The Jobs Numbers, In Context

Context is one of the most important things a journalist can do.

There’s the old joke of a sportscaster giving out scores on the nightly news; 5 to 2, 7 to 0, 3 to 1. Without team names the numbers are useless, and the joke is funny when it comes to sports.

The Activist Old Media uses similar methods when it comes to the monthly unemployment numbers. They report the number of jobs that were “created” in a month, then fail to measure it against the number needed just to break even.

69,000 jobs created in May. In the graphic above CNN calls this the number of "jobs gained." What does that mean? Let’s add context. It takes at least 90,000 jobs created per month just for America to break even with job growth. That is the standard. As job growth is critical to this nations future, it’s important to know what the “break even” number is. Some have said the break even number is as high as 150,000 a month (New York Times number,) for the sake of argument, we'll take the lower number (don't say we don't give Obama a break.) Clearly 69,000 jobs were not "gained."

90,000 to break even with job growth is a number that every American should know when they are told employment figures, but few do. The media fails to provide that context.

Instead of saying 69,000 jobs were "gained" in May, it should be reported that, “overall the economy lost at least 21,000 jobs.” In every graphic produced by the media, and in every report by the media, that 90,000 number should be considered.

When you take the last three months into consideration the number overall is 40,000 jobs lost. 230,000 jobs “created” and 270,000 needed to break even. Even an old sports guy like me can do this math. This is a simple and easy way for people to understand this vital issue and it paints the pathetic picture that the Obama Administration and Activist Old Media apparently like to hide.

The Obama Administration often likes to tell how many jobs were “created” in a month and they will never, never subtract the 90,000 “break even” number. Okay, they are partisans, we can’t expect honesty from them. We should expect it from the media. Whenever Barack Obama touts his success at “creating” jobs, the math should be done, and don’t get me started on the “jobs saved” number, that is just a joke and anybody using it should be ridiculed. I believe Obama feels that as Dear Leader, he has “saved” all of our jobs. Without him…

The 8.2% unemployment figure is another issue, and there is more deception there. The Feds ignore people who have left the job market, and over the last three years they have reduced the number of jobs available, which makes the percentage lower than it actually is. Another column for another day.

I know the message consultants and management types would give us in newsrooms and it would be to keep the information simple and straight. So, there you have it, I have simplified the information for my friends in the media to help them better communicate with their viewers/readers/listeners. I charge you nothing for my consultation here, times are tough out there.

When Children Set The Agenda

Political opponents have often accused each other of acting like children when it comes to setting policy and agenda, but it appears with the Democrat party, we have literally gone there.

Children apparently are now making decisions for their elders on America's social agenda. 

Take Barack Obama and Harry Reid as they gave their reasons for "evolving" in their support of gay marriage. The President of the United States of America says he talked to his daughters, Sasha and Malia about the issue, and...well...you read what he said and see if you don't come to the conclusion that his girls convinced him. "It (opposition to gay marriage) doesn't make sense to them (Sasha and Malia) and frankly, that's the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective," said the Leader of the Free World. 

As for the Senate Majority Leader, Reid...well...you read what he said and see if you don't come to the conclusion that his kids convinced him. "In talking with my children and grandchildren, it has become clear to me that they take marriage equality as a given. I have no doubt that their view will carry the future," said the top Democrat in the Senate. So it's kids and grand kids making the call for Reid. 

Okay, you could argue something else is happening here and conclude that these men, two of the most powerful on the planet, are using their kids and grand kids as "cover" because they are afraid to "man-up" on this issue. Perhaps. What heartless Republican would argue with cute little kids? How would you argue with kids? Of course, since the kids of Democrats are off-limits for political criticism, no Republican would dare go after them (ask Sarah Palin if it's okay to go after Republican's kids.)

Somebody should call these brave men out for being gutless, at minimum, that's what we have here. "Here, let's put the kids out in front of us and we'll duck behind them." Gay Americans have to be proud of the principled way Obama and Reid are defending them. At least Joe Biden didn't hang this on his offspring. 

Another thing is happening here, and that's the coordination between Obama and Reid to both use their children as cover on the gay marriage issue, or, perhaps we're supposed to guess that was just coincidence. Quick, somebody find out what Nancy Pelosi's kids think!  

If children are advising the Commander in Chief and the Senate Majority Leader on issues like these, are they also advising on the economy and jobs? Actually, I'm guessing their kids could give them better advice. They couldn't do any worse. 

This could spark a surge of Kids in Charge. 

The kids should ask for ice cream and Ding Dongs and demand that government provide them to everybody for "free." That's what I would've done back in the day. If children can set the social agenda, why not the food agenda? Would Michelle overrule the kids? Who knows? Barack didn't.  

Remember, this is the same Democrat party that uses Hilary Rosen as one of its top advisers. Rosen criticized the Romney family recently because Mitt turned to his wife for advice on the economic concerns of women. Rosen said Ann Romney could not be qualified because she "never worked a day in her life." How dare a wife advise a husband on economic concerns. 

Maybe Mitt should've asked his grand kids.