I hope this is not considered to be political. I was reading this Bud Abbot and Lou Costello exchange from the 1930's. It reminds me of the mindset of a well known organization when reporting their membership numbers

Abbott & Costello discuss current events.
COSTELLO: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America.
ABBOTT: Good Subject. Terrible Times. It’s 8.3%.
COSTELLO: That many people are out of work?
ABBOTT: No, that’s 16%.
COSTELLO: You just said 8.3%.
ABBOTT: 8.3% Unemployed.
COSTELLO: Right 8.3% out of work....
ABBOTT: No, that’s 16%.
COSTELLO: Okay, so it’s 16% unemployed.
ABBOTT: No, that’s 8.3%…
COSTELLO: WAIT A MINUTE. Is it 8.3% or 16%?
ABBOTT: 8.3% are unemployed. 16% are out of work.
COSTELLO: IF you are out of work you are unemployed.
ABBOTT: No, 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 my 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 who?
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 stopped looking. They gave up 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 you get to 8.3%. Otherwise it would be 16%. You don’t want to read about 16% unemployment do ya?
COSTELLO: That would be frightening.
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 just stop looking for work.
ABBOTT: Now you’re thinking like an economist.
COSTELLO: I don’t even know what I just said!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/14/2016 08:57PM by desertman.

desertman, it's funny...but it's not Abbot & Costello.

It's from a piece by Barry Levinson, writing for US News & World Report, where he says, talking about how the government calculates unemployment numbers...

"...worthy of an Abbott and Costello routine. If that great comedy team were still alive, the routine on our unemployment woes might go something like this:"

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2012/03/08/abbott--costello-take-on-the-real-unemployment-rate

It does seem to have quickly spread around the 'net, though, as an actual Abbot & Costello routine from the 30's. That part got copied, Levinson's text above didn't make it with it. :)

Thanks for the rectification! This kind of thing happens so often.

IN ~

on ~

"Abbot and Costello" thred















< this spot sold to "who's on first" >

Don't forget Bob & Ray

three stooges

three amigos



others?

Olsen and Johnson. They were big until A&C got even bigger.

But we can't laugh it off easily.

Let's not overlook the great Groucho. In this tumultuous election year, he provides a unique wisdom:

I'm Against It!

by Groucho Marx.

I don't know what they have to say
It makes no difference anyway
Whatever it is, I'm against it
No matter what it is
Or who commenced it
I'm against it

Your proposition may be good
But let's have one thing understood
Whatever it is, I'm against it
And even when you've changed it
Or condensed it
I'm against it

I'm opposed to it
On general principles
I'm opposed to it
(He's opposed to it)
(In fact, he says he's opposed to it)

For months before my son was born
I used to yell from night to morn
"Whatever it is, I'm against it"
And I've kept yelling
Since I first commenced it
"I'm against it!"

For a Utube performance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v3etuIw-aM

Joe Besser as Stinky on the Abbot and Costello TV show was the best.

The point at issue was the relationship between that mindset and that of a well known theological organization frequently mentioned on this site.

I never liked Abbot and Costello. I'm old school. I prefer Laurel and Hardy.

Hudson & Landry

Google 7 times 13 is 28. Or Abbot and Costello Math.