The author strongly defends Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as an ideal and indispensable economic statistic. Despite critics highlighting its limitations on inequality or externalities, the author argues GDP is the best, most consistent measure. It correlates highly with vital factors like health and employment, and holds leaders accountable for policy. The article dismisses alternative metrics as impractical. Politicians often criticize GDP to evade responsibility for policies hindering growth. Ignoring this crucial economic "thermometer," the author concludes, simply prevents addressing real challenges.