In the aftermath of Donald Trump's odious remarks about a "Mexican" federal judge, House Speaker Paul Ryan can circumlocute until the cows come home but what he has said amounts to this: “Donald Trump is a racist ignoramus. I think he should be president of the United States.” How’s that for a profile in courage? If Trump were not the GOP nominee, Ryan and other prominent Republicans – John McCain, Marco Rubio, Bob Corker, et. al. -- would think of him, if they gave him any thought at all, as an aging crackpot, a sort of Scrooge McDuck, harmlessly tweeting racist rants and cuckoo ideas from his Trump Tower aerie. As it is, however, they see the enacting of the GOP agenda, not to mention the preservation of their own jobs, as important enough to back for president a person they would otherwise see as a card-carrying member of the lunatic fringe. Particularly pathetic in all of this is McCain, who has declared his support for a man who mocked his 5 and a half years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.
Meanwhile, in the rich and varied menu of misstatements, lies, and delusional assertions that have come out of the mouth of Mr. Trump, it’s easy for any one of them to more or less disappear into the gloaming – to get lost in the crowd, as it were. But one of the assertions he has made -- one that his followers presumably accept and that generated some pushback but not the gasps of incredulity it should have – is surely among his most demented. That would be the one that claims unemployment in the U.S. is currently in the vicinity of 20-percent. In the great scheme of things, acceptance of this idea by Trump folks is in keeping with the overarching belief on their part that everyone but their man is lying and only he sees through the lies. But good grief, Trumpalators, when it comes to unemployment in America, do you not believe your own eyes? Where are the bread lines and soup kitchens? Where are the Hoovervilles? Why is no one selling apples on street corners? Where are the caravans of Okies headed west in a desperate search for economic salvation? Because I assume you’re aware (aren’t you?) that in the worst year of the Great Depression, 1933, unemployment was about 24-percent. Trump’s assessment (which, of course, is based on nothing whatsoever), puts us right there, right now.
Meanwhile, in the rich and varied menu of misstatements, lies, and delusional assertions that have come out of the mouth of Mr. Trump, it’s easy for any one of them to more or less disappear into the gloaming – to get lost in the crowd, as it were. But one of the assertions he has made -- one that his followers presumably accept and that generated some pushback but not the gasps of incredulity it should have – is surely among his most demented. That would be the one that claims unemployment in the U.S. is currently in the vicinity of 20-percent. In the great scheme of things, acceptance of this idea by Trump folks is in keeping with the overarching belief on their part that everyone but their man is lying and only he sees through the lies. But good grief, Trumpalators, when it comes to unemployment in America, do you not believe your own eyes? Where are the bread lines and soup kitchens? Where are the Hoovervilles? Why is no one selling apples on street corners? Where are the caravans of Okies headed west in a desperate search for economic salvation? Because I assume you’re aware (aren’t you?) that in the worst year of the Great Depression, 1933, unemployment was about 24-percent. Trump’s assessment (which, of course, is based on nothing whatsoever), puts us right there, right now.
Holy smokes! If we are to take your guy at his word – that
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which has been compiling data on employment and
calculating the unemployment rate the same way for over 100 years and through
twenty-plus Democratic and Republican administrations, is now lying – we have
to conclude that unemployment is at Great-Depression levels. This despite any tangible evidence in the
world around us of mass unemployment; despite the fact that consumer spending
recently hit a six-year high; despite more than 30 consecutive quarters of
economic growth; despite the fact nobody you know is involuntarily unemployed;
and despite the fact that the automotive industry is enjoying its best years
ever – ever – in no small part because of robust sales of the vehicles
of choice for many of those supposedly out-of-work Trumpistas: pick-up trucks.
And where the heck is the Wall Street Journal when you need
it? I know, I know, WSJ is part of the mass media establishment; but it is no
fan of the Obama administration or of Democrats in general or, especially, of
the party’s economic agenda and overall philosophy. One would think it would be indefatigable in its quest to dig out
the truth if it suspected that unemployment was four times higher than that
which is being reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But no!
Not a peep out if it, or out of any of the other right-leaning media
outlets. Or for that matter, any other
media outlets at all. Not one of them
is onto this. Not one of them has reported what would be the story of the
century – that unemployment is at depression levels and nobody knows it. Except, of course, his Donaldness.
No, wait. Actually, thousands of people know it. They would be the green-eye-shade types who
work at the BLS and assembled the employment numbers. They know the facts, but were sworn to secrecy at a mass meeting
in a cave somewhere. “I know you all
know the truth – that unemployment is at about 20-percent,” President Obama
said to the assemblage, “but I’m asking you to tell everyone that it’s
5-percent. Okay? And don’t tell anyone I said this. Mum’s the word.”
