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| Economy |
| Stimulus dishonesty -The errors were not of a minor or technical nature. They were egregious. |
| 2009-11-12 |
| First it was The Associated Press refuting the Obama administration’s claims for jobs saved or created nationwide by February’s $787 billion economic stimulus measure. Then it was The Sacramento Bee refuting the claims that state agencies had made for California. Then it was the Chicago Tribune refuting the claims that state agencies had made for Illinois. The errors were not of a minor or technical nature. They were egregious. AP reported that “some jobs credited to the stimulus program were counted two, three, four or even more times.” The Bee reported that California State University said “the $268.5 million it received in stimulus funding through October allowed it to retain 26,156 employees” – more than half its statewide work force. The Tribune reported that Illinois education officials grossly inflated job-saved numbers, sometimes saying school districts had saved more jobs than their total number of employees. This is a scandal and should be treated as such. It’s not government as usual. Instead, it appears to reflect a decision to distort government data collection to support explicitly political agendas. With U.S. unemployment now topping 10 percent, the Obama administration is struggling more than ever to fashion credible counterarguments to the assertion made by this editorial page and many pundits and economists that the massive stimulus measure was a poorly thought-out pork fest that wouldn’t work. What’s the easiest way to defend the stimulus? Make up claims about its glorious results. Politics also appears to be driving state agencies in their willingness to prop up this bogus narrative. It helps them make the case that they should get even more borrowed money from the federal government that they never will have to repay. Such dishonesty should be completely unacceptable – especially at the federal level. We trust the Office of Management and Budget to provide honest figures on the size of the deficit and the national debt. We trust the Labor Department to provide honest statistics on unemployment and job gains and losses by sector. We trust the Commerce Department to provide honest numbers on monthly imports and exports and the gross domestic product. We trust the Environmental Protection Agency to provide an honest accounting of air and water pollution levels. All of these statistics end up helping shape the public debate on the most crucial issues of the day. If these numbers can’t be trusted, we can’t have an honest debate. When it comes to the economic stimulus package, it sure looks like the Obama White House doesn’t want an honest debate. Instead, it is going to relentlessly push the very dubious claim that the stimulus was a huge success – no matter what. We are struck yet again by the contrast between the hopeful and idealistic tone of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and the bare-knuckles Chicago-style politics of his White House. If this hardball approach goes beyond the usual arm-twisting to the routine twisting of government statistics for political purposes, that will be a grim day for America. |
| Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC |
| #4 Bottom line - don't believe ANYTHING that the Obama administration says. I'd call them accomplished liars, but they're not all that good at it despite considerable practice. |
| Posted by: DMFD 2009-11-12 17:53 |
| #3 There will be a large dumping of Obama_dollars prior to 2010 mid-term elections to er, er, er |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2009-11-12 14:06 |
| #2 "distort government data collection to support explicitly political agendas" Yeah, that would be Bambi et al. Just wait until next year's census.... :-( |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-11-12 13:56 |
| #1 Instead, it appears to reflect a decision to distort government data collection to support explicitly political agendas. Welcome to the Chicago Way(c). Unfortunately, for those in power and position, that is what ultimately killed the Soviet Union. All the minions reported up the chain what the boys on top wanted to hear. When the collapse occurred it was a bleeding surprise to so many [including the CIA who were reading the same 'feel good' reports that the party were reading]. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2009-11-12 12:30 |