Never Let Data Get in the Way of a Good Spin . . . .
If there is one thing to be pinned to the current administration, thus far, it would have to be . . . . numbers. These numbers have been in the size and amount of levels never before seen. They came in promises, in proposals, and in support. Worse, though, they have been mismanaged to an extent that we could never even imagine. We have seen billions and trillions spent towards violating free-market principles with buyouts and bailouts. This was the beginning of the billions and trillions of tax dollars going towards ill-fated stimulus and omnibus packages. Of course this started with the promise to “save or create” over 4 million jobs before 2010, a figurative statistic that still fails to hold any weight in the economic canon. There was also the Pelosi threat that 500 million jobs would be lost each month without the proposed stimulus. Perhaps this all started when the Obama campaign was in the middle of his “57 states” tour.
Recently, though, the White House has admitted error (seriously?) in their projections on the number of jobs saved (mostly because it is not possible to accurately assess) or created. Such fabrication runs consistent with the recent finding of emails suggesting the hiding of data that counter the “science” behind global warming. The administration now admits that it is difficult, if possible at all, to accurately track the jobs connected to the stimulus plan, but considers that the positive impact of the stimulus package is “irrefutable.” And why, exactly, are we to believe this? Why are we to believe anything at all that comes from this administration? And it is not about deceit, it is about having never, ever been in charge of anything before. It is about sitting on the most powerful engine in the world and not understanding the facts behind how it runs and how best to drive it.
Perhaps, U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., said it best when he stated “It’s only fitting that the White House would claim to create jobs in districts that don’t exist, since they funded the stimulus bill with money that doesn’t exist.” I would argue it is because we elected a President with experience that he does not have.
Most glaring (and most overlooked in the mainstream media) is the hubris required by the administration to even think that it is possible for government of this proposed magnitude to deliver these claims. Of course these numbers can not be achieved. Then again, freedom has never been something you can achieve – it is something greater than that - that individuals must personally earn and deserve. The best government can do is to provide tools for achievement and to get out of the way. This is a serious misalignment of personal philosophy between the current administration and the majority of voting Americans.
