Economic-Boom-Smoke-And-Mirrors?-Bob Davis Podcast 872

Economic-Boom-Smoke-And-Mirrors?-Bob Davis Podcast 872

Everyone Gets An Award. So What?

These days we live in a world where everyone gets an award for participation. Every now and then reality intrudes on our blissful paradise. We’ll talk about the 3rd quarter GDP numbers and what they mean in Economic-Boom-Smoke-And-Mirrors?-Bob Davis Podcast 872.

Ballyhoo and BS

We’ve been the victims of economic ballyhoo at least since 2016. Even more for years since the recession of 2008 we’ve been sold all kinds of snake oil. Green Shoots. The Light At The End Of The Tunnel. Priming The Pump. Economic Boom!

GDP Is The Yardstick

Gross Domestic Product is the yardstick by which we measure the economic performance of the world’s countries. This is especially relevant in the United States, where we will choose a new president and congress in 2020.

How Are We Doing?

Economy is one of the yard sticks by which we determine how our leaders ‘are doing’ at their jobs.

Third Quarter

Therefore when the third quarter GDP numbers came out this week, we now have a third data point on which to judge US economic performance in 2019.

Smoke and Mirrors?

How are we doing? We’ll find out in Economic-Boom-Smoke-And-Mirrors?-Bob Davis Podcast 872.

What’s A Boom?

First of all exactly what does an economic ‘boom’ look like and are we really living through one?

What About All The Other Stats?

Second, what about other measurements like employment, government spending, consumer spending and productivity?

Concentrate On Outcomes

I have often described my mission with these podcasts as a quest to concentrate on outcomes and relatively objective analysis of those outcomes.

No Predictions

Above all I avoid predictions. I won’t use superlatives to describe how great or bad things are. I do not want tell listeners what they’re supposed to think or advocate for.

More Questions

In conclusion, these new numbers raise more questions than answers.

In addition, what about inflation, business investment and growth in the future.

Moreover what about intervention by central banks?

I wonder, if there’s an economic boom why do we need so much government spending and interventions to keep it going? What about the enormous spending deficits and public debt?

Meeting Challenges

Finally what are the biggest economic and therefore social challenges ahead. Are we on path to address those challenges?

I don’t hear too much talk about that on the campaign trail, in government and in the media.

Sponsored by John D. Scott Personal Injury Lawyer and Hoffman Hamer and Associates

Economic-Boom-Smoke-And-Mirrors?-Bob Davis Podcast 872

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Spiritual Bankruptcy-New Moralists-Bob Davis Podcast 795.jpg

Spiritual Bankruptcy-New Moralists-Bob Davis Podcast 795

It seems like the talking heads are always telling us what our problems are. The moralists are back trying to shore up their audiences. They are making the case our economic system and politics are making us unhappy. Learn more in Spiritual Bankruptcy-New Moralists-Bob Davis Podcast 795.

Happiness

First of all, who or what is responsible for our happiness? Where does happiness come from? We’ll talk about it in Spiritual Bankruptcy-New Moralists-Bob Davis Podcast 795.

Happiness and Government

Furthermore I was trying to do a yoga podcast. Due to the political and social nature of the topic I have to explain why this question of happiness and government has come up.

The New Moralism

Most noteworthy this week is the fact that most of the moralism is coming from the supposed political right.

Moral Health Of America

Because of Senator Mitt Romney, Tucker Carlson and Armstrong Williams commentary on the ‘moral‘ nature of Americans I feel the need to respond.

Republicans Attack Capitalism?

Especially relevant are Romney’s attacks on the president’s moral character and Tucker Carlson’s attacks on capitalism and our political leaders’ responsibilities.

Republicans Embrace Chavez and Marx

Finally since when do so called conservatives start sounding like Hugo Chavez and Karl Marx? It isn’t the job of our politicians to ‘make us happy’. Certainly we claim the right to the pursuit of happiness, not the right to the condition of happiness.

Who’s Job Is It To Make Me Happy?

Also it is our job to make ourselves happy. I provide some suggestions for that in Spiritual Bankruptcy-New Moralists-Bob Davis Podcast 795.

The Devil Marijuana

Finally Romney, Tucker and Armstrong use unsupported assessments of marijuana usage, rape and sexual harassment and general economic ‘malaise’ to support their points. They say this country is in moral decline.

It’s Getting Better Not Worse

In conclusion things are actually getting better. All the world’s problems are not solved, but it is a shock to me that so called conservative opinionators can’t look on the bright side anymore.

Sponsored by Reliafund and Whitetail Builders

Spiritual Bankruptcy-New Moralists-Bob Davis Podcast 795

 

 

 

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Republican Dark Future-Raising The Stakes-Bob Davis Podcast 780

Republican Dark Future-Raising The Stakes-Bob Davis Podcast 780

The political blame game has only just begun for republicans. What’s wrong and what is the future for the GOP. We’ll talk about it in Republican Dark Future-Raising The Stakes-Bob Davis Podcast 780.

A Dark Future For So Called Conservatives

Most noteworthy, and not surprisingly talking heads who predicted the GOP would hold the house (they were wrong) are now telling anyone who will listen how to fix the failed republican effort. The real truth is the republican party has a dark future.

A Deal With The Devil

What happened? Let’s be honest. Republican Moderates made a deal with a reality TV host and real estate developer. He would be the standard bearer and they would run things. Turned out neither was very good at either.

Reality Show Government

With only two major legislative accomplishments to its credit, the Trump administration has become a reality show played out on Twitter and Cable news.

All Things Republican Trumpism Is Not

Meanwhile the president ‘fixes’ everything and ‘drains the swamp’ with executive orders, which of course can be reversed. Free trade? Not this president.

Supply Side Economics? Nope. Cutting spending? Not gonna happen. Repealing the Affordable Care Act? You can forget about that. Now, growing concerns about a possible recession and corporate debt, actually all kinds of debt, even though the president says the economy is “Booming”.

A Republican Is Burying Us In Deficits?

Demand we “Build A Wall” and refuse to pay for it? Deploy United States Troops within the borders of the USA? Adding Trillions to the budget deficit? Yep. Failing to solve immigration, education and health care issues? Sure. Dear readers and listeners! Is this really what a conservative republican president is supposed to do? I’ll ask the question in Republican Dark Future-Raising The Stakes-Bob Davis Podcast 780.

Campaigning On Thin Air

In conclusion, republicans in 2018 had to defend this president or get out. In the end those that stayed to face the music had to campaign on slogans and defending Trumpism because there weren’t many accomplishments and even less money. Meanwhile well funded democrats sold a plan and got the vote out. I guess something beats nothing.

But Hey, It’s Not Hillary

It’s hard to hear but republicans are another side of the same political coin. Collectivist policies and the expansion of government and executive power to the extent that it may already be democratic socialism seems to be the result no matter which party is in control.

In the end, Republicans are just as responsible for it as democrats.

But. At least it’s not Hillary, right?

Sponsored by Reliafund Payment Processors, Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul and Johantgen Jewelers of Crystal

Republican Dark Future-Raising The Stakes-Bob Davis Podcast 780

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