Trump-Republicans-Spending-Debt-Bob Davis Podcast 850

Another Trillion Dollars

This week the president’s budget deal adds a trillion dollars to the National Debt. These days it’s depressing when so called conservatives say, “Deficits Don’t Matter“. Learn more in Trump-Republicans-Spending-Debt-Bob Davis Podcast 850.

Trump Republicans Spending and More Debt

Above all, Trump’s spending is on pace with Obama first term red ink.

I’ll Pay Off The Deficit In Eight Years

Moreover campaigning in 2016, Trump said he’d pay off the deficit in just eight years. In those days the deficit was 20 trillion. It’s now almost 23 trillion.

Current Federal Debt Is Unsustainable? Bring It on!

As the president began his second year in office, the General Accounting Office released a report on the national debt. The current Federal Fiscal Situation is unsustainable, it said. More in Trump-Republicans-Spending-Debt-Bob Davis Podcast 850.

Republicans Addition To Debt Peaks In 2030

In fact, the GAO report showed US debt beginning to rise and peak in 2030, long after Trump has left the White House.

American Cities Are Broke Again

Over 70 US cities are in deep financial trouble. New York City is broke. Los Angeles isn’t far behind. Chicago is in a tailspin. I’ll explain it in Trump-Republicans-Spending-Debt-Bob Davis Podcast 850.

The Amount of Spending And Debt Is Shocking

When it comes to cities, counties and states investigators have to use forensic accounting to find out what’s going on. Even in small towns and counties across the country those investigations are uncovering a shocking amount of spending and debt.

Bonding On Bonding

Even more, states use bonding bills to get around balancing budgets. Therefore creating more debt through bonding.

Corporate Debt Binge

US corporations are on a debt binge too. Corporate debt is skyrocketing. It’s now 45 percent of our GDP. Much higher than during the 2008 crisis and dotcom bubble.

Americans Saved The Economy In The 2nd Quarter With More Debt

In addition Americans are more indebted than they were before 2008. US Household debt is 13.3 trillion in the second quarter. Much of it auto loans. Certainly Americans don’t save enough.

Conservatives Say Don’t Worry

Republicans say debt doesn’t matter and democrats have a new monetary theory. There’s nothing to worry about. Right? The US can “print” as much money as it needs as long as it prints US dollars.

Politicians Handing Out Goodies

Goodies like free college, single payer health, a green new deal, a higher minimum wage and guaranteed full employment are just around the corner. Just simply print money.

[Editor’s Note: In this podcast I used a quote from President Trump saying that he said, “No politician has ever been thrown out of office for not spending money. In fact he is reported to have told Senator McConnell, “No politician has ever lost his job for SPENDING money.”)

Forget Rome, England, Spain, Germany, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

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Trump-Republicans-Spending-Debt-Bob Davis Podcast 850

 

 

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

Road To Character-Principle Free Politics In America-Podcast 705

These days the scolds are telling us how to live. What to do. Put down the hand held device. Give up screen time. So called conservatives especially stake out the moral high ground. Problem is there don’t seem to be any principles when it comes to politics. We’ll talk about it in Road To Character-Principle Free Politics In America-Podcast 705.

Sacrifice For The Greater Good

If we can just sacrifice for the greater good. Devote our lives to something bigger than ourselves. Become more passionate and purposeful about that purpose. Right?

The Greatest Generation

What’s more, the World War 2 generation can always be trotted out as an example of virtue. Just think how much better the world would be if those distracted millennials and super liberal generate Z people would emulate the “Greatest Generation”.

It’s The Millennials Right?

Truth is the world is changing fast. We’re at the dawn of a fast moving wall of change. Moreover demanding people act a certain way may not be the right idea. In Road To Character-Principle Free Politics In America-Podcast 705.

Principle Free Politics

Welcome to the seedy underbelly of politics. Moralists on both sides tell everyone else how to act while they ignore basic principles. Yeah sure, democrats have been doing this for years. Now republicans are becoming champions at principle free politics. Looks to me like one big mob.

Character Is Someone Else’s Problem

Get the guns and deal with due process later. A 25 cent per gallon gas tax increase. Trade protection. Spend and spend. Pile on national debt. President for life sounds like a good idea. What to do when a republican president promotes ideas directly opposed to republican ideals? Defend him. Go figure.

Principles Or Power?

In conclusion, given the fast pace of change in the world what troubles me isn’t character, it’s the lack of principle in the political party that controls all three branches of government.

In the near future the Technology Revolution will challenge us all. If all anyone wants to do is tear the old world down we’re in for a rough ride.

As far as I’m concerned there’s only one principle that matters these days. Individual Freedom.

Do republicans care about liberty anymore? Or do they just want power.

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Road To Character-Principle Free Politics In America-Podcast 705