More Americans are now unemployed than at any time since 1983.

The latest unemployment numbers from the Labor Department provide sobering numbers and continue to be a referendum on President Barack Obama’s economic policies. Yesterday it was announced 467,000 more Americans joined the ranks of the unemployed in June as the unemployment rate shot up to 9.5 percent – a rate not seen since 1983.

Adding to the stress is analysis that shows that unemployment will likely reach the 10 percent mark by the end of the year and likely exceed it in 2010 as it continues to grow. Already the nation has shed 6.5 million jobs since December 2007, the largest drop in any economic slump since World War II.

Perhaps even more telling is the nation’s actual unemployment rate which rose from 16.4 to 16.5 percent. That less cited number and one which many Americans are unfamiliar with reflects the true number of unemployed Americans. It includes those that are considered ‘marginally attached workers’ – workers who are working part time but want a full time job but cannot get one, those who have flat out given up looking for a job (not surprising considering the state of the economy) and other ‘discouraged workers.’ In other words, it is a more accurate reflection of the state of unemployment.  

• Click here for a good explanation of the difference between the more publicized unemployment rate and the actual unemployment rate.

Amid bailouts for failing businesses, punitive new taxes and policies and a ballooning national debt, the country continues to whither in the short five and a half months under Democratic leadership. The only payrolls in the nation that are growing are those drawing government paychecks and the president would be wise to wake up and see the writing on the wall.  His economic policies continue to plunge the nation deeper in the recession and are doing nothing to help Americans that are hurting.

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