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On 5 Mar 2005 08:12:15 -0800, wrote:

Why did I know you would focus on the negative?

******************
I have no idea.

Could it be because you posted a report that said that the creation of
a lot of low wage jobs where folks have no realistic chance to put
"pressure" on wages was "good news"?

The economy is not the DJIA. It's the pile of bills on the kitchen
table in every working home in the nation. We have traditionally been
judged as a nation not on how fabulously wealthy the Jay Goulds, John
Rockefellers, Andrew Carnegies, Howard Hughes and Bill Gates of society
can become, but rather on how well our common, ordinary, everyday
working men and women are able to live. Our wroking people have been
able to own houses, cars, annual vacations, many of them can even
afford boats..........ain't happening at $8 an hour. Especially when
"family values" applaud one parent staying home to raise the kids.

Not all the jobs were in the lettuce picking industry. According to the
Department of Labor:

Construction employment rose by 30,000 in February. This followed no
change in January, when unusually severe weather conditions in some areas of
the country limited construction activity. Since its most recent low point
in March 2003, the industry has added 458,000 jobs. Employment growth among
residential specialty trade contractors (16,000) and residential builders
(5,000) accounted for the bulk of February's gain.

In February, manufacturing added 20,000 jobs, with motor vehicles and parts
accounting for about half of the job gain. The increase in motor vehicles em-
ployment (11,000) reflected the return of auto workers from larger-than-usual
temporary layoffs in January. While total manufacturing employment edged up
over the year, it has shown little net change since mid-2004.

Employment in a number of service-providing industries grew over the month.
Professional and business services employment expanded by 81,000 in February.
Within this sector, sizable increases occurred in employment services (38,000),
services to buildings and dwellings (14,000), and architectural and engineering
services (7,000). Within employment services, temporary help services added
30,000 jobs in February and 207,000 jobs over the year.

Retail trade employment increased by 30,000 in February, with small gains
distributed throughout this industry. Over the year, retail trade has added
135,000 jobs. Wholesale trade employment was essentially flat in February;
employment in the industry has been trending upward, however, and has grown
by 94,000 since its most recent low in August 2003.

Within the financial activities sector, employment growth continued in
credit intermediation and related activities. The industry added 11,000
jobs in February, with commercial banks accounting for about 5,000 of the
gain.

Health care employment rose by 23,000 over the month. Since February 2004,
this industry has gained 262,000 jobs. Over the month, employment increased
in ambulatory health care services (12,000) and in hospitals (6,000).

In the leisure and hospitality sector, food services and drinking places
added 27,000 jobs in February. Over the year, leisure and hospitality employ-
ment increased by 268,000, with strong gains in both food services and accom-
modations.
**********************************************

So all of these jobs are $5.45/hour jobs? Give me a break, Chuck.

Apparently some of the less bright Wall Street folks thought the news wasn't too
bad. A gain of 107 points isn't bad. Do you reckon all these folks think the
news is as bad as you do?

Is there a new credo amongst liberals, "If it's bad it's good, but if it's good
it's bad!"

John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."