COSTELLO: I want to talk to you about the unemployment rate in America ..
ABBOTT: Good Subject. Terrible Times. It's 7.8%.
COSTELLO: That many people are out of work?
ABBOTT: No, that's 14.7%
COSTELLO: You just said 7.8%.
ABBOTT: 7.8% Unemployed.
COSTELLO: Right 7.8% out of work.
ABBOTT: No, that's 14.7%.
COSTELLO: Okay, so it's 14.7% unemployed.
ABBOTT: No, that's 7.8%.
COSTELLO: WAIT A MINUTE! Is it 7.8% or 14.7%?
ABBOTT: 7.8% are unemployed. 14.7% are out of work.
COSTELLO: If you are out of work you are unemployed.
ABBOTT: No, Congress 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 ALL of them are 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 rolls 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 they get it to 7.8%. Otherwise it would be 14.7%. Our govt. doesn't want you to read about 14.7% unemployment.
COSTELLO: That would be tough on those running for 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 people stop looking for work.
ABBOTT: Now you're thinking like an ECONOMIST!
COSTELLO: I don't even know what the hell I just said!
ABBOTT: Now you're thinking like our CONGRESS!
Posted by gerardvanderleun at April 12, 2014 10:15 AMThis would be funny if it weren't so pathetically true.
Posted by: Tom Spence at April 12, 2014 11:35 AMVery good!
Posted by: Lorne at April 12, 2014 11:36 AMNailed it, you have. A most excellent retelling.
Posted by: Sam L. at April 12, 2014 1:28 PMIf I had heard and seen that when A&C were making movies, I would have thought they had gone over the edge. And they would have. It would have made no sense whatsoever, and thus would not have been funny. Times change.
Posted by: BillH at April 12, 2014 3:18 PMHere's some more Abbot and Costello math...I think Congress is using it too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnICFjDn97o
Posted by: Mumblix Grumph at April 12, 2014 5:11 PMI wonder if they had stand up comedians at The Coliseum, Theatre at Delphi, or Chichen Itza?
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