Steve Benen & Attorney Mary Kay Elloian in discussion over his new book: Ministry of Truth - Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans’ War on the Recent Past.
In our interview a few weeks back, Benen delves into the realities of Republican revisionism, the effect upon the people, the nation, and America’s standing around the world. A new reality, where facts once set the standard for discourse, are now subject to debate. A new paradigm where a former ex-president - Trump and his party want to take America away from its democratic heritage into authoritarian rule.
Benen encapsulates the times we all live in, and juxtaposes it that of Nixon - what is different, what has stayed the same - or even made worse. This interview illuminates one of the central themes in his book - encapsulating a body of research of what Americans may have forgotten, misunderstood, or ignored: including government data on US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - Growth of the Economy; and Job Growth under former presidents - and the trajectory downward under Trump even pre-COVID, as contrasted to that of President Biden.
The data reveal on GDP:
In [Trump’s] first three years in the Oval Office, annual growth in the United States ranged between 2.5 and 3 percent - respectable numbers, to be sure, but nothing close to the kind of economic nirvana the Republican envisioned, and certainly nothing resembling generational highs. Indeed, GDP growth under Clinton and Ronald Reagan was far more robust.
As for Job Growth:
Data related to job growth was even less favorable for Trump. Excluding the devastating losses caused by the pandemic, the U.S. economy created roughly 6.4 million jobs during the first three years of the Republican’s presidency.That’s not a bad number, by any means, but during the three years that preceded Trump’s term-the final three years of Obama’s presidency-the economy created just over 8 million jobs.
Excerpts from Ministry of Truth pp 162-163.
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ministry of Truth - is written by a multiple Emmy Award winning author about the history of the Republican party from decades past to today. This interview is a must see for every American who wonders about our nation’s history, its embrace of democratic principles, and its trajectory into the future.
Also see: Rachel Maddow’s New Documentary: “From Russia With Lev” - on the Fabrication & Falsity of the Hunter Biden Ukraine Scandal, orchestrated by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former President Donald Trump. See the official Rachel Maddow trailer here.
Don’t forget to Share, Restack & “Like” this post and video!
Copyright 2024 - The Legal Edition - Legal, Business & Policy News - Mary Kay Elloian, MBA, JD, Esq. All Rights Reserved.
Share this post