Unemployment

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-april-jobs-report-20110506,0,6724981.story

The private sector surges forward adding 268,000 jobs as the government continues to shed jobs(14k)

These gains were not enough to reduce the Unemployment rate though as more people return to the work force, it inches up .2% from 8.8% to 9% flat.  Although a rise in the unemployment rate may seem bad, it comes in the light of the fact that the economy is adding plenty of jobs (although still not enough for a full recovery) so there's still reason to stay optimistic.  These jobs were added when stocks were stagnant and oil prices rising, a result of government inaction on debt and deficit issues and turmoil in the middle east.

Personally I think if Qaddafi abdicates and we get real deficit reduction measures put into action we can expect a speedier recovery. However whether or not either of those things will happen is quite up in the air.

>>3
Recessions are ended by restoring long term stability and investor confidence.
>>4
The people who take government jobs are educated and just choosing the highest pay as they should in accordance with true american values and market forces (even if those market forces are warped by the state), I must not mince words though, these jobs are paid for by the tax collector and if they are useless or just luxuries then they have to be axed. Of course we should keep firefighters, et cætera.