Trump is right: waaaaayyyy higher 'unemployment' that official single-digit numbers.

Yes, MY definition is more: "not earning$, for whatever reason", than: "collecting Gov. $"

Think about 100 people 'around' you: from teens that 'could' work, to 'retired'. And more...
(may depend on where you 'are': probably closer to 100% in a 'homeless area'!)

...'just saying'... (NOT looking to debate 'work ethic' or any 'personal reasons' etc)

[RamblingWorse]
Now, IF 'Linux' would magically_PAY ME a penny a minute for 'playing' with it,
I'd consider myself 'employed' (vs. retired/unemployed/lazy_doing_'nothing')

I'll take that $0.60/hour, you 'minimum-wage'ers': *I*'d be *thrilled* to 'earn' that! I'd have a nice laptop in about a month! ($6per10HrDay*30days)

An old friend, frustrated by FakeMediaNews, created http://NotFakeNews.us
[/ramble]

But surely there's a difference between not working because you don't need to, and wanting to work but not being able to get a job.

An interesting take about censorship - alternative media:

Sargon of Akkad - The Skeptic Community

RT On Contact - The Power of Political Cartoons With Mr. Fish

http://www.clowncrack.com/

Sorry, posted in wrong thread :">

H.A. Goodman - WIKILEAKS EXPOSES NEW TPP TRADE DEAL - TISA Eliminates Net Neutrality
https://wikileaks.org/tisa/
https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/830462634935906304

Bernie Sanders Calls CNN “Fake News” - And His Feed Is Cut Off

-edit

My favorite is when Cuomo talks down to everyone, and how CNN can read stuff from wikileaks, and then interpret for you - because apparently we are just children and in need of CNN to guide us...

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20...is-wrong.shtml

Computing Forever - Twitter Censoring Trump Supporters - I do not use Twitter, but I do find this rather idiotic - particularly terrorist groups like ISIS are practically given free reign, but opposing views of the left and you're banned.

Terms such as "fake news" simply refer to poorly-crafted propaganda, and/or "creative statistics." But, as Mark Twain quipped, "there are lies, damned lies, and statistics."

But what I find most interesting about the White House's so-called "alternative data" is that, on multiple occasions, it has been more accurate, frank, and truthful than the "official" (media) versions. In other words, it literally is "alternative data." But the media typecasts it as lies.

As I continue to watch this "little contretemps," I continue to be amused by it. Trump is challenging both of the other two Branches of government, as well as a fossilized "fourth branch," as well as media. And, they absolutely can't stand it.

Nevertheless, I wonder if we are looking at a ... transformational ... President. Certainly, this country has never elected the likes of him before. Did this country "make the most ass-hat mistake it ever could have made?" Or, "something ... else?" Indeed, throughout the Western world, we're seeing a sudden renewal of interest in "governance."

What concerns me is the fossilized fourth branch and their tactics - the outright whining that nobody is listening to them anymore, and how Trump has practically spat in their faces - I find that amusing, but what is most concerning and disturbing is that the term 'fake news' can now be weaponised - and can have much more serious consequences. If you are on lets say Facebook (hypothetically speaking) - and all you receive is stories with a clear liberal bias and any opposing articles are either hidden or worse taken down - well then, what is the difference anymore between us and lets say the PRC?

It is no secret that my own 'sources' now include a few different youtubers - so what happens when they are outright censored by some elaborate legal gymnastics? It is already happening, either their videos are demonetized, but it can escalate from there. Which already has in a way - some videos are sometimes taken down due to 'copyright complaints.'

Then there is the issue of the internet and net neutrality itself, either the republicans or dems or both working together will try to pass measures to subtly stifle the internet here.

Going back to the fossil that is the legacy media - their outright contempt is not even hidden - any sources that challenge them, and not only they have a contemptuous attitude - but also a condescending one - as if speaking to a child. Again, this might work for much older generation who are likely less technologically savvy - but it does not work for say some gen. X, all of millennials, and Gen Z, and so spouting out 'fake news' in front of them will not work - and so I am sure some drastic and rather disturbing measures are going to be implemented to keep their stranglehold on information.

Whereas, I am not so sure. Once "the cat has been let out of the bag," it really can't be put back in. Media spews out dis-information, and Google both monitors and filters what it lets your searches see (if you use their service), but, still, I have great confidence that the situation really has changed.

The biggest change that I see happening ... really, across the world ... is: a willingness to challenge. It's as though people suddenly woke up for the first time in their lives, and started being willing to ask tough questions about what has been being spoon-fed to them for such a very long time. This both in terms of information, and in (inter-)national policy.

In other words – "yes, The Donald appears to be quite the buffoon" – but – "the American people decisively picked him." (And when Hillary whimpered to the Electoral College, she lost more votes there, and gained none at all.) Why? Also: people are seeking out and publishing this so-called "alternative data," even to the point of directly challenging "official US Government sources" of it. After decades of "contented stupor lethargy," they are suddenly ... very active.

That wasn't exactly the case for Trump's claim that his inauguration was the best attended ever! Not that it particularly matters. In fact, one of the things that worries me about Trump is that he was prepared to put so much effort into fighting such a trivial battle. I don't mind him being a bumptious loudmouth. I don't mind him being a lecher (he couldn't be a worse one than Jack Kennedy). The fact that he is completely ignorant about how things are done in government could even be an advantage. But, as a non-American, I don't like the idea of nuclear missile launch codes being in the hands of a man who is so ridiculously sensitive about his reputation.

Sure the cat is out, but that does not mean those who strive to disseminate false information and censor valid opposing points, and actual information will not try as you mentioned Google. What concerns me is that the US will begin to look at the Chinese and their model, and over time might try to implement their own Great Firewall of The US. It is possible.

I expect that "cable companies" – specifically Comcast, which has managed to alienate just about every customer they ever had, sending people in droves to the phone companies and so forth – would instead prefer to turn web-sites into the one thing that they know: "a television show."

For example, LQ would have to pay Comcast, say, $10,000 a month in order for its "programming" to be "aired" to any Comcast subscriber. Comcast would also be able to block "television content" from web sites unless its subscribers "paid for them."

And, so on.

But, I think, "it ain't never gonna happen."

The FCC's "net neutrality rules," which cast internet service as a public utility, were, I think, "a mere first step." There will, in time, be true American law which defines the role of the internet as a "common carrier," following precisely the rules that now govern telephone service.

I also know that the reality in China is not actually that there is "the great firewall." There are lots of ways to get through it. However, China is a vast country and Internet service is much less universal there – at this time. In general, there's a very big difference between "the official China" and what happens at various parts of the enormous region that is ostensibly under Government control. Change happens in a very different way, but change is inexorably occurring.

At least in the US the 1st amendment i.e freedom of speech does not include the internet. Whatever site you post your opinions on has the legal right to sensor and in the case of LQ Jeremy is king.

While few of the alternative facts are mostly true they are not more accurate IMHO. What concerns me is Trump's right hand men which seem to be making all the policies i.e. Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon.