Some Quick Thoughts on Unemployment  No, I don’t think the
number was manipulated. Was it correct? I doubt it. When are
government statistics correct the first time they are released?
Crop reports are never right, and private estimates of crop size
are generally closer.  The rate went down from 8.1% to 7.8%.
That’s a big jump using our mental statistics when we have been
used to single or double digit moves. Plus, with the right
wing’s suspicion of how Obama uses the government, it plays into
conspiracy theorists hands. I do recall hearing murmurs of the
same thing back in 1996.  I always discount the headline number
anyway. U-6 didn’t budge. The headline number probably can be
explained by technicalities over counting part time workers. But
what worries me is the macro situation we have. 114K of non-farm
jobs is pitiful. America needs to create over 300k jobs per
month to really dent our employment problems. Additionally, GDP
is more pitiful than the employment statistics. America needs
3-3.5% growth to keep