’t really fallen yet, the new jobs added continue to rise [431,000], the overall unemployment figure containing people re-entering the job market.

I think I’m finally getting far enough away from the  Bush years to not feel so reflexively defensive of the Democratic Administration [though I still wrankle when the progressive bloggers rant the Obama hasn’t done enough]. I still think he’s doing as well as possible. Passing the stimulus package, a health care bill, the financial reform bill, and continuing the de-escalation in Iraq while shepherding an economic reform that is continuing is about all one could ask in such a time. Add to that swimming upstream against a media storm, racism, and an obstructionist Republican Party and it becomes a Herculean performance. He’s doing his job.

But for political reasons, I would like to see unemployment falling faster. Where I live, things remain grim. There are marquees announcing Tea Party workshops. Their fliers are out in the meat and three diner where I eat lunch. While this part of Georgia was Republican even during the "Solid South" years, it still gives me an uneasy feeling. Unemployment is a real problem in the South: Mississippi 11.5%, Alabama 11.0%, Georgia 10.4%, South Carolina 11.6%. While there’s no likelihood of many Democratic votes from here, it would sure be nice to see these numbers coming up [and the number of Tea Party rallies going down]…

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