Newsroom skepticism needed

“Facts are the facts” said the Dec. 27 guest editorial on the economy. Yes, and economic facts are the easiest to spin.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology economist Jonathan Gruber bragged about writing the Affordable Care Act to force the Congressional Budget Office to score it positively and fool stupid voters. Now, the White House has done it again, playing games with the Bureau of Economic Analysis to claim a surging 5 percent growth in Gross Domestic Product in the third quarter of 2014. How are these “facts” connected?

Changes made between the BEA draft released Nov. 25 and the final report Dec. 23 show the facts. Personal Consumption Expenditures related to Obamacare were held down in the first quarter. BEA already knew the first quarter would be bad news easily blamed on the chillingly named “Polar Vortex.” Adding actual PCE for Obamacare back in the third quarter made it appear like a surge. And, once again, the media paraphrases the press releases.

Most of us aren’t as stupid as Gruber thinks, but this isn’t the easiest trail to follow for people busy running businesses and raising families. How about a little skepticism in the newsroom to help us out?

Sue Lani Madsen

Edwall