Newsflash, dear...the "actual" unemployment rate was nearly as high as that three years ago. When I first got laid off I had to go to an orientation (NJ at the time) for what were classified as older workers who would likely exhaust their benefits. In other words, not getting jobs for a while and at less pay. The instructor told us that unemployment figures never reflect the folks whose benefits have run out and are off the roles, or the part time workers who dont collect benefits at all. People were running out of benefits, could not find a job and ending up on welfare.
So, Senator Kennedy introduced a bill that would extend unemployment benefits. It landed on Bush's desk and he said no. Back to the drawing board, the bill was attached to the war spending bill. Bush said OK.
This is not new news.
