Misinformation, disinformation is nothing more than a lie

People who knowingly spread misinformation and disinformation are liars.

I’ve said it before, but my mother always said anyone who tells a half-truth is really telling a complete lie. Those words have never been more accurate.

I had to fact-check a claim this week made by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre that “Bidenomics” is working because the unemployment rates for Blacks and Hispanics are lower now than when President Joe Biden took office.

That’s barely true – and totally false if you know the whole story.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the current unemployment rate for Blacks is 5.8% and 4.6% for Hispanics. Those are good numbers, so why did the press secretary play with the facts?

The third quarter unemployment rates in 2019 were a record low, 5.5% for Blacks and 3.9% for Hispanics. That was three months before Donald Trump left office. It was also the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when millions of workers were laid off, furloughed or died.

Those jobless rates swelled to 11.4% for Blacks and 10.4% for Hispanics in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. That’s also the year Biden took office.

So yes, the rates were higher in the final three months of Trump’s presidency than they are at present, but only because of COVID-19.

The White House often forgets that 18.1 million people were unemployed in June 2020 by the pandemic. They also don’t tell you 158.6 million people had jobs before the pandemic, and 134.63 are working today. When the current administration claims to have created more than 14 million jobs, they should also admit nearly 24 million fewer people are working now than before COVID-19.

None of this is a political comment. It’s merely about the truth.

Misinformation isn’t always intended to deceive, but the facts can be twisted to change public opinion.

There is a lot of misinformation about our elections. I didn’t know that you can only get a mail-in ballot in Florida if you request one. And when it’s returned, the signature on the ballot must match the voter registration card. If it doesn’t match, the elections office will call the voter.

Did you know there are no loose ballots in Clay County? I didn’t. They’re only printed when one is requested for mail-in voting or when the polls are open. That also ensures there aren’t more votes than ballots printed.

It was more challenging to misinform people before the advent of the internet and social media. It’s too easy to use your cellphone to get your news. The problem is that you don’t know if it’s fake or credible. What’s more alarming is few check the facts.

There’s also disinformation used to conceive people on purpose. They are hoaxes and lies to increase business or create a distraction.

One of the most memorable and funniest examples of disinformation examples came when San Francisco’s KTVU news thought it got credible information from NTSB on the pilots of Asiana Flight 214 that crashed on approach to San Francisco in 2013. The anchorwoman identified some of the crew as “Captain Sum Ting Wong,” “Wi Tu Lo” and “Bang Ding Ow.”

Another case of disinformation that suckered millions in 2022 when TikTok video reported Walt Disney World had lowered its drinking age to 18 as part of its ongoing dispute with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The story was repeated during a local newscast.

It was a total ruse.

According to statista.com, 38.2% of Americans have shared fake news, believing the story was true. Also, 67% said misinformation campaigns have caused them much confusion and doubt.

A story from science.org reported fake news spreads faster than accurate news on X. In fact, 70% of the site users admitted to sharing fake stories.

Be suspicious of imposters. Check your facts. Question everything and rely on your instincts. Evaluate the motives behind gossip or an online post. If the story sounds too bizarre, discount it until you research the facts.