The True State of the Union
President Obama delivered his fifth State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress. He says he will make this a year of action, alluding to his earlier remarks from January 14th, “I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions and administrative actions that move the ball forward . . . “
I did not watch the SOTU. I knew I could find the address online, and it would be less disconcerting for me to read it.
Here are some FACTS about the True State of the Union that President Obama failed to mention:
11 States have more Americans on welfare than are working
12,800,000 Americans who are on welfare
35 states pay more for welfare that work would pay
108,592,000 Americans were on some sort of means-tested government benefits
101,716,000 Americans were employed full-time for the entire year
47, 600,000 Americans are on The Food Stamp Program
19,400,000 Americans joined The Food Stamp Program since Obama took office
10, 400, 000 + Americans reported by the government to be unemployed. These figures represent only those who are actively filing a claim each week. Once the benefits are used, they are no longer considered unemployed even if they have not found employment.
There are experts who disagree with the above number.
Media business executive and former Obama for President finance committee member, Leo Hindery, publishes a detailed memo compiling unemployment data presenting what is real and what isn’t according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly release of jobs data. Hindery says the real unemployment rate is oscillating around 17.7%.
Another view by economist Paul Craig Roberts (former assistant to the US Treasury) says that the real statistics do not include elderly, children, and
students:
Reported unemployment rate 7.6%
Add short-term discouraged workers who have given up looking: 14.3%
Add long-term discouraged workers: 23.4%
Add part-time and underemployed who don’t make a living wage: 43.4%
So the grand total for unemployment is 43.4%
(Source: Trends Journal, Summer 2013, p.10 )
7,800,000 + Americans working part time who want full time employment
6,700,000 + Americans added to the poverty rolls since 2008
46,500,000 + Americans living in poverty, a record high
3,900,000 + Americans enduring long term unemployment over 27 weeks
1,200, 000 + increase of Americans enduring long term unemployment since Obama became president.
$2,923 decline in median income for Americans over 25 with a bachelors degree
5,000,000 + Americans who received health care cancellations notices
$3,671 increase in cost of family health care premiums
721,000 construction jobs lost since Obama became president
528,000 manufacturing jobs lost since Obama became president
$17.2 Trillion + in National Debt
1978 was the last time the Labor Force Participation rate was as low as it is today (62.8%)
79% increase per gallon of gas since Obama took office
The State of the Union is weak, not because of George W. Bush’s policies or because President Obama is black. It is because of President Obama’s policies.
(Helpful resource: http://www.gop.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/By-The-Numbers-01-26-14.pdf)