April 27, 2003

Fuzzy Math on Iraq

"There has been a lot of talk in Washington about refashioning Iraq into a prosperous, tolerant democracy that can serve as a model for the Middle East. Unfortunately, there hasn't been much plain speaking about how much that is going to cost. That's because the honest answer isn't something American taxpayers want to hear. The hard numbers just don't support the White House's rosy claim that once this year's American aid package of $2.5 billion is paid out, Iraq's oil sales will pay all the bills." New York Times

Jobless and Hopeless, Many Quit the Labor Force

"PITTSBURGH, April 26 — Worn down by job searches that have stretched on for months, demoralized by disappointing offers or outright rejections, some unemployed people have simply stopped the search. As the nation enters a third year of difficult economic times, these unemployed — from factory workers to investment bankers — have dropped out of the labor force and entered the invisible ranks of people not counted in the unemployment rate." New York Times

[Cartoon courtesy of Bartcop]