Jobs Data: Still the "Robert Half" Economy

Mark Perry breaks down the jobs report of last Friday that rocked markets and the Obama campaign.  I note the robustness of temporary hires.  You heard it here first folks when I dubbed this, over a year ago, the Robert Half Economy.

...going the full Galt may not be justified. But going the full Milton ain't justified either, after all we are still living with the spectre of the regulatory blobs of ObamaCare and Dodd-Frank, Obama's EPA is in overdrive trying to raise our energy costs, and the rule of law is still being flouted from on high. So how does one make a halting, tentative commitment to the prospect of better times? Hire temps. If Obamacare survives judicial muster (or if Kath Sebelius is ordered to just implement it anyway) or if the economy shows signs of weakness or if another regulatory push seems like it's making traction, as a business operator you'll want to have the flexibility to ratchet back your commitment in a hurry. With temp workers, you just say "bye-bye", no difficult firing procedures, no wrongful termination lawsuits, no pension obligations, no union goons protesting layoffs. Easy peasy Japanesey. Thus, we are now Going Robert Half.

UPDATE:  Also from Mark Perry, severe price differences for certain medical procedures based on method of payment.  What did I say about "cash-on-the-barrel healthcare"?

Docs Have Their Own "Doc Fix"

It's called "Cash, Visa, Mastercard or American Express." The warnings were there. It was basic logic and common sense. I was just one among many who said it would happen - and it is happening, doctors are bolting Medicare in massive numbers. Stay tuned because soon we'll be hearing the same thing about any insurance coverage that comes out of the exchanges tied to Obamacare. Doctors will not provide life saving care for plumbers' wages.