Free Republic

As noted here last week, the adjustment to the national anthem policy should remove any impediment to the employment of quarterback Colin Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid, since neither will be able to kneel during the national anthem. Some players reportedly have come to the same conclusion. Shaun King, an independent reporter who has had several anthem-related stories in recent months, contends that “[s]everal NFL stars have told me they are considering sitting out the season until the de facto ban of Eric Reid and Colin Kaepernick is removed and both men are given spots back on rosters.”

Is America turning into a nation of hamburger flippers from a nation of workers who make things, like machine tool operators? Answer: No, says economist Ed Yardeni, in light of the recent April jobs report. And that's good news. Payrolls rose by 244,000 in April, following gains of 221,000 and 235,000 the previous two months. Some have debated whether a quarter of the increase in private payrolls, 62,000 new jobs, came from McDonald’s (MCD) hiring more Big Mac flippers. McDonald's went on a hiring spree recently, but those numbers will likely affect the May jobs report. Still, food services and...

This is what the US economy has been reduced to: McDonalds reports that as part of its employment event to hire 50,000 minimum wage, part-time (mostly) workers, subsequently raised to 62,000 it received a whopping 1 million applications, or a Tim Geithner jealousy inducing 6.2% hit rate (h/t X. Kurt. OSis). Alas, the US economy is now so pathetic that the bulk of the population will settle for anything. Literally anything. And the saddest part: over 938,000 applicants were turned away. Here's hoping to Burger King needs a few million janitors in the immediate future too. And yes, aside from...