This just in--not only is the federal government no good at "creating or saving" jobs with tax dollars, but they're also no good at counting the scant few jobs that actually were (maybe) created with those dollars.
From the AP today (emphasis mine):
An early progress report on President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan overstates by thousands the number of jobs created or saved through the stimulus program, a mistake that White House officials promise will be corrected in future reports.The government's first accounting of jobs tied to the $787 billion stimulus program claimed more than 30,000 positions paid for with recovery money. But that figure is overstated by least 5,000 jobs, according to an Associated Press review of a sample of stimulus contracts.
The AP review found some counts were more than 10 times as high as the actual number of jobs; some jobs credited to the stimulus program were counted two and sometimes more than four times; and other jobs were credited to stimulus spending when none was produced.
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There's no evidence the White House sought to inflate job numbers in the report.
Of course there's no evidence that the White House itself purposefully inflated the numbers. None that the AP sees, anyway. But absence of evidence is not itself evidence of absence, right? And besides, what interest would the White House possibly have in fudging numbers like this? I mean, really. Get your mind out of the gutter.
And through it all, remember that these folks in Washington, who had the audacity to purport to be able to quantify a "saved job" to begin with, are the same people now clamoring to take over every aspect of your lives.
They can do it better than you.
Didn't you know that?
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Filed under:
2009 Spendulus Bill
Tags: economics, jobs, puffery, stimulus
Comments (7)
From the AP (emphasis mine)... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Victory is Ours | October 29, 2009 10:51 AM | Score: -2 (4 votes cast)
From the AP (emphasis mine):
From MarketWatch (emphasis mine):
The bad news isn't over. Unemployment is expected to increase before it decreases, but the GDP figures signal the recession is over and we're in a recovery.
Gawd, you righties must be so pissed about that.
Vic
1. Posted by Victory is Ours | October 29, 2009 10:51 AM |
Score: -2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on October 29, 2009 10:51
2. Posted by JustRuss IT1(SW) USN [retired] | October 29, 2009 11:22 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
No I would be ecstatic if it were true. But numbers CAN lie and I will remain a skeptic for now. I have often said I pray to be wrong, in this case I hope my prayers are being answered.
I would also point out that IF the economy is recovering it is in SPITE of the government and not BECAUSE of it. The more they begin to meddle the faster you will see this become a double-dip recession like ones before it.
2. Posted by JustRuss IT1(SW) USN [retired] | October 29, 2009 11:22 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on October 29, 2009 11:22
3. Posted by Oyster | October 29, 2009 1:00 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Give us the rest of your much vaunted AP article, Vic:
"The jump largely reflected car purchases spurred by the government's Cash for Clunkers program that offered a rebate of up to $4,500 to buy new cars and trade in old gas guzzlers."
....
"A top concern is whether the recovery can continue after government supports are gone."
Aside from the cash-for-clunkers program, you have to consider the tax credit for first time home buyers, which is set to expire.
"Many economists predict economic activity won't grow as much in the months ahead as the bracing impact of Obama's $787 billion package of increased government spending and tax cuts fades."
While you're giddy with excitement at the opportunity to snipe and sneer, cutting and pasting what you want and not linking for others to read the rest, most of us are very cautious (but at the same time, hopeful) that this isn't just a quick spike in growth which will cede way to another dip.
Don't break out the balloons just yet.
3. Posted by Oyster | October 29, 2009 1:00 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on October 29, 2009 13:00
4. Posted by Morrissimo | October 29, 2009 1:16 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Karl Denninger dissects the GDP numbers here. Good read.
As to the White House's error in jobs numbers, I refer you to Hanlon's Razor:
...or incompetence.Note that I feel Hanlon's Razor applies quite fittingly to both this administration and the last, lest ye increasingly-soft-skinned libbies think I'm taking potshots at The One.
4. Posted by Morrissimo | October 29, 2009 1:16 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 29, 2009 13:16
5. Posted by Ed Schuster | October 29, 2009 1:21 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Who runs the Commerce Departmnt??? Another LIAR.
5. Posted by Ed Schuster | October 29, 2009 1:21 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 29, 2009 13:21
6. Posted by Flu-Bird | October 29, 2009 3:09 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
OBAMAS STYMULUS IS NATIONAL SABATAGE
6. Posted by Flu-Bird | October 29, 2009 3:09 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 29, 2009 15:09
7. Posted by GarandFan | October 29, 2009 11:21 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
AP can kiss off getting a Christmas Card from Barry. I'm sure the White House Comm Center will soon declare that the AP "is not a valid news source".
7. Posted by GarandFan | October 29, 2009 11:21 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 29, 2009 23:21