Unemployment up? It's just people *voluntarily quitting their jobs*

What are these people smoking?

"Confidence in Obama Economy Rises for Frustrated Workers Finding New Jobs" Aug 2, 2011

Frustrated employees are voluntarily quitting their jobs at the highest level in almost three years, as confidence they will find another stabilizes, even with unemployment at about 9 percent for more than two years.

Almost 2 million Americans quit their jobs in May, a 35 percent rise from the lowest level in January 2010, according to the Department of Labor. An increase in employees switching jobs is a signal of increased confidence in the labor market and the overall economy, according to [an analyst at a brokerage firm].

“When the economy is rebounding, workers are more likely to quit their jobs to take another,” he said.

Didja get all that? That was a high-rate propaganda burst, so chances are half of it went straight into your subconscious with no critical examination or questioning. Let's replay in slow-motion and see. For maximum learning effectiveness, don't look back to the top of the article when answering the questions below.

First the title: "Confidence in [ ] rises as..." What was between the brackets?

Logically the answer is "the economy." But Bloomberg is right up there with MSNBC, Jon Stewart and Bill Mahrer as a top Dem supporter, so they slipped in the modifier, "the Obama economy."

"Employees voluntarily quitting their jobs" at the highest level in 3 years. And the reason? Because they're so much more confident that they'll be able to find another one.

Presumably a better one.

The reporter then quotes an analyst who confirms this as proof that the economy is recovering.

One assumes the Labor department determined the motives of those who voluntarily quit their job from a survey. But of how many people? Did the story tell you? Did the Labor department publish its numbers, or merely the conclusion?

And what was the exact phrasing of the questions asked?

Now, the omission of all relevant data could be due to reporter/editor sloppiness. But when a story seems to fly in the face of logic, one is advised to look at the source material.