StealthSnax
Well-known member
Data Purge Under Trump: Americans Paying the Price
As the US government shutdown dragged on, one group of employees was given a rare reprieve - those working on inflation estimates that inform Social Security benefit rates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics team returned to work just before October 24, producing its report and ensuring a cost-of-living adjustment could be announced in time.
However, this reversal comes at a significant cost. For years, the Trump administration has sought to eliminate information deemed unwelcome or contradictory to its views. It's been likened to a dystopian novel where records are altered and data is discarded, much like George Orwell envisioned in "1984".
Government officials who have provided inconvenient facts have faced consequences, including dismissal from their positions. The head of the BLS was let go after providing employment data on slowing job growth, while the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency lost his job after contradicting Trump's claims about Iran.
Additionally, the administration has purged various initiatives aimed at addressing social and environmental issues, such as an annual survey that tracked food insecurity in low-income Americans. This data was crucial for informing policy decisions but is no longer being collected due to its potential impact on certain industries.
Even scientific research has been affected. The Environmental Protection Agency plans to eliminate pollution reporting requirements, except for power plants and iron and steel facilities that would be exempted from monitoring. Furthermore, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration stopped collecting data on emergency department visits related to substance use after a major overhaul of its Data Warehouse program.
Experts warn that this information purge will have far-reaching consequences. Without reliable data, policymakers are ill-equipped to make informed decisions, which can lead to catastrophic outcomes for critical areas such as public health and environmental protection.
The Trump administration's actions have taken the US further down an authoritarian path, one where facts are suppressed in favor of serving a particular narrative. With officials only reporting what they believe their leader wants to hear, it is essential that Americans demand access to accurate information - before it becomes too late.
As the US government shutdown dragged on, one group of employees was given a rare reprieve - those working on inflation estimates that inform Social Security benefit rates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics team returned to work just before October 24, producing its report and ensuring a cost-of-living adjustment could be announced in time.
However, this reversal comes at a significant cost. For years, the Trump administration has sought to eliminate information deemed unwelcome or contradictory to its views. It's been likened to a dystopian novel where records are altered and data is discarded, much like George Orwell envisioned in "1984".
Government officials who have provided inconvenient facts have faced consequences, including dismissal from their positions. The head of the BLS was let go after providing employment data on slowing job growth, while the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency lost his job after contradicting Trump's claims about Iran.
Additionally, the administration has purged various initiatives aimed at addressing social and environmental issues, such as an annual survey that tracked food insecurity in low-income Americans. This data was crucial for informing policy decisions but is no longer being collected due to its potential impact on certain industries.
Even scientific research has been affected. The Environmental Protection Agency plans to eliminate pollution reporting requirements, except for power plants and iron and steel facilities that would be exempted from monitoring. Furthermore, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration stopped collecting data on emergency department visits related to substance use after a major overhaul of its Data Warehouse program.
Experts warn that this information purge will have far-reaching consequences. Without reliable data, policymakers are ill-equipped to make informed decisions, which can lead to catastrophic outcomes for critical areas such as public health and environmental protection.
The Trump administration's actions have taken the US further down an authoritarian path, one where facts are suppressed in favor of serving a particular narrative. With officials only reporting what they believe their leader wants to hear, it is essential that Americans demand access to accurate information - before it becomes too late.
. I mean, who needs reliable info on inflation rates and job growth when you've got a good narrative? And those employees who were lucky enough to get their jobs back... bonus points for working overtime, I guess 
. But seriously, what's next? Are they gonna start erasing American history or something? 
The fact that scientists are being forced to stop collecting data on substance use is just wild - like, what's the point of even having a public health agency if you're not gonna report on actual public health issues? 
...and dont even get me started on the social security benefit rates 
...i mean, whats the point of having a system if u cant trust the info behind it? 
and I'm like totally still thinking about it. Like, how does something so slow and adorable manage to not fall off? It's all about balance, right? Anyway, what's really getting me though is how our government works. Like, who makes these decisions, you know? It can't just be one person... or in this case, a whole administration 
And don't even get me started on the BLS head getting canned just 'cause he gave some bad news 
And the EPA's gonna let power plants just run wild now? What's next, coal mining on Mars?! 
. It feels like we're living in a world where facts don't matter if they go against their agenda. The shutdown is just the tip of the iceberg - there are so many other areas where they're messing with critical info that affects our daily lives, like food insecurity surveys and environmental research. I mean, what's next? Are they gonna start altering our census numbers too?! 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this data purge under Trump 
. Who else is worried about a society that values facts over feelings? 
The consequences of such actions can be devastating 
. I mean, what happens when scientists stop collecting data on pollution and public health issues? It's like we're just giving up 
. We need more transparency and accountability, not less 
. This is getting way too Orwellian 
... and I don't think it's going to end well 
. so many facts getting tossed out the window like they're worthless. how are we supposed to make good decisions without accurate info? it's like we're living in a world where truth is whatever the leader wants us to believe 
. and what about all those people who lost their jobs because they spoke truth? that's just not right 
.
like what about freedom of speech and all that jazz? anyway i was reading this article about the data purge under trump and it freaked me out so much 
πΈΏ. i feel bad 4 the bls guy who got let go cuz he showed employment data that didnt match trumps claims... like what happened 2 him? did he get counseling or therapy or anything lol anyway i think its super important 4 us 2 demand access 2 accurate info so we can make informed decisions about our lives and stuff 
! I mean, come on, they're basically trying to erase facts from history books and make America forget what's really going on. It's like they want us to be in a state of perpetual confusion 
. They're just silencing anyone who disagrees with them or has info that contradicts their narrative. It's a classic case of "alternative facts" 
. Is it because they're afraid of losing power or something? It's time for Americans to take back control and demand accurate information 
. We can't let them play us like pawns in a game of politics 
.
... like "The Manchurian Candidate" or "Blow Up". It's like they're trying to manipulate us into believing whatever narrative they want, and that's just plain wrong 
. And don't even get me started on the BLS being shut down and then suddenly restarted - it's like they were trying to keep us in the dark 
. I mean, what's next? Are we gonna start getting our news from Trump's tweet feed? 
.