I'm not wrong
Econo
The unemployment rate, apples to apples has gone down, and the work force participation rate has gone UP....
And I agree the participation rate of our work force should be discussed and am grateful that it is separated, so that we can analyze it separately and not some inclusive number lost in U/E figures.
Some years ago, my job was downsized in a Chapter 11 restructuring, along with 600 people world wide in the corporation that I worked for....
I was given nearly a year in restitution with a paycheck and allowed to collect unemployment, and got my health care coverage paid by them during this period....and I did look for a job, but it was hard because part of my no compete and confidentiality contract, was that I could not work for one of their competitors for a year after I was downsized.... (I probably could have taken that to court...but they were paying me, and it was part of them paying me, so I let it go)
Anyway, most any job I wanted to apply for that I had expertise in the region, were competitors....but I still managed to get a few interviews with non competitors, but they didn't work out...
So, for the first time in 25 years of working, I was a house wife...a home maker... and I liked it...never thought I would, my career always came first...but so help me goodness, I liked not having to work for someone else, I loved cooking and keeping the house clean instead of paying someone to do it for me, and paying for take out because I was too tired to cook after work, or eating out in restaurants because I was on the road traveling for work....
My husband liked it too!

We were poorer, with only one income, but happier.
Anyway, I was one of those people that CHOSE not to participate in the workforce...it wasn't president Bush's fault...it was my choice.
And with some of these people dropping out of the work force, it is their choice as well.... yet I am sure with plenty of others, they felt like they had no choice and were forced to give up for their own sanity...