Some perspective on the unemployment rate re: the "Obama's not doing enough" meme

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

Average rate of unemployment
in 1929: 3.2%
in 1930: 8.9%
in 1931: 16.3%
in 1932: 24.1% <---- FDR elected
in 1933: 24.9% <---- FDR takes office in March
in 1934: 21.7%
in 1935: 20.1%
in 1936: 16.9%
in 1937: 14.3%
in 1938: 19.0%
in 1939: 17.2%

People seem to forget that it took FDR's programs a while to take hold as well. Unemployment hit its peak under his watch as President - sound familiar at all?

I realize that it's hard not to panic when you're the one that doesn't have a job, but don't be so eager to write the end of this chapter in his presidency - there's still a ways to go.

[FSogol]

1. Thanks for the post. I forgot that it took awhile because I was -33 at the time. n/t

[MNDemNY]

2. While I agree that Obama is NOT doing enough,...

I do not fault him on the economy. On that issue I give him very high marks, however his sticking with the Bush era wiretaps, the pushing of parts of the "Patriot act" , his refusal to actually advocate for GLBT rights (Human rights) , His failure to take a lead role in pushing for REAL health care reform,(it appears that the only thing to be "insured" are industry profits) make me wonder what his motives NOT spending his massive political capital, choosing instead, to allow it's value to crash with no return.

[FedUp_Queer]

8. Let's Not Forget He's Expanding Gitmo

Except he's doing it at Bagram in Afghanistan.

[Clio the Leo]

3. And FDR was blessed to not have a 24 hour news cycle. NT

[Iwillnevergiveup]

9. True, but yesterday

Thom Hartmann was saying a full 1/3 of the country at that time was listening to that crazy Father Coughlin who was spewing serious hate against FDR.

[unpossibles]

4. true. Although the Republicans don't give FDR any credit for ending the Depression

most of them will tell you it was the war which did that, although I think that is because they cannot give any liberal credit for anything positive or it hurts their message to be shitty and negative about everything we do.

[OHdem10]

5. Heck, there are DUers who do not seem to want to acknowledge

that stabilizing the Financial System worked.

I admit the Dems made a serious error by not demanding
conditions from the Banks when they gave the TARP money
and this was serious. Some conditions would have prevented
the headlines about Bonuses.

Had we not stabilized the Financial systems, we would be
in an unbelievable mess taking the world down with us.

The problem we face now: Appearances matter. Perceptions
matter. Our Party looks like the Wall Street Party and
the people be damned. There are no Democrats out there
explaining the Programs. To be honest I do not know the
Programs. The State Governments did get help which was
essential and a good thing.

The most important part Jobs. The Jobs are gone and not
coming back--Morgan Stanley CEO.
Who has explained to the American People that we are in
a Globalization crisis . This job loss is not the Financial
Crisis. Some jobs. Most job losses are due to equalization
of lifestyles around the world. The system would not tolerate
our workers making umpteen times what workers around the world
were making. Our products are too expensive for other
countries to afford. Thank our failed Trade Policies.
Instead of lifting other countries up, we are taking our
living standards down. Neither party has stepped up to
the plate on this one. I am anxiously waiting reports
on all the Jobs McDommell promised in Va. Jobs are being
cut daily and this will continue.

The GOP cry Tax cuts. Bush cut taxes and he had a Jobless
Recovery. This has been going on for some time. We gave
Businesses Tax Cuts after tax cut and they sent the jobs
out of the country. The Media is so responsible in reporting
(sarcasm).

It is past time to figure out what can be done. If programs
are required, get out and explain the how and why they will
work.

[Jennicut]

6. It went up under Reagan too and he got it back down but that had long term

consequences. I think it will peak at 10% and then come back down.

[Bitwit1234]

7. And what the MSM

does not post is the fact that owing to bush's administration all the good paying benefit jobs went overseas. With tax breaks and incentives to the companies that took them there. These jobs will never come back.

It is time WE PUT AMERICA FIRST. Foreign countries do not buy American. What we should do is make sure that each and every item made at a company that skipped out on America cost twice as much to be sold in this country as American made products.

AS I SAID FOREIGN COUNTRIES DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT BUY OUR PRODUCTS. WHY SHOULD BE BUY THEIRS.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

10. That's factually incorrect.

2008 U.S. exports amounted to $1.84 trillion, accounting for 13.1% of our GDP (up from 5.3% in 1968). It's true that we have a significant trade deficit, but that doesn't mean no one buys U.S. made goods - they do. We are the third largest exporter of goods in the world, behind Germany and China, respectively.