Trump fires commissioner of labor statistics to be fired after weak jobs figures
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Anonymous
No, BLS lost a large number of staff with no transition plans. |
Anonymous
Sadly so true! |
Anonymous
| Makes sense, how can there be a bad jobs report if there's no data? Problem solved. |
Anonymous
The Chat GPT comparison if you’re bored and want to read There are a few striking similarities between Donald Trump and Robert Mugabe, though they come from very different backgrounds, countries, and political systems. Both were highly controversial figures who led their respective countries for long periods of time and had strong personalities. Here are some key similarities: ### 1. **Authoritarian Tendencies** * **Mugabe**: Led Zimbabwe for nearly 40 years, initially as a revolutionary hero, before increasingly becoming an authoritarian ruler. He clamped down on opposition, restricted free press, and used violence and intimidation to maintain power. * **Trump**: While not as overtly authoritarian as Mugabe, Trump's leadership style was often seen as populist and authoritarian. He frequently attacked the media, attempted to undermine democratic institutions, and used divisive rhetoric to galvanize his base. ### 2. **Populist Rhetoric** * **Mugabe**: Played on nationalist sentiments, often framing himself as the protector of Zimbabweans against foreign powers and Western imperialism. He used populist rhetoric to maintain support, particularly among the rural poor. * **Trump**: Similarly, Trump used populist rhetoric, particularly focusing on “America First” and appealing to disaffected working-class Americans who felt neglected by the political elite. His rhetoric often involved blaming elites, immigrants, and foreign countries for America’s problems. ### 3. **Controversial Use of Media** * **Mugabe**: Mugabe controlled much of the media in Zimbabwe, either directly or through influence over state-run media, which he used to promote his own agenda and silence critics. * **Trump**: Trump’s relationship with the media was notoriously adversarial. He often accused mainstream media of being "fake news" and used social media platforms, especially Twitter, to directly communicate with the public and bypass traditional media outlets. ### 4. **Corruption and Wealth** * **Mugabe**: Despite claiming to be a champion of the poor, Mugabe and his government were accused of widespread corruption. His family and allies amassed great wealth, even as the country’s economy deteriorated. * **Trump**: Trump was frequently accused of using his position to enrich himself and his family. His businesses, including his hotels and golf courses, were often at the center of ethics controversies, and his administration was criticized for conflicts of interest. ### 5. **Use of Military and Security Forces** * **Mugabe**: Used the military and security forces to suppress political opposition and maintain control, including during violent campaigns such as the Gukurahundi massacres and election-related violence. * **Trump**: While Trump did not use military forces in the same direct way as Mugabe, his administration did deploy federal law enforcement officers to suppress protests, notably in Portland during the Black Lives Matter protests. There were also instances where Trump seemed to favor a more militarized response to political unrest. ### 6. **Polarizing Leadership** * **Mugabe**: He was highly polarizing, with supporters seeing him as a hero of liberation, while detractors viewed him as a dictator who ruined the country's economy and human rights. * **Trump**: Similarly, Trump is deeply polarizing. His supporters see him as a populist hero who fights for the common person, while critics accuse him of eroding democratic norms, promoting division, and undermining U.S. institutions. ### 7. **Controversial Electoral Practices** * **Mugabe**: Mugabe's government was accused of rigging elections, particularly in the later years of his rule. He used violence and intimidation to suppress opposition parties and ensure his victory. * **Trump**: Trump’s rhetoric surrounding elections, especially after the 2020 presidential election, raised concerns about electoral integrity. His repeated false claims of widespread voter fraud and attempts to overturn the election results were seen by many as an attempt to undermine democracy. ### 8. **Economic Decline Under Their Leadership** * **Mugabe**: His policies, such as land redistribution without compensation, led to hyperinflation, economic collapse, and widespread poverty in Zimbabwe. * **Trump**: While the U.S. economy performed well during the early years of Trump's presidency, his tenure saw significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in economic downturns and increasing inequality. His trade wars, especially with China, also disrupted global economic stability. ### 9. **Cult of Personality** * **Mugabe**: After decades in power, Mugabe's image became increasingly tied to the identity of Zimbabwe itself. He cultivated a cult of personality, with statues, portraits, and songs praising him. * **Trump**: While not to the same extent as Mugabe, Trump cultivated a strong personality cult among his base. His branding as "The Donald" and his presence in media and public life created a central figurehead for the Republican Party and a movement that revered him. --- ### Key Differences While there are notable similarities, the differences between them are also important: * **Democratic Structures**: Trump, despite his controversial actions, governed within a functioning democratic system (the U.S. has checks and balances, a free press, and active civil society), while Mugabe ruled an authoritarian state with limited political freedoms. * **Economic System**: Zimbabwe's economy suffered significantly due to Mugabe’s policies, while the U.S. economy, under Trump, experienced growth until the pandemic, even if it was also marked by inequality. * **Historical Context**: Mugabe was a liberation hero who fought for independence from British colonial rule and white minority rule, while Trump was a businessman who became involved in politics relatively late in life. In short, both were populist, divisive leaders who displayed authoritarian tendencies, but the context and scale of their actions were quite different. |
Anonymous
Yup, just like he tried to solve the problem of rising Covid cases by suggesting that: “If we stop testing right now, we’d have very few cases, if any." See the pattern? |
Anonymous
| Can she sue? Any recourse in the courts? |
Anonymous
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Where have I heard a similar story . . . .
Under Joseph Stalin's regime, the 1937 Soviet census led to the arrest and execution of numerous individuals involved in its organization and implementation. Why were the census takers targeted? The 1937 census produced a population count significantly lower than what Stalin and the Soviet leadership had expected. This was attributed to factors like a decline in birth rates and the devastating 1932-1933 famine, which had resulted in millions of deaths. The results were viewed as compromising to the regime and contradicted official propaganda about Soviet progress. Stalin's response and the fate of census officials Instead of acknowledging the true figures, the Soviet government suppressed the findings and blamed the census directors, accusing them of sabotage and fabricating data. This led to the arrest and execution of many statisticians and census officials, according to Amusing Planet. This included the chief of the Central Statistics Department, Ivan Adamovich Kraval, and his assistants. Those appointed to replace the arrested statisticians were also arrested. |
Anonymous
She's a political appointee so probably not. |
Anonymous
| So it looks like the only sectors growing now are AI and healthcare. Though the Republicans just put a big hurting in healthcare hiring. |
Anonymous
| Firing professionals and replacing them with friends and loyalist is part of why Venezuela fell into Economic crisis, but oh well. |
Anonymous
| This is a shout out to the dedicated economists and statisticians at BLS who do the hard, unglamorous work of collecting, analyzing, and helping non-data nerds understand the numbers. So many of us - in and out of government - rely on your unbiased wage, CPI, ACUS, and other data. You are in my view unsung heroes. And I cannot think of another position that is as apolitical as the BLS Commissioner. Sad day. Resist. |
Anonymous
I heard it's Mike Lindell replacing her and bringing business experience to BLS. |
Anonymous
Does it need business experience? It’s stats and data collection, different skills. |
Anonymous
Canada is aggressively recruiting doctors and nurses with some success so far. |
Anonymous
It's not a business. "Business experience" is irrelevant. |