Trump State Of The Union-America’s Back-FBI-Russia-Economy Booming-Podcast 697

First of all, the state of the union message used to be a letter. These days you’d think it is the Grammys, Golden Globes or the Oscars. In addition it’s a national event. We’re ‘supposed’ to watch. In Trump State Of The Union-America’s Back-FBI-Russia-Economy Booming-Podcast 697.

America Is Back

Trump’s says the Economy Is Booming and America is Back. Really? Since when is 2.6 percent GDP growth a booming economy?

Wall Street Is Main Street

Furthermore during the Obama presidency republicans used to say ‘Main Street Isn’t Wall Street‘. Now that republicans are in power suddenly main street IS wall street. Even when the market is down.

Booming Roaring Economy, right?

In Trump State Of The Union-America’s Back-FBI-Russia-Economy Booming-Podcast 697 I’ll outline factors that go into our old style measurement of the economy. Yes there are bright spots. Much as we like good news, let’s not go overboard.

Wait. It’s Trump.

Go overboard!

The Tax Bill. The Tax Bill!

The singular legislative ‘accomplishment’ of this administration so far is the tax bill. Lower corporate taxes are thought of as a good thing for business. Whether the so called middle class will benefit remains to be seen. Certainly the economic effects of changes in the tax code only a month old are not part of the current economic numbers. Find out why inTrump State Of The Union-America’s Back-FBI-Russia-Economy Booming-Podcast 697.

Executive Orders!

Trump supporters like to tout his executive orders. Many of these don’t do more than tell cabinet departments think differently. Most importantly Trump is issuing far fewer regulations. Have these actions produced economic results?

Witch Hunts Galore

Especially relevant are investigations on Russia and the FBI. The truth is none of this has had any real impact on the day to day business in the rest of the country and have failed to yield conclusive results so far.

Distractions Are The Order Of The Day

Welcome to life in America at the dawn of a technology revolution. This one makes the industrial revolution look like the middle ages. As it gathers speed every tenet of government and society will be challenged. Meanwhile we’re talking about porn stars and Trump’s latest insult.

No One Cares About Outmoded Thinking

In conclusion, most of the older adults in this country dream of a time marked by their own innocence in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Moreover our thinking about almost everything is outmoded. Mercantilism, trade protection, mass surveillance, bigger and more expensive government, and huge debts are not about freedom regardless of which party is in control of congress or the executive branch.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: On February 1st 2018 the Atlanta Federal Reserve projected US Economic Growth in the first quarter of the year to be 5.4 percent. This is a noteworthy prediction and if it holds for the US overall it will be a game changer. 5.4 percent GDP would be robust and if it holds through 2018 the terms ‘booming’ and ‘roaring’ would apply, at least as it pertains to GDP measurement.)

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating, Brush Studio in The West End and Reliafund.

Trump State Of The Union-America’s Back-FBI-Russia-Economy Booming-Podcast 697

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Trump Rebuild America Infrastructure Plan Not Conservative-Podcast 689

President Trump has convinced republicans he is a conservative. But his spending and building plans will pile on the debt. We’ll talk about it in Trump Rebuild America Infrastructure Plan Not Conservative-Podcast 689.

Debt and Deficit Spending Is Conservative, right?

Republicans sell their tax plan as a boon to the economy, despite a potential 1.2 trillion dollar budget hole by 2025. Moreover, after the new year President Trump will introduce an infrastructure plan that will add more debt. Deficit spending and public works projects are not conservative economic ideas.

Its Supply Side Economics Right?

For years republicans have touted the idea of shifting our economic approach to producers rather than stimulating consumer demand. That’s what they think this president is doing. Truth is President Trump and the GOP will not actually be testing so called supply side economic ideas.

In Trump Rebuild America Infrastructure Plan Not Conservative-Podcast 689 I review exactly what Supply Side economics is. What’s more, I’ll explain how Team Red might be more than a little surprised to learn their economic policies are more closely related to the famous progressive populist Huey Long than Ronald Reagan.

Rah Rah Team Red

Holiday season is a great time for get togethers with friends and family. Politics is a topic of conversation during these get togethers. Republicans celebrate an economy that’s growing wildly, already. Since government spending is a component of our calculations for ‘the economy’, spending and borrowing can create what looks like growth.

It’s The Spending

Lower tax rates, especially for corporations can help producers and spur economic growth. What about higher spending and bigger deficits? Sounds to me like republicans and democrats are practicing two sides of the same approach to economics. Deficit spending and more debt to spur economic growth.

Welcome To Louisiana

In conclusion team red people may cheerlead for anything their president and congress does as it is their right. Just be honest. Go ahead and wrap yourself in the flag and religion, but Team Red isn’t conservative and neither is President Trump.

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Trump Rebuild America Infrastructure Plan Not Conservative-Podcast 689

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When Tax Reform Isn’t-What Congress Giveth It Taketh Away-Podcast 676

They call it Tax Reform. A Jobs Bill. That’s what it must be, right? Journalists and commentators are playing the same old game. Argue a proposed piece of legislation on its merits. Time to reset the boundaries in When Tax Reform Isn’t-What Congress Giveth It Taketh Away-Podcast 676.

Freedom Of Choice

While listeners to The Bob Davis Podcasts always have the freedom to choose what they think is right, I want to introduce the concept of marginal improvement. Legislators on both sides of the political spectrum talk big about ‘reform’. Usually though they make what really are marginal changes. This is especially relevant when we’re talking about the tax code.

The Real Football Game Is Congress

Team Red moves the ball back to the Blue thirty yard line. It’s hailed as a great victory. Team Blue moves the ball back to the Red twenty yard line a few years later. These are what both sides call marginal improvements. Meanwhile, as economist Milton Friedman famously suggested, they keep getting elected by making the tax code more complicated.

Budget Neutrality Isn’t A Thing

Enter a legislative concept called Budget Neutrality. The idea every expenditure must be ‘paid for’ with tax increases, or budget cuts. You think Tax Reform means lower taxes. What they’re really doing is taking away tax deductions and loop holes, and increasing our overall tax. The sad part is, it’s not their money, it’s our money. In When Tax Reform Isn’t-What Congress Giveth It Taketh Away-Podcast 676.

What Is Real Reform?

If you want real reform. The end to this kind of corruption? Then the power of the federal government to tax our incomes and our property must be permanently eliminated. Should corporations be taxed at all? Do you have property rights if you pay property taxes? How does government pay for the wonderful things both sides wants it to provide? We talk about it in When Tax Reform Isn’t-What Congress Giveth It Taketh Away-Podcast 676.

Already Socialists

So called conservatives like to argue the merits of capitalism versus socialism. It seems like I’d be on pretty safe ground if I suggested the United States has been collectivist for decades. Our economic system is not so much capitalist as it is a controlled market economy. Our elected Kings and their privy courts control our behavior and our futures with regulation and a tax code so complex, were it to be proposed as a single law in its present form, it would cause a revolution.

(Editor’s Note: While the first actual income tax in the United States was levied during the Civil War, it was later repealed as ‘unconstitutional’. Several attempts were made to establish an income tax through the late 1800’s which were unsuccessful, until the 16th amendment, ratified in 1913.)

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When Tax Reform Isn’t-What Congress Giveth It Taketh Away-Podcast 676

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