[research99]

BULLS--T.

The unemployment numbers are cooked, mashed, sauteed and broiled.

The only fair comparison, would be to calculate unemployment data by the same method as done in the 70's, which the fedgov hasn't had the integrity to do for many years.

[Steven W.]

you still make the point - even as the methods of calculation differ, there are only some number (x) of years when you're comparing apples to oranges (as you suggest). But at some point (you pick the date) you start comparing apples to apples, maybe they're green vs. red, but, ultimately, at some other point in time (again, you pick the date) you're comparing like apples to apples and, the point stands, sentiment & pessimism about the economy stand in stark contrast to many underlying factors, despite all the doom & gloomers. The Krugman flip-flop on productivity is absolutely lame and those successes mean that the economy actually has some momentum to start, unlike in 90/91 when Bush Sr. 41 totally stymied things by joining the DemoncRATs in their tax hike (though the economy was already starting to perform nicely by the time Clinton/Gore were campaiging on "the worst economy in 50 years".