Reader Randolph Addison emails:

I do not have full details, as I only heard the last few seconds of the following on NPR around 8:45 AM:

“…when asked why the European countries have a higher unemployment rate than America, at roughly 5 percent, he responded, ‘Well, we don’t have as many people in jail, do we?'”

Well, actually, that probably is one factor, but it’s certainly disingenuous to imply that it’s the only one…

I take it ‘he’ is some European official and the rest of the story will become available during the day. I just found it interesting that they ignore their bloated welfare state with such an idiotic comment.

Yes. Well, of course, if they were to blame their welfare state, or their job-market rigidity, they might be compelled to do something about it. Much easier to look down their noses at America, and celebrate how much more “humane” they are.