This just in: austerity doesn't work! It doesn't work here, it doesn't work in Europe, it doesn't work for state and local governments. I'm tempted to ask how many data points we need to recognize this crucial economic truth, but I'm afraid data points don't have much to do with it. After last month's disappointing report, I was careful to point out that "one month does not a trend make" and there are some technical reasons -- mostly seasonal adjustments that haven't caught up with unusually warm weather -- to consider as well. Well, two months doesn't quite a trend make either, but it's getting closer.