Bush inflation doublespeak

Comparing someone with the worst dictator of the modern era isn't something I take lightly, but I've never had much doubt that the Bush regime is pure evil. If you need me to cite parallels between the worst regime of the 20th century and one of the worst of the 21st, then you must not have been paying attention for the past 8 years (ever since the brownshirt attack at the Devou Park rally).

The ruling party's propaganda machine is as mind-numbing as its other actions. Its propaganda seems almost as fluent as that of past totalitarian governments - until you look at it closely and render it a meaningless husk.

Like now they're trying to tell us that the record inflation actually isn't so bad.

Bush's Labor Department has issued new numbers designed to soothe us over the skyrocketing price of everything (which is coupled with stagnating wages). The department claims consumer prices rose only 0.2% last month, compared with 0.3% the previous month.

These statistics claim the 0.9% increase in food prices isn't too horrible because it's offset by a 2% drop in gasoline costs.

Wait just a booger-pickin' minute there! Gas prices went down??? When??? 1993???

Looks to me like the Bush regime isn't just publishing misleading statistics but lying outright.

Here's how they come up with the 2% decrease: According to the Labor Department, gas prices are supposed to go up every April anyway. So they adjusted the increase this April against that. Gas actually went up 5.6%, but when they adjust it using the bogus April excuse, they can claim it increased 2% less that what it "should", which they call a "decrease."

Really. They said that. This is like how the Republicans in Congress began allowing the Postal Service to increase stamp prices each year without even showing that they're making junk mailers pay more.

Gas prices are supposed to rise each April? Well, I think maybe we should make it so the minimum wage goes up each April too. Fair is fair.

Also, these figures cover only what's called consumer prices. Health insurance isn't included in this compilation. So (whoosh...whoosh) inflation is actually even worse than this story makes it appear.

The Associated Press took the bait though. The subheader for the AP's article about the statistics reads, "Inflation pressures ease in April despite biggest food price jump in 18 years." The biggest food price jump in 18 years "eases" inflation? I think the AP must be drinking too much of the Bush doublespeak potion.

(Source: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/15/12756/8869/151/515470)