Mixed economic outlook, despite unemployment drop: #tellusatoday

The unemployment rate dropped to 5.4% in April, the lowest since May 2008. Facebook comments edited for clarity and grammar:

When President Obama took office, my 401(k) had lost half its value. I thought I would have to work two to three years longer than planned before retiring. Since he took office, it has more than doubled.

Plus, my kids have stayed on my health insurance plan, even though they have finished college.

—Douglas White

This is great news. Now it's time to tighten eligibility requirements for assistance, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and disability. With this booming economy, there is no reason to allow able-bodied people to mooch off the rest of us.

—Tony Mathis

Booming economy? Right, that's why the Federal Reserve is keeping interest rates at around 0%. The Fed never keeps interest rates that low when we have a booming economy.

That's the equivalent of throwing a life preserver to a drowning victim. Interest rates are meant to stay that low for a very short period of time, not years as they have been.

—Mark Miller

We asked our followers what they thought of the latest jobs report, and how they would rate the economy. Twitter comments edited for clarity and grammar:

I would rate the economy as poor. Stagnant wages? Where is the affordable housing? I moved abroad. I could barely afford dinner out on my teacher's salary.

—@storm49505

I've been having luck with freelancing and side work.

—@micheleherrmann

The economy in New Jersey is terrible. The unemployment rate is at 6.5%. There are people who have been unemployed for eight years with two college degrees.

—@SunilSunderRaj3

I was feeling OK until President Obama said Elizabeth Warren was wrong on the Trans-Pacific Partnership. I trust Warren over Obama.

—@tomkardon

For more of the discussion, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday on Twitter.

Letter to the editor:

Every time we pass one of these international trade deals, our economy takes a permanent hit because the governments on the other side impose a value-added tax on our products.

This increases product costs and acts as a tariff. Who wants the value-added tax, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and its follow-up, the pact between the United States and the European Union known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership? Wall Street. Who is against these things? Elizabeth Warren.

Diane Ahlquist; Plymouth, Mich.