Candidate Series

Newt Gingrich: His anti-media plan

Using debate moments to propel his presidential election campaign.

Unemployment

During the economic collapse that began in 2007 and now often referred to as the Great Recession, the United States shed an astonishing 8.4 million jobs, according to federal statistics.  The official unemployment rate stood at 9.5 percent in July 2010 although economists say the true rate is higher when discouraged workers who have given up looking for work are taken into account.  Despite signs the economy is slowly recovering, job growth remains spotty creating problems not only for unemployed workers and their families but for politicians as well.  The administrations of President George W. Bush and his successor, Barack Obama, both poured hundreds of billions of dollars into stopping the financial collapse and attempting to stimulate the economy.  From various directions critics said it was too much or too little or a sop to the banks and financiers at the heart of the troubles.  Meanwhile Congress in July 2010 approved the fourth extension of benefits to unemployed workers after a partisan fight and Republican filibuster over whether the funding should be added to the national debt or funded with spending cuts.  The extension runs through November.