STATISTICS: Truth and lies

Last week was a letter to the editor in which the writer claimed there are 94 million people out of work in the United States. This statement is true, however as truly representing the unemployed, it is a lie. With a little research I found the source of that statement, Breitbart news. According to Breitbart, 94 million Americans are out or work “due to discouragement, retirement or otherwise.” Included in this supposed 94 million is everyone from the age of 16 to a 99-year-old in a nursing home. But if one wants the number of individuals actually looking for work (the truly unemployed), the current number is 7,202,000. The current unemployment rate is 4.5 percent and has been continuously falling since early 2009.

I recently read that job cuts are very low and businesses are hungry for workers. Hiring is healthy. It is sad that the coal miners have lost their jobs, but so did the buggy-whip makers when Ford built the automobile.

JANET CALLEN

Coeur d’Alene