Latest State Unemployment Stats.

Hopefully, you all work in razor blade factories- but there's even grim news there. People who used to only use fresh blades to slit their wrists are now sharing blades.Please don't share blades, people need these jobs.

Nationwide Rate 9.4%

Michigan..................... 14.1%
Oregon.......................... 12.4%
Rhode Island................. 12.1%
South Carolina............... 12.1%
California....................... 11.5%
Nevada........................... 11.3%
North Carolina............... 11.1%
Ohio.............................. 10.8%
District Of Columbia........ 10.7%
Tennessee....................... 10.7%
Indiana......................... 10.6%
Kentucky........................ 10.6%
Florida......................... 10.2%
Alabama......................... 9.8%
Georgia......................... 9.7%
Washington.................... 9.4%
Missouri...................... 9.0%
New Jersey................... 8.8%
Alaska.......................... 8.4%
Maine........................... 8.3%
Arizona........................ 8.2%
Massachusetts................ 8.2%
New York...................... 8.2%
Pennsylvania................. 8.2%

The nationwide stats show broad pain but still a few states come out with low numbers mostly in the mountain west and farm belt.

Iowa......................... 5.8%
Utah......................... 5.4%
South Dakota................. 5.0%
Wyoming...................... 5.0%
Nebraska..................... 4.4%
North Dakota................. 4.4%

Texas, with a 7% rate looks relatively good.

Also, the trend I predicted of states close to the Washington, D.C. area benefiting from the bulging growth of government also holds true. In fact, at this point college towns, state capitals and other places with economies dependent on government spending seem the healthiest. Of course, anyone looking at the state of government finances has to wonder how much longer this can last.

Our nation has a new upper class-- People who work for the Government.

Virginia has a 7.1% rate (my guess is that it's lowest in Northern Virginia.)
Maryland has a 7.2% rate (probably lowest in Southern and Eastern Maryland)