Unemployment and Politics Does the rate of unemployment coincide with a President's political party? In this article, it states the significant difference of the Presidencies among Truman, Johnson, Nixon, and Clinton than that of the Presidencies among Kennedy, Reagan and Obama. During the Presidencies of Truman, Nixon, and Clinton, the unemployment rate was falling. During the Presidencies of Kennedy, Reagan, and Obama, the unemployment rate was rising. Within these examples given, there were representatives of both political parties when unemployment was rising and went it was falling. This article goes more heavily into detail about the elections between George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton. While Bush was in office, America's economy was in a recession. Approaching election year, the recession ended and the economy was slowly growing but unemployment was still rising. Bush had promised a more steady-paced increase in economic stability, but economists felt it was, "too little, too late." Although the economy was growing at about 2 percent, during previous years the normal economic growth rate for the incumbent parties was about 4.6 percent. President Clinton was elected as President and America's economy began to grow drastically. In result, Clinton was re-elected for a second term, as President of the United States of America. In class, we have studied that the target rate for unemployment is about five percent at full employment, which is what was highlighted as previous data in this article. Given the fact that our three main goals are: full employment, price stability, and economic growth; these key factors are major bargaining tools in politics and campaigning. We studied that unemployment is either frictional, structural, or cyclical. Frictional and structural, however, are the only ones calculated in this target rate for unemployment. Cyclical unemployment deals solely with the business cycle and its effects on the economy. The business cycle has four phases that were discussed: the peak, the trough, expansion, and contraction. Six months of declining output in the business cycle results in a recession, like the one discussed earlier during the Bush administration. In TItus 3:14, it states, "Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive" (New Living Translation). In politics, it is often times that the people's needs are left unfulfilled. Many politicians are selfish and sweep real issues like unemployment under the rug. They base there focus on other issues that are directly beneficial to them and their families. This country's needs are often overlooked as a whole but then leaders expect to be selected to represent the country. It is not until election year approaches, that some candidates try to do what is best for the country. In my eyes, they are fake and they are not good-hearted individuals. "For He knows who are false, and He takes notes of all their sins." A President is one that has to be sworn in as the leader of the country before God and our nation. They are supposed to possess such characteristics, as nobility and honor. Good character, as I describe, is doing the right thing when no one is looking. When generally good people are in office, it is often displayed through our economic growth. On certain circumstances, a political leader has such an extreme deficit that it takes a while before a significant change can occur; but, it occurs. Good intentions is often used as a justification for an ungodly man with ulterior motives and false wishes. We should all be mindful about who we give that much authority (Job 11:11, New Living Translation). In conclusion, statistics show that the state of the economy often determines the outcome of a Presidential election. Everyone wants what is best for their country. If there is a surplus of economic growth during a certain President's term, then the chances of re-election is in that candidate's favor, as was Clinton. Even if there is a slow rate of economic growth but the unemployment rate is still rising; then, it is still detrimental to the economy. Not only those that are unemployed have concerns, but those that are employed take unemployment just as seriously. Unless under a contract, if the unemployment rate is rising, workers are more likely to experience cut-backs and lay-offs. This is a problem that affects the majority of people in this country and will forever be considered when choosing a leader. Although a contraction in the business cycle is inevitable, the goal is maintain it to a certain extent and develop a gateway to an expansion as quickly as possible.