tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post2356436268702229876..comments2024-02-15T08:22:52.443-08:00Comments on The Back Forty: Employment Statistics InaccurateRobbynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860870861321231048noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-77102139834296361912012-07-05T14:05:14.331-07:002012-07-05T14:05:14.331-07:00southernruralroute, hi! It's nice to know thi...southernruralroute, hi! It's nice to know this post is being read even after three years~! And I so agree with your caveat that sometimes the way people treat us at some jobs they simply aren't worth the stress. I believe some jobs are not worth the physical and emotional price, and there literally are some jobs no one could pay me to work, or to return to working on. There is one thing I am still very convinced of and that is that we all need work, even if that work is what we choose to do that doesn't receive a paycheck per se. Raising a garden, making a home for a family, being vitally involved in the betterment of our own lives and possibly that of others...still a CAN DO attitude. We've found that to true as you have that living on less and staying home when possible is actually more what we can live with for the long run, as it relates to my husband's upcoming retirement. With what we pay in gasoline, clothing, etc etc, living on his small retirement may be the ONLY way we can make it when all is said and done. I respect those who do what it takes (legally) to keep afloat in times like these! My article was focusing on how the media likes to massage "data" for its own ends even though it is not always accurate. Thanks for your comment!Robbynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01860870861321231048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-17580085785264384122012-07-04T05:18:05.581-07:002012-07-04T05:18:05.581-07:00I don't agree that any job is better than no j...I don't agree that any job is better than no job but that's probably because of my age. Lost my job Aug. 2009, stayed on unemployment 20 months and dropped off because I decided I wasn't going back to work. Have just enough $$ to make it to 62 if I live at poverty and oddly, poverty is preferable to the way I was being treated. Have become more frugal and self-sufficient.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-85435834348359337122009-08-13T16:30:05.579-07:002009-08-13T16:30:05.579-07:00People who actually believe in the latest headline...People who actually believe in the latest headlines or the latest poll need to have their head examined. YOU have everything right in your post. People need a hand UP not a hand out. Common sense in Washington is unheard of. I wish our reps would live the life of the common man/woman to understand the lack of progress. AnneAnnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15860974404661565529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-86522404549905732872009-08-13T12:57:51.977-07:002009-08-13T12:57:51.977-07:00Excellent points. I can so relate to being under t...Excellent points. I can so relate to being under the statistics radar. DH was given a route in his non-traditional job, but the "route" was an on-call status during their slowest season. This basically meant an unpaid furlough and he was not eligible for unemployment because he basically still had a job. We did not have an income coming in.<br /><br />The numbers are skewed.<br /><br />Hope things eventually look up.Ginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788740577135090145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-39623605936379433422009-08-13T07:50:25.067-07:002009-08-13T07:50:25.067-07:00WOW.... I never thought about that!
I mean I kno...WOW.... I never thought about that!<br /><br />I mean I know you can NOT rely on published statistics from biased sources, which the government certainly is. But, I just never thought how out of balance it could get.<br /><br />Have a great day!Christinahttp://theoriginalcoffeecompanyonline.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-3011274926637975862009-08-13T05:23:35.109-07:002009-08-13T05:23:35.109-07:00Lindy, thanks for the encouragement :)
Wendy, it&...Lindy, thanks for the encouragement :)<br /><br />Wendy, it's sobering, isn't it? we're in a tourist area, too, in general and many of the things you mention apply to this location, too<br /><br />Annette, it's so great you were able to switch to a better heating system...can't wait till we're able to do the same for cooling/heating, too :)<br /><br />JackOAT, thanks for the encouragement!<br /><br />Ken, welcome and thanks for stopping by :)<br /><br />NotesFromFrugalTrenches, hey girl! Just peeked at your blog and you're certainly keeping busy and doing such a great job with your goals...an inspiration :) Can't wait to see what your upcoming project you mentioned is...Robbynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01860870861321231048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-72269645558710497612009-08-13T02:53:32.277-07:002009-08-13T02:53:32.277-07:00Very true about it not being a true accurate pictu...Very true about it not being a true accurate picture. Great post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-39757376812465361872009-08-12T16:29:17.865-07:002009-08-12T16:29:17.865-07:00Came via Self Sufficient Steward. Thanks for the ...Came via Self Sufficient Steward. Thanks for the stats :o)Ken Richeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425810816600512504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-50413954261671235132009-08-12T05:50:37.554-07:002009-08-12T05:50:37.554-07:00Robbyn,
You've written a much needed counterw...Robbyn,<br /><br />You've written a much needed counterweight to the statistics, which I'm passing along in my little circle.<br /><br />Thanks and best of luck.jack-of-all-thumbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02890408896745938386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-92208570843183227212009-08-11T05:39:48.550-07:002009-08-11T05:39:48.550-07:00Wendy, I too live in a resort community (The Homes...Wendy, I too live in a resort community (The Homestead, Hot Springs VA). Business has been so bad at the hotel that they close the main dinning room every Wednesday and then another dinning room on Monday's. These guests then need visit one of the few local eateries for dinner. The hotel is also offering some wicked cheap specials in an attempt to get people to come to the area. <br />We moved from oil heat to wood last year and saved a ton of money, even with my paying on the loan! I am apprehensive to see what happens this winter. We may be taking in family that cannot afford to heat their homes!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-24124796422405731212009-08-10T21:24:15.671-07:002009-08-10T21:24:15.671-07:00There are several blog sites online that predict t...There are several blog sites online that predict the actual unemployment numbers are closer to 20% rather than the sub-10% that the news is reporting. <br /><br />I loved your explanation of the job loss numbers though, and it's true. If we start with 1000 jobs, lose 500, and then another 250, the second quarter loss doesn't mean things are getting better. There are still 750 people without jobs, and a company that is now only employing one-quarter of its former number, which means if the company is showing profits, it's because it cut its labor force (the biggest cost, by far, for most companies) to the bone, but it doesn't mean that it's making any more money. It just makes me crazy that people buy into the talk of "recovery", when it's pretty clear that no such thing is happening.<br /><br />I live in a resort community in a state that relies heavily on the tourist industry. We've had a pretty busy summer, but with the bad weather, many of our tourist-centric businesses have not done well. But more than that, these places are only seasonal employers, and it will be interesting (but not in a cool way) to see the numbers in September when the seasonal businesses close and those people who worked there need to find new jobs. <br /><br />Couple that with the tomato blight that's killed off most of our local tomato crop and affected a large portion of the potato crop, and ... well, it's not looking pretty. I think we're in for a very tough winter - if the price of oil increases, a lot of people up my way will be pretty screwed.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04642417312794814066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-25329122268497026582009-08-10T20:09:53.873-07:002009-08-10T20:09:53.873-07:00Came here via Donna. Was very impressed with your ...Came here via Donna. Was very impressed with your clear thinking. Wish you would forward this to Fox news or O'Reilly and have him read it to his viewers!Lindienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-43313831924044504502009-08-10T11:53:10.843-07:002009-08-10T11:53:10.843-07:00Thanks, Amanda :) I wish I could have finished co...Thanks, Amanda :) I wish I could have finished college and taken a Stats course myself (someday!) But at least I can tell something is off based on our experience and those we see around us. I wish I knew the jargon to express it more accurately.<br /><br />Donna, thanks :) Isn't it hard sifting through the glut of numbers we get thrown at us? So hard to see beyond the bias...I guess that's our constant challenge, eh? :) Thank you for the linkRobbynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01860870861321231048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-36608854205075518952009-08-10T08:29:47.543-07:002009-08-10T08:29:47.543-07:00By the way, I linked to this entry from my blog.By the way, I linked to this entry from my blog.Donna. Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18393352099473686196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-62974655029177628222009-08-10T08:24:13.413-07:002009-08-10T08:24:13.413-07:00This is an excellent entry, filled with more commo...This is an excellent entry, filled with more common sense than six month's worth of television newscasts.Donna. Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18393352099473686196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6627749570719712047.post-40700871250376818102009-08-10T07:55:03.702-07:002009-08-10T07:55:03.702-07:00You make an excellent point on statistics. In my ...You make an excellent point on statistics. In my statistics class, they preached on how numbers can be manipulated to show whatever a person wants to show. Be wary of how data is collected and reported. I have taken the general stance of not listening to those stats and watch what is actually happening around me.<br />Great post, Robbyn!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com