Jobs on the mind as U.S. approaches 2012 presidential election

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"We are not in desperate economic times. But we believe that we are, and that is as paralyzing today as it was when Franklin Roosevelt famously intoned on his inauguration that fear itself is the biggest obstacle. In 2012, the American economy will do better than muddle and less than soar. Let's hope for the new year that Americans can adjust to that reality without succumbing to despair." - Zachary Karabell, author and economist.

Source: The Daily Beast

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BY THE NUMBERS

20.1 percent - Average U.S. unemployment in 1935, the year prior to Franklin Delano Roosevelt seeking election to a second term.

16.1 percent - Average U.S. unemployment in 1936, the year FDR captured over 60 percent of the popular vote and 523 electoral votes in the general election.

8.6 percent - U.S. unemployment rate as Barack Obama approaches his 2012 bid for re-election.

Sources: Schmoop.com, U.S. Election Atlas, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

FINAL WORD

"...I think any Republican who assumes that because we have high unemployment they are going to win the election hands down is mistaken. It's true there has been a rule since 1936, no president has been re-elected with unemployment above I think it's 7.8 percent. I don't think that rule applies anymore. We sort of have gotten used to perhaps not nine percent, but it isn't as shocking as it would have been had we been at four percent last year. It's becoming a chronic condition." - Washington Post? columnist Charles Krauthammer

Source: The Weekly Standard

Source: http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/jobs-on-the-mind-as-u-s-approaches-presidential-election/article_7d5f2b42-3183-11e1-befb-0019bb30f31a.html

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