Wow, this is just stunning. I knew things were going to be bad, Elkhart is the "RV Capital Of The World", so if gas prices are high and spare money for vacations etc is low, voila, 9.3% unemployment. Silver lining? They're going to vote and I'm guessing they're not going to want another 4 years of the same.
ELKHART — Tough times in Elkhart are getting national attention. The jump in unemployment now has the distinction of being the highest in the country.
This weekend the New York Times profiled Elkhart, calling it the "white-hot center of the meltdown of the American economy."
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The New York Times cited labor statistics that showed the jobless rate has increased more than any other metropolitan area in the country, rising 4.8 points from August 2007 through August 2008. Nearly 10,000 people are out of work. The rate is 9.3 percent.
“I don't know what to do but just keep beating the trail and trying to find a job,” said Williams.
While they look for work, many are intensely looking forward to Nov. 4 and an election some say could help turn things around.
"Honestly, I've never voted in my life, but I'm gonna vote this year," Miller said.
Elkhart County's voter registration officials say they're seeing record numbers of people this year looking forward to casting their ballot.
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