Can a 9.5% jobless rate be called "steady"?

Today, the Commonwealth of Kentucky issued a press release announcing last month's unemployment numbers with this headline:

"Kentucky's jobless rate steady at 9.5 percent in August 2011"

It's interesting that the Education and Workforce Cabinet chose to label the jobless rate "steady." To me, the word "steady" implies the sense that affairs are on solid footing and that the outlook is certain. While it is true that the jobless rate didn't move from July to August, a label of "steady" is a very misleading representation of the current situation.

Our jobless rate continues to remain above the national average (9.1 percent), and there is no euphemism that can paint the current economic outlook in a brighter light than reality: over 9 percent of Kentucky's workforce is out of work. I'd hardly call that steady.

Government spending doesn't create jobs

A laugh for the day

This is via Intellectual Takeout:

New Rule: When a politician says he's going to create jobs, he has to resign and actually start a business.

Ky. Chamber president reacts to Obama's speech on PBS News Hour

Dave Adkisson, president of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, appeared tonight on PBS News Hour to react to President Obama's speech to the U.S. Chamber.

Obama acknowledged his administration's "rocky start" with the business community but laid out plans for collaboration.

Adkisson responded by stating that the President's speech was an important gesture and toward the business community. He also emphasized that trade would be a pivotal party of the economic recovery.

Adkisson referenced areas where there has been the most tension in the business community but seemed optimistic about the President's plans for investment in infrastructure, citing examples in Kentucky.

Ultimately, Adkisson said that the business community shared the same goal as the President: "for this recovery to be a jobs recovery."

But will Obama's policies match his rhetoric? Stay tuned.

Mercatus employment changes graph, very telling

The Mercatus Center at George Mason University has released a some very telling data - take a look..

 

Imagine that, total employment and private employment seem to be closely tied.  More proof that bigger government is not the answer to creating jobs.

UK economist John Garen on the myth of creating jobs by creating deficits

Recently University of Kentucky economist John Garen, Ph.D., took the time to discuss the currently very popular idea of creating jobs by mindless, irresponsible spending.

Dr. John Garen on Creating Jobs by Creating Deficits from freedomky on Vimeo.