Fudging the unemployment numbers

When the news media reports a drop in the unemployment rate, it doesn't always mean the unemployed found work.

First, those who collect the unemployment statistics must know exactly who the unemployed are so they can be counted. The laziest way to figure that out is to look at everyone who is registered for unemployment benefits, and are actively calling in to collect their bi-weekly unemployment benefits.

Unemployment benefits run out. So the unemployed who still can't find work, can't collect anymore benefits, so they disappear from the database and are no longer counted.

If an effort is made to keep an account of the unemployed who no longer collect benefits, sooner or later their numbers must drop as they must leave the community to find work elsewhere.

When this occurs, the employed, which is a fixed number of workers can remain the same, and the statistics will still show that unemployment dropped.

So, if you're planning on starting a business in a community that shows a rapid improvement in the unemployment rate, watch your wallets, your likely moving into a trap.

Stumbling Social Security shows potential for Health Care Reform

The Associated Press reported that Early retirement and job losses is causing the tide to go out on Social Security over the next two years. More benefits will be paid out than revenues will be collected for the fund.

This raises the spectre of free-market manipulation of public programs such as social security, medicare, and a health care public option.

Public programs are supported by taxes paid by people who are incapable or are not knowledgeable enough to hide their wealth off-shore.

Employers on the other hand, specifically those savvy enough to hide their money off-shore are typically corporations with the largest number of employees.

Theoretically, corporations such as these could lay-off just enough employees to bankrupt Social Security and other government social programs within a few years.

Ironically, laying off more employees makes the corporation's bottom line look better, and consequently creates the false impression that the economy is recovering, drawing investors, employees looking for 401(K) opportunities and first-time home owners into a deadly trap.

Since the larger multinational corporations have their risk spread around the world, they can go country by country, systematically manipulating governments that rely on income tax.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h6BfoloJOnV0TeI7eIHC1ZWuBxygD9AVS0202