Hmmmmm? I've been maxed out and afraid to take vacation for three years.

[joblessgenevieve.blogspot.com]

It tricks you into thinking that things couldn't possibly get any worse. The color separation between 0% and 10% should really be the color separation of 0% and 100%. In that case, the map would be mostly shades of light yellow, which wouldnt have such a dire impact on the viewers.

That story was very disturbing and upsetting. Imagine if they had him writing for Lost.

if it looks done in the pan its going to be over done when you plate

Oregon? How come we never hear about the collapse of Oregon? Lots of news about how CA and MI are suffering, nothing about OR. How are they managing to limp along in a somewhat solvent manner?

While I'm saddened by their situation and am sure that the local electeds have some fault, I'm impressed at how they have managed to keep the problems from overshadowing them.

@rpm773: The problem with living here is that you sometimes forget how bad the rest of the country has it. It's a bit of "recession? What recession?"

What is "cirrhosis of the lung" ? Nobody has used this term since oh...say 1962.

Worker loses job due to company letting them go/lay off...worker collects unemployment at a reduced rate of what they were making. Said worker applies for jobs until they are blue in the mouse clicker (95% of job apps are now sent electronically). Worker tries and tries to get a job, but can't get any word from employer because they are not hiring or their scanning software to filter out the thousands of resume's rejects them. This goes on for a few months.

After a few months, worker's savings are now depleted to compensate for the difference in wage and actual unemployment. Worker now is forced to cut bills to prevent from falling into financial hole. Bills are cut which cause the cut companies to make less money, this in turn causes those companies to lay off/downsize (If enough cut services such as Cable, Cell phones etc). Also, mail carriers have less mail to carry because of less bills being paid and being sent. Postal centers start letting go extra staff in the processing end due to less mail.

Now, we have more workers unable to pay their bills as a result and this effect continues exponentially.

Big government steps in and creates some jobs, but not for everyone. More or less, temporary construction or road paving/construction jobs. People like myself who have never even operated a back ho, tractor, or lifted a steel beam with a crane are now out of luck. Sure, these new jobs help put more monies into the economy, but not enough as these too shall be short term jobs.

So what is is the solution? I really don't know except our employers really need to take a leap of faith and restore some of their original work force. Sure, it will be slow and not very productive for a while, but what they are doing is helping keep the economy going.

@rpm773: Amen to that!

I think I got the wrong graph linked. All I see is a graph showing probable infection rates of a zombie invasion...

Except for the DC area. Proof positive increased government spending can keep people working.

/s

I live in Michigan... Our state has been in serious trouble for almost 10 years now. I love how on that map Michigan goes from already sad to suicidally depressed...

Crap that was depressing. Like watching an infection spread.

But only slightly