Post: #26

(02-01-2016 09:54 AM)mpr Wrote:  As a white male in the target demographic this piece is talking about I can't help but feel that the NYT article is hopelessly out of touch. Doctors around here are scared shitless by the DEA and are refusing to write prescriptions for medically necessary reasons. I have a friend with insomnia that has a hard time getting a prescription for ambian from her own doctor. I know other people who were legitimately in pain from an injury and where unable to get pain meds; because of the hospitals fear of drug seekers. The writers excuse that the economy is the reason more people are popping pills is bullshit. Anyone who has bothered to look will see that the national unemployment rate is only 5.5%. Economists generally agree that we're at full employment when the unemployment rate is at around 5%. So if we're not at full employment we'll be there shortly.

The fact of the matter is there is no solution to this problem. People know that if they use drugs they can become addicted, as well as od and die. But they do it anyway. So I say let the addicts do what they want. If they're going to use drugs anyway they're better off if the drugs they are using are made in sterile labs, with FDA approved substances, and known ingredients. Rather then being produced in some 3rd world basement, and made with a mystery blend of chemicals. When doctors become scared to prescribe medication with the potential for abuse everyone suffers. The addicts suffer because they turn to cheaper, more easily available, deadlier street drugs [krokidile for instance]. People with legitimate medical needs also suffer because they are unable to get necessary medical treatment.

Drug users know the risks they take. Give them what they want, and if they die then that's on them. They're adults capable of making their own choices, and if they want help with their addiction there are plenty of resources available. We need to stop making responsible people suffer because of the choices made by irresponsible drug addicts.

The "unemployment rate" is not in fact a measure of unemployment but a count of who is currently receiving unemployment benefits from the government. Once you are unemployed for more than the 6-12 months that you qualify for benefits, you magically fall off the radar, whether you managed to find a job or not.

In reality, we are facing the worst unemployment situation in decades. Just look at the Labor Participation rate, this tells you everything you need to know.

Post: #27

The last time I was in the US just about every college girl I hooked up with was dependent on Adderall for exam cramming.

If these kids can't get through a phoney environment like college without relying on drugs how are they supposed to handle real life?

Post: #28

(02-01-2016 10:27 AM)Fast Eddie Wrote:  [quote='mpr' pid='1207931' dateline='1454338440']
As a white male in the target demographic this piece is talking about I can't help but feel that the NYT article is hopelessly out of touch. Doctors around here are scared shitless by the DEA and are refusing to write prescriptions for medically necessary reasons. I have a friend with insomnia that has a hard time getting a prescription for ambian from her own doctor. I know other people who were legitimately in pain from an injury and where unable to get pain meds; because of the hospitals fear of drug seekers. The writers excuse that the economy is the reason more people are popping pills is bullshit. Anyone who has bothered to look will see that the national unemployment rate is only 5.5%. Economists generally agree that we're at full employment when the unemployment rate is at around 5%. So if we're not at full employment we'll be there shortly.

The fact of the matter is there is no solution to this problem. People know that if they use drugs they can become addicted, as well as od and die. But they do it anyway. So I say let the addicts do what they want. If they're going to use drugs anyway they're better off if the drugs they are using are made in sterile labs, with FDA approved substances, and known ingredients. Rather then being produced in some 3rd world basement, and made with a mystery blend of chemicals. When doctors become scared to prescribe medication with the potential for abuse everyone suffers. The addicts suffer because they turn to cheaper, more easily available, deadlier street drugs [krokidile for instance]. People with legitimate medical needs also suffer because they are unable to get necessary medical treatment.

Drug users know the risks they take. Give them what they want, and if they die then that's on them. They're adults capable of making their own choices, and if they want help with their addiction there are plenty of resources available. We need to stop making responsible people suffer because of the choices made by irresponsible drug addicts.

Quote:The "unemployment rate" is not in fact a measure of unemployment but a count of who is currently receiving unemployment benefits from the government. Once you are unemployed for more than the 6-12 months that you qualify for benefits, you magically fall off the radar, whether you managed to find a job or not.

That's incorrect. Unemployment data doesn't come from the number of people claiming unemployment benefits. It comes from a survey the BLS does. You can read more about the specifics here if you want. But the definition for unemployment they use is people who: "...do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior 4 weeks, and are currently available for work."

Quote:In reality, we are facing the worst unemployment situation in decades. Just look at the Labor Participation rate, this tells you everything you need to know.

Not exactly. Men's labor force participation rate is still higher then women's. Also we'd expect to see a lower labor force participation rate as the baby boomers 401k's regain their value and they start to retire. In any case if more young people want to drop out of the labor force and be losers all the better for me. A tighter labor market means higher salaries and more pussy for those who are willing and able to do skilled work. Who is a woman freshly out of college more likely to bang all other things being equal? Some unemployed drop out living in his moms basement? Or someone with a decent degree, professional accreditation's, who drives a nice car, and has a decent house with a hot tub? People who stand to lose [corporations and women] complain about the growing wave of losers. I'm loving it! lmao!

Post: #29

Quote:In any case if more young people want to drop out of the labor force and be losers all the better for me. A tighter labor market means higher salaries and more pussy for those who are willing and able to do skilled work. Who is a woman freshly out of college more likely to bang all other things being equal? Some unemployed drop out living in his moms basement? Or someone with a decent degree, professional accreditation's, who drives a nice car, and has a decent house with a hot tub? People who stand to lose [corporations and women] complain about the growing wave of losers. I'm loving it! lmao!

You're not getting it. They aren't dropping out because they want to, they drop out because there isn't enough jobs.

Women are getting jobs over men because of affirmative action as well, which is the only thing boosting their numbers.

Most advanced economies today have become bloated with bullshit and it's choking the life out of the economy. We are in a dangerous depression right now and if things get worse we can spiral into an extreme deflationary spiral that will freeze economic movement for a year or more.

Look at the M2 money velocity (look up these terms on investopedia if you don't know what they mean):

https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/M2V/

Since they've recorded this metric in 1959, it's never been lower. People aren't spending money because no one has any jobs. The rate at which money circulates through the economy is slowing down every week, and it has been in a freefall since 2008. We still haven't bottomed out in 8 years since Obama took office.

The money is flowing out of the USA thanks to our shit trade policies, the US economy is quite literally hemorrhaging cash at a breakneck speed right now.

Many of us on the board have good economic situations, but at the current rate it's just a matter of time before we're all fucked.

Post: #30

^^^

Samulus is right. The government is lying, lying, lying about the economy, and the reality is that people are desperate.