海角大神

贬尘尘鈥�.

It seems that the Obama Administration will start to measure the 鈥渟uccess鈥� of the stimulus (the 鈥渞ecovery and reinvestment act鈥�) the same way the Bush Administration used to brag about the 鈥渟uccess鈥� of their tax cuts. As AP鈥檚 last night (emphasis added):

WASHINGTON 鈥� The White House has abandoned its controversial method of counting jobs under President Barack Obama鈥檚 economic stimulus, making it impossible to track the number of jobs saved or created with the $787 billion in recovery money.

Despite mounting a vigorous defense of its earlier count of more than 640,000 jobs credited to the stimulus, even after numerous errors were identified, the Obama administration now is making it easier to give the stimulus credit for hiring. It鈥檚 no longer about counting a job as saved or created; now it鈥檚 a matter of counting jobs funded by the stimulus.

That means that any stimulus money used to cover payroll will be included in the jobs credited to the program, including pay raises for existing employees and pay for people who never were in jeopardy of losing their positions.

Yes, it鈥檚 a lot easier doing cost-benefit analysis when you don鈥檛 have to worry about measuring the benefits. Have I told you recently about how much money I鈥檝e spent on my kids鈥搕heir college applications and visits, their ballet lessons, their sports programs, and why, even their stylish wardrobes?鈥� I must be a really successful parent!

And on my dogs? I don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e yet told you about my newest dog (adopted him 3 1/2 months ago), but let me give you a hint about how great he is鈥�

And if you want a successful marriage, start with an engagement ring like . Hey, it鈥檚 from Costco even!

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