Booming US Economy-Reality Check-Bob Davis Podcast 811

These days Trump cultists love to talk about the booming economy. Time for a reality check. Learn more in Booming US Economy-Reality Check-Bob Davis Podcast 811.

Under 3 Percent

Especially relevant are Gross Domestic Product numbers from the 4th quarter of 2018. The average for the whole year is predicted to be under three percent.

Cherry Picking Numbers

Boosters like to cherry pick statistics. I like good old Gross Domestic Product numbers. They are released at the end of every quarter. GDP performance for each fiscal year is pretty hard to ignore. Especially when people say this president has ‘fixed’ the economy and worked miracles.

Just Because You Do Well Doesn’t Mean The Economy Is Doing Well

Moreover if I’ve heard it once I have heard it a thousand times. Saying your business is doing well does not mean the economy as a whole is doing any better than it has. The latest retail performance is a good example. This distinction is important only because the president wants us to believe he “blows Ronald Reagan Away”.

Objective Legislative Achievements On Economy

In Booming US Economy-Reality Check-Bob Davis Podcast 811 I objectively list President Trump’s few legislative achievements when it comes to the economy as well as his executive orders concerning the economy.

Hardly A Boom

In 2017 the US Economy grew by 2.2 percent. First quarter of 2018 was 2.2 percent. Second quarter 4.2 percent. Third quarter 3.4 percent. Fourth quarter 2.6 percent. Hardly a boom.

Not Even As Good As Obama

In contrast, President Obama’s best year was 2015, at 2.9 percent. Obama also presided over one quarter of growth of 5.1 percent, followed by another quarter of 4.9 percent growth. Better than Trump’s best two quarters so far.

Actual GDP Numbers

First of all growth is growth and we’ll take it. However, because of republican claims of great economic success, it’s time for a reality check based on actual GDP numbers.

And Obama Wasn’t That Good Either

At issue are claims by the president and his supporters he has done a fantastic job. Truth is so far his numbers are still about the same as Obama’s, which weren’t very good either.

We Pale In Contrast To The Early 80’s, Mid and Early 1960’s and 1950’s

Even more, all the numbers in our time pale in contrast to performance above 7 percent in the 80’s, high six percent in the 60’s and above 8 percent in the 1950’s.

Contrast our time with the 1980’s, 1960’s, or 1950’s.

What we’re living through is not a boom.

Republican Doesn’t Mean Conservative Anymore

Finally a republican in the White House does not guarantee ‘conservative’ economic management. Pushing for a weak dollar. Borrowing to stimulate. Trade Protection. Adding trillions to the national debt. More debt and deficit spending for ‘infrastructure‘ don’t seem like ‘republican‘ ideas.

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Booming US Economy-Reality Check-Bob Davis Podcast 811

Russia Targets American Politics Again?-Bob Davis Podcast 809

Get ready. A sustained disinformation attack on the top democrat presidential candidates is already in progress. That’s the new story line. These days you can’t be sure. We’ll talk about it in Russia Targets American Politics Again?-Bob Davis Podcast 809.

Breaking News From Politico

Most noteworthy is a series of stories Politico has done about ‘hacking’ the US electoral process. The latest is an article which sources data analysts and other experts. Especially relevant? A new charge by experts. Russia is back to its old tricks.

We take a look at the story and the charge in In Russia Targets American Politics Again?

A Wide Ranging Effort

Natasha Korecki says her Politico story shows a wide ranging effort aimed at Kamala Harris, Beto O’Rourke, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. She reports certainly it is up and running with signs foreign state actors are behind some of it.

It’s Happening Again

According to Politico Weaponized Propaganda picks at the most sensitive issues in our public discourse. Furthermore that propaganda is being pushed across a variety of platforms. It’s happening again.

Wait! Not All Of It Is Organized!

Wait though. Not all the activity is organized. In contrast, a lot of it appears to be regular Joe’s sharing stuff they think is funny or relevant on their feeds.

Sources For Politico Article Include Democrat Operatives

Finally sources for this story include Brett Horvath who has worked for the Mayor of Seattle as well as other operatives who have worked for democrats including Hillary Clinton. Or companies like Storyful who spy on reporters.

No Conclusive Evidence

Even more Korecki writes researchers and others cannot conclusively point to actors behind “the coordinated activity”.

We’re All Trolls Now

Maybe I’m churlish but it seems to me the writer, sources and Politico itself are getting a lot of mileage out of this. The principles in the story are sharing the story on their own feeds. Just slightly Troll Like, don’t you think? Maybe the Russians have switched sides this time!

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Russia Targets American Politics Again?-Bob Davis Podcast 809

Gen Z-Millennials-Brave New World-Bob Davis Podcast 798

Recent polls show solid support for socialism by Generation Z and Millennial Americans. Especially relevant is whether today’s ‘conservatives’ have the arguments against socialism. Find out in Gen Z-Millennials-Brave New World-Bob Davis Podcast 798. (Editor’s Note: The title of this podcast was Gen Z-Millennials-Prefer Socialism-Bob Davis Podcast 798 but had to be changed to meet FaceBook’s nonsensical, arbitrary and otherwise byzantine standards for commentary and journalism they think is a political ad. Speaking of a Brave New World!)

Strong Support For New Ideas

First of All, young Americans support for single payer health insurance. They like the idea of free college. Moreover there’s also support for federal job guarantees.

Voting Democrat

Also younger adults voted for democrats 2018 which helped hand President Trump a stinging defeat.

Shock

In contrast Older Americans are shocked. Why? Learn more in Gen Z-Millennials-Brave New World-Bob Davis Podcast 798.

Socialist Definitions

First of all, start with defining socialism.

Is There An Argument In The House?

Consequently, if you’re against socialism, what are the arguments in favor of capitalism?

Party Of Thinkers Has Become The Party of Red Faced Sputtering

Conservatives used to say they were the ‘thinkers’. Certainly democrats were ’emotional’ and had ‘no plan’. These days it seems like the shoe’s on the other foot.

A Plan Beats No Plan

Even more, democrats seem to have an awful lot of ideas backed up by academics. Policy details about new ideas like the Modern Monetary Theory and Universal Basic Income, or Open Borders, are part of their plan for the future. What’s the republican plan?

GOP Failing

Republicans have failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The GOP has increased spending and increased the deficit after complaining about deficits during the Obama years.

Republicans who were furious at President Obama’s “I have a pen and a phone” taunt applaud President Trump for using executive power to govern. And republicans are only too happy to support this kind of executive overreach.

Lack Of Principles

As a result one wonders whether republicans anywhere have arguments against socialism beyond pointing to Venezuela’s crisis and name calling. This will not do in 2020. You can’t grow a party without principles.

Laying Down And Letting Someone Else Make The Arguments

In conclusion I have often said there’s too much advocacy media. Republicans are only too willing to lay down while someone else grandstands or calls names, plays tricks and makes their arguments for them. Sadly, republicans are obsessed with ‘messaging’ while their children and grandchildren are socialists.

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Gen Z-Millennials-Brave New World-Bob Davis Podcast 798