---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I mean, the reality is unemployment today…"
description: "\"I mean, the reality is unemployment today - over 14 million Americans are unemployed. That's exactly what it was a year ago. I mean, this - the America..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/mike-pence-577_american-people_i-mean-the-reality-is-unemployment-today_1068180.png"
---

#  I mean, the reality is unemployment today - over 14…

![“I mean, the reality is unemployment today - over 14 million Americans are unemployed. That's exactly what it was a year ago. I mean, this - the American people know we can't borrow and spend and bail our way back to a growing economy.” quote by Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/mike-pence-577_american-people_i-mean-the-reality-is-unemployment-today_1068180.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/mike-pence-577_american-people_i-mean-the-reality-is-unemployment-today_1068180.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/mike-pence-577_american-people_i-mean-the-reality-is-unemployment-today_1068180.png)

> “I mean, the reality is unemployment today - over 14 million Americans are unemployed. That's exactly what it was a year ago. I mean, this - the American people know we can't borrow and spend and bail our way back to a growing economy.”

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker highlights stagnant unemployment numbers and warns against relying on borrowing and bailouts to stimulate growth.

**In simple terms:** Unemployment is high and not improving; borrowing won’t fix the economy.

Key Takeaway

Avoid fiscal shortcuts; focus on sustainable growth.

Themes

economics politics employment fiscal policy

Mood

concerned serious

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- policy debates
- budget planning
- business strategy
- public discourse

Key Concepts

Keynesianism monetary policy structural unemployment

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we create jobs without expanding debt?
- What alternative policies could reduce unemployment?

A Different Perspective

Relying on debt can increase long‑term financial risk.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Unemployed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployed/) [Unemployment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployment/)

## Related quotes

> [But of course, now we're told we're in recovery but this sure doesn't feel like a recovery to more than 9 percent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/but-of-course-now-we-re-told-we-re-in-recovery-but-this-sure-doesn-t/)

[Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/)

> [I do the news on 'The Rickey Smiley Morning Show,' I talk about how many millions of Americans are unemployed. And so I thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-marcille/i-do-the-news-on-the-rickey-smiley-morning-show-i-talk-about-how-many/)

[Eva Marcille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-marcille/)

> [There are 3.5 million Americans in Puerto Rico. So, just like we're quick to go everywhere else and help, we expect that same of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fat-joe/there-are-3-5-million-americans-in-puerto-rico-so-just-like-we-re/)

[Fat Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fat-joe/)

> [Folks, don't lose perspective. Michelle Obama husband has been in office 7-1/2 years. This country is in the middle of a massive transformation. She's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/folks-don-t-lose-perspective-michelle-obama-husband-has-been-in/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [If we added up the killed and wounded from the Democrat wars in this country, it would be about 1.6 million Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/if-we-added-up-the-killed-and-wounded-from-the-democrat-wars-in-this/)

[Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/)

> [More than 10 million Americans are living with cancer, and they demonstrate the ever-increasing possibility of living beyond cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/more-than-10-million-americans-are-living-with-cancer-and-they/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [“I've got to think of a hundred and sixty million Americans, not of the three or four that happen to be the ones I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcpartland/i-ve-got-to-think-of-a-hundred-and-sixty-million-americans-not-of-the/)

John McPartland

> [Every month that we do not have an economic recovery package 500 million Americans lose their jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/every-month-that-we-do-not-have-an-economic-recovery-package-500/)

[Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/)

> [I believe it is wrong, in a country of such wealth and prosperity, to have 36 million Americans living in poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edward/i-believe-it-is-wrong-in-a-country-of-such-wealth-and-prosperity-to/)

[John Edward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edward/)

> [Nine million Americans a year, that we know of, struggle with infertility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-margolis/nine-million-americans-a-year-that-we-know-of-struggle-with/)

[Cindy Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-margolis/)

> [The COVID-19 pandemic has cut short the lives of over 67,000 Americans. It has sickened over 1 million Americans, and it has impacted every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratcliffe/the-covid-19-pandemic-has-cut-short-the-lives-of-over-67-000/)

[John Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratcliffe/)

> [Two hundred million Americans, and there ain't two good catchers among 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-stengel/two-hundred-million-americans-and-there-ain-t-two-good-catchers-among/)

[Casey Stengel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-stengel/)

> [Every year, Planned Parenthood serves three million Americans - men and women - and one in five women will receive care at a Planned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/every-year-planned-parenthood-serves-three-million-americans-men-and/)

[Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/)

> [Blunt force didn't knock out the drug epidemic. 21 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol. And half of all federal inmates are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-botticelli/blunt-force-didn-t-knock-out-the-drug-epidemic-21-million-americans/)

[Michael Botticelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-botticelli/)

> [You cannot have 300-some million Americans - and really, right, the global citizenry be at risk of having their phone conversations intercepted with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/you-cannot-have-300-some-million-americans-and-really-right-the/)

[Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/)

## More by Mike Pence

> [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [America is stronger than Russia. Our economy is 16 times larger than the Russian economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/america-is-stronger-than-russia-our-economy-is-16-times-larger-than/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [The government competes in the private sector the way an alligator competes with a duck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-government-competes-in-the-private-sector-the-way-an-alligator/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [The so-called 'Employee Free Choice Act' envisions a world where workers would be denied privacy and forced to vote in an atmosphere of intimidation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-so-called-employee-free-choice-act-envisions-a-world-where/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [People are tired of being told that this is as good as it gets. They hear in Donald Trump someone who says, 'We can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/people-are-tired-of-being-told-that-this-is-as-good-as-it-gets-they/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [ I think Donald Trump will articulate what we do with the people \[immigrants\] who are here. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/i-think-donald-trump-will-articulate-what-we-do-with-the-people/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [People in both parties are restless for change, ready to break free of old patterns in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/people-in-both-parties-are-restless-for-change-ready-to-break-free-of/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [I opposed the Medicare prescription drug entitlement. I opposed the Wall Street bailout. I opposed the stimulus bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/i-opposed-the-medicare-prescription-drug-entitlement-i-opposed-the/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [I joked at our National Convention that our party was nominating a candidate for president who was charismatic, larger than life, memorable, so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/i-joked-at-our-national-convention-that-our-party-was-nominating-a/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [I'm not sure that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama know that we're at war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/i-m-not-sure-that-hillary-clinton-and-barack-obama-know-that-we-re-at/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [The state of Indiana has also sought to make sure we expand alternatives in healthcare counseling for women, non-abortion alternatives, and I'm also very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-state-of-indiana-has-also-sought-to-make-sure-we-expand/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [If you want real change, if you want a stronger America at home and abroad and an America that cherishes our highest ideals, head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/if-you-want-real-change-if-you-want-a-stronger-america-at-home-and/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [You know, Hoosiers recognize pork when we see it. And they recognize what bailing out every failing business in America means - We're burying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/you-know-hoosiers-recognize-pork-when-we-see-it-and-they-recognize/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [The heroes of my childhood were Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy... but I was inspired by the ideals of our 40th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-heroes-of-my-childhood-were-martin-luther-king-jr-and-john-f/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

[Explore all 466 Mike Pence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

## More American people quotes

> [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/)

Victor Gold

> [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/)

[David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/)

> [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/)

[Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/)

> [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/)

[Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/)

> [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

> [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/)

[John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/)

> [If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-a-financial-institution-has-business-operations-in-the-united/)

[Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/)

> [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/)

[Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/)

> [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/)

[Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/)

> [The American people demand results, not rhetoric, especially when it comes to national security issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-hayworth/the-american-people-demand-results-not-rhetoric-especially-when-it/)

[J. D. Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/)

> [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/)

[Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/)

> [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/)

[Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/)

[Browse all 2,233 American people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I mean, the reality is unemployment today - over 14 million Americans are unemployed. That's exactly what it was a year ago. I mean, this - the American people know we can't borrow and spend and bail our way back to a growing economy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mike Pence"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/i-mean-the-reality-is-unemployment-today-over-14-million-americans/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "American people"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/i-mean-the-reality-is-unemployment-today-over-14-million-americans/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/mike-pence-577_american-people_i-mean-the-reality-is-unemployment-today_1068180.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/mike-pence-577_american-people_i-mean-the-reality-is-unemployment-today_1068180.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/mike-pence-577_american-people_i-mean-the-reality-is-unemployment-today_1068180.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I mean, the reality is unemployment today - over 14 million Americans are unemployed. That's exactly what it…” — Mike Pence",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mike Pence",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I mean, the reality is unemployment...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/i-mean-the-reality-is-unemployment-today-over-14-million-americans/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/i-mean-the-reality-is-unemployment-today-over-14-million-americans/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
