GOVERNOR REAGAN: Mr. Ellis, I think this idea that has been spawned here in our country, that inflation somehow came upon us like a plague and therefore it's uncontrollable and no one can do anything about it, is entirely spurious, and it's dangerous to say this to the people. When Mr. Carter became President, inflation was 4. 8 percent, as you said. It had been cut in two by President Gerald Ford. It is now running at 12. 7 percent. President Carter also has spoken of the new jobs created. . . But that can't hide the fact that there are 8 million men and women out of work in America today, and 2 million of those lost their jobs in just the last few months. Mr. Carter had also promised that he would not use unemployment as a tool to fight against inflation. And yet, his 1980 economic message stated that we would reduce productivity and gross national product and increase unemployment in order to get a handle on inflation, because in January, at the beginning of the year, it was more than 18 percent. Which claim of President Carter’s does Reagan refute in this excerpt? President Carter’s policies have led to an improved economy. Rising oil prices worldwide can negatively affect inflation rates in the United States. Inflation rates have risen too high and are hurting the American consumer. There are policies that can be enacted by the president to curb rising inflation.