Comments:US unemployment rate reaches 8.5%

So the unemployment rate reaches 8.5%, in turn doesn't that mean that 91.5% of the country is gainfully employed in some form or fashion? When the national media puts out statement like this, the natural reaction of the reader is to fear the worst. If you drive by your local unemployment office on your way to work in the morning, you will see that only 8% of the individual in your town are there waiting in line to collect unemployment. How can we be in a recession when 91.5% of the country is still employed? You are being scared into thinking that the country is in despair, so you stop buying goods and products which in turn reduce the amount of demand. This creates unemployment; less workers are needed to produce less goods. Help the country you other 91.5% buy something. We are doing okay.