And to show the full impact, the broader measure - which throws people who are working part time but want to be full time or "discouraged workers who've looked at some point in the last year" back into the count - is at 17.5% according to this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/07/business/economy/07econ.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Having read Scarecrow's post, he has some good thoughts.  It's time for the Democrats to grow some spine as a group and figure out a way to pass some legislation that will actually DO something to fix the problems harming our nations and we the people rather than selling us out and passing feel-good but do-nothing (or worse) legislation (like the current health insurance access improvement act masquerading as health CARE reform) and trying to blame it on Blue Dogs, and/or that the Republicans aren't playing proper bipartisanship. We are past the point of NEEDING something.  We need health CARE reform, we need a bailout for the PEOPLE, we need aid that helps before it takes every ounce of strength in body and soul to avoid homelessness (and to properly fund the aid systems), we need JOBS not more unemployment and we need to find out (or is it admit?) why our jobs are leaving or our employers aren't hiring, etc.  But no, everyone would rather bicker and say it's someone else's fault nothing is getting done for the people.

Dang it, I was in GRADE SCHOOL when Reagan was elected and talk of "trickle down" economics started.  How much longer do we have to endure it and related theories and practices?  Stuff like bailing out the top and corporations and pretending that helps the working people and the poor would be a good example of a "trickle down" practice.  Besides, even a grade school (or younger) kid should be able to explain why "trickle down" economics won't work and in particular not on any grand scale like a national or international one.  Why do I say this?  Because at its heart, trickle down depends on those at the top being willing to part with their money and resources even if it's primarily through purchases and wages.  That's not normal human behavior.  Greed comes naturally to too many of us - look at fights over toys in preschool and kindergarten and on through the rest of school (or even as adults).  All that changes is how we fight and what we fight about.  If trickle down were going to work, it would have to be NATURAL for those at the top to WANT to do things like pay fair prices and livable wages (at least for covering the most basic of needs).

But I don't want to be leveraged for bailing out corporations any more.  I want to know my neighbors got to eat, to keep a roof over their heads, to hopefully keep employed if able to work, to access the medical care they need when they needed it. That our infrastructure was kept safe and functional.  That schools actually educate and have all supplies to do so (and to pay teachers fairly - I can still remember growing up and the school district making a point of paying something like $50/mo too much for free lunch eligibility).  Trickle UP works. Just look what's happened around markets with small increases in food stamps.