Gas-Taxes-Republican-Hypocrisy-Bob Davis Podcast 833

There Goes Your Tax Cut

How’s the price of gas these days? How’s the price of diesel? We pay nearly 3 dollars a gallon or more at the pump. Especially for diesel. Republicans always talk about lower taxes. Not Trump. The president wants at least a 15 cent per gallon increase in the federal gas tax. Find out why in Gas-Taxes-Republican-Hypocrisy-Bob Davis Podcast 833.

What The Lord Giveth, He Taketh Away

Most noteworthy is the existing 18 cent federal tax on gas and almost 25 cents a gallon for diesel. Even more, most state lawmakers want increases in their state gas taxes.

Drunken Sailors Fighting on The Dance Floor

Sure they take in a lot of money in Washington and the state capitol. In contrast states and the federal government actually spend piles of money. Not to mention your local town or city. For information about that, click here.

Bonding Bonding Bonding

I live in Minnesota. They’re not supposed to, but here politicians throw in bonding packages in just about every legislative session.

You Can’t Get There From Anywhere During ‘Construction Season’

The result? Bonding on bonding. Some projects fully funded, haven’t even been started. Even more, there’s so much construction people are tearing their hair out trying to get to work.

Gas Taxes – Not Just For Highways Anymore

Stadiums. Light Rail. Train Stations. Bus Lanes. Bike Trails. Subsidized bike rentals. Running paths. Signs. Talking Traffic Lights. Roundabouts. Federally compliant intersections and curbs. Sometimes projects finished a couple of years ago are torn up and redone. Notice there are no highways or roads in that list. We still need more money for all those highway projects too. Add Trump’s airports and bridges and it means tax increases. Corporations aren’t going to pay for it.

Five Floors of 1800 Dollar A Month Rentals and a Starbucks On Every Corner

Moreover subsidies for ‘affordable’ housing projects which are really five story condos and 1800 dollar a month rentals with a Starbucks on the ground floor everywhere. Funding for these projects are cobbled together from Federal Transit Authority money.

Thanks Taxpayers!

That is, your money. Learn more in Gas-Taxes-Republican-Hypocrisy-Bob Davis Podcast 833.

Republicans Love Lower Taxes, More Spending and Ballooning Deficits

Finally, as republicans ballyhoo their 2017 tax cut and campaign on lower taxes, they keep spending. In Minnesota they passed a five hundred million dollar bonding bill and a 48 billion dollar budget last week and they think they did a great job. This year the federal budget is 4.4 trillion. That’s a trillion more than Barack Obama’s average. The US Budget Deficit this year will be more than a trillion dollars. Our total debt is estimated at 22 trillion.

Buddy Can You Spare 67 Thousand Dollars?

The raw dollar amounts these governments take in will make you sick. Especially relevant is the fact that every American is on the hook for 67 thousand dollars in federal debt alone, and counting. Because despite the revenue, they keep spending more and more, whether they have a D or an R in front of their name. Sooner or later the piper has to be paid. Spending, whether it comes from tax collections or bonds, always ends up as a tax.

The Man Who Lost Billions Wants You To Pay For … Another New Airport

And here comes the man who built skyscrapers and lost billions doing it, Donald Trump. He wants to put his name on airports, subways and bridges we don’t need, and make us pay for it.

What would Ben Franklin say to the woman about our government today?

“It’s a Hypo-cracy Madam. If you can keep it”.

Why would you want to?

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Gas-Taxes-Republican-Hypocrisy-Bob Davis Podcast 833

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