Disdain and criticism were the way we have felt about the obvious propaganda fed to their people by some of the totalitarian regimes of certain nations under the rule of dictators.

Much of it has been blatantly untrue. Some of it, half truths which means half not true.

Don’t we feel at least some pride in our democratic society where investigative reporters ferret out the facts and let us have them straight?

And some satisfaction that those reporters can publish their findings without fear of retribution or of assassination?

But are we becoming more tolerant of half truths or the work of “spin doctors” here in the United States ?

Last week’s U.S. jobless claims figures were announced as 407,000 persons made their first claim for unemployment compensation.

Much of the media followed the administration’s line in hailing this as more evidence that we are seeing signs of a national financial recovery. Is this true?

Or is it a deceptive mirage?

The media mostly said that the number of new claims was 40,000 fewer than the previous week. But the number given was “seasonally adjusted’ which means that someone “massaged” the numbers before they were released.

Unadjusted numbers were actually up by 52,000 compared to the previous week. And this increase was in spite of a week shortened by the Thanksgiving holiday.

There were only four days during last week instead of five days when people could file their claims for unemployment compensation.

That is a 20-percent reduction in the number of days available for people to file their claims for unemployment compensation.

Would the number of claims have been even higher if the fifth day had been available for filing claims? We do not know.

But we can say with some degree of confidence that the figures would not have been lower.

Last week’s news releases also reported that the number of people receiving unemployment compensation decreased by 140,000.

Doesn’t that sound like a rather positive development?

But take another look at the facts and this may also appear like another “smoke and mirrors” job.

They failed to mention that 400,000 people went off continuing claims for unemployment compensation and were moved to emergency compensation, a different category of aid and thus there was a reportable decrease in the former.

And since Congress did not extend the emergency compensation program, 2 million people will lose their emergency compensation benefits starting Dec. 6 – 19 days before Christmas!

Let’s try to get at the facts and plan conservatively for the well being of our families.

We are not aware of any significant decrease in the total number of persons who are unemployed.

Very recently, one of my astute friends said they are seeing more higher-end second homes coming onto the market.

It was noted that concurrently there are more recreational vehicles being offered for sale.

Some are continuing to shed assets which are not needed for their basic way of life.

Bill Bradford retired to the rigors of a small farm in Pokagon Township. He has served as director of clinical laboratories in hospitals.