According to Larry Summers we can all rest easy about the state of the economy these days.  As proof of the stimulus success Summer points to the “Economic Depression” Google searches down numbers.  Really?  Google has now become an indicator of the state of the economy?  I thought rising unemployment numbers were a good indicator of the state of the economy, but that’s just me.

Lawrence Summers

Larry Summer

Summers is the director of the Obama Administration’s White House National Economic Counsel.  He has been on the front lines for the President seeking to combat the rising concern in America that the multi-billion dollar “stimulus” package hasn’t helped improve the economy.  The video below is from the early days of the debate on the stimulus package and it was touted as a plan to improve employment in the nation.

Unemployment keeps rising despite the massive debt we are facing because of the stimulus package.  Read what Summers said recently about the stimulus package and compare that to the video.  I think you’ll notice some important differences.

According to a recent story on Politico, Summers touted the successes of the stimulus package.  In the story found here, Summers stated the following:

The number of people searching for the term “economic depression” on Google is down to normal levels, Summers said.

Oh joy.  The Google numbers are down on a search related to the economy, so we must be doing better.  If Google says it then it must be true.  The fact that those numbers are down can’t be for any other reason like say Google’s numbers generally drop off in the Summer because people are outside enjoying the weather.  Either that or people are losing their internet because they can’t afford it anymore after they lost their jobs because the stimulus has been so successful.  Nope, lower searches for economic depression terms on Google mean that we’re going to be just fine.  Thank goodness for Google.

I wonder what else Google can show.  I’m guessing that right now it will show that Michael Jackson is dead because people are looking for that, and that American’s like seeing other people in various stages of undress.  I’m going to make a bold prediction based on Google numbers.  There are a lot of people in America who like to look for porn.  See how that works?  Google said it so it must be true.

Summers also came up with this gem:

“More than $43 billion in immediate tax relief has reached households and businesses. Another $64 billion has been channeled into the economy through aid to state and local governments, expansions in social programs, and spending on education, housing, and transportation projects. In addition to the amount that has already been paid out, another $120 billion in spending has been obligated by the federal government and is on track to begin working its way into the economy.”

Now I thought that a successful stimulus package would improve the unemployment rate in the country.  That was how this plan was sold to the public.  I distinctly remember the argument that “People are losing their jobs and they need to be working.  That work will stimulate the economy.  We need this package to increase spending so that employment will improve.”  That was how it was sold.

Now compare that argument with what Summers just cited as success.  “Aid to state and local government, expansions in social programs, and spending on education, housing, and transportation projects.”  Expanding social programs are signs of a successful economy?  Are you kidding me?  Somehow I find it hard to believe that expansions in food stamps, medicaid, unemployment, and countless other social programs show success in the economy.  It doesn’t make much sense to me.

Larry Sanders Stimulus Package

I don’t understand Larry Summers at all.  According to Summers stimulus success is proven because ‘Economic Depression’ Google searches down numbers show that the stimulus is working.  If I ran Google I’d be pretty nervous, the Government may want to nationalize the company and turn it into the Administration’s version of an online Pravda.  They’ve already converted ABC News to their very own broadcast propaganda wing.  Is anyone else worried that one of the chief economic advisers to the President is using search terms from Google to tout the success of one of his programs?s