Figures Don’t Lie?

By William L. Garvin

Mark Twain is oft cited as having coined the phrase that “figures don’t lie but liars figure.”  He once quoted Benjamin Disraeli as saying “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."  Regardless of the source, improbable numbers should always be viewed with skepticism.  In today’s polarized world, however, such healthy adult skepticism will more than likely be pilloried!

Most economists are in agreement that the Gross National Product of the United States is weaker this year than last year.  In fact, last quarter’s GDP was revised downward to an anemic 1.3%.  As a result, the average job gain for each month of this year (through August) was only 164,000.  These same economists expected about 114,000 new jobs to be added in September and an unemployment rate of 8.1 to 8.2%.  Then like an economic rabbit out of a statistical hat, 873,000 people suddenly found employment and the unemployment rate dropped to 7.8%!  It’s an economic miracle of biblical proportions!  Keep in mind that employers actually created only the predicted 114,000 jobs.  That is not even enough to keep up with population growth.  Also keep in mind that the U-6 number (unemployed, underemployed, and dropouts) remained unmoved at 14.7%.  The BLS Household Survey of 60,000 households that is adjusted “to correct for seasonal patterns” that shows nearly 300,000 people finding full-time employment and nearly 600,000 finding part-time employment in September, (a month that typically shows increases in UNemployment in the 20-24 age group) defies logical and statistical probability.   Nonetheless, Labor Secretary Hilary Solis is “offended” that anyone should ask for an explanation.  Heaven forbid that government should be transparent!

Remember when President Obama promised that the passage of the Stimulus Bill would result in an unemployment rate of 5.4%?  Well, the “Recovery Summer” of 2010 is long gone and this Administration is nowhere near fulfilling his campaign promises.  It continues to blame the Bush administration for the collapse of the financial and housing markets.  It conveniently forgets Democrats were in charge of the House and the Senate for nearly two years at the time of the financial collapse. Remember Barney Frank chairing the House Finance Committee and Chris Dodd chairing the Senate Banking Committee?  Both scandal plagued Democrats actively rebuffed attempts to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  As you assess the President’s record, keep these additional facts in mind:

Fact:  43 consecutive months of unemployment over 8%. Even if accurate, one month under 8% doesn’t come close to balancing the scale!

Fact:  23 million Americans are unemployed, underemployed or have just plain given up.

Fact:  There are no more people working now than when President Obama took office despite his having "created 5 million jobs."

Fact:  The labor participation rate (63.5%) is at its lowest in 31 years.

Fact:  Fifty percent increase in the national debt in less than 4 years: the debt was $10.6 trillion when this administration began and is over $16.1 trillion now.

Fact:  Four straight years of trillion dollar budget deficits.

Fact:  Gasoline prices have doubled across the country and tripled in some areas of California!

Fact:  There are a record number of people (47 million) on food stamps.

Fact:  College tuition is up 25% since the President took office.

Fact:  Health insurance premiums did not decrease $2,500, they went UP $2,500!

Fact:  Anti-America demonstrations are ongoing in 23 countries.

Fact:  The FBI took three weeks to get onsite to investigate the murder of Ambassador Stevens: CNN only took three days!

Fact:  The president of Libya says the terrorist attack had nothing to do with a stupid video!

Fact:  2,000 of our service personnel have died in Afghanistan and we just suffered the largest loss of aircraft since Viet Nam at Camp Leatherneck in an al Qaeda attack.

Fact:  Absentee ballot requests from our military personnel are down as much as 92% in swing states.  Maybe DOJ should investigate real as opposed to imaginary voter suppression!

Fact:  The White House and DOJ claim "executive privilege" and refuse to release information to Congress on "Fast and Furious."

Senator Obama had no record of significant experience or accomplishment when he was elected.  It shows in his administration’s record--that is why he fared so poorly in the debate.  It wasn’t the altitude; it wasn’t the moderator; it wasn’t because Governor Romney “cheated”; it wasn’t because he over-prepped.  It was because he has no fundamental understanding of economic principles, the private sector, or how to solve the great difficulties facing this nation.  When you vote in November, follow Clint Eastwood’s advice: "When they can't do the job, you have to let them go!"