US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February • Hacker News Board

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#701

Post by flerchin » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 1:30 AM UTC

cjrp wrote: post #143

flerchin wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I took a taxi ride from Niagara (ON) to Buffalo. The Canadian driver really was leery of Americans and I apologized for everything. It's a dang shame, and I don't blame you all for feeling this way.

Bit off-topic, but how easy was this to do? We need to do the same crossing to pick up a rental car from Buffalo.

I couldn't arrange it via app, so it seemed impossible at first. However, I asked the bellman at the hotel, and he called his taxi driver friend. I kinda overpaid from what I can tell, $100 american, but he just drove us across the bridge, passports were checked super quickly by the American side, and we continued on to Buffalo in about 40 minutes total.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#702

Post by spencerflem » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 1:30 AM UTC

kbelder wrote: post #682

seneca wrote: post #562

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You can be anti billionaire and still not be a fuckass racist Genuinely, if you can't handle discussing a basic political disagreement without becoming apoplectic, you should take a breath and wait to respond. This is the opposite of what HN is for.

You've been downvoted for being reasonable (I gave you an upvote). The histrionics in these threads are way over the top, and it's sad to see.

I apologize for not wording things as pleasantly as the guy who wants people thrown in camps.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#703

Post by dehrmann » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 1:32 AM UTC

zzleeper wrote: post #572

dehrmann wrote: post #443

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There was a strike. That particular number is probably worth ignoring.

Sad/funny that your comment is at the bottom. Workers on strike are classified as not employed, so yeah we should ignore that category

It's one of the challenges with data. It's technically accurate, and it's useful for trends like productivity and output, but only marginally useful as a gauge of the health of the economy. You also have to remember it for the next jobs report.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#704

Post by saalweachter » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 1:40 AM UTC

fakedang wrote: post #698

saalweachter wrote: post #609

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, yeah, but you say "Alberta Rockies" and I think "Ah, yes, because the US is notably lacking good scenic parks in the Rocky Mountains."

Banff is much better than Vail or Jackson Hole though. I would even say better than Tahoe, if not for the lake.

It's not so much what's better as whether it's different enough to attract a significant tourist group from areas with similar attractions nearby.

Like, if you want to see a rain forest or a thousand year old Buddhist temple or a pyramid, there's not really a substitute in the continental US.

But if you've two options, where you can go to the pretty good option domestically or drive past it and continue on to the much better option in another country ... most people will be happy with the closer option, even if there's some small number of people who want the best or have seen all the closer options before and want something different or just whimsically like the idea of going to the further-away one none of their friends have been to.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#705

Post by zeagle » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 1:43 AM UTC

dh2022 wrote: post #634

icecube123 wrote: post #337

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I surprised more US folks dont visit Canada, its amazing, much safer, and cheaper for them because of the exchange difference. Im guessing they see prices in CAD ($), and think its more expensive, but not realizing that $1 of theirs buys $1.35 CAD.

Quick question about US folks traveling to Canada: are cars with US plates being vandalized in Canada? I was thinking to drive and stay in Vancouver for a few days but I would not want to get a graffiti on my car (or worse)

No, most people recognize a government isn’t reflective of individual people and are kind. If anything you’ll be more likely to be let in on the road if you are in the wrong lane assuming you don’t know where you are going. Having said that I wouldn’t wear/sticker political messaging, namely Trump and MAGA given current realities, but really of any type.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#706

Post by johnnyanmac » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 1:46 AM UTC

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #503

dragonwriter wrote: post #462

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A little under half of US healthcare spending is public programs, the President’s signature “One Big Beautiful Bill” made massive cuts to the federal component of that which started impacting in July of last year, consequently....

OBBA as the cause requires intermediate steps to show up in this jobs report versus last year. The other comment’s guess at strike effects seems more parsimonious.

the intermediate is that the cuts took effect in January.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#707

Post by tosapple » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 1:49 AM UTC

saalweachter wrote: post #398

icecube123 wrote: post #337

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I surprised more US folks dont visit Canada, its amazing, much safer, and cheaper for them because of the exchange difference. Im guessing they see prices in CAD ($), and think its more expensive, but not realizing that $1 of theirs buys $1.35 CAD.

It's probably just that it doesn't feel like there's much to "get" there. If you go south you get sun and beaches. The coastal regions of Canada will be comparable to the coastal regions of New England and the Pacific Northwest, so there's no need to go all the way there if that's the sort of beach you're looking for. Likewise your outdoors, your cities and restaurants and museums are all going to be about the same a…

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Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#708

Post by johnnyanmac » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 1:52 AM UTC

nradov wrote: post #662

tremon wrote: post #615

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That topic should be a non-starter as long as US government policy is to keep shitting in the food bowl. There's way too many communities living under the toxic spill or waste of some unregulated industrial process -- and the country seems perfectly ok with that kind of "lifestyle". I really don't see why we should villify individual lifestyle choices when the entire country is happy with intentionally harmful policy…

OK cute rant but do you have a realistic proposal? I absolutely agree that we should do more to reduce exposure to toxins but there's no legal mechanism for health plans to shift costs that way. Ultimately some of the money spent caring for others with lifestyle-related chronic conditions is going to come out of your pocket through insurance premiums and taxes. This is inevitable. Are you willing to pay more for peop…

>do you have a realistic proposal?

Realistic in this administration? No. They will keep taking and taking from the working class and pitting them against one another. There's no solution there when the government is actively looking to sabatoge the system.

Arguing over tobacco premiums is pennies on the dollar. Pretty much every other civilized country has figured something out with regards to universal healthcare. I'm sure there's dozens of solutions out there to choose from. The only real steps to take right now is to have Americans stop licking the boot and actually push for something that helps them.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#709

Post by tosapple » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 1:54 AM UTC

GuinansEyebrows wrote: post #567

throwway120385 wrote: post #401

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Washington has more in common with BC than with Alabama or Florida. Except for the Pig War, which was more of a disagreement between neighbors over their fence line.

maybe northwestern washington. the rest of the state is basically kentucky.

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Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#710

Post by flerchin » Sat, Mar 07, 2026, 2:12 AM UTC

icecube123 wrote: post #337

gaoshan wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can't blame you. Coming from the US I have been making a point to vacation in Canada, fwiw. Short of voting, protesting and getting into arguments with MAGA people I don't know what else I can effectively do.

I surprised more US folks dont visit Canada, its amazing, much safer, and cheaper for them because of the exchange difference. Im guessing they see prices in CAD ($), and think its more expensive, but not realizing that $1 of theirs buys $1.35 CAD.

We recently went to Niagara falls on the Canadian side and it was fun. Canadian sales taxes and fees took some of the currency difference, but yes we had a decent deal on a steak dinner in the tourist trap.