Politics at election time always talks the talk about new beginnings while mostly walking the walk of the same tired litany of familiar promises to effect change. Top of the list is the perennial pledge to bring about a robust economy by providing an increase in “good quality, high paying jobs.” Every candidate for high office makes that their primary goal from which the economic underpinning for all else will be possible. Growth is the main mantra.

Here in Maine that mantra has recently had the kibosh lowered on it. Big time. Long-term.

Maine Department of Labor’s Center for Workforce Research and Information predicts job growth statewide will basically flatline until 2026, anticipating less than 100 net jobs added overall during the next decade. Ten times ten. Sum total. Statewide. No alternative facts or fake news refutation forthcoming. That dismal outlook is sustained by a separate report issued jointly from the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, the Maine Development Foundation, and Educate Maine.

Given the authority of that establishment consensus, such a pessimistic yet sobering finding doesn’t bode well for any candidate’s rote talking points regarding whatever their particular economic optimism spin might be. Such pathetic job creation is better than nothing, but hardly a projection buoying confidence in whatever governance awaits Mainers after Paul LePage’s riotous reign of no-help-needed, can-do-this-alone, my-way-or-the-highway legacy of unremarkable, except for petulant excesses, minor economic betterment.

Despite whoever ascends to governorship, 30,000 jobs are expected to be lost while 30,000 are anticipated to be gained. The majority of those lost will be among the 45 to 54 age group while the offset gain in employment will be by workers 65 and older. Hardly the way work life should be. Maybe our state’s iconic welcoming sign needs retirement, or at least an extended vacation until 2026.

A younger workforce will maintain a presence but Maine’s so-called “youth drain” will continue to undermine an economy hard-pressed by our state’s distinction as the country’s oldest population, a populace now rapidly reaching retirement age. The unsettling prospect that significant job numbers will be dependent on Maine’s most senior workers has coined a new phrase euphemistically branding it a “longevity economy.” As political spin goes, that’s definitely a heroically optimistic half full glass by which to swallow a nevertheless bitter economic pill. How long that longevity will last is another problematic bipartisan can to be kicked along until at least the next election.

However artfully kicked, the disheartening reality of a growing post-retirement, or postponed retirement, employment is far from the type of economic environment any administration can boast about. Especially if returning to work or career continuance is motivated by income stream necessity rather than arbitrary choice.

Politics never stops promising the moon, yet we never seem any closer to truly full employment or for a majority’s ability to provide a sufficient safety net from their own earnings. Capitalism can be a very cruel means by which to gamble one’s financial endgame.

Truth be told, despite all the posturing by political job applicants, economics in a capitalistic system is designed to be outside any real government control. Actual economic governance would be socialism, the third rail of American politics even if only the still dreaded social democrat kind enjoyed by most other democracies worldwide.

In our American version of capitalism everyone’s pitted against each other for individual economic reward while those wielding America’s vast economic power divide and conquer by exploiting that individualistic socialization for their own opportunistic gain. Politics has always been a manipulated commodity bought and sold to maintain control by the elite. The dollar is indeed almighty.

Maine’s congressional candidates champion federal address of economic growth here at home. Mostly by the traditional procurement of pork.

Meanwhile, our state’s gubernatorial contenders each offer similarly quasi-specific broad brushstrokes for local remedy to what has already been eight long years of state economic stagnation.

Politics being politics, some even claim that record to actually be a successful economic road map we should continue to follow by doubling down on its doggedly uncompromising conservatism. Other equally certain partisanship views the past two terms has abject failures in economic and every other aspect of stewardship.

The Department of Labor’s verdict makes no comment on current leadership. It only addresses the likelihood that whoever takes control of the executive branch next January will rule an economy that at best will be treading water regarding long-term job growth even if they enjoy two terms in office.

Politicians being politicians, that epic elephant in the room is essentially ignored by everyone. At best it’s only spurred even more look-over-there predictable prescriptions for theoretical solutions to Maine’s economic outlier status.

Foremost, broadband internet access has now become a go-to sub-mantra, bandied about as a magic bullet to both attract business to Maine’s hinterlands and to hindering our youth’s population exodus. Politicians might better lead by taking a long hard look at what once actually provided real Maine jobs, low-tech traditional jobs e-economics has mostly harmed rather than helped.

Otherwise, in 2026 that very real elephant, older, maybe even larger, will still be here.

Gary Anderson lives in Bath.