How do either statistic handle people are are slightly employed or have given up...

dv_dt · on March 8, 2019

I find it odd that the article references the BLS, defines terms for discouraged worker and underemployment, but doesn't mention that the BLS also tracks that data and more, like labor force participation, omits the terms under which the BLS tracks the data (e.g. U-6 data), as well as omitting links to the data too. The last is maybe understandable, but the article leaves a general impression that the BLS misses that when the opposite is true.

deburo · on March 8, 2019

If all were forced to work or starve, I'd bet many would live in the same house and each work to pay their share of the rent, food, etc.

I know I'm stating the obvious, but it seems to me that this reality is not as abject as democrats make it seem to be.

zeroname · on March 8, 2019

> Does this bet mean anything if the only employment you can get is 10 hours a week at minimum wage?

Yes, because it's about relative rates. Unless you believe the EU is more "honest" about reporting unemployment numbers, the US numbers are just as meaningful.