The Jobs Report is Awful, but a Default is Worse

The latest jobs report is truly dismal in that it shows a slight gain in jobs. However, it isn't the "death blow" or sure sign of a double-dip recession that might send President Obama packing even against a very weak Republican candidate. While two straight months of bad jobs reports creates a real opening for the GOP the problem is that with few exceptions neither the Republicans in Congress or the campaign trail have any novel medicine for what ails the nation or any plans to create jobs. (Some commercials coming out of Mitt Romeny's campaign at least acknowledge the unemployment problem.)

In fact, a growing faction (and I count a few people I consider friends as members of it) somehow seems to think that a default on the debt would get the nation's house into order on the basis that it would cut spending. It would cut spending, and cause a worldwide depression at the same time. Republicans need to do a lot more to convince voters that they can govern and a legitimate jobs plan would be a very good start.