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

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:00 — 93.9MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

 

 

Podcast 611-Define Political Progress

Podcast 611-Define Political Progress

When it comes to politics these days noise is the norm. The latest outrage drowns out talk about political progress. Voters in 2016 made their choices for a reason. Not too early to ask whether the politicians are making progress toward addressing those reasons. We talk about it in Podcast 611-Define Political Progress.

ObamaCare Repeal

Number one issue on the campaign trail. Bogged down in congress already. Republicans wanted a full repeal of the ACA. New GOP plan isn’t a full repeal. President Trump has already endorsed it. What happened to promises of a full repeal?

Economy

Somewhere around 96 million people are out of the workforce. Need to create 375,000 new jobs a month for several months to get those people back in the work force. For years we were less than impressed with a quarter of a million jobs each month. Economic growth has been promised. In Podcast 611-Define Political Progress.

Cutting Federal Budget

Smaller government? Proposed budget cuts are accompanied with proposals to shift money to defense. Does this reduce the size of government? A hiring freeze can be considered progress. Corporate tax reductions can be progress. However making up corporate tax reductions with higher taxes somewhere else doesn’t cut the budget.

Foreign Policy and Military Spending

Resurgent Russia. Rising China. Political changes in Turkey. Expanding NATO. Cyber Threats. US troops in Iraq and Syria. ISIS. Terror. Climate Change. How will reducing foreign aid and increasing military spending address these concerns? What should the foreign policy of the US be? It’s all in Podcast 611-Define Political Progress.

Too Early?

First benchmark on progress made by a majority republican government in the United States. Did you vote for republicans? Are they doing what you wanted them to do?

Sponsored by X Government Cars and Ryan Plumbing of Saint Paul.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:34 — 106.6MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

 

Podcast 580-Bob Davis Podcasts Radio Show-56

Podcast 580-Bob Davis Podcasts Radio Show-56. Four mini podcast for your weekend. It’s time to move beyond talk about fake news and false narratives. Time to work on becoming better citizens. We have to get beyond reactions to get what is needed to create better political structures for the future. People have very high expectations about a Trump presidency. Whether you fear the future or can’t wait for it, the President-Elect’s cabinet nominations are moderate and establishment republicans. Trump’s ideas are philosophically all over the road. The new republican administration may end up being just as statist as a Hillary Clinton presidency. One example is Trump’s penchant for roads and bridges and airports. Given the establishment congress of republican moderates expecting a reduction in the cost and power of the federal government is too much to ask for. Fake News is still ‘in the news’. There were suggestions from the CIA at the end of last week that the Russians ‘could have’ been responsible for the Wikileaks hack. Still no proof though. That doesn’t stop the media from feeding into the Clinton camp narrative that Russia put Trump in the White House. It’s impossible to say what influenced voters in Ohio, Pennsyvania, North Carolina and Florida where Trump won by tight margins. None of these facts stop demands to ‘do something’ about ‘fake news’. FaceBook is caving and censorship is suddenly now a big topic. There have also been reports that Electors (members of the electoral college for 2016) have received death threats. What happens if Trump doesn’t have a majority of electors? What is the goal of people supporting the effort to influence the Electoral College? Have you driven around the country lately? If you had, you would know the United States does not have an ‘infrastructure’ problem. Building new airports, roads and bridges will not create enough new jobs to influence a 16 trillion dollar economy. Moreover, trade protection, cutting taxes on the middle class, increasing spending and government power including military spending is fraught with problems and probably won’t result in economic growth. Where does the money come from for these shiny objects? It has to be taxed or borrowed, sooner or later. For those who supported Trump because he ‘isn’t Hillary’, there are no guarantees he’ll be materially different from Clinton, when it comes to results. Sponsored by Brush Studio in the West End and Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul.[Powerpress]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:10 — 107.9MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS