America, the unemployed

Unemployment in this country is a pretty large issue, it affects millions. The current unemployment rate is 9.5%. What this number does not represent is the total population not in the labor force and not receiving Unemployment Insurance. The numbers for this vary, as there is no statistical data available. Currently, if one were to add in the total of all unemployed, that percentage would be much closer to 16%.

Retail salespersons and cashiers were the two largest occupations in May 2009, representing nearly 1 out of every 17 jobs. Just 15 occupations accounted for over one-quarter of U.S. employment. In addition to retail salespersons and cashiers, these occupations included general office clerks, janitors, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, and elementary school teachers. Of the 15 largest occupations, only 3—general and operations managers, registered nurses, and elementary school teachers—had mean wages above the U.S. average of $20.90 per hour or $43,460 annually. (BL

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The public sector is growing, government is expanding and become THE employer. The private sector continues to hemorrhage jobs. Government gets larger, completely against the ideals of the Founding Fathers.

Currently there is debate about unemployment benefits, should we extend them or not? I truly feel for all those who might lose benefits or those who do not even receive them (I am one of them). As tragic as it might seem, continuing benefits leads to dependence upon the government. There is NO incentive whatsoever to seek employment.

Discussion of expanding the employment base must wait for a future time, an issue itself.

We are faced with a growing public sector (government at all levels) and a shrinking private sector. Through history, we have seen that the key to economic expansion lies not with the public sector, but the private sector. Once again lessons our current government has failed to learn from the past.

Smaller government to carry out its primary function of maintaining order and a private sector to grow GDP. Not too difficult of a concept. Now we need to take control and make this the reality our Founding Fathers envisioned.