>>Tom,
>>
>>>>...It is interesting to note that the returning strikers (who were out for about 5 months and received nothing for their efforts) comprise the largest single segment of “new jobs” created in March.
>>
>>Just curious... how many of the 300,000+ new jobs do you explain away as returning strikers? How many new jobs does that leave? Is that good or bad news? Seems to me like you're straining pretty hard to find something bad in the good news. :-)
>
>But, David, I do think just throwing out a number is working hard to make good news where none may exist too!
>How do we explain that there had been no on-going news items about the "improving" economy prior to the announcement? Do the people of Silicon Valley and Ohio agree that the job situation is getting good again? I would have thought that President Bush needn't have visited Ohio last week and focused on jobs if that had been the case.
>
>I also find it exceedingly odd that the stock market had a great day as a result of the "news" about 300,000+ jobs being created. Wouldn't they have known about it first??? Wouldn't the stock prices have ALREADY reflected increased production/sales??? Some smells around here, and it ain't the cheese.
>
>cheers

Jim;

I like to use some statistics from the Diocese of San Jose as a means of measuring how well off we are in Silicon Valley. For about the last 2 years the Church has collected about 30 % less in donations then in the preceding five years. That amount continues to decrease as we have noted during the last three months. Church budgets reflect this and yet there are serious issues that we attempt to address.

One problem is that the total number of families we assist has risen along with the decrease in collections. As an example 5 years ago few families were receiving assistance from Catholic Charities and in our parish alone we are now assisting over 2000 people - a record number.

Yes, everything is alright in Silicon Valley. :)

Tom