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Comment by pm90 | Hacker News Reader

I don't think any existing numbers were officially changed, just that the head of BLS was fired.

Yes, for THAT head of the BLS. It is super clear to the next head of the BLS that they deliver the number the president likes or they will be fired.

So, just like in Venezuela, that number will be delivered.

Picturing a future political cartoon of hobo-looking guys sitting around a winter fire burning in an old oil drum — one guy is holding up a newspaper (wut?) and saying to the rest, "Hey guys, it's fine because it says here that the employment numbers reported are the best ever!"

You mean like this one?

http://emilysquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/EmilysQuo...

Timeless, ha ha.

If value was actually created every time before it was distributed to shareholders, it wouldn't be nearly as bleak as when the value is instead rapidly extracted from a long-term reservoir to make the numbers go up.

wanna bet? i will take a bet that inflation will not return to normal (ie. sub 2.1) in the next report

Sure it will. BLS guy will publish that number regardless.

That said, I also think there is a good chance of that because we will be in a recession by then from the tariffs.

Indeed, a gentleman's bet.

They fired the head of the BLS because they didn't like the numbers. Explicitly. You kinda have to conclude they're going to cook the books. Like they're doing everywhere else.

Apparently, they've decided to go with "just not report the numbers."

(Source: https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/trumps-bls-pick-could-p...).

That interview was unfortunately timed (taped before nomination, broadcast afterward). My takeaway was that they are not trying "just not report the numbers" _yet_.

Do you think his position has changed since that interview?

I think his position changes between breakfast and lunch.

I still like the quote, "Reality has a well-known liberal bias."

> I still like the quote, "Reality has a well-known liberal bias."

— https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Colbert_at_the_2006_Wh...

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