Get Ready to Laugh ... Government's "Feigned Precision" on the Unemployment Rate

A friend and I have been corresponding about the "feigned precision" and basic inaccuracies contained in the official unemployment numbers published by the government each month and still believed as accurate information by far too many of We the People. 

We'll go into more detail on all this government representation of "ballparking guesstimates as proven facts" stuff later, but for those of you who remember the Abbott and Costello "Who's on First?" baseball comedy routine, please read and enjoy the following:

"COSTELLO: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America.

ABBOTT: Good Subject. Terrible Times. It’s 9%. {NOTE: As reported for July -- 8.3%}

COSTELLO: That many people are out of work?

ABBOTT: No, that’s 16%. {NOTE: As Reported for July -- 15%}

COSTELLO: You just said 9%.

ABBOTT: 9% Unemployed.

COSTELLO: Right 9% out of work.

ABBOTT: No, that’s 16%.

COSTELLO: Okay, so it’s 16% unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, that’s 9%…

COSTELLO: WAIT A MINUTE. Is it 9% or 16%?

ABBOTT: 9% are unemployed. 16% are out of work.

COSTELLO: IF you are out of work you are unemployed.

ABBOTT: No, you can’t count the “Out of Work” as the unemployed. You have to look for work to be unemployed.

COSTELLO: BUT THEY ARE OUT OF WORK!!!

ABBOTT: No, you miss my point.

COSTELLO: What point?

ABBOTT: Someone who doesn’t look for work, can’t be counted with those who look for work. It wouldn’t be fair.

COSTELLO: To whom?

ABBOTT: The unemployed.

COSTELLO: But they are ALL out of work.

ABBOTT: No, the unemployed are actively looking for work. Those who are out of work stopped looking. They gave up. And, if you give up, you are no longer in the ranks of the unemployed.

COSTELLO: So if you’re off the unemployment rolls, that would count as less unemployment?

ABBOTT: Unemployment would go down. Absolutely!

COSTELLO: The unemployment just goes down because you don’t look for work?

ABBOTT: Absolutely it goes down. That’s how you get to 9%. Otherwise it would be 16%. You don’t want to read about 16% unemployment, do ya?

COSTELLO: That would be frightening..

ABBOTT: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: Wait, I got a question for you. That means there are two ways to bring down the unemployment number?

ABBOTT: Two ways is correct.

COSTELLO: Unemployment can go down if someone gets a job?

ABBOTT: Correct.

COSTELLO: And unemployment can also go down if you stop looking for a job?

ABBOTT: Bingo.

COSTELLO: So there are two ways to bring unemployment down, and the easier of the two is to just stop looking for work.

ABBOTT: Now you’re thinking like an economist.

COSTELLO: I don’t even know what the hell I just said!

ABBOTT: Now you’re thinking like a politician.

Summing Up

Politics sucks.

Nevertheless, what the politicians do and say is often amusing, even if the amusement factor is intended to be at the expense, or certainly not to the benefit of, We the People.

That said, it doesn't cost us anything to see the humor in these things.

At least laughter isn't being taxed --- not yet.

So when politicians unintentionally say or do funny, albeit perhaps nonsensical, things, our ability and willingness to laugh them off doesn't cost us one single penny.

Thus, something's still free that comes from Washington.

Thanks for the story, Don. Bob.