2008 Redux Times 10 Is Brewing

Using the ‘jobless claims’ metric, the financial media and snake oil salesmen would have us believe that the Government-compiled jobs market metrics indicate ‘sustained strength in the labor market that should further dispel fears of a recession’ – Reuters’ Animal Farm.
A reader asks: ‘if the jobs market is so good why did my bilingual daughter, who graduated with a 3.8 GPA from Ga. Tech [Dr. Paul Craig Roberts’ undergrad school], not get a job offer for two months until someone I know hired her?’
A funny thing, those Government compiled, manipulated and propagated reports. I answered with: ‘She was fishing in the wrong fishing hole for jobs – she should have been sending her resume to Burger King and Starbucks. But it sounds like the service sector is starting to shed jobs as well. I honestly don’t know how they are coming up with their jobs reports. As for the jobless claims, it makes sense that the claims are dropping like this. As the labor force shrinks, especially the component that would qualify for jobless benefits, the number of people who file for jobless benefits shrinks, right?’
The first time I read ‘1984,’ I tried to imagine Orwell’s vision superimposed on the United States. Now I don’t have to imagine. Instead of Big Brother spying on us through our televisions (and they might through ‘smart’ tvs), the Government monitors us through our cell phones, emails and web-browsing. It’s truly frightening and it’s quite stunning how so few in this country understand – or are willing to accept – the degree to which it occurs on a daily basis.

This post was published at Investment Research Dynamics on March 10, 2016.