The big economic news on Friday was that 33,000 jobs were lost in September. It was the first time in seven years that the jobs numbers went negative. Most reports were quick to cite the rash of hurricanes that plagued the nation in recent weeks. However, the job growth statistics throughout 2017 have lagged behind the same time period in 2016.
It’s no coincidence that Donald Trump and Fox News have been bragging about the performance of the stock market. It’s an easy, albeit deceitful, distraction from the other bad news of the day. Never mind that stocks are currently in the second longest bull market in history and that it started in 2009 under President Obama. Trump has done literally nothing that would change the momentum of Obama’s economy. Not a single economic bill has reached his desk for signature. But that hasn’t stopped him and his propaganda division at Fox News from trying to steal the credit, as demonstrated in these tweets:
Stock Market hits an ALL-TIME high! Unemployment lowest in 16 years! Business and manufacturing enthusiasm at highest level in decades!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2017
On @foxandfriends, @Varneyco revealed how much the nation's wealth has increased since November 8, 2016. pic.twitter.com/YNvN7CK683
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 6, 2017
The wealth increase that Fox News is touting is based solely on the rise of equities. Not only is it false to describe that as “the nation’s wealth,” it is a fluid indicator that could reverse course tomorrow. Indeed, many stock analysts regard the market’s current position as overvalued. These analysts are predicting a “correction” that could send the markets down ten or twenty percent. What’s more, the soaring stock market does not reflect the economic realities of most Americans. Other economic indicators (i.e. wages) are showing only small advances. The beneficiaries of stock gains are predominantly the usual suspects of the GOP (Greedy One Percent).
Some of these discrepancies were observed by the Twitter community, who proceeded to bludgeon Fox for their bullshit. A few of the notable comments follow:
That victory goes to @BarackObama Since no new economic changes have occurred with this administration. Thanks Obama
— Ice Guardian JD (@Jeffdavis612) October 6, 2017
Ask anyone living paycheck to paycheck or in the middle class totally squeezed for money how they feel about this statistic
— Kat (@kat_hassinger) October 6, 2017
90% of it went to top 10%
— ljl (@ljl_york) October 6, 2017
But hes not even passed a budget so this isn't his doing…
— werlybird (@Jayhawk630) October 6, 2017
Well shit where is my cut?
— J mo (@jmomon13) October 6, 2017
You already prostituted that in an earlier tweet. How about them job numbers today?
— Marcin Soluch ?? (@MarcinSoluch) October 6, 2017
Now thats fake news! pic.twitter.com/9h1h23ZMWY
— ??Francesca?? (@Francesca1728) October 6, 2017
No need for a tax break for the wealthy, clearly have the money to pay taxes at current rate! Bigger tax break to ENTIRE middle class! @GOP
— susan vogel (@susiemv) October 6, 2017
When Obama was saving the US economy & the stock market & job growth were doing records why didn't u report it like u do now?
— Nanette Price (@nanetteprice71) October 6, 2017
To the top 1%, SAY IT FAUX NOISE
— Toni macik (@ToniMacik) October 6, 2017
Another propaganda tweet from the state news agency. All smoke and mirrors to make Trump look like he knows what he’s doing.
— Bruce McLaren (@Brewmac04) October 6, 2017
Tillerson was right you are a moron
— Kat (@kat_hassinger) October 6, 2017
None of this was #DonaldTrump's doing. So he deserves no credit. And who will he blame if the market falls? Surely not himself. pic.twitter.com/HuBcqgTE7y
— News Corpse (@NewsCorpse) October 6, 2017
It’s always dangerous to rely on stock market performance to validate the economy. There are too many factors that can shift investor sentiment. And with Trump’s saber-rattling over nukes with both North Korea and Iran he’s playing with fire, literally. And if that doesn’t sink the markets, then his proposed tax plan, which will benefit only the rich and blow up the deficit, will do the job.
How Fox News Deceives and Controls Their Flock:
Fox Nation vs. Reality: The Fox News Cult of Ignorance.
Available now at Amazon.
Not only has Trump not come up with or signed any piece of economic legislation to deserve credit for the low unemployment, his first eight months in office in trending low unemployment and high job creation is due to Obama’s policies with a ‘fiscal’ year ending this past September.
From now on, it will be Trump’s doing, which kind of just broke the rising six year trend of Obama’s by the Bureau of Labor Statistics September report that payrolls fell by 33,000…that is the lowest reported since 2010, ninety months ago when Obama was dealing with the ‘Great Recession’…