Just as a trivial pursuit, do you think more smoke, or more mirrors?
Since mirrors usually reflect something that is actually real, I say "more smoke" -- since smoke is entirely ephemeral, apparently substantial, then suddenly gone, like a fart in the wind. The present economic numbers do not reflect reality at all. They paint an imaginary picture. They resemble smoke a lot.
Well maybe funny mirrors like the ones at the fair that make little skinny women look like fat amazons.
Other than that, smoke and lots of it.
By the way, too much smoke is toxic....fatal.
Your point is very well made.