What do you make of the looming threat of sequestration in the U.S., automatic budget cuts, half from defense, set to kick in at the end of the year if Congress doesn't intentionally cut elsewhere?
Obviously, sequestration is a major political football, especially since we're gearing up for a nasty presidential election.
How do you interpret a story like this one: Defense Firms May Issue Layoff Warnings Despite US Guidance?
Probably most people will interpret it based on party line.
You could say, as Republicans accuse, that the Obama administration is trying to soft-pedal possible layoffs to minimize election damage.
On the other hand, you could say that companies are trying to pass any possible future pain onto their employees in the hopes that those employees/voters will scream at their legislators and vote in November for candidates who promise to avert sequestration.
And there are undoubtedly other interpretations as well.
In addition, what would you say the chances are of sequestration actually occurring? My money is on an eleventh-hour work-around that doesn't actually make all of the cuts required by the current law, but stops or puts off sequestration.