For those still suspicious of the gross delusion, deception and desperation that has so encapsulated our nation’s political rhetoric, the reaction to October’s surprisingly positive employment report should shed some light regarding our increasingly difficult situation. 

The report was immediately criticized by many conservatives as an attempt by the Obama administration to cook the books.

As both political parties know, the most contentious subject — the issue ultimately governing who will ascend to the presidency — will be the state of the U.S. economy come November.

It’s quite simple logic: Positive economic news will increase President Obama’s shot at re-election. Alternatively, bad news will indicate a need for different policies, thereby improving Romney’s election bid.

As a result of this self-evident truth, the Republican Party has a vested interest in watching America fail.

Because Republicans are so obsessed with taking down Obama, they reacted with cries of conspiracy when the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a sudden drop in the unemployment rate — from 8.1 percent to 7.8 percent.

Several notable politicians, pundits and businessmen, all of whom are supporters of Romney, publicly responded to the good news with a blind rage, declaring the Obama administration deliberately manipulated the data for political gain.

Leading the conspiracy theorists’ unsubstantiated charge was Jack Welch, former General Electric CEO, who posted an assertion on Twitter, remarking “Unbelievable job numbers… these Chicago guys will do anything… can’t debate so change the numbers.”

Not surprisingly enough, Welch later admitted his statement was baseless, though it still received significant amounts of airplay, being broadcast nationally on Fox News and CNBC, and repeatedly referred to by conservative media personalities.

Republicans’ bitterness over the BLS report not only demonstrates their refusal to acknowledge reality, but also their willingness to undermine public trust in essential government institutions — all in the name of gaining more political power.

Employment numbers are collected by professional civil servants at the BLS, an independent government agency with absolutely no political affiliation.

Moreover, the BLS acquires employment data from two public surveys they conduct each month: One survey asks a random sample of 400,000 employers how many workers are on their payroll, and the other asks a random sample of 60,000 households whether they’re working or looking for work.

Both methods used by the BLS are straightforward. The data is collected and the numbers are crunched according to a transparent formula.

Altering the unemployment figures would require involvement from a considerable amount of people within the BLS who, if caught, would serve prison time and undoubtedly end their careers.

And because their claims of conspiracy contain no evidence, conservative pundits are egregiously disrespecting the professionalism and integrity of the employees at the BLS.

Accusing the BLS employees of cooking the jobs data is tantamount to charging — without any evidence — the Baton Rouge Police Department with manipulating crime statistics in order to help East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden gain re-election.

Such an allegation containing no proof against the BRPD would not be given much credence, and the same reasoning should be applied for the BLS.

And even putting the BLS’s trustworthiness aside, unemployment has been on a sustained downward trend since the height of the Great Recession.

For the past year, both BLS surveys have indicated an improving labor market, so October’s report is consistent with the declining direction of unemployment.

Unfortunately, though, none of this should suggest that our economic situation is good. But the BLS data does reveal an economy that is gradually improving and finally back on the road toward full employment.

And that’s the reality Romney supporters can’t handle.

It’s scary to see a political movement willing to deliberately misinform and deceive voters when the facts don’t sway in its favor.