> WHO'S ON FIRST
> 2012 Version

> COSTELLO: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America.
>
> ABBOTT: Good Subject. Terrible Times. It's 9%.
>
> COSTELLO: That many people are out of work?
>
> ABBOTT: No, that's 16%.
>
> COSTELLO: You just said 9%.
>
> ABBOTT: 9% Unemployed.
>
> COSTELLO: Right 9% out of work.
>
> ABBOTT: No, that's 16%.
>
> COSTELLO: Okay, so it's 16% unemployed.
>
> ABBOTT: No, that's 9%.
>
> COSTELLO: WAIT A MINUTE. Is it 9% or16%?
>
> ABBOTT: 9% are unemployed. 16% are out of work.
>
> COSTELLO: IF you are out of work you are unemployed.
>
> ABBOTT: No, Obama said you can't count the "Out of Work" as the
unemployed.
> You have to look for work to be unemployed.
>
> COSTELLO: BUT THEY ARE OUT OF WORK!!!
>
> ABBOTT: No, you miss his point.
>
> COSTELLO: What point?
>
> ABBOTT: Someone who doesn't look for work can't be counted with
those who look for work.
> It wouldn't be fair.
>
> COSTELLO: To whom?
>
> ABBOTT: The unemployed.
>
> COSTELLO: But they are ALL out of work.
>
> ABBOTT: No, the unemployed are actively looking for work. Those
who are out of work gave
> up looking and if you give up, you are no
longer in the ranks of the unemployed.
>
> COSTELLO: So if you're off the unemployment roles that would count
as less unemployment?
>
> ABBOTT: Unemployment would go down. Absolutely!
>
> COSTELLO: The unemployment just goes down because you don't look for
work?
>
> ABBOTT: Absolutely it goes down. That's how Obama gets it to 9%.
Otherwise it would be 16%.
> He doesn't want you to read about 16%
unemployment.
>
> COSTELLO: That would be tough on his reelection.
>
> ABBOTT: Absolutely.
>
> COSTELLO: Wait, I got a question for you. That means there are two
ways to bring down the
> unemployment number?
>
> ABBOTT: Two ways is correct.
>
> COSTELLO: Unemployment can go down if someone gets a job?
>
> ABBOTT: Correct.
>
> COSTELLO: And unemployment can also go down if you stop looking for
a job?
>
> ABBOTT: Bingo.
>
> COSTELLO: So there are two ways to bring unemployment down, and the
easier of the two is to have
> Obama's supporters stop looking for work.
>
> ABBOTT: Now you're thinking like the Obama Economy Czar.
>
> COSTELLO: I don't even know what I just said!
>
> ABBOTT: Now you're sounding like Obama.