O.K., Doug, you win, U.S. workers have never had it so good ;-) It's just us deluded, apocalytic ignoramuses who are imagining a fundamental and frightening change for the worse. But there it is, clear as day, in the selective statistics you present: everything is under control; nothing can go wrong... go wrong... go wrong... Doug Henwood wrote, >Well since the business cycle goes up about 3/4 of the time, and down about >1/4, what happens in the business cycle counts in the long run, no? Is this also a bureau of labour statistics fact or is it a basic law of nature? (...like sun spots ;-)?) Please explain because this strategic little piece of cracker barrel wisdom provides the _frame_ within which the bls statistics tell the story you want them to (speaking of social constructionism). Regards, Tom Walker ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ knoW Ware Communications | Vancouver, B.C., CANADA | "Only in mediocre art [EMAIL PROTECTED] | does life unfold as fate." (604) 669-3286 | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The TimeWork Web: http://mindlink.net/knowware/worksite.htm