In her epic novel, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand famously wrote:

“Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think that you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong.”

That’s good advice for scientists, economists, doctors, lawyers . . . and “stable geniuses” who think they know everything.

Donald Trump didn’t like the fact that the most recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed a weaker-than-expected job market, raising worldwide alarms about his incomprehensible tariff policies. So he did what he always does in a fit of childish pique: he found someone to blame, and fired her.

This week’s victim was BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, whom he accused — without evidence — of manipulating jobs figures for political reasons. [Natalie Sherman, BBC, August 1, 2025.]

Because he could. Because he needed a scapegoat. Because the numbers contradicted his delusional insistence that his punitive tariffs against every one of America’s trade partners throughout the world are, or eventually will be, beneficial.

And because he cannot stand to be wrong.

But if he were smart enough, and honest enough, to check his premises, he would find that one of them — his — is indeed wrong. His tariffs are a total disaster.

Everyone in the world knows it . . . except him. Following this past week’s latest round of tariff increases, the three major U.S. indices dropped, following earlier sell-offs in Europe and Asia. [Id.]

Ryan Sweet, the chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, said the decision to fire Ms. McEntarfer was concerning because reliable economic data is essential to businesses, and cannot easily be replicated by private sources. He added:

“Clearly, this is a step in a very bad direction. If there are any questions around the integrity of the data … it’s going to create a lot of problems.” [Id.]

Importantly, Ms. McEntarfer, who holds a degree in Economics from prestigious Virginia Tech, knows her job. She previously worked in the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Policy, the U.S. Census Bureau’s Center for Economic Studies, and as a senior economist in the Council of Economic Advisers. She was appointed Commissioner of Labor Statistics in July of 2023 by — aha! — then President Joe Biden.

Well, there you are . . . that explains a lot.

Now Trump can fill the position with someone — a rabid Republican, of course — who will manage to come up with figures more to his liking . . . someone as qualified for the position as, say, Bobby Kennedy, Jr., is for his job . . . and we can Make America Poor Again!

*. *. *

If Trump has the slightest inkling of the scope of his latest disastrous misstep, he will never admit it. When in his entire lifetime has he ever been man enough to do that?

Clearly, someone has to have the cojones to do it for him: someone like the members of his Cabinet, or Congress, or the Supreme Court.

But do they?

I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
8/2/25