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New evidence of struggling US economy

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    Study: More people went on disability in 2nd quarter than found jobs

  • Duration 4:39
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It's a new information for you on the job market in this country and it's pretty dismal listen to this.

You US economy so bad over the last three months more Americans went on disability.

Then found jobs.

That's according to a new study released by Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee.

Let's talk about it with Charlie -- columnist for The Washington Times -- Charlie just over the last three months.

There have been more people going on disability then.

Actually finding jobs in this country.

The I don't think this is what American voters had in mind when they voted for change in 2008.

It's it's a very alarming statistic.

And one that I think we'll hear a whole lot more about.

In the coming election it feeds into this whole charge by Republicans and by Mitt Romney.

That that President Obama and Democrats in congress are are more likely to get you on the government role and get you into a good paying job.

And I think it's I think the strong statistic that.

That that Romney can use.

To argue that you know that that we're certainly not going in the right direction right now.

We've got a graphic that shows exactly what the numbers are 225000.

Jobs created.

In this country over the last three monthly reporting periods April through June.

That's actually not even enough to keep up with population growth in the meantime.

246000.

Americans have filed for disability benefits now those are paid.

Out of Social Security -- I understand it that can't be good for a program that's already insolvent senator Jeff Sessions.

Well it's it's heading toward insolvency I should say senator Jeff Sessions.

Says the SS DI the disability benefits arm of Social Security.

Is is gonna be dry by 26 -- We -- John I think that really is sort of.

The larger point here beyond the political aspect of it which is bad enough I think for this for for President Obama.

Is the fact that you know that it it's a it's a thumbnail of yet another large.

Entitlement program.

That has been run by both Democrats and Republicans over the past couple of decades and is being run into the ground.

And there are serious serious problems with it you know -- it's hard to imagine -- just suddenly in the last couple of months people are.

Getting hurt on the on the job more often -- or becoming disabled.

At an alarming rate.

That's kind of probably for it's pretty impossible to -- to imagine.

It's far more likely that people are figuring out ways of abusing the system because the economy is so bad and because it is so hard to find work.

That they're finding ways to sort of perhaps game the system or find loopholes -- through which they can get on to disability.

And and and and it's good it's balloon is that the cost of all of this them and that along with the other my entitlement programs and of courses ballooning at a rate as you.

Point out that -- within the next.

Five years we're gonna start seeing it absolutely I mean it we would it do those programs will be insolvent.

And our general fund.

You're the taxes that that we raise for general front of -- purposes we'll actually be diverted.

Two to not only pay the debts that that those of recruits but to actually pay out.

Actual benefit to in order to make that that the benefit payment.

Nobody -- grudges.

Disability payments through Social Security to people who are truly disabled but the historical average is that only 1%.

Of the people who start on disability ever return to work all of a sudden we've got a quarter million.

Of those folks going on disability in the last three months it does raise a lot of questions.

And if you go back to 20081.

Quick last look at this chart.

We have lost one point three million jobs net in this country since 2008.

And the number of people on disability has increased.

By three point six million it looks like an unsustainable.

Kind of chart.

Day exactly.

Johnny and if you look at the federal government's record as well as other you know government entities.

-- record.

For dealing with disability.

If we see hundreds of stories every year about people who were on disability firefighters were on disability workers who -- on disability.

Who you know move out of their their local you know wherever they're drawing disability from moved to Florida.

And wind up you know -- in a good paying job basically double dipping in and out of the system while collecting bad a disability benefits if the government the governments don't have a very good record.

Of enforcing this and making sure that that it's not abuse Charlie hurt from The Washington Times and -- opening statistic there Charlie thank you indeed.

Thanks John.

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