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US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

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Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#761
post #705
post #634

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> but really of any type.

I've never understood why somebody behind me on the road would care at all about what my political views were anyway. I guess I get it during an election, maybe (in a grammar school "inventor contest" which happened to be during the 1980 US presidential election, I invented a bumper sticker sleeve that attaches to your car, so you could swap out political bumper stickers after your candidate lost. I didn't win the contest.) But in the end I don't really understand putting any sort of social signaling of any kind on my cars, though it seems hard to avoid even by just the kind of car you drive.

Closer to topic, I've always thoroughly enjoyed my trips to Canada, and can't imagine why people think "it's just like the US, so why bother" as seems to have been expressed ny some in this thread. I somewhat recently drove up to Roberval, Quebec from my home in New England, and it was absolutely nothing like the US. I find the rural Quebecois very odd, refreshingly direct, and enjoyable to hang out with.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#762

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not just tourism. Economically, the US does not depend on the rest of the world nearly as much as any other developed country. Trade (exports and imports) as percentage of GDP is the lowest of all major economies, by far. This is not up for discussion it's a fact you must ground everything else in. Having established that, you know the firm upper bound on economic (not cultural or political or podcast-topic-gene…

The foreign tourism segment is 20% of the size of the US ag industry. Saying this is a rounding error is ridiculous. 10% of US tourism employment would be 1.5 million people employed as a result of foreign tourism (total tourism employment is 15 million). To say this a tiny unimportant segment that isn't worth talking about is ridiculous. Again especially considering the consideration the Republicans give tiny indust…

It’s not a big deal that you think this, but it isn’t nearly as important or poignant for the US economy as you’re wanting it to be.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#763

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The math just doesn't work out for someone relatively young and with no major health issues. The thing is, bad and expensive health issues can literally come upon you over night. You can get hit by a vehicle or get beaten up with no perpetrator to be held accountable, you can develop an aneurysm, get food poisoning, get pregnant unexpectedly (with all the risk that comes with, including healthcare not being accessi…

Seems like something that shouldn't be left up to a consumer market.

Markets are how our society allocates all its most important resources.

What I think we have now is the most non-market like sector of the economy, with 1/3 of all citizens already receiving government funded healthcare.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#764

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like something that shouldn't be left up to a consumer market.

"Illness is neither an indulgence for which people have to pay, nor an offence for which they should be penalised, but a misfortune the cost of which should be shared by the community.” Aneurin Bevan

In practice everyone has vastly different preferences, expectations, and desires different levels of care then.

For example Some people want to see a specific doctor they know in a private session to discuss life and family stresses. Others only go to urgent clinics if they need an immediate medication.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#765

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I’m not saying tourism is not a factor or denying anecdotes about people not visiting the US, but I don’t think it’s the explanation for the February 2026 job losses. This is accurate. This thread is people emoting. I get it, might as well let it out. Tourism being major part of the US GDP feels like countries whose GDP depends on tourism, projecting. I get that too, if that is the paradigm you live in every day, t…

I would indeed be cautious about attributing economic downturn to holiday spending, but I don't think Las Vegas can breathe freely now. It could be a canary in the coal mine. Some might say, the death of a canary is a rounding error. Others might say: what else is at risk?

St Patrick’s day folds into March madness folds into nba/nhl playoffs folds into Memorial Day folds into Independence Day, Vegas is about to get slammed.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#766
post #722
post #717

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That got remove in Trump's first term.

US voter math: remove penalties/taxes + increase benefits = everything is fine Thus solving the problem.

The penalties were extremely unpopular and affected poor people the most.

I know the economic idea, but it is not a good mechanism for society.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#767

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Healthcare was carrying the economy. Any commentary on why that’s failing?

Healthcare is a cost not a profit in the economy: the Healthcare sector consumes what is produced by other parts of the economy. Similarly government can't exist without businesses. And a large part of healthcare is dependent on taxation.

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Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#768
post #419

Here is the official source: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/economicdata/empsit_03062026.pd... Some of the main categories (page 8 of the pdf): - Construction: -11.0k - Manufacturing: -12.0k - Transportation and warehousing: -11.3k - Private education and health services: -34.0k - Information -11.0k - Leisure and hospitality -27.0k It seems to go down in lots of different sectors.

I wonder why "Private education and health services" is down so much. My guess is because federal cuts to health services impacted jobs???

It’s almost like there are additional causes to consider outside of the latest Trump story.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#769

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a significant majority of people in Canada who not only vocally decided to not go to US but discourage their friends from doing so too. People have judged me for driving through the states.

I hope a couple of U.S. tourists won't find any trouble driving through Alberta. Would a "We Love CANADA" bumper sticker help? (Asking for a friend.)

I doubt you would have any issue at all travelling in almost all of Canada. Alberta might be a bit more US friendly.

You don't need the bumper sticker, or to apologize. As long as you aren't wearing MAGA gear or being bombastic about Trump, people won't really think much of it. I assume anyone visiting Canada isn't a Trump supporter anyways, as most polling shows they've decided they don't like Canada.

Re: US economy unexpectedly sheds 92k jobs in February

#770
post #715

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Congress has received plenty of negative feedback from their voters. The intensity and frequency of Republican voters confronting their representatives over many administration policies (e.g., Medicaid cuts, ACA subsidy cuts, tariffs, Epstein, influence of unelected officials) when those representatives hold in-person town halls has led to representatives greatly reducing in-person town halls, replacing them with tel…

If that isn't reflected in the midterms then it's just theatre. Time will tell.

It won't be. Even if the house swings to the democrat side it will be a marginal swing only, not a massive change. Who knows if the Senate will even flip at all.

Half of America loves what's happening and the other half doesn't believe the first half loves it.

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