U.S. Unemployment Rate Falling, But Illinois Still Lagging Far Behind

anonymous March 8, 2013 at 07:10 pm

Does anyone believe the lies that spew forth from the govt's piehole any more-other than their mouthpiece the Lame Stream Media?don't bite the only hand that feeds guys. Also-these jobs usually pay alot less than people earned at their previous job or are part time so the employer avoids paying massive health insurance premiums. It's too bad these aren't high paying jobs like govt employees enjoy(on the backs of the taxpayers)

Olddeegee March 8, 2013 at 07:26 pm

It's better than it was a few years ago.But, that's not the point. Anybody who believes the housing boom jobs that were predicated on money that didn't exist are coming back is either delusional or a Republican hack seeking to blame everything on the President. There are major shifts happening in everything from energy (natural gas prices falling are limiting coal's viability) to internet shopping ( this last holiday season many retailers were nothing but a showroom for Amazon) and big box outlets affecting a once booming retail economy. No matter what you do, changes will happen. Looking back to a "good ol' days" that never existed, or has been bypassed by technology, is a Republican pastime that will cause them to quickly fade into the irrelevance that then seem to be racing towards. The GOP seems to be dragging the whole world through it's death throes.

NANA March 8, 2013 at 08:25 pm

It's down because some people arent getting the extension i only got 8 months .And so other people i know have been take off to that why its down

Nancy V March 8, 2013 at 08:42 pm

Unemployment rates jump because people run out of benfits u don't find job to refill your funds then u have no more cash ...... The GOVERMENT Never runs out they NEVER PAY THERE BILLS so they always have TAXPAYERS CASH and they will always have a good PAYCHECK!!!!!! Health,Pension and what ever else!!!! = {

David Schiro March 8, 2013 at 08:43 pm

As usual, it didn't take to long for the liberal finger pointing to start, right Olddeegee? I like how you took this article and went on the attack against the Republicans. I don't know why you don't like us, I mean if it weren't for all us hard working Republicans out there how would you be able to hand out our money for your redistrubtuion of wealth, right? You and your ilk love to tell people how to live their lives as you get them more dependant on the government and you impliment your evil plans by taking away from the very cictizens who are working and paying their taxes like good americans. You sir are scum, plain and simple. Our country is in such terrible shape and it's clearly because of this administrations spending. The President promised in 2007 when running for office that he would "Cut our national Debt in half!"! What did he do?? Huh?? I couldn't hear you, say again sir? sir? Oh no reply? That's what I thought. He doubled our National Debt!! And people like you let him do it!!!

john junas March 8, 2013 at 09:11 pm

brainwash !!

John March 8, 2013 at 09:15 pm

He has had 4 years and two of them the democrats were in charge. How long to you want to keep making excuses for him. He has no idea how to get this economy going. But I will say his golf game is getting better.

Olddeegee March 8, 2013 at 09:34 pm

I've told nobody how to live. You're confusing me with the delusional rants and characterizations that have been emanating from the corporate backed "conservative" radio. You know, the guys who ALL got their Electoral predictions wrong. As to a 2007 quote, once the recession kicked in during Bush's final months in office it became obvious to everybody that the debt would have to wait, you know so the entire economy could be saved by bipartisan stimulus plans.
Scum? For pointing out that our economic realities are tied to societal and technological shifts that were due to happen no matter who was in office? The economy is growing and with no help from the "job creators" that have their money tucked away safely overseas lest they unintentionally improve the economic situation and make the President look good. As a matter of fact, the GOP couldn't even follow through on their plan to make Obama a "one-term President" by limiting the functionality of our government, and causing damage to our credit rating and international reputation. They've failed at failing. The current Republican party ( there seems to be at least two of them at this point fighting each other) is as dysfunctional as any party the US has ever produced. True Republicans know that they need to change something or the party will splinter and die.

anne mcdonald March 8, 2013 at 09:58 pm

There was a time that people scorned public sector jobs because they didn't pay as well as the private sector. From the sound of your rant, you aren't old enough to remember that. Did you ever test for a state or federal job? Or make any attempt to find one? Don't blame government employees because they stayed with jobs that offered little pay raises or advancement. And don't lump lowly government employees wages and benefits in with legislators and administrators. Big difference.

anne mcdonald March 8, 2013 at 10:11 pm

Dave---Obama took office in 2008. He was faced with the worst depression since 1929. THAT depression ran for 12 years and was only relieved when we went to war. In fact, in 1940, 11 years after the depression started, the unemployment rate was still 18%. Yet, many have expected the President to have solved all the problems and the unemployment in 4 years. .Another reminder----during the Great Depression, Congress worked together to try to end it and it still took a lot of time. Today, some members of Congress care nothing about solving the economy---only about fighting each other for control. Your attack is a good example of the divisions in the country. People care nothing about solving things together--they only want to fight for their own opinions.

ScienceTeach March 9, 2013 at 12:05 am

The problem is that the 2 party system that should help find the middle ground with which the country can live is not working. Not because it is a poor system, but rather because the representatives are so busy trying to stop the other faction that they do nothing. As for those they represent, us, we(not all of us) are all so busy fact checking that we (not all of us) do not have a grasp on what the problems and solutions are either. All a distraction. Both parties have diversity among them. I consider myself more of a republican because of my conservative nature in terms of finance & energy dependance, but I lean dem in terms of my feelings regarding the environment and clean energy. I'm scientific so I get frustrated when people ignore data; I get frustrated when people assume data cannot be wrong. In fact, its very nature should be to assume that one day science fact will be science past. It is eventually going to evolve to prove that the original idea was a stepping stone. So, in terms of the data provided regarding the economy...skewed by both sides. Step back and look at the US as a whole and from the outside. Then break it down. I am quite tired of all of the name calling and generalizations. If Dems and GOP were races, this would not be allowed. Yes, I am embarrasses when the GOP and DEM idiots are the ones in the news. Yes, I feel free not to compromise when I hear you guys and you people...You will get more bees with honey...Not lies and bullying.

anonymous March 9, 2013 at 12:57 am

anne-that's a crappy argument to make-and yes i have been around long enough to remember those days. govt employees are still scorned but they are just well paid with their automatic 4% cost-of-living raises that they automatically get because there is no competition for their labor and their buddies that they got in as politicians give them raises w/ no questions asked. but-hey-the sucker taxpayers in private industry are going to pick up the tab anyway-right? and if you consider 100k pensions and benis and retiring at 50Y.O. by guys like state cops and firefighters as lowly then you must be pretty well-off yourself. so yeah-I was "dumb"-25 years ago I should have foreseen that the producers(private industry) would make way less than the non-producers(govt employees)

anne mcdonald March 9, 2013 at 01:57 am

Anonymous---Don't know who you talk to but I'm a retired state employee of many years. Neither I not any other state retiree I know get a pension anywhere near what you must think. State police and firefighters do get a higher pension because they worked jobs that were dangerous and were covered under different pension rules. And many government workers paid a larger amount into the pension system while working because they are not covered by Social Security. I paid into both and my monthly pension is about a thousand and Social Security about a thousand. I also pay into my medical premiums.
If you think all government employees are just leeches on you, try doing without teachers, firefighters, police and the many watchdog agencies that try to protect you from crooks. We didn't tank the economy and many government workers have been eliminated and wages lowered just as in the private sector. Next time you go into your local unemployment office and file for benefits, remember that you DIDN"T pay into that fund and yet it's there when you need it. .

Nancy M March 9, 2013 at 02:45 am

Hey David Schiro, "our country is in such terrible shape and it's clearly because of this Administrations spending?" Really? FYI, Congress (Republican-controlled) is the branch of the government that controls spending. Just saying....

oldschool March 9, 2013 at 03:02 am

David..lift your collar up and let the steam out because you just got burned...

Walt Hines March 9, 2013 at 04:14 am

The economy improving, not holding my breath. When I lost my job 8yrs ago I wasn't on un-employment for long. I have 1 full time and 2 part time jobs and making just half of what I use to. We never lived above our means, had the house almost paid for and 3 kids going to college student loan free. Lost my job, wife got cancer and died now up to my cheeks in medical debt, student loans for college and tired of the high and mighty whiners. There should be flat tax across the board,bring the jobs back home and if you support another countries economy by the money to store off-shore than you should have your US citizenship stripped away. Go support the country that you help support.
Because the children in Congress can't get their acts together we'll have less border patrol to keep out the illegals who add to our hardships. Think there's no jobs now, Just Wait Congress shouldn't get paid until they can figure this one out!

Walt Hines March 9, 2013 at 04:18 am

should read: you store off-shore and Go live in the country. Just plain tired!

MikeS March 9, 2013 at 01:06 pm

In times past we called them, Fortune tellers, Seers. Soothsayers.
Today we call them Analyst, Economist, Forecasters. In times past we called them, Story tellers, Tale bearers, Gossipers. Today we call them Anchor Man or Women, Reporter, Journalist.

Walt March 9, 2013 at 03:09 pm

The posts here on this thread show exactly why the Country is in such bad shape. Finger pointing back and forth between repubs and dems. When the truth is none of those politicans on either side are watching out for this Country. The fact that people blindly defend either is pathitic. Freddie and fannie were the cause of the meltdown. Who was in charge and said they were fine with no problems? Barney Frank. Did the repubs actually do anything to stop it? No. Does either side actually follow the rule of law and their oaths to uphold the Constitution and laws? Again no. Yet election after election those with the analytical thinking skills of an ant. Continually elect the same lame people back into office. They just follow the leader.

Rebecca Moberly March 9, 2013 at 09:29 pm

Wow! I wish I worked for the government so I could get that 100 K pension, get raises, and retire at 50. Oh wait, I do work for the government. I won't be retiring any time sooner than my 67th yr, if I'm lucky. I pay into my pension but every year our return is skimmed off. I won't get Social Security and will have to live off of that pension. As for the automatic raise? I would love to count on that but it never happens.

Magilla Gorilla March 10, 2013 at 01:59 pm

You hit the nail on the head,Walt... Neither PARTY cares. Follow the money. Both sides are already bought and paid for. Large corporate sponsorship and big interest groups. Dems and Repubs should be required to wear NASCAR type jackets in public displaying the Logos of their campaign contributors. Anyone who votes for either party member(s), is either politically ignorant or corrupted. The Two Headed Demon is alive and well. Nothing good will happen for the common man until these two parties are ALL voted out of office. Unfortunately, the average, hard working guy can't afford to run. I choose Silent Opposition and abstain. If No One votes, they'll get the message. And, yes, unemployment benefits do run out. THEIR NUMBERS LIE!!!

John G. Rossi March 11, 2013 at 03:45 pm

Money runs the country not the people. Both parties have failed us. www.unitedrepublic.org

Walt March 11, 2013 at 05:18 pm

John. If a politican lies to and steals from the people. Should they re-elect them > Absolutely not. However that is what is going on. There is an old saying: "if you do not stand for something you will fall for anything". Those are the kind of people we have in America. They can name the last 6 american idols. Yet they cannot name the vp or the secretary of state. The people are the ones that have failed in their duty to elect good men.

my opinion March 11, 2013 at 05:36 pm

Yeah, but by Law the Senate (D controlled for last 5 years) must pass a budget. Harry Reid won't take any kind of budget to vote. He knows that the only way to save the economy is cut entitlements, so he won't move anything forward. It has been over 4 years since the Senate passed a budget.
Let the congress submit a budget and let the senate give it an up or down vote. Then lets see who the real obstructionists are.

my opinion March 11, 2013 at 05:39 pm

Mike, nicely said.

my opinion March 11, 2013 at 05:41 pm

Now we are getting to the heart of the issue.