Copyrighted Image? DMCA | The reality of today's job numbers--only 96,000 net new jobs created and a work force participation rate of 63.5 percent, the lowest in 30 years--reaffirms what we already know: We are still in a serious crisis. All of which is what left me feeling a bit empty after the president's speech: What exactly is the agenda for the next four years? His priorities are surely better than those of the Republicans. And give him credit: He even spoke directly about global warming. But it is not clear to me that he is ready to push for the genuine control of health care costs that might ensure that the government can afford the investments in the areas that most need it: education, infrastructure, basic R&D, and protection of the safety net for the poor. |