This country is at a historic crossroads, and the path we choose can determine our future far beyond the next four years. Against that background, it is painful to see the petty talking points and gross misconceptions that seem to dominate this year’s election campaign.

Take the question of jobs. How many times have we heard about how many jobs have been added during the Obama administration?

The government can always increase some jobs, either directly by hiring more people or indirectly by policies that increase employment in particular industries or regions. But the real question is whether the there is any net addition to jobs.