Nearly everyone agrees that there are many economic issues and that government policies are an important part of analysis and forecasting. So much for the non-controversial statement. Investors Need to Know As investors, the key questions we all face involve interpreting data.  We want to know whether there are signs of a change in the economy.  We want to know what data can be trusted. When it comes to interpreting government data, we find three different groups: Those who see a conspiracy around every corner.  They believe, to take a prominent example, that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a pawn of any President.  They watch too many "B" movies and have never taken a class in political science.  They have a ready audience of those who already share their opinions.  It is like the Rush Limbaugh of financial blogging.  We have no idea how ...